Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2023 i Garden Answers

Almost before we realise it’s begun, the end of summer is in sight. Hopefully you’re still able to navigate the British weather and get outside to enjoy your gardens – it’s only right that we get to make the most of all the planning, planting, pruning, mulching and tending we do in winter and spring, after all! The seasons move on inexorably. Some plants are already finished, others are providing a late flash of colour that will go on until the first frosts. But what of those plants that never stop providing interest? Whether it’s foliage, flowers, fruit or berries, they seem to be on the go all year round – the really hard-working heroes of the garden. In this issue (turn to page 22), Greg Loades celebrates these plants…

A FRESH START The beauty of this time of year is that there are still lots of plants flowering well or just about to flower and mixing the two together can create a fresh look in the garden. Blending together summer and autumn, this container display will look good well into autumn, as long as it’s well watered. Densely-packed containers cannot rely on rainfall for their watering needs because the plants act a barrier to the water reaching the roots. Bring home the harvest GET THE LOOK Things to make sure you get the pick of the crop so that you can enjoy the most delicious fruits EXCITING INSECTS LOOK OUT FOR LLOYD OF THE FLIES Visit an RHS garden with children before the summer holidays are out, and they…

Commonly known as burnet, sanguisorba has been around for centuries, though has only come to prominence since the rise in popularity of naturalistic planting styles. Their striking flower shapes really make them stand out from the crowd. Borne in profusion on slender, yet sturdy stems, blooms are either fluffy and bottlebrush-shaped; catkin-like; or ‘bobbly’, in a colour range that includes white, soft pink to darker shades, mauve and dark red. Stems arise from clumps of handsome leaves that are green or bluey-green, divided with serrated edges. They’re easy to grow in decent fertile soil and sun, and are bone-hardy, too. Sanguisorba species are found throughout the Northern Hemisphere in northern USA; Canada; Japan; Asia; and Europe, with around 15 species available to UK gardeners. The number of cultivars has rocketed…

Order bare-root trees & shrubs Many shrubs, trees and even perennials can be planted as bare-root specimens, which are delivered when they’re dormant in winter with no soil around the roots. Bare-root plants are cheaper than potted plants and readily available online because they’re lighter and less bulky to post. Order now for late autumn or winter delivery. Don’t forget... SOW SWEET PEAS Sweet peas are hardy and seeds sown now will survive winter to give early flowers next year. Sow them in deep pots or Rootrainers and sow two seeds per container. Sow at twice the depth of the seed, then water well and label. SHARPEN UP HEDGES Evergreen hedges are at their most impressive in autumn and winter when they have a clean, tidy edge. Use sharp, clean…

1 Make your trellis Make a bamboo trellis slightly wider than the width of the container, which should be at least 45cm wide to give roots space to develop. 2 Tie in horizontal canes Tie short horizontal canes to the main vertical canes at regular intervals. Cut small lengths of string and use them to securely tie at each join. 3 Choose the right spot Place trellis in container, angling it towards the fence. Choose the warmest, sunniest and leave a 20cm gap between pot and fence. 4 Protect drainage Drop broken terracotta pot, rubble or large stones over the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot to help drainage and prevent the hole from blocking. 5 Mix compost and soil Fill the pot almost to the top with…

● Dan Masoliver is a trained horticulturist and freelance writer from London. He is author of The Earthworm, a newsletter that takes a sideways look at the world of gardens, gardening and horticulture When you live in a city, as I do, there is nowhere more relaxing on a sunny summer’s day than an abundantly planted back garden. A spa? Too oily. A yoga studio? Too sweaty. A park? Too busy; full of pink-skinned sunbathers, the cacophony of a hundred portable speakers, and thick with the foul-smelling smog from a plague of disposable barbecues. A garden, by contrast, is a sanctuary, providing all the privacy and comfort of home, yet surrounded by the anxiety-alleviating, stress-diffusing, soul-restoring presence of nature. The Japanese have a term for it: Shinrin-yoku. It’s a poetic…

“Collecting seeds on dry days and sowing the perennial ones straight away.” Val Bourne on growing trained fruit trees, p14 “Deadheading the pot marigolds to keep them going as long as possible.” Greg Loades picks hardworking plants, p22 “Sowing hardy annuals in modular trays to overwinter in my cold frame.” Sue Fisher celebrates sanguisorba, p28 “Visiting as many gardens as possible for a good dose of late summer inspiration.” Helen Billiald has more border inspiration, p40 “Mowing my mini-meadows on my hands and knees, with shears.” Adrian Thomas on making a wildlife-friendly pond, p44 “…very keen to get a pond into my small garden but need to keep the cat out of it!” Gill Lockhart, designs the magazine…

