Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2022 i Garden Answers

Patio plants POPS OF PINK GAP PHOTOS/NICOLA STOCKEN An old wooden garden sieve makes a great rustic garden container. Line it with a piece of an empty compost bag, puncturing some holes in the base for drainage, then fill it with a 50:50 mix of peat-free compost and grit and plant dainty alpines such as Lewisia cotyledon ‘Elise White’ (H and S15cm/6in); the hot pink, scented flowers of dianthus ‘Aztec Star’ (H15cm/6in S10cm/4in) and long-flowering dianthus ‘Pink Kisses’ (H and S15cm/6in). Tumbling over the edge of the sieve are the prostate stems and magenta flowers of Phlox subulata ‘McDaniel’s Cushion’ (H10cm/4in S30cm/12in) and the fragrant foliage of thyme ‘Silver Queen’ (H20cm/8in S30cm/12in). GET THE LOOK Kitchen garden style Stock up on practical and pretty grow-your-own kit to help tend your…

PHOTOS: GARDEN WORLD IMAGES; ALAMY; SHUTTERSTOCK; WIKICOMMONS; HARE SPRING COTTAGE PLANTS “The colour of the blooms resemble lakes of clear water” Elegant and architectural camassia or quamash is one of the few bulbs that thrives in damp soil, making a glorious display of blue or white flowers in late spring and early summer. Upright flower stems vary from around knee to waist height, are densely topped with many small star-shaped blooms and rise from a basal tuft of long slender leaves. While often planted to naturalise in grass and sometimes referred to as ‘aristocratic bluebells’, their statuesque sophistication has so much more potential around the garden. Not least because camassias are also hardy, easy to grow in the right soil, and – a big bonus with moisture-loving plants – they…

VERBENA BONARIENSIS Tall, light and airy border plant that’s superb for nectaring butterflies. H90cm (3ft) S30cm (12in) ERYSIMUM ‘BOWLES’S MAUVE’ A plant that can be in flower from February until November and is great for butterflies. H and S60cm (2ft) LONICERA PERICLYMENUM Native climbing honeysuckle has exotic-looking, fragrant flowers followed by red berries. H5m (16ft) S90cm (3ft) GERANIUM ‘ROZANNE’ It flowers on and on, the open purplish blooms a stalwart for bees. H45cm (18in) S60cm (2ft)…

May’s warmer nights and longer days are bringing new life to the veg plot – including pests. Battalions of slugs have already stormed my makeshift barricades and Aphid Command is refuelling on my tomatoes. It’s easy to become despondent. Actually, I hate to use the word ‘pests’. Gastropods such as slugs are often regarded as the scourge of the seedbed, but in fact they do some valuable jobs: breaking down plant matter, dispersing seeds and mulching with their slug poop. Beetles and wasps are actually ‘winged pesticides’ that keep the real pests, such as aphids, under control. I like to encourage and attract natural predators by providing shelter and habitats, such as butterfly feeders and ladybird houses, or simply just a stack of tree prunings. But even with the best…

Q How do you make a bean support? A The simplest way to make a support is to tie together a wigwam of 1.8m (6ft) tall bamboo canes that have been pushed into the soil. Angle them inwards, then gather the tops together and tie them tightly. Choose a sheltered but sunny part of the garden for the wigwam. Use at least five canes and insert them 15cm (6in) apart. Q What’s the best type of climbing bean to grow in my garden? A Runner beans are likely to produce the heaviest crop and be the most vigorous plants, but can struggle on exposed, windy sites. White-flowered cultivars are less prone to bird damage. Climbing French beans are more suitable than runners for growing in containers. Q Why are my…

Q Did manure cause potato distortion? PAUL EVANS, BY EMAIL A Potatoes can become distorted for various reasons. When using manure on crops there is a risk of pesticide residue from straw used in bedding remaining in the manure. Thorough composting should reduce this problem, but if this was the issue with your potatoes you would see the effects on the foliage, which would be distorted – it wouldn’t just affect the tubers. Mis-shapen tubers are most often caused by a lack of water at various times as the tubers swell or if temperatures rise too high. Irregular watering, allowing the plants to get dry at the roots or even wilt, and then soaking them, causes the tubers to stop growing then start again and knobbly tubers will result. Temperatures…

PICTURES SHUTTERSTOCK UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED “A hose-end watering attachment provides far greater control and helps reduce water waste” Watering is a major gardening activity in summer and can take up a fair amount of time, if the weather is warm and sunny. So, it’s worth making the task as quick and as easy as possible, so you can spend more time enjoying your garden. While many people find using a watering can therapeutic, this is a very labour-intensive method and takes ages in even a moderately-sized garden. Providing you have an accessible tap and don’t want to have a crippled back and biceps like a bodybuilder, you need a hosepipe and accessories to give you a good turn of speed to race around the garden when watering. While putting your…

