Innholdsfortegnelse for 12 July 2025 i Garden News

Most of us have just experienced the hottest June on record – after the hottest May on record. I say ‘most of us’ as I’m aware some parts of the UK have not had wall-to-wall sun for the last two months, but for a large proportion of us, any kind of meaningful rainfall feels like a distant memory! On the odd occasion that it has rained, it has barely touched the surface in terms of gardening. So if your garden is looking a little sorry for itself, don’t despair – you’re not alone! My policy has been to water my containers but generally leave borders to their own devices, except for new plants – otherwise I’d be using a lot of water. I did break that rule last week when…

The latest from Carol's beautiful cottage garden... plus her diary for the week! On a recent trip to Northern Ireland, visiting several really special gardens, I came across combinations of soft, frothy planting contrasting with large, voluptuous flowers over and over again. Although this is probably a device frequently used when putting plants together, it’s interesting we saw so many examples of it in such a short space of time, often using similar – sometimes the same – plants. London pride, Saxifraga urbium, is a popular plant. From spreading, evergreen rosettes that hug the ground, slender branching stems appear supporting clouds of tiny five-petalled, pale pink flowers, creating a soft haze which at its peak almost obscures the carpet of leaves below. Despite its common name, it seems to have…

If you’ve got an old strawberry tower planter hanging around unused, there are plenty of ways to put it to creative use – they make excellent, rustic planters for all sorts of plants. These traditional pots have long been used as space-saving features, full of charm, which tidily fit eight or so plants in one place – most commonly strawberries. For variation on a theme you could try using alpine strawberries for a longer fruiting time. However, my favourite way to use these pots is to plant each hole with some easygoing bedding such as petunias, calibrachoa and bidens – all of which I’ve used here – and the pot can take centre stage on your patio. You’ll lose a bit of compost at the planting stage due to all…

This year I’ve really focused on getting the most out of every bit of space I’ve got, especially in my small greenhouse. Rather than planting a few big crops, I’ve filled it with dwarf vegetable varieties, which has let me grow far more types than I normally would in a standard-sized greenhouse. One of the standout successes has been my ‘Galaxy’ chillies. They’re happily growing away in 2L pots and they’ve just started cropping nicely. I’ve begun harvesting them as soon as they show signs of changing colour – I prefer them slightly underripe as they’re less fiery that way! The longer you leave them on the plant, the spicier they become, so I’ve been keeping a close eye on them. To keep things simple and save a bit of…

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 Where do ‘wild’ daffodils come from? Mike W, by email Stefan says: You begin with an apology that you don’t have a real problem but just a query, which is fine. You love the lanes and countryside in spring, which often have lovely displays of daffodils, and you wonder where they come from. You say your wife gets fed up with your constant talking about this! It’s a mystifying matter because, like you, I know the plants you see aren’t truly wild. I’ve always felt the daffodils you see must have a number of different origins. Sometimes I feel they…

Ornamental grasses are currently enjoying incredible popularity, as both seasoned and novice gardeners alike discover the ever-increasing range of varieties available, and imperata ‘Red Baron’, better known as blood grass, has to be one of the most striking. It will slowly form large clumps and looks amazing when planted en masse, with its dazzling red blades providing contrasts of colour and texture with surrounding garden plants. Between June and August, clusters of fluffy, silvery flowers appear, adding yet more visual interest. Try it dotted around a gravel or rock garden or in a pot so you can get up close and admire it. Supplied as three established plants in 9cm pots, ready to plant out. H: 50cm, S: 30cm. • Item 560017: 3 x 9cm pots £14.97 – save £15…

I’ve been growing plants professionally for over 40 years, and still nothing gives me more joy than pottering in my own garden, hose in one hand and a handful of fertiliser in the other. Whether I’m nurturing a freshly planted shrub or coaxing a reluctant clematis into bloom, one thing remains true: success in the garden often comes down to three things – water management, nutrition and weed control. Get those right, and you’re well on your way to gardening glory. For me, gardening is a way of life. I love the science, I love the art and I love the magic of watching something grow from a dormant tuber into a flowering masterpiece. Whether I’m experimenting with a new compost blend, testing the latest slow-release feed or just admiring…

The online specialist gardening retailer, run by gardeners for gardeners My garden is my sanctuary Tom Strowlger A traditional and formal garden in Suffolk with a mix of pots, containers, beds and borders. The lawn takes pride of place in the centre. My garden is a place where the seasons boldly express themselves and which offers relaxation and respite. In spring bulbs burst through the ground, summer is packed with floral colour from annuals in pots to perennials in borders, bright pink nerines have their moment among the evergreen foliage and in winter the hellebore takes pride of place. I grow and tend to a wide range of plants, flowers and shrubs. The jobs vary from training climbers up a trellis to creating a whole new bed. I care for…

