Womans weekly living series TruePDF february march 2019

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WELCOME

4 Let’s get gardening

All the latest developments

in the horticultural world

8 In the zone

Julie and Frank Alviti’s five gardens in one

16 Top 10 pollution busters

Expert picks of the hardiest plants for urban areas

19 Ask the RHS experts

Chief horticulturalist Guy Barter solves your gardening dilemmas

24 The natural choice

Easy ways to make your garden organic

26 Bricks & pieces

An illustrated step-by-step guide to creating a brickwork planting tough

28 The stars of spring

Super seasonal show-stoppers

32 Dates for your diary

Get out and about for fun and inspiration this spring

34 RHS grow your own veg planner

A colour-coded wallchart to help you plan what to do, and when,

in the vegetable garden

Everything you ever need

to know about these golden wonders

50 A dog’s life

The best gardens to visit with your four-legged friend

56 The art of science

The lasting legacy of plant painter Marianne North

59 Gardener’s crossword

Put your feet up and try our horticultural brain-teaser

in 2019 It is a new year and a new

start not only for me as the new editor of

this wonderful magazine, but also for our

gardens You’ll find that we’ve packed

plenty of inspiration as well as expert advice

to help you get spring off to a flying start.

InsIde thIs Issue

Teresa Conway, Editor

✿ Remake old paths and mark out and construct new ones An old gravel path that has become weedy should be forked over, large weeds pulled out and a weedkiller used all over If possible, add a couple of inches of fresh gravel and roll well.

✿Wind a small piece of hosepipe between plants

It will help keep cats and birds off your border, as they don’t like snakes!

✿ Propagate cuttings and share new plants with

retrain as garden designers

and they will be creating the

first ever Diabetes UK show

garden for RHS Malvern

Spring Festival 2019.

Both of the designers

have been touched by the

condition and the emotional

journey of supporting loved

ones inspired this special

awareness-raising project

Karen’s stepdaughter battled

severe complications resulting

from her type 1 diabetes,

while Katherine’s father

was diagnosed with type 2

diabetes in later life

Karen, who lives in

Lichfield, said, ‘Diabetes

affects more people than

cancer and dementia

combined, which so many of

the public don’t realise We’ve both watched people we love struggle with the condition, so we wanted to create a garden that highlights the challenges

of living with diabetes.’

The space is imagined as

a small, private garden for a diabetes centre for use by patients, visitors and staff

It will highlight the struggle and journey from diagnosis

to managing the condition well, a serious condition that affects one in 15 people

in the UK It does this with clever design references such as sculptural graphs representing the constant monitoring of blood-glucose levels and a water feature with intermittent jets that symbolise the frequency

of new diagnoses

Katherine

Karen

RHS Malvern Spring Festival takes place from 9am-6pm, thursday 9 May

to Sunday 12 May

2019 tickets are

on sale now – visit rhsmalvernspring seetickets.com admission for under-16s is free of charge. 

3 handy tips

friends and family Layer young branches of hardy shrubs – bend shoots about 15cm from the tips, make

a slight wound beneath a bud on the bend and peg

it down into the soil

Fork out gravel paths

Strawberry runners are perfect for sharing

Planting heroes

gardening for diabetes

a sketch of the garden that will be

on show at Malvern

‘We wanted to create a garden

that highlights the challenges

of living with diabetes’

spring is on its way is when

magnolia flowers appear

in March Magnolia stellata

and varieties ‘Water Lily’

and ‘Royal Star’ flower profusely, covering the bare branches for weeks before the leaves emerge

The pure white, scented, starry flowers are often

blushed and, in ‘Royal Star’, the buds are pink Many magnolias get too big for a small to average-sized garden, but these slow-growing, rounded shrubs are ideally positioned as specimens in

a lawn or border, where they can freely develop

to their full potential without gardeners having

to worry about pruning They also make excellent plants for containers.

at a glance

How to plant: add

plenty of well-rotted

compost or manure to

the planting hole and

ensure the graft union

is above soil level water

well and apply a mulch

poSition: in full sun or

part shade in a sheltered

spot out of strong winds,

and situated where

frosted blooms are out

of the morning sun.

peStS: Use slug deterrents

in april and May and

rabbit guards to protect

young specimens.

expert tip

louise Golden, resident gardener and Senior plant Buyer

at Dobbies, says,‘Magnolia stellata or

the star magnolia first arrived in the UK

in the late 1870s and has become one of the nation’s favourite spring-flowering small trees, with its pure white flowers

in March and rich yellow leaves in the autumn it is best planted out of the morning sunshine to avoid flower buds being damaged.’

Perfect fit

These gardening gloves in

an Oak Leaf Moss design are hard-wearing, and each has a padded palm, adjustable wrist strap and breathable mesh between the fingers They come in two sizes and in a choice

of colours Price £14.99, from good gardens centres and burgonandball.com

Rose ‘Starlight Symphony’

Bee-friendly, this climbing rose has won the accolade of RHS Rose of the Year 2019 for its high level of disease resistance It’s scented and repeat flowering H 3m x W 2.7m, £12.99 (plus p&p) for a 3ltr pot, from yougarden.com.

This annual event is

taking place on Friday

22 March, to raise funds for Greenfingers The charity helps 5,000 children who are involved in the hospice system to benefit from inspiring gardens and outdoor spaces.

There will be quiz nights at selected garden centres, cake bakes, plantathons, sponsored walks and cycling challenges and much more The TV channel QVC is a major supporter of the initiative

The aim of the charity is to provide children and families

in hospices with precious shared moments together, outside in magical gardens and outdoor spaces Several

new gardens are being constructed and plenty more are on the waiting list

Keech Hospice Care, in Luton, designed and built

For details of how to take part or to donate, visit greenfingerscharity.org.uk

What’s new

Sun light

Neaten edges of paths and

lawns and light the way

with a solar picket fence

The 30cm-high x 0.5m-

long sections contain

a solar-powered LED, are

easy to install and come

in a pack of four to use

in straight lines or curved

edges Price £14.99 from

garden centres

Right tools for the job

Burgon & Ball’s container gardening tools are great for

planting, weeding and maintaining displays Priced from

£11.99, from good garden centres and burgonandball.com

A really good cuppa

No wonder the rCup reusable cup scored top

marks in a recent Which?

Best Buy trial It’s proof and the material is well insulated What’s more, it’s made from used paper cups Available in 8oz and 12oz, £11 and

leak-£12, from John Lewis, Waitrose or rcup.co.uk

Safe house

Attract birds into your

garden by installing the

Multi Species Bird House

from the National Trust

The nesting space has a

stainless steel entrance

hole protector to prevent

predator attack The box

opens to become a robin

nester or wall feeder Price

The finished garden at Keech Hospice Care opened in 2018

rostt used plants tt

What to grow in 2019

Feed the birds

Seedball’s bird mix is a great idea Scatter 20 balls, each containing 30 wildflower seeds onto soil or a planter The resulting plants will attract insects for birds to eat, followed by a feast of seeds they’ll enjoy once the flowers fade Price £6 Visit seedball.co.uk for stockists.

new

Taupe is the new black

UK growers are replacing the traditional black plastic pot with a taupe-coloured pot

Currently black plastic pots are not recyclable and end

up in landfill The new pot is carbon black free and made from recycled polypropylene that can be identified by infrared scanners and consequently can be disposed through council kerbside recycling schemes

David Austin, 1926-2018

David Austin Snr OBE,

VHM, the father of the English Rose, sadly passed away in December, he was 92

As a young man with a passion for Old Roses, he also recognised the attributes of modern Hybrid Teas:

possessing a much wider colour range and the ability to repeat flower This was his light-bulb moment, that he had the chance to create something new – a rose with the beauty and fragrance of his much-loved Old Roses but with the benefits of modern roses With time and extraordinary dedication, David created his first rose, ‘Constance Spry’ (Ausfirst), in 1961

David Austin Roses was launched

in 1969 and the company and gardens at Albrighton became world renowned Having bred more than

240 roses during his life he was still passionate about developing new varieties until the very end

Big Butterfly

Count results

The hot, dry weather of

last summer did little

to help the Small

Tortoiseshell butterfly Just

23,000 were counted across

the UK during the Big

Butterfly Count of 2018.