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“…harvesting bundles of cut flowers for grown-not-flown bouquets.” Alice Whitehead shares Life on the Veg Patch, p74 “…making time to visit flower shows and open gardens for lots of fresh inspiration.” Sue Fisher writes about camassia, p26 “…planting out my half-hardy seed-grown plants, after the risk of frosts.” Lucy Bellamy picks small space ideas, p18 “…this month I’ll be laying turf in my new Poison Garden.” Adrian Thomas give us wildlife tips for small gardens, p69 “…bringing on my veg seedlings and still digging my wildlife pond!” Rupert Paul writes our Green View column, p114 “…getting inspiration from Chelsea Flower Show for my small town garden.” Art Editor Gill Lockhart designs the magazine PHOTOS: ALAMY; GAP PHOTOS…

PHOTOS: ALAMY; BAUER PICK SOME EDIBLE FLOWERS By this time in spring an abundance of delicate flowers are bursting into bloom. As well as brightening the garden and vases indoors, they can liven up your lunch if you pick some edible flowers. The cheerful blooms of chives add a hot, oniony kick to a salad, while perfumed violas and clove-flavoured pinks (dianthus) sprinkled onto your plate add some extra taste and beautiful colour. Before late tulips start to blow over, pick the petals (which taste like lettuce) and mix them into a salad for a colourful crunch. Edible flowers make beautiful cakes and biscuits toppers too, and this month’s Life on the Veg Patch contributor Alice Whitehead (on page 75) even sets hers in sugar to make pansy-pops. Prepare hanging…

Occasionally a garden designer conjures a plant palette that makes the whole horticultural community go weak at the knees. Luciano Giubbilei achieved mass heartbreak when he paired the rich bronze of iris ‘Dutch Chocolate’ with a sliding range of dusky pinks in his 2011 RHS Chelsea Flower Show design. Cow parsley ‘Ravenswing’ and almost-in-flower deschampsia added a final nod to country lanes and the romanticism of meadows. If you’re eager to recreate this border, keep in mind its show garden roots; pull back on the planting density and give the bearded iris in particular plenty of sunshine away from near-neighbours Colour palette Rich bronze, dusky pink and vibrant purple 3 easy steps STEP 1 DESIGN YOUR BORDER GAP PHOTOS/JO WHITWORTH – DESIGNER: LUCIANO GIUBBILEI; ALAMY; SHUTTERSTOCK ILLUSTRATION: GILL LOCKHART STEP…

Sally Frederick FEATURE: ZIA ALLAWAY; PHOTOS: CAROLINE MARDON /GAP GARDEN SIZE 1.5 acres SITE Mostly west and south facing SOIL Heavy clay soil improved with farmyard manure to produce a water-retentive clay loam FEATURES Cottage-style borders; woodland garden; tropical garden; Mediterranean-style courtyard CONTACT Sally Frederick’s garden is not open to the public, but she offers tours to small groups through the Haslemere Gardening Society, haslemeregardeningsociety@gmail.com…

‘Purple Rain’ This ‘Purple Sensation’ and A. christophii cross has 15cm (6in) wide purple flower heads in June. H90cm (3ft) S20cm (8in) ‘White Giant’ Large sparkling white globes are studded with hundreds of flowers on statuesque stems in May and June. H1.5m (5ft) S40cm (16in) Allium cristophii Flowering June-July with large heads up to 20cm (8in) across of silvery-purple starry flowers. H60cm (2ft) S20cm (8in) ‘Ostara’ Low-growing allium with dense heads of dark purple flowers on strong stems June-July. H and S40cm (16in) Allium atropurpureum Dome-shaped heads of deep purple-pink, violet-centred flowers May-June. H75cm (2½ft) S15cm (6in) Allium nigrum Green-eyed white flowers on semi-globular heads are produced June-July. H40cm (16in) S10cm (4in)…

Wisteria floribunda multijuga Fabulous pendant clusters of purple and white pea-like flowers May–June; plant in full sun. H9m (30ft) S3m (10ft) Laburnum watereri ‘Vossii’ Masses of scented bright yellow flowers, loved by bees, May–June; highly toxic to humans and animals. H5m (16ft) S4m (13ft) Vitis coignetiae Heart-shaped leaves turn spectacular shades in autumn on this deciduous climber, also known as crimson glory vine. H15m (50ft) S5m (16ft) Polystichum setiferum Large evergreen fern with dramatic dark green fronds that unfurl in mid-spring; has good winter presence. H1.2m (4ft) S90cm (3ft) Hosta ‘Sum and Substance’ Robust hosta with thick, deeply ribbed foliage that resists slugs; attractive lilac summer flowers. H75cm (2½ft) S1.2m (4ft) Anemone japonica ‘Honorine Jobert’ Late summer-flowering perennial with exquisite pure white saucer-shaped flowers for light shade.…

