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WORTH
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MAKING BEAUTIFUL GARDENS 177

PLANTING
PLANT NG

wow
IDEAS INSIDE
Injectsome

right now!
Must-have plants for a
brighter autumn

Ador able
asters
Easy border beauties

Beautiful gardens
Vibrant
ibrant jewel garden where late cannas shine
Historic plot celebrates Irish fairies and folklore
Small urban oasis full of chic ideas for structure
HOW TO...
NOVEMBER ISSUE 11 OCT-7 NOV

Our
brightest
birds!

✿ WELCOME FINCHES ✿ TEAM SILVER & PINK ✿ PLAN YOUR POTAGER

Treat them to an autumn feast Create this stylish container Tips and advice on what to grow
 FREE Stella Cherry Tree
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AUTUMN HUES Abies concolor Violacea Group, imperata ‘Rubra’ and purple Physostegia virginiana – for more see p14; winter heathers
Meet the
Contributors
“This month in the
garden I’ll be...”
“…lifting, labelling,
drying and packing
dahlia tubers into dry
compost for winter.”
Helen Billiald plans
her potager, p75
“…pruning and tying
in the stems of my
rambling roses while
they’re still pliable.”
Val Bourne writes on
autumn essentials, p14
“…sowing batches of
micro greens for tasty
garnishes for winter
salads.” Louise Curley
picks her favourite
variegated plants, p22
“…planting tulip bulbs.
At last I have some
beds ready for a
colour kick in spring.”
Adrian Thomas writes
about finches, p69
“…planting up
PHOTOS: ALAMY; SHUTTERSTOCK; GILL LOCKHART
containers of Iris
reticulata to ward off
the February blues.”
Dawn Isaac creates a
tropical paradise, p92
“…barrowing in rotted
manure from our local
stables to spread on
my veg patch.” Art
Editor Gill Lockhart
designs the magazine
CONTACT US By post: Garden Answers, Bauer Media, Media House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA Email: gardenanswers@bauermedia.co.uk
Web: www.gardenanswersmagazine.co.uk Social media: Find us on Facebook as Garden Answers Twitter @GardenAnswers Instagram as gardenanswers
Welcome
I really should apologise for the floppy
border on page 90. Normally every page of
Garden Answers is packed with pristine
planting combinations and gorgeous reader
gardens for inspiration. But this month I’ve
been brave and put one of my own ailing
borders up for inspection in our new Border
Rescue feature...
The idea is that our resident gardening guru,
Ian Hodgson (Kew-trained, RHS-approved),
casts his critical eye over a planting scheme and offers constructive
advice on what to take out, what to
divide or cut back, and what to plant
instead. He’s a mine of planting and
design ideas so if you’d like to take part
in the feature please do get in touch.
Just send us an up-to-date photo,
together with any relevant info on the
location and soil type, and we’ll suggest
some suitable plants that will thrive there.
We’ve got all sorts of colourful planting ideas for autumn this
month. On page 14 we reveal autumn’s essentials – those cheerful
end-of-season plants no garden should be without. From the fading
beauties and fresh young blooms that last well to the frosts, to the
attention-seeking hips, stems and berries that provide a pop of
colour, this feature will arm you with a range of
bright ideas to cheer up this dark and chilly
season. Happy gardening!
Liz Potter
Editor
Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 3
 104
60 FREE
NARCISSUS
BULBS*

100
96 LEAF
GRABBERS

PATIO
CLEANERS

14
AUTUMN
ESSENTIALS

Contents
CELEBRATE
6 Celebrate the latecomers Sedum,
26
Keep the flowers coming
Cottage-garden penstemons
keep blooming to the frosts
anemones and silver foliage plants
keep borders looking bountiful EASY GARDENING
8 Be inspired by… Fire & ice, with
What to do this month Establish
a spiky agave and flat-topped 29
a mini orchard, cut back climbing
sedum; shiny zinc accessories;
Adorable asters, p40 roses and plant bareroot shrubs
plants #inflowernow; autumn
COVER: ALAMY; * JUST PAY POSTAGE. SEE P104

sedums; a bird feeder to make; Plant up a pot of silver and pink

On the cover leafy plant quiz and diary dates
34 Brighten up the patio with this
14 Inject some wow right now! COVER
container display in frosty pastels
Invest in autumn’s essentials Keep STORY
34 Team silver & pink 14
40 Adorable asters borders looking alive and vibrant Tuck up tender plants for winter
46 Vibrant jewel garden
COVER
STORY with these must-have seasonal
36 Protect frost-tender plants with
52 Small urban oasis plants, from ‘fading beauties’ to mulch, fleece and bubblewrap
58 Historic plot
69 Welcome finches attention-seeking hips and berries Relax into autumn with asters
75 Plan a potager Top 10 variegated plants
40
22 and grasses Mingle pink and
104 60 free* narcissus bulbs Add colour and interest with COVER
blue flowers with grasses to
STORY
these magnificent foliage plants create a soft, layered effect

4 Garden Answers
 92 40
JUNGLY
DESIGN ASTERS &
GRASSES

69 26 SUBSCRIBE
MEET THE
FINCHES
PERFECT
PENSTEMONS
TODAY
And pay just £2.31 per
issue – see page 44

BEAUTIFUL GARDENS GOURMET GROWER 96

“I’ve planted for a succession
46
of colour” This beautiful jewel-
COVER
themed garden shines in autumn
STORY
“The garden looks good every day
52
COVER
of the year” This chic, modern oasis
STORY has good structure and is full of
low-maintenance plants
“We wanted to keep the history
58 alive” This enchanting garden in
COVER
County Antrim enjoys a fresh
STORY
flourish of colour in autumn
Garden to visit Knoll Gardens
64 in Dorset is an atmospheric
showcase for grasses
WILDLIFE
Discover finches These colourful
69
birds are special guests at garden
COVER
STORY feeders. Meet the family members
and find out what they love to eat
Get creative with edibles
75
Plan your potager garden now
COVER
STORY for colourful crops next year
ASK THE EXPERTS
Ask Garden Answers Our experts
81
help you get the best from your
garden. This month readers share
queries on shrubs, trees and fruit
Border rescue A floppy cottage-
90 garden border enjoys a timely rejig
Design Solutions We transform a
92 modern, overlooked newbuild
garden into a jungly oasis
GARDEN BUYS
Subscribe! Pay just £2.31 per issue
44
and receive 13 issues of Garden
Answers delivered to your door
Buyers’ Guide Brighten up the
patio with a pressure washer...
here’s our pick of the cleaning kit
Make light work of fallen leaves
100
Our round-up of leaf grabbers
60 free* dwarf narcissus bulbs
104 – plus other fab offers on bulbs
COVER to plant now. *Just pay postage
STORY
Four duo fruit trees Enjoy double the
106
fruit on these specially grafted trees
YOUR GARDEN LIFE
Over to you A hanging basket
102
imposter, or is it a satellite dish?
Puzzles and prizes Win a fabulous
109 poster book of botanical prints with
our prize crossword, or a £50
Hayloft voucher in the wordsearch
Garden view Houseplants are back
114
in vogue so dust off the Swiss
cheese plant, says Helen Billiald

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 5
❤
❤ CELEBRATE

Celebrate the
LATECOMERS
Sedum, anemones and foliage plants will keep
borders looking bountiful until the frosts

A RIOT OF RUFFLES
Heucheras make excellent
border edging plants. The
decorative leaves of ‘Plum
Pudding’ offer glimpses of
a reddish-purple underside.
Good for sun or part shade.
H65cm (26in) S50cm (20in)

NEAT TOPIARY This deciduous

Berberis thunbergii has taken
on a bronze tint for autumn. Its
neatly clipped shape provides a
strong punctuation point at the
apex of the path. H and S1–2m
(3ft 3in–6½ft) if unpruned

6 Garden Answers
 A FLASH OF PINK Bold
stands of cerise-flowered
sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ lead
the eye tantalisingly along
the sweeping curved path.
H and S60cm (24in)

SILVER LINING Silver foliage

plants such as santolina, salvia
and artemisia (right) provide
an excellent foil for pink
Japanese anemones and
sedums. Divide plants every
few years to keep them neat.

UPRIGHT UMBELS Straight-

stemmed sedum ‘Matrona’ has
GAP PHOTOS/ELKE BORKOWSKI

STRAPPY LEAVES The foliage purple stems, with starry pink

of Iris germanica begins to die flowers from August to the
back from midsummer. Leave it frosts. In richer soils, give
standing through autumn for an them the ‘Chelsea chop’
upright accent to contrast with in May to prevent flopping
box and sedums. H1m (3ft 3in) outwards later in the season.
S50cm (20in) H75cm (30in) S30cm (12in)

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 7
Be inspired by...
Plants, books, events & buys for the month ahead

Get
look
the FIRE & ICE
Steely blue agave and red-flushed
sedum create drama this season

B
eth Chatto’s famous garden in Essex COMBINE THESE PLANTS
is an excellent source of inspiration.
Even in autumn her clever plant
combinations will have you heading to
the nursery for plants to take home!
In this planting scheme the contrast
provided between the flat cushions of
fiery hylotelephium ‘Herbstfreude’ (sedum
‘Autumn Joy’) and icy blue spiky Agave
americana draws you in. The supporting cast
of Verbena bonariensis, Euphorbia characias ACAENA ‘BLUE VERBENA SEDUM AGAVE
wulfenii and felty Ballota pseudodictamnus HAZE’ Mat-forming BONARIENSIS ‘AUTUMN JOY’ AMERICANA
each provide an exciting shot of silver, while evergreen. White Lilac flowers on tall Salmon-pink Architectural tender
in the foreground, clumps of evergreen flowers July-Aug. stems June to flowers mature to evergreen prefers
acaena form mats of tiny leaves. Pewter- Needs light, well- Sept. Prefers full chocolate brown full sun. Protect
coloured ‘Blue Haze’ has coppery stems, drained soil. H15cm sun. H2m (6½ft) in autumn. H and from frost. H2m
complementing the colours perfectly. (6in) S1m (3ft 3in) S45cm (20in) S60cm (2ft) (6½ft) S3m (10ft)

8 Garden Answers
 ❤
❤ CELEBRATE

THINK ZINC!
These galvanised accessories
will stay looking smart
all year round
Trug £22.95
Annabel James 0345 548 0210;
www.annabeljames.co.uk

Welly boot stand

£34.95 The Farthing
0844 567 2400;
www.thefarthing.co.uk

Traditional watering can (10L)

£26.99 Groves Nurseries 01308 422654;
www.grovesnurseries.co.uk

Outdoor
barometer
£40 The
Contemporary
Home 0845
130 8229;
www.tch.net

Wash tub planter (31cm)

£65 The Worm that Turned
0345 605 2505; www.worm.co.uk

Antique hook rail £18

Garden Trading 01993 845559;
www.gardentrading.co.uk
PHOTO: GAP PHOTOS/HOWARD RICE

St Austell
battery outdoor lantern trio
£24.99 (sale price) Lights4Fun
01423 816040; www.lights4fun.co.uk

Book review lesser-known

visionaries such as
Head Gardeners by former heroin-
Ambra Edwards addict-turned
(£35 Pimpernel Press) gardener, Paul
Pulford, and those
THIS FASCINATING book is a gardeners whose
thought-provoking read. It’s a star is on the rise.
celebration of 14 of Britain’s finest Each interview
EUPHORBIA BALLOTTA PSEUDO- head gardeners, working at our explains their
CHARACIAS DICTAMNUS Woody best-loved gardens across the country. horticultural vision, accomplishments,
WULFENII evergreen shrub with There are interviews with ‘household approach and insights into their work
Hardy, clump- grey felty leaves. Full names’ such as Fergus Garrett at and planting styles. The book is a mine
forming perennial. sun and well-drained Great Dixter and Troy Scott-Smith of information that reveals what makes
Full sun. H1.2m soil. H60cm (2ft) at Sissinghurst Castle, but also a good gardener great. ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿
(4ft) S90cm (3ft) S75cm (30in)

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 9
 In
now
flower November is full of
exciting flowers –
provided you know
what to plant. Try
these late perennials,
shrubs and climbers
u ANEMONE
‘WILD SWAN’
Flowering May
to November
this attractive
anemone has
white flowers
with a pretty
lilac-blue
underside.
Part shade
and fertile,
well-drained
soil. ✿ H45cm
(18in) S30cm
(12in). £13 for
1.5L pot from
CHRYSANTHEMUM ‘GOMPIE PINK’
Burncoose Nurseries
This pretty pink spray chrysanthemum will
01209 860316;
flower from August to the frosts, in sun or
www.burncoose.co.uk
part shade. These half-hardy perennials are
frost tender, so cut back after flowering and
mulch with compost. ✿ H1.2m (4ft) S60cm
(2ft). Stocks available in May 2018 from
Unwins 0844 573 8400; www.unwins.co.uk

AMARINE ‘BELLADIVA’
These dramatic flowers are an
unusual nerine/amaryllis hybrid.
The bulbs produce bigger flowers
than true nerines and make
stunning cut flowers from
November onwards. Plant in a
sunny position in a sandy
free-draining soil, with the top
protruding above the surface.
✿ H50cm (20in) S30cm (12in).
£14.99 for 5 bulbs from
Thompson & Morgan
0844 573 1818; www.thompson-
morgan.com

p CLEMATIS CIRRHOSA ‘FRECKLES’

Evergreen climber with bell-shaped creamy
flowers November to March. ‘Freckles’ has
red speckles inside, other cultivars (such
as ‘Jingle Bells’) are a soft greeny-cream.
Both have whiskery seedheads. Plant in a
sheltered sunny spot. ✿ H3–3.5m (10–12ft).
£10 for 2L pot, Taylors Clematis 01302
700716; www.taylorsclematis.co.uk

10 Garden Answers
 ❤
❤ CELEBRATE

...Just add cream Write in

& tell us!
We’re very excited
about strawberry ‘Just
Add Cream’ – its pretty
pink flowers are so
unusual, and the fact it
bears flowers and
berries together is a real
bonus. Plant in full sun
in a patio pot or basket
for fruits from May to
the frosts. H30cm (12in)
S50cm (20in). £2.99
for a jumbo plug from
Thompson & Morgan
0844 573 1818; www.
p VIOLA ‘SORBET YELLOW FROST’ thompson-morgan.com
Winter-flowering violas make attractive container l Like it or loathe it? Write
plants in autumn, flowering in mild spells from to the usual GA address
November to spring. Plant them with evergreen
grasses, trailing ivy or underplant with spring bulbs
for a neat display on your doorstep. Plants prefer full
sun or part shade and a moist but well-drained soil.
✿ H and S15cm (6in). £17.99 for 60 from Crocus 01344
578000; www.crocus.co.uk Sedums for autumn S ix
of the
t PRUNUS
SUBHIRTELLA best
‘AUTUMNALIS ROSEA’
This small cherry tree is a must
for autumn interest. Not only do
the dark green leaves turn gold
in autumn, but also pale pink
flowers appear in mild spells
November to March. Full sun.
✿ H and S4m (13ft). £59.98 in
10L pot from Ornamental Trees
01943 660870; www. ‘STARDUST’ ‘ICEBERG’ ‘MATRONA’
ornamental-trees.co.uk Fleshy grey-green Deciduous sedum Busy pink flowers
foliage with white with flat-topped that turn bronze
and occasionally white flowers on over winter with
pink summer fleshy upright bronze-flushed
flowers. Sun or part stems. Best in leaves and stems.
shade in well- full sun and Sun or part shade.
drained soil. H45cm well-drained soil. H75cm (30in)
(18in) S40cm (16in) H and S45cm (18in) S30cm (12in)

VIBURNUM BODNANTENSE ‘DAWN’

A garden classic, this is the fragrant shrub
to have for winter flowers. Blooming from
‘BRILLIANT’ ‘PURPLE ‘AUTUMN
November to March, this pretty deciduous
Succulent grey- EMPEROR’ CHARM’
green leaves and Dark purple foliage Variegated sedum
shrub has an upright habit and performs best
bright, pink-mauve and red-purple with creamy,
in full sun or part shade. Prune and mulch after
summer flowers flower heads. yellow-edged
flowering. ✿ H3m (10ft) S2m (6½ft). £14.99
that deepen to Foliage can look leaves and large
for 2L pot Waitrose Garden 01344 578811;
rich pink. Sun and black. Full sun or rosy-pink autumn
www.waitrosegarden.com
well-drained soil. part shade. H and flowers. H40cm
H and S45cm (18in) S45cm (18in) (16in) S60cm (2ft)

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 11
 Patio MAKE A PLANT POT
project
bird feeder
Small vintage flower pots make an attractive feeding station
– just add seeds, nuts and berries

Step by step
You will need: Rusty wheel or similar
salvage item with rope to hang it from
a strong tree l small terracotta pots
l garden twine l 250g (8oz) vegetable
suet or lard l approx 500g (17oz)
equal quantities of rolled oats,
wild bird seed, grated
cheese, crushed peanuts
l hips and berries
to decorate
How to make it
1. Mix the oats, seed,
cheese and nuts together
in a bowl.
GAP PHOTOS
2. Melt the vegetable suet in a pan and
gradually stir in the dry mix until the fat
is absorbed. Allow to cool slightly.
3. Thread a length of twine through
each pot – providing sufficient
length to suspend them.
4. Using a wooden spoon,
scoop the suet mix into
a few of the pots.
5. Suspend the pots from
a branch (or your rusty
salvage item), adding
loose berries, hips and
seed to the remaining pots.
Decorate with berry garlands.

12 Garden Answers
 ❤
❤ Celebrate

Guess the plant from its leaves This month...

Can you tell what these plants are from their autumn leaves? KEW IN WARTIME
1-30 Nov, 12 noon-1pm
Try our quiz – it’s just for fun and answers are at the bottom The Royal Botanic Gardens,
Kew, Surrey TW9 3AE
Discover how Kew was affected
by war and how staff and gardens
contributed to the war effort on
this walking tour. Booking advised
– be at Guides Desk 11.45am. £12.50
l tours@kew.org; www.kew.org

1 Elegant deciduous tree
with palmate leaves. Slow
growing, with open habit.
Prefers light shade and
shelter, with light, slightly
acidic soil.
H and S1.2–8m (4–26ft)
2 Tall deciduous tree with
palmate leaves, sometimes
mistaken for a maple.
Autumn leaves can turn red,
orange, yellow and purple.
Spiky fruits in autumn.
H25m (82ft) S4 (13ft)
3 Vigorous deciduous
climber. Five-pointed leaves
give a clue to its name. Its
fast-growing, rampaging
nature means it’s not ideal
for a small garden. H15m
(49ft) S5m (16ft)
WADDESDON IMAGINARIUM
11 Nov-2 Jan, Wed-Sun, 4.30-6pm
Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury,
Buckinghamshire HP18 0JH
Enjoy a unique new sound and
light show in the gardens. 3D
animations bring the façade to life.
Included in garden admission, £10
l 01296 820414;
www.waddesdon.org.uk

4 Ancient tree from China
with fan-shaped leaves.
Pungent yellow female
fruits in autumn; good leaf
colour. Prefers full sun and
moist but well-drained soil.
H15m (49ft) S5m (16ft)
5 Graceful deciduous tree
with small leaves that
rustle in a breeze. Popular
in its stark, white-trunked
form. Bears yellow-brown
catkins in March. H25m
(82ft) S10m (33ft)
6 Much-loved deciduous
tree/hedging plant in a
bold purple form. Plants
are able to hang onto
young leaves over winter.
Prune to keep small. H and
S20m (66ft) in 20 years
GARDEN IllUMINATIONS
17 Nov-6 Jan, Thurs-Sat, 3-8pm
RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great
Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH
Follow the festive illuminations
through the gardens and lake area.
Late meals available. Garden
admission, adults £12.10, child £6.05
l 01805 626810;
www.rhs.org.uk/rosemoor
ANGlESEY ABBEY WINTER lIGhTS
24-26 Nov, 1-3 and 8-10 Dec,
5.30-7.45pm
Anglesey Abbey, Lode,
Cambridgeshire CB25 9EJ
Enchanting lighting effects along
the Winter Walk and silver birch
grove, as well as the Abbey itself.
Adults £15, child £10
l 0344 249 1895;
www.nationaltrust.org.uk

7 Bushy deciduous shrub
with corky stems. Autumn
foliage is cerise, with pink
fruits that split open to
reveal an orange seed
inside. Sun or part shade.
H2m (6½ft) S3m (10ft)
8 Deciduous shrub famous
for its colourful winter
stems, although its autumn
leaves look spectacular
too! Sun or part shade.
Creamy white flowers in
summer. H and S2.5m (8ft)
9 Deciduous shrub whose
lobed leaves have the
appearance of oak leaves,
turning purple-bronze in
autumn. Attractive blowsy
flowers July to September.
H2m (6½ft) S2.5m (8ft)
cOppIcING AT WESTONBIRT
26 Nov, 10am-4pm
Westonbirt, Tetbury,
Gloucestershire GL8 8QS
Learn how to coppice trees the
Westonbirt way. Besom brooms
and coppicing products on sale.
Adults £10
l 0300 067 4890;
www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt
SANTA AT WISlEY
PHoToS: ALAMy; SHUTTERSToCk

From 29 Nov, 11am-5.45pm

RHS Garden Wisley, Woking,
Surrey GU23 6QB
AUTUMN LEAVES: ANSWERS Treat yourself to a spot of plant
7 Euonymus alatus 8 Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ 9 Hydrangea quercifolia (oak-leaf hydrangea) shopping while the children visit
5 Betula pendula (silver birch) 6 Fagus sylvatica Atropurpurea Group (copper beech) Santa. Tickets per child, £12
3 Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper) 4 Gingko biloba (maidenhair tree) l 01483 224234; wisely@rhs.org.uk
1 Acer palmatum (Japanese maple) 2 Liquidambar styraciflua (sweet gum)

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 13
 BRIGHT DELIGHT
Brilliant red
Euonymus alatus
contrasts with a
golden Acer
palmatum in this
dramatic autumn
border with asters,
grasses, sedum
and heucheras

14 Garden Answers

Autumn’s
essentials
Keep your borders looking alive and vibrant with these must-
have seasonal plants. Val Bourne highlights those to go for
T
he weather may be at its
bleakest in November, with
short dreary days, but the
garden can still deliver a
surprise or two just when we need it
most. Late-flowering blooms linger
on until winter really bites, providing
a nostalgic reminder of summer past.
It could be a late-blooming rose,
weighed down by heavy dew and
framed by the symmetry of a garden
spider’s web, or a dahlia waiting for
the first cold snap – a little limp of
stem, but still vibrant.
There might be a shaft of sunlight
picking up bright-red berries held on
bare branches, or a lingering leaf
that’s turned a warm shade of orange,
or a rose hip in lipstick-red.
Red is the touch-paper colour that
brings the garden to life and when
❤
❤ CELEBRATE
ASTER YOUR VISTA
These delightful daisies
offer masses of reliable
colour until the frosts
INVEST IN
frost descends to weave its special
magic, the remnants of stiff-
stemmed autumn plants catch the
frost and sparkle.
The first of the fresh flowers arrive
now and, on still days when there’s
afternoon warmth, the hyacinth
scent of Viburnum bodnantense
‘Dawn’ is at its strongest. If
November stays clement, autumn
flowering shrubs respond as well and
many are sweetly scented to attract
PHOTOS GAP; ALAMY, SHUTTERSTOCK
any late-flying pollinators. Winter
flowers tend to be small and
weather-resistant, but their subtle
charms warm the gardener’s soul. ➤
PINK SURPRISE Berries of Sorbus
pseudohupehensis ‘Pink Pagoda’
last well into winter, hungry birds
permitting. H8m (26ft) S6m (20ft)
Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 15
❤
❤ CELEBRATE

