Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2025 i Garden Answers

“Taking hardwood cuttings of deciduous woody plants whilst still dormant.” Sue Fisher recommends summer bulbs, p14 “Sowing sunflowers for homegrown bird seed.” Join Louise Curley as she goes in search of blossom, p22 “Preparing final areas of mini-meadow in my garden ready for sowing.” Adrian Thomas marvels at ladybirds, p44 “Making sure my beds are ready for a sowing bonanza later this month!” Join Olga Grieves on her allotment, p68 “Taking cuttings from overwintered pelargoniums and other bedding plants”. Geoff Hodge rates the best gardenwear, p88 “Sowing the world’s smallest wildflower meadow in my front garden border”. Dan Masoliver sings the praises of ivy, p106…

Patio project ABUNDANCE OF EARLY BLOOMS An elegantly put-together container display for the edge of spring. Set against a backdrop of Euphorbia martinii ‘Ascot Rainbow’ – an inspired choice – tulipa ‘Early Harvest’ bursts forth in a painted metal bucket. It’s an excellent early tulip, growing to 25cm. The green leaves are streaked with dull purple, making the entire plant interesting. The bucket is ringed by pots of daffodils of different varieties, including the small ‘Tête-à-Tête’ and much larger ‘King Alfred’. There are pots of periwinkles, chionodoxa, alpines and the often-overlooked ipheion, also known as star flower.…

AGS SPRING SHOW  March 1, 11am-3.30pm, Chelmsford City Racecourse, Great Leighs, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 1QP A huge range of alpine plants to admire and buy. Entry £5 (AGS free). • alpinegardensociety.net NGS OPENING  March 1-2 & 29-30, 10.30am–5pm, Gelli Uchaf, Rhydcymerau, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire SA19 7PY Garden packed with snowdrops, crocus, cyclamen and daffodils. Pre-booking essential, £6. • ngs.org.uk WINTER OPEN DAYS March 1, 15, 21 & 29, 10am-3pm, John’s Garden, Ashwood Nurseries, Kingswinford, West Midlands DY6 0AE Created by nursery owner John Massey, this plantsman’s garden is filled with snowdrops, winter aconites, hellebores and flowering shrubs. • ashwoodnurseries.com GARDEN TOURS  Each Sunday & Wednesday, 11.30am, Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury, Bucks HP18 0JH Join a free tour (subject to availability) of the gardens, with carpets of snowdrops and 100,000 daffodils in Daffodil…

We think of bulbs as being synonymous with spring, but there’s a magnificent range of summer ones, too, that are splendid to create concentrated pulses of spectacular blooms. From the heady heights of exotic-looking and powerfully perfumed lilies to brilliant begonias, dazzling dahlias, gorgeous gladioli, architectural eucomis, and many more, summer bulbs and tubers just keep on giving, often right until the frosts. They are brilliant for budget-conscious gardeners too, as most last from year-to-year with varying degrees of care. Fill pots to transform patios and any soil-less spots, pack spaces in borders with bonus bonanzas of blooms, and even grow your own cut flowers. Long days and outdoor living call for maximum flower power and the time to get planting is right now. Of all the summer bulbs, the…

PRUNE ROSES If you haven’t already pruned your roses, early spring is your last chance to do it – but avoid days when frost is forecast because the pruned stems may split. Prune to produce an open-centred plant for good air circulation. Start by removing dead, diseased, damaged, crossing or spindly stems. Cut back to an outward-facing bud so the centre of the plant doesn’t become congested. Cut back all the remaining shoots to 10cm above where the previous year’s growth started. Order plug plants Now is the time to check catalogues and websites for deals on late spring and summer plug plants. Make sure you unpack them as soon as they arrive; the roots are vulnerable to drying out so rest them in a shallow tray of water, then…

Structure, repetition and a restricted plant palette may be the secret of a well-designed garden, but pockets of intensively planted little treasures are unfailingly good for the gardener’s soul. This combination of hepaticas, crocus, cyclamen and chionodoxa is the sort of jewel-like collection worth lingering over on a cold, clear March day. The fact that hepaticas take time to feel at home means that any gardener who has taken the extra care to establish them can bask in the added glow of a job well done. The silvery veined and marbled foliage of the brunnera and cyclamen add depth to the planting and provide a rich textural contrast. These plants will all flourish in a semi-shaded spot so this combination is perfect for planting beneath a deciduous shrub or tree,…