1 TAKE CUTTINGS Softwood cuttings of plants such as lavender, fuchsia and verbena will produce robust new plants by the end of the year. 2 DON’T MOW IN NO-MOW MAY But it’s just as important that some of us defer till June July, or even September. 3 HOE WEEDS Where you have to, but if there’s an area where you’re willing to let them be, enjoy them in their own right. Some are beautiful and most have wildlife value. Look out for... PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK; ALAMY; BAUER ● NESTING BIRDS Give them a wide berth if you know where they are – all the effort is exhausting for them and they will welcome not being disturbed. ● SWIFTS RETURNING The shrieking birds usually appear on the dot from the first week…

Name: Alice Whitehead Location: Northampton Patch type: Urban allotment and garden Size: Two standard-sized allotments and terraced street garden (about 600 sq m/ 717 sq yd) Soil: Clay allotment; garden loam Aspect: East/west-facing allotment; north-facing garden Top 5 crops: Courgette, rainbow chard, orach, tomatoes, potatoes Failures: Edamame, melon, cauliflower, asparagus Organic tip: Try no-dig – hoe off annual weeds and let worms and nature do the rest Find out more: Instagram/Facebook/Twitter @allotmentalice…

Time for real turf? In response to your news item Time for real turf? (April, p12), this is our 9-year-old artificial lawn that’s had absolutely no maintenance. My husband kept the lawn like a bowling green, so was very reluctant to change to artificial grass, but we’re both in our 80s and are very happy with the result. Doreen Hydes, by email Nothing can replace the feel, look or environmental benefits of a lush lawn, but it’s not a low-maintenance option. My neighbour recently changed to fake grass because with real turf the kids brought mud into the house and the grass looked rough in their north-facing garden. However the artificial lawn was laid right up to the fence with no room for borders or plants. Perhaps there should be…

Colourful aubrieta. David Collins, Cardiff Beautiful hellebore. Helen Souter, by email Glorious camellias. Emma Brinkhurst, East Sussex Dual-coloured hellebore. Carol Silversides, by email Camellia and magnolia bathing in spring sunshine at Caerhays Castle. Michael Goodman, Cornwall Vibrant camellia. Sandy Moseling, by email Cowslips from seed. Dorothy Thornton, Staffs Dish of the day! Sue Wardle, Loughborough…

1 Allium hollandicum Starburst flowers in pompom shapes on tall sturdy stems. The vibrant purple blooms are reliably perennial, returning every year. ✿ H60cm S5cm (2in) 2 Solenostemon ‘Redhead’ Also known as coleus, these foliage plants with soft colourful leaves and serrated edges are great for containers. ✿ H and S80cm (16in) 3 Thymus serpyllum Creeping thyme forms an evergreen mat with small green leaves and tiny white flowers in summer. It releases an aromatic scent when brushed past. ✿ H20cm (8in) S40cm (16in) 4 Chamaemelum nobile Low-growing Roman chamomile forms a mat of narrow leaves that are smothered in summer with small white daisy flowers with a yellow eye. It can tolerate the occasional footstep. ✿ H and S30cm (12in) 5 Buxus sempervirens Useful for structure in a small…

1 WINTER BLOOMERS Winter- and early-spring flowering shrubs that have finished their display, such as daphne and sweet box, can be lightly pruned to tidy up their shape. Prompt clipping ensures they will still flower next year. 2 FLOWERING CURRANT Spring-flowering ribes shrubs need an overhaul every two or three years. After flowering, shorten young stems that are encroaching on other plants and cut around a quarter of the oldest stems right back to encourage fresh growth. 3 FORSYTHIA Rejuvenate older plants by cutting some of the thicker stems down to the base. If you tackle them all at once the plant might not flower the following year. Instead, stagger pruning by removing a third of the stems each year, over the next three years.…

LATE SUMMER: SALVIA NEMOROSA ‘SCHWELLENBURG’ Tiny and textural rose-purple flowers almost like grass seedheads, flowering July-Aug. H60m (2ft) S45cm (16in) AUTUMN: SANGUISORBA MENZIESII Purple-pink bottle brushes July-Sept on willowy stems with bluey-green foliage. H75cm (2½ft) S60cm (2ft) WINTER: CHIONOCHLOA RUBRA Red tussock grass whose fine red-tinged leaves make handsome winter clumps. H1.8m (6ft) S90cm (3ft) SPRING: EPIMEDIUM GRANDIFLORUM ‘LILAFEE’ Pale purple flowers with long spurs March and April; bronze foliage. H and S30cm (12in)…

