Innholdsfortegnelse for Nov-15 i BBC Gardeners' World

Most of us are now finely tuned to ‘wildlife gardening’ – a phrase that always makes me wince slightly, as it suggests a hierarchical notion of what is good and bad wildlife, and an unspoken predilection for cuteness in all things, but generally I am unapologetically selective about the creatures that I like to share my garden with. It’s accepted by some that the really important cohabitors are bacteria, fungi, insects and micro-organisms, but their ‘Bambi’ rating is pretty low – necessary, but somewhere on the scale from nerdy to nasty. It’s also a given that hedgehogs, grass snakes, newts, frogs, dragonflies, butterflies, bats and bees can be brandished as trophies, bestowing a kind of virtue on the gardener whose territory they select. The same people will happily zap a…

• A generous border gives depth of planting, a sense of lushness and tiers of plants. Choose plants you really like and that fit your conditions. Include plenty of tall plants, use foliage as well as flowers, and make sure some plants look good in winter too. Verdun • I think bendy, wavy curves are nicer than straight borders. Lyn • Bigger borders always make a better impact. Plant in groups of three, five or seven, and use repeat planting along the border as well. Fairygirl • If you think your border is too narrow after you’ve let your plants grow for a while, you can always nibble another bit off the lawn. B3 • The advantage of deeper borders is that you can display a range of trees, shrubs,…

• Contact weedkillers kill plant tissue quickly as they make contact with it. These will clear the ground of weed seedlings. Often they are labelled ‘fast acting’ and contain diquat. Use polythene to cover garden plants that need to be saved when spraying nearby. • Systemic weedkillers, such as glyphosate, enter plant tissue via the leaf, stem or roots and gradually move through the plants veins. This works well on perennial weeds, such as bindweed, as it means the chemical is taken down into the deep root system, which might survive if only the top was killed. • Selective herbicides only kill target plants, leaving others healthy. For example, weed killers for lawns keep the grass in place, while killing lawn weeds. Selective herbicides tend to remain in the soil…

The Secret History of the British Garden In this four-part series, Monty travels through 400 years of garden history. He starts by exploring one of the few surviving gardens of the 1600s – Levens Hall in the Lake District – and continuing to London’s Hampton Court. Through archaeology and wartime aerial photos, he discovers hidden messages and religious beliefs. In episode two, Monty arrives in the 18th century, and the landscape movement. He visits ‘Capability’ Brown’s landscape at Croome Court in Worcestershire, plus Rousham and Stanage Park. The third instalment focuses on the 19th century. Monty visits Osborne House; the first publicly owned, urban recreational park, Derby Arboretum; as well as Kew Gardens and Edinburgh’s botanic gardens. In the final episode, now in the 20th century, Monty examines the effect…

DAHLIAS Tubers should be stored slightly moist, as they can dry and shrivel up. Pack them in pots or trays of spent compost or sand, and water lightly before storing. Check once or twice over winter, and water if very dry. AGAPANTHUS Both evergreen and deciduous agapanthus are best given winter shelter, but evergreen ones are much less hardy, so keep them safe in a frost-free greenhouse. CITRUS PLANTS Bring these inside in early November. They need cool, humid conditions over winter, so most centrally heated homes are too dry and warm. A frost-free greenhouse or shed with a window are ideal. Water very sparingly – once a month is plenty – and do not feed again until April. WRAPPING UP Wrap tender perennials in horticultural fleece to protect them…

Winter is the time to prune many hardy woody plants, once they’ve shed their leaves and are dormant. Established fruit trees and bushes are best pruned every winter to encourage good-quality crops and minimise disease. Although tackling a whole tree can appear daunting, don’t ignore this job, as unpruned trees eventually become overgrown and congested. They may crop heavily, but the sheer quantity tends to result in undersized, poor-quality fruits. Fruit bushes and canes, such as blackcurrants and raspberries, and free-standing apple and pear trees should all be pruned in winter, but don’t touch trained trees, such as cordons, fans or espaliers, as these should only be pruned in summer, to restrict their growth. All forms of cherries, plums and damsons should also be pruned in summer to avoid fungal…