Scientists are worried for

the butterfly’s long-term

future and the reasons for the

decline are being investigated

In contrast, many other

common butterflies improved

in numbers, due to the

glorious weather The three

white butterfly species

accounted for half of the

964,000 butterflies and

moths recorded The Holly

Blue butterfly also did well,

with an increase of 122%

while the Common Blue was

up 51%, its best year since

2010 For more details, visit

butterflyconservation.org

‘My greatest satisfaction is to see the pleasure my roses give

to gardeners and rose lovers

around the world’

David Austin

Easily recognisable taupe pots replace traditional black plastic

T t b

UrtptC

pciaac

Charity seeds

Mr Fothergill’s Seeds has launched two packets

of easy-to-grow seeds for

2019 to benefit Children in Need Sunflower ‘Pudsey’

and Pumpkin ‘Pudsey’ are priced at £1.99 per packet, and 30p from each sale will

be donated to the charity

Visit mr-fothergills.co.uk

or call 0333 777 3936.

Petunia ‘Crazytunia

Tiki Torch’

Give hanging baskets and

patio pots a starburst effect

with a profusion of showy

blooms that cope well with

rain and heat Buy five

plugs for £9.99 or 10 for

£14.99 (plus p&p) Visit

around the world, with ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ (Ausbord) being twice voted the UK’s favourite rose

The Holly Blue (pictured)

and the Common Blue

enjoyed a good summer

In the

8 WW Gardening

Julie and Frank opted to portion up their l

the spacious terrace

comes into its own at

family gatherings

to lawn, with two small topiary yews, a silver birch and apple trees to cast welcome shade for their three children, born during the 1980s.

speciaL Features:

a quiet gravel courtyard with gazebo, a productive potager and greenhouse,

a tranquil stream and pond, a colourful cutting garden and parterre,

a potting shed and a relaxed cottage garden.

aspect: the back of the house faces south.

soiL type: Heavy clay, improved with compost and regular mulching.

probLems: Julie battled with rabbits eating young plants – ‘even if they dislike the taste, they still dig up the plant’ – until her sons put rabbit-proof fencing up around the entire garden

inspiration: Visiting gardens such as the ones

at Wollerton old Hall in shropshire or stockton bury near Leominster, Herefordshire.

Fact file

There is something delightfully

disorientating about strolling along the winding paths in Julie Alviti’s garden, and discovering that hedges and walls cleverly conceal unexpected

gardens-within-a-garden ‘The whole feel

of the garden is not to see it all at once,

but to go round a corner and discover

unexpected, interesting features, or an

inviting seating area,’ she explains

‘Each “garden room” can have a different

planting scheme, Julie continues ‘That

means I can grow a wide range of plants.’

To begin with the garden was more

children’s playground than plantswoman’s

paradise, but as Julie’s children grew up, she

gradually whittled away at the lawn closest

to the house, widening the borders to make

space for hydrangeas, coneflowers, fleabane,

agastache, astrantias, cosmos, verbascums, clematis and climbing roses, creating a lovely view from the conservatory

It wasn’t long before Julie turned her attention to the terrace, and laid the area with random pieces of paving, bricks and pebbles, interspersed with decorative circles ‘We are 12 at family gatherings,

so need plenty of space,’ she adds

Each new area starts with Julie marking the layout directly onto the ground – using pegs and string for straight lines, or hosepipe for curves She then studies it from every angle, envisaging how it will work with the planting, and tweaking until the proportions feel right When choosing plants for a particular position, she double-checks that they suit the available amount of sunlight and heavy clay soil

READERÕS GARDEN

10 WW Gardening

Clematis

GrowinG tips

Julie advises buying a

two-year-old plant in a large

pot because it is less likely

to be eaten by slugs.

✿ Plan adequate support for

the eventual size of clematis.

✿ Plant in spring, with the

lowest leaf joints slightly

below the soil’s surface.

✿ Plant in free-draining soil

with plenty of compost to

retain moisture.

✿ Before planting, soak

the rootball overnight in

a bucket of water.

✿ Plant with roots in shade,

foliage and flowers in sun.

✿ Cover the base of the

stem with broken clay pots

to keep sun off the roots.

✿ If placing by a wall, dig

the hole 50cm away, so

the plant catches rain.

✿ On walls, arches, fences

and pergolas, tie-in and

train growth along wires.

✿ Mark with a label, and

check each individual

variety’s pruning needs.

Trained up a wall, Clematis ‘Ville de Lyon’,

A view of the house from the arbour

Clematis ‘Tie Dye’

Clematis ‘Ville de Lyon’

A PASSION FOR CLEMATIS

Another climbing family –

clematis – also thrives, and

Julie now has a 50-strong

collection that scrambles its

way up pergolas, over walls

and arches, along fences

and through trellis

‘When planted in the right

place, they add a ‘wow’

factor, flowering for weeks on

end,’ she says Her absolute

favourite is ‘Tie Dye’ because

the petals are splashed with

lovely shades of blue, it’s easy

to care for, and makes a great

impact on the terrace pergola

‘Clematis are so versatile,

forming stunning displays

when they climb all over

a structure,’ she points out

Other favourites include ‘Ville

flowers and ‘Etoile Violette’, which bears hundreds of deep purple blooms ‘And I shouldn’t forget ‘Abundance’, which produces many pink flowers over a large area.’