There aren’t many gardeners with enough room for an entire orchard, but you can still enjoy the thrill of picking your own apples and pears in much smaller spaces as long as you plant expertly-trained trees ordered from a fruit specialist. Apples store for far longer than pears and this may be a consideration when choosing. Pears also need a warmer site because their white blossom opens in early spring, when there are still night frosts about. Pollinators can be in short supply too, so trained pears do better on warmer walls: ones that face west or south. Apple blossom arrives three to four weeks later and, by then, there are many pollinators on the wing. Trained trees are worth it Trained trees are more expensive, because they take nurserymen…

PLANT NEW PERENNIALS This month the soil is warm and new plants are unlikely to be stressed by extreme heat. It makes it a great time to add new perennials to fill gaps. Not only will they establish quickly in the warm soil but they can also add valuable late colour if late-flowerers such as Liriope muscari (pictured) are chosen. Thoroughly soak the base of the plant after planting and repeat if there’s no rain in the first week after planting. Harvest herbs for winter Pick the leaves of herbs such as mint, lemon verbena, thyme and oregano, and the ripe seedheads of dill and fennel for drying so you have winter supplies for cooking. Harvest on a dry day when the sun has had a chance to evaporate any…

Garden answers PHONE 01858 438884 QUOTE AJAA OR VISIT greatmagazines.co.uk/gardenanswers Garden answers At Garden Answers magazine our aim is to help you make the most of your outdoor space by creating your perfect garden – not just for summer, but all year round. Now’s the perfect time to become a subscriber. This rich source of gardening ideas and inspiration is delivered direct to your door, 13 times a year, with a free packet of seeds with every issue. Or try our new print and digital membership package, which allows you to enjoy additional rewards and discounts. Simply scan the QR code (below on the left hand page) with your smartphone or tablet camera to find out more. Sign up to Garden Answers by October 10, 2023 – it’s a perfect…

Our experts 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: gardenanswersmagazine.co.uk Social media: Find us on Facebook as Garden Answers Twitter @GardenAnswers Instagram as gardenanswers Send us your queries! Solution of the month WISTERIA…

Hopefully, you’re aware that the sale of bagged composts that contain peat is being banned by the UK government by the end of 2024. In recent years, there has been much concern about the use of peat in horticulture because of the effects of peat extraction on the countryside and wildlife where it’s extracted from, as well as peat’s ability to lock up carbon as a carbon sink and the effects of removing it on climate change. Most companies involved with producing such growing media have introduced various peat replacements, offering peat-reduced and peat-free composts for many years while in the last couple of years the number of peat-free composts has really increased dramatically. Peat-free composts used to have a very poor reputation, with gardeners reporting various problems and poor…

Of all the things I have ever made in my various gardens, my ponds stand out as the most rewarding. Seeing a tree that you planted then grow and mature is wonderful; nurturing a dazzling flower border is satisfying. But making a pond is like creating another universe that brings the combined joys of beautiful reflections, soothing ripples, special plants, and a host of wildlife you otherwise wouldn’t see. I hear similar feelings from so many people, for whom their ponds have them gushing with delight. I love ponds so much that I have eight in my garden, all hand-dug, the largest 15m long by 8m metres wide, the smallest just 50cm or so across. They are all in different situations and have been constructed differently so that I can…

100 FREE* allium bulbs worth £22.69! From late spring, this Allium Bulb Bumper Pack will provide swathes of colour from a selection of classic bulbs. Easy to grow and adaptable, these allium species and cultivars are suitable for growing in pots, borders, rockeries and for naturalising in grass, and many can be used as cut flowers. The collection comprises allium ‘Purple Sensation’, A. moly, A. roseum and A. sphaerocephalon. *One free Allium Bulb Bumper Pack per reader. Just pay £5.95 postage. TRY THESE MONEY-SAVING OFFERS TOO! TULIP ‘EVERLASTING MIXED’ Tulip ‘Everlasting Mixed’ will come back year after year just as strongly as your favourite perennials! Sturdy and colourful, these magnificent tulips begin to bloom in early April and, with superb weather resistance, will continue for longer than most garden varieties.…