Polystone tall planter Feeling inspired by the courtyard garden featured on the previous pages? Get the look with this stylish pot. From £49.99 (+£4.99 postage); 0118 903 5210, primrose.co.uk Bench storage box This smart-looking bench has hidden storage beneath the seat. £99.99 (free UK postage), 0800 707 6677, robertdyas.co.uk Stackable table & chairsset This set stacks neatly away. Also available in brown. £249 (free UK postage); 01491 352 006, restrelax.com Basket high planter No beds? No problem. This metal planter provides extra space for greenery. In a range of colours. £280 (+£9.95 postage); 020 8878 1994, barbed.co.uk Folding table with wall panel The table folds away, and the nifty wall panel is ideal for hanging potted plants and storing tools. £65 (+£7.50 postage); 020 3645 0000, ikea.com Folding potting bench…

These brand new self-watering Growin-Pods are a unique modular system that will transform the way that you grow strawberries, and a range of other plants, on your patio for years to come. The innovative system is flexible so gives a number of growing arrangements and styles, including free-standing and wall mounted. Each pod holds five litres of compost, giving plenty of room for vigorous root development, has an integral water reservoir and is UV stabilised. 4 Growin-Pods  plus 4 ‘Cambridge Favourite’ strawberry runners £19.99* (code 320055) 8 Growin-Pods  plus 8 strawberry runners £29.99* SAVE £10 (code 320056) FREE! SWELL GEL & FEED worth £2.99 with every order! 5-YEAR GUARANTEE Unique modular growing system – perfect for strawberries and many other plants Self-watering with integral reservoirs ‘Cambridge Favourite’ strawberry runners included Call…

ALTHOUGH OCTOBER is conventionally the month of turning leaves and brilliant colour, it is increasingly November that lights the autumnal torch brightest – at least in the first half of the month. But that leafy flame becomes daily more fragile, and leaves cascade to the ground with every wintry gust of wind. All these fallen leaves are gold dust and we should collect every last one to transform into leafmould. This makes superb potting compost and is an invaluable soil improver, particularly for all woodland plants and bulbs. November can be a tricky month, especially as harsh weather can bring work to a juddering halt for days or even weeks at a time. But there is ground to be dug, deciduous hedges, trees and shrubs to be planted, tulip bulbs…

Start off fruit trees BARE-ROOT FRUIT TREES are only available while dormant, between November and March. They tend to be cheaper than plants in pots, with a wider choice of varieties. It’s vital to plant bare-root trees as soon as you can. Unwrap the roots straight away and soak them in a bucket of water for a couple of hours. Meanwhile, dig a hole that’s a little deeper than the root depth but at least twice as wide to encourage the roots to spread out. Fork some garden compost into the base of the hole, then drive in a supporting post on the windward side, so the tree will not knock against the post when the wind blows. Thoroughly soak the hole, then place the tree in it and backfill…

Create your own mini-orchard and enjoy a selection of delicious fruit for years to come. These classic varieties are grafted onto selected rootstocks so that each tree will grow to an eventual height of only 3-4m if left unpruned. Apple ‘Braeburn’ A first-class dessert apple – crisp and juicy, without being too hard. This variety crops heavily and the fruits store very well. Height 3m (unpruned) 1 bare-root tree £19.99 Pear ‘Conference’ A reliable, self-fertile cropper. Pick slightly under-ripe in September and the sweet, juicy pears are ready for eating from October to November. H 3m (unpruned) 1 bare-root tree £19.99 Cherry ‘ Stella’ Self-fertile ‘Stella’ is the most popular dessert cherry. White spring blossom is followed by abundant large, dark red, sweet fruits in late July.…

