Dorset & Hampshire Country Gardener Winter 2023

Dorset & Hampshire

GR O

www.countrygardener.co.uk

Get out and enjoy your garden more this winter

ING FOR W

EN

CO

ER

1998-2023

U N T RY G A

Issue No 213 WINTER 2023 FREE

RD

plants versus the weather PLUS: Your Gardening books for Christmas Growing perfect garlic

G A R D E N C E N T R E • FA R M S H O P • G A R D E N C E N T R E • FA R M S H O P •

Winter walks and looking ahead to snowdrops Why buy real Christmas trees Leaf mould delights

Jobs out in the winter fresh air Phenology - the art of keeping a nature diary All the latest gardening news throughout Dorset & Hampshire

O W T O N ’ S B U T C H E R S • T H E N AT U R E C O L L E C T I V E • T H E O R A N G E RY T E A H O U S E O W T O N ’ S B U T C H E R S • T H E N AT U R E C O L L E C T I V E • T H E O R A N G E RY T E A H O U S E

Fontley Road, Titchfield, Fontley Road, Titchfield, Hampshire PO15 6QX Hampshire PO15 6QX 01329 844336 01329 844336 www.garsons.co.uk www.garsons.co.uk

LOgs and COal Home delivery...Order Online West Bay Road, Bridport, grovesnurseries.co.uk 01308 422654

Letting your holiday home has never been easier

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We know that choosing an agency to let your property can be a big decision.

At Dorset Hideaways our experienced local team is here to make sure the whole process of letting your holiday home is as simple as possible from day one.

Why not get in touch today for a chat or request a free copy of our Property Letting Guide?

Stuckton, Fordingbridge, SP6 2HG 10am - 4pm everyday Tel: 01425 655150

Seasonal Bedding plants for beds borders and Patio pots.

Good range of composts, bark and grits Gifts for garden lovers Hardy Shrubs and Conifers Climbers and wall plants Alpines & Cottage Garden Plants Winter Pansies, Wallflowers, Polyanthus and Primroses Fresh and Cut Christmas trees in season Hanging baskets and Hanging pots according to season.

Grasses, Heucheras and Ferns Good selection of garden essentials stakes, ties, pots, trellis, watering cans

Competitive commission rate | No joining or annual fee A Marketing or Marketing and Managed service Professional photography | Peace-of-mind damage cover No restrictions on the use of your property

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For seasonal opening times please visit our web site 2

Country Gardener

CUTTINGS

Gardeners cuttings in Dorset & Hampshire A LOOK AT NEWS, EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS IN YOUR AREA

SHAFTESBURY’S SNOWDROP FESTIVAL BACK WITH RENEWED ENTHUSIASM Shaftesbury’s snowdrop season is one of the biggest events of its type in the country and the town’s free snowdrop walks, including wheelchair and pushchair accessible routes, can be enjoyed by all, including dogs. For more than a decade, the Shaftesbury Snowdrop Festival has attracted galanthophiles, as snowdrop fanatics are known, from as far afield as Japan and America.

Choice of early spring gardens to visit in Hampshire Garden visitors in Hampshire who want to get out and about to see displays of snowdrops and other spring bulbs have a choice of openings for the National Garden Scheme during February.

A new opening for the NGS, WOODEND GARDENS, comprising TROLLS MEAD and HOLLYHURST, in Woodend Road, Crow, Ringwood BH24 3DG will open for the NGS on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th February, from 11am until 4pm each day. Admission £8, children free.Trolls Mead is a one-acre garden with interest throughout the year, whether newly planted, in full bloom or left in its natural state with seed heads to create an architectural display and for birdlife.

Hollyhurst is a two-acre site of mature trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials, which are generally resistant to deer, created on a freely Chawton House draining acid soil, and also ponds and small sculptures.

CHAWTON HOUSE, at Chawton near Alton GU35 ISJ opens for the NGS on Sunday 4th February from 10am until 3.30pm. Snowdrops and spring flowering bulbs are scattered through this 15-acre listed English landscape garden, with its sweeping lawns, wilderness, terraces, fernery and shrubbery walk surround the Elizabethan manor house. The walled garden designed by Edward Knight, the brother of novelist Jane Austen, surrounds a rose garden, borders, orchard, vegetable garden and Elizabeth Blackwell herb garden based on her book A Curious Herbal of 1737-39.

LITTLE COURT, Crawley, Winchester SO21 2PU is opening for the NGS on Sunday 11th and Monday 12th February, and again

“Plants and animals don’t fight the winter; they don’t pretend it’s not happening and attempt to carry on living the same lives that they lived in the summer.

They prepare. They adapt. They perform extraordinary acts of metamorphosis to get them through.” - Katherine May

The festival week will run from Saturday 10th February until Sunday, 18th February with the highlight the return of the Snowdrop Study Day on Sunday 11th February with guest speakers at Shaftesbury Arts Centre, followed by the famous snowdrop sale ‘The Best in the West’.

There will be family-friendly activities all through the week and the theme of the week has a new enthusiasm.

The organisers are delighted to host horticulturalist, Lou Nicholls, on Saturday 17th February. She will have snowdrops for sale as part of the plant fair in the Town Hall and will give a lecture at the Arts Centre in the afternoon. The finale of the festival will be a snowdrop lantern parade on the 17th followed by dancing from Steps in Time.

Ticket sales are now available at www.shaftesburysnowdrops.org with full details of the festival events and highlights

on Sunday 18th and Monday 19th February, from 2pm until 4.40pm.

This sheltered, mature, naturalistic garden is one for all seasons, especially spring, with drifts of snowdrops including collectors’ cultivars, and thousands of crocuses, Bramdean House also aconites and hellebores, contrasting areas, a traditional walled kitchen garden and freerange bantams. Several seats throughout with good views. Admission £5, children free. Dogs are not allowed.

THE DOWN HOUSE, The Down House Itchen Abbas SO21 1AX will open for the NGS on Wednesdays 14th & 21st February, from 1pm until 4.30pm each day.

Admission £10, children free. A two-acre garden laid out in rooms overlooking the Itchen Valley, adjoining the Pilgrim’s Way, with drifts of snowdrops, aconites and crocus, plus borders of dogwoods, willow stems and white birches, a rope-lined fountain garden, formal box-edged potager, a yew-lined avenue and walks in adjoining meadows. Prebook through the NGS website at www.ngs.org.uk BRAMDEAN HOUSE, Bramdean, Alresford SO24 0JU will open for the NGS on Sunday 25th February, from 1pm until 3pm. Admission £6.50, children free. A beautiful five-acre garden best known for its mirror image herbaceous borders, its one-acre walled garden, its carpets of spring bulbs, and a large and unusual collection of plants and shrubs giving year-round interest.

For more details go to www.ngs.org.uk

Contrasting Dorset gardens open for NGS There are a couple of contrasting gardens opening for the National Garden Scheme in Dorset in the coming winter months, one in December, the other in February.

ANNALAL’S GALLERY at 25 Millhams, Christchurch BH23 1DN is an enchanting Victorian cottage, home of Royal Academy artists Anna and Lal Sims who will open their small garden on three patio levels for the NGS on Sunday 3rd and Sunday 17th December from 2pm until 4pm each day. A pencil gate leads to a colourful scented Victorian walled garden, sculptures and paintings hide among the flowers and shrubs, and there’s an unusual studio and garden room. A mural of a life-size greyhound makes the cottage easy to find and adds a smile to people’s faces. Admission £3.50, children free.

THE OLD VICARAGE at East Orchard, Shaftesbury SP7 0BA is a 1.7 acre and new 1.1 acre wildlife garden with hundreds of different snowdrops, crocus and many other bulbs and winter flowering shrubs.

A stream meanders down to a pond and there are lovely reflections in the swimming pond, the first to be built in Dorset. There’s a grotto with an old Victorian man pushing his lawn mower which his owner purchased brand new in 1866.