TV and radio broadcaster Martin is an RHS judge and former head gardener Late spring and early summer is when many deciduous shrubs bloom to give a colourful display around the garden – and in some cases the flowers also have a lovely perfume. In our new garden I’ve planted a selection to kickstart the season, and they’ll bring not only flowers until July, but also add height and structure in borders and, when mature, provide a habitat for many birds. Among my favourites are syringa and philadelphus, which are both sweetly scented, and the floriferous weigela, deutzia and kolkwitzia. There are so many different varieties available in garden centres, giving you a good selection to choose from. Some have different-coloured flowers and others are less vigorous, making them ideal…

Strawberries benefitted from the exceptionally hot weather in spring. Sunshine, followed by the cooler nighttime temperatures, has led to a bumper crop of super sweet fruit. I’m busily working my way through the harvest, making smoothies, cakes and puddings and turning the excess into jam. This is a quick and simple summer dessert that all the family will love. Chocolate cake goes well with strawberries and the crème fraiche and yoghurt topping is light and not too sweet. Plus they can be made the day before if needed. Ingredients Serves 6-8 • 400g strawberries• 1 tbsp caster sugar• ½ lemon – zest only FOR THE SPONGE: • 85g caster sugar• 85g margarine• 1 egg• 2-3 tbsp milk• 1 tsp vanilla extract• 100g self-raising flour• 1 tsp baking powder• 1 tbsp…

The fabulous Japanese banana palm, Musa basjoo, is the perfect addition to any tropical planting scheme or used as an exotic patio centrepiece. The gigantic, long leaves unfurl at the top of its woody stem for the summer months, creating shade and putting a tranquil, holiday feel into the space. There’s no mistaking the distinct architectural appeal provided by the leaves. Once mature, white flowers bring added interest to the display and during hot summers these may even develop into small, edible green fruits. A tender palm, it’s suitable for growing in borders in milder parts of the UK but will need to be protected in winter. You can also grow this palm in a large container and move it under cover for the cooler months. H: 5m, S: 4m.…

Clematis ‘Bridgewater’ Named for the RHS garden, this has abundant soft pink, star-shaped blooms 12-14cm across with red anthers from May to July, with a second flush in September. Any moist, well-drained soil in sun or semi-shade. H: 1.2m, S: 80cm. Price: £24.99 From: cowellsgc.co.uk Salvia ‘Berry Blast’ This colourful sage, an improvement on ‘Amistad’, has purple flowers from midsummer to the first frosts over dark green, aromatic leaves. Any moist, well-drained soil in full sun. Mulch crown in cold districts. H: 80cm, S: 60cm. Price: £6.45/1L pot. From: proctorsnursery.co.uk Cercis canadensis ‘Zig Zag’ Selected from a wild form in Virginia, this deciduous red-bud shrub has zigzag branches, pink pea-like flowers in early spring and orange and red autumn colour. Fertile, moist, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade.…

Hydrangeas are popular garden shrubs with vibrant summer colour. Most people grow the familiar ‘mophead’ or hortensia types, which flower in pink or blue depending on soil acidity. But they’re not for every garden, especially in cold, exposed plots, where they can be tricky to establish and vulnerable to late-spring frosts. I find it’s best to start with larger specimens with plenty of mature, woody stems, rather than small, soft growth that’s prone to winter dieback. Fortunately, there are many other hydrangea varieties that are tougher, more reliable, and offer a different look. Most hydrangeas like moist soil that’s rich in organic matter and light shade. They tend to struggle in hot sun as well as in soils that are either dry and baked in summer or waterlogged in winter.…

Containers offer a wealth of options when it comes to planting edibles; their portability allows flexibility and they’re handy for growing if you live in rented accommodation or only have a balcony, windowsill or patio as an outside space. Basically, even without a garden it’s possible to grow your own food. Choose a pot size relative to what you’re growing. Small pots dry out quickly and hold less compost so they need more attention, whereas larger pots should sustain themselves for longer. Make sure the pot has a drainage hole, as no edibles enjoy being waterlogged. Cover the hole with a crock, then fill with peat-free compost. Some edibles, such as blueberries, need ericaceous compost, whereas herbs favour a gritty mix. Containers come in many materials, from terracotta to concrete,…

Delightful double act! We planted this mulberry tree 25 years ago. As it always comes into leaf late we’ve grown two Clematis montana through it. This certainly adds something special early on in the season. Martin Howells, by email Stick with these labels This is a great way to mark your plants in tubs or borders and it’s cheap, too. I chopped up some fallen twigs, painted a little black line at the top, then used chalk pens to write the labels. So much prettier than plastic. Amanda Mahoney, Goole, East Yorkshire Growing and glowing! I’ve let flowers and ‘weeds’ reseed for the last two years and they’ve been a lovely bonus. There have been violets and bluebells and now alpine strawberries and others are on their way. Elaine Vicary,…