Innholdsfortegnelse for 9 August 2025 i Garden News

So the rains came! And with a vengeance across most parts of the country, although not enough to stop hosepipe bans in some areas. The results in the garden were instantaneous; the most noticeable was the greening of the lawn, although there are some dead patches where weeds once lived! Something will fill the gap – either the grass will spread or another dandelion will pop up. Plants that looked on their last legs perked up in a way they never would if watered by hand – they may not flower again this year but at least they’re alive. Annoyingly – the ground elder I mentioned recently was, as I suspected, just lying dormant, because one drop of rain was all it needed to rear its head again! But there…

The latest from Carol's beautiful cottage garden... plus her diary for the week! In the garden here at Glebe Cottage, the more the sun shines, the more aware you become that it’s a garden of two halves – not that it has a schizophrenic aspect, but that quite simply one half of it is in full sun most of each day, and the other half is shady. Since the whole garden faces south/south west, the shade is cast not by buildings but by trees, all of which have been planted since we came here 47 years ago, apart from tall beeches that run east to west on the east side of the track halfway up the garden, and a rag, tag and bobtail collection of oaks, beeches and hazels, which…

Who really needs an excuse to squeeze a few more plants into the garden this summer? There’s always a little corner crying out for attention – maybe a bare patch by the greenhouse or a dull spot by the shed that could be turned into a cheerful new bed. Think about the possibilities. Could you lift a couple of paving slabs to make space for something green and lovely? Or what about transforming that shady corner you’ve been ignoring? These small, satisfying projects are just the thing to keep the gardening buzz going now the early summer frenzy has eased off. They don’t take much time, but they bring a fresh burst of colour and interest — and, of course, it’s a good excuse to visit the garden centre again!…

Helping you get your best-ever fruit and veg As we move into midsummer, there’s an important job that really must be done during this period, ideally before the end of August. It concerns stone fruit trees such as cherries, plums, gages and apricots. Unlike apples and pears, which are pruned in winter when the trees are dormant, stone fruits need their pruning now. Timing is everything with these trees and doing the work at the right moment can help avoid long-term problems. The key reason for pruning stone fruits in summer is to prevent silver leaf disease; this is a fungal issue that spreads more easily in the colder, wetter months. It enters the tree through fresh cuts and causes the leaves to turn silvery, eventually leading to dieback and,…

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 What is the growth on my camellia? Patricia Tricker, by email Stefan says: Unfortunately, your photograph hasn’t come through to me especially clearly, but I can see enough to realise what’s happening. In fact, even without any image, a query about ‘a growth’ on a camellia would almost invariably tell me all I need to know. What you’ve seen is called camellia gall, and in some years this can be extremely common. Similar symptoms occur from time to time on rhododendrons and on pot azaleas. The galls are caused by relatively simple, yeast-like fungi and begin as small, often irregular…

Our wee Daisy minding the quad as I work! Eamon Mckernan, by email Benji the rescue cooling off after a hot day. Laura Douse, by email Thrilled to find this ladybird pupae in my garden. Greenfly, look out! Ali Acred, Fleet, Hampshire Martin the Maine Coon keeping half an eye on the garden from his favourite chair. Maggie Whitlock, by email My grandchildren came to help me plant my purchases from Gardeners’ World Live. Watering was taken very seriously! Chel Cullen, by email Why not share a photo of your furry, feathered or friendly garden helpers. See page 3 for our contact details…

There’s something wonderfully uplifting about growing citrus at home. Maybe it’s the glossy green leaves, or the sweetly-scented flowers that pop out even in the depths of winter. Or perhaps it’s just the sheer thrill of picking a lemon or lime from your very own tree. Whatever it is, citrus bring a dash of sunshine to your garden or conservatory – and yes, even here in the UK, you can get them to crop. We’ve been championing citrus for years at YouGarden.com, and we’ve put together a cracking range of varieties that are ideal for British gardeners. With a bit of know-how and the right kit, you’ll be harvesting your own fruit in no time. And what’s more, they look terrific all year round – so even when the fruit’s…

The online specialist gardening retailer, run by gardeners for gardeners A month of garden marvels Sandra Manning An urban oasis in Twickenham with trees, shrubs and general planting with a variety of wildlife. The beginning of July is a plantsman’s pure joy. The RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival, with its wonderful displays and nursery stalls from across the country, is always full of inspiration (and temptation). I wish I had space for the flamboyant, statuesque eremurus — it’s so beautifully eye-catching. So many ideas… sigh! Closer to home, is the local flower market. I came away with veronica ‘Pink Moody Blues’ and monarda ‘Balmy Purple’. After a few of my herbs were munched by slugs and snails, I topped up the herb garden with pots of coriander, purple basil and…