It opens for the NGS on Friday 16th, Sunday 18th Feb from 2pm to 5pm each day. Admission £5, children free. Home-made teas in garden but inside if very wet in winter, and the garden is unsuitable for wheelchairs in very wet weather.

Pond dipping, swing and other children’s attractions. Visits also by arrangement 2nd January to 3rd December, for more details go to www.ngs.org.uk and follow the links.

National Garden Scheme to have a show garden at 2024 RHS Chelsea Flower Show The National Garden Scheme will have a show garden for the first time at the 2024 RHS Chelsea Flower Show next May, designed by eight times Royal Horticultural Society gold medal winner, Tom Stuart-Smith.

Sponsored by Project Giving Back, the garden will exemplify the joy and associated health and wellbeing benefits of garden visiting that have been at the heart of the National Garden Scheme since 1927. Following the show, it will be relocated to

Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, to become part of the garden of a new Maggie’s Centre for people undergoing cancer treatment.

With a woodland edge theme, the garden’s drift of gentle underplanting, made up of principally drought tolerant woodland plants laid out through an open hazel coppice, is designed to give a sense of calm and a connection to nature. A cleft oak structure, made of UK grown oak is central to the garden design and to the idea of bringing visitors and volunteers together.

www.countrygardener.co.uk

3

CUTTINGS

How to enjoy your garden all year round with bespoke glass rooms - up to 25% off*

We all want to enjoy our gardens throughout the year, whatever the weather and one solution is a stylish installation from Eden Verandas and now available with a finance deal – Buy Now, Pay Later, plus you can save up to 25 per-cent off* in an autumn sale. Constructed from the highest quality materials and bespoke manufactured, an Eden Glass Room is a stunning addition to any home. With accessories such as intelligent heating and lighting you can spend more time ‘outdoors’ in comfort. Every Eden Glass Room is powder coated with a hard-wearing weather-proof finish, available in a choice of 56 colours and installed by Eden engineers. Visit edenverandas.co.uk or call 0800 107 2727 and use code CG251123. Order now for Spring 2024 installation. *Terms & Conditions apply, see website for details at www.edenverandas.co.uk

Christmas Craft Fair at Gilbert White’s House & Gardens Gilbert White’s popular house and gardens acts as hosts for a Christmas Craft Fair on Saturday, 2nd December on a day which will include a Christmas concert, gifts and a great Christmas atmosphere.

The historic house will be decking the halls with boughs of holly both in its festive winter appearance and through song. Yuletide performances will be given by the Prize Old Mummers and Alton Community choir in the Great Parlour. The garden will be presenting its winter wonders and there will be a wassail led in traditional costume. Entry is £4 per person which includes fair admission and entry to the house and gardens. Under 5’s go free.

Major fundraising appeal launched to save Dorset’s woodlands Dorset Wildlife Trust has launched a public fundraising appeal to raise £40,000 for its Woodland Recovery project, an urgent initiative aimed at restoring and regenerating woodlands across the county.

Woodlands play a critical role in supporting biodiversity, offering refuge to thousands of species and a natural solution to the climate crisis through storing carbon and their potential to limit flooding. But diseases such as ash dieback, development pressure and the effects of climate change have all diminished and divided woodlands.

Donations to the appeal will also help create more woodland on Dorset Wildlife Trust nature reserves by planting native trees and encouraging neighbouring landowners to do the same. Another aim of the project is to acquire more land to reconnect woodland areas to give wildlife more space to move freely and safely across the landscape.

Gilbert White’s House & Gardens, High Street, Selborne GU34 3JH

Harold Hillier winter garden highlights On Saturday, 2nd December there’s the chance to see the best that the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens in Romsey have to offer when it comes to winter seasonal highlights. A guided tour of the gardens will follow a wonderful breakfast of cereals or porridge and a full English or vegan alternative. It’s an 8.30am start and the cost is £28.50p per person.

To donate to the Woodland Recovery Appeal, visit https://www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/appeals/woodland-recovery-appeal

If your gardening club or association has its 2024 programme finalised then send it to Country Gardener magazine at editorial@countrygardener for us to include in our free service for 2024

GARDENING CLUB EVENTS AND MEETINGS IN DORSET & HAMPSHIRE

DECEMBER 6TH Ferndown & District Horticultural Association ‘DELPHINIUMS - A MUST FOR YOUR FLOWER GARDEN’ - BILL HOWARTH Details on 07790 089889 Wimborne Gardening Club MONTHLY MEETING Details on 01202 880116 7TH Verwood & District Horticultural Society ‘FOREST BIRDS, OWLS & BUZZARDS’ - KEITH PARTRIDGE Details on 01202 827622

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Jermyns Lane, Romsey SO51 0QA

12TH

12TH

7TH

Lymington Gardeners Club ‘OUR GARDENING LIFE INCLUDING THE LONG BORDER’ - STEVE EDNEY Details on 01590 672909

Blackmore Vale Bonsai Group MONTHLY MEETING Details on 07837 781744

Wimborne Gardening Club MONTHLY MEETING Details on 01202 880116

14TH

19TH

8TH

Ringwood Garden Club ‘A LOOK BACK ON 2023’ Details on 01202 574875

Petersfield Gardeners Club MONTHLY MEETING Details on www. petersfieldgardenersclub.com

Petersfield Gardeners Club MONTHLY MEETING Details on www.petersfieldgardenersclub.com

JANUARY 3RD

Wimborne Gardening Club MONTHLY MEETING Details on 01202 880116 5TH Shaston Gardening Association MONTHLY MEETING www.shastongardeningassociation. weebly.com 8TH West Moors Horticultural Society TALK BY BRYAN MADDERS Details on 01202 871536

24TH Sturminster Newton Garden Club TALK, AGM & COMPETITIONS Details on 01258 471147 Uplyme & Lyme Regis Horticultural Society ‘CHOOSING THE RIGHT VEG FOR YOU’ - JOY MICHAUD Details on 07767 261444 31ST Warsash Horticultural Society ‘A MIXED BUNCH - STORIES AND SYMBOLISM OF EVERYDAY FLOWERS’ - MARION CATT www.warsashhorticulturalsociety. chessck.co.uk

8TH

9TH

FEBRUARY

Blackmore Vale Bonsai Group MONTHLY MEETING Details on 07837 781744

Lymington Gardeners Club ‘VEGETABLE AND FRUIT GROWING’ - RACHEL FOSTER Details on 01590 672909

Ringwood Garden Club ‘IN PRAISE OF PLANTS’ - DAVID BOAG Details on 01202 574875

11TH West Moors Horticultural Society ‘FILM LIFE & TIMES OF A DORSET RIVER’ - KENNETH HUTCHINSON Details on 01202 871536

11TH Petersfield Gardeners Club MONTHLY MEETING Details on www.petersfieldgardenersclub.com

1ST

2ND

9TH Blackmore Vale Bonsai Group MONTHLY MEETING Details on 07837 781744 13TH Lymington Gardeners Club ‘HISTORY OF THE GARDEN CENTRE’ - MARTIN STEWART Details on 01590 672909 15TH Ringwood Garden Club ‘MERTON’S DREAM GARDEN - THE STORY OF THE GARDEN AT THE RUSSELL COATES MUSEUM’ - PHIL BROOMFIELD Details on 01202 574875 28TH Warsash Horticultural Society ‘WAKING THE GARDEN FOR SPRING’ - ROGER HIRONS www.warsashhorticulturalsociety. chessck.co.uk

Shaston Gardening Association MONTHLY MEETING www.shastongardeningassociation. weebly.com

A happy Christmas and prosperous New Year to all Country Gardener readers. We will be back looking forward to the arrival of spring in the garden with our March issue - in store and online by the end of February. www.countrygardener.co.uk

5

Three main reasons are at the core of the gardening campaign 1. It encourages proper healthy eating

Nine in ten primary schools in Britain are doing some aspects of school gardening

Gardening lessons in our schools

Recent statistics indicate a shocking one in three children are overweight by the age of 11, with a third of children eating junk food every day; meaning it’s clear our children’s nutrition is affected by convenience food. Also, the amount of time children spend outside is dramatically decreasing, in fact – three quarters of UK children are spending less time outdoors than prison inmates due to lack of green spaces and the influence of technology.

