Garden Answers July 2024

“Making late plantings of tender annuals to fill gaps.” Sue Fisher advises on gardening in a changing climate, p14 “Doing a lot of deadheading to make sure I keep the flowers coming.” Val Bourne, climbers for every aspect, p24 “Saving seed from yellow rattle to spread around lawns I’m turning to meadow.” Helen Billiald creates a real showstopper, p42 “Taking it easy in the heat of summer and simply enjoying it.” Adrian Thomas on dragonflies and damselflies, p46 “Relaxing, reading books in my hammock and enjoying the fruits of my labour.” Olga Grieves takes a step back on her plot, p74 “Sowing biennial foxglove and forget-me-not seeds for next year’s display.” Find out why Dan Masoliver is inspired, p114…

Dare we mention the weather? Maybe ‘changeable’ is the best way to describe the last few months – a few gloriously sunny days but also much more rain than we’re used to, not to mention some very chilly conditions, too! Hopefully we can now have a more settled, warm spell but we’re not banking on it. To that end, in this issue, we look at the fact that our climate is changing and see what we might do in our gardens to adapt accordingly (see page 14). That doesn’t mean that our plots have to be a dry, arid wilderness, but there are solutions out there to make them more resilient. By taking on a few ideas now we can safeguard our gardens for whatever Mother Nature might throw at…

Patio project LUSH & EXOTIC It’s July and the garden is bursting with flowers but this patio project gives you something a little more understated, but just as beautiful, as all those blooms. Begonia luxurians is an exotic plant that is not hardy but, if looked after over the winter in a greenhouse, it will reward you in summer with these fantastic palm-like leaves. Aeonium arboreum ‘Zwartkop’ is a magnificent succulent with deep, dark shiny leaves and a lime green centre that is so sophisticated. Pelargonium ‘Lord Bute’ and Osmunda regalis, in the terracotta pots, help set the scene against the verdant yew hedge.…

The chairman of the British Cactus and Succulent Society (BCSS), Dr Gregory Bulmer, has resigned after a member backlash on exhibiting plants collected from the wild. Due to the popularity of succulents in recent years, many plants are being pushed towards extinction through over collection and habitat loss. Even though the practice has been banned by the BCSS, it has proved challenging to implement the change. Dr Bulmer said: “As a conservation charity, I believe it is imperative that these plants are not exhibited or given prizes at BCSS shows. I no longer feel that I have the support I need to deliver meaningful change to the charity.”…

Gardeners across the UK are being urged to act now to halt the dangerous drop in the levels of birds, insects and other wildlife across the country. The study from Garden Organic, called Every Garden Matters, shows small actions taken in urban gardens can play a major role in restoring lost wildlife. Planting a wider diversity of plants, improving soil health and creating habitats can have a major impact on wildlife numbers. Since the 1970s there’s been a 13% decline in overall wildlife numbers in the UK, and within individual species 41% have shown a decline in number. Visit gardenorganic.org.uk for details.…

Persicaria bistorta ‘Superba’ Long stems hold fluffy towers of soft-pink flowers, which form pom-pom-like flowerheads from summer to early autumn. It’s a showstopper of a plant with impressive, green, heart-shaped foliage. H: 90cm, S: 90cm; £15 for 9cm pot. hayloft.co.uk Acanthus mollis ‘Rue Ledan’ This unusual cultivar of acanthus has an architectural elegance with spires of hooded white floating flowers on silvery-green stems. It will illuminate shady areas in the border and is deer and rabbit resistant. H: 1.2m; £16.93 for 3 x 9cm pots. sarahraven.com Hollyhock ‘Nigra’ A unique variety of hollyhock, this plant produces striking, chocolatey blooms with lemon centres, tinged with red. Planted in full sun, they will reward you with flowers until September. H: 2m, S: 75cm; £2.99 for 9cm pot. blackdognursery.co.uk Delphinium ‘Dusky Maidens’ The impressive…