I’ve just been walking my dog Orla in local woods and it got me thinking about the plants that truly thrive in dappled shade. Of the British natives I spotted today there was Euphorbia amygdaloides robbiae looking reasonable along with some aged honeysuckle turning out a decent scent, but the most prolific, fresh, healthy and vibrant-looking plants were the grasses. Carex, deschampsia and melica cloak the forest floor in a tapestry of tones and textures, varying from delicate frothy flowers to broad buxom blades. And it’s not just native British grasses that can thrive in shade. Species from places as far flung as Japan can do well in shaded garden spots, too. But that’s not all. Shade grasses require very little maintenance bar an annual chop with shears and, once…

My patio apricot ‘Aprigold’ has at last produced a basket full of fruit! It’s planted in a large half-barrel size pot in the polytunnel. There were masses of flowers in February, which I protected from frost. Careful watering has resulted in the tiny fruitlets swelling to sweet, tasty golden apricots. Perfect for a pot of homemade jam! Aprigold’ grows to 1.2m and is recommended for container growing. ‘Compacta’ is another suitable variety if space is limited. This jam is perfect for serving on scones with fresh whipped double cream, or as vanilla sponge cake filling. Or just spread it on hot buttered toast! Adapted from a recipe by chef Dan Lepard. Ingredients Makes 1 jar, about 375g 100g carrots 150ml water 320g fresh apricots 1 tsp ground ginger 200g light…

This showy little allium has already proved itself to be a worthwhile variety. ‘Graceful Beauty’ is effortlessly tasteful, its large, starry blooms forming spherical flowerheads in spring. Each gleaming white flower is blushed with the palest pink, providing a lovely contrast with its violet stamens. This hardy bulb is best massed together at the front of borders for a dramatic display or packed into patio containers in a prominent position. Pre-order for August despatch. You might also like... Allium ‘Purple Sensation’ The architectural blooms of these violet-purple alliums are sure to make a statement in your summer borders. Upright stems carry globes of starry flowers that measure up to 8cm across. Flowering only once in a season, the blooms of ‘Purple Sensation’ are followed by skeletal seedheads that make a…

Cordyline ‘Festival Lime’ AKA ‘Lime Fountain’, this evergreen, stemless cabbage palm forms multiple crowns of foliage at ground level with white, scented flowers when mature. Best in full sun or light shade in any well-drained, even poor soil. H&S: 1.2m. Price: £19.99/3L pot. From: urbanjungle.uk.com Lomandra longifolia ‘Miner’s Gold’ The golden, arching foliage of this evergreen, clump-forming plant looks great in a container, and it’s ideal for coastal gardens. Hardy to -10C. Thrives in well-drained soil and full sun. H: 60cm, S: 75cm. Price: £17/3 plants. From: hayloft.co.uk Yucca rigida ‘Blue Sentry’ Blue foliage develops a powdery tone with age. Slow growing, it eventually forms a small trunk, branching to form new heads. Hardy to -10C in a dry, sunny spot. Any well-drained soil, preferably chalky, in full sun. H&S: 1.2m.…

Most roses you buy will have been budded onto a rootstock — a method commercial growers prefer over cuttings because it allows them to produce more plants from limited material. But roses can grow on their own roots too, and you can take cuttings to propagate more for your garden. Bear in mind that many modern roses and other plants are protected from commercial propagation. You’re allowed to take cuttings for personal use, but not for resale. However, this usually isn’t an issue with older rose varieties, which are often unprotected and already growing in your garden. The easiest cuttings come from this year’s flowered shoots — young but firm stems that are soft enough to root quickly and tough enough not to wilt. Taken now, they should root in…

There are so many reasons to grow flowers on your vegetable patch. Firstly, flowers add another dimension to how your plot looks, introducing bright colours into a predominantly green space. Some flowers will have pollinators buzzing with joy and others are good at protecting the plants by keeping unwanted visitors away in a natural and eco-friendly manner. Lots of insects are scent-led, so strongly perfumed blooms can have a tremendously positive impact on your crops. Flowering herbs have multiple benefits. Chives, rosemary, thyme and oregano are all highly scented and attract pollinators, but also ward off destructive creatures such as aphids, carrot fly and bean beetles as well as looking beautiful, needing little attention and being drought tolerant and readily available to cut for kitchen recipes – what’s not to…

Nature’s tiny heroes Last year my hibiscus suffered terribly from aphid damage. This year I ordered ladybird larvae and adult ladybirds online and released them as directed. Look at one of the larvae – it’s clearly doing its job as it has fattened up nicely. Here's to gardening the natural way. Laura Clinton, by email A buzz with bamboo Pottering around my garden, I've noticed my black bamboo has started flowering. Given these are reputed to flower in a coordinated way globally, have other readers seen the same thing this year? Jenny Bruce, Reading Praise for the peas! My husband is chuffed with this row of sweet peas. They’ve been flowering since May; we’ve had many pickings and they smell wonderful. He actually planted them in September and as we…