It’s been the driest April on record in the UK and the weather continues to represent drought conditions, and my London garden is looking pretty parched. The water butt at the far end, which collects rainwater from the shed roof, is empty, so I’ve been lugging watering cans up to my raised veg beds every… Continue reading Drought-proof Gardening
Category: Gardening Tips
Falling for leaves
November is a month when I struggle with the shorter hours of daylight, and the prospect of those seemingly interminable months of bleakness to come. Don’t talk to me of hygge or cosying up by the fire. I want to be out there, inspired by the colours and new life of the garden. I start… Continue reading Falling for leaves
All About Alliums…
Alliums start flowering in mid-May and, depending on your variety, continue to do so from to the end of July with their lovely, frozen firework flowers. Alliums have become very “de jour” because their colours range from steely metallic shades to the deepest, velvety purple and because their perfect circular shape defies belief, even probability.… Continue reading All About Alliums…
Using Copper foliage in the garden
And why it is it copper anyway? Contemporary gardeners often use dark colours…look how the ‘Queen of the Night’ tulip has become ubiquitous, and the black grass Ophiopogon planiscarpens nigrescens pops up in urn plantings or as a contrast to pale paving. There is something fascinating about the pool of shade that sombre colours cast… Continue reading Using Copper foliage in the garden
Deadheading Daffodils
Daffodils and Narcissi are undoubtedly among our most cherished and adored spring flowers, and they form a large part of our collection of flowering bulbs. The cheery flashes of bright canary yellow along our roadsides and verges heralds the start of spring and tempts us with summery thoughts of the sunshine to come. In the… Continue reading Deadheading Daffodils
Honey fungus: The tree killer
Honey fungi, Armillaria, are a group of parasitic fungi. They attack trees, shrubs and woody perennials, and are one of the most destructive fungal diseases in the UK. They are also among some of the biggest living organisms in the world, their underground networks often covering many miles and living for up to a thousand… Continue reading Honey fungus: The tree killer
Choosing and planting potted hedging
Container-grown hedging plants are perfect for planting all year round. Generally speaking, hedging is put in the ground over winter, using young bareroot plants when they are dormant. However, some circumstances call for a more instant, mature hedge – which is where container-grown (or potted) hedging plants play their part. Why choose potted hedging? Among… Continue reading Choosing and planting potted hedging
Organic care of roses
Roses, apart from being beautiful are also probably the most loved flower in British gardens – and one of the most useful. Rose petals are commonly harvested for use in cosmetics, dried for pot pourri, or added to jams, syrup or water for flavour. You can also crystallise them for use as cake decorations. Rose… Continue reading Organic care of roses
A guide to fruit tree pollination
The science (and sometimes the snake-oil) can run deep when it comes to fruit tree pollination. You could read endless books and research studies on how to optimise your orchard with a diversity of cross-pollinators to achieve a bumper crop. For most growers, it’s actually pretty straightforward to get the right results. This guide should… Continue reading A guide to fruit tree pollination
Freezing weather & bareroot plants
Most of the damage caused to bareroot plants in cold, freezing conditions is to the delicate roots themselves. The roots are fine, fibrous structures with a high water content: moving them, or even the slightest touch whilst frozen, can cause damage. Almost all of a shrub or a tree’s energy reserves are stored in the… Continue reading Freezing weather & bareroot plants