School gardening provides children with opportunities to gain extra outdoor exercise whilst teaching them useful development skills.

Gardens containing fruit and vegetables can help to revise attitudes about foods – students are more likely to try eating vegetables they have grown themselves and to ask for them at home.

When this influence is taken back home, it can help improve their family’s shopping and meal choices.

This winter the campaign to add gardening to the UK school’s curriculum is being stepped up as teachers believe it to be the perfect vehicle for hands on learning.

This winter the biggest every drive is being undertaken for horticulture to be embedded in the UK school curriculum.

The rise of gardening in schools has been quite staggering over the past decade.

It has slipped seamlessly into the primary school environment, providing a new and dynamic way for teachers to educate hungry little minds.

The campaign is nothing new-just perhaps more intense and urgent.

This winter will see a stepping up of a number or gardening organisations pressing for changes to the 2024/25 curriculum.

The Environmental Horticulture Group, the newly formed organisation representing the UK’s gardening, landscaping, arboriculture and environmental horticulture sectors is at the forefront of the drive as it comes together to relaunch the industry group with the aim of championing the sector with the government.

For the past 15 years and more there have been some serious support for the way gardening is being taught and involved in schools with the emphasis on children getting their hands dirty and enjoying the pleasure of seeing things grow at first hand.

Gardening covers so many parts of the curriculum, maths, science, art, physical exercise and very importantly, teamwork.

Teachers now believe it to be the perfect vehicle for hands on learning.

It now seems just a question of time when gardening will be added to the national curriculum which is a remarkable fact given it all started from such a low base School gardening in 2023 plays a huge part in children’s well-being and education. Over 1.5 million children in 90 per-cent of the UK’s primary schools are involved.

An independent survey of 402 primary school head and 6

deputy head teachers in England forms the basis for this report, using desk research to extrapolate these figures to the UK. This shows high support for school gardening.

94 per-cent of survey participants agree that school gardening benefits either pupils’ physical health, mental well-being, social skills, behaviour, or concentration.

Despite this consensus on the benefits of gardening, schools need more help. Primary schools typically have just 33p per pupil to spend on school gardening; teachers report a need for more funding, volunteers, and materials to draw upon that link school gardening to the curriculum.

Nine in ten UK primary schools are doing some school gardening, albeit in the curriculum for only 37 per-cent.

Three quarters offer school gardening as an extracurricular activity.

The typical UK primary school has two- or threeyear groups taking part, whilst 43 per-cent offer their programmes to three or more year groups. Although children across all age ranges take part, it’s mainly five to eight-year-olds that tend to be involved.

These figures mean that only around 1.5 million of the 5.5 million primary school pupils in the UK get to do school gardening.

A spokesman for the EHG said: “Children aren’t playing outside as much as previous generations, spending 17 hours each week watching television and 20 hours online.

“A report by the National Trust states the area around the home in which children are allowed to play, has declined by almost 90per-cent since the 1970s; driven by parental fears over safety .

“Being stuck indoors may be disconnecting children from the natural world. In a 2008 survey one third of children could not identify a magpie, meanwhile half could not tell a bee from a wasp.”

Country Gardener

Gardening helps deepen children’s sense of connection with nature

2. It helps appreciating the environment Gardening deepens children’s sense of connection with nature, school gardening can inspire environmental stewardship. Children can learn about water and energy cycles, the food chain, and the individual needs of different species, meaning they will have more of a desire to explore outside. Gardening can also offer insights to the long-term human impact on the natural environment. From the water shortage to the over-use of pesticides, children who engage in gardening have first-hand opportunities to observe the importance of conservation and intelligent allocation of resources.

3. Gardening brings with it a unique learning experience Gardening activities are fantastic for helping children engage in a way that is more difficult in the classroom. It allows for surprises to arise, for example, when plants are afflicted with fungus, how the weather and seasons can impact the growth of different crops and how different insects that are enticed by different plants. These opportunities show nature is in control of our world and give students immediate and personal reasons for wanting to know the answers to pressing questions.

Arboricultural Consultants

TREE ADVICE & REPORTING

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For the latest garden news, events & advice - don't miss COUNTRY GARDENER

CHESTNUT NURSERY The little garden centre with a big heart Home grown plants and gardening sundries at affordable prices Seasonal Bedding, Hardy Perennials, Winter Flowering & Evergreen Shrubs, Trees & Exotics Open all year - for specific times check www.chestnutnursery.org.uk 75 Kingland Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1TN Tel: 01202 685999 Facebook “f ” Logo

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7

BOX BLIGHT - set for a

new wave of destruction?

A series of fresh warnings this autumn have urged gardeners to be on the lookout for an increase in the number of cases of box blight and box moth cases set to cause havoc on the popular hedging plant Other Box Problems Caused by Insects Two serious problems it seems are affecting the status of box as the number one choice for low hedges. These are box blight and box tree caterpillar. Box tree caterpillar was the number one garden pest in the UK a few years ago according to the RHS, while box blight was named one of the top ten worst diseases.

Reports of more instances of box blight started in the southwest in April this year and there were a record number reported on southern counties on England during the next few weeks.

There are early signs to look out for.

Typically you are looking for patches on your box plants where the leaves have gone brown or have fallen, leaving bare stems. Infected stems will have distinctive black streaks and dieback (i.e. are no longer green under the bark).

How can I prevent box blight?

Prevention is better than cure! Propagate new plants from your own healthy box plants and try to keep your plants growing as healthily and robustly as possible, by ensuring they have everything they need in terms of water, sunlight and fertiliser.

If you buy box in, ensure you quarantine the plants for six weeks to monitor for symptoms. This important, as nurseries may use fungicides that keep blight at bay for a short period.

What can I do if I already have box blight?

It is possible to treat box blight, although there is no guarantee of success. It may be better to destroy the affected plants if these are new and you already have established box hedges in your garden.

If you do want to tackle the disease, try a combination of cultural and chemical treatments. Affected areas should be hard pruned and these branches burnt.

Clear up all leaf debris from infected plants and destroy this too. Remove the top layer of soil around the box and replace it with fresh soil because spores can stay active on the ground for up to six years. Clean pruning tools with disinfectant after using them on infected plants.

What are the signs I’ve got box tree caterpillar?

Box tree caterpillar (Cydalima perspectalis) can turn a box plant completely leafless. The moths of this caterpillar were first seen in the UK in 2008 and caterpillars in private gardens here in 2011. The moth is native to East Asia and almost certainly entered Europe on imported plants.

8

•

•

Box caterpillars - try to remove by hand

Symptoms of damage are patches of dieback, which could be confused with box blight, patches of webbing and frass (droppings) near the damaged areas.

Box tree caterpillars are greenish-yellow with black heads when newly hatched. When they are older they have thick black and thin white stripes along their bodies, and can be up to 4cm long.

How can you get rid of box caterpillars naturally?

You can try to remove the caterpillars by hand if the infestation is small or you only have a few plants – you will need to do this every day once signs of their presence have been spotted, and check deep within the plant. You can also prune out the stems covered in webbing, using secateurs.

How can you tell the difference between box blight and box caterpillar?

The first signs of caterpillar damage are nibbled leaves, webbing (similar to spider) and caterpillar green excrement at the base of the plant and defoliation of leaves. Whereas Box Blight is black spotting on the leaves, defoliated leaves and bald patches, i.e. in the top of hedging.

•

•

The box sucker (Psylla buxi) can distort your box by turning the leaves into mini-cabbages.