Q How can I produce more compost? David answers A The amount of compost you produce depends on the quantity of raw materials available. The most obvious ingredients include garden prunings, leaves, grass clippings and kitchen scraps, but other materials can be added to provide more of the rich, fibrous compost that is so valuable to your soil. Many gardeners limit themselves to just the soft, green material that is collected when growth is at its most vigorous. The woody matter that is pruned from trees and shrubs in the dormant season is often taken to the council tip, or burnt in a hefty bonfire. The importance of such woody material is often overlooked when making compost. When put through a shredder or cut into small pieces, this wood contains…

ORNAMENTAL GRASSES Knoll Gardens Wimborne, Dorset BH21 7ND This acclaimed naturalistic garden is renowned for its ornamental grasses, providing a stunning winter display among the many rare and unusual trees and shrubs. Open until 18 Dec, Tues-Sat, 10am-4pm; adults £6.25, concs £5.50, children (5-15) £4.50 S 01202 873931, knollgardens.co.uk ONE ADULT FREE with one full-paying adult Valid until 18 December 2015 * This coupon cannot be used for groups or in conjunction with any other offer. Coupon to be used once only. Voucher is not valid on event days. Photocopies are not acceptable. No cash alternative. NATURALLY TRANQUIL Rousham Nr Steeple Aston, Oxfordshire OX25 4QX Landscaped in 1735, these extensive grounds retain many original features, including cascades, ponds, the Temple of the Mill and a sham ruin, the Eyecatcher. The…

When the garden is at its fullest in summer, it can be hard to see the wood for the trees – or, more precisely, the plants for the flowers. But as autumn bites, borders give way to fading foliage, bare earth and empty gaps. Far from being the end of the line, however, amidst this gentle decay the roots for next summer’s fireworks are forming. So before memories fade on this summer’s successes (and perhaps the odd failure?), it’s the perfect time to rethink and rework your space, now you have a clear view across it, undistracted by lush growth. We’ve focused in this issue on big ideas for even the tiniest places, because once you’ve got a few design basics under your belt, you can apply them to a…

When a new version of an attractive shrub turns out to be not only better than the original, but also to have eliminated its most annoying feature, we know we’re on to a good thing. Rubus cockburnianus is a superb winter shrub. Its upright and arching waxy white winter stems are an outstanding feature, and when underplanted with scillas and hellebores the effect is delightful, but there’s no doubt it spreads too quickly. The main feature of the variety ‘Goldenvale’ is that its prettily dissected leaves are golden yellow instead of the usual green – the effect of losing much of the green colouring in the leaves is that the plant, having less chlorophyll, is significantly less vigorous and doesn’t grow as tall. It matures into a lovely, broad, feathery…

Write to Have your say, Gardeners’ World , Vineyard House, 44 Brook Green, London W6 7BT or email letters@gardenersworld.com and you could win National Garden Gift Vouchers Napoleon’s true identity You featured a letter in Gardeners’ Question Time (September issue) requesting identification of a rose. Anne Swithinbank correctly replied that it was a moss rose. I’d like to add that it’s the variety ‘Chapeau de Napoléon’, a centifolia-type moss rose, which has distinctive sepals in the shape of Napoleon’s hat. Michael Marriott, David Austin Roses, Wolverhampton Check for hidden wildlife I was surprised that in Joe’s job of the month (October issue) so much emphasis was put on turning compost, with no mention of checking for hedgehogs or other wildlife that might be hiding in there at this time of…

The porch isn’t just a place to dump umbrellas and wellington boots, it’s also somewhere you can put a welcoming light – and there are many strange insects that are attracted to lights. After buzzing about throughout the night, they come to rest with daybreak and can be found settled on walls or hiding under your boots. Some are genuinely looking for a spot to spend the winter – somewhere that is dry and cool. These creatures will push themselves into a tight corner or hide in a small space behind the back of a flowerpot. They normally rest high up, where they would naturally avoid damp if they had clambered inside a hollow tree trunk or a rock crevice. Overnight (or daytime) roosters will rest on any wall or…