Julie favours viticellas or vigorous herbaceous varieties classified in Pruning Group 3, which flower in mid to late summer, on growth made in that season ‘In winter, you cut them right back to 30cm

to keep them tidy, and they don’t tend to get clematis wilt – a fungal disease that can wipe out a flowering plant

in a night,’ she adds She has come to understand their foibles, learning through a mix of trial and error and

Clematis provide a vivid backdrop to the terrace

Julie and Frank have lived in the 436-year-old farmhouse since 1982

READERÕS GARDEN

12 WW Gardening

GRAVEL COURTYARD

Julie enjoys visiting other

gardens, and it was in a local

one that she picked up the

idea of incorporating circles

into the hard landscaping in

her 12sq m gravel courtyard

‘I took a photo and built it,

but then – having been taught

in flower arranging to work in

threes – I built two more

circles.’ Each circle consists

of contrasting outlines made

from granite sets, tiles, slate

shards, pink stone chippings

or grey gravel The courtyard

also has a tiny round pond

inhabited by lots of frogs, and overlooked by a metal arbour ‘When making a new garden, I always like

to make a seating area to sit and enjoy it.’ In spring the border is carpeted with hyacinths of all colours ‘I buy some for the house and then plant them out after flowering – they come back every year,’ she says By midsummer it is all change, with a gold and orange blend

of alstroemerias, achilleas, dahlias and rudbeckias

JULIE’S POTTING SHED

Many of her containers have been found in Malvern flea market and car boot sales,

where she has also collected the tools and ‘gardenalia’ displayed in her potting shed ‘I have always enjoyed interior design and some

20 years ago I ran a dried flower shop and tearoom here,’ she says ‘I’m always searching for ideas from gardening books, online

on Pinterest and at garden shows, to adapt for use

of my mother – she was a keen gardener,’ says Julie

A painted milk churn provides the perfect plinth for a pot of the petunia hybrid Supertunia ‘Picasso’, while an old wheelbarrow doubles as a herb garden, planted with sage, clary sage and more cheerful petunias

Contrasting shades and

textures create the look

Julie has

an eclectic mix of planters

Flea-market buys in the potting shed

THE STREAM AND LILY POND

It’s eight years since Julie

took on her most ambitious

project to date, designing

a 25m-long stream and

lily pond in the garden’s

furthest, sloping corner

‘The arbour by the stream

is one of my favourite places

to sit, watch the wildlife

and listen to the running

water.’ While Frank used

a digger to excavate the

stream and lily pond, it was then built by Lee Keenan from water feature and lansdscaping specialists Water-Wizard (water-wizard.co.uk), who lined the ponds with butyl rubber A stream flows down into a the pond, where

a pump – hidden behind a giant Gunnera manicata –

returns the water to the top via pipework laid under the

bark-chipped path To help deter algae, Julie has built up

a good balance of aquatic and oxygenating plants

On each bank, Julie has planted deep borders that start flowering in spring with candelabra primulas, just as the moisture-loving, large-leaved plants emerge – hostas, rheums, fatsias, ferns and gunneras Then autumn

brings brilliant leaf colour from acers ‘This area is the star attraction of my garden,’ she marvels ‘I never cease to be amazed

at how well the planting has grown up.’ Near the top, there is a wooden bridge built by her younger son, David, a former tree surgeon who also cares for her hedges and trees

Hostas, ferns, lilies and

acers all play their part in

the lush planting scheme

of Julie’s water garden

The stream and pond are both man-made

READERÕS GARDEN

14 WW Gardening

THE KITCHEN GARDEN

When it came to building raised vegetable beds in a potager tucked away behind a blackberry-covered brick wall,

Julie turned to her son, Kevin, a carpenter ‘I designed the beds

to fit into what space I had,’ she explains ‘It means the soil isn’t compacted by me standing on it, and it warms up quicker so you can plant earlier.’ The timber is treated with preservative every three years, and both the planting and soil conditioning in each bed

is rotated on a four-year cycle The greenhouse is the engine room of the garden, invaluable for overwintering tender, succulent plants, and for sowing seeds for annuals such

as cosmos In addition, she sows a few plastic pots of cosmos in readiness to fill any gaps that develop in the borders ‘It’s especially busy

in spring when there are lots

of seedlings to transplant

I love it in there, tucked behind the wall where no one can see me,’ she says

As well as flowering plants, she also sows vegetables such as

‘Gardener’s Delight’ tomatoes, while salad leaf goes directly into the ground; both red-leaved lollo rosso and crunchy cos lettuces, as well as cut-and-come-again mixed leaf salad

Another recent area is Julie’s cutting garden, in which a paved path passes between obelisks of sweet peas and

beds of zinnias, statice, dahlias, cosmos and clary sage ‘I love picking cut flowers and giving them away

to friends and relatives.’ She also grows a number of flowers that are suitable for picking and drying for indoor flower displays – hydrangeas, sea holly, statice and nigella, all easily preserved through air- drying, provided a few simple steps are followed

Steps for drying flowers

✿Pick early in the day, once any dampness has evaporated

✿Cut flower heads on as long

a stalk as possible

✿Divide freshly cut flowers into small bunches, and tie the stems with string

✿Hang upside-down in a dark, dry, well-ventilated place, with enough space to allow air to circulate, as this deters mould

✿Leave for 10-14 days and check if stems are stiff, a sign that drying is complete

✿Seal flowers with hairspray

to keep them intact

THE CuTTING GARDEN

Salad leaves are grown in raised beds

Julie likes to pick flowers for drying

Wildlife abounds here –

not only bees and butterflies

which feed on nectar-rich

flowers such as coneflowers,

African basil and Verbena

bonariensis, but also a great

variety of birds ‘The garden

is full of birds – all the usual

ones, but we also have a pair

of flycatchers nesting here

each year, and regularly see

tiny goldcrests.’ In winter,

goldfinches seek out the

many seedheads, while

come spring, a pair of

mallards hatch their

ducklings on the pond

‘The water is a magnet for

wildlife such as dragonflies,

water boatmen and frogs.’

Julie is the first to admit

that her garden is no

low-maintenance affair, and

although she takes care

of the beds entirely by herself, she has help with mowing the lawns and heavy tasks But the effort is more than justified by the pleasure her garden gives to her family and many visitors on charity fundraising days Venturing outdoors every day, Julie always finds something to delight

‘I simply cannot imagine life without

a garden,’ she says

‘I’ve developed and planted mine over many years now, and I love everything about it.’

Annuals are started off

in the large greenhouse Take a seat in the

Top 10 pollution resist

1pyrus calleryana

‘ChantiCleer’

Perfect for growing in urban

gardens where space is

scarce, as they’ve a compact,

narrow shape Blooms

between April and May,

producing white blossom,

its autumn leaves are a

vibrant red and purple

Soil type and conditions

✿ well drained ✿clay

✿sand ✿loam ✿full sun

2Buddleja

This deciduous shrub, is

rich in nectar, earning it its

nickname of ‘the butterfly

Soil type and conditions

✿well drained ✿chalk

✿loam ✿ sand ✿plenty of sun ✿bee and butterfly haven

if you’re in a polluted area

Soil type and conditions:

✿well drained ✿lime free

✿humus rich ✿loam

It likes being trimmed and is easy to shape and sculpt

Soil type and conditions

✿chalk ✿loam ✿sand

Soil type and conditions

✿ moist ✿ well drained

✿ chalk ✿ loam ✿ sand

✿ sun ✿ partial shade

✿ support branches

✿ bee haven

esisters Julian Palphramand, horticultural buyer at Wyevale

Garden Centres, reveals his pick of plants that will best survive polluted areas and grow well in most soil types

6GinkGo BiloBa

This large, deciduous tree may not be suitable for all gardens but it is one of the kings of the urban jungle being tolerant to pollution Its leaves are fan shaped and turn yellow in autumn

Soil type and conditions

✿well drained ✿chalk

✿loam ✿sand ✿clay

to a winter garden But it’s

a hardy, compact shrub that looks good year round

Soil type and conditions

✿ well drained ✿ fertile soil

✿ chalk ✿ loam ✿ sand

✿ clay ✿ sun ✿ partial shade ✿ shelter

8BerBeriS

Technically an evergreen shrub whose autumn leaves turn from a purple, unfolding into mottled pink and finishing with deep

garnet by autumn Soft yellow or orange flowers can appear from April to May

Soil type and conditions

✿ well drained ✿ humus rich

✿ chalk ✿ loam ✿ sand

✿ full sun ✿ partial shade

9ChaenomeleS

Also known as ‘quince’,

it produces berries in the autumn that can be made into jelly Blooms from February to May, it has glossy green foliage throughout the year It’s good for training under windows and against fences