The insects suck the box’s sap and leave chemicals that retard new growth. It is not usually serious, but can be controlled with the above insecticides and clipping.

The box leaf-mining gall midge (Monarthropalpus flavus) effects box through causing a yellowish discoloration of the leaves.

This discolouration is caused by the fly’s larvae that hatch and feed inside the foliage.

It is, again, unserious and not usually worth treatment.

Mussel scale (Lepidosaphes ulmi) are tiny mussel shaped sap-sucking insects that usually attach to bark, but on occasion will appear on leaves. Small infestations are not worth treating, but larger infestations can be treated with the above insecticides or organic sprays such plant oils. Such treatments are best applied in May and June when the next generation is emerging and vulnerable.

The box red spider mite (Eurytetranychus buxi) is another sap-sucker that feeds on the undersides of leaves, causing a fine white mottling. While the mites are difficult to exterminate, they do not seriously damage the plant; the bugs can be treated with fatty acids and plant oil sprays applied continuously in five day intervals until the all the life-cycles of mites are wiped out.

How can I tell if my box has box blight?

Symptoms of Cylindrocladium box blight include: • Brown spots on the surface of the leaves • White undersides on the leaves • Leaves turning brown or black and dropping off, especially in humid conditions • Black streaks or patches on the stems • For Volutella blight, the leaves yellow and darken to a shade of tan Remember also that box can turn yellow or look sick for lots of reasons, such as a lack of nutrients or because it is growing in too much shade.

Country Gardener

Nature’s gift to

gardeners Making your own leafmould is an organic, inexpensive, nutrient-rich way to make sure your plants will grow and produce year after year.

Most people dread the constant raking of leaves that autumn brings, but serious gardeners relish it. More than anything, they welcome that the fallen leaves that blanket lawns and gardens are just about as important to cultivating healthy soil as a soaking rain is.

Its arguable, but perhaps the most important job over the next few weeks is gathering those fallen leaves, mowing them, keeping them damp and turning them into leaf mould.

Leaf mould is a great way to use the astounding amounts of nutrients stored in leaves.

Once created, you will have an incredibly good textured nutrient-rich compost.

Compost made from leafmould can be used in many ways in the garden: • Use when adding new plants to support early plant growth.

• Mix with other soil-based composts to create a general soil improver for your beds, borders and containers.

• Combine with general gardening compost and some sand or perlite to create seed sowing compost.

CHOP UP THE LEAVES TO SPEED UP THINGS When gathering leaves, it helps to chop them up.

The easiest way to do this is to mow them, which also gathers them up as you do it. Of course, if the leaves are too wet, they will clog the mower up, so try and sweep and rake them into a line when dry, run the mower over them and then give them a soak with the hose when they are in the special chicken wire-sided bay.

A BLACK PLASTIC BAG WILL WORK If you haven’t room for a dedicated area for leaves just collect the mown leaves into a black bin bag before puncturing some drainage holes in the bottom. Then soak them, and letting the water drain thoroughly. Then simply store it out of sight for the time being.

The leaves will quietly turn into leaf mould over the next six months without any further attention. You can also use them in spring in a half-decomposed state, as a very good mulch around emerging plants.

WET THE LEAVES TO ENCOURAGE DECOMPOSITION Leaves decompose mostly by fungal action rather than bacterial which means that dry leaves can take a long time to turn into the lovely, friable, sweet-smelling soft material that true leafmould invariably becomes.

Therefore, gather leaves now, when they are wet or ready to be dampened ‘with a good soaking before covering them up with the next layer.

You can start using your leaf mulch in spring and into summer, applying a three inch layer to your soil.

Leaf mulching can of course occur naturally if you simply rake fallen leaves off your lawn and on to flower beds or into containers. Here, they will compose, returning nutrients to the soil, and providing shelter for wildlife. However, in dry weather they won’t decompose well – and in windy weather they are likely to be blown back around the garden. Plus, if you don’t control their thickness in spring, they may smother the emerging buds below the soil.

Good quality, well-rotted leafmould (more than two years old) can be used as seed-sowing compost, or mixed equally with sharp sand, garden compost and good quality soil for use as potting compost.

Poor quality leafmould, or leafmould that is less than two years old can be used as mulch, soil improver, autumn top-dressing for lawns, or winter covering for bare soil.

DID YOU KNOW? The best quality leafmould is produced from the leaves of oak, beech or hornbeam.

Thick leaves like sycamore, walnut, horse chestnut and sweet chestnut need to be shredded before adding to the leafmould pile, as they are much slower to break down.

Leaves can also be added to your compost bin (shredding is important here to speed their breakdown), for spring mulching.

One good way to support wildlife in gardens is to create some piles of leaves.

Lots of smaller animals will use these as cover or even places to nest.

Chris Ireland-Jones far left with his family who can look back on 30 Gold Medals at Chelsea

Avon Bulbs plans for an END OF AN ERA The Somerset nursery and its owner Chris Ireland-Jones which can look back on 30 Gold Medals at Chelsea is set to close next spring An end of an era is in sight for what is perhaps the best known and respected nursery specialising in bulbs for the flower garden in the UK. Avon Bulbs, based at Burnt House Farm in South Petherton, Somerset and its owner Chris Ireland-Jones have an impeccable history winning 30 Gold Medals at Chelsea Flower Show before they stopped exhibiting there five years ago.

The business will close next year.

Chris and his family started Avon Bulbs in 1990, in an almost derelict seven-acre former dairy farm, a stone’s throw from the famous garden of the late Margery Fish at East Lambrook. The nursery was originally set up by Walter Stag, a former UK representative for the bulb giant Van Tubergen, in 1979, and nurseryman Alan Street joined soon afterwards. It moved twice before settling near Trowbridge on a site overlooking the River Avon, after which the nursery was named.

Chris bought the nursery in 1987, but the site was proving to be difficult, and after the glasshouses were flattened by a gale, a move was in order. Fortuitously, in the early 1990s, Chris was told about a small dairy farm, with seven acres, cattle sheds and heavy clay soil, that was coming up for auction and he bought it.

Gardeners will know Avon Bulbs as a regular of horticultural shows, where it is renowned for its excellent Gold Medal displays. Their snowdrop displays at the RHS London Shows in Vincent Square were legendary – so carefully laid out as if plucked fresh from a woodland floor.

At the RHS Chelsea Flower Show the stands were more luxurious with drifts of tulips, lily-of-the-valley, gladioli and alliums each flower in flawless condition. It’s no surprise the nursery won the 30 RHS Chelsea Gold medals, in addition to Gold at Malvern, Birmingham and Hampton Court Palace.

Alan Street, head nurseryman at Avon Bulbs was acknowledged as one of the best nurserymen in the country and his death last autumn had an impact on the Somerset nursery.

Avon Bulbs produce two catalogues a year - the autumn catalogue published in summer for autumn planted bulbs that flower in the following spring and a spring catalogue published in winter for bulbs to plant in early spring that flower mainly in the summer.

Said Chris: “It has been a tricky decision to make but this will be the last autumn catalogue that we produce with things as they are. There will be another spring catalogue early next year but that will mark the end of Avon Bulbs as it is.

“Avon Bulbs has provided us with a reasonable living and gainful and I hope rewarding work for those employed here. We have a very loyal and tolerant lot of customers who I hope know we try hard to produce and sell interesting plants and bulbs at reasonable cost but as importantly – in a slightly old fashioned way that I hope is ethical and honest.

“We are not closing for commercial reasons – we are solvent and work continues with the next season in mind. In past years we have sold a proportion of our ‘crop’ and either left a proportion to grow for a future harvest or replanted the ‘offsets’ (the smaller bulbs) so that they may be harvested another year when bigger. This year there is less of a requirement to do that. Consequently, we may have larger stocks of what we grow ourselves to sell, or have a surplus of bulbs of a smaller size than we normally send out”.

www.avonbulbs.co.uk 9

READERS LETTERS

Have your say...

