Innholdsfortegnelse for 5 July 2025 i Garden News

Well so far this year we can’t complain about a lack of sunshine, can we? It’s been the sort of weather that makes you grateful for a bit of shade and a cool drink – and our gardens probably feel the same way! Lawns crisping, containers drying out in hours, and even the hardiest plants starting to flag. This week we look at how to prepare your garden for hot weather (page 14), so plants, soil and even wildlife stand the best chance of coping if the temperatures continue to climb. With the unpredictable nature of the weather these days, who know what we have in store? Speaking of resilience, succulents come into their own in this kind of weather, and starting on page 20 we look at some of…

The latest from Carol's beautiful cottage garden... plus her diary for the week! It was nice to see so many white foxgloves at Chelsea this year. Foxgloves and verbascums were always a mainstay of my displays over the years, as they were and still are in my garden. At this time of year so many of our herbaceous beds become a collection of mounds, and though each individual may have its own distinctive character, with marked differences in foliage and flower, the overall effect of astrantias, geraniums and achilleas can become decidedly lumpy and perhaps a bit monotonous. Grasses, libertia and irises of every kind can be used to alleviate the general bumpiness and bring in a vertical element – but the plants that really sharpen up the scene are…

Summer can bring long periods of low rainfall and when water is scarce our plants can suffer. Water butts run dry and trying to keep plants alive becomes a daily chore, but many plants have adapted to dry conditions, so choosing a selection of drought-tolerant plants could save you time, worry and money while keeping your garden vibrant with lively colour – and often exquisite fragrance, too. Some commonplace garden plants originate from Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries like Greece, Turkey, Spain, Italy and Egypt, or even further afield like Australia, and have defining features that let them thrive while others wilt. Their leaves are often silvery-grey to reflect light and are narrow and lance-shaped to reduce surface area and water evaporation. Architectural trees like olive, Italian cypress or weeping…

Helping you get your best-ever fruit and veg One of the most eagerly awaited harvests at our house is the potato crop. The small, buttery ones with their delicate skins are a real favourite of mine. Over the years I’ve grown plenty of different varieties, but ‘Charlotte’ always stands out for new potatoes and more recently I’ve taken a liking to ‘Jazzy’. It can feel a little indulgent to dig them up while they’re still small, but we much prefer them that way. A simple boil and a generous knob of butter is all they need. Once the planting pots are emptied and the spuds collected, I like to break up the old compost and spread it as a mulch on the garden borders. It’s a handy way to conserve…

Professor Buczacki is a horticultural expert, writer and former chair of Gardeners' Question Time Got a problem? Our Problem Solver can help! See our contact details on page 3 #GNASKTHEEXPERTS Which annual seeds need cold treatment? Lesley Dale, by email Stefan says: Your query is prompted by the fact you had some foxgloves that didn’t germinate. Much the simplest solution is to store all seeds in a fridge. Some must have cold treatment, but it’ll do no harm to give it to them all. However, tree and shrub seeds generally take a long time to germinate and before they can do so, a hard seed coat or some other dormancy mechanism must be eroded. Simply place the ripe seeds or fruits in shallow pans of coarse sand, burying the seeds…

The online specialist gardening retailer, run by gardeners for gardeners Digging in and loving it! Mel Darvill A 6x6m2 north-facing new build garden on the east London/Essex border; primarily a container garden with lots of climbers for fence and shed coverage. I can’t get over that we only got our hands on this garden in January. Many, many hours of graft since then and the old shrubs are out and my vision is coming to life. Everything seems to have burst into bloom very quickly. My favourite flowers are the foxgloves my daughter grew from seed with her grandad and gave to me for Mother’s Day. I definitely want more of these in the garden next year and the time to be planning our spring 2026 gardens is now. I’ve…

Follow Naomi's progress as she gets to grips with her tiny urban garden on heavy Bristol clay In a challenging world and changing climate, the birds and insects in our gardens are a close-to-home indicator of the health of our environment. In the last few years, issues including constant rain, unseasonal droughts and lack of food and habitat have taken their toll. Insects of all sorts have been scarce, and this has had a knock-on effect on the species that depend upon them. Recently, however, I’ve seen a local improvement. I don’t know if this is down to kinder weather, with a fairly warm winter and occasional rain (not enough to keep gardeners happy, admittedly, but enough to keep the insects going). Or whether the greater maturity of the garden,…

Attempting to get more value for money from my crops, I’ve ‘perennialised’ some sprouting broccoli growing in pots in the unheated polytunnel. Plants were cut back last year after cropping and fed with seaweed extract. I’m delighted to find a bonus crop this year from the same plants. This saves money as I’ve not had to buy seed and compost to start new plants this year. It’s a small but worthwhile crop and very tasty when combined with the first of the season’s courgettes and cauliflowers. This recipe, adapted from a McDougall’s recipe, resembles a giant vegetable Yorkshire pudding. It’s a firm favourite with the family, and especially with young children, and is delicious served hot with potato wedges and some steamed carrots. Ingredients Serves 4 FOR THE FILLING: •…

Tender succulents have long been go-to plants for people looking to brighten up a sunny windowsill indoors. However, there’s several succulents that are much tougher, allowing adventurous gardeners to enjoy their attention-grabbing looks outside. Hardy succulents have a lot going for them. Apart from their appearance, they’re slow growing, drought tolerant and require virtually no upkeep. Some are herbaceous, dying back in winter and returning in spring, while others add interest all year round. RUGGED SEDUMS Sedums are a varied group of succulents. Apart from tender ones from places such as Mexico and North Africa, there’s a whole host of tougher cookies from mountainous parts of Japan, Europe and North America. One of the best is Sedum spurium ‘Schorbuser Blut’ (sometimes sold as ‘Dragon’s Blood’), a vigorous evergreen that makes…

Without question, the best time to plant trees and shrubs is in autumn. But if you see a beautiful shrub in bloom in summer it’s difficult to resist buying it and adding it to the garden. Because these plants are grown in pots it’s perfectly possible to plant them for immediate effect, but you do need to take a little more care than planting in autumn. Here’s how to give in to your impulses, treat yourself and still successfully add beauty to your garden. The key is watering. If your plant was kept in its pot it would need to be watered almost every day. Even when planted, the roots are within the same area, so until the roots extend into the soil they’ll need just as much water. If…

Summer is a good time to make additional sowings of many vegetables, but it’s also the time to start sowing lots of the crops that will mature in autumn. Some of these are difficult to grow if sown earlier in summer because the long day length promotes flowering or bolting. But sown now, they’ll mature perfectly and provide some seasonal treats later. They include kale, which is often sown in May but can also be sown now for tasty, tender leaves in autumn. Most are potentially fast-growing crops and perfect for a small plot. But to ensure quick growth and delicious crops they must have rich, fertile soil and plenty of water. They’re ideal to plant after earlier crops, such as early potatoes or broad beans, have been harvested. Be…

Buzzing for brooms! I’m a big fan of brooms, as are the local bees. The red and white variety in the foreground is ‘Mrs Norman Henry’. Behind it the deep yellow Cytisus scoparius flowered all through winter this year. Such things happen in South Devon! John Williams, by email Impressive display This is the amaryllis my father-in-law Roger has grown. We’re not sure if it’s a record breaker! Ruth Stephens, West Yorkshire Simon says: A lovely plant Ruth, but sadly I don’t think it is. We believe the current UK record was set in 1993 and reached a height of 1.32m (4ft 4in). Patience pays off I sowed seed of Nicotiana sylvestris in February 2024, expecting flowers in late September, but nothing appeared. They came through the winter and…