AGEING
GRACEFULLY
Prairie planting
schemes fade to soft
parchment browns
via burnished reds.
Plants here are sedum
‘Matrona’, geranium
‘Philippe Vapelle’
and Imperata
cylindrica ‘Rubra’

16 Garden Answers
 GO WITH THE PHLO
Vibrant orange Rhus
typhina ‘Dissecta’
helps seedheads of
phlomis to stand out

Savour the fading beauties

T
he last flowers standing are often
GALLERY
Gaura lindheimeri, with their
willowy stems of white, butterfly-
shaped flowers softened by rhubarb-pink
stamens and pink buds. This North
American plant is an evening primrose
relative that tends to be a short-lived
perennial. However, it’s easily raised from
seeds sown in March and will flower in its
first year. There are pink forms including
‘Freefolk Rosy’ and ‘Rosyjane’, but it’s the
ephemeral quality of the soft-white version
that shines best as winter approaches. GAURA ‘ROSYJANE’ MONARDA ‘GARDEN ROSA GLAUCA
Use gaura in a sheltered sunny position White flowers with a VIEW SCARLET’ Single pink flowers
close to hardy salvias, such as bright-pink pink picotee edge. Bright red tufted flowers offset by gunmetal-
S. microphylla ‘Wild Watermelon’. Or try a Flowers May to the July to frosts. Sun or grey foliage. Dark
hardy valerian from Morocco, Centranthus frosts. Likes sun. H75cm part shade. H90cm (3ft) red hips. H1.8m (6ft)
lecoqii with lavender heads of butterfly- (30in) S60cm (2ft) S45cm (18in) S1.5m (5ft)
and moth-pleasing flowers. They’ll all go
on late until winter intervenes.
Certain repeat-flowering roses linger on
too. One of the best is short, pink ‘Bonica’,
bearing clusters of semi-double flowers
from early July onwards. White roses often
have a flourish now and noisette climber,
‘Madame Alfred Carrière’, will still put out
its soft-white flowers tinted with apple-
blossom pink. The foliage is healthy, the
stems are thornless, so it’s easy to train
and bend, and it will tolerate a north wall.
Stiff silhouettes from taller late- ASTER ‘LITTLE CENTRANTHUS PHLOMIS
flowering monarda, asters and phlomis CARLOW’ Masses of LECOQII Bears clusters RUSSELIANA
stand up well over winter and favourites flowers August to the of fragrant mauve flowers Yellow flowers
include monarda ‘Gardenview Scarlet’, frosts. Full sun or part from early summer. May-Sept with unusual
aster ‘Little Carlow’ and shapely shade. H90cm (3ft) Loved by bees. H60cm seedheads. H90cm
Phlomis tuberosa ‘Amazone’. ➤ S45cm (18in) (2ft) S45cm (18in) (3ft) S75cm (30in) ➤

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 17
❤
❤ CELEBRATE

FOCAL POINT
Crab apple Malus robusta ‘Red
Sentinel’ makes a colourful
centrepiece among evergreen
rosemary and coppery sedum
flowers. H and S8m (26ft)

Plant a few attention seekers

P
lants bearing berries, hips and fruit are a GALLERY
surefire way to create an autumnal focal
point in the garden. The small crab
apple, Malus robusta ‘Red Sentinel’, is laden
with clusters of vivid red fruit in November.
Cotoneasters also deliver an infusion of red,
but many need a lot of space. Evergreen
Cotoneaster lacteus can be grown as an
eye-catching hedge while the weeping small
tree cotoneaster ‘Hybridus Pendulus’, a
semi-evergreen with lots of red berries, is
perfect for a small garden. Cotoneaster berries
usually last until after Christmas, not only COTONEASTER SORBUS ‘PINK ROSA ‘GERANIUM’
providing a winter spectacle, but also luring in LACTEUS PAGODA’ Tree with A Rosa moyesii hybrid
migrant redwings, fieldfares and waxwings. Bright red autumn blue-green leaves and with rich orange-red
Brightly coloured hips also attract birdlife berries that last into pink autumn berries. elongated hips from
and the flagon-shaped, light-orange hips of winter. Full sun or part Sun or dappled shade. single red flowers.
Rosa glauca, an airy species rose with single shade. H and S4m (13ft) H8m (26ft) S6m (20ft) H2.5m (8ft) S1.5m (5ft)
pink flowers and gunmetal-grey foliage, are
adored by finches and tits. Showier and larger
red hips appear on thorny rose ‘Geranium’.
Pink is another attention-grabbing hue in the
autumn garden. The pink berries of Sorbus
pseudohupehensis ‘Pink Pagoda’ appear with
the grey foliage in late-summer and remain
when the ash-like foliage drops, together
making a wonderful foil for pink hellebores.
Colourful stems also come into their own
now. Coral-bark maple (Acer palmatum
‘Sango-kaku’) will have lost most of its orange
autumn foliage but the coral-red stems will last CORNUS ALBA ACER PALMATUM CORNUS SANGUINEA
throughout winter. The dogwoods also have ‘SIBIRICA’ Deciduous ‘SANGO-KAKU’ ‘MIDWINTER FIRE’
glowing winter stems from the thick bright-red shrub with good autumn Flamboyant acer whose Deciduous shrub with
stems of Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ to the twiggier colour and bold red cut leaves turn caramel in fiery red and orange
bonfire of orange, coral-pink and red of C. winter stems. Sun or part autumn. Dappled shade. winter stems. Sun or part
shade. H and S2.5m (8ft) H6m (20ft) S5m (15ft) shade. H and S2m (6½ft)
sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ or ‘Magic Flame’. ➤

18 Garden Answers
statement
berries
The bright yellow
berries of pyracantha
‘Soleil D’Or’ create a
seasonal sensation
on this colourful
evergreen hedging
plant. H2.5m (8ft)
S3m (10ft) ➤

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 19
AUTUMN
OPPORTUNITIES
Nerine bowdenii
makes a pretty
companion for late
penstemons. They’re
good in containers and
happiest in a free-
draining soil. H45cm
(18in) S25cm (10in)

20 Garden Answers
 ❤
❤ CELEBRATE

VIBRANT
CANDELABRA
Mahonia media ‘Lionel
Fortescue’ brightens
up this autumn border
(H5m/15ft S4m/13ft)
alongside fiery foliage
of Acer oliverianum

Enjoy the fresh blooms of autumn

F
resh flowers creep in now, especially if
GALLERY
the weather’s kind. The pink flowers of
Viburnum bodnantense ‘Dawn’ can be
accommodated on the garden edge and still
fragrance the whole garden. If you have shade
and good soil , the architectural stems and
evergreen foliage of Mahonia media ‘Winter
Sun’ together with its crown of fragrant, pale
yellow tapers look fabulous on a dreary day.
Most gardeners know elaeagnus as a
variegated green and gold evergreen, but there’s
also a silver-leaved version that produces tiny
fragrant flowers – E. submacrophylla. The JASMINUM IRIS UNGUICULARIS VINCA DIFFORMIS
strong lily-like fragrance comes from pendant NUDIFLORUM ‘MARY BARNARD’ ‘JENNY PYM’
clusters of stamens and, planted in a warm Cheerful yellow flowers Velvety purple flowers Pretty flowers autumn–
position, this often flowers in November. on bare stems. Vigorous with yellow markings on Spring. Happy in
A south-facing warm wall would be perfect shrubby climber. the falls need sun. H32cm shade. H40cm (16in)
for a winter-flowering clematis and Clematis H and S3m (10ft) (13in) S30cm (12in) S1.5m (5ft)
cirrhosa purpurascens ‘Freckles’ is willing to
flower in November. This no-prune clematis
has white flowers heavily spotted in red and as
they’re star-like, they’re easier to see. Plant
winter-flowering Iris unguicularis at its base,
which often perform in November, with the
pale-pink winter-flowering periwinkle, Vinca
difformis ‘Jenny Pym’.
Winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum)
responds well to being clipped in spring, and
produces pale yellow flowers on new olive-
green stems. Team it with winter iris to cheer
up a drab corner; watch Iris unguicularis ‘Mary PRUNUS MAHONIA MEDIA SARCOCOCCA
Barnard’ unfurl over a restorative cup of tea. SUBHIRTELLA ‘WINTER SUN’ CONFUSA
The autumn-flowering cherry, Prunus ‘AUTUMNALIS’ Flowering Nov–March Good evergreen for
subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’, produces pale pink Semi-double flowers this handsome evergreen shade. Tufty, sweetly
confetti as its flowers come and go. It’s fabulous Nov–March. Gold autumn makes a bold focal point. fragranced flowers. H2m
seen against a moody November sky. ✿ foliage. H and S4m (13ft) H5m (16ft) S4m (13ft) (6½ft) S1m (3ft 3in)

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 21
 ❤
❤ CELEBRATE

TOP TEN

Variegated PLANTS
Add colour and interest to your planting
schemes with these magnificent foliage
plants, says Louise Curley

W
hile many garden plants
have leaves of a single
colour, others stand out
from the crowd thanks to
their two-tone or multi-coloured foliage.
In some cases a genetic mutation causes
this variegation, in others it’s due to a
structural difference in the leaves that
means we can see more than one colour.
Generally variegated plants are
bi-coloured with green joined by white,
cream or yellow, but a whole range of
other colours can appear. These include
purple, pink, red and orange, sometimes
in several different tones, creating a
kaleidoscope effect and appearing as
spots, splashes, stripes and marbling
or as differently coloured leaf edges.
Paler variegated leaves can be used to
brighten up shady spots in the garden.
Planted at the back of a border, they will
also create the optical illusion of making
your garden appear more spacious.
Green leaves with hints of white or
cream are a useful addition to a white
border, providing added texture and
structure, while continuing the
monochrome theme. It’s also possible to
match the colour of the variegation with
flowers and foliage of other plants to
create a harmonious planting scheme.
Some variegated plants will revert
back to their single colour over time.
Remove these stems as soon as you spot
them, because they can grow more
strongly than the variegated stems.

1 2 3

GRISELINIA LITTORALIS ILEX AQUIFOLIUM HEDERA COLCHICA

‘DIXON’S CREAM’ ‘ARGENTEA MARGINATA’ AGM ‘SULPHUR HEART’ AGM
This variegated cultivar has lustrous, An eye-catching holly with pink-tinged The heart-shaped leaves of this
leathery, green, cream-splashed leaves. young foliage that matures to glossy Persian ivy are mid-green with
PHOTOS: ALAMY; SHUTTERSTOCK

Can be pruned for hedging, although
it’s less hardy than its non-variegated
cousin: in exposed spots grow against
a sheltered wall. Needs light, well-
drained soil and full sun. Hardy to
-10C (14F). It’s great for mild coastal
gardens because it can cope with
salt-laden air. H3m (10ft) S2m (6½ft)
dark green with striking cream margins.
This female cultivar will produce shiny
red berries with a male nearby. Grow as
a specimen tree, as a hedge or clipped
into topiary. Hollies are slow growing
and do best in full sun or part shade, in
moist but well-drained soil. If unpruned,
H12m+ (39ft+) S4–8m (13–26ft)
central splashes of yellow. A
vigorous climber, it’s ideal for
masking an unattractive wall and
its autumn flowers are great for
pollinators. Prefers a fertile, moist
but well-drained soil. Plant in a
sheltered spot out of cold winds.
H4–8m (13–26ft) S2.5–4m (8–13ft)

22 Garden Answers
 4
CORNUS CONTROVERSA
‘VARIEGATA’ AGM
This variegated cultivar of the wedding
cake tree is smaller and more compact
than its plain green relative. Bright green
teardrop-shaped leaves with bold
creamy-white edges are accompanied
by clusters of white flowers in June,
which are held above the branches like
candles on a Christmas tree. The leaves
also turn an attractive pinky-red in
autumn. Grow in full sun in deep, fertile,
moist soil. H and S4–8m (13–26ft) ➤ ➤

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 23
 5
ELAEAGNUS
MACROPHYLLA
‘GILT EDGE’ AGM
An attractive, dense evergreen shrub
with shiny leaves that makes a striking
informal hedging plant. With this
cultivar, fresh foliage starts out silver-
grey before maturing to mid-green
with golden edges. The undersides
remain silvery, which gives the leaves a
luminous quality. Small white, fragrant
flowers appear in autumn. An easy
plant to grow in full sun or part shade
– it does well in most well-drained
soils. Good for coastal planting and
hardy to -15C (5F). H and S4m (13ft)

CAREX OSHIMENSIS
‘EVERGOLD’ AGM
Forming neat hummocks of evergreen
foliage, this superb sedge forms dark
green strappy leaves with a bold
creamy-yellow stripe down the centre.
In late spring and early summer spikes
of inconspicuous brown flowers appear.
It’s a useful low-maintenance plant,
happy in full sun or part shade,
in moist but well-drained soil.
H30cm (12in) S35cm (14in)

CORNUS ALBA
‘ELEGANTISSIMA’ AGM
6 7
The red-barked dogwood is grown
mainly for its attractive ruby-
coloured winter stems but it also
has handsome variegated grey-
green foliage with white margins
from spring to autumn. It’s a plant
with year-round interest – small
groups of creamy-white flowers
from May to June are followed by
white berries. Grow in full sun to
make the most of the winter stem
colour. Likes moist roots, so plant
by a pond or in a winter border.
H and S3m (10ft)

24 Garden Answers
 ❤
❤ CELEBRATE

8 9
PHOTINIA FRASERI
‘PINK MARBLE’ AGM
A colourful new cultivar of this
popular evergreen. Glossy,
vibrant pinky-red new growth
fades to reveal a combination
of sage green and silvery-
white. It’s attractive enough to
grow as a specimen shrub in a
border plus it can tolerate hard
pruning, which makes it ideal
for an informal hedge. Thrives
in full sun or part shade, in
moist but well-drained, fertile
soil. H4m (13ft) S3m (10ft)

PHORMIUM
‘SUNDOWNER’ AGM
This New Zealand flax cultivar has
strappy leaves suffused with sunset
colours. Clumps of arching, evergreen
leaves with a base colour of olive
green flushed with rose-pink and
orange, look particularly attractive
when backlit by the sun. Great for
adding a touch of the exotic to a
border or enhancing a coastal or
Mediterranean style garden. Hardy
to -5C (23F) so protect in colder areas.
H and S1.5m (5ft)

10
HEBE
BE ‘HEARTBREAKER’
This recent introduction is a fabulous
chameleon. It’s a compact, evergreen
shrub with narrow green leaves edged
with cream that take on striking pink
tones as temperatures drop in winter.
Bottlebrush-like, mauve-coloured
flowers appear in summer and are
loved by bees. Neat mounds of foliage
make it an ideal plant for containers.
It’s not frost-hardy so will need
protection over winter. Plant in full sun
in moist, fertile soil with good
drainage. H and S60cm (2ft)

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 25
 PLANT
PROFILE
Penstemons

MEADING The Tium

remperis con eum voloris cus
diciate non pore vendel
ipsam quam quatum exerum
liciet prature anim non
comnim nam est remqui

Keep the flowers

COMING
Long-flowering cottage garden penstemons keep
blooming to the frosts. Val Bourne picks the best

26 Garden Answers
 ❤
❤ CELEBRATE

P
enstemons peak gloriously in
late-summer and autumn,
providing continual flower often
into November. Their airy, upright
spires provide a vertical presence in a
sunny border and their tubular bells come
in shades of white, pink, deep-red, purple,
lavender and electric-blue. Flower shape
can vary from elegantly slender trumpet to
wide-open gaping mouth. Many have finely
veined white throats designed to lure in
bees; penstemons are very wildlife friendly.
Most of our named forms are bred from
North American species and hardiness
does vary. The Victorians, who had much
colder winters than we do now, grew them
as summer bedding and raised new plants
from cuttings every year. However in the
early 20th century, plant breeders began to
raise hardier penstemon hybrids and two
Swiss-bred cultivars, ‘Schoenholzeri’
(previously ‘Firebird’) and ‘Andenken an
Friedrich Hahn’ (previously ‘Garnet’) were
introduced into this country by the late
Alan Bloom of Bressingham in 1939.
Secrets of success
The secret of success is to leave the top
growth intact over winter to protect the
base, then cut them back in spring once new
growth appears. They can look a little
ragged in hard winters, although this didn’t
stop eminent lady gardeners such as
Margery Fish (1892–1969) of East
Lambrook Manor, who enthused about
their ‘continuous colour’ and described
lilac and white ‘Sour Grapes’ as ‘iridescent’.
Vita Sackville-West (1892–1962) grew
Our pick of the best
BEST FOR BEST FOR EARLY
HARDINESS FLOWERS P.
‘ANDENKEN AN HETEROPHYLLUS
FRIEDRICH HAHN’ ‘CATHERINE DE
(‘GARNET’) This LA MARE’ An
PHOTOS: ALAMY; SHUTTERSTOCK
Red penstemons with
yellow verbascum and
purple salvia
Success with penstemons
Some penstemons tend to be
short-lived. Just like their free-
flowering verbascum, snapdragon
and foxglove cousins, they often
flower themselves to death.
l Give them a bright, sunny position.
This encourages better flowering.
l Deadhead. This keeps flowers
coming rather than setting seed.
l Don’t cut them back in autumn.
many in her Sissinghurst Castle
garden and passed ‘Sour Grapes’
to Beth Chatto, but it proved to
be a muted lilac-purple
called ‘Stapleford Gem’. To
this day, the two are still
muddled.
BEST FOR BEST AT DUSK
DAINTINESS ‘STAPLEFORD
‘EVELYN’ Willowy GEM’ Needs a drier
stems of slender position thanks to
pink flowers its greyer foliage.
youDid
know?
The name penstemon
comes from the Greek for
penta (five) and stamon
(stamens), after the
number of stamens
in each flower
Wait until April and
then cut back hard
once you see new growth.
l They’re easily raised from cuttings
taken between June and August.
Look for new side shoots and trim
below the leaf joint and pinch out any
flower buds. Submerge two-thirds of
the cutting into trays of damp, coarse
horticultural sand, or use a 50:50
mix of compost and sand.
Much breeding was centred
around the Worcestershire
town of Pershore. In the
1960s, amateur
breeder and former
Vice Principal of
Pershore College Ron Sidwell
(1909–1993) bred a Bird Series.
‘Blackbird’, ‘Flamingo’,
‘Osprey’, ‘Whitethroat’ and
near-black ‘Raven’ are still
grown today.
Pershore student Edward Wilson
(1948–2009) raised and named more than
50 new cultivars from 1985 onwards. Many
have Pensham in their name, where
Hayloft Plants is based. They took over
Edward’s collection after his death and still
sell bright pink ‘Pensham Just Jayne’,
‘Pensham Victoria Plum’ and ‘Pensham
Laura’, a pink-edged white. Stong, tall
‘Pensham Ted’s Purple’ has a white throat
and ‘Pensham Plum Jerkum’, my favourite,
is named after a local liqueur. The best
range is available in May.
Penstemons slot into cottage-style
gardens really well and complement
silver-leaved plants perfectly. Sultry reds
and dark-purple blacks add a richness to
borders of golden daisies. Wine-red

Swiss-bred, claret upright penstemon supported by fine Tall stems of ‘Andenken an Friedrich Hahn’ is excellent
cultivar flowers with blue flowers foliage, this hardy white-throated lilac with soft-blue nepetas, herbaceous
prolifically over a suffused in pink. penstemon has flowers, streaked clematis and pink roses. Dainty pink
long period. It has This flowers in been a garden in purple, glow ‘Evelyn’ mingles well with Stipa
narrow foliage. flushes, starting in favourite since the as evening falls. tenuissima and blue Catananche caerulea.
H90cm (3ft) June. H90cm (3ft) 1930s. H90cm H90cm (3ft) These amenable plants flatter repeat-
S30cm (12in) S30cm (12in) (3ft) S30cm (12in) S30cm (12in) flowering roses too, filling in any fallow
patches and acting as an encore. ✿

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 27
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 What
to do this
month November
Establish a mini orchard,
cut back climbing roses
and plant bareroot
shrubs and trees
says Louise Curley

PLANT TULIP BULBS

Traditionalists hold that tulips should be
planted a month or so after daffodils, once
the temperature has dropped, because
tulips are prone to a soil-borne fungal
disease called tulip fire. Some horticultural
sources say it’s less of a problem once the
ground is cold, but critics argue there’s no
evidence for this.
Either way, November is a good month
to get planting them – there should still be
enough dry frost-free days for the soil to
be workable but it should be feeling
colder. Plant tulips deeply, at least three
times the height of the bulb, with the
pointy end facing upwards. ➤
PHOTO: GAP PHOTOS

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 29
 What to do this month...

RICH PICKINGS Grow

a range of tasty fruits
in patio pots if you’re
short on space

PLANT A MINI ORCHARD

Now is the perfect time to
plant fruit trees and create
your own mini orchard

E ven the smallest of gardens can

become a productive little orchard
dotted with fruit trees, and now’s the best
time to get planting. Select a plant that’s
been grafted onto a compact rootstock and
train the stems so you can grow several
Apple ‘Discovery’ AGM Pear ‘Conference’ AGM Plum ‘Victoria’ Lovely
different fruits in a small space, either in
Early-fruiting eater with Reliable heavy crops of orange-red fruit for eating
the ground or in large containers.
attractive glossy red fruit. juicy sweet fruit mid-late raw and cooking. Fruits
Apples and pears, in particular, respond
Sweet and sharp flavour. September. Self-fertile. late summer. Self-fertile.
well to pruning. This means you can train
them as stepovers to edge a path, as an
espalier against a wall or fence, or as single
trunks known as cordons.
Check the pollinating requirements of
your chosen fruit tree – some will need to
have one or two different cultivars planted
close by to ensure fruit production, or
alternatively you can grow a self-fertile
cultivar that doesn’t require a pollinator.
It’s worth contacting a specialist fruit
nursery, who will be able to advise on
both suitable rootstocks and pollinators. Damson ‘Farleigh’ Dark Greengage ‘Imperial Cherry ‘Stella’ AGM
✿ See our plant offer on p106 for four blue plum-shaped fruit for Gage’ AGM Honey-sweet, Plump, shiny dark red
space-saving ‘Duo’ fruit trees, featuring baking or preserving on a golden-green fruit ripen fruit, ready for picking in
two cultivars on each plant compact plant. Self-fertile. in August. Self-fertile. midsummer. Self-fertile.