A new gardening season welcomes a great batch of letters from our readers. If you have any thoughts, ideas, issues you’d like to share then write to us at Country Gardener, Mount House, Halse, Taunton, Somerset TA4 3AD or email editorial@countrygardener.co.uk

Wild teasel was never used in wool industry In the November issue of your magazine an article by Diane Redfern gave us some information on teasels.

The plant, as illustrated, which is the ‘wild teasel’, was never used in the wool industry. Though it is often called ‘The Fuller's Teasel’ and misleadingly given the botanical name of Dipsacus fullonum that is only because of a silly mistake made by the Dried seed heads - D sativus botanists who chose the name. The teasel used on left and D fullonum on in the woollen cloth industry to ‘raise the nap’ on right. Note the difference finished material, prior to shearing, was Dipsacus in the hooks sativus - sometimes called ‘The IndianTeasel’. This variety has very different hooks which are recurved at the ends and so face downwards. The proper teasel was grown widely in many parts of the west of England at the height of the wool industry and exported to Yorkshire and the Continent. The seed heads of the ordinary, wild teasel would be of no use whatsoever in the industry. Both species are to be seen at RHS Rosemoor where they are properly identified. I have for many years grown two or three plants in my Somerset garden but it is very rare to find them growing elsewhere. Google Dipsacus sativus to find out more.

Paul Pickering via email

BONFIRES ARE AT BEST THOUGHTLESS Your November article about banning bonfires was so well received by my wife and I who seem to be surrounded by gardeners who take delight almost every weekend in lighting bonfires and burning wet leaves and garden rubble which causes huge amounts of smoke. It’s all so unnecessary and I don’t think should be in the true gardeners’ options. Let what you can decompose and chip the rest to make important mulch.

A ban will never happen of course, but I have written several times to the council and sent photographic evidence of smoke across our garden on lovely September afternoons. It is thoughtless at best.

Annie Thorson Cullompton The weekend bonfire lighter

I would sign up to ban bonfires at a moment’s notice. This year has been the worst ever. I think my neighbour who doesn’t garden a lot during the week gets out at the weekend and likes the ritual of a bonfire, mostly on Saturday afternoons and doesn’t take any regard of changing wind direction.

The result is pollution and drifts of smoke over our garden.

Rob Coutts by email

Garden waste costs £55 to take away I pay my twice a week gardener to clear rubbish and tidy up the garden and he has a bonfire once a month. He is responsible, checks whether the wind direction will harm my neighbours and tries only to burn dry garden waste.

What is the alternative? Our council in Somerset changes £55 for garden waste to be removed.

Georgia Taylor South Petherton

Rewilding - a success story Since I put a wildflower lawn in my garden we are seeing so much more wildlife and I find it amazing. Hedgehogs, hoverflies, many different types of bees, wonderfully colourful butterflies and even for the first time dragon flies.

Bryony Hall Petersfield

10

REWILDING ISN’T JUST LETTING YOUR GARDEN GO FERAL Rewilding is a very topical subject.Proper gardeners generally understand that rewilding needs to be managed; there are others, not very interested in gardening, who think that it means do nothing and let the garden go feral. I live next door to one. This garden is a sea of browning grass showing little sign of biodiversity. A wild garden can be beautiful but many are not and I find this very sad.

Rewilding to me is about promoting organic gardening and planting for wildlife and biodiversity.

My own suburban garden is buzzing with bees and butterflies and a variety of other insects. I mow my lawn, which is full of clover that the bees love and the mower is set high enough not to deadhead the flowers. The surrounding borders are planted with a mixture of native wildflowers an native and non-native perennials and shrubs, most of which attract pollinators. I have a small pond, log pile, two compost bins, a clump of nettles and other caterpillar food plants. But I do like structure in my garden to showcase the plants. Is this approach now so wrong and behind the times?

Donna Taylor via email

It’s all in the spelling Our gardening club speaker caused a bit of a furore the other night by saying we were all spelling wisteria for the popular climbing plant wrongly. He was a rather old fashioned former head gardener and said the plant was named by Caspar Wistar so wistaria makes Caspar Wistar sense. He was met by a lot of disbelief. I have been doing research and found that the plant was named by Thomas Nuttall in honour of Caspar Wistar. However, Nuttall knew the Wistar family well and told a close friend that wisteria was more pleasing to the ear than wistaria. So gardening club one, speaker nil!

Jennifer Margrave Minehead

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY DEAR PLANT One of my beloved houseplants has just celebrated a special anniversary. I have owned my aloe plant now for 40 years.

It spent the first 30 years living on top of a cupboard in a dark room in our Devon cottage with only a little light. When we moved to a more modern home with more light we put the plant in a south facing conservatory and it has thrived. It produced its first flowers last spring. I suppose if nothing else it proves that if you give a plant the right environment it will thrive.

Kay Vaughan via email Country Gardener

REFUGE FROM THE SPRING WIND Last year I planted an early flowering narcissus called 'Tamara’.

In one of the first flowers this spring I saw a bumblebee buzzing about as if it was stuck in the narrow trumpet while collecting pollen. I left it to make its own escape, then in a nearby pot I saw two more bumblebees each ensconced in its own trumpet. It seemed they were taking refuge from the cold wind, choosing flowers pointing away from the wind . I have been a gardener now for 35 years and things like this never seem to amaze me about monitoring nature. The bees took off later to get on with their daily business.

Mick Strawn

Exmouth

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CHRISTMAS gardening books Autumn this year has seen what seems to be an unusually high number of specialist gardening books to arrive in time for Christmas purchases. The scope is bewildering and the choices so difficult but Country Gardener has selected a half dozen books which have caught our eye.

‘Planting a Paradise’ by Arthur Parkinson The much anticipated fourth book by Arthur Parkinson is an entertaining first-hand account of growing quick and easy container displays. His approach is sustainable, seasonal, theatrical and organic. He loves a variety of plants, including bulbs, annuals, dahlias, salvias, violas, roses, herbs – and discusses the best things to grow for wildlife. Written, illustrated and photographed by the author, the book captures the many terracotta and galvanised metal pots in his own garden studio, and embellishes the chapters with butterfly artworks.

With its multiple recipes for bulb lasagne, this book won’t fail to charm container-gardeners.

Published by Kyle Books | 208 pages | RRP £22

‘The Green Gardening Handbook’

by Nancy Birtwhistle Former Great British Bake-Off winner Nancy Birtwhistle goes through her lifestyle choices spanning fridge storage solutions, to what to wear when gardening. It’s a good read through the edible garden, which mixes sustainable hints, household tips and, as you’d expect, quick and tasty recipes. Warmly encouraging and bursting with good sense, there’s a lot to takeaway from Nancy’s ‘good life’ garden, which she shares with her husband, dogs and hens.

Published by One Boat | 336 pages | RRP £14.99

‘Why Women Grow’ by Alice Vincent In Why Women Grow, author Alice Vincent asks 50 women what drew them to gardening, and the reasons are as affecting to the reader as the author. It’s beautifully illustrated and thoughtful.

However, the important truths within Alice Vincent’s book will stay with you long after you’ve put it down.

Published by Canongate | 286 pages | RRP £16.99

‘A Year Full of Veg’ by Sarah Raven Sarah Raven’s advice reveals her vast knowledge and experience. Her crop choices are simple: grow what’s delicious; pick what you can’t buy; favour cut-and-come-again crops; and avoid anything fussy. She recommends growing these vegetables organically using a two-season, no-dig system to harvest all year round. This rare book is both beautiful and practical with the potential to inspire a new generation of growers.