Soil type and conditions

✿ well drained ✿ fertile soil

✿ sun ✿ light shade

10eSCallonia ‘iveyi’

A large evergreen shrub that has clusters of scented white flowers which span from July to August Perfect for a south-facing garden, and growing against

a wall as it likes plenty of light and needs protection against colder winds

Soil type and conditions

✿ well drained ✿ fertile soil ✿ chalk ✿ loam

✿ sand ✿ full sun ✿ shelter

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TO: Woman’s Weekly Begonia Apricot Shades Offer, Dept TM_WWLS1, PO Box 162, Ipswich, Suffolk IP8 3BX

Please send me the following Price Qty Total

16811 Begonia ‘Apricot Shades Improved’ plug plants x 24 £9.99

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Ask the

Royal Horticultural Society Chief Horticulturist

Guy Barter solves your gardening dilemmas

RHS ExpERtS

20 Questions

QI want to have my lawn

in tip-top condition

in time for summer Can I

start feeding it now?

AGrass is usually growing

by March and responds

well to feeding Spring lawn

feeds contain a balance of

nutrients, with an emphasis

on nitrogen to promote good

leaves March weather is

usually moist enough to wash

the fertiliser into the soil

without risk of ‘scorching’

foliage However, if the

QIt’s hard to know

how to create the

perfect conditions to sow

tender plants in, what

can I do to ensure I get my

plants off to a good start?

ATender plants –

tomatoes and

petunia, for example –

won’t germinate in chilly

outdoor soils until late

May, by which time they

won’t have enough time

to perform before autumn

arrives Sowing indoors

at 18°-25°C, ideally in a

heated propagator, is best Use pots or trays of firmed seed compost, cover seeds with fine vermiculite (water- retaining granules) and stand them briefly in a tray of tepid water.

Once seedlings have emerged, move to good light with the propagator cover removed When seedlings are big enough

to handle by their leaves (never stems), give them their own individual pot.

weather is dry, slow-release fertilisers that won’t burn leaves are available

Unfortunately moss grows

at lower temperatures and light levels than grass and unless treated in February can become dominant – a

‘feed and moss killer’ product

is ideal But weeds won’t

be in full growth until next month, and a ‘weed and feed’

product containing weedkiller won’t work as effectively until they are growing well

QI use a lot of plastic pots currently and I’m concerned about their impact on the environment

Are there any good alternatives I can use?

AFor raising young plants,

biodegradable pots and cell trays are available Many are based on paper and coconut fibre (coir) rather than peat Once roots penetrate the sides, the whole pot or cell can be planted – the pots tend

to disintegrate at this stage

For term plants, look

longer-reduce plastic

✔

✘

for pots and trays made of bamboo or compostable plastics These should last several seasons However,

‘compostable’ is not always what it seems Many such plastics require industrial composting to break down and it is not always clear how you can discard such pots so they will be recycled

QI love primroses and would love

to start growing some of my own

Are there varieties

I should look out for that are more reliable than others?

AThe native common

primrose, which thrives in sun or light shade, is arguably the most charming of spring flowers, deserving a place

in every garden Cultivated forms are inexpensive, earlier and more vigorous but less dainty Some primroses have exciting colours, vivid patterns

Lawn and order

A strong start

prime primrose

and double flower forms Polyanthus are very similar but have flowers

in bunches on short stalks Although excellent windowsill, porch or conservatory plants, they struggle in exposed positions Exceptions include certain robust strains, such as the ‘Husky’ and ‘Wanda’ series

Helping the planet

It’s a good time to feed your

lawn – but let the weather

guide your choice of product

The common primrose,

Primula vulgaris

QI’ve had my hosta for

a few months now and

I adore it I need to start

thinking about dividing the

clump soon but I’m unsure

when is best to do this?

AThe best time is probably

in mid-summer, but that

is such a busy time that it’s

worth getting ahead by

dividing them now, before they come into growth

Dig up or tip your hostas from their pot and, with a sharp knife, section the fleshy root stock to make new plants

Place each section into a new pot filled with good potting media, perhaps topped with wool pellets to deter slugs

QI struggle with

getting my outdoor

seeds to come up, am I

doing something wrong?

ASeeds need moisture,

air and warmth, the

latter of which can be

lacking in garden soils

before mid-April, particularly

in clay soils that drain

slowly and warm up later

than lighter, sandy soils

Therefore patience is

needed, especially in

wet, cold weather When

the soil temperature

reaches 7°C, seeds of hardy plants will germinate outdoors in spring

✿Once the soil dries sufficiently near the surface, rake it into fine particles

so that a groove (drill) can

be made in the soil to the required depth Very fine soil is needed for tiny seeds but quite lumpy soil is fine for peas and beans, for example Water dry soils the day before sowing so excess water drains away, leaving perfect conditions

✿Using the corner of a rake

or hoe, make a shallow drill

in the prepared soil Seeds must be sown shallowly – typically 12mm (½in) for lettuces, carrots, hardy annual flowers and other very small seeds, 20mm (¾in) for beetroot and cabbages, which have quite large vigorous seeds, and 50mm (2ins) for peas and beans Some seeds, such as wildflower seeds, are raked

in the surface as they may need light to germinate

Being uncovered, ‘raked-in’ seeds dry out more readily than ones sown in drills Shallow drills can be tricky

to make – pressing a length

of broom handle into the soil is a good way to make

a perfect shallow drill

✿Sprinkle or place seeds

in the drill so they are about a finger-width apart for small seeds, 50mm apart for larger ones such

as peas, and allow 80mm for big seeds – runner beans, for example

✿Very gently pull the soil back over the seed with a rake and then firm the soil

so the seed and soil are

in contact by tapping the head of the rake against the soil, and finish off with the lightest of rakings,

to leave the soil level

✿Try not to water again until the seeds come up, but

if rain beats the soil down hard, water again to keep the soil moist so it doesn’t form a hard layer through which seeds cannot emerge

QIs ash a good fertiliser for my garden? I have a wood- burning stove and I’m wondering if I can put the ashes from that on my soil.

AWood ashes are

a useful fertiliser, containing about 3% potassium, and will

‘sweeten’ acidic soils

by raising the pH As the potassium is readily washed away by rain, keep them dry until now, when they can be raked into the soil at about 70g per square metre Wood ashes don’t suit plants that need acidic soil, fruit

or ericaceous shrubs such

as heather, for example, but are especially useful

Making sure you reap – or keep – what you sow

Hosta la vista

QI’ve heard conflicting advice about the best time of year to prune

my evergreen shrubs When would you say is the best time to do this?