30 Garden Answers

Cut back climbing roses
Although it’s too early to prune roses fully,
it’s a good idea to cut back the long whippy
stems of climbing roses by about one third
before winter sets in. This will stop the wind
from pulling at the top growth, which can
rock the roots and damage stems. Cut back
to an outward-facing bud and tie in the
remaining stems.
Weatherwatch
Once the clocks have
changed it feels very much
like the garden is entering
hibernation. Frost, storms
and even the first snow
flurries can all happen
in November. Take the
opportunity to wrap up
warm on dry days and
tackle any of those last
jobs that need doing
before winter
sets in.
Clean pots
and trays
Now’s a great time
to start preparing for
next spring. Make the
most of sunny days to
wash and dry seed trays
and plastic pots before
storing them away for
winter. Remove dried
compost or soil with a stiff
brush, wash in warm, soapy water, rinse
well and leave to dry in the sun.
✿ Get this job out of the way now, then
when you come to sow your first seeds
in spring you’ll be all ready to go.
Pick and store
chillies
If you can keep your chilli
plants somewhere warm,
bright and frost-free they’ll
go on producing fruit right
up to Christmas.
✿ If your greenhouse isn’t
heated, move them indoors
and put them on a warm
windowsill. Fully ripe
chillies store better than
underripe ones.
✿ If you’ve got something
of a glut, dry them. Just put
them on plate and place it
on a warm, sunny windowsill, or tie
the chillies together with cotton and
hang somewhere warm and dry. Once
dried, store them in an air-tight jar.
Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 31
EASY GARDENING
POT UP A
HIPPEASTRUM
More commonly known
as amaryllis, these huge
bulbs produce superb
trumpet-shaped, exotic blooms.
They grow quickly and can be in
flower 6–8 weeks after planting,
so pop some in pretty pots now
for a sparkling Christmas display.
Hippeastrums are tender bulbs
so they need to be grown in pots
indoors. Stake the flower stalk of
taller cultivars to prevent the pot
from toppling over.
PREPARE THE POT Choose
1 a pot that’s slightly larger
than the bulb. Fill it about
two-thirds deep with multipurpose
compost or John Innes No. 2.
POSITION THE BULB Place
2
the bulb on top of the
compost and fill in around
the sides. At least two-thirds of the
bulb should be above the compost.
GROW THEM ON
3 Give the compost a little
water, and then water only
sparingly until there are signs of
growth. Place on a bright, warm
windowsill. Once in flower, move
them somewhere cooler to extend
the flowering season. ➤
What to do this month...
PLANT BAREROOT SHRUBS & TREES
Buying bareroot plants
is an inexpensive way
to grow roses, shrubs
and hedging plants.
Bareroot plants are only
available between
November and March, in
the dormant season, and
now’s the best time to get
them in the ground
Protect slightly because the soil is most
likely to be frost-free and
tender perennials not waterlogged. There
Some herbaceous perennials such as
should also be enough
penstemons, salvias, Verbena rigida,
warmth to encourage roots
gaura and alstroemeria are borderline
to get established.
hardy (they’ll survive a mild winter
but may be killed off if it gets colder).
Try to plant bareroot
plants as soon as they’re
delivered to prevent the
roots from drying out.
1. Soak them for about
half an hour in a bucket
of water before planting.
2. Dig a hole twice the size
of the root ball and add
some compost and
mycorrhizal fungi.
3. Position the bareroot
plant and gently spread out
its roots. Make sure the
soil mark on the stem is
level with the ground.
4. Backfill with soil, firm
in around the plant to
make sure there are no air
pockets and water in well.
Add a layer of compost
to keep weeds at bay.
If you can’t do this
straight away, leave your
plants in their root
wrappings in a cool place
or give them a temporary
home by ‘heeling’ them in.
Simply dig a shallow
trench and pop in the roots,
backfill and water
in well.

1 Take insurance cuttings...

Taking cuttings in early autumn
will ensure you have plants next
spring, or you can lift plants and
pot up into containers that can be
brought under cover.

2 ...Or mulch the plants

Another option is to mulch these
plants now with a thick layer of Make sure the
chipped bark around the base to soil mark on the
protect the plant from sharp frosts. stem is level
with the ground

3 Don’t cut them back

Leave any foliage in place
because this will provide protection
for the crown of the plant and the
roots below ground.

Louise says:
“Sow some trays of tasty micro
leaves on the kitchen windowsill.
The leaves of coriander, basil,
rocket, radish and mustard will
add a colourful and flavoursome
kick to winter salads”

Clean nestboxes
Now that you can be sure
fledgling birds have flown their
Plant up winter containers nests, it’s a good idea to clean
Pot up a selection of attractive winter flowers and foliage into out nestboxes so they’re spick
containers and gather them by the front door to provide and span before spring. Wearing
seasonal cheer. For flower power choose violas and plants gloves, remove all nesting material
with pretty berries such as Gaultheria procumbens, glossy and wash with boiling water. Make
evergreens such as box, euonymus and skimmia, and don’t sure you let it dry thoroughly
forget winter scent. Christmas box (sarcococca) packs a before replacing the lid and
fragrant punch when it flowers in winter and early spring. they’re ready for the new arrivals!

32 Garden Answers
 EASY GARDENING

Mist houseplants
Many of the houseplants we grow
Easy propagation
ROOT CUTTINGS
originate in warmer, more humid
climates than ours. Now that it’s getting
colder and the central heating has been
switched on, the air in our homes can
become very dry. This can cause the
Propagate acanthus, Oriental poppies and Japanese
leaves of indoor plants to shrivel or anemones by taking root cuttings now. It’s so easy!
develop brown patches.
To keep them in tip-top condition, make
sure houseplants have sufficient moisture.
Use a mist sprayer on leaves or stand the
pot in a shallow tray or bowl filled with
pebbles and water – humidity from the
water will rise up around the plant. Make
sure the pot sits just above the water
so the roots don’t get waterlogged.

PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK; ALAMY; BAUER

R
oot cuttings are a great way to secateurs or a sharp knife, then

Don’t forget... propagate plants that produce

INSULATE OUTDOOR TAPS Use
a purpose-made cover or several
layers of bubble wrap secured in
place with string or an elastic band.
TIDY ROSE LEAVES Clear away
fallen rose leaves because they
can harbour the fungal disease
blackspot. Composting them can
spread the spores, so put them in
your council green waste.
CLEAR ANNUAL PLANTINGS
Clear the last annual plantings from
borders and containers and add to
the compost heap.
MOW AND EDGE LAWN If it’s
been a mild autumn, give the lawn
a mow and edge it. The clean lines
and neat grass will provide your
garden with a crisp finish right
through the winter months.
TORE SEEDS
ck dry
edheads
d store
paper
gs.
new shoots from their roots,
such as acanthus, echinops, Japanese
anemones, mint, Oriental poppies
and verbascums. Root cuttings are
easy to make and need little
aftercare, and it’s best to take them
now while the plant is dormant.
How to do it
l Lift a clump Choose a vigorous,
healthy clump and lift it carefully
from the ground with a spade or fork.
Wash the root ball to remove some of
the soil and expose the roots.
l Remove roots Select a few roots
about the thickness of a pencil that
look young and healthy rather than
old and woody. Remove the root from
just below the crown of the plant with
replant the parent plant immediately.
l Cut into sections Trim away the
thin part of the root and any fibrous
side roots. Cut the remaining piece
of root into sections 5-10cm (2-4in)
long – use a straight cut at the top end
of a section of root and a slanting cut
at the bottom.
l Pot them up Fill a cell tray or pot
with a cuttings compost or a 50:50 mix
of multipurpose compost and grit.
Insert the cuttings so the straight cut
is flush with the top of the compost,
then cover with a thin layer of grit.
Water and pop in a cold frame or a
sheltered corner.
New growth should appear in
spring. The new plants can be planted
up individually into their own pots and
grown on when rooted.

Cut into sections, slanted at the base Plant in gritty compost

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 33
 EASY
PROJECT
Autumn
container

Plant up a pot of
SILVER
& PINK
Brighten up the patio with this
container display in frosty pastels

34 Garden Answers
 ❤
❤ CELEBRATE

YOU WILL NEED

✿ Large frost-proof pot ✿ Crocks ✿ Gritty compost ✿ Trowel ✿ Plants:
Cyclamen cilicium, Fascicularia bicolor, Euphorbia characias ‘Glacier Blue’,
Salvia officinalis ‘Purpurascens’, Sedum cauticola, Thymus vulgaris ‘Silver Posie’

1 PREPARE YOUR POT

This planting needs good drainage, so
place a layer of crocks in the base of your pot.
Top with compost and plant the fascicularia
at the back then add the variegated euphorbia.
2 ARRANGE THE PLANTS
Plant the aromatic purple-leaved sage and
‘Silver Posie’ thyme in the centre. Finish with the
pink-flowering sedum and cyclamen positioned
at the front, making sure all plants are level.

3 TOP WITH COMPOST

Fill between the plants with extra compost,
brushing any excess off the leaves, then firm in
the plants well. You can also provide a topping
of gravel for a more decorative finish.
4 WATER SPARINGLY
Water your pot lightly – these plants are
susceptible to rot if they become waterlogged.
Aim to keep the compost surface just moist –
always check how it feels before watering.

USE THESE PLANTS

SEDUM EUPHORBIA CYCLAMEN THYME FASCICULARIA PURPLE SAGE

CAUTICOLA ‘GLACIER CILICIUM ‘SILVER POSIE’ BICOLOR Aromatic
PHOTOS: GAP PHOTOS

Glaucous leaves, BLUE’ Blue- Pink flowers, White-edged Evergreen evergreen with
tiny pink flowers. green/cream marbled aromatic leaves. bromeliad with purple leaves.
H8cm (3in) foliage. H and leaves. H and H30cm (12in) spiky leaves. H H80cm (31in)
S30cm (12in) S30cm (12in) S10cm (4in) S45cm (18in) and S60cm (24in) S1m (3ft 3in)

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 35
Winter
TUCK UP
TENDER
PLANTS
FOR

Protect frost-tender plants

outdoors with our timely advice

FLEECE WIGWAMS
Pack gently around
the plants’ stems with
straw for insulation,
then construct a
teepee of canes and
fleece around them

36 Garden Answers
 EASY GARDENING

G
ardeners with a
penchant for tender
plants have been
reasonably lucky for the
past few years. A succession of mild
winters have meant that most
tender plants have sailed through
the cold season unscathed. Yet
there’s always the risk that frost and
cold temperatures can bite when
you least expect it.

KEEP LAY A MULCH

ALPINES
1 DRY
Growing at altitude
in the wild, hardy
alpine plants can shrug off frost
and use a blanket of snow for
insulation. Their real enemy in
winter is heavy rain and boggy soil,
which can make them rot. Ensure
they’re planted in a well-drained
gritty soil and use a vented plastic
cloche or build a small perspex
shelter supported on columns of
bricks, so they can stay ventilated
without getting their crowns wet.
2 Adding a thick
10cm (4in) mulch
around the bottom
of a borderline hardy shrub, or
over the top of a dormant
tender perennial, can insulate
the soil and keep its roots,
A vented plastic
tubers, bulbs or corms from
cloche will prevent freezing. Organic mulches
alpines from rotting
(that will rot down in time)
include bark, garden
shreddings, compost, well-

3 Lift tender tubers

Plants such as dahlias, eucomis,
begonias and gladioli have tender
bulbs, tubers and corms that benefit from a
deep mulch of compost topped with a layer of
chipped bark in winter. In colder parts of the
rotted manure, grass clippings,
leafmould and straw. Try
mulching with penstemons
and semi-hardy fuschias...
country it’s better to lift dahlias and cannas
before the frosts, shaking off any soil, cutting off Lift and store dahlia
the stems to 10cm (4in) and leaving them to dry for tubers frost free
a couple of weeks. Then, store them in a frost-free
place in a suitable plastic tray filled with compost.

ADD A LAYER OF FLEECE

s in autumn!
4 Tender plants, rooted cuttings and young
autumn crops can all be protected from
frost, wind and hail by swaddling them

ber
with horticultural-grade fleece. This
u lightweight, porous fabric allows
t plants to receive the light, warmth
Lift my

and moisture they need to

grow, without making them
overheat or increasing
humidity. Hold it in
place with heavy stones
or bricks, but don’t
drag the plant down.
Make a tent over
taller plants using
garden canes and
pegs or clips.

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 37
 EASY GARDENING

WRAP UP TENDER

5 EXOTICS
Tender exotic plants such
as banana plants and tree
ferns will die if exposed to freezing
temperatures, so if you can’t grow in
pots and move them into a frost-free
greenhouse or conservatory, it’s best
to wrap them in a layer of fleece or
hessian, with straw or polystyrene
packed inside to protect their crowns.
Aim to get this protective layer in
place by late autumn.
During any long
periods of warmer
PHOTOS: ALAMY; BAUER; SHUTTERSTOCK

weather, remove
the ‘duvet’ to
prevent the plant
from ‘sweating’
Wrap up tender tree
and possibly
ferns in autumn rotting.

6 Protect patio pots

with bubblewrap
Plants in containers are especially vulnerable to frost damage
because their roots don’t enjoy as much insulation as they would if
TOP TIPS
● Don’t feed plants with nitrogen-rich
fertilisers late in the season because
this encourages them to put on
cold-vulnerable sappy growth

planted in the ground. Wrap the pots in a duvet of bubblewrap and ● Work out where your warm
hide it with a layer of hessian and twine for a more aesthetically and sheltered positions are in
pleasing look. Don’t forget that terracotta pots are porous, so the garden and then group
ensure they stay well drained by setting them up on pot feet. container plants in these
spots over winter

● Plant early-flowering
magnolias and
camellias in a north or
west-facing site to
protect them from early
morning sun on frosty days

● Invest in cloches and

fleece for nights when frost
or snow are forecast – all
small plants will appreciate
the extra insulation

● Knock snow off shrubs

and hedges because the extra
weight can snap branches

● Protect tender fruit

blossom from a late
Bubblewrap frost by constructing a
provides useful cage around the plant
insulation for and covering it with fleece
patio pots

38 Garden Answers
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 planner
BORDER

UNBUTTONED BEAUTY
Pink and blue asters,
dahlias, geraniums and
sedums luxuriate in the low
rays of autumn sunlight

40 Garden Answers
 EASY GARDENING

Relax into autumn with

ASTERS & GRASSES
Intermingle pinks and blues with grasses to create a softly
layered effect. Helen Billiald shows how to plant them

T CHOOSE THE RIGHT PLANTS

here’s an unwinding and loosening to autumn that’s STEP 2
miles apart from spring’s galloping haste and the
self-conscious displays of summer. Few plants do
unbuttoned beauty better than the season’s asters, or
symphyotrichums as some of the plants (including
Michaelmas daisies) have been rather awkwardly renamed.
The combination of delicate slender petals on masses of
flowers is a potent one. Partner them with bronzed grasses and
irrepressible dahlias with a frill of heucheras and tumbling
geraniums at their feet, and position them where they’ll
catch the low-raking sunlight. Who cares if the days are
getting shorter, when they’re filled with sights
as gorgeous as this?

STEP 1
3steps
easy SYMPHYOTRICHUM
‘HARRINGTON’S PINK’
Upright New England aster
SYMPHYOTRICHUM
‘LITTLE CARLOW’
Masses of violet-blue flowers
bearing clusters of double with an eye-catching yellow
DESIGN YOUR candy-pink flowers above centre and dark wiry stems
BORDER Anemanthele
bright green foliage. H1.2m that shouldn’t need staking.
(4ft) S60cm (2ft) H90cm (3ft) S60cm (2ft)
lessoniana
Dahlia Symphyotrichum
‘Melody Gipsy’ ‘Harrington’s Pink’

DAHLIA ‘MELODY GIPSY’ GERANIUM ‘ROZANNE’

This attention-grabbing pink Unbeatable blue geranium

PHOTOS: GAP/FRIERICH STRAUSS; ALAMY; SHUTTERSTOCK ILLUSTRATION: GILL LOCKHART

semi-cactus dahlia has a
yellow centre and flowers
from July to the frosts. Tubers
may need lifting in winter.
H and S60cm (2ft)
with generous white-centred
flowers appearing from May
to the frosts. Foliage has red
autumn tints. H60cm (2ft)
S75cm (30in)

ANEMANTHELE LESSONIANA HYLOTELEPHIUM

(STIPA ARUNDINACEA)
Hylotelephium
Elegant airy grass with arching
‘Herbstfreude’
bronze-pink flowers and
narrow orange-tinted foliage
Symphyotrichum that darkens to copper-red in
‘Little Carlow’ autumn. H and S90cm (3ft)
Geranium ‘Rozanne’
‘HERBSTFREUDE’
(SEDUM ‘AUTUMN JOY’)
Succulent foliage and flat
flower clusters that darken
to pink and red. Adored by
butterflies. H and S60cm (2ft) ➤

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 41
 EASY GARDENING

Or try
STEP 3

GET PLANTING! 2 Plant the

Autumn is a great time to prepare new
borders; the ground is easy to work after
recent rain but not yet saturated or
frozen. These are amenable
plants, coping with sun or
part shade and soils from
heavy to light as long as
they have enough
organic matter to hold
onto moisture in drier
months but don’t
become waterlogged.
Once the planting site is
free from perennial weeds, cover
it with plenty of well-rotted organic
matter this autumn and leave the worms
and the weather to start improving the soil
for you, forking things over in six months’
time as the ground starts to warm.
1 Start the dahlia
into growth
Buy dahlia tubers in late winter,
pot them up in a frost-free
greenhouse and you’ll have
thriving plants to go out into the
garden after the last frosts in May.
Or, plant the tubers direct in
May. Stake them with a strong
cane and tie in with loops of
soft twine as they grow.
Deadhead regularly to
keep the display going.
Once the stems have
been blackened by frost,
dig up the tubers and
store them in a shed in
barely damp sand or old potting
compost. In well-drained soil in
sheltered parts you can risk leaving
them in the ground covered with a
protective blanket of mulch.
asters
this Pink-tinged grass
Miscanthus sinensis
‘Adagio’ reflects the
asters’ ruby flowers
Michaelmas
daisies aren’t the
first out of bed in
the New Year and
it pays to wait until
late spring before
planting. Add
further compost or
other well-rotted
organic matter to
each planting hole,
water in well and
mulch around plants
when you’ve finished.
While both these asters
have fairly good resistance to
mildew, try not to overcrowd
them or pack them in too tightly.
Taller asters need staking so be sure
to get supports in early.
Once they’ve finished flowering, cut
back hard and renew the mulch annually to
keep down weeds and help retain moisture.
After a few years, lift and divide large
clumps in April to spread the display 4 Dot in the geranium
and reinvigorate the planting. and sedum
Although these can go into the ground in
3 Add a sweep autumn or spring, it makes sense to wait
of anemanthele until spring. Add compost to each planting
Wait until mid or late spring before hole and mulch after planting (avoiding the
planting this grass in a sweep through the crowns) and across the border annually.
planting. It’s not fussy about soil and can The geranium will flower for months but
cope both with sun and shade but it’s still if it starts to look tired in summer, give it a
worth adding a little well-rotted organic trim and tidy after which it will reward you
matter at planting. It’s an evergreen so with another flush. ‘Rozanne’ is sterile so it
don’t cut plants back, instead comb through won’t self-seed, but if you want to increase
with your hands each spring. Divide your stock, divide it in spring.
established plants in late spring, using a Leave the sedum flowers over winter
saw to split clumps if needed. You may also – they look beautiful dusted in frost. Cut
find seedlings popping up around the them back before too much new growth
garden because it tends to self-sow gently comes through in early spring. If you’re on
without being over-enthusiastic. rich soil and they tend to flop, use plant
supports or tip back shoots in early June. ✿

Make the display last...

MISCANTHUS SINENSIS PEROVSKIA ‘BLUE SPIRE’ HEUCHERA ‘PURPLE ACTAEA SIMPLEX

‘KLEINE SILBERSPINNE’
Upright clump-forming
grass with silvery-red
flowers from late summer.
H1.2m (4ft) S60cm (2ft)
Masses of violet-blue flowers
with aromatic ferny foliage
and narrow silvery stems
that glow in winter borders.
H90cm (3ft) S60cm (2ft)
PETTICOATS’
Frilly greenish-purple-leaved
heuchera with deep purple
undersides and small cream
flowers. H and S40cm (16in)
‘BRUNETTE’
Almost-black foliage and
stems with slender spikes of
white bottle-brush flowers.
H1.8m (6ft) S75cm (30in)

42 Garden Answers
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Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 45
 BEAUTIFUL GARDENS

“I’ve planted for a

succession of colour”
This beautiful garden on the outskirts of London is
full of bright ideas for late-season colour. Owner
Alison Green shares her clever planting and design ideas

CREATING A SPECTACLE Layers

of colour-rich planting and
dramatic foliage enliven the
borders at Theobald’s Farmhouse
all year round. In the border here
are the striped leaves of canna
lilies, blue aconites and dahlias
‘Bishop of Llandaff’ and ‘Tartan’