Published by Bloomsbury | 384 pages | RRP £27

‘RHS Garden Almanac 2024’

by Royal Horticultural Society (Hardback) Wander through 2024 with the RHS Garden Almanac - a seasonal guide to growing, harvesting and grounding yourself in nature. This is the first garden almanac from the renowned Royal Horticultural Society, filled with practical tips and advice on what to do in your garden in each month of the year and how best to enjoy nature and the changing seasons. Packed full of authoritative gardening advice and clear photographs, it is also enhanced by beautiful illustrations from much-loved artist Angela Harding. Each month includes tables of information about sunrise, sunset, moonrise and rainfall, as well as information on what needs doing in the garden, what challenges to expect and what plants and wildlife to look out for.

Publisher by Oneworld Publications | 256 pages | RRP £14.99

‘Garden Planting by the Moon’ by Lynn Page You won’t have to get up in the middle of the night to sow your carrots! Country folk – and repeat buyers of this book, which has been published annually for over 30 years – know that planning their work in harmony with the rhythms of the moon produces better crops. It’s that easy. They get higher yields and better flavour in vegetables. Flowers produce stronger displays and heightened colour. This gardening guide computes everything you need to know about the daily influence of the moon and the planets. With its 15-month daily calendar, it creates an essential timetable for the year ahead and is also a fine means of selfdiscipline for keen gardeners.

Published by W. Foulsham | RRP £9.95 12

READER’S STORY

CHRISTMAS TREES: THE REAL V

ARTIFICIAL DEBATE

James Porter says he can speak from a position of experience when it comes to arguing that the eco benefits of buying a real Christmas tree are very powerful For the first 20 something years of my life, real Christmas trees were the only option I ever knew. And frankly, artificial trees were so depressingly plastic-looking back then, I’m glad it was never an issue for my family. I continued with real trees for the next ten years of my adult life.

Then something happened. We bought a house that had a very tall ceiling and screamed for a tree that was nearly as tall. But after one year of spending nearly £200 on a 12-foot real tree, I knew something had to change.

It didn’t take a maths wizard to understand how quickly one can go broke paying for £200 trees each year when fake trees look so realistic. Besides, they come prelit, assemble in three easy pieces and store in a sturdy cardboard box. Within two years, they pay for themselves.

We did our shopping, found an artificial tree we liked and made the investment.

I felt pretty good about knowing I’d never have to buy another ‘throw-away’ tree again and I’d be doing something good for the environment too.

Then came the move to Somerset and with it, a house with no ceiling taller than nine feet. Now living in the land of Christmas tree suppliers and farms galore, what do we do this time?

Actually, the decision was easy. Over the previous year, I had researched a lot about various aspects of living a more eco-friendly life.

Artificial trees never biodegrade One of the most common reasons for buying an artificial tree is their longevity.

Although artificial trees can last for years, eventually they are discarded where they remain in a landfill forever more. Fake trees are non-biodegradable so they never break down.

Real trees are good for the garden After the season, real trees can be hauled to the back garden as a mini-habitat or it can be ground and used as valuable mulch to retain moisture and improve soil conditions. But in all cases, it is 100per-cent biodegradable.

Artificial trees include potentially harmful material Part of what makes artificial trees so sturdy are the components used in their construction. PVC plastics are made from petroleum by-products, heavy metals are used to stabilise the plastics and the metal branches are mined from the earth.

Warning labels are even required on artificial trees to alert users of the potential risk of hazardous materials.

Real trees are good for the environment At any moment, there are hundreds of thousands of real Christmas trees growing for future harvest that otherwise would not be there. While growing, they’re absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, stabilising soil and providing habitats for wildlife. As trees are harvested, new trees are planted to take their place. And unlike artificial trees, real trees can often be purchased locally and support the local community.

Artificial trees are imported thousands of miles Buying local and supporting area businesses doesn’t apply to artificial trees. Most are made in China, shipped and then travel many more miles to reach their destination.

Now, having pretty much bashed the argument in favour of artificial trees as better for the environment, I certainly recognise there are circumstances where they are more appropriate. Sometimes an artificial tree is the only chance at having any representation of the real thing and I appreciate and respect that. However, when the opportunity presents itself for those that do have an option, think twice before opting for artificial Christmas trees as the greener option, because they’re not.

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WINTER WALKS

SNOWDROPS AND THE SYMBOL OF LIFE RETURNING It remains one of the first sights of spring and it certainly it won’t be long before we all get the chance to get out and enjoy the arrival of these hardy delicate flowers which continue to arouse such affection Is there a more refreshing sight in winter than seeing a tiny snowdrop flower poking its head up through the leaves?

Snowdrops are a symbol of life returning in the midst of winter, and a reminder that spring will soon be returning.

The snowdrop may appear delicate, but it is a hardy plant, surviving snowfall and cold temperatures. Its Latin classification, Galanthus nivalis, literally means ‘milk flower of the snow’.

The dangling white flower is an instantly recognisable spring sight in gardens, parks and woodland right across the UK. From January to March and even later in some cases these plants emerge from the frozen soil and come into flower.

Because they are one of the earliest flowering plants to bloom in Britain, snowdrops are often considered a sign of warmer weather ahead and bring the promise of spring.

Although considered a British plant it is possible that our snowdrop is in fact not native at all, as no known record of the species exists here before the late 1700s. Snowdrops are not native to the UK, although exactly when they were introduced is unclear. It’s thought they may have been grown as an ornamental garden plant as early as the 16th century, but were not recorded in the wild until the late 18th century.

The snowdrop’s native range is mainland Europe.

Winter gardens are also much more than just snowdrops and the combination of bright winter days and garden walks are one of the great temptations of the winter months ahead.

Batsford Arboretum

Colesbourne Park - the acknowledged ‘home of snowdrops’ Started by Henry John Elwes FRS with the magnificent Galanthus elwesii, the historic snowdrop collection at Colesbourne Park is the acknowledged home of snowdrops in England. The gardens, restored by Henry Elwes and his wife, have around 350 varieties mixed with aconites, cyclamen, iris, snowflakes, hellebores and winter flowering shrubs.

Visitors can walk beside the beautiful blue lake and along woodland paths of the ten-acre gardens.The gardens are open every weekend in February. Plant sales available. Pre-booked exclusive guided tours also available – contact to find out more.

Colesbourne Park is halfway between Cheltenham and Cirencester on the A435.

Colesbourne Park

Colesbourne Park, Colesbourne, Cheltenham GL53 9NP www.colesbournegardens.org.uk

TREASURE BOX GARDEN AT OLD COURT NURSERIES A visit to The Picton Garden at Old Court Nurseries in February allows visitors to explore this treasure box garden at the very beginning of the gardening year. Over 300 varieties of snowdrops can be found as you meander around

the garden, vast swathes light up the borders, and dainty clumps punctuate carpets of purple crocus and vibrant pink cyclamen. Hellebores and other spring gems catch the eye while the bright coloured stems of cornus and birch lift the subtle winter flowering shrubs that bring delicious scent to this fascinating garden.

Tel: 01684 540416 www.autumnasters.co.uk

snowdrops at Kingston Lacy Thousands of naturalised bulbs, with more than 40 varieties to see. Take a winter’s walk into spring.

nationaltrust.org.uk/kingston-lacy

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© National Trust 2023. Registered Charity no. 205846. © National Trust Images/Clare Gascoigne

Heralds of spring…

Snowdrop

FESTIVAL

10th - 18th February 2024 35+ events from lectures & workshops to artisan & plant markets plus family-friendly activities Facebook “f ” Logo

FIND OUT MORE CMYK / .ai

Facebook “f ” Logo

CMYK / .ai

@SHAFTESBURYSNOWDROPS TOURIST INFORMATION HUB 01747 859997

Visit the beautiful cottage garden of gardening legend Margery Fish in February to enjoy the: * Snowdrop Ditch * Snowdrop displays * Snowdrop tours * Snowdrop sculptures * Snowdrops for sale

BEST OF THE WEST RARE SNOWDROP SALE

Sunday 11th February 2pm - 4pm Town Hall High Street SP7 8LY

www.shaftesburysnowdrops.org

Come and visit our RHS partner garden.