‘Midhurst White’ Tall bearded iris with white ruffled petals and bright yellow beards. H90cm (3ft) S60cm (2ft) ‘Sparkling Rose’ Siberian iris with pinkish-purple flowers and long narrow leaves. H1m (3ft 3in) S50cm (20in) ‘Black Sergeant’ Dramatic tall bearded iris with blackish purple flowers and a vivid violet beard. H1m (3ft 3in) S50cm (20in) ‘Poésie’ An unusual combination of pale pink, white and mauve with bright orange beards. H80cm (32in) S40cm (16in) ‘Princesse Caroline de Monaco’ Tall bearded iris with huge ruffled light blue flowers and orange beards. H85cm (34in) S40cm (16in) ‘Tigereye’ Striking Dutch iris with coppery maroon and purple petals and a bright yellow eye. H60cm (2ft) S45cm (18in) ‘Benton Caramel’ A Cedric Morris tall bearded iris with burgundy petals and orange beards. H90cm (3ft) S30cm (12in)…

You might think there’s little point in trying to help wildlife in small gardens. After all, don’t most creatures need big spaces with large trees, expansive meadow-lawns and ponds that are more like lakes? The encouraging truth is that plenty of wildlife will happily set up home or pause for a satisfying pitstop in even very small gardens. That’s because lots of smaller animals have quite modest needs. If you are a frog, you and a few friends only need a little pond to breed in, some shady cover in summer and autumn, and then a sheltered hidey-hole to spend the winter. For a ladybird or stag beetle, your space requirements are even less demanding. The other reason is that small gardens are rarely in isolation. They tend to be…

HARD LANDSCAPING often takes 50% or more of the space in a small garden. After all, you need hard surfaces to move around your garden, and small areas of grass would soon cut up with the regular footfall. For a more planet-friendly option, however, try gravel instead. It allows rainwater to flow through, doesn’t require a bed of concrete (one of the most energy-demanding materials to create), and won’t need repeat chemical preservatives as with decking. You can even grow gorgeous flowers through the gravel such as thyme or fornian oppies.…

GET STARTED 1 Fill modules with compost Module trays are the best places to start a crop of climbing beans (either runner or French). Fill each module to the top with multi-purpose compost. 2 Sow the seed One seed is enough for each module. Push the seed into the centre at a depth equal to twice the height of the seed. Cover with compost so the surface is level. 3 Mark each row Label the tray after sowing so different cultivars don’t get mixed up. Then soak the compost using a watering can fitted with a fine rose. Stop watering when puddles form. 4 Care for young plants Kept in a well-lit place at 18-20C (64-68F), seed should germinate in a week or so. Regularly turn the trays to stop…

GEOFF STEBBINGS gives expert answers to all your gardening problems. Geoff is an author and gardening writer, and was head gardener at Myddelton House, north London. GEOFF HODGE will be answering subscriber questions in our new Live Zoom Q&A events. Geoff is a horticultural author, radio broadcaster and speaker, and former online editor for the RHS. IAN HODGSON casts an expert eye over unruly borders, providing advice on how to revamp them. Ian is author of Great Gardens, in association with the Society of Garden Designers. CONTACT US By post: Garden Answers, Bauer Media, Media House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA Email: gardenanswers@bauermedia.co.uk Web: www.gardenanswersmagazine.co.uk Social media: Find us on Facebook as Garden Answers Twitter @GardenAnswers Instagram as gardenanswers…

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After seeing your article on creative crates (April, p27) I thought I’d share my own efforts. Back in 2020 I was in London for Mother’s Day and saw crates being used to great effect as planters in Covent Garden where they were stacked up and placed on old apple barrows as a nod to the old fruit market. I came home and managed to find some old ones online. By going vertical with my gardening, it has given me some more growing room, at waist height, and also makes an attractive enclosure for the gazebo in my very small garden! Sue Wood, Lynwood, Folkestone CONGRATULATIONS As author of this month’s star letter Sue wins this complete set-up for feeding garden birds from the RSPB: a classic seed feeder, nut and…

Can you imagine moving into a new house, wandering into the garden, and finding a bag of gold in the shed. Too good to be true, eh? Well, something similar to that has happened to me. And I suspect it could happen to a lot of other people too. It started innocently enough when my girlfriend Jas expressed a desire to rewild the area next to her house. She lives in a tiny development of four or five recently-built houses, and in one corner there’s a patch of old trees and mown grass that, for whatever reason, didn’t get built on. She and her neighbour liked the idea of creating a wildflower meadow. So we went and had a look. And discovered that we didn’t need to create one –…