46 Garden Answers
 READER
GARDEN

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 47
 BEAUTIFUL GARDENS
and
IN THE
GARDEN
WITH…
Alison Green
AT Theobald’s Farmhouse, Crews
Hill, Enfield
GARDEN SIZE 2 acres
SITE South-facing, gentle slope
FEATURE LIZ POTTER; PHOTOS: MMGI/MARIANNE MAJEREUS
SOIL Improved London clay
FEATURES Pebble mosaic; topiary
and knot gardens; Jewel Garden with
fountain; ornamental garden with
circular lawn and seating area; yew
hedging to make garden rooms; spiral
landform feature; woodland walk;
colour-themed herbaceous borders;
successional planting for year-round
colour; water gardens; wildflower
lawn; series of ‘walks’
VISIT By appointment for groups
CONTACT Alison on 07710 083911;
or email alison.g.green@talk21.com
48 Garden Answers
“I wanted to use the concept
of ‘garden rooms’ to divide
the space into different areas”
A
utumn colour can be so vibrant
and exciting – not least in this
special garden just north of
London. The two-acre plot has
been specially designed for a succession
of year-round flowers, in colour-themed
areas divided by yew hedges.
“The grade II listed farmhouse was
built in 1650,” says owner Alison Green.
“We bought it in 1999 from a property
developer and spent a few years restoring
it using traditional materials. I started
work on the garden straight away, and
within the first few weeks a leylandii
hedge and several self-sown trees had
been cleared.”
Initially the house sat in the top north-
west corner of a huge field. “The developer
had cleared the site, removing lots of old
fruit trees and laid it all to grass,” says
Alison. “I loved the fact the garden was so
big and such a huge blank canvas. I had
qualified in the mid-1990s with a City &
Guilds in Garden Design from Capel
Manor so I was keen to get started. I
wanted to use the concept of ‘garden
rooms’ to divide the space into different
DESIGNATED ROOMS (clockwise from
above left) A mature fig tree dominates
the gravel garden; the farmhouse dates
from 1650; the knot garden comprises
undulating hedges of buxus; stripy cannas,
dahlia ‘Bishop of Llandaff’ and orange
chrysanthemums grace the Jewel Garden
until the frosts; tall reeds Phragmites
australis screen the swimming pond
planting areas. Each room would have a
completely separate character with plants
for a succession of colour all year.”
Alison and her landscaper, Marc
Rapacioli of CMC, soon got to work,
removing grass, marking out new borders
and planting yew hedges. “We started by
creating four small gardens around the
house, making them symmetrical for a
sense of balance and proportion. There’s a
small shady courtyard on the north side; a
gravel garden with lots of white roses and
perennials to the west; a knot garden to
the south, in-keeping with the age of the
house; and a small circular lawn and
seating area to the east.”
Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 49
 Beautiful gardens
“The borders are planted
with flowers and foliage in
saturated jewel-like colours”
In 2004 Alison began planting a Jewel
Garden complete with ornate central
fountain, inspired by Monty Don at
Longmeadow. “The borders are planted
with flowers and foliage in saturated
jewel-like colours,” explains Alison. “It
was the first time I’d got away from the
cool end of the colour spectrum and I
began planting in orange, purple, red and
bright yellow. In spring there are tulips
‘Red Shine’, orange ‘Ballerina’ and ‘Black
Parrot’, which give way in summer to
orange hemerocallis and alstroemeria
‘Inca Exotica’.
“In autumn, until the frosts, there are
tall canna lilies such as orange ‘Pretoria’,
orange and yellow ‘Tropicanna Gold’ and
stripy ‘Durban’, with rich blue Aconitum
carmichaelii, yellow rudbeckia and
crocosmias, late-flowering red
penstemons ‘King George V’ and dahlias
including single red ‘Bishop of Llandaff’
and maroon-and-white ‘Tartan’. I’ve
planted Verbena bonariensis at the front
of the borders here, so you can see through
them to the dahlias and cannas behind.”
50 Garden Answers
Nearby, Alison’s pebble mosaic garden
is full of tall grasses such as Miscanthus
sinensis ‘Zebrinus’ and Phormium tenax
Purpureum Group, which help to screen
the swimming pond just beyond.
In landscaping terms, Alison’s piece de
resistance is her Spiral Garden, with a
raised spiral landform based on the
golden section. “It’s planted with nine
‘Grayswood Ghost’ silver birches,”
explains Alison. “We measured out all the
squares and rectangles on the bare soil,
marked out the curve in spraypaint, then
created the spiral bank using soil we’d
excavated from other garden projects. The
idea is that the elevated bank and tree
trunks create a series of picture windows
to frame the views.”
Alison has incorporated several
stunning herbaceous borders that reveal
her eye for colour and form. “By the spiral
is an exotic border that’s hidden by a yew
hedge until you turn a corner,” she says.
“Here I’ve planted the yellow daisies of
Silphium perfoliatum, Achillea
filipendulina ‘Gold Plate’, dark orange
Harkness rose ‘Fellowship’, purple and
red lobelia, orange tithonia, black-leaved
canna ‘Tropicanna Black’, hemerocallis
‘Stafford’, red rose ‘Dusky Maiden’, purple
salvia ‘Amistad’ and brooding black
Eucomis comosa ‘Sparkling Burgundy’.
Hidden deligHts (clockwise from
above left) Cotinus ‘Grace’ with yew
archway; fountain in the Jewel Garden; the
circular lawn, with storks; Verbena
bonariensis; Alison’s pebble mosaic;
‘Grayswood Ghost’ birches around the
spiral; Aconitum carmichaelii
“I’ve also planted a blue border with
flowers in blue, white and pale lemon,”
she says. “You have to have some lighter
hues to complement the blue, or the blue
just disappears. The display starts in
early February with Iris reticulata
‘Katherine Hodgkin’ and early narcissus,
then darkish-blue forget-me-nots and
white tulips. In summer we have
Campanula lactiflora ‘Prichard’s Variety’
and Cephalaria gigantea with its pale
lemon scabious-type flowers. Drifts of tall
white alliums ‘Mount Everest’ and
aconitums in purple-blue, creamy white
and silvery blue ‘Stainless Steel’, help the
border hang together. You have to be
careful not to be too bitty.”
There’s a large woodland garden along
the south boundary. “We kept the native
oak, hawthorn and blackthorn, adding
more specimen trees so it’s now a lovely
woodland walk,” says Alison. “In autumn
the acers turn a dazzling shade of red.” ✿
Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 51
 DESIGNER
GARDEN

52 Garden Answers
 BEAUTIFUL GARDENS

“The garden looks good

every day of the year”
This chic modern garden in Oxford is full of seasonal
interest yet is low maintenance at the same time.
Designer Sarah Naybour reveals its planting secrets

DRAMATIC STRUCTURE Angular

granite paving, architectural tree
silhouettes, sculptures and a
horizontally slatted fence provide
the bones of this chic urban plot

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 53
 BEAUTIFUL GARDENS
and
IN THE
GARDEN
WITH…
Dieuwke and
Henk van Es
AT North Oxford
GARDEN SIZE 7x16m (22x52ft)
SITE South-facing
SOIL Heavy clay
FEATURES Granite pavers and
‘hit-and-miss’ fencing; small trees
FEATURE LIZ POTTER; PHOTOS: LYNN KEDDIE
for seasonal interest; good use of
groundcover and minimalist design;
mix of evergreens and deciduous
shrubs for autumn interest;
sculptures to add shape and structure
all year round; small trees and
evergreen shrubs
CONTACT Sarah Naybour for
design commissions via her website
www.sarahnaybour.co.uk
54 Garden Answers
N
ovember is a good month to assess
the ‘bones’ of a garden. In this
urban plot on the outskirts of
Oxford the structure is especially
dramatic – thanks to its angular granite
paving, architectural tree silhouettes,
sculptures and a horizontally slatted fence.
“It was just a normal urban garden
when we moved here,” says owner
Dieuwke van Es, who lives here with her
husband Henk. “It had grass in the middle,
a shed and seven beech trees that had to
be removed because they were very close
to our neighbour’s house wall. We didn’t
want the lawn either – we’re not that
young anymore and we didn’t want to
spend time mowing it.”
Dieuwke contacted garden designer
Sarah Naybour to come up with some
design ideas. “We wanted a low-
maintenance garden with year-round
“My approach was to keep
the palette very restrained
with little accents of colour”
interest and a subtle palette of pinks,
purples, blues and mauves,” says Dieuwke.
Sarah was delighted to take on the brief.
“Dieuwke and Henk are a very design-
conscious couple,” she says. “They’re
minimalists and their attention to detail
is strong. For instance, it was important
that we could match up the granite plank
pavers with the colour of the interior
flooring, for continuity indoors and out.
We had the pavers cut to the same size as
the floorboards and aligned them
carefully for a seamless effect, either
side of the large glazed doors.
“Dieuwke’s interior colour scheme is
very chic and minimalist too,” says Sarah.
“My approach outdoors was to keep the
palette very restrained with little accents
of colour, selecting fewer plants but then
repeating them in large quantities.
“One of the plants Dieuwke did want
was Alchemilla mollis, as her mother
always had it in the garden. Another plant
I’ve used that works really beautifully is
Anaphalis triplinervis ‘Summer Snow’.
Its tiny white flowers almost look dried
minimalist design (clockwise from top
left) Epimediums colour up in autumn;
structural evergreens, trees and sculptures
enliven the planting areas; Dieuwke and
Henk’s home; low box hedges run along
the sightlines with gaps to accommodate
Dieuwke’s sculptures; the pavers were
matched indoors and out for continuity

in summer, above a mat of hairy green

foliage. The flowers last right through to
autumn, and look like a dusting of snow.
“For winter there are lots of evergreen
ferns and a mix of hellebores. People don’t
realise how much variety there is among
hellebores but their evergreen foliage is
really useful.”
Epimediums are another good source
of groundcover. “They look fantastic
under trees,” says Sarah. “They colour up
in autumn, providing a range of subtle
tints just as hydrangeas do.”
Pretty Pennisetum thunbergii ‘Red
Buttons’ adds a gentle, wafty accent
among easy-care shrubs such as fragrant

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 55
sarcococca, climbing trachelospermum
and low box hedges. “I’ve used the box
along the main sightlines of the garden,”
explains Sarah. “They’re designed to be
all the same height, even though the
garden naturally dips in the middle, with
a sunken terraced section. I included
breaks in the box hedges so Dieuwke can
position her sculptures in the gaps.”
Trees provide height and seasonal
interest in the garden. “We kept a few,
including two plums and a rowan, which
all provide good autumn colour. We added
a couple of multi-stemmed Amelanchier
lamarckii for their architecture and an
evergreen magnolia at the far end.
“The hit-and-miss fencing is made
from treated softwood and cut extra wide
for a more industrial feel,” says Sarah.
“The fact that it runs horizontally creates
the visual impression that the garden is
longer than it really is.”
Sarah has lots of design tips for those
renovating a small city garden. “Avoid
curves if the garden is small or narrow,”
she says. “Straight lines and angles work
far better. But, never put a path down the
“The horizontal fencing
creates the impression that
the garden’s longer than it is”
56 Garden Answers
limited palette (clockwise from above)
Plums and a rowan provide good autumn
colour with a multi-stemmed amelanchier
for architecture; a blue-grey bench echoes
window frames; white flowers of Anaphalis
triplinervis ‘Summer Snow’ pop among
the evergreens; Henk’s studio; heathers
and epimediums add splashes of pink
middle because it cuts the space into two
halves. Asymmetry feels more spacious.”
Dieuwke loves Sarah’s design and says
the family use the garden all year round.
“All the views from indoors are lovely; the
garden feels very much like it’s part of the
house. The two spaces seem to melt into
each other. Our sliding doors are so huge
that even with the windows closed you
can’t really see where the house ends and
the garden begins. When it’s raining we
love to sit under the loggia – the sheltered
overhang just outside our patio doors –
looking out at the garden.
“Although I love the garden, I’m not a
keen gardener so it had to be very, very
low maintenance. We have an excellent
professional gardener, Geoff Burke, who
comes to look after the garden every four
to six weeks. With his help, every single
minute of the year there’s something to
look at and it always looks pretty. I can’t
praise Sarah’s design highly enough.” ✿
 BEAUTIFUL GARDENS

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 57
 BEAUTIFUL GARDENS

“We wanted to keep

the history alive”
This
his enchanting garden in his
historic County Antrim
enjoys a fresh flourish of colour in autumn.
Owner Maurice Parkinson reveals its highlights

NATURAL BLEND Japanese

anemones and pink hesperantha
vie for space among grasses and
a carpet of bergenia under an
old apple tree at Ballyrobert

58 Garden Answers
 READER
GARDEN

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 59
 BEAUTIFUL GARDENS
and
IN THE
GARDEN
WITH…
Maurice and
FEATURE LIZ POTTER; PHOTOS: ANDREA JONES/GARDEN EXPOSURES PHOTO LIBRARY
Joy Parkinson
AT Ballyrobert Gardens,
154 Ballyrobert Road, Ballyclare,
Co Antrim BT39 9RT
GARDEN SIZE 6 acre garden
in 16-acre farmstead
SITE Sunny and shady areas
SOIL Heavy clay
FEATURES RHS partner garden;
collections of native Irish plants; lake;
formal parterre garden at front with
informal layout at rear; herbaceous
borders; colour-themed plantings;
wildlife habitat; historic elements.
VISIT 1 March–30 Sept 10am–5pm;
Sundays by appointment only. £4.99
CONTACT Tel 02893 44 0101; email
information@ballyrobertgardens.
com; www.ballyrobertgardens.com
60 Garden Answers
T
his unusual garden near Ballyclare
in County Antrim is full of Irish
heritage and folklore. There are
Irish plants such as McGredy
roses, silene and escallonia, pagan symbols
embedded in the design, and local basalt
stone used in the walls, steps and bridges.
Patterned walks, ‘fairy’ trees and an
orchard of old Irish apple trees create a
poetic atmosphere that’s sympathetic
to the garden’s rural setting.
“We bought the property in 1995 and
started developing it soon after,” says
owner Maurice Parkinson, who created
the garden with his wife, Joy. “It was a
small, run-down 16-acre farmstead
complete with cottage, defunct kitchen
garden and farm buildings – some of
which are at least 300 years old.
“It was only once we’d moved in that we
realised the significance of the site and its
surrounding landscape. It’s one of the
original plantation settlements
established under the dictat of Sir Arthur
Chichester, Lord Deputy of Ireland from
1607–1616. Sir Arthur was the principal
landlord in the east of Ulster, and tenant
“Fairy folklore, paganism and
early Christian symbolism
all feature in the design”
farmers had to adhere to strict conditions
regarding the layout of their fields –
typically in a square or rectangular
pattern divided by banks and ditches,
with trees and hedges planted on the
banks. These became a distinctive
landscape feature in this part of Ulster,
and are still here at Ballyrobert Gardens.
“We realised this heritage should be
uppermost in the design for our new
garden,” says Maurice. “So, we set about
integrating traditional landscape features
that reflect the broader history of the
area, but without it looking too contrived.”
Today, fairy folklore, paganism and
early Christian symbolism all feature in
the design. “The surrounding landscape
includes pagan rock carvings, stone
circles and landforms such as the
Holestone at Doagh, which is just a few
miles away,” says Maurice. “Here at
sweeping scale (clockwise from
top left) Red-stemmed cornus echoes
the peeling cinnamon bark of Acer
griseum contrasting with Euonymus
fortunei ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’; the formal
front garden; Euphorbia cornigera
‘Goldener Turm’; red persicaria, mauve
phlox, pink-tinted Hydrangea paniculata
and white astilbe jostle in this cool pastel
bed; Caryopteris clandonensis ‘Heavenly
Blue’; late crocosmia ‘Zambesi’

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 61
 BEAUTIFUL GARDENS
AUTUMN TINTS (clockwise from above)
Maurice clipped this hornbeam into a
‘holetree’; Cyclamen hederifolium;
Ballyrobert has its own lake complete
with crannog (protected island);
Darmera peltata, rodgersia and hostas
beneath Abies koreana; a floral feast of
sunny rudbeckia with calamagrostis
Ballyrobert I’ve created my own ‘holetree’
in the garden, by trimming a hornbeam
into a similar shape.
Fairies or ‘little folk’ are an ever-
present part of the Ulster landscape too.
“We had to include them,” says Maurice.
“We’ve got a fairy tree at the entrance to
the garden, a basalt pillar with a flat top
so the fairies can dance on it, and moon
windows along the main drive as a
reminder of the area’s pre-Christian
history. At the back of the garden we’ve
indented a Celtic spiral into a field of
rushes, with an oak tree at its centre.
“Ulster has been subject to human
invasion throughout its history, and at one
time the native population responded by
building protective islands on the lakes
called ‘crannogs’. Our lake at Ballyrobert
has its own crannog accordingly.”
The garden here is quintessentially
natural and informal, merging seamlessly
62 Garden Answers
with its surrounding landscape. “It’s been
designed so there are no boundaries,” says
Maurice. “I dislike the idea of garden
rooms, so here we’ve created a series of
informal areas that flow from one to the
next, each with its own theme.
“We like to use colour, form and texture
to hold the planting schemes together –
with pastel shades in one border, cool
areas of white, blue and yellow, and hotter
planting schemes in the sunnier locations.
For us the real strength of a planting
scheme lies in its ability to blend
gracefully with the natural and
traditional landscape. We do this by
avoiding plants such as hybrid tea roses
and brightly coloured bedding plants. And
there’s not a leyland cypress tree in sight!”
Autumn is an important time for the
garden. “We’ve chosen plants for flowers
and foliage to create a major show at this
time of year,” says Maurice. “We’ve got
Japanese maples and a bronze rodgersia,
which really excel.
“In winter we have Cornus alba
‘Sibirica’ and Cornus sanguinea
‘Midwinter Fire’, whose vibrant stems
“The strength of a planting
scheme lies in its ability
to blend with the natural”
have a colourful impact that continues
into early spring to herald the snowdrops
and hellebores,” says Maurice. “We have
more than 150 snowdrops, with the
earliest ones flowering in December
and the last in April.”
From spring onwards, the garden
comes alive with successive waves
of colour from herbaceous plants such
as hemerocallis, astilbe, geranium
and persicaria.
Wild creatures seem pretty keen on the
garden too. “We have a policy of gardening
organically and making habitats for
wildlife,” explains Maurice. “A vast array
of birds come – everything from snipe and
woodcock in winter to long-eared owls
and spotted flycatchers in summer. And
otters are frequent visitors to the lake.”
While the current garden extends to
six acres, Joy and Maurice have begun
developing the remainder of their 16-acre
site, creating patterned walks through
fields of rushes and wildflowers.
“We’ve laid out the paths in concentric
rings and spirals because both of these
shapes feature a lot in the stonework at
ancient burial grounds throughout
Ireland,” explains Maurice.
“Our main aim has been to create
areas for quiet contemplation, in a
wildlife-friendly setting.” ✿
Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 63
 GARDEN
TO VISIT
KNOLL
GARDENS
This Dorset garden is an atmospheric showcase
for grasses in autumn, says Louise Curley
F
or many gardens November is the
tipping point into hibernation as
flowers and foliage fade, but at
Knoll Gardens in Dorset it’s a
different story. Home to thousands of
grasses, this haven of naturalistic planting
is reaching its crescendo right now. The
four-acre garden had its beginnings in the
early 1970s when the first nursery on the
site was established on a carrot field. In
1994 Neil Lucas came to the garden and has
since established one of the country’s most
extensive collections of grasses.
‘Right plant, right place’ is very much
the approach at Knoll, where planting is
dictated by the soil and climate, rather than
trying to grow unsuitable plants that will
never thrive. The garden is also the perfect
showcase for plants on sale in its award-
winning nursery, and offers visitors the
64 Garden Answers
chance to see different grasses growing
in a garden setting, with inspiring ideas
for planting combinations.
Although primarily known for its
grasses, Knoll used to be a private botanic
garden and as a result it also has an
impressive range of trees and shrubs. The
delicate white, bell-shaped blooms of the
Australian snowdrop tree (Atherosperma
moschatum) announce the arrival of spring
as their delicate scent fills the air. Summer
highlights include herbaceous borders and
hydrangeas, but it’s late summer when
Knoll hits its stride, with late-flowering
perennials such as sedums, asters and
the wafty stems of Verbena bonariensis
forming wonderful drifts of colour.
Spectacular autumn hues from trees
including Gingko biloba and shrubs
such as Hydrangea quercifolia light up the
 BEAUTIFUL GARDENS

Fluffy pennisetum,
deschampsia, cortaderia
and miscanthus in the
famous Dragon Garden
➤

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 65
 BEAUTIFUL GARDENS

gardens with a fiery glow. The collection of

spindle trees (euonymus), which thrive on
the free-draining sandy soil, put on an
eye-catching display of vivid crimson and
scarlet. Impressive specimen trees at Knoll
Gardens include one of the best willow oaks
in the country, a cork oak and a collection of
magnificent eucalyptus.
When owner Neil Lucas first came here
more than 20 years ago the Dragon Garden
(previous pages) consisted of bedding
plants, formal hedges and lawn. It’s now
been transformed so a single path weaves
through a swathe of grasses and perennials,
which create a tall meadow effect. At this
time of year, late autumn sunshine
enhances the warm browns, golden honey
and bleached blonde tones of the grasses,
and early morning frosts highlight the
structural shapes and seedheads.
The vast range of grasses includes
low-growing pennisetums that tumble
over paths to towering miscanthus and
calamagrostis. One of the most effective
planting combinations here is the native
grass Molinia caerulea planted in drifts
along with perennials such as persicaria,
scabious and sanguisorba.
Although grasses are mostly associated
PHOTOS: ALAMY; SHUTTERSTOCK

with large-scale naturalistic planting

“Late autumn sunshine

enhances the warm browns,
golden honey and bleached
blonde tones of the grasses”
66 Garden Answers
 GARDEN HEROES

“We’re at our
peak in autumn”
Knoll Gardens’ owner Neil Lucas explains
what goes on behind the scenes
Neil Lucas has there’s a gap in a border or we’ve
been the owner decided to do something in a different
of Dorset-based way, we’ll take up the plants, move
Knoll Gardens and them around and replant.
its award-winning
nursery since Do you have a favourite part of the
1994. His passion garden? This year I do rather love the
for the naturalistic Dragon Garden. We took out a hedge
planting style and knowledge of about a year or so ago and did a lot of
ornamental grasses has led to him new planting, so it’s much more
receive multiple gold medals at expansive now. It’s a bit reminiscent
the RHS Chelsea Flower Show of a prairie.

SEASONAL FINALE (clockwise from
top left) Mixed grasses with red-leaved
euonymous and purple verbena; slender
Pennisetum macrourum and
calamagrostis with blue eryngiums;
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Blütenwunder’
in the Decennium border; waterfall
schemes, such as those created by Dutch
plantsman Piet Oudolf, small, easy-care
beds have been created at Knoll showing
how they can be used in a more modest plot.
Knoll Gardens is an impressive garden to
visit whatever the season, but at this time
of year, with the seedheads and skeletons
of the grasses and perennials catching the
sunlight, it’s a place that shows how there
can be beauty even in the dying embers
of a garden. ✿
How did you come to be at Knoll? I
was working and living down in Devon,
and saw an advert that said the gardens
were for sale. So we – my mum, dad and
myself – decided to buy it. Horticulture
has always been important in the
family. My grandfather, in particular,
was very much into plants and
especially his delphiniums. Some of
my earliest memories come from
summer holidays with him in his
garden and watching him exhibit
at the RHS Halls in London.
How big is the team? We have one
full-time gardener, so we practise
what we preach with low maintenance.
We also have half a dozen or so
volunteers who come and help us
on a Friday morning.
What are the main seasonal jobs?
We’re a late-season garden, so we peak
in interest in the second half of the
What’s the most challenging aspect
of your job? Running a small business
is always highly demanding of personal
time. Actually finding time to do all the
necessary jobs – but also leave a little
bit for the one or two jobs we really like
to do, such as planting new areas – is
always tricky.
What’s the best part of your job?
Playing with plants, seeing new
combinations and watching them grow
and develop. It’s a real thrill to see a
plant that’s happy and successful and
settled into the garden.
Do you have any future projects
that you’re planning to carry out?
Our eucalyptus lawn is relatively old,
the trees have got too big and are
casting a lot of shade, so we’re going to
redevelop that over the next few years,
which will be quite a big project for us.

