Innholdsfortegnelse for 30 August 2025 i Garden News

I rarely buy supermarket flowers in the darker days of winter. I use seedheads from the garden instead. Their sculptural beige and brown silhouettes seem to be more suited to the quieter months of the year, far more so than colourful chrysanthemums, dianthus and alstroemerias. I go snipping in summer when the weather’s dry. Then, when winter arrives to cast its low-level sunlight, I have a reminder of those long, hot days. Allium ‘Globemaster’ I grow lots of purple alliums because they’re the best follow up act to tulips. The sterile giant-headed ones with rounded orbs make the best seedheads of all. These larger ones don’t set seed, so they’re expensive to buy because they have to be raised from division and this takes time. Flowers dry to the colour…

Number 34 Once you have completed the crossword, take the letters in the shaded squares and rearrange them to spell out the name of an Asian genus of plants. This is your prize answer. ACROSS DOWN WIN! Win an alstroemeria jumbo plug WORTH £12.99 You’ll love the beautifully coloured flowers of alstroemeria ‘Indian Summer’ set against unique rich bronze foliage. These hardy Peruvian lilies are compact with an upright habit, ensuring that stems are still a good length for cutting. It’s the perfect perennial for borders and patio containers where it will flower continuously from June to November. H: 75cm, S: 60cm. For your chance to win, email the hidden clue to gn.comps@bauermedia.co.uk, writing Crossword No 34 in the subject box. The winner will be drawn on September 1. Your…

A delight to behold, these viola ‘Penny’ varieties will greet you with a plethora of cheerful blooms. Prolifically flowering from October through to May, masses of flowers with bright yellow eyes envelope the tidy, mounding, semi-evergreen foliage, filling your winter baskets, pots and windowboxes with colour. Hardy annuals growing to a height and spread of 20cm, they will happily cope with both heat and cold. Supplied as young plants, delivery from September.…

The drive to reduce peat use in UK horticulture is stalling, according to new figures released by DEFRA, with only marginal progress made in cutting usage across both retail and professional sectors. The report on peat usage in growing media production focuses on figures from 2023 but shows retail sales fell by just one percentage point from 2022, from 16% to 15% of the total market. This compares with a 14% drop from 2021-22. In the professional sector, peat use declined by 4%, down from 50% to 46%, whereas the previous year saw a 10% fall. Overall, total peat use across the industry dropped from 24% in 2022 to 22% in 2023 – a reduction of just 2%, compared with a 12% drop the year before. Campaigners have warned that…

Gardener: Kathy Fairweather Location: Windmill Rise, Belper, Derbyshire DE56 1GQ Size: Approximately 80m long and 15m wide Soil: Light and fertile Been in garden: 23 years Open: Via the National Garden Scheme and through Belper Open Gardens in June 2026 In a small Derbyshire town, Kathy Fairweather’s garden is a haven of dark, dramatic foliage, otherworldly flowers, and intriguing textures, from unusual bark to tactile berries. Tucked behind an unassuming 1950s house, the L-shaped plot is a reflection of her passion for the rare and the remarkable. “If I’d been born a rich woman 200 years ago, I’m sure I would have been a plant hunter,” she laughs, surveying the botanical treasures she’s gathered over time. Kathy has created this haven from scratch, teaching herself horticulture using books and online…

Some plants announce the start of their flowering season with something akin to a squeak, but this shortcoming isn’t experienced by those who grow campsis. Quite appropriately for a group known commonly as trumpet vines, they sound their arrival with a mighty fanfare thanks to their generous clusters of brightly coloured blooms. The waxy, trumpet-shaped flowers delivered by this tribe of deciduous climbers measure 8cm in length and come in shades of yellow, orange, pink and red, with some whose throats are blushed with a contrasting colour. Displayed against a foil of glossy, dark green pinnate leaves, the flowers of some varieties are produced non-stop for four months, from July until October. Despite their tropical appearance, trumpet vines are a doddle to grow. Growing from 2-12m in height, depending on…

With prices rising, finding ways to save money when gardening is more valuable than ever. As summer winds down, many plants have finished flowering and are ready to give something back – future plants! Not all plants produce viable material for propagation, but many annuals and perennials do. It’s worth trying with favourites like cosmos, marigolds and poppies. Just bear in mind that most cultivars won’t grow exactly like their parents, and F1 hybrids rarely come true, so they’re usually not worth keeping. Some veg are trickier, but beans are a breeze if you’ve left pods to dry on the plant. Tomatoes are also straightforward to collect seeds from. The key is timing and dryness. Only gather seed on dry days, and let everything dry thoroughly before cleaning and storing.…

The world's finest share their tips for success It has been a difficult summer, with very little rainfall in southern parts of the country and temperatures rising to the mid 30s, plus wall-to-wall sunshine in the longest midsummer days and beyond. High temperatures have receded and there has been a little rain, but above average temperatures are still predicted for the next month. Fuchsias generally thrive in moderate humidity, so many struggled in the recent heat. Symptoms include wilting, bud drop and heat-damaged buds that either fail to open or bloom with a brownish tinge before falling off too early instead of lasting for around 10 days. So, what can be done? Water fuchsias in containers in the early morning or late evening, when it’s cooler and there isn’t intense sun.…

EGO LM1903E-SP 47CM LAWN MOWER £599 • The wider cutting width of this cordless mower gives precision in medium-sized gardens while a rear roller kit is also available for a striped finish. The EGO Power+ lithium battery gives 800 m2 coverage on a single charge; the supplied charger will replenish power in 40 minutes. The 55L collection bag saves time emptying and disposing of clippings. From: mowers-online.co.uk ROAMWILD MULTI-DIGGER SPADE & FORK SET £89.99 • An arrow-shaped spade head with serrated teeth easily penetrates soil, and integrated blades between the fork tines break up clods while their design helps stops soil from sticking. Both are lightweight with double-grip handles. From: roamwildproducts.co.uk BURGON & BALL TELESCOPIC RATCHET LOPPER £48.99 • Endorsed by the RHS, this has a five-stage ratchet that gradually increases cutting…

The rich colours and deep hues of flaming orange, vibrant red, sumptuous purple and golden yellow have become synonymous with late summer and autumn planting – so much so it can feel like these intense shades are the only option when it comes to extending your garden’s interest. If you prefer pastel-coloured planting schemes, however, there’s no need to ditch soft pinks, lemon yellows and powder blues just because there’s a seasonal shift. In fact these subtle tones are perfectly suited to the softer, more diffused light and cooler temperatures of this time of year. Pastels also have a luminosity that makes them appear to glow in the twilight, so these are the perfect colours for planting around seating areas where you can make the most of the last of…

As feisty as a Spanish dancer, the flowers of these double primulas frill, twist and flare like the beautiful dresses from which they get their name. From January through to March, vibrant blooms will make a statement above lush, semi-evergreen foliage. Perfect for planting in containers, shady corners and alongside pansies, violets and spring-flowering bulbs. Supplied as young plants, delivery from October. THREE EASY WAYS TO ORDER ROGN ONLINE VISIT www.hayloft.co.uk/ROGN. BY PHONE Call 01386 554 440 and quote code ROGN BY POST Cut out order form and post orders to Garden News Offer, Hayloft Plants Limited, RUHB-AKRA-ZXBK, Pershore Road, Little Comberton, Pershore, WR10 3HF. Offer closes September 30, 2025 Please note your contract for supply of goods is with Hayloft Plants Limited, Hollyoaks Nursery, Pershore Road, Little Comberton, Worcestershire,…