Enjoy light bites and refreshments from the Tea Room, buy plants from our Nursery, or simply explore the beautiful gardens – there is plenty to see and do!

Scan the QR code for more information.

T J US TE S U IN HE 4 M OM T F R A303 H T

OU AT S ERTON H PET

Festival of Snowdrops 1st to 29th February

Over 140 varieties of snowdrop with many rare snowdrops for sale Garden, café and nursery open Tues- Sun | 10am-5pm Garden entry £7.00 | Groups £6.50 | Under 16s free Snowdrop tours £4.00 East Lambrook | South Petherton | Somerset | TA13 5HH 01460 240328 | enquiries@eastlambrook.com

walledgardens@btc.ac.uk

Book at eastlambrook.com or pay on arrival

Old Court Nurseries & The Picton Garden The Michaelmas Daisy Specialists since 1906

It’s a great time to plan your 2024 autumn displays MAIL ORDER CATALOGUE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST OR ORDER ONLINE www.autumnasters.co.uk for delivery in May.

Please ask to go on our snowdrop list and be among the first to see what we have available.

Snowdrops - A Dangerous Introduction! Join us on 10th February 2024 for this fun and informative 1/2 day workshop. £15pp, pre-booking essential.

OPEN FROM FEBRUARY, THURSDAY-SATURDAY, 11AM-4PM AND FOR THE NGS ON SUNDAY 25TH FEBRUARY.

Tel: 01684 540416 www.autumnasters.co.uk Old Court Nurseries, Walwyn Road, Colwall WR13 6QE www.countrygardener.co.uk

15

WINTER WALKS

Snowdrop heaven at East Lambrook Manor Gardens Throughout February the famous cottage garden at East Lambrook Manor in Somerset will be celebrating the snowdrop season again with its annual Festival of Snowdrops. It’s a chance to stroll through the winter garden and enjoy the wonderful collection of unusual snowdrops.

Cottage garden doyenne and avid ‘galanthophile’ Margery Fish and her husband Walter turned the drainage channel betweeen two orchards into the pefect place for planting her growing collection of snowdrops in the 1940’s and the bulbs have thrived there ever since. “It gladdens the heart to see the snowdrops lining the banks of the famous Ditch in this gem of a garden,” says owner Mike Werkmeister.

The garden has a collection of around 140 named varieties and many of these are used to make a special display in a raised bed enabling visitors to appreciate the subtle and often not so subtle difference between them.

Visitors can join a snowdrop tour to learn about the genus and see some of the more unusual snowdrops in the garden. Around 80 varieties will be on sale in the nursery along with hellebores and other spring bulbs and plants.

Sculptor Chris Kampf will again be exhibiting his popular steel snowdrops.

The garden is open Tuesday to Sunday throughout the festival from 10am to 5pm. Garden entry £7, groups £6.50, under 16s free. Tours £4. The annual NGS Snowdrop Open Day is on Thursday 15th February, with all entry money going to charity. RHS members have free entry on Wednesdays. No charge if just visiting the café or nursery.

40 SNOWDROP VARIETIES BLOOM THROUGHOUT KINGSTON LACY SEASON From heart-lifting beauty to food source for early bees, there are many reasons to grow snowdrops. At Kingston Lacy you can see more than 40 varieties blooming throughout the season, starting with one of the earliest – ‘Three Ships’ is often in flower on Christmas Day. These hardy little bulbs suit many different situations in the garden.

They are grown in the Victorian Fernery, nestled in between sleeping tree ferns and accompanied by Cyclamen coum; along Lime Avenue and in Nursery Wood where there are carpets of the classic Galanthas nivalis; and throughout the Japanese Garden, where the yellow stems of bamboo set off the white of the nodding flowers.

Snowdrops were first mass planted at Kingston Lacy in the early 1900s by Henrietta Bankes (1867-1953), a passionate horticulturalist who developed the kitchen garden and planned the first Japanese Garden at Kingston Lacy.

Check the website at www.nationaltrust.org.uk for early morning snowdrop tours with one of the gardeners, or visit in the afternoon when the winter sun lights up these welcome harbingers of spring.

East Lambrook Manor Gardens, Silver Street, East Lambrook, South Petherton, Somerset TA13 5HH Tel: 01460 240328 Email: enquiries@eastlambrook.com www.eastlambrook.com

Wimborne Minster, Dorset BH21 4EA

The romance of Cerney House Gardens Cerney House gardens is a romantic English garden.

There is a beautiful secluded Victorian walled garden with an informal planting scheme.

The season starts in February with drifts of snowdrops throughout the snowdrop trail and rarer snowdrops are featured in the walled garden. Also featured is an extensive array of hellebores. You can also enjoy the woodland walk and nature trail and discover a medicinal herb garden and children’s trail.

Tea, coffee and homemade cakes are available in the Bothy tearoom and dogs are welcome. Open daily from 10am-7pm (dusk).£6 for adults and £1 children.

Cerney House Gardens North Cerney Cirencester GL7 7BX www.cerneygardens.com Tel: 01285831300 Email: janet@cerneygardens.com

Cerney House Gardens A Romantic English Garden in the UK Cotswolds

Walled garden set in 46 acres of countryside

Enjoy magical winter walks in the arboretum, browse our selection of plants and gifts and treat yourself to a delicious breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea from our café. A perfect day out for all the family – including the dog!

* Large variety of snowdrops & hellebores * Medicinal Herb gardens * Wildlife and woodland walks * Refreshments available Open daily, 10-7pm Admission: £6 adults, £1 children

Telephone 01285 831300 www.cerneygardens.com

Cerney House Gardens, North Cerney, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 7BX

Snowdrops at Colesbourne Park ‘England’s greatest snowdrop garden’

www.batsarb.co.uk BATSFORD ARBORETUM AND GARDEN CENTRE Batsford, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire GL56 9AT. Tel: 01386 701441 E: arboretum@batsfordfoundation.co.uk BatsfordArboretum

@BatsfordA

@BatsfordA

The historic home of snowdrops in the heart of the Cotswolds, home to 250 named varieties. Open weekends in February to visitors and self-guided coach groups, both are also able to arrange pre-booked weekday guided tours. All coaches are required to book visits in advance. Colesbourne Park is well signposted on the A435 halfway between Cheltenham and Cirencester.

For more information please Telephone: 01242 870264 Email: hwg@colesbourne.net

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Country Gardener

Or see our website: www.colesbournegardens.org.uk

GROWING PERFECT

Shaftesbury Snowdrop Festival is a family friendly community event Each February as the days begin to lengthen, Dorset’s hilltop town Shaftesbury shakes off winter’s gloom to celebrate a dainty harbinger of spring, the snowdrop. For more than a decade, the Shaftesbury Snowdrop Festival has attracted galanthophiles, as snowdrop fanatics are known, from as far afield as Japan and America.

Determined to share the love of these bulbs with a wider audience, the festival has evolved to be equal parts family-friendly community event with workshops, walks and concerts as well as the more serious Snowdrop Study Day and famous ‘Best Of The West’ rare snowdrop sale. “We’re determined to ensure that the festival reflects the warm welcome of the town and its commitment to wellbeing, no matter the season,” shares co-chair Rachel Diment.

The 2024 Festival, from 10th to 18th February, is reaching out to include venues beyond the town’s boundaries, with Springhead Trust opening their gardens especially to display their collection of snowdrops, and lantern making workshops at Higher Green Farm in Twyford.

EXPERIENCE THE ENCHANTMENT OF WINTER AT BATSFORD ARBORETUM Explore the 60-acre Arboretum in all its winter glory; breathe in the sweet fragrances of winter flowering plants and take in all the seasonal beauty, including drifts of stunning snowdrops, aconites, crocuses, and hellebores. Once you’ve taken a stroll, warm up with a delicious breakfast, lunch, or afternoon tea at The Garden Terrace Café.