Visit greatmagazines.co.uk/gardenanswers PHONE 01858 438884 QUOTE AMAA At Garden Answers magazine our aim is to help you make the most of your outdoor space by creating your perfect garden, whatever the season. Now’s the perfect time to take out a subscription with spring just around the corner. This rich source of gardening ideas and inspiration can be delivered direct to your door, 13 times a year, with a free packet of seeds with every issue if you choose the Print Subscription. Or try our Print+ Subscription, which allows you to enjoy Members-only rewards and discounts. Simply scan the QR code (below on the left-hand page) with your smartphone or tablet camera to find out more. SUBSCRIBE & SAVE ON SHOP PRICES! Subscribe Print+ Get 6 months for just £29.99 When…

Most if not all of us have those comfy, old, more than likely worn-out or past-their-best jumpers or woollies that we turn to when it’s time to get out into the garden. And probably a pair of ancient trousers or jeans that we pull on whenever there’s a grubby job that needs doing, but which are not necessarily designed for the job in hand. Are they really comfortable and suitable? Is there something better and more appropriate that will help make the work more enjoyable and comfortable, keep you warmer and drier and better equipped for the tasks in hand? The answer, of course, is yes. And they’ll also help you look more like a professional gardener, rather than a scruff! Workwear, and even more specifically gardenwear, has been designed…

24 FREE* bedding plants worth £25.96 Bedding plants and flowers add a burst of colour to your garden beds, containers and baskets. Choose from our bumper range of summer bedding plants for instant impact and vibrant garden displays. This collection of 24 FREE* plants (*you just pay postage) comprises six each of the following: MORE GREAT MONEY-SAVING OFFERS BEGONIA ‘APRICOT SHADES IMPROVED’ Begonia ‘Apricot Shades Improved’ is as versatile as it is beautiful! Large, cascading, double blooms will pour from your containers from June to October. You’ll enjoy gorgeous flowers in shades of apricot and orange that reach 6-10cm. • Buy 24 plugs for £12.99 – save £6.99 • Buy 48 plugs for £19.99 – save £19.97! FUCHSIA GIANT COLLECTION With blooms up to 10cm across, these trailers guarantee a…

There is a wall I walk past on a regular basis. This is no ordinary wall. Oh no. This pavement-flanking boundary between a road and a central London primary school is, in fact, a living wall. You know the sort of thing: a stackable plastic shelving system stuffed to the brim with plants. In this case, these include the likes of hart’s-tongue ferns, sedges, heucheras, bergenias and more, all chosen, presumably, for their drought tolerance, evergreen appearance and relatively low maintenance. As I see them now, these particular plants are still modest in size – I’d guess only recently removed from the nursery pots they arrived in – which means for every dollop of green visible on this vertical face, the eye is drawn to twice as much grey, in…

We’ve got a bumper package for you this month – not only your usual fabulous free seeds but also a great 32-page pull-out supplement on the joys of growing your own fruit and veg, and how to get your best-ever crops. It’s always a pleasure to produce Garden Answers, but never more so than in the winter when it’s cold and grey outside. Our GYO supplement is a case in point – even if the plants aren’t in the ground at the moment, it doesn’t stop us dreaming about the year ahead and what we might like to grow. We hope it inspires you in the same way, and maybe you’ll try something different as a result. The other good news is that the days are definitely lengthening! It has…

1 For this project you will need Iris reticulata ‘Harmony’ and ‘Alida’, a selection of different containers and some moss. 2 Clean the vessels, then fill the containers to the rim with the moss and plant both ‘Harmony’ and ‘Alida’ together in each container. 3 Water lightly and place in a prominent spot to enjoy every day.…

“We’re lucky to have had horticulturists who had the foresight to plant our parks and streets with cherry trees decades ago In Japan, the first blossom of spring is eagerly anticipated each year. This natural spectacle heralds the start of spring, with forecasts devoted to tracking the opening, as the first blossom emerges in Okinawa in the south of the country in March. Heading north as the temperatures rise, the blossom trees on the northern island of Hokkaido are the last to emerge, in May. Each year the timing of blossom’s arrival varies, depending on the weather, but when it does appear, its emergence is celebrated with Hanami, which means flower viewing, in particular the appreciation of cherry blossom. Traditionally people gather in parks under the pink and white froth…