AAs long as the shrubs are not harbouring any bird’s nests, spring is the best time to prune them Unlike deciduous plants, evergreens don’t go dormant in winter and winter pruning can leave them with insufficient leaves

to sustain their roots, leading

to dieback Late summer is a good time to prune vigorous species with good powers

of recovery, after the nesting season is over However, spring pruning is by far the best – particularly for species that are slow to recover, such as garrya and holly

You don’t have to wait

to make new plants

Sow in a drill, spacing

according to seed size

Rake lightly so that seeds are just covered

Water if soil becomes compacted after heavy rain

20 WW Gardening

QI’d like to start growing my own broad beans and peas

Can you recommend the best varieties? Ideally, ones that I can sow now.

AGood broad beans

include ‘Witkiem Manita’

AGM*, which produces heavy early crops, and

‘Masterpiece Green Longpod’

AGM, which is particularly heavy-cropping of tasty green beans in long, easy-to-pick pods For smaller gardens, dwarf cultivars, such as

‘The Sutton’ AGM perform well For speedy early peas,

QI’ve recently moved into a new home and the lawn is covered in dandelions How can I get rid of them so that they don’t reappear?

AWhile dandelions may

be good for wildlife, providing nectar and pollen

in spring, they are also a persistent weed with a long deep root with multiple buds that enable any root segment

to produce a new plant.Happily, their grip on the soil is weak in spring and with some leverage from spade or fork they can be pulled up in their entirety and disposed of Inevitably there will be some that are embedded in paving, pots or among the roots of desirable plants Here their resistance may have to be ground down

by repeated hoeing, or in extreme circumstances a drop of systemic herbicide will kill them to the base

for herbaceous borders

and vegetable plots

Treated timber and

synthetic materials such

as MDF and chipboard

should be consigned to

the municipal waste and

not burnt as it may contain

heavy metals or synthetic

glues and plastics that

can be polluting to the air,

soil and watercourses.

‘Misty’ AGM or ‘Twinkle’

are ideal For edible podded peas, consider ‘Oregon Sugar Pod’ AGM (mangetout) and

‘Lusaka’ (snap pea) for heavy crops on disease-free plants

Once the young pea or bean plants are 5cm tall it is time

to make the next sowing to ensure a continual supply

(*AGM = RHS Award of Garden Merit.)

QI’ve spent what feels like a small fortune on houseplants lately and I’m wondering

if there are any I can grow from seed instead?

AThe easiest are the exotically-coloured foliage plants of the genus Solenostemon (coleus) A seed packet often yields quite a range and it is easy to take cuttings of the best ones to have more and to save them for subsequent years

Cacti grow readily from seed, which is widely sold The same is true of succulents such as agave and aeonium

For flowers, consider clivia, with its strap-like

leaves and clusters of flowers on a tall stalk

‘Fairy primrose’ (Primula

malacoides), which carries masses of charming red, pink and white flowers,

is a traditional flowering houseplant and, happily, modern cultivars are free

of a skin irritant that used

to put people off them

Woody plants worth trying – although you will have to search out seeds – include Abutilon, grown for its bell-like flowers, Grevillea, usually grown

as an annual for its ferny leaves, and the cycad

Zamia furfuracea, with handsome leathery leaves

Thrifty gardeners can also cultivate houseplants from the seeds of

supermarket fruits such as pomegranate and avocado

indoor growing advice

how can I stop the moles that

have been tunnelling in my

vegetable garden without

poisoning, gassing or

trapping them?

AMoles can be generally

be kept out by sinking

galvanised wire netting with

a 12.5mm (½in) mesh into

the soil to at least 45cm

(18ins), with about the same

amount of above ground as

well Although the occasional

deep-delving mole may

bypass sunken defences, most

of the time this admittedly

laborious and fairly expensive

precaution is very effective

Underground

invaders

Wood ash improves

the soil for this

Fatsia japonica

Go for heavy-cropping broad beans

Tease out dandelions before they produce seed

Clivia miniata,

or bush lily

Take the fight

down to their level

EXPERT Q&A

QMy pansies and violas are looking

a bit scruffy Is it all downhill from here

or is there a way to salvage them?

APansies and violas are

exceptionally willing and, as well as flowering all winter, whenever there is mild spell they can give a final burst of flowers before summer arrives They generally exhaust themselves by late spring, often falling victim to powdery mildew just in time to be replaced

by summer flowers In the meanwhile it’s worth checking to see if their roots remains firm and

QI have some lovely

dogwoods with

bright-coloured stems

When should I cut these

back so I don’t lose them?

AMany dogwoods, as

well as certain willows

and ornamental brambles

QMy greenhouse is

looking a little sorry

for itself after winter

What can I do to ensure

it’s functioning at its

optimum level for spring?

ALight is everything in

a greenhouse, and

scrubbing winter dirt off

glass and clearing panes of

moss will greatly enhance

your plant growth By April, shading will be needed, but until then the more light the better

It is now time to remove bubblewrap insulation, scrub metalwork and perhaps whitewash any nearby walls Outside the greenhouse, prune back shrubs and trees that

might be casting shade.

A general cleansing to remove debris, dead foliage, weeds that might harbour pests and any cover for slugs will help protect new seedlings

Dig compost or manure into border soils and water well to wash out any harmful salts.

QThere are so many different types of compost on sale in my garden centre, how can I tell which will be good for potting?

APotting compost is

variable as it ‘goes off’ over time, losing its structure and nutrients, or in some cases accumulating too much nutrient so plant roots can be scorched Therefore

it is advisable to buy fresh material whose label has not faded with time, from an outlet with a brisk trade, such

as DIY superstores or busy garden centres Own brands frequently perform well in comparison to leading brands in independent tests, and are often a particularly economical choice

there are still viable buds

If all is well, removing dead and dying leaves and shoots, pinching out dead flowers and watering with a general garden fertiliser to induce growth is justified

such as Rubus

thibetanus, have

vividly-coloured young shoots that glow where the winter sun can fall on them

They lose their colours after the first year, so it is traditional to cut these back each spring

to induce new shoots for the following winter

Cut back too early and the benefit of the coloured stems is lost, but too late, after leaf opening, and the plants are weakened March

is a good time and regrowth will be strong, but you can get a valuable few more weeks of colour by holding out until early April if you have sturdy plants

Bedraggled blooms

Compost conundrum

True colours

tiMe for a greenhousespring clean!

Clear moss and cobwebs

You may well coax

a final flourish Cornus and Rubus

are winter wonders

Seek out packs that don’t appear faded

22 WW Gardening

QI had a lot on over the

winter and didn’t get

a chance to prune my roses

as I usually do It is OK if I

do this now instead?

AMarch is a good time to

prune bush roses, just

before growth restarts after

QThere’s been an explosion of frog spawn in my pond this year I love the wildlife this water feature brings

to my garden, but does this mean I’ll now be overrun with frogs?

AAlthough surprising

amounts of it can sometimes be produced,

it seems excessive spawn

is never a problem, as perhaps only one in

400 tadpoles will survive to adulthood

The rest will provide food for birds, and in rural areas, snakes

QMy seedlings often die when I plant them outside Do I need to toughen them up before they go out in the garden?

ASeedlings and

mini-plants are too vulnerable

to adverse weather and the depredations of slugs and other pests to survive outdoors without heavy losses If treated to its own small pot,

a much more robust plant

Moving spawn, or tadpoles, to other ponds

is frowned upon as it may result in inadvertent spread of diseases

Hatching takes about 30-40 days, depending

on the weather – extreme cold can cause severe spawn casualties

The circle of life

QI keep tender plants

and a friend has asked

if they can have cuttings

from them How would

I go about doing this?