Fact file year. This means we cut down in early

to mid-spring and do a spring clean
preparing the borders, doing
● LOCATION Knoll maintenance and mulching.
Gardens, Stapehill We weed in summer and then
Road, Hampreston, carry out the structural projects
Wimborne, later in the year.
Dorset BH21 7ND
● OPEN Tues–Sat, In November what are you working
10am–5pm (4pm Nov– on? November is still our peak time in
Mar). Closed from 22 the garden, so we won’t be doing a lot to
Dec, reopens 1 Feb 2018 the borders. But before Christmas we
● CONTACT 01202 873931; do try and complete one or two planting
www.knollgardens.co.uk jobs. If things haven’t worked so well,

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 67
DOUBLE HELLEBORUS
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AUTUMN
WILDLIFE
Discover
FINCHES
These colourful birds are
special guests at garden
feeders. Adrian Thomas
looks at how to help them
in winter and beyond
W
e’re not blessed with many
gaudy birds in Britain, so
those that possess some
paint-palette splashes are to
be treasured. In this respect there are few
better-looking birds than the finch family.
We’re lucky, then, that three finch
species are very familiar in our gardens;
another four are scarcer but still fairly
frequent visitors. Between them, they inject
greens, reds, oranges, yellows and pinks
into our world, and the fact they do so at our
bird tables and feeders means we can feast
our eyes while they fill their bellies!
The most widespread is the chaffinch –
WILDLIFE
visiting some 40% of our gardens according
to this year’s RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch.
Interestingly, that the further north and west
you are, the greater your chance of seeing
them, with sightings in 60% of Scottish
gardens and 66% in Northern Ireland.
The old saying, ‘Separating the wheat
from the chaff’, gives a clue as to the origin
of its name. This is a bird that forages for
bits of food in the fields after the grain has
been harvested. In our gardens, it’s not the
most adept at clinging to bird feeders, and
so is much more likely to feed on the ground
beneath, where small groups can gather,
once again picking around in the chaff. ➤
Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 69
 WILDLIFE

Small but feisty Chaffinches forage around in

the chaff of wheat fields –
However, in terms of sheer numbers in
and beneath garden feeders
gardens, the chaffinch has now been
overtaken by the goldfinch. This red-faced
stunner might only be recorded in about a
third of gardens, but where it occurs it can
gather in flocks of 10, 20 or even more.
It may be one of the smallest of finches,
but it’s surprisingly feisty, barking raspy
calls at other goldfinches or even larger
birds that dare to try to land on the bird
feeder that it’s occupying. ‘This is mine!’
is the clear message.
Until only about 20 years ago, the
goldfinch was a relatively uncommon
winter bird in the British countryside, let
alone in gardens, with a large part of our
breeding population spending their winter
holidays wandering the trees and
hedgerows of southern
France and Spain. Now,
thanks to all our garden
handouts, it enjoys a
staycation instead!
The third most visitor, but two things starting to do better is the redpoll,
common finch in changed that. Firstly, the ‘poll’ meaning ‘head’. Their numbers
gardens is the breeding population in the wider countryside crashed
greenfinch, or at least (once restricted to upland dramatically in the 1970s and 80s, but
it was until tragedy With luck
pine forests) spread small flocks are now learning to visit seed
struck. A disease called you may see
southwards, taking feeders, providing a welcome shift in
trichomonosis jumped a redpoll
advantage of maturing behaviour and hence fortunes.
across the ‘species barrier’ forestry plantations. Once the There are two other finches to look for.
from doves and pigeons about trees are old enough to produce The dapper bullfinch is still a regular in
10 years ago, and the greenfinch cones, they provide all-important some gardens but, being rather portly, is
population has gone down every year since. summer seeds for the siskins, and from most likely to be seen on a bird table than
Birds become listless and puffed up, there it’s only a short hop into gardens. clinging to a feeder. It’s a shy bird of
lingering at birdfeeders and on the ground The other factor was that gardeners thickets and hedgerows, so bullfinches are
underneath, unable to swallow food but started feeding peanuts in red mesh bags. mostly seen in rural gardens.
still trying. Their presence only serves to The theory is that the siskin mistook these The other is a winter visitor from
spread the disease to other greenfinches. for large pine cones, came to investigate, Scandinavia, the brambling, whose
and found that they were something numbers here are determined by how good
Developing resistance different but still very tasty! the crop of beech seeds is. If there is a
Maybe some greenfinches will manage to Mesh bags are now a thing of the past, bounty of ‘beechmast’ in woods, the
develop resistance to the disease, but for having fallen from favour brambling doesn’t need to venture
now the problem is causing a downward because too many birds into gardens. If there’s little
spiral in population numbers. In the Big were getting their feet natural food, they follow the
Garden Birdwatch this year the greenfinch trapped, but fortunately chaffinches in, and
slumped to 18th in the list of garden birds. the siskins have now individuals can linger in
The good news is that some of our scarcer learnt to visit bird one garden for days on end,
finches are doing well. The siskin, for feeders instead. adding a bit of northern
example, was once a very rare garden Another finch at last Scandi spice. ✿

MEET THE FINCHES

● CHAFFINCH MALE ● CHAFFINCH ● GREENFINCH MALE ● GREENFINCH ● BULLFINCH The
Muted colours of FEMALE AND YOUNG Moss-coloured rather FEMALE AND YOUNG male is stunning, with
greyish-pink below, BIRDS Even more than grass-green, with BIRDS Duller than the salmon underparts,
greyish-blue on the muted colours than yellow flashes along male, and young birds grey back and black
crown, with bold white the male, but sharing the wing edge. Has a have fine streaks cap; the female is a
flashes in the wing. pale wing panels. chunky, pointed bill. above and below. more faded version.

70 Garden Answers
 WILDLIFE

Nyjer seed is
a favourite
of siskins,
Not just a pretty face Greenfinches sing
strings of sweet notes

shown here Most of our finches manage to combine good

on a specialist looks with vocal prowess. In fact, such is their
metal seed tunefulness they were once caught and sold
feeder by the tens of thousands for the Victorian
cagebird trade.
The best singer is perhaps the greenfinch,
whose song is rather like a canary, with
strings of sweet notes such as ‘wee wee wee,
dibby dibby dibby, choop choop choop’.
However, the tinkling song of the goldfinch is
also very attractive and upbeat.
There is one exception – the bullfinch. Its calls
are an embarrassed weedy piping noise, like
someone trying to whistle short notes and failing.

Portly bullfinches
prefer to snack
from bird tables

● GOLDFINCH MALE ● GOLDFINCH YOUNG ● SISKIN Small ● REDPOLL Very ● BRAMBLING Similar
AND FEMALE Has gold in the wings yellowish-green finch streaky grey-brown to chaffinch, but with
Unmistakeable, with but a pale head, with bold black and finch, with a small red orange breast and
red face in a black and giving it a different yellow markings, the forehead, and black wing flashes, a black
white head and gold expression until adult male with a black cap bib. Males sport a pink head, white belly
flashes in black wings. plumage emerges. and bib. breast in summer. and rump. ➤

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 71
 WILDLIFE

WILDLIFE GARDEN
How to help finches in gardens JOBS FOR NOVEMBER
Welcome the finch family with supplementary food and shelter
l HANG A FEEDER OR TWO... All garden
finches like to visit feeders and bird tables
with sunflower hearts being their favourite
convenience food. Redpolls, siskins and
goldfinches also eat nyjer seed, and in some
gardens choose it in preference, but they
can also ignore it completely.
l GROW THEIR FAVOURITES... Teasel seeds
are a goldfinch favourite, and the seedheads
look fabulous left standing in the winter PLANT TULIPS Open-
border. For an even bigger treat, plant a
birch tree; it will produce seeds after only a
1 flowered tulips are one of the
few spring bulbs that are
few years that will be relished by enjoyed by pollinators – now’s the
goldfinches, siskins and redpolls. best time to plant them.
l LET THE LAWN FLOWER... If you can bear PRUNE SUMMER
to let dandelions flower in parts of your lawn
(they do look lovely!), their fresh, green
2 RASPBERRIES Cut back
the canes that bore fruit to
seeds are prime spring food for goldfinches. the ground. Your bees will enjoy
l GROW A TREE FOR NESTING... This is one pollinating the new canes next year.
group of birds for which nestboxes are of COLLECT BERRIES TO
no use, for they all build their own nests in
trees. Chaffinches construct a camouflaged
3 GROW Kick through the fiery
leaves on an autumn walk and
nest in a fork, goldfinches build theirs out on collect tree seeds and berries to grow.
slender limbs and greenfinches choose to
nest in large conifers.
l KEEP FEEDERS CLEAN... Try to keep
disease at bay by keeping feeders clean
and avoid scattering food on the ground.

Acrobatic
goldfinches forage
for teasel seeds in
the winter borders

Look out for...

l FABULOUS FUNGI Watch after rain
for fungi springing up in lawns and
logpiles. Join a fungi foray to find out
more about these fruiting bodies.
l ROBINS SINGING Listen for the
sweetly sorrowful winter song of the
robin, which is sung by both the males
and females.
l LATE POLLINATORS See how ivy
brings the last great burst of pollen
and nectar into the garden – a perfect
feast for late insects.
PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK; ALAMY

72 Garden Answers
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 .
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This magni8cent tulip de8nitely lives up to
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enough to eat. Deep-pink petals open to
reveal soft-white petals. Attractive as cut
9owers and excellent in borders or in a
container on the patio.

3 EASY WAYS TO ORDER

www.bakker.com/icecream
1 QUOTE PROMO CODE: GANSWERSNOV17
2 Phone: 0844 481 1002 * Bakker’s flower bulbs have been awarded the highest ‘A’

3 Return the coupon to: status - the bulbs are assessed on quality, type, colour,
size and health. This means Bakker can give a full one
year flowering guarantee on all flower bulbs ordered.
Bakker.com, P.O. Box 113, Spalding, Lincolnshire, PE11 9WL
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Post to: Bakker.com, P.O. Box 113, SPALDING, Lincolnshire, PE11 9WL. Please debit my Card No:
Cat.No. Description Price Qty Total
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8022-90 TULIP ICE CREAM

INCLUDES
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 GOURMET
GROWER

GET CREATIVE WITH

Edibles
Plan your potager garden now for crops
next year. Helen Billiald shares her advice

T
here’s been a seismic shift in
gardening over the past two
decades. Where once we decided
to have either a veg patch or an
ornamental garden, or perhaps a formal
potager, now people are fusing them all
into a single attractive melting pot that’s
as good for the soul as it is for the stomach.
If you’re keen to embrace this disregard
for boundaries and create your own
modern potager, the first question to
ask is how far are you willing to go?
Are you after an underlying formality
planted up with a profusion of edibles
and ornamentals? Or maybe you’re
seeking a wildly cosmopolitan
cottage-garden mash-up, threading
yacon through the penstemons?
Whatever option you choose, there
are lots of tasty plants to consider. ➤

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 75
 GOURMET GROWER
Plan next year’s potager
NOVEMBER IS an ideal time to plan
ahead. The ground’s easy to work and
plants have sunk back far enough
to make landscaping projects
easier. But whatever look
you’re after, here are a
few useful pointers:
Look at the
1 garden’s layout.
Hunt for design
ideas in magazines,
design books or
Instagram then
mark out plans for
beds, divisions, paths,
seating areas and larger
plants with white lawn spraypaint
and bamboo canes. Ask yourself: do you
need a lawn? Would it pay to edge paths?
Might the seating area be better at the heart
of the garden? Can you reach the centre of
each raised bed?
Make your mark. Take a willow-
2 weaving course, try a bit of metal
working, save up for a sculpture, build
an arbour, bean wigwams or a pumpkin
arch. If you love spending time cooking,
how about buying a pizza oven with large
containers of herbs sited nearby?
Plant a fruit tree. November marks
3 the start of the bareroot-planting
season and with rootstocks and training
methods including standards, espaliers
and step-overs, there’s something for every
corner. Find a good nursery and consider
quince, apricot, cherry and hazel as well as
apple and pear trees.
76 Garden Answers
Make space for perennials.
4 Perhaps you already grow globe
artichokes, rhubarb and asparagus, but
why not make room for sea kale, sorrel,
chives or perennial kales such as
‘Taunton Dean’ and ‘Daubentons’?
You might keep root vegetables
and quick-to-crop salads in rows
or large pots, then use perennials
to create a mixed border. Plant
redcurrants as a tall back-of-
border shrub; use strawberries
and chives as edging; yacon gives
amazing autumn foliage against
dahlias and cosmos, while kale, bay,
fennel and lovage foliage complements
herbaceous plantings.
Study seed catalogues and
5 experiment! Grow what you love to
eat, but also think about what will bring
colour, texture and height. Each year,
surprise yourself by growing a new crop
– anyone for tree spinach or pig nuts?
Plant a fruit tree for
height, structure,
blossom and harvests
Remember less
6 is more. Instead
of sowing 30
overcrowded
kohl rabi, it’s
better to lavish
care and attention on
10 widely spaced
Chelsea-worthy
examples. It doesn’t just
reduce gluts; an awareness of
individual plants means you spot pests
and diseases sooner too.
Welcome flowers and herbs.
7 Whether you’re a keen cook or just
enjoy a splash of colour, try alternating
rows of vegetables and flowers, or let
self-seeding borage, opium poppies or
calendula travel through the plot.
Plant in succession. Keep sowing
8 seed in modules and you’ll always
have sturdy young plants to pop into gaps.
One tiny propagation area can generate
hundreds of plants.
Interplant crops. Maximise space
9 around slow-growing Brussels
sprouts or purple-sprouting broccoli
by planting quick-growing baby leaf
rocket, spinach, mizuna and mustard
around their feet.
Banish bare soil!
10 Keep bare
surfaces weed free
by mulching in
spring with a 5cm
(2in) layer of manure
or garden compost.
 BROAD BEANS

GROW BROAD
BEANS
H ave you ever walked past broad
bean plants in full spring
flower and been knocked sideways
by their delicious scent? Add to this
the arrival of the first tiny pods and
sweet beans when there’s little else
to harvest, and these plants are
worth making room for.
Early harvests are part of their
charm, so it makes sense to go for an
extra-early harvest in May rather
than late June. The best route to this
is an autumn sowing between mid-
October and early November.
By sowing this late, there’s still
sufficient warmth and light for beans to
germinate and produce short, stocky plants
for overwintering but
they won’t rush to put on
height – lanky plants are
more likely to get damaged
by cold.
Dont forget to choose
a hardy autumn
cultivar (see below).

Step by step

1 Grow in a sunny spot 2 Sow a double row 3 Pop in supports

Choose a sunny, sheltered bed, on
well-drained soil. Seed and young plants
might rot if they sit in the cold and wet,
and exposed sites risk plants being
battered by winter gales.
Leave 20cm (8in) between seeds,
and sow in double rows. Keep fleece handy
and if severe frosts are forecast, drape it
lightly over small plants or over cane
supports for taller-growing beans.
Plants may look pretty unwell over
winter, but don’t lose faith because it’s
amazing how they rev into growth in spring.
Once they start moving upwards add a
couple of circles of twine and stakes on
the corners to act as a loose corset around

Autumn cultivars each double row.

‘The Sutton’ ‘Valenciana’

‘Aquadulce Claudia’
AGM £2.99 £2.59 for
£3.29 for 30 seeds
for 45 seeds 65 seeds
Thompson
Suttons DT Browns
& Morgan
Seeds 0845 371 0532;
0844 573
0844 326 www.
1818;
2200; www. dtbrownseeds.
www.thompson-
suttons.co.uk co.uk
morgan.co.uk

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 77
 GOURMET GROWER
Store
pumpkins
for Christmas
HARVESTING PUMPKINS is easy. Here’s
how to store them for good longevity...
1 Cut them with a stem. Once frosts
are forecast cut the fruit with a long
handle of stem (but don’t carry them by
it) and wash the skin. Dry thoroughly
before moving to a sunny windowsill,
greenhouse or frame to ‘cure’ for a
couple of weeks. This helps the skin to
harden and prolongs their storage life.
2 Keep cool and well-ventilated. An
unheated spare room is ideal as you
don’t want them to drop much below
10C (50F). Store them on wooden
shelves or racks lined with newspaper.
3 Use the seeds. Pumpkin seeds are a
delicious treat, especially if you’ve
grown a hull-less cultivar such as ‘Baby
Bear’. Scoop them out, wash and place
in a bowl with olive oil and a pinch of
salt, seasoned with chilli flakes or herbs.
Spread on a baking tray and roast at
180C (gas mark 4) for 10 minutes until
golden.
Easy recipe
Store on straw in
a cool, airy spot
Roast pumpkin seeds
for a tasty snack
MAKE YOUR OWN SLOE VODKA
This is a gorgeous winter
warmer and a favourite
Christmas tipple in our
household. It takes a year or
more to mature so start an
annual liqueur-making tradition
for a rolling supply. The longer
you keep it, the tastier it gets.
Hedgerow sloes will be
disappearing fast by now so
you’ll need to be quick. Put
them in the freezer overnight
to burst the skins and use a
good-quality vodka. This
recipe uses less sugar than
some, but I find it’s better to
add more to taste later on
because you can’t take it out!
GROW SOMETHING NEW
APRICOT
‘GOLDEN
GLOW’
What is it? A hardy apricot discovered by
chance in the 1980s growing in the
Malvern Hills. The fruit is small, but trees
are hardy, self-fertile and heavy croppers
with deliciously fragrant fruit.
When can I plant it? Bareroot plants
are available from late November to
early March.
How should I grow it? Grow it as a fan
against a south- or south-west-facing wall
or fence, or as a free-standing bush. You
don’t need to mollycoddle this cultivar but
it will still do better on a sheltered site to
protect the April blossom – the tree itself is
hardy. Plants growing on a St Julien A
rootstock should reach up to 4m (13ft).
When can I pick them? Early August.
Fruits have a juicy orange flesh but need
gentle handling.
Apricot ‘Golden
Glow’ £17.99 for
1.2m (4ft) potted
tree. Primrose
0118 903 5210;
www.primrose.co.uk
You will need:
l 500g (17½oz) sloes
l 150g (5oz) caster sugar
l 700ml (24fl oz) vodka
Method:
1. Put all the ingredients into
a large jar and give everything
a good shake.
2. Mix daily for the next week,
then put in a store cupboard
and give it a swirl whenever
you remember it over the next
three months.
3. Strain through a fine sieve,
bottle and label. Tiny clip-top
bottles make beautiful
Christmas presents.

FRUIT TRAINING
Create a pear espalier
THE HORIZONTAL, LADDER-LIKE
layers of an espaliered pear must be
one of the most alluring fruit tree
forms around. It takes time to train a
tree in this way because you add a new
‘rung’ each year. You can buy a part-
trained espalier with a couple of
established layers; just check that the
vigour of the rootstock is suitable for
the size of wall you hope to cover.
Add a system of support wires to
the wall or fence with each wire
45cm (18in) apart from its neighbour.
Add the wires after you’ve
brought a part-trained tree
home so you can check they
match the tree’s structure.
l First winter Start with a
one-year-old maiden whip.
Cut back the leader to a
bud that’s level with
where you’d like the first
layer of the espalier to
be. You’re looking for
ho w
Know
three buds that will grow on; two to form
the arms and one the vertical leader.
l Following summer Train in the two
arms over summer. Run angled bamboo
canes diagonally above the horizontal
wire and gradually lower the shoots to
the wire by late autumn.
l Late summer Prune sideshoots from
each arm back to three leaves (ignoring
the cluster of leaves at its base).
l Second winter Cut back the leader to
the next horizontal wire to train another
layer, and prune established arms back
by a third of the year’s growth to
encourage strong growth next year.
Add layers until the top of the support
is reached and train each arm to fill the
available width. Rub out shoots that
appear between layers on the main stem.
Each August prune new
sideshoots back to three
leaves, and any shoots
growing off these to a
single leaf.
Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 79
VEGETABLE GARDEN
JOBS FOR NOVEMBER
PROTECT WINTER CROPS
1 The first severe frosts can
ruin Florence fennel or late
summer lettuces, so keep lots of
fleece and cloches handy or use
plants for cooking. Pick late apples,
pumpkins and winter squash.
DIG UP ROOT VEG
2 Leaving beetroot and
carrots in the ground is
an open invitation to slugs, so
dig them up now. You can store
undamaged roots in just-damp
sand or old potting compost.
OVERWINTER TOMATOES
3 Insert 5–10cm (2–4in) long
side shoots in moist compost
and keep frost free in a light place.
They’ll be tall and lanky by early
spring when you can grow new
plants from the sideshoot cuttings.
Don’t forget
l CLEAR debris into compost bins
and spread manure or compost
over beds to improve soil
l PLANT garlic, rhubarb crowns,
bareroot fruit trees and bushes
PHOTOS: ALAMY; SHUTTERSTOCK
l OVERWINTER pruned chilli plants
in a frost-free spot
l PAINT a greaseband around fruit
trees to protect against winter moth
l PRUNE gooseberries and currants
l STAKE tall brassicas to prevent
them flopping in winter winds.
 Ask the Your

Experts
Our experts will help you get the best from your garden

TENDER PLANTS
questions
answered

Solution of the month

Inside
82 Bulbs
83 Flowering shrubs
85 Trees
87 Fruit & veg
88 Pests & diseases
90 Border rescue
92 Design solutions

Our experts
GEOFF STEBBINGS
gives expert answers
to all your gardening
problems. Geoff is an
author and gardening writer, and
was head gardener at Myddelton
House, north London.

IAN HODGSON casts an

expert eye over unruly
borders, providing advice
on how to revamp them.
Ian is author of Great Gardens, in
association with the Society of
Garden Designers.

Q How can I overwinter

DAWN ISAAC shows how
to use bold plants and
visual tricks to transform
a bare plot into a tropical
my Echium candicans?
garden. Dawn is a garden designer, JOHN MEASE, NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE

writer and author of 101 Things for
Kids to do Outside.
CONTACT US Send
yourus
By post: Garden Answers,
queries!
Bauer Media, Media House, Lynch
Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA
Email:
gardenanswers@bauermedia.co.uk
Web: www.gardenanswersmagazine.
co.uk
Social media: Find us on
Facebook as Garden Answers
Twitter @GardenAnswers
Instagram as gardenanswers
A
Echium, or pride of Madeira, is a tender, shrubby plant with
30cm (12in) blue flower spikes in spring and early summer. In
mild coastal areas it can be kept outside in well-drained soil, but in
most parts of the UK it should be treated as a potted plant and
overwintered under cover. However, it only needs frost protection,
not high temperatures, to survive.
Dig it up and plant it in a pot of John Innes No 3 compost, then
move it into a greenhouse or conservatory to protect it from frost.
In late spring, when all chance of frost has passed, move it into
the sunniest spot in your garden.
Callistemon subulatus (bottle brush) and
Trachelospermum jasminoides (star jasmine) need
similar treatment.
l See our feature Tuck up tender plants for winter
on p36 for more guidance.
➤

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 81
Q&A
Why are rose petals spotted? How do I grow quality sweet peas? Read on...

BULBS

What’s this plant? Q Are my crocus

leaves emerging
already?
GRANT RIVERS, ESSEX

A The leaves you spotted in

late summer are more likely
to be those of muscari (grape
hyacinths), which often emerge
in late summer and autumn.
Crocus speciosus is an
autumn-flowering crocus
but its leaves appear after
flowering. That’s also the case
with autumn-blooming Q Why did stored
Colchicum autumnale, whose calla lilies not
leaves follow in November.
flower again?
J D BERRIDGE, BY EMAIL

Q What’s this mystery bulb

in our garden?
RON & LINDA EYDMANN, BY EMAIL
A It’s often the case that
coloured calla lilies don’t
flower as well in their second
year. It can help if you divide
the roots in spring before

A Your bulb is hymenocallis (ismene or spider lily), a beautiful

bulb that’s hardy in mild areas, though is most frequently
grown in a pot so it can be given frost protection in winter. The
replanting. This way, you
won’t have too many shoots
competing for space and light.
elegant flowers are produced in summer and last several weeks. Crocus speciosus blooms Make sure you keep the
Keep the plant well watered and fed in summer and allow it to die in autumn on bare stems plants well fed and watered
down in autumn. Keep it almost dry over winter. when in growth.