Annual sunflowers are hard to beat and always put a smile on people’s faces, but there’s more to this plant than cultivating giants. Dwarf sunflowers are perfect for planting at the front of a border and in pots. Mid-height ones look good mixed in among perennials and taller cultivars are ideal for the back of a border. Classic sunflowers have a single ring of bright yellow petals around a central disc, but there are semi-doubles with a few extra layers of petals, and doubles with huge frilly blooms, too. Colours range from dark reds to rusty oranges, pale yellows and creamy whites. And if you want long-lasting colour, go for the multi-branching types, which will bloom all summer long, rather than the single-headed ones. Sunflowers are easy to grow from…

WINSOME WHITES COLOURFUL FOLIAGE PLANTS SILVERY SHRUBS HOW TO PLANT All these plants prefer spring sunshine followed by summer shade, with a well-drained but humus-rich soil enriched with leaf mould. Choose a sheltered, weed-free corner under the branches of deciduous shrubs. Mulch in late autumn so the remains of tatty old leaves don’t diminish the display. 1 Plant the brunnera Take care to keep the vigorous brunnera from overwhelming its smaller companions. It prefers shade and moisture at its roots so work in well-rotted organic matter before planting. Lift and divide large clumps every three years in spring. 2 Add the crocus and chionodoxa Plant the crocus corms and chionodoxa bulbs in early autumn. Plant them around 10–12cm deep, in large enough numbers to ensure a really bright and bold display. Cover…

Have you ever started a clear out in the garden, only to wish you'd never begun in the first place? This happens to me every year, always around March. The sense of spring approaching makes me run around like a headless chicken, trying to tick off jobs from my never-ending list. One minute I’m scrubbing the greenhouse; the next, I’m frantically sorting through pots, trying to decide which to keep and which to give away. It doesn’t help that I’m easily distracted by the glorious sight of the first bumblebee queens buzzing around the plot. I love every minute of this month – the longer, warmer days, the enthusiastic bird song and the first signs of the world waking up again, ready to spoil us with blossom, sunshine and blue…

WRITE TO US AT Garden Answers, Bauer Media, Media House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA EMAIL gardenanswers@bauermedia.co.uk WEBSITE gardenanswersmagazine.co.uk Early risers and steady stalwarts Our rosemary was already in flower on New Year’s Day 2025! Ruth Wood, Co. Durham This lovely dianthus usually delights us in spring, so it was a surprise to find it blooming in December. A little gift from nature to create a smile and remind us of what’s to come. Aldeen Fairweather, by email This valiant snapdragon flowered all summer long, through autumn and was still going strong at the start of the year! Carole Sampson, Braunton Aptly named Chimonanthus praecox (wintersweet) is out and filling the garden with fragrance. Alison Acred, Fleet Slumbering scene Our back garden in winter slumber inspired me to write the…

Save £24 Phlox have been well-loved for summer displays for many years. Large, showy flowerheads bloom all summer long, and often again in October, releasing clouds of sweet perfume which are loved by bees and butterflies. Incredibly easy to grow, you will also be rewarded with armfuls of cut flowers that last well in vases. This collection comprises ‘Tenor’, ‘Blue Paradise’, ‘Miss Elie’, ‘Rembrandt’ and ‘Uspekh’. Supplied as bareroots, delivery from March. • Buy 5 x bareroots for £16. • Buy 15 x bareroots for £24 – half price! GREAT OFFERS ON ALSTROEMERIA ALSTROEMERIA HYBRID MIX £3 each Bring life to your summer and autumn borders and containers with these vibrant Peruvian lilies. Up to 100 exotic, tubular blooms will flower from June to September among compact, bushy foliage, giving…

1 It hardly seems possible that beautiful Helleborus hybridus flowers only grace us in the darkest months so make the most of them! Try ‘Hello Ruby’. H: 35cm, S: 35cm. 2 Magnolia season is almost here – the buds can be seen peeking through behind the acer. ‘Heaven Scent’ has goblet-shaped, fragrant blooms flushed with pink. H&S: 10m. 3 Acer griseum’s attractive, cinnamon-coloured, papery bark peels away to reveal smooth, orange-red bark beneath. It’s a deciduous tree with leaves that turn brilliant red and orange in autumn. H&S: 10m.…