Number 1 at number 10 A gardener has been awarded the prestigious British Empire Medal. During a 26-year career at 10 Downing Street, Paul Schooling has tended the gardens of five Prime Ministers during his time, including Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair and David Cameron. Congratulations Paul! Do you 2-for-1? Garden visiting is the perfect way to get inspiration and pick up tips about your favourite hobby. If you have ever used our 2-for-1 Entry Card & Guide, then we want you to tell us how you use it and what we can do to make it even better for 2016. Have your say at gardenersworld.com/2for1survey Nature prescription on the NHS The restoration of our natural world should be part funded by NHS England, according to the nation’s leading nature organisations.…

Oh, how quickly the year slips by, like sand running through our fingers, and before we know it autumn offers a whole new set of vibrant pleasures. Seasonality is one of the greatest joys of gardening in Britain – the scene is an ever-changing one, providing us with new views and fresh challenges, which is not something you can ever say about the tropics. There’s a distinctive smell about autumn – the sweet and sour tang that first assailed the nostrils on one particular morning in late September, lingers on into November. Thanks to the lowering temperatures, leaves have turned red as a clown’s nose or yellow as custard and are now tumbling to the ground, landing like litter on the dew-laden grass. The soft shoes we’ve insisted on wearing…

Tatton Park in Cheshire is well known as the home of the RHS Flower Show in July, but it’s also a popular destination all year – boasting a 1,000-acre deer park, a neoclassical mansion house, an atmospheric Tudor hall, a working farm and some fabulous permanent gardens. My favourite is the Japanese Garden, which is thought to have been inspired by former owner Alan de Tatton Egerton’s visit, in 1910, to the Japan-British Exhibition in London. This exhibition hugely influenced British fashion and design, and Tatton’s resulting showpiece is now seen as one of the finest examples of Japanese gardens in Europe. The informal ‘tea-garden’ style doesn’t actually follow the strict rules of authentic Japanese models – for example, there’s no dry garden or stroll garden – and is more…

ometimes it’s difficult to believe how much the garden at Glebe Cottage has changed. Then I remember we’ve been here for 37 years and gardening is no exception to the rule that nothing stays the same! Not only do gardens change throughout the seasons, but the seasons are different from year to year, and trees, shrubs and perennials get bigger every year. Many of you, my fellow gardeners, must find yourselves in a similar position, but because the new overgrown reality creeps up on us, it can come as quite a surprise, even a shock. We might realise that a view we’d cherished has disappeared. Maybe a favourite route we’d always followed is now impassable and we’ll have to reach for the machete. Perhaps a tree has become so big…

Rather than being stuck indoors over winter, the nobility used to enjoy strolling in their bright, glass-covered winter gardens. We can emulate this activity, on a less grandiose scale, by turning idle unheated greenhouses into attractive, productive retreats. Here, slightly tender plants such as Lavandula pinnata, agapanthus and lemon verbena can sit out winter protected from the wind and rain. Many gardeners insulate their greenhouse with bubble wrap, however, I’ve given this up, partly because it can encourage damp and grey mould, but mainly because I enjoy the view over the garden. And plants need space and good ventilation to stay healthy. The more time you spend in your greenhouse this winter, the more plants you’ll want to add, both ornamentals and winter edibles. Pottering under cover in this halfway…

When winter pruning apple and pear trees, there are three main aims: to create an open branch structure, to regulate the amount of fruit-bearing wood, and to take out any dead and damaged stems. Begin by removing growth that must go, namely the ‘three Ds’ – anything dead, diseased or damaged. With diseased or dead stems, which tend to look brown and shrivelled, cut right back into healthy wood, which is green inside. Remove broken, crossing or rubbing stems too, as they can become diseased. Then stand back and assess the overall shape. You want a balanced spread of branches with an open centre, so take out any stems growing inwards. This will let in sunlight and air to ripen the fruit and prevent disease. Also take out older, vertical-growing…