Q How can we get rid of wild garlic

Weed it or feed it? plants in our borders?
FREDA GRIFFITHS, BY EMAIL

A Wild garlic can be invasive

and digging up the bulbs will be
a laborious job, especially if
they’ve been there for some time
and have shed seeds into the soil.
You’ll be able to weaken the
plants by hoeing them off in
spring. Or, spray them, when
they’re in full leaf, with a
weedkiller containing
glyphosate, such as Roundup.

Q Why did many A The most likely reason

for plants producing short
Q Can you identify this pretty of my border flowering stems is a check to
red-stemmed plant (inset)? plants flower growth, probably caused by
JULIE SURTEES, BY EMAIL on unusually lack of water. This may be a
result of the hot weather we
A The plant that’s appeared in your garden is a short stems? had earlier in summer.
sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) and unless you have M KENDRICK, MANCHESTER
room for a very large tree, it’s best to pull it up now!

82 Garden Answers
 PROBLEMS SOLVED

FLOWERING SHRUBS

Boost next year’s growth

ROSES
Q How did these
spots appear on
my rose petals?
JEAN COOPER, DUNFERMLINE

A Rose discoloration is most

often caused by wet weather.
Yellow and orange roses seem
more prone to the spots. Later
flowers shouldn’t be affected,
but as the season progresses into
autumn, the damp conditions
that encourage it are more
common.

Q Why is my Daphne odora

struggling to grow?
LESLEY WOOD, VIA FACEBOOK
Q What’s the tiny
green worm that’s
A The poor growth of your daphne is probably caused by using bark or wood mulch
around the plant. The danger of such a thick layer is that it can rob the soil surface
of nitrogen as the wood decomposes. This leads to poor plant growth. You can try to
stripping my roses?
JEANETTE HAYWOOD, BY EMAIL
alleviate the effect by digging in a source of extra nitrogen, such as hoof and horn or A It’s rose sawfly. These voracious
pelleted chicken manure. Apply it around the plant in spring every year. grubs can strip plants in days.
They then drop to the ground to
pupate and hatch as adults the
Q How can I perk up my following year. Try picking them
languishing lacecap? off by hand or spray with Bayer
SHIRLEY LONG, BRISTOL Sprayday Greenfly Killer (£5.99
A Most ericaceous composts are based for 30ml) or Westland Resolva
on recycled materials that decompose Bug Killer (£4.99 for 1L spray).
over time, often presenting problems
with drainage. Nor do they contain Q Where can I
sufficient nutrients to support long-term
growth, which is why (judging from the buy cornmeal to
White fungal swellings
photo you sent) your hydrangea looks reduce blackspot?
starved. Next spring, add a controlled- A KAYE, HELSTON
are caused by azalea gall
release fertiliser to feed the plant all
A Many ‘alternative remedies’
summer, or apply a liquid fertiliser every
are alleged to prevent or cure
Q How can I stop azalea week from April to September. Use an
ericaceous feed to keep the flowers blue.
blackspot on roses, but their
leaves turning white? effectiveness is unproven and
MARY SMITH, VIA FACEBOOK they may damage the plant.
Instead, use a tested fungicide,
A Azalea gall is a fungal disease that’s applied as directed.
usually worse in wet springs. It only Remember that
affects Japanese azaleas and usually fungicides
just a few leaves on the plant. At first prevent
the leaves look swollen, distorted and further
pale green, but as the fungal infection infection
progresses, the swellings turn white so use them
as more spores are produced. before the
There is no chemical control: carefully disease
pick off and dispose of the affected leaves takes hold.
before they turn white.
➤

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 83
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PROBLEMS SOLVED
SMALL TREES
Frosted blossom
Q Can I help my
healthy mimosa
to flower?
MRS S DRAPER, SHROPSHIRE
A Mimosa (Acacia dealbata) is
a fast-growing tree that’s best
suited to milder areas. It
flowers in early spring (usually
February and March) from
buds produced the previous
summer. The buds remain on
the tree throughout autumn
and winter and if the winter is
cold or the plant’s in a cold spot,
the buds might be damaged and
not open at all.
If it’s still small, try moving it
against a sunny wall to protect
the plant from a cold snap.
Plants for wildlife
Q Where can I buy the gigantic
Canadian solidago?
JUSTINE ATKINSON, VIA FACEBOOK
A ‘Fireworks’ is a good, tall cultivar (H1.5m/5ft) that
produces a spectacular display of finely branched stems
with huge yellow heads smothered in bees and butterflies
in summer. It’s available from nurseries such as The Beth
Chatto Gardens (01206 822007; www.bethchatto.co.uk).
Plant bare-roots
up until March
Q Why won’t my
bareroot potted
magnolias grow?
FAMIE SORBIE, GLASGOW
A Unless bareroot trees and
shrubs are planted between
November and March they’re
unlikely to grow well. In a
container, use John Innes No3.
The hot, dry weather in early
summer would have stressed
the plants if they didn’t have
adequate water. If the trees
simply haven’t put on much
growth, they’re probably still
settling in and should make
more growth next year.
However if there were no leaves
the plants might well be dead.
Q How can I encourage my
potted wedding cake tree
to produce more than one tier?
T KWAN, BURY, LANCASHIRE
A Cornus controversa ‘Variegata’ grows rather slowly at first and
takes several years to establish before it finally summons the
strength to produce a strong leader. The fact that yours is in a tub
might be a factor here, and it may need more regular feeding.
Try giving it a dressing of pelleted chicken manure in spring and
then feed weekly with a general fertiliser such as Growmore to give
it a boost, which might result in an extra tier.
Q What’s growing
on the leaves of
our weeping elm?
BEVERLEY LOVEGROVE, MANEA
A This is a gall, caused by a gall
mite. It’s unlikely to cause the
plant much harm and is largely
cosmetic. If there are just a few
affected leaves it’s best to pick Honey fungus
them off since there aren’t any
effective sprays against mites. Q Why did our
two willow trees
die just a few
months apart?
ELKE EINSMANN, BY EMAIL
A Willows are prone to
anthracnose disease that can
cause premature defoliation
in summer and, if combined
with other stress might cause
the slow death of the trees.
Honey fungus is another
culprit, making bark peel off
and a mushroomy smell. This
autumn look for honey brown
toadstools in the area.
Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 85
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 PROBLEMS SOLVED

FRUIT & VEG Q Can I stop mice

Wet spring
eating sweetcorn
on my allotment?

curls leaves
B WHIBLEY, SURREY

A Rats, mice and squirrels can all

attack sweetcorn as it matures.

Q
You can’t use conventional traps

Why are peach

outdoors because of the danger
they pose to pets and garden birds.
leaves curling? But you could use ‘live mammal’
traps among the plants, or place
ANNE TAIT, BY EMAIL bait stations in the area that

A
prevent anything except mice and
Outdoor peach trees are prone to the
rats from eating the poison bait.
fungal disease peach leaf curl. The
spores attack wet leaves in spring and
cause the foliage to turn red and curled.
If the peach is against a wall, erect a
cover to keep the plant dry in spring.
On dry days, use a small paintbrush
to hand pollinate the flowers, which Peach leaf curl
will improve your chances of fruit.

Q How can I help Q Why are all plums

all my courgette marked on my tree?
flowers to fruit? LUCINDA FREW, OXFORD
PATRICIA WICEBLOOM, BY EMAIL
A These blobs of hardened resin
A Courgette plants produce aren’t caused by disease but are the
separate male and female result of environmental stress.
flowers: the males on longer This is most likely caused by
stems and the females with a irregular watering or
small courgette behind them. extreme hot
Your non-fruiting flowers are weather.
male ones. Leave them on the Sometimes they
plant because bees transfer can be caused
pollen from them to pollinate by physical
the female flowers so the damage such
courgettes can develop. In time as insect or
female flowers will appear. bird, but the
plums are
perfectly fit to eat.
Q Why does my Chaenomeles
superba ‘Pink Lady’ produce Q Which pest wiped
plenty of flowers but no fruit? out three rows of
MRS R PICKTHORNE, BIRMINGHAM beetroot overnight?
A Some Japanese quince cultivars are more reliable at MR HARPER, HEREFORD
Male and
producing fruits; those with double flowers tend to be the female A Beetroot are usually free from
least productive. An old cultivar with scarlet flowers such courgette pests and it’s unusual that a pest
as C. superba ‘Crimson and Gold’ or ‘Knap Hill Scarlet’ flowers would wipe out so many plants so
should be more reliable. quickly, so I think rabbits or deer
are the most likely culprits.

Q How do I espalier a ‘Gala’ apple? Q What’s this fruit

KEV BUNN, BY EMAIL on my large tree?
JUNE WILKINSON, NOTTINGHAM
A Set tree stakes about 2m (6½ft) high and apart, with
the tree in the middle. Put the lowest training wire about A The green fruits are walnuts,
60cm (2ft) high, the rest 40cm (16in) apart, above it. Cut which will drop in autumn and the
off the top of the main stem at 55cm (22in) above soil flesh will fall away from the nut
level. Next year three shoots should grow up and, at the as it turns brown. Walnut trees
end of the season, train one each side along the horizontal (Juglans regia) can take some years
wire and cut the middle one off just below the next wire. to start cropping, but yours should
l See page 79 for more details continue to crop from now on.

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 87
 PROBLEMS SOLVED

GROWING ADVICE

Sowing in
containers
Q I don’t have a greenhouse or room
indoors, so are there any seeds I can
grow in pots outside?
IRIS BLACKABY, WEST YORKSHIRE

A Most hardy vegetables and

annuals can be sown and
grown on in outdoor pots, but
they really need protection
from rain. You’ll get better
results if you buy a mini
Q How can I grow quality
sweet peas like my mum’s?
LEONARD STEELES, BY EMAIL

greenhouse or coldframe. A Give your sweet peas a rich soil with good drainage. Make sure
If you don’t have space for they don’t dry out at any stage because growth will be checked and
that, cover the pots with they’ll be inclined to get mildew and flower poorly. If you have
large plastic bottles with the wet, heavy clay, incorporate lots of grit to prevent the young plants
base cut out. from developing root problems and rot near the base, resulting in
Because of the lack of heat, yellow, dying leaves. Finally, cut the flowers regularly to prevent
delay sowing until late March seed formation, which keeps them blooming.
or April. Late sowings usually
catch up, so you should still
get good results. Q What’s causing these
bumps on geum leaves?
JANET ANDALUN, BY EMAIL

A The bumps on your geum leaves

are probably caused by a gall mite.
Plant identification Cecidophyes nudus is a native gall mite
that frequently attacks native Geum
urbanum. They’re difficult to control so it’s Gall mite
best to simply remove affected leaves and damage
dispose of them. It’s unlikely to affect other
plants in the garden.

ASK THE EXPERTS

Send us your questions!

Need some gardening advice? Fill in this form and post it to
us, or email your query to gardenanswers@bauermedia.co.uk

Dear Garden Answers,

My gardening problem is

Q Can you identify this purple-

PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK; ALAMY; BAUER

flowered plant for me?

DEBRA ALICE SMITH, VIA FACEBOOK

A An attractive but rarely grown garden plant,

Proboscidea louisianica is a sparsely branched annual My name & address
with rather hairy, glandular leaves (which have an
unpleasant smell) and large, foxglove-like flowers in
clusters at the ends of the stems. It’s commonly called
the unicorn plant because of its large, curved seedpods. Send to: Garden Answers, Bauer Media, Media House,
Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA

88 Garden Answers
 ADVERTORIAL

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Border Rescue
This cottage-style border is far too relaxed
for its formal setting. Editor Liz Potter
asks for some planting advice
LAYOUT
Fact file
SITE Small front garden with
circular lawn and mixed hedges
ASPECT West-facing
BORDER DIMENSIONS 3x3m
(10x10ft)
SOIL Improved clay (alkaline pH8)
PLANTS USED L-R Pittosporum
‘Silver Queen’, white Iris germanica,
sedum ‘Autumn Charm’, white
lupins, gaura ‘Whirling Butterflies’,
penstemon (hidden), Anemanthele
lessoniana, aquilegia ‘Green
Apples’ (hidden), ribes ‘Elkington’s
White’, Stipa tenuissima, more
lupins, another penstemon and
anemone ‘Honorine Jobert’
STYLE Disorganised cottage
COLOUR SCHEME White & green
90 Garden Answers
Q How can I give my border
more structure?
THIS BUSY BORDER looked fabulous about
two seasons ago. But now it looks an unholy
mess (top right). Part of the problem is that it
contains too many lax plants – my penstemons,
grasses and gaura all love flopping on each
other and making an untidy tangle.
Another problem is the fact I have too many
plants in there – probably about 25% of them
need to go and live elsewhere. The soil might
look bare in spring but by June the lupins and
other perennials arrive and are anticipating
a leisurely summer of unbridled flopping.
“This border needs a combination of plant
removal and replacement,” says our
gardening expert Ian Hodgson. “First Liz
needs to thin out the planting by trimming
back unwanted growth, removing excess
plants and dividing the bigger specimens to
plant elsewhere in the garden.
“Staking in early spring would give the
remaining perennials better support. Also, it
might be an idea to swap the lax plants for
species that are more upright and self-
supporting. I’d remove the anemanthele in
favour of more upright grasses such as
variegated Miscanthus sinensis ‘Dixieland’ or
steely blue Panicum virgatum ‘Heavy Metal’.
Also, consider white-flowered plants with a
stronger upright habit such as Physostegia
virginiana ‘Summer Snow’ and Veronica
longifolia ‘Charlotte’ or ‘White Wands’.”
l Need help with a border that’s lost its
lustre? Write to us at the address on p103

TWO YEARS ago the
border was neat and
well behaved, but
already the gaura and
grasses are showing a
tendency to flop
Lupin ‘Gallery White’
Densely packed flower
spikes appear June to
August. Cut back spent
stems to encourage
second flush of flowers.
Plant in sun or part shade.
H and S45cm (18in)
PROBLEMS SOLVED
Take a floppy border in hand...
Next
Remove the anemanthele 1
and swap with more NOW steps
upright grasses such as
miscanthus ‘Dixieland’.
Move the pittosporum 2 out
from behind the iris 3 so
you can see its silhouette.
Swap the cream-variegated
sedum 4 for a glaucous
green-leaved one (which 7
will better complement the
blue-grey iris foliage). 2
Locate the aquilegia 5 and 1
3
place it nearer the front so 5
it can enjoy more space and 6
light. Stake the gaura 6 and
penstemons, 7 or replace
with more upright 4
perennials.
Planting plan Pittosporum
Ribes
‘Elkington’s
White’
Physostegia
‘Summer snow’
Iris
germanica
Penstemon Erigeron
Sedum ‘White Bedder’ Miscanthus Lupin
‘Stardust’ sinensis ‘Gallery
‘Dixieland’ Aquilegia
White’
‘Green Apples’
Choose upright plants
Miscanthus sinensis Veronica longifolia Panicum virgatum Physostegia virginiana
‘Dixieland’ Deciduous ‘Charlotte’ White- ‘Heavy Metal’ ‘Summer Snow’
striped white and green flowering cultivar with Steely blue-grey Attractive, clump-
grass with ubright habit tubular white flowers deciduous grass with forming, white-flowered
and arching fronds. Best June–Aug. Full sun or pink flowers from Aug– perennial July–Aug, for
in sun or light shade. part shade in moist but Sept. Best in a sunny, sun or part shade in rich
Good winter interest. well-drained soil. H90cm well-drained border. soil. H60cm (2ft)
H1.5m (5ft) S1.8m (5ft) (3ft) S30cm (12in) H1.5m (5ft) S75cm (30in) S40cm (16in)
Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 91
 Design Solutions
Bold planting can transport your plot to the tropics, says Dawn Isaac

Q How can I give my garden

a tropical feel?
WE MIGHT NOT HAVE the hot and
humid climate of a tropical rainforest,
but it’s still possible to conjure up a
jungle-inspired design in a British
garden. Set the tone with bamboo or
rattan furniture and log paths: the
materials to hand in a tropical
landscape. If you want longer-lasting
features, choose imitation or synthetic
versions, which are better able to
survive our cold, wet weather.
The most vital element of a tropical
garden is the planting; a lush jungly
look demands lots of large leaves.
Thankfully many exotic-looking
plants are hardy enough to withstand
a cold winter. It’s also worth including
evergreens so your carefully layered
beds aren’t denuded in winter.
Colour is less important to the
overall look, but you can inject some
by using shade-tolerant begonias or
astrantias. Or add splashes of
flowering plants in more
open areas. Grow them
in pots to introduce
some truly exotic
species that can then
be overwintered
under cover.

BEFORE

2 4

Problem areas
1 Bare walls and fences give a hemmed-in look
2 Lack of plants mean there are no seasonal surprises
3 There’s nothing to hide the neighbouring houses
4 Although the garden seems spacious,
you can see it all at once
DESIGN: DAWN ISAAC; MAIN ILLUSTRATION: GILL LOCKHART

THE SKETCH

Create interest in the

heart of the garden
A small hut and swing-seat area,
separated from the surrounding
plants by a pond and bamboo
bridge, creates interest in the
heart of the garden. Tall plants Use hardwearing
at the perimeter help hide the materials
urban setting, while mixed Reconstituted stone
foliage shapes and sizes add stepping stones (made
impact. The log path and natural to look like cut logs)
materials convey the jungle look. set among gravel make
a hardwearing feature

92 Garden Answers
 PROBLEMS SOLVED

Create foliage- Hide the

rich planting
Large-leaved foliage plants
offer a lush tropical feel, with
deciduous, tender plants
balanced among hardier
evergreens for winter interest
Build a tropical
hideaway
A hut with a thatched
roof provides a jungle-
themed dining area in the
centre of the garden, also
acting as a focal point in
the forest ‘clearing’
neighbours
Birch trees create an
upper tree canopy
around the garden
perimeter, helping to
mask neighbouring Plumb in a
properties and casting water feature
light shade for a A large bamboo stem
forest feel acts as a spout to
circulate water using a
pump. The trickling
water helps evoke the
sounds of the jungle

Make the path Find room for a Add a Install a

disappear
This curving path offers
a sense of mystery,
leading off among the
jungle plants and
inviting you to explore
suspended seat
Rattan-effect furniture
creates an old-colonial feel
and is hard wearing too.
A hanging chair conjures up
a relaxed holiday mood
tranquil pond
This stylised garden pond is
covered with large-leaved
waterlilies, which are
perfect for the ‘jungle
lagoon’ look
bamboo bridge
A wooden bridge with
bamboo balustrades
provides the perfect
crossing point to the central
hut and seating area ➤

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 93
Design Solutions
Choose a clump-forming
bamboo species and keep
Bamboo – dos and don’ts
An elegant bamboo can add
it compact and contained
instant height and an exotic
flavour to a border, but don’t
plant without careful thought.
● Do go for a clump-former
Choose clump-forming species
(such as fargesia), which are less
likely to spread than a running
one (such as pseudosasa).
● Don’t let them spread Plant
them inside a physical barrier:
dig a trench or hole at least 60cm
(2ft) deep and line with paving
slabs, corrugated iron sheets or
specialist root-barrier fabric.
Overlap and bond the fabric and
set all barriers at least 7.5cm
(3in) above soil level. Make sure
the barrier slants out towards
the top so that rhizomes are
encouraged to grow upwards
where they can be cut off, rather
than down below the barrier.
● Do plant deeply The bamboo
rootball should sit slightly lower
than its original depth and be
covered with 2.5cm (1in) of soil.
● Don’t let them dry out Water
during dry periods and give a
nitrogen-rich feed in spring.
● Do prune in spring Cut out
thin, old or overcrowded stems
and remove lower side branches.
The plants can recycle nutrients
from leaf litter so sweep spent
leaves back into the grove.

Top 10 plants for a tropical look

Trachycarpus fortunei Polypodium vulgare Musa basjoo The Dicksonia antarctica A Fatsia japonica This
The Chusan palm has An evergreen fern hardiest banana plants tree-like fern with long, useful evergreen shrub
distinctive fan-shaped native to Britain, it with dramatic paddle- tough fronds, its roots with glossy palmate
leaves and a fibrous will happily colonise shaped leaves up to form the trunk. Water leaves and unusual
trunk. Full sun or part areas under trees 3m (10ft) long. Crown trunk and crown in round autumn flower
shade. Needs winter where other plants and foliage need summer and protect spikes may need some
protection. H20m may struggle. H30cm winter protection. crown in winter. H6m protection in cold
(66ft) S2.5m (8ft) (12in) S1m (3ft 4in) H5m (16ft) S4m (13ft) (20ft) S4m (13ft) areas. H and S4m (13ft)

Hosta ‘Sum and Acanthus mollis Hedychium Asplenium Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’

Substance’ Enormous Architectural bear’s gardnerianum With scolopendrium This Sword-shaped leaves
corrugated yellow- breeches has large dramatic foliage and a evergreen fern with give rise to arching red
green leaves are a glossy leaves and tall giant spike of scented wavy-edged fronds flowers in August and
feature of this hosta spikes of white blooms late-summer flowers, can grow in shady September that add a
with lilac flower spikes hooded by purple ginger lilies need some and even dry spots dash of hot colour. Can
in summer. H75cm bracts in summer. protection. H1.5m (5ft) (when established). take part shade. H1m
(30in) S1.2m (4ft) H1.5m (5ft) 90cm (3ft) S1m (3ft 3in) H and S60cm (2ft) (3ft 3in) S80cm (32in)

94 Garden Answers
 PROBLEMS SOLVED

Get
Notebook Large flappy leaves and vivid flowers
will transport you to the tropics the
look
LUSH LEAVES
Maze Rattan Malibu
hanging chair £296
(sale price) Mode Living
0800 999 3830;
www.modeliving.co.uk

White ginkgo 5-tier bamboo

water feature (88cm) £89.99
Primrose 0118 903 5210;
www.primrose.co.uk

Royal thatched
Finding plants with an exotic look is all
garden gazebo
part of the fun of creating a jungle garden.
£4,799 Internet
Visit specialist nurseries, open gardens or
Gardener 0115
shop online, but take care to note the
828 3745;
hardiness of any species you buy.
www.internet
Some species from tropical climes won’t
gardener.co.uk
tolerate frost or struggle with waterlogged
soil, while others may be borderline hardy
and survive all but a prolonged cold spell. Bamboo
You can lift tender plants each autumn, pot torches (pack
lea of 10) £14.99
them up and overwinter them in a heated Passi flora caeru Partyrama
greenhouse or conservatory. Or try leaving
them in situ swaddled in a duvet of straw and 01908 261280;
fleece, which is lifted on warmer winter days. www.partyrama.
Recent mild winters have made it possible co.uk
to keep all but the most tender plants alive
outdoors, but it’s safer to invest in plants that
you know will tolerate frost (-5C/23F). Square rattan planter
Choose bomb-proof evergreens, such as £12 Garden Trading
Fatsia japonica and Aucuba japonica; hardy 01993 845559; www.
palms including Trachycarpus fortunei, garden trading.co.uk
Cordyline australis and Chamaerops humilis; Cordyl
striped grasses such as Miscanthus sinensis i ne australi
‘Cosmopolitan’ and bold-flowered climbers s
Personalised jungle
including hardy Passiflora caerulea.
outdoor cushion
£45 Oakdene
MATERIALS Designs at Not on
the High Street
0203 318 5115;
www.notonthe
highstreet.com
PRICES CORRECT AT TIME OF WRITING
PHOTOS: ALAMY; SHUTTERSTOCK
Cut out and keep