The Lawn Association has everything you need to cultivate a beautiful lawn sustainably in one place. The eco-friendly products have been carefully curated to promote a lush, green environment while ensuring a minimal ecological footprint. The association is offering one lucky reader the chance to win a bag of True Plant plant food, two bags of True Grass lawn food, one 2kg bag of Perfect natural lawn seed mix, a beanie hat and a record-keeping manual, worth more than £120 combined. Visit lawnassociationstore.co.uk to begin your journey towards a greener, healthier planet because a vibrant lawn should thrive sustainably. • To enter visit gardenanswersmagazine.co.uk/freeforyou by midnight 25/02/25.…

After 15 years, George Plumptre will retire as Chief Executive of the National Garden Scheme (NGS) at the end of summer 2025. George has led the charity – the most significant charitable funder of nursing in the UK – to record levels of donations and a new profile as a supporter of nursing and health. He initiated the charity’s promotion of the health and wellbeing benefits of gardens and gardening. The charity’s Gardens and Health Programme, which has donated over £3.7m to gardens and health-related projects alone, continues to go from strength to strength as does the more recent Community Garden Grants Programme, which he also introduced. The charity donated a record £3.5m in 2024. Visit ngs.org.uk.…

A scientific and cultural history of weeds, from unwanted intruder to beautiful ornament. Weeds sketches the history of the fashions and attitudes that have shaped our fields and gardens, showing that what we keep out of them is just as fascinating as what we put in. With 120 beautiful illustrations, it’s the perfect companion for those with an interest in botany. QUIZ ANSWERS A Chaenomeles japonica B Viburnum tinus C Forsythia intermedia D Ribes sanguineum E Prunus incisa ‘Kojo-no-mai’ F Camellia williamsii ‘Donation’…

When I was a little boy, I can remember me and my friends finding ladybirds in the school playground. We’d marvel at their perfectly domed ‘shell’ and the precision of the black dots on the bright red background. We’d let them potter across our hands and then say, “Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home”, and watch as each side of the red dome would lift like a double bonnet of a car. Out would unfurl a delicate pair of wings from within, and off they would go. Along with their appeal to children, it seems they have always been regarded with great affection by gardeners and farmers, and a big part of that is because they have long been known to help munch through aphids. One adult ladybird can munch through…

1 Allium schoenoprasum are popular seeds to grow but you can also choose garlic chives, Siberian garlic chives or blue chives. You will need seed compost, a label, a 30cm pot and a watering can. 2 Chive seeds are tiny so carefully place them in the palm of your hand, angle it slightly, and then gently tap the side to scatter them evenly across the surface of the compost. 3 Cover the seeds with a thin layer of the seed compost, add your label and water well. At this point you can also add a layer of Vermiculite to help keep in the moisture. 4 Chives need warmth and light to germinate so place them on a windowsill, perhaps above a radiator. Another option is to put them in a…

Q How can I add colour and interest to my shady border? THIS SHADY BORDER is a bit on the skinny side, in my view. Whenever a border is set to run alongside a fence, it’s bound to be cast in some of its shade during the day. Making the border deeper allows plants at the front to enjoy a bit more sunshine, or part shade, so your planting choices can be a bit more varied. So, first off, I’d recommend digging it out to almost double its current width by sacrificing some of the lawn. You can see where the grass looks a bit patchy; why not take it out as far as that? The grass is suffering because the shrubs (osmanthus, fuchsia, berberisand philadelphus) are shading it and…

CLUES ACROSS 1 Aristolochia macrophylla, perennial vine known as Dutchman’s - - - - (4) 3 Fork-tailed insect particularly attracted to dahlias (6) 7 Marshmallow genus that once included the hollyhocks (7) 8 Cardamine pratensis, perennial called lady’s - - - - - or cuckoo flower (5) 9 Diverse rose family genus to which brambles and blackberries belong (5) 11 Native Canadian red or - - - - - maple, the deciduous Acer rubrum (5) 13 Juicy greenhouse fruit with honeydew or cantaloupe varieties (5) 15 - - - - - - - unedo, shrubby evergreen known as the strawberry tree (7) 16 Disparate genus that includes the thorn apple (6) 17 Alstroemeria series deriving its name from Peru’s ancient empire (4) CLUES DOWN 1 Pear tree genus (5) 2…