Even though many gardens are winding down for winter, there are still plenty of plants that come into their own now, providing long-lasting colour through the chillier months of the year. Planted in large containers, these valiant winter performers will make a huge impact in a small space and will require little maintenance. And if you place the pots where you’ll see them on a daily basis, such as beside a doorway, along a path or in front of French windows, they’re sure to raise your spirits, whatever the weather. GLOWING EMBERS This richly coloured display provides a warm welcome on a doorstep. In spring, compost the violas and replant the rest in your borders. Other plants to get the look Berberis ‘Admiration’, Tiarella ‘Pirate’s Patch’, Gaultheria procumbens TOP TIP…

30 August-10 September 2016 11-night cruise from only £1,399pp Join Carol Klein* , Matt Biggs, and Gardener’s World Magazine deputy editor, David Hurrion, on a cruise of French rivers and gardens to celebrate 25 years Horticultural highlights Bois des Moutiers was created by Guillaume Mallet in 1898 The gardens were planned in collaboration with English landscape designer, Miss Gertrude Jekyll The house is officially listed as an historic monument and as an outstanding garden The Guillaume Mallet family will meet the party as we visit their gardens Monet’s Garden is divided into two distinct halves – the flower garden and the water garden The Flower Garden is set around the Grande Allée with its flowering climbers trailing over iron frameworks and leafy tunnels In 1893 Monet diverted the…

Spread mulch over beds TO ROUND OFF your autumn tidy-up, apply mulch to your ornamental borders. Not only will it make them look neat, it will also suppress weeds, enrich the soil and help to insulate plant roots from the cold. After you’ve trimmed back faded top-growth on perennial border plants, cleared the weeds and aerated the soil by forking lightly across the surface, apply your mulch, but only when the ground is damp. So wait until after some heavy rain, then dress your borders with a thick layer (at least 5cm deep) of garden compost, leaf mould, well-rotted manure or bagged mulch compost. Over time this will be taken down into the soil by worms and will help to improve its structure. If the mulch is rich in nutrients,…

Make leafmould FALLEN LEAVES are freely available at this time of year and are the sole ingredient of leafmould. This makes a great soil improver, and can also be used in potting compost if you can get a fine, high-quality result. All you need to do is gather up your fallen leaves and let them rot down for 12 to 18 months. It’s best to use only deciduous leaves, as evergreen leaves, even if shredded, break down slowly (taking up to three years) so are better added to the compost heap. The handiest way to store the leaves is in plastic sacks, which can be hidden away behind the shed. For large quantities of leaves, you could make a wire- mesh bin, with four corner posts, to store them in.…

One of my greatest pleasures is going into the garden on a sunny morning, finding a nice ripe apple and munching it right down to the stalk. But how well does the apple compare to other fruits when it comes to health benefits? We all know that eating fruit and veg is good for you – the ‘5 a day’ campaign has been enormously successful at drumming that message home. Although, sadly, I’ve seen tins of spaghetti hoops, packed with sugar, labeled ‘5 a day’, presumably because they contain a few tomatoes. But, to genuinely get the nutritional goodness from fruit and veg, it has to be the real thing, and the fresher the better. So without doubt, to get the freshest and therefore the healthiest fruit, you have to…

Chris Beardshaw A member of BBC2’s Beechgrove Garden team, Chris is also an award-winning garden designer. Christine Walkden Garden writer Christine appears on BBC1’s The One Show. She is also a lecturer and tour leader. Bunny Guinness Winner of many Chelsea Gold Medals, Bunny has designed everything from public parks to city gardens. Q What’s the best way to tame a large, wild, steep bank? Louise Baily, Warwickshire A CHRIS SAYS: First you must clear the area of persistent weeds and their offspring, such as docks, nettles and brambles. Ideally strim these prior to seed set, but at this time of year simply mow roughly, then treat with herbicide in spring. Next, dig the area to aerate the soil and incorporate plenty of well-rotted farmyard manure or local authority green…