AIt’s perfectly possible

to take cuttings from

tender plants Here’s how:

✿ With a very sharp knife,

cut 7-10cm non-flowering

shoots just above a bud

✿ Remove all leaves from

the lower half, as well as

the soft, fleshy shoot tip

✿ With a pencil or dibber,

make holes in pots filled

with free-draining potting

compost into which you can

insert the cuttings before

firming and watering them

✿ Expect rooting after two

or three weeks, if covered

with loose-fitting plastic bag

or placed in a propagator

winter This retains the pretty hips or fruits that can be such

an attractive feature It’s usual

to prune other roses, such as climbers and groundcover, in winter but it’s not too late now

Ramblers are best pruned in late summer, after flowering

Reducing the seedling mortality rate

can be produced in as little as six weeks Over this time, or from mid-May, conditions for new plants become ideal

Once seedlings can be handled by the leaves (never the delicate stems!) tip them out of the seed tray or pan and place each one in its own 7-9cm (2½-3ins) pot filled with potting compost

Tap the newly-filled container firmly to settle the compost

and use a small stick or a dibber to make a hole big enough to accommodate the roots up to the leaves Firm the compost and water.When roots can be seen growing to of the bottom

of the pot, a weekly ration

of liquid fertiliser will help, and when the potting media

in the pot is firmly bound

by the young plant’s roots it can be set out in the garden

Groundcover roses can be pruned before growth resumes

Cut-off points for pruning

Time for TLC

Use seed trays only for the beginning of their growth journey

Every adult frog has defied its odds

EXPERT Q&A

Insert carefully

into small holes

Send in your gardening questions to WomansWeeklyPostBag@ti-media.com and get them answered by Guy

Growing your own chemical-free , healthy food

is easy – if you learn how to work with nature

and to be more flexible in your expectations

To become a

successful organic

gardener and grow

your garden just as

nature intended, first have

a look at your soil

Muck in

It’s the foundation of a great

garden and it’s a well-known

fact that if you feed the soil,

it will feed the plants So if

you’ve always relied on chemical weedkillers and synthetic fertilisers, now you must harness the power of nature – muck, not magic!

Worm food

To keep soil in good health, condition it with regular applications of homemade compost An impoverished soil not only grows poor plants, but it also fails to feed the insects, worms and beneficial microbes that bring it to life

What’s your type?

It will pay to learn as much

as you can about your own garden soil and its needs

✿ Overworked

Digging, hoeing, and even walking on the soil in poor weather conditions causes harm to the structure, which affects drainage and, subsequently, plant health as the roots may drown or die through a lack of oxygen

✿ Light and sandy

Easy to work and draining, but can be a problem in summer unless you’ve forked in plenty of well-rotted garden compost

well-to hold on well-to moisture, and top-dressed with blanket of mulch to trap it at the roots

These thirsty soils are also hungry ones as essential nutrients are easily leached when there’s heavy rainfall

Plants that are

happy are generally healthy, so to prevent problems, always choose plants suited to the conditions you are putting them in

Survival of the fittest

Keep plants well watered and hoe out weeds, and they’ll be less stressed and a weak target for pest and disease attacks

It will help if you buy pest- and disease-resistant varieties, too – look out for those with the Award of Garden Merit (AGM) by the Royal Horticultural Society

They have been selected because they are easy to grow, resistant to most pests and disease problems and strong-growing with reliable flowering and fruiting

Food for thought

Quick-growing plants such as lawns, roses, fruit, vegetables and summer

See to the soil

Natural

t and sandy

24 WW Gardening

Clear weeds from between your crops

Clay soil is worth some heavy going

Choose your plants

ChOiCe

There are a number

of ways to get around the worry

of pests and diseases without having

to become trigger-happy with the chemical spray

Crop rotation

For starters, crop rotation

on the vegetable plot will prevent a build-up of soil problems Extend this practice to the rest of the garden and you’ll avoid plant health problems associated with ‘soil sickness’ Roses are particularly susceptible to this debilitating disease when they’re planted on ground that has previously grown roses, so in this case

bedding that are grown intensely in an area or patio containers are always most vulnerable to nutrient deficiencies They may decline if they are not given

a booster feed throughout the growing season

Make your own

You can make your own organic liquid feed packed with nitrogen and phosphates from comfrey leaves Pack the leaves in a container, cover them with water and – for speedy results –

a dash of urine! They soon rot down to form a black, foul-smelling soup that needs to be diluted in 10-20 parts water and given to plants at every watering in the summer

Pest control

Natural remedies

the simple solution is to choose another spot for your new bed

Barriers and traps

If you get to know their habits and weaknesses, you could also outmanoeuvre pests Beer works wonders for baiting slugs and net curtains draped over your veg plot are good for deterring carrot flies and pea moths from doing their damage

Natural pest killers

It’s good to let nature balance itself, so consider using biological warfare

by introducing pests’ natural enemies, eg, nematodes that will eat slugs and vine weevils These, along with other products that will help take the mystery out of organic gardening, are available from garden centres

Borage

An excellent provider of potassium, calcium and other minerals, plus they’ll bring in bees that feast

on the blossom

lupins

To increase soil nitrogen and encourage earthworms that, in turn, help improve drainage and aeration

lovage

Planted here and there will help improve the health and flavour of other plants.

at bay, while marjoram, mints and rue will repel ants Mint will also discourage caterpillars on the veg plot and you can rely on coriander and dill

to keep away cabbage moths, while rosemary and sage will deter carrot fly.

Nettles

They can be used to make

a great insect repellent, are effective against mildew and a nitrogen-rich plant food Simply fill a bucket with fresh nettles and water, leave to ferment for a few weeks, then strain, dilute with equal quantities of water and spray on

to plants.

Poached egg plant

Ladybirds and hoverflies have an incredible appetite for aphids and can be encouraged by planting attractants like the poached egg plant

(Limnanthes douglasii)

and dwarf morning glory

(Convolvulus tricolor).

Create your own organic plant feed

Bait slugs with beer

Plant alliums near roses

Repel insects with nettle ‘juice’

Lure in those ladybirds!

our plants

Give roses plenty of feed

26 WW Gardening

1 The trough needs to be built on 5in (130mm) foundations Excavate a 28in (700mm) square hole to this depth Add water

to the ready-to-mix concrete – about two wheelbarrow loads of concrete are needed for the foundations.

5 Lay second layer staggered over the joints

on the first After this and later courses, remove excess mortar from joints When the mortar is thick enough to hold a thumbprint, run

a concave jointer over the joints.

6 Continue to build the container until it has nine layers of brick; make sure the face and height are even by checking at regular intervals with a level.

4 Add water to the ready-to-mix mortar

Spread a layer of mortar ½in (10mm) thick

on the concrete slab.

Position the bricks as shown Lay the first course with the ‘frog’ (a small indentation) at the top, spreading all brick ends with mortar

2 Tip the concrete into the hole, spreading

it right into the corners Level off with a straight-edged board and make sure there are

no air pockets; use a spirit level to check surface

is horizontal Leave to dry for at least 24hrs using

a plastic sheet to protect it from the weather.