Natural speckled bamboo Papillon 6x6ft Timberstone log

poles £5.10–£9.58 UK bamboo fence panel stepping stones £13.43
Bamboo Supplies Ltd with frame £64.99 per slab Stonemarket Faux rattan folding garden lounge
✄

01825 890041; Primrose 0118 903 5210; 0345 302 0603; set in clay £195 The Farthing 0844
www.ukbamboo.com www.primrose.co.uk www.stonemarket.co.uk 567 2400; www.thefarthing.co.uk

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 95
 GOOD CLEAN FUN
BUYERS’ The Spear & Jackson Power

GUIDE Tools PW1800, £119.99

with 1800W motor and 130
bar pressure (see over)

Brighten up the
PATIO
Give your patio a good clean this
autumn. Geoff Hodge gives a round-up
of the gear you’ll need

96 Garden Answers
 GARDEN BUYS

A
HOSE

What to look for

sparkling clean patio can
brighten up the whole garden.
LENGTH
A longer hose makes
Spotless pavers and gleaming
the machine more
decking boards create a light and
flexible and you won’t
well-cared for appearance, transforming a HANDLES need to move it
shabby eyesore into a sunny seating area. Quality, sturdiness around as much
Conversely, moss and weeds between paving and length aren’t a huge
gaps, stains, algae, lichens and liverworts consideration because
will all detract from the overall look. And they don’t need to
poor maintenance can make all hard support much weight,
surfaces incredibly slippery – turning them but fold-down handles
into a hazard for young and old. take up less space
MOTOR
If your patio looks a mess there’s nothing The more
in store
for it – it’s time to get out the cleaning kit powerful the motor
ON-BOARD
ARD (measured in Watts),
to restore it to its former glory. But does it
STORAGE the more pressure it
need to be hard work? The simple answer is:
Facilities for
not at all! In fact it can be fun. can create, giving
storing cable, hose and
a more efficient
accessories means
Under pressure clean
fewer trips to and
As long as there’s a source of water and
from the garage
electrical power close by, using a pressure
or shed
washer will get any cleaning tasks finished in
no time, with zero fuss. Most household
models are powered by electricity, are ELECTRIC WHEELS
Good-sized,
relatively light and quiet, need little upkeep, CABLE
sturdy wheels will
and don’t produce any emissions. They start LENGTH
make the machine
and stop quickly and easily, and are simple to A longer cable means
easier to move around,
control and maintain. you can move the
especially on
Good quality pressure washers have machine more freely
uneven or rough
induction motors, whereas cheaper models around the
ground
may have a plastic pump and brush motor, garden
which are less robust over time.
l How powerful? If you only need a pressure
washer for cleaning bikes, cars and outdoor
furniture, you won’t need a top-of-the-range More expensive, mid-range models output gives quicker cleaning, but your
model. Unless you want adjustable water (1600–2000W motor and water pressure household water pressure determines the
pressure output and other advanced around 110–120 bars) are a much better actual output. If you don’t have an outdoor
features, a compact, entry- choice for patios – as well as a wide range of tap handy, most pressure washers will
level model with other cleaning tasks. work from an alternative water source,
low-wattage motor Larger models (with powerful 1800– such as a water butt, but check first.
(around 1200W) 2500W motors and water pressure outputs l What size should I go for? Size and
and water up to 150 bars) will tackle large areas of weight are key factors if you have to move
pressure output paving and very ingrained dirt. the machine around a lot and if you’re short
of 90–100 bars l How much water will I use? Water output on storage space. Also check the water hose
will suffice. is measured in litres per hour (L/h); a larger and electricity cord are long enough for
your needs, and consider how comfortable
the nozzles and trigger are to hold. This
will be a factor over long periods.
l Do I need a turbo lance? A rotary jet
lance that spins the water jet as it leaves the
nozzle is more effective at removing
stubborn dirt. Some lances also offer
variable-pressure. However, use these with
care as very high pressure, and oscillating,
rotating or ‘turbo’ spray lances could
damage polished or fine surfaces.
l What happens to all the muck? When
blasting dirt and debris from your patio,
there’s nothing worse than looking around
and realising all you’ve done is spread it
over the rest of the garden! A specialist
patio cleaning head to ‘contain’ the debris is
very handy. These have a plastic cover over
the nozzle that helps to stop dirty water
spraying everywhere. This makes patio
cleaning much quicker and easier. They’re
particularly useful for cleaning block
paving and sometimes are included in the
The Stihl RE 109 Pressure washer, £240 with 1700W motor and 110 bar pressure washer kit, or sold as a separate accessory. ➤

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 97
PRESSURE WASHERS

Draper Tools 1500W 230V Kärcher K2 Full Control Bosch Universal Vax PowerWash 2200w
Pressure Washer with Total £99.99 1400W motor, 20–110 Aquatak 135 £199.99 Complete £179.99
Stop Feature 83405 £84.96 bar pressure, 360L/hour. 1900W motor, 135 bar 2200W motor, 160 bar
1500W motor, 105 bar Premium Car & Home model pressure, 410L/hour pressure, 470L/hour, with
pressure, 300L/hour (£169.99) has accessories Patio & Car Cleaning Kit

Black & Decker Spear & Jackson Power Draper Tools 1900W 230V Kärcher K7 Premium
BXPW1800WSR £156 Tools High Pressure Pressure Washer with Total Full Control Plus Home
1800W motor, 135 bar Washer PW1800 £119.99 Stop Feature 83407 £129.96 £569.99 2800W motor,
pressure, 420L/hour 1800W motor, 130 bar 1900W motor, 135 bar 20–180 bar pressure,
pressure, 380L/hour pressure, 390L/hour 600L/hour

Hozelock Pico Power

The Handy 2 in 1 Pressure Pressure Washer £179.99
Nilfisk C-PG 130.2-8 X-tra Mac Allister Pressure Washer/Wet & Dry Vacuum 1700W motor, 140 bar
£199.99 1800W motor, Washer £127 1800W motor, THHPWVAC £109.99 1700W pressure, 438L/hour.
130 bar pressure, 130 bar pressure, motor, 150 bar pressure, The Home model (£149.99)
520L/hour 440L/hour 400L/hour includes Patio Cleaner

98 Garden Answers
CHEMICAL CLEANERS GARDEN BUYS

Chemical patio or ‘surface’ cleaners
can be added to pressure washer water
bottles to enhance the cleaning effect.
Traditionally stain and dirt removal
products incorporate chlorine bleach,
acids or solvents, but many new products
are based on less- or non-toxic ingredients
that break down into natural components.
Some chemical cleaners need to be
applied with a scrubbing brush and
rinsed off afterwards – or try ‘apply and
forget’ products that are easier to use.
blocks.
BRUSHES
A good brush is a really useful piece
of kit. Look for one with rows of stiff
(usually converging) wire bristles,
3-4.5cm (1¼-1¾in) long, that clear
away and clean out debris such as
algae and grime. Some also feature
built-in blades or hooks to remove
more stubborn weeds and moss lying
deep between the slabs or paving
Spear & Jackson
Block Paving Cleaner
£9.99 152cm ash
handle, durable wire
bristles, integral
scraper blade

Burgon & Ball Miracle

Block Paving Brush
£9.99 158cm ash
Bayer Garden Path Brintons Patio Magic! ecofective Path, Patio handle, three rows
& Patio Cleaner 5L £18.49 & Decking Cleaner 2.5L of tough wire bristles
Concentrate 2.5L Benzalkonium chloride. £7.49 Acetic acid.
£6.49 Non-ionic Coverage: Coverage:
surfactants. Coverage: up to 34sq m/litre up to 24sq m/litre Wolf-Garten multi-change
up to 12sq m/litre Weeding Brush £12.99
+ handles from
£9.99–£21.99
Choice of handles
from 1.17–1.7m, stiff
steel wire bristles

Draper Tools Paving Brush

Set with Twin Heads and
Telescopic Handle 58683
£13 Telescopic handle up
to 1.4m, interchangeable
large six-row head
and triangular
Wet and Forget: Westland Horticulture VivaGreen MossOff head of steel
Mould, Algae, Lichen Hero Paving & Decking Multi Surface 5L £29 wire bristles
and Moss Removal Power Cleaner No active chemical,
& Killer 5L £34.99 Concentrate 2.5L £6.99 forms a suffocating
Non-caustic, no bleach. Benzalkonium chloride. film on the moss.
Coverage: Coverage: Coverage:
30–60sq m/litre up to 24sq m/litre up to 35sq m/litre

PRICES CORRECT AT TIME OF WRITING

Using household bleach

Provided you’re using it just to clean dirt away, ordinary household Gardener’s
bleach is allowed by law under Control of Pesticides Regulations (COPR) Mate Patio Brush
guidelines. However, if you use it as a ‘surface biocide’ (to prevent £5.99
build-up of moss, algae, lichen, liverworts and mould), you’re committing 140cm beech head,
an offence under the regulations, which could lead to prosecution. shaft and handle with
steel bristles

Suppliers PRESSURE WASHERS ● Black & Decker 01753 511234, www.blackanddecker.co.uk ● Bosch 03447 360109,
www.bosch-garden.com ● Draper Tools 02380 494333 for stockists, www.drapertools.com ● Hozelock 0121 313 1122, www.
hozelock.com ● Kärcher 01295 752000, www.karcher.com/uk ● Mac Allister from B&Q 03330 143098,
www.diy.com ● Nilfisk 01768 868995, www.consumer.nilfisk.co.uk ● Spear & Jackson Power Tools 01904 727505,
www.spearandjackson-power.com ● Stihl 01276 20202, www.stihl.co.uk ● The Handy from Handy Distribution
01793 333201, www.handyonline.co.uk ● Vax 03300 268455, www.vax.co.uk CHEMICAL CLEANERS ● Bayer Garden
www.bayergarden.co.uk ● Brintons Patio Magic! from Scotts Miracle-Gro 0845 190 1881, www.lovethegarden.com;
● Ecofective 01763 212100, www.ecofective.uk.com ● VivaGreen 0203 808 9124, www.vivagreengroup.com
● Westland Horticulture 01480 443789, www.gardenhealth.com ● Wet and Forget 03339 007007, www.wetandforget.co.uk
BRUSHES ● Burgon & Ball 0114 233 8262, www.burgonandball.com ● Draper Tools 02380 494333 for stockist details,
www.drapertools.com ● Gardener’s Mate from Gardman 01406 372227, www.gardman.co.uk ● Spear & Jackson 0114 281 4242,
www.spear-and-jackson.com ● Wolf-Garten 01869 363674, www.wolfgarten-tools.co.uk

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 99
 Make light
work of fallen
LEAVES
Tidy away autumn leaves without
getting your hands dirty... Here’s our
pick of the grabbers

100 Garden Answers

 GARDEN BUYS

DRAPER LEAF GRABBER £17.39 LEAF SCOOPS £6.49 WILKO GET GARDENING LEAF
Tools Today 01384 482789; Great Little Garden 0333 003 0516; GRABBER GREEN £3.50 Wilko 0800
www.toolstoday.co.uk www.greatlittlegarden.co.uk 032 9329; www.wilko.com

LEAF GRABBERS £4.99 PLASTIC LEAF GRABBER GARDENHOME LEAF SCOOPS £7.99
The Range 0345 026 7598; £15 Spear & Jackson 0114 281 4242; (sale price) Gardenhome on
www.therange.co.uk www.spear-and-jackson.com www.amazon.co.uk
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK. ALL PRICES CORRECT AT TIME OF WRITING

TUDOR LONG-HANDLED LEAF GARDENHOME LEAF GRABBERS DRAPER HEAVY DUTY HAND LEAF
GRABBERS £34.93 Tudor Tools 02476 LADY BIRD SHAPE £8.99 COLLECTORS £7.55 World of Power
856856 www.tudorenvironmental.com Gardenhome on www.amazon.co.uk 01298 213145; www.worldofpower.co.uk

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 101

Over to you!
WRITE TO US AT Garden Answers, Bauer Media, Media House, Lynch
Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA EMAIL gardenanswers@bauermedia.
co.uk TEL 01733 395076 WEBSITE www.gardenanswersmagazine.co.uk

Titchy sunflower
enjoys a leg up
Those who despair of ever
getting a decent broadband
signal can take hope from
my router (illustrated,
searching for the sun),
which picks up a
remarkably fast rate of
sunnybytes and turns in
all directions.
No monthly fee but an
upload of watering now
and then keeps that sun
signalling in order. Any
hanging basket will do.
Showers of flowers Next year, it’s a hollyhock!
I was very pleased to see Garden Colin Walsh,
Answers recommending Persicaria Great Shelford,
affinis ‘Superba’ in your September Cambridgeshire
issue. I’ve planted this amazing plant
beside some steps, where it showers
down beautifully to cover a rather dull CONGRATULATIONS Our star letter author Colin Walsh
4ft wall. In winter it still does its job in wins this complete set-up for feeding garden birds
tones of russet and brown. from the RSPB – comprising a classic seed feeder,
I t’s also growing at ground level at nut and nibble feeder and lots of lovely bird food.
the edge of my patio, but I think its ● The feeding station is part of the RSPB’s Giving Nature
elevated position here shows it off to a Home initiative. For more information on this and
perfection, and gives delight all year! other RSPB products, go to www.rspbshop.co.uk
Margaret Barton, All proceeds go towards helping birds and wildlife
Avening, Gloucestershire

Exotic superhero
This is one spider that everyone will surely Toxic foxgloves
love. Dahlia ‘Hollyhill Spiderwoman’ really My poor mum, who’s 96, cut some
has the wow factor with its exotic-looking foxgloves and put them in a vase
twisted red and white petals. indoors. She simply sniffed them to
Marlene Slee, by email see if they were scented and inhaled
the poisonous pollen. This resulted in
her suffering a range of side effects
including feeling weak and shivery,
exhausted and with a
racing pulse for
nearly a week.
Yes foxgloves
are beautiful,
but don’t Beware
Yucca surprise forget that sniffing
An unexpected reward at the end of this all plant foxgloves
dreary summer with all the endless rain parts are
was a massive spike of white bell-shaped poisonous.
flowers suddenly erupting from my yucca. A DR Melton,
very tropical sight in my Berkshire garden! Essex
Kathy McGreal Kilgour, Mortimer

102 Garden Answers


Next month in
Special
CHRISTMAS
CHRIS S
on sale
8 Nov
Get festive
IN THE GARDEN
GARDE
with flowers, stems,
seedheads and berries
CHRISTMAS SPECIAL ISSUE – ON SALE 8 NOV!
● Learn the secrets of the best UK winter gardens
● Use dramatic red for clever visual effects
● Grow hellebores – we pick the best cultivars for your garden
● Make a modern wreath, step by step
● Find present inspiration in our Christmas gift guide
WIN SECATEURS
PRIZE WORTH £60!
PHOTO
Send us a high-res photo of
your garden or plants with
a short description and you
could win a choice of fabulous
professional Felco secateurs!
● The Felco 6 is a compact
secateur with sap groove
and tapered cutting blade.
● The Felco 12 has rotating
handles and shock absorber
to reduce effort.
Call 0116 234 4611
or visit www.felco.com
TOP PERFORMER
This year, for the first time, I’ve grown Salvia nemorosa
‘Caradonna’ in my garden. It has performed every bit as well as
I’d hoped, not been troubled by the changeable weather – and
as this photo shows, bees love the long purple flower spikes!
Susan Egerton, by email
Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 103
YOUR GARDEN LIFE
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 60 FREE * WORTH
£27.96
For every

NARCISSUS BULBS
DWARF NARCI
reader

*just pay £5.65 postage

T
his cheerful selection of
dwarf narcissus is bound
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and flower forms that will
brighten up borders, rockeries
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8/10. H30cm (12in) S15cm (6in).
Your collection comprises the
following plants:

● 15 x narcissus ‘Martinette’
● 15 x narcissus ‘Niveth’
● 10 x narcissus ‘Golden Dawn’
● 20 x narcissus ‘Tête-à-tête’

Narcissus Narcissus Narcissus

‘Golden Dawn’ ‘Niveth’ ‘Tête-à-tête’ Narcissus ‘Martinette’

OTHER
SPECIAL OFFER 1: TULIP ‘RED IMPRESSION’ OFFER 2: IRIS ‘METALLIC’ MIXTURE
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104 Garden Answers

 GARDEN BUYS

OFFER 3: FRITILLARIA OFFER 4: CROCUS OFFER 5: NARCISSUS

IMPERIALIS ‘RED’ ‘YELLOW MAMMOTH’ ‘SAGANA’

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This exotic-looking imperial fritillary
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This RHS AGM cultivar provides an
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The flowers provide early nectar and
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● 20 BULBS FOR £14.98 – SAVE £5

HOW TO ORDER & SUBSCRIBER SAVINGS!

● SHOP ONLINE visit www.thompson-morgan.com/GA228Z
GA subscribers go to www.thompson-morgan.com/GA229Z
● SHOP BY PHONE (minimum phone order £10) call 0844 573 1686
quoting GA228Z. Subscribers quote GA229Z for 10% off. Phone lines
open 9am-8pm weekdays, 9am-6pm weekends.
● SHOP BY POST Post this form to Garden Answers, 60 Free Dwarf
Narcissus Offer, Dept GA228Z/GA229Z, PO Box 162, Ipswich, Suffolk
IP8 3BX with payment by cheque (made payable to T&M) or
complete your payment details below.

Code Product Price Subs Qty Total

price Title.................. Initial......... Surname ........................................

TCC45572 Tulip ‘Red Impression’ x 16 £9.99 £8.99

Address .................................................................................................
TCC45573P Tulip ‘Red Impression’ x 32 £14.99 £13.49
................................................................ Postcode..........................
TCC45574P Tulip ‘Red Impression’ x 64 £19.99 £17.99

TCJ45415 Iris ‘Metallic’ Mixture x 50 £12.99 £11.69 Daytime phone number ..............................................................

TCJ45416P Iris ‘Metallic’ Mixture x 100 £17.98 £16.18

Email address ....................................................................................
TCF10516P Fritillaria imperialis ‘Red’ x 3 £11.99 £10.79
I enclose a cheque for £ ......................... made payable
TCF10364P Fritillaria imperialis ‘Red’ x 6 £18.99 £17.09
to payable to Thompson & Morgan with your name
TCK46008B Crocus ‘Yellow Mammoth’ x 40 £9.99 £8.99
and address on the back.
TCK46009PB Crocus ‘Yellow Mammoth’ x 80 £14.99 £13.49
OR charge my Visa/Mastercard/Maestro
TCC62653 Narcissus ‘Sagana’ x 10 £9.99 £8.99
Card number...................................................................... .............
TCC62674P Narcissus ‘Sagana’ x 20 £14.98 £13.48

60 *Free Dwarf Narcissus £5.65 CV2........................... Expiry date........................................

TCF81271
(worth £27.96) (one per reader)
FREE FREE 1 postage

GA228Z–GA229Z Total £ Signature .............................................................................. ............

TERMS & CONDITIONS Your free* 60 dwarf narcissus bulbs will be
despatched from October 2017. All other orders will be acknowledged with
a despatch date in writing, by letter or email. Offer closes 14 November 2017
*Please pay £5.65 postage
● If in the event of unprecedented demand this offer is oversubscribed,
we reserve the right to send suitable substitute cultivars
● Please note that your contract for supply of goods is with
Thompson & Morgan, Poplar Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk IP8 3BU
● Terms & Conditions available upon request
● All offers are subject to availability
● Go online for priority ordering! Visit www.thompson-morgan.com/
GA228Z. Subscribers go to www.thompson-morgan.com/GA229Z

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 105

FOUR
DUO FRUIT
to pick
TR
TREES
These superb ‘duo’ fruit trees
are perfect for any garden size.
Select any two and get the
second tree free – save £19.99!
BUY 1
GET 1
FREE
Only with offer
code RGA102
W
ith these specially
grafted ‘Duo’ fruit
trees, you can grow
up to eight different cultivars
from just four trees. They’re
perfect for anyone who loves
the idea of picking their own
home-grown fresh fruit, but
has limited space – because
each tree produces two
different fruits on it!
APPLE ‘BRAEBURN’ & ‘BRAMLEY’
106 Garden Answers
Each tree is meticulously
‘double-grafted’ together onto
dwarfing rootstock by highly
skilled nurserymen – which
means the trees will remain
compact in your garden and
are even happy growing in large
pots on your patio. Because
they’re already trained into a
V-shape, they can be grown
against a wall too!
‘Braeburn’ is the UK’s most
popular eating apple with
crisp, juicy white-fleshed
fruits offering the perfect
balance of sweet and
tangy flavour.
‘Bramley’, the world’s
best-known and favourite
cooking apple, has stood
the test of time for more
than 200 years!
● 1x 1.2m (4ft) duo tree
£19.99 – buy 1 get 1 free.
Item code 300063
PLUM ‘VICTORIA’ & ‘CZAR’
‘Victoria’ is the nation’s favourite
plum, with very heavy crops of
classic red-skinned, sweet-tasting
fruit on established trees. ‘Czar’
produces firmer, deep purple-
skinned plums, with a good sweet
flavour. They’ll pollinate each other.
● 1x 1.2m (4ft) duo tree
£19.99 – buy 1 get 1 free.
Item code 300066
Choose any two from these
four options – all supplied on
1.2m (4ft) bare root trees:
● Duo Plum
‘Victoria’ & ‘Czar’
● Duo Apple
‘Braeburn’ & ‘Bramley’
● Duo Pear
‘Conference’ & ‘Concorde’
● Duo Cherry
‘Stella’ & ‘Morello’
PEAR ‘CONFERENCE’ & ‘CONCORDE’
‘Conference’ is a prolific
cropper of firm-fleshed
fruits excellent for cooking
and eating. It’s Britain’s
most popular pear in
gardens and orchards.
‘Concorde’ bears large
MAIN PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK
crops of scrumptious
white-fleshed fruits, each
packed with an incredibly
sweet juice – delicious!
● 1x 1.2m (4ft) duo tree
£19.99 – buy 1 get 1 free.
Item code 300064
 GARDEN BUYS

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE

2 ADDITIONAL OFFERS
OFFER 1: TREE-PLANTING KIT FOR TWO TREES

This kit offers all you

need to plant your
fruit trees with ease.
It contains two
tanalised tree stakes,
two rubber ties and a
pack of mycorrhizal
granules for stronger
root growth.
● 1x tree planting kit
for two trees £6.99

OFFER 2: BLOOMING FAST ORGANIC

FISH, BLOOD & BONE FERTILISER

Try this natural,

slow-release,
multipurpose feed.
CHERRY ‘STELLA’ & ‘MORELLO’ It’s perfect for use all
around the garden,
‘Stella’ is a heavy, reliable and is the cooking cherry particularly
cropper bearing pounds and cultivar most often used for when
pounds of incredibly sweet making delicious pies or jams. planting
cherries, perfect for eating ● 1x 1.2m (4ft) duo tree trees!
freshly picked from the tree! £19.99 – buy 1 get 1 free. ● 1.5kg tub
‘Morello’ has a fine flavour Item code 300065 £9.99

ORDER COUPON
● ORDER ONLINE www.yougarden.com/RGA102 ● ORDER BY PHONE 0844 6 569 569 (calls cost 5p/min plus your network’s
access charge) ● ORDER BY POST Offer RGA102, YouGarden, PO Box 637, Wetherby Road, York YO26 0DQ

Code Description Qty Price Cost Title.................. Initial................. Surname ..............................................................