It’s a funny thing, but however long we’ve been gardening, we still worry about what to plant where, and then follow it up with worry that we might have planted it in the wrong place. It’s an understandable state of affairs, since we all want to do the very best for our plants, but it’s also completely irrational, as plants can be moved, especially at this time of year. Umpteen years ago, when I was cajoled into writing my first volume of memoirs (there have been three, which is something of an embarrassment), I sought around for a title. My wife rejected my suggestion of ‘Slightly Soiled’ on the grounds that it sounded rather sordid. It was an appearance on the panel of the television quiz Through the Keyhole that…

You will receive • 3 x Agapanthus ‘Donau’ Height x Spread 120cm x 60cm • 3 x Agapanthus africanus ‘Albus’ H x S 100cm x 50cm You will also receive five free packets of Thompson & Morgan flower seeds PLUS GREAT OFFERS ON PERENNIALS FOR SUMMER DISPLAYS… Nerine bowdenii For a dramatic late-season display of vibrant pink lily-like flowers, plant these bulbs in tight clumps in a sunny spot. HxS 45cm x 8cm 6 bulbs £11.99 12 bulbs £16.98 SAVE £7 Alstroemeria ‘ Red Lion ’ An attractive variety of Peruvian lily with bronze-freckled white petals edged in soft red. Flowers from June to October. HxS 70cm x 30cm 3 bare-root plants for £9.99 6 bare-root plants for £19.98 PLUS 3 FREE Eremurus ‘Sunbeam’ This foxtail…

Great news – plants, including root vegetables, grow well in undug soil, so gardeners can choose whether to dig or not. Sometimes it’s appropriate to dig, if you need to bury weeds in order to have clean soil, but most gardeners I discuss this with are delighted to discover how to save themselves not only the job of digging, but also the subsequent extra weeding. Anybody visiting my garden can see for themselves the lack of weeds and exuberant growth. The answer lies in covering soil with a thin compost mulch – this feeds the earth and maintains aeration. It also suppresses annual weeds and seriously weakens perennials ones. I once even cleared a large area of couch grass, completely. I’ve been advising the vegetable gardeners at Sissinghurst Castle. Prior…

I have a small garden and an allotment that yield regular successes and failures. But, like most amateur gardeners I imagine, I’m not doing it for the balance sheet but rather to reap good flavours, scent and sights, and even good health. So news in March from the World Health Organisation (WHO) that one of the most commonly used garden chemicals is “probably carcinogenic” hits hard. The study was conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) – the specialised cancer agency of the WHO. They reviewed research into the “evidence of carcinogenicity” of a number of agro-chemicals, including glyphosate, the most widely used herbicide in farming and gardens. It can be readily found on the shelves of most garden centres and DIY stores, in products such as…

• Autumn colour looks like it will be stunning, thanks to ideal weather conditions. And with a huge range of ornamental plants, The Savill and Valley Gardens near Windsor is one of the top places to visit. Go to windsorgreatpark.co.uk • A beautiful new variety of hardy osteospermum has been bred by Essex horticultural college, Writtle. ‘Little Writtle’ is perfect for a container or the front of a border, and has vivid, deep-pink flowers. £8.99 for a plant in a 9cm pot from suttons.co.uk • British birds are bigger ‘up north’ according to a study by researchers at the University of Northampton. Sparrows, blackbirds and thrushes are all bigger the further north you go, which has been linked to the birds’ need to conserve body heat in cooler climates. •…

• Plant bare-root trees and shrubs in the relatively warm soil of autumn. Although they can be planted at any time until March, they’ll establish more rapidly than if you wait until spring. • Plant perennials in autumn too, rather than in spring, as they’ll be much larger by summer and put on a better floral display. Only on heavy clay soil should planting be delayed until spring, as leaving perennials to sit in cold, waterlogged earth through the winter may cause them to rot. • Enrich the soil with plenty of well-rotted manure or garden compost before planting perennials to give them the best possible start in life. Also add sharp grit if the soil is on the heavy side. Be less generous with trees, where over-manuring can create…