Have a go at building your own brickwork planter with this easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide

✿ 4 x 80lb bags ready-to-mix concrete

✿ 3 x 80lb bags ready-to-mix mortar

✿ 105 SW (frost-resistant) bricks, each

✿ 4 Hebe pinguifolia ‘Pagei’

✿ 1 patio tree rose, such as Rosa ‘Sanders’

White Rambler’

✿ 18 tobacco plants (Nicotiana alata

‘Lime Green’)

✿Wheelbarrow ✿ Mason’s trowel ✿ Spirit

level ✿ Mason’s string ✿ Pegs ✿ Concave

jointer ✿ Brick chisel ✿ Mallet

Words: Teres

7 Complete the trough with a coping course,

stepping out the brick by 1in (25mm) Four filler

pieces about 2 x 4in (50 x 100mm) are needed to

stretch the coping over the edges (Make odd-sized

pieces by scoring the brick all around with a brick

chisel and mallet; hit the scored area with increasing

intensity until the brick splits.) Fill the inside corners

of the step with concrete.

8 To avoid having to fill the entire container with soil, make a stage from the plywood First drill five 1in (25mm) diameter holes

in the wood for drainage

Then place the four concrete blocks inside the structure and rest the plywood over them.

9For the following planting plan, the hebes and

tree rose remain in their plastic pots but are set

in the soil, whereas the tobacco plants are planted

directly into the soil.

Place the rose in the centre, below the level of the

top of the container, then add enough soil to sit the

hebes flush with the coping layer Fill in the spaces

with soil, placing the tobacco plants around the rose

Keep the display well watered; use a liquid fertiliser

each week.

This edited extract is

taken from Perfect Pots

for Small Spaces:

20 creative container gardening projects

by George Carter, (£12.99, CICO Books)

Alternative planting ideas

Hebe pinguifolia

‘Pagei’

DIY PROJECT

Tobacco plants provide flowers and foliage

Rosa

‘Sanders’

White Rambler’

Plants for your brickwork trough

Buxus sempervirens

Grape hyacinth

Kerria japonica

brave, this can then be trimmed to form

a spiral shape.

KeRRia jaPonica ‘PlenIFlORa’

Also known as the Japanese rose, this shrub bursts with yellow rose-like flowers in spring.

FeRnSNothing beats a fern for foliage so if that’s what you’re after, then team up with hardy perennials and keep in partial-shaded areas.

nasturtiums

As gardens awaken to shrug off winter’s stripped-down look,

an overture of eye-catching flowers ushers in spring, injecting

beds, borders and containers with colour, texture and fragrance

Meanwhile, deciduous shrubs such

as winter honeysuckle, viburnums and wintersweet bear gorgeous flowers that are also fragrant

Geraniums and calibrachoa are bright pot companions

Osmanthus can produce

sweet blossom

28 WW Gardening

At this time of year, the idea of ‘less

is more’ has great resonance and

the smallest of flowers, buds or

attractive foliage are all the more

prized for their scarcity The loveliest seasonal

planting schemes contain layers of flowers

and foliage on different levels Hugging the

ground are tiny flowering bulbs – reticulata irises, snowdrops and miniature tulips – making greatest impact in flowering clumps Hellebores, deciduous azaleas

or dwarf acers are also good planting companions because, come summer, their leafy foliage shades dormant bulbs

There is a good selection

of spring-flowering bulbs available now from garden centres, pre-potted and already sprouting, ready to combine with violas, perennial daisies, primulas and forget-me-nots Different plants serve different purposes

in a container Trailing plants such as evergreen periwinkles and ivy primarily conceal the hard edges, while leafy ones cover the soil – leaving space for bulbs

to peak and then discreetly die back

Trees

While adding year-round structure to your garden,

a tree’s raised canopy also affords shelter beneath for a succession of winter wonders – crocuses, cyclamen, aconites, hellebores and more The main issue when choosing a tree is to ensure it will not outgrow its garden In terms of size, there is a tree for every space, whether medium-sized such as ornamental cherries, birches and crab apples

or, for smaller spaces, compact star magnolias, vase-shaped witch hazels or cornelian cherries

Containers

When they are filled

with seasonal flowers,

containers are a

wonderful way of

creating individual focal

points within the garden,

or bringing colour on

to terraces and patios

Displayed at eye level,

hanging baskets are the

ultimate space-saver,

with tumbling blooms

and foliage creating

maximum impact

for minimum effort.

Plant crocus around tree trunks to provide them with shelter

Daphne’s perfumed spring blooms

Fragrant violas attract bees

Forget-me-nots are the perfect foil for these fiery tulips

These spring favourites will deliver a show-stopping

performance and a wealth of variety to your garden

Cherry ‘The Bride’

Ideal for smaller gardens, this rounded

ornamental tree takes 20 years to reach its

full eight-metre height Retiring and leafless

during winter, in full blossom it is a glorious

sight, smothered in white flowers with pink

centres Underplant with tulips for drama.

Cornelian cherries

Adding a golden haze that lights the dullest day with scores of fluffy bright yellow flowers breaking out on naked stems, followed by leaves But this is no one-season wonder – glossy red, cherry-like fruits follow in late summer before purplish-red autumn tints suffuse the leaves.

▲ Reticulata irises

A firm favourite, these tiny irises love sun Softly fragrant, varieties range from the velvety blue ‘Harmony’ to the plummy petals of ‘George’

Undemanding, they return each year if stored in a shady spot while dormant The name reticulata means

‘netted’, a reference to the net-like pattern on the bulbs

Heavenly bamboo

Divine in every season, with scarlet berries from winter into spring when, pink leaves unfurl; pretty white flowers open in summer; and leaves redden

as autumn deepens Despite its name, it is related to the barberry, not bamboo There are male and female versions of the plant, so

to guarantee berries, plant at least three

▲ Hellebores

Helleborus x hybridus bears some of early spring’s most exquisite flowers in shades ranging from white, green, gold and pink

to deepest plum or black, often speckled

in contrasting colours

Recent hybrids include anemone centres, picotees and doubles Introduced by the Romans, it’s one of our oldest cultivated plants

Grape hyacinths

There are about 30 species of grape hyacinth – all have short stalks of tubular blue or white flowers with white mouths, and fleshy leaves Among the best-known is the lovely light

blue Muscari armeniacum

‘Peppermint’, and ‘Superstar’ lives up to its name Most thrive in pots, or naturalise readily in open ground

PICK A PRETTY PINK AND WHITE SPRING POSY

Spend a few minutes strolling round the garden, randomly plucking

a handful of blooms to fill a little vase or jug Nearby hedgerows will also yield blackthorn and cherry plum blossom, both with a short vase life, but easily replaced Hellebores can last a few days indoors;

to prevent wilting, place stems into boiling water for

a minute prior to arranging,

as well as pricking the stems just behind the flower head.

Annual violas

Few can rival the resilience and variety of these little charmers The markings

on their ‘faces’ and wide range of colours give each one its own distinctive character Plant in rich soil, keeping moist but not soggy, and deadhead regularly – avoid wetting the foliage and flowers.