Duo plum ‘Victoria’ & ’Czar’
300066
1 x 1.2m (4ft) bareroot tree
Duo apple ‘Braeburn’ & ’Bramley’
300063
1 x 1.2m (4ft) bareroot tree
Duo pear ‘Conference’ & ’Concorde’
300064
1 x 1.2m (4ft) bareroot tree
Duo cherry ‘Stella’ & ’Morello’
300065
1 x 1.2m (4ft) bare-root tree
150051 Tree-planting kit for two trees
Blooming Fast Organic
100046
Fish Blood & Bone Fertiliser
Postage
Select any two trees and get the second FREE. There’s
no limit to how many you buy – save at least £19.99!
Address ................................................................................................................................
£19.99
...................................................................................................................................................
Postcode.......................... Daytime phone number.........................................
£19.99
Email address ...................................................................................................................
£19.99
I enclose a cheque for £ .................... made payable to You Garden
£19.99 with my name and address on the back.
OR charge my Visa/Mastercard/Maestro
£6.99
Card number......................................................................................................
£9.99 3 digit security code (on back of card).....................................................
Start date.........................................Expiry date............................................
1 £6.99
Maestro issue no..............................................................................................
Total Signature..............................................................................................................

HOW TO ORDER ● Call 0844 6 569 569 quoting RGA102. Calls charged at 5p a minute from a BT landline. Calls from other networks and mobiles may vary.
● Order online at www.yougarden.com/RGA102 ● Order by post using the coupon above and send to Offer RGA102, YouGarden, PO Box 637, Wetherby Road,
York YO26 0DQ ● Orders dispatched from 31 October ● Your contract for supply of goods is with YouGarden Ltd, Eventus House, Sunderland Road, Market Deeping
PE6 8FD ● Offer subject to availability and in the event that it is oversubscribed, You Garden reserves the right to send suitable substitutes ● UK delivery only.
Delivery surcharges may apply for outlying areas ● Full terms and product details at www.yougarden.com ● Offer closes 30 November 2017

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 107

 DOUBLE UP for 1p

The best winter clematis

you’ll ever grow Delightfully fragrant
Lush, all year round foliage
Flowers December to February
Customer favourite
DOUBLE
Clematis ‘Winter Beauty’
UP FOR 1 Plant £14.99 - 2 Plants £29.98
1p
NOW
ONLY
HURRY OFFER MUST END OCTOBER 25th
£15
Clematis ‘Winter Beauty’
This superb, sought after evergreen with dense
rich green foliage and waxy, snow white blooms
bears its delicately fragrant flowers in the depths of
winter. The foliage, which keeps its vibrant leaves
throughout the seasons, is so lush, that you’ll think
it’s summertime all year round! The thick luscious
nodding bells emerge as soft pale green buds,
turning white as they mature. Plant this energetic
Clematis ‘Winter Beauty’ against a warm house wall
so that you can appreciate its winter flowers and
fragrance from your window. This popular variety
will appreciate a sheltered site.
Height: 4m (13ft). Spread: 1.2m (4’). Pruning Group: 1
Dispatched as 7cm potted plants
in October/November
Tower pot Supportive frame,
specially designed to train plants
into pillars of colour on your patio.
Each pack contains; 1 black lattice
design pot.
(39cm/15in diameter, 30cm/12in high),
1 pot saucer and a 2 part frame.
Total height of pot & frame:
1.3m (4’). From £19.99
All made from strong, durable plastic

www.thompson-morgan.com/TSOP1799
When ordering online please use order code TSOP1799 to access our special offers
9am-8pm Mon - Fri YOUR SATISFACTION GUARANTEED
Tel: 0844 573 7414 9am - 6pm Sat- Sun
Maximum call charge for BT customers is 7p per minute. Calls from other networks may vary.
or your money back
We want you to be 100% satisfied with any product you buy from us.
Please send to: Thompson & Morgan, Dept TSOP1799, Poplar Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP8 3BU. If you’re not 100% happy then neither are we, so let us know and we’ll
replace your product or give you your money back.†
I enclose a cheque/postal order made payable to ‘Thompson & Morgan’ for £
ORDER CODE
Product Code Item Description Price Qty Total
Name TSOP1799
TJ10048A Clematis ‘Winter Beauty’, 1 x 7cm pot £14.99
Address
TJ10049A Clematis ‘Winter Beauty’, 2 x 7cm pot Worth £29.98 £15.00
Postcode
TJ47569PA Tower Pot™ Pack (with saucer, pot and frame) £19.99
Telephone

Email TJ47570PA 2 x Tower Pot™ Packs (with 2 saucers, 2 pots and frame) Worth £39.98 £29.99

By providing us with your email address, you'll be able to: P&P £4.95
Please debit my: Visa Mastercard Maestro
✓Access your order information online ✓Receive delivery date updates Grand
✓Receive despatch notifications ✓ View order tracking 24/7 Total
Occasionally we make our mailing list available to other reputable organisations. If you prefer not to be included in mailings from other carefully selected companies please tick .
CSV Please turn your card over and write the last 3 numbers from the signature strip.
By providing your email address we will be able to contact you quickly in the event of a query with your order. You will also receive our regular email newsletter with all our latest special offers. If you do
not want to receive our email offers please tick . We DO NOT pass email addresses or telephone numbers to any third parties. Offer subject to availability. We reserve the right to substitute varieties
if necessary *Please note that savings are based on the equivalent of multiples of the cheapest pack size. © 2017 Thompson & Morgan. † For full T & C’s, please visit www.thompson-morgan.com. Cardholder’s name Expiry Date /
Regretfully we are unable to ship live plants to the following postcode areas: GY, HS, IV41-IV56, KW15-KW17, PA34, PA41-48, PA60-PA78, PA80, PH40-PH44, TR21-TR24, ZE1-ZE3.
 YOUR GARDEN LIFE

PUZZLES & PRIZES

Test your gardening knowledge with our brain teasers this month!

CLUES ACROSS
1 Green-skinned citrus fruit more
tender in gardens than lemon (4)
3 Raphanus sativus, pungent-tasting,
red-skinned salad root vegetable (6)
7 Cactus family genus that includes
the edible prickly pear (7)
8 Night-scented - - - - -, fragrant
member of the matthiola genus (5)
9 Euphorbia martini ‘- - - - - Rainbow’,
spurge sharing its name with a
‘royal’ Berkshire racecourse (5)
11 Genus of around 30 species
to which mallows belong (5)
13 Liriodendron tulipifera commonly
known as - - - - - tree (5)
15 Conifer whose blue-black fruits
are used to flavour gin (7)
16 Purple or white-flowered Hesperis
matronalis or sweet - - - - - - (6)
17 Athyrium filix-femina or - - - - fern
with divided, pale green fronds (4)

CLUES DOWN
1 Arum maculatum, red-berried
perennial or - - - - - and ladies (5)
3 Name sometimes given to yarrow
or Achillea millefolium (7)
4 Genus of ground-covering
blue-flowered bugles (5)
5 Bleeding - - - - -, dicentra with
arching stems of drooping blooms (5)
6 ‘Bishop of - - - -’, dahlia grown for

Prize crossword
Solve the clues and fill in the grid, then send it to us – you could win this
its dark foliage and golden flowers
(4)
10 Feathery, pink-flowered annual
coxcomb genus of the amaranth
Botanicum poster book by artist Katie Scott. Entry form is overleaf family (7)
11 Astrantia - - - - -, larger of these
Seven lucky readers who enter our decorative pink or white beauties (5)
prize crossword will win this fabulous 12 Fruit belonging to malus genus (5)
Botanicum Poster Book, worth £12.99. 13 Lilium martagon or - - - -’s cap lily
Featuring plantlife from around the world, WORTH with curled-up hat-like petals (4)
Botanicum is a stunning celebration of all £12.99 14 - - - - - black, world’s first postage
things botanical, illustrated by talented EACH stamp and Nemophila menziesii
London-based artist Katie Scott and cultivar (5)
published by Big Picture Press.
SEPTEMBER CROSSWORD SOLUTION
With 28 pull-out Across: 1 Ants, 7 Yarrow, 8 Olea, 9 Rosemary,
posters, the big, bold 10 Nancy, 12 Neeps, 15 Scabious, 18 Puck, 19 Bidens,
and beautifully 20 Rose. Down: 2 Nolana, 3 Star, 4 Gypsy, 5 Crambe,
detailed images are 6 Four, 11 Cobaea, 13 Pisces, 14 Gorse, 16 Chit, 17 Spur.
Find November answers in our January issue
perfect for framing up
and decorating interior CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS!
walls. The book will September crossword: Mrs S Allen, Bonita Carter,
also make the ideal Claire Chantler and Moira Montgomery each win
a set of Heathcote & Ivory gardening goodies.
gift for Christmas.
September wordsearch: Kathy Tully
l For more on Katie’s wins a £50 Hayloft voucher
work visit www.
katie-scott.com/shop

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 109

 YOUR GARDEN LIFE

Wordsearch G
G
R
E
S
Y
U
M
M
U
Y
N
N O
R U
U
B
E
I
F
V
A
U
G
N
E
R
A
L
Enter our wordsearch to win a £50
Hayloft voucher. The words are all A T M A I M M I K S Q A C A A
plants with autumn berries and U S P H A W T H O R N T N H C
may appear in any direction. You
need to find them all for a chance L A H M U R D N E D O R E L C
to win. Use the coupon below.
T E O M N F N B I S O A H S O
WORDS TO FIND:
H N R W U C E N T H H C C O R
ARCTOSTAPHYLOS HOLLY
ARONIA IVY
BERBERIS MAHONIA
E O I A E R A A T O D U A R N
BLACKTHORN NANDINA
BUCKTHORN PYRACANTHA R T C V B Y P K L E T A I B U
CALLICARPA ROSA GLAUCA
CLERODENDRUM SKIMMIA I O A E Y H C L S U L L N U S
CORNUS MAS SORBUS
COTONEASTER SYMPHORICARPOS A C R T Y A Y A R A M G O S M
EUONYMUS VIBURNUM
GAULTHERIA YEW N I P L L C A L L I C A R P A
HAWTHORN
S A O B A I N O H A M S A B S
HOW TO ENTER
1. Please complete the crossword
I S S U M B U C K T H O R N O
and/or wordsearch grid(s)
2. Fill in this entry coupon A H T N A C A R Y P E R L B J
3. Send the whole page to: November
Puzzles, Garden Answers, Media House,
Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA. WIN A £50 VOUCHER FROM HAYLOFT PLANTS
Closing date is Thursday 9 November.
Hayloft is a friendly
mail order
I have entered (please tick):
company offering VOUCHER
Crossword PRIZE
gorgeous
Wordsearch
perennials, WORTH
annuals, shrubs £50
Name .............................................................. and trees. Sit back
and relax while you
Address .......................................................... browse through
its colourful
.......................................................................... catalogues, picking
out favourite plants
.......................................................................... and discovering
new ones.
Postcode....................................................... Alternatively, Delosperma
search online at ‘Jewel of Desert’
Phone number.............................................. www.hayloft.co.uk
where you can
Email .............................................................. choose from an even more extensive range
of stunning blooms, perfect for a range of
Terms & conditions: Competitions are open to garden types and styles.
residents of the UK only, aged 18 years or over, Hand-packed and delivered fresh from
except employees of Bauer Consumer Media Ltd, Hayloft’s nursery in Worcestershire, you’re
or anyone else professionally associated with the
guaranteed top quality service with a
competitions. The decision of the judges is final
and no correspondence will be entered into. personal touch. You’ll get to know the Lobelia Belamcanda
The winners will be selected at random from the customer care team by name – they’re ‘Fan Salmon’ ‘Freckle Face’
eligible entrants and notified within 30 days of always happy to help with advice, queries
the closing date. All prizes are non-transferable and orders while upholding a no-quibble l Winning vouchers are valid for one year,
and there are no cash alternatives. The winners’ guarantee. Whether you’re a novice or an and can only be redeemed against an order
names can be obtained by writing to the editorial
expert, you’re certain to find something from the Hayloft Plants catalogue or online.
office. The Promoter is Bauer Consumer Media
Ltd. The registered office of Bauer Consumer rare, unusual and exciting. Vouchers can be used in payment
Media Ltd is: 1 Lincoln Court, Lincoln Road, Call the Hayloft team on 01386 562999 or or part-payment of goods, and cannot
Peterborough PE1 2RF. Registered No. 1176085. email customercare@hayloftplants.co.uk be exchanged for cash.

110 Garden Answers

 ADD A TOUCH OF CLASS
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112
Hedging, Trees & Shrubs Miscellanous

GardeningDirectory
HEDGING, TREES & SHRUBS
INDEPENDENT TRIALS CONFIRM US AS THE BEST SUPPLIER. OVER A MILLION TOP QUALITY
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AMELANCHIER LAMARKII 60/80cm transplanted £19.00 £82.20 LAUREL, PORTUGAL 100/120cm rootballed* £284.30 £1355.40
BEECH, GREEN 40/60cm bare root £7.80 £37.20 LAUREL, PORTUGAL 175/200cm in 25 litre pots* £659.90 £3149.40
BEECH, GREEN 60/80cm bare root £10.70 £50.40 LAVENDER, HIDCOTE 5/10cm in 11cm pots £33.50 £155.40
BEECH, GREEN 80/100cm bare root £17.30 £81.60 LAVENDER, HIDCOTE 8/12cm in 1.6 litre pots £45.50 £215.40
BEECH, GREEN 125/150cm feath. whips £39.50 £183.60 LAVENDER, MUNSTEAD 8/12cm in 1.6 litre pots £45.50 £215.40
BEECH, GREEN 150/175cm feath. whips £69.40 £337.20 LEYLANDII, GOLD/ GREEN 60/80cm in 1 litre pots £45.50 £215.40
BEECH, PURPLE 40/60cm bare root £17.30 £81.60 LEYLANDII, GOLD/ GREEN 80/100cm in 2 litre pots £67.10 £317.40
BEECH, PURPLE 60/80cm bare root £27.50 £127.20 LEYLANDII, GREEN 125/150cm 5 litre pots* £131.90 £629.40
BEECH, PURPLE 80/100cm feath. whips £43.50 £208.80 LEYLANDII, GREEN 150/175cm in 5 litre pots* £159.50 £755.40
BEECH, PURPLE 125/150cm feath. whips £74.90 £358.80 LEYLANDII, GREEN 175/200cm in 10 litre pots* £331.10 £1577.40
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BERBERIS,GREEN/ PURPLE 40/60cm bare root £17.30 £75.00 MIXED NATIVE HEDGING 60/80cm bare root - £38.40
BLACKTHORN 60/80cm bare root £8.20 £37.20 MIXED NATIVE HEDGING SPECIAL MIX 60/90cm b.r. - £54.60
BOX, COMMON 15/20cm transplanted £17.60 £82.80 MIXED NATIVE HEDGING SPECIAL MIX 90/120cm b.r. - £68.40
BOX, COMMON 20/25cm transplanted £19.80 £93.60 PHOTINIA RED ROBIN 60/80cm in 3 litre pots £92.30 £443.40
BOX, COMMON 30/40cm transplanted £31.80 £153.60 PHOTINIA RED ROBIN 100/120cm in 5 litre pots* £184.70 £881.40
BOX, COMMON 40/50cm transplanted £39.50 £187.20 PRIVET, GREEN 40/60cm bare root £12.50 £54.60
BOX, DWARF 10/12cm in 9cm pots £27.50 £131.40 PRIVET, GREEN 60/90cm bare root £15.80 £68.40
BOX, FAULKNER 30/40cm bare root £31.80 £153.60 PRIVET, GREEN 90/120cm bare root £23.80 £110.40
COTONEASTER LACTEUS 60/80cm in 1.6 litre pots £57.50 £275.40 PRIVET, GREEN 150/175cm in 10 litre pot* £263.90 £1259.40
DOGWOOD RED STEMMED 60/100cm trans £14.20 £61.20 PRIVET, GREEN 175/200cm rootballed* £436.70 £2081.40
ESCALLONIA, APPLE BLOSSOM 40/60cm potted £57.50 £275.40 PRIVET, GOLDEN 60/90cm bare root £44.20 £192.60
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GRISELINIA LITTORALIS 40/60cm 1 litre pots £52.70 £251.40 QUICKTHORN (HAWTHORN) 40/60cm bare root £6.30 £27.00
GRISELINIA LITTORALIS 60/80cm 2 litre pots £83.90 £395.40 QUICKTHORN (HAWTHORN) 60/80cm bare root £7.80 £33.60
HOLLY, GREEN 40/60cm in 9cm pots £39.50 £179.40 QUICKTHORN (HAWTHORN) 60/90cm bare root £9.20 £40.80
HOLLY, GREEN 80/100cm in 2 litre pots £92.30 £443.40 QUICKTHORN (HAWTHORN) 90/120cm bare root £11.90 £52.80
HORNBEAM 40/60cm bare root £7.80 £35.40 QUICKTHORN (HAWTHORN) 125/150cm bare root £21.90 £94.80
HORNBEAM 60/80cm bare root £10.20 £47.40 ROSE RUGOSA RED OR WHITE 60/90cm transplanted £13.00 £57.60
HORNBEAM 100/125cm bare root £25.50 £116.40 THUJA PLICATA ATROVIRENS 60/80cm in 2 litre pots £52.70 £251.40
HORNBEAM 125/150cm feath. whips £39.00 £178.80 THUJA PLICATA ATROVIRENS 120/150cm 10 litre pots* £225.50 £1073.40
HORNBEAM 150/175cm feath. whips £67.80 £297.60 THUJA PLICATA ATROVIRENS 175/200cm rootballed* £383.90 £1829.40
LAUREL, COMMON 40/60cm transplanted £26.20 £124.80 YEW, ENGLISH 30/40cm transplanted £28.60 £135.60
LAUREL, COMMON 60/80cm transplanted £35.90 £172.80 YEW, ENGLISH 40/60cm transplanted £33.00 £158.40
LAUREL, COMMON 120/150cm rootballed* £284.30 £1355.40 YEW, ENGLISH 60/80cm transplanted £54.80 £250.80
LAUREL, COMMON 150/175cm rootballed* £416.30 £1979.40 YEW, ENGLISH 100/125cm rootballed* £304.70 £1451.40
LAUREL, PORTUGAL 60/80cm in 2 litre pots £79.10 £377.40 YEW, ENGLISH 150/175cm rootballed* £737.90 £3527.40

CARRIAGE – FREE ON ORDERS OVER £60 INC VAT OTHERWISE £11.95 INC VAT EXCL.
(Scottish Highlands/Islands and items marked*)
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HOPES GROVE NURSERIES, SMALLHYTHE ROAD, TENTERDEN, KENT, TN30 7LT
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Miscellanous Miscellanous

113

F
or the past three decades
houseplants have languished on
dining room tables and kitchen
windowsills, gathering dust and
biding their time. But no longer. Today you
can’t browse an interiors magazine or enter
a trendy restaurant without noticing
there’s a huge amount of potted greenery
around. In the curious manner of all trends,
it feels as though everyone has had the
same bright idea all at the same time.
Perhaps this renaissance is due to our
lack of outdoor garden space, or a worry
over air pollution, or perhaps it’s all part
of the retro style revival? Either way, pop
down to your local bookshop and you’ll
find the trickle of new houseplant
books has turned into a publishing
tsunami. No longer need we turn to a
dog-eared, brown-tinted tome
complete with images of lava lamps
and people in flares to seek
out watering advice.
Equally telling has
been the
horticultural
industry’s
response.
My local
garden
centre has
morphed
from offering a single table
of orchids and a few poinsettias at
Christmas, to a tiered display topped
by a mini rainforest with hanging
baskets of exciting mouse-tailed
cacti and fuzzy-rhizomed hare’s foot
ferns. (Hats off to whoever styled it;
it’s gorgeous!)
Even if you’re not a houseplant
aficionado, most of us have a certain
fondness for these plants, thanks to a
childhood ‘pet cacti’, or African violet.
For me it was a spider plant, thrust into
my hands by a local nurseryman whose
premises smelt of everything that’s good
114 Garden Answers
gaRdEn vIEw
“Houseplants are
back in vogue”
Dust off the swiss cheese plant! Indoor
plants are trendy again, says helen Billiald
about gardening: a mix of moss and
compost, capable of healing your soul.
I wish I could tell him what a powerful
touchpaper his generosity turned out to be,
but his tiny nursery has long since gone.
“Someone trapped
the spider plant in the toilet
seat and sent the whole lot
tumbling into the pan”
CHIC & CHEERFUL:
swiss cheese plants are
enjoying a renaissance
That spider plant has disappeared too – a
victim of student negligence, but not before
it reached Olympic heights. It was allowed
to grow a waterfall of tresses from a high
windowsill in the downstairs loo, almost
blocking out the light and turning the room
a delicate watery green, until someone
Pilea trapped its plantlets in the toilet seat and
peperomoides
sent the whole lot tumbling into the pan.
My excitement with the houseplant
revival comes down to the breadth of plants
on offer. You’ll still encounter the old
favourites such as aspidistra, mother-in-
law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata),
Kentia palms (Howea forsteriana) or Swiss
cheese plants (Monstera deliciosa), but you
may also find the oh-so-trendy fiddle-leaf
fig (Ficus lyrata) with its enormous,
heavily veined glossy leaves.
Watch out too for the succulent-
stemmed mistletoe cactus
(Rhipsalis baccifera), an
epiphyte with tresses of
strokeable green
‘hair’. Or there’s the
simple little
round-leaved
Chinese money
plant (Pilea
peperomioides),
like a bowlful of
spinning
plates.
Should you
be visiting your local garden centre to see
what all this fuss is about, may I ask a
favour? Would you also pick up a plant
for a child you know? Find a little
bombproof ‘potted pet’ to keep them
company in their bedroom for a while –
who knows what gardening spark it might
Photos: shutterstock
happen to ignite?
l Helen Billiald is a garden writer with a
Phd in Ecology and an MSc in Pest
Management. She’s currently polishing
her ficus leaves
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I enclose a cheque/postal order made payable to ‘Thompson & Morgan’ for £ Product Code Item Description Price Qty Total
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Name
TJ59632P Nerine bowdenii ‘pink’ 10 bulbs £19.98 £9.99
Address TJ73631P Nerine bowdenii ‘pink’ 20 bulbs £39.96 £17.98
TJ73632P Nerine bowdenii ‘pink’ 50 bulbs £79.92 £29.99
TJ56850P Patio Pot (39cm) and saucer £9.99
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Regretfully we are unable to ship live plants to the following areas: GY, HS, IV41-IV56, KW15-KW17, PA34, PA41-48, PA60-PA78, PA80, PH40-PH44, TR21-TR24, ZE1-ZE3.