HISTORY Acquired by Sir Thomas Egerton, Lord Chancellor of England, in 1598, Tatton Park estate was the Egerton family home until it was bequeathed to the National Trust in 1958. The mansion house contains one of the Trust’s finest libraries and an extensive collection of paintings. GARDENS Among the 50 acres of gardens is a fine example of an Edwardian walled kitchen garden with some fantastic fruit trees and mushroom sheds. There is a superb collection of 18th-century glasshouses, including orchid houses, the recently restored Pinery Vinery for growing pineapples, and a fernery designed by Crystal Palace architect Joseph Paxton. Beyond the formal areas are 2,000 acres of landscaped deer park, woodland, meres and farmland, of which 1,000 acres are open for the public to explore. VISIT Gardens are open…

Courtyard gardens are exciting and challenging spaces, where having a sense of drama can really pay off. Often they’re shady and overlooked by neighbouring buildings, but they can also be warm and sheltered, allowing you to grow a wide range of interesting and more tender plants. Because the whole of a courtyard garden can usually be seen from indoors, it often works well as an extension of the house or building and, with the addition of lighting and outdoor fires, can be used all year. Designer Kate Gould, who created this contemporary scheme for a semi-shaded lower-level courtyard in north London, says the most important thing to do when planning a small space is to give it structure. It’s tempting to cram lots of plants in, but to achieve a…

Join members of the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team on this relaxing cruise along the coast of France and into some of its most scenic rivers – the Gironde, Garonne and Seine. You’ll travel in style from Southampton along meandering waterways, with mile upon mile of daytime scenic cruising through beautiful French countryside. There will be trips to a selection of charming gardens, as well as vibrant and culturally rich towns and ports along the way, including Honfleur, La Rochelle, Montoir-de-Bretagne and Lorient, with overnight stays in the historic cities of Bordeaux and Rouen. • Visit to Monet’s Garden • Visit to Bois des Moutiers, with guided tour by the owners • Exclusive on-board programme of talks • Exclusive ‘Gardeners’ Question Time’ • Welcome drinks reception…

Save and sow tree seeds COLLECTING AND GERMINATING tree seeds isn’t as tricky as you might think, and now is the ideal time to try it – the fruits are starting to dry out and seed pods are splitting open. Many tree seeds (including the spindle tree, Euonymus europaeus, shown here) are dormant and need to be ‘stratified’ (exposed to cold, damp conditions) to trigger them into growth. This would occur naturally in the ground over winter, but for more reliable results the process can be easily mimicked in the fridge. The seeds are ready to sow when a small proportion have sprouted – this shows that the remaining seeds are close to germinating, too. You can then sow the seeds in pots filled with good-quality seed compost, or in…

Most spring bulbs, including daffodils and hyacinths, should be tucked away in the soil by now. But don’t despair if you haven’t planted tulips yet. They can go in as late as Christmas and still give a stunning spring display. In fact, tulips are best planted later, as they’re susceptible to a fungal disease called tulip fire, which is prevalent in the warm, damp weather of autumn. Waiting to plant them until after the first couple of frosts helps to avoid infection. You may wish to wear gloves when handling tulip bulbs as they can irritate the skin. Plant them at three times the depth of the bulb. Setting tulips deep avoids the need to stake the larger flowers, which would otherwise flop without extra support. Also, at this depth…

15 years and still going strong This bed of delphiniums were originally grown from free seeds we got with Gardeners’ World Magazine 15 years ago – they continue to flourish. Nona M Welsh, Isle of Man Hover hornet Over the summer, these beautiful, enormous, scary-looking but harmless hoverflies frequented my eryngiums. Ivan Mullice, by email We say: This spectacular migratory insect is a hornet mimic hoverfly Super seeds One of my favourite things in the garden is opening a mature runner bean pod to reveal these seeds in glorious hues of magenta, spotted with purple. It never fails to delight me. Stu Roberts, Herefordshire Bean feast I have a few bean plants in a big pot in front of the greenhouse. I noticed recently that some were being eaten and…