▲ Dwarf tulip s

Living up to its name,

Tulipa ‘Little Beauty’ may

be Lilliputian in height, but

the bright pink flowers are

unmissable, especially when

coaxed open by warm spring

sunshine to reveal blue

centres Planted in a sunny

spot, either in pots or

beneath a deciduous plant,

this species of tulip will

colonise, returning year

after year Many miniatures

have handsome leaves

▼ Snowdrops

If there’s something magical

about a green-and-white

snowdrop called ‘Merlin’,

then ‘Wendy’s Gold’ is

surprising for its yellow

ovaries and markings on its

petticoats Later flowering

than many, Galanthus

plicatus ‘Wendy’s Gold’ is

a reminder of the countless

variations found in this

highly sought-after family,

with the rarest bulbs

selling for over £1,000

The scent of early spring daphnes is enough to stop passers-by in their tracks, before seeing the pink, wax-like flowers, clustered around their stems In myth, they commemorate a nymph who was turned into a beautiful bush to save her from a lustful Apollo

Shoulder-high, these shrubs thrive in partial shade, but need protecting from

Dates for your Diar

Viola and Pansy Festival

Essex, 16-24 March

A chance to choose the new viola varieties and admire

a show-stopping display at Meadow Croft Garden Centre

✿Free entry Open 5.30pm; Woodham Road, Battlesbridge, Wickford, Essex SS11 7QU Tel 01245 320 314; meadow-croft.co.uk

9am-Rare Plant Fair

Somerset, 17 March

Entrance to the The Bishop’s Palace and gardens is included

in the Fair entrance fee

✿Adult £6 (cash or cheque), under-16s free Open 10am- 4pm; Bishop’s Palace, Wells, Somerset BA5 2PD Tel 01749

988 111; bishopspalace.org.uk;

rareplantfair.co.uk

Spring Plant Fair

Surrey, 22-24 March

RHS Wisley offers the chance

to meet the growers and choose quality plants for sale

✿ Adult £15.95, child £8 (Gift Aid prices), includes garden Open 10am-6pm;

Wisley, Surrey GU23 6QB Tel 01483 224 234;

rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley

Daffodil Weekend

& Country Fair

Cambridgeshire, 23-24 March

Visitors to Thriplow can admire the daffodils, visit open gardens and enjoy the stalls and refreshments, to help

This delightful plantsman’s

garden is opening for charity

✿Entry £5 (cash only) Open

10am-4pm; next to Ashwood

Nurseries, Kingswinford, West

Look out for spring gardening

inspiration and enjoy a visit to

any of the four RHS Gardens

as they open to all free of

charge ✿Opening times

vary RHS Hyde Hall, Essex;

RHS Rosemoor, Devon;

RHS Wisley, Surrey and RHS

Harlow Carr, North Yorkshire

Sunday; free entry with

any paying guest

✿ Adult £9.45, child (5-15

years) £8.40 Open

10am-5pm; Stone Road, Stoke-

Edinburgh, 1 April-31 May

Enjoy wonderful displays of

rhododendrons outdoors

Bluebells at Wakehurst

Sussex, April/early May

Bluebells transform the woodland at Wakehurst Place

✿Adult £12.95, under-16s free Wakehurst, Selsfield Road, Ardingly, Haywards Heath RH17 6TN Tel 01444

894 066; kew.org

Jekka’s Open Days

Gloucestershire, 5-6 April and 3-4 May

A chance to see the Herbetum and buy herbs from the farm

✿Free entry Open 4pm, tours by Jekka McVicar

10am-at 11am and 2pm; Jekka’s Herb Farm, Shellards Lane, Alveston BS35 3SY Tel 01454

418 878; jekkasherbfarm.com

at the Royal Botanic Garden and also discover exotic species in the garden’s glasshouse

✿Free admission to garden, entry to greenhouse £5.85, under-16s free Open daily, 10am-6pm; Arboretum Place, Edinburgh EH3 5NZ Tel 0131

✿Adult £9, child £5 (in advance £7.20/£4) Open 10am-4pm Picnic slots available during April;

Brogdale Farm, Faversham ME13 8XZ Tel 01795 536 250; brogdalecollections.org

Events and walks

Cheshire, open daily

Explore the winter garden at Dunham Massey and enjoy carpets of spring bulbs

✿Adult £11, child £6.50 (Gift Aid prices) Open 10.30am-5pm;

Dunham Massey, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 4SJ Tel 0161 941 1025; nationaltrust.org.uk/

dunham-massey

Shows and f

Take time out to enjoy spring bulbs

at Dunham Massey

Daffodil Weekend

Morayshire, 20-21 April

Famous for its acres of daffodils, Brodie Castle offers a spectacular display containing 100 varieties (tours weather-dependant – check website) ✿Adult £11, child

Cornwall, 6-7 April

A chance to immerse yourself in stunning floral displays, food tent and more

✿Adults £11 (£10 advance), under-16s free Open 10am- 5pm (closes 4pm Sun); The Royal Cornwall Showground, Wadebridge PL27 7JE

Advance tickets: crbo.co.uk/

springshow or Tel 01726 879

500 See cornwallgarden society.org.uk

Great Dixter Spring Fair

East Sussex, 6-7 April

A plant fair for plant lovers – nurserymen will give talks at

their stalls about their specialist plants

✿Adult £9.50, includes garden, under-16s free

evenleywoodgarden.co.uk;

rareplantfair.co.uk

RHS Spring Launch and Orchid Show

London, 9-10 April

A major show at RHS Halls includes the RHS Orchid Show and Plant Fair

✿Public ticket £8 (in advance

£5) Open 10am-5pm; RHS Lindley Hall, London SW1P 2QW and RHS Lawrence Hall, London SW1P 2QD Tel

0844 995 9664; rhs.org.uk

RHS Cardiff Flower Show

Cardiff, 12-14 April

Be inspired by dazzling displays for spring, from the Beautiful Beds competition

to the new Art of Floristry marquee and inspirational regeneration gardens

✿Public tickets £12 (in advance £15), under-16s free

Open 10am-5.30pm (4.30pm Sun); Bute Park, Cardiff CF10 3EA Tel 0844 995 966 ; rhs.org.uk

Plant Hunters’ Fairs

West Midlands, 13 April, and Worcestershire, 20 April

These free plant fairs offers the chance to stock up for the gardening year;

at Sandwell Valley Country Park and, the following Saturday, Bodenham Arboretum

✿Free entry Open

13 April, 10am-4pm; Sandwell Valley Country Park, Salters Lane, West Bromwich, B71 4BG See planthunters fairs.co.uk

✿Free entry Open

20 April, 10am-4pm; Wolverley, Kidderminster DY11 5TB See planthunters fairs.co.uk; bodenham- arboretum.co.uk

North Yorkshire, 25-28 April

Highlights include floral art, show gardens, planting ideas, expert talks and shopping ✿Thursday-Saturday £21.50, Sunday £19.50, advance discounts available Regional Agricultural Centre, Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate SG2 8NZ

Devon, 3-4 May

TV presenter Toby Buckland’s spring show, in the picturesque setting of Powderham Castle, promises to be a great day out, with plants and gardening products, crafts and gifts, specialist foods and talks

by Joe Swift and Frances Tophill from the BBC’s Gardeners’ World

✿Advance ticket £10 (on the gate £12.50), under-12s free (dog-friendly event) Open 10am-5pm; Powderham Castle, Devon EX6 8JQ

See tobygardenfest

co.uk

Feast your senses

at Harrogate Spring Show

Toby’s Garden Festival is back at Powderham Castle

See Thriplow ablaze with daffodils