Batsford Garden Centre is a haven for garden and plant lovers too, you’ll find a fantastic selection of quality, affordable plants and gifts. Batsford is open daily, dogs are welcome on a short lead.

Batsford Arboretum & Garden Centre, near Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire GL56 9AT Tel: 01386 701441 www.batsarb.co.uk

THE WALLED GARDENS OF CANNINGTON A mix of classic and modern features, including a ‘hot’ border, sub-tropical walk, blue garden, Mediterranean garden, shade border, Southern hemisphere and a winter garden are a feature of this RHS partner garden with a Grade 1 listed medieval priory backdrop. Home to Somerset’s only botanical glasshouse, featuring hundreds of different species from around the world such as the magnificent jade vine (Strongylodon macrobotrys). There’s also a gift shop, tearoom and specialist plant nursery; plants are propagated on-site and sold at great prices! Open Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 3pm/4pm (seasonal), year-round excluding two weeks at Christmas. Last admission to the gardens is one hour before closure. Please check the website for variations.

Church Street, Cannington TA5 2HA 01278 655042 walledgardens@btc.ac.uk

HUNDREDS OF NGS GARDENS OFFER WINTER FLORAL INSPIRATION After the long dark winter months, start your garden visiting season at one of the National Garden Scheme’s inspirational snowdrop and spring flower gardens. Hundreds of gardens sprinkled with snowdrops - these delightful harbingers of spring - and wonderful, colour contrasting spring blooms including the bright gold of aconites and soft purple of crocus, open their gates to the public from late January through February and into March. Many visits are accompanied by tea and cake or a warming bowl of soup! The expert garden owners are also on hand to share their top tips of how to grow snowdrops with many selling a good selection of varieties too. Find a garden open near you: ngs.org.uk

GARLIC

Late autumn planting is the secret to get the best of a garlic crop which will have a head start when the weather warms up in spring.

Autumn-to-spring is the best season for growing garlic.

Garlic cloves planted in the autumn quickly develop roots, so the plants are established when cold weather stops their growth. Then they start growing again as the soil warms in early spring and produce a harvestable crop by the middle of summer. Cloves also can be planted first thing in spring but yields of springplanted garlic can be half of that from cloves planted in the autumn.

PLANT TWO OR MORE DIFFERENT VARIETIES Part of the fun of growing garlic is trying new varieties. The main thing is to diversify, so that if one variety has trouble, another can take up the slack.

‘Music’ and ‘Bogatyr’, produce the largest, prettiest bulbs, with ‘Polish Softneck’ the leader among softneck types. ‘Music’ and ‘Polish Softneck’ also have done well in trials. A 2013 trial evaluated a different list of garlic varieties, of which ‘Chesnock Red’ was the top hardneck, While this is a nice list of garlic varieties for many gardeners, bigger is not always better when you are growing garlic to store through winter and well into spring.

PLANT LARGE SINGLE CLOVES Large cloves provide abundant food reserves for growing garlic seedlings, so the large outer cloves are the best ones for planting. But there is a catch. Often very large cloves are on the verge of dividing into two, and once planted the double cloves grow into tightly spaced twin plants that produce lopsided bulbs. Be choosy when deciding which cloves to plant, and bypass little cloves as well as big doubles.

MULCH THROUGH WINTER Garlic competes poorly with weeds, and several studies have shown that mulching garlic through winter with straw or coarsely chopped leaves leads to bigger and better yields. Winter mulch helps keep nutrients in the soil from leaching away, and also can help buffer little plants from strong winds.

PREPARE FOR PESTS AND DISEASES Many gardeners have no problems with pests when growing garlic, but two serious issues can sabotage crops. Onion white rot can be a persistent soil-borne disease, and onion root fly larvae can appear out of nowhere.

Onion root fly larvae are a worldwide pest of onions and garlic. Tiny beige worms found feeding in garlic bulbs are the larvae of a small fly, Delia antiqua. Three generations every summer is not uncommon in temperate climates, and some years are much worse than others. White sticky traps are preferred over other colours, and prime flight time is in the evening.

GARLIC Q&A

Snowdrop Festival 2024 Celebrate the first signs of spring in a beautiful garden Find your perfect garden: ngs.org.uk/snowdrops

Can I plant garlic I buy from the supermarket?

It isn’t worth the effort and rarely achieves decent results They often carry diseases or be unsuitable for the British climate, so results may be disappointing.

Can you eat garlic that has sprouted?

Sprouted garlic is 100 percent safe to eat, but it has a distinctly different flavour.

Besides maybe bad breath, there are no side effects to eating sprouted garlic. They may even have a health benefit, according to a recent study that found higher levels of antioxidants in older cloves.

How do you know when garlic goes bad?

Garlic bulbs in peak condition should have plump, firm cloves tightly covered by white or purplish papery husks. Don’t eat if you see shriveled cloves or browned husks, or if the cloves are soft when pressed.

Can I freeze garlic?

Garlic is versatile when it comes to freezing. You can freeze raw whole unpeeled bulbs, individual cloves (peeled or unpeeled), or chopped garlic.

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JOBS FOR THE MONTH

JOBS FOR Winter Winter can feel like a gloomy time in the garden. The flowers of high summer are a distant memory, the rain is here to stay and the change of the clocks has put paid to any hope of working in the evenings.

However, there is still much to be done.

From looking after your garden tools, to splitting plants and planting

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Protect plants from the cold Add cloches to winter salads to protect them from the weather and pests and wrap pots of half-hardy plants in bubble wrap or fleece. Bring tender plants indoors or put them in a greenhouse.

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bulbs for the seasons ahead, getting outside in your garden in the winter months can be rewarding and give you a chance to breathe fresh air and stay connected to the outdoors.

Just remember to wrap up warm and reward yourself with a hot cuppa afterwards.

Cover the ground If you have an allotment, and you’re not planting a crop to over-winter, cover your empty veg beds with landscaping fabric or cardboard and weigh it down with planks and bricks. This will keep the weeds down over winter, and the soil will warm up quicker in spring. Covering beds also prevents loss of nutrients from the soil due to rain and wind.

Winter prune apple trees

Fruit trees are dormant now, so it’s safe to prune them. Remove dead, diseased and damaged wood, and eliminate any instances of branches crossing and rubbing against each other - remove the weaker one. Wear gloves, use sharp, clean tools, and cut at an angle, so that the face of the cut angles downwards, allowing rain to run off it and preventing it rotting.

Generally, its also time to see what needs cutting back in the garden. It also gives you the opportunity of removing the 3Ds - dead, diseased and dying wood.

Use sharp secateurs, and long loppers, and reduce the upright stems of apples and pears by one third. This will produces plump fruit buds on nobbly spurs.

Pears are more lightly pruned than apples. Aim to create an airy shape, but if you remove an entire branch leave a stump so that it can callous over. You can also reduce the leaders on gooseberries and redcurrants now. Stone fruits are given a lighter pruning in early summer, once the sap’s running, as silver leaf disease can enter cut made in winter.

Roses can also be pruned. Remove the 3Ds and aim for an airy shape. Hybrid teas can be reduced to nine inches (22cm), floribundas to 18 inches (45cm) and English and shrub roses by a third. If there’s lots of woody material at the base, be brave and saw it away with a Felco pruning saw. New stems will appear in spring.

Take long growth off wisterias, cutting the stems back to two or three buds.

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Mulch as much as you can Clear weeds, and mulch all growing beds. Not only will this help protect plants from the harsh weather, but it will also provide nutrients and suppress weeds. Bark chippings keep garden beds and borders looking sharp throughout winter or consider using leaf mould or garden compost.

Cut plant supports

Coppice some hazel if you have a friendly source nearby. The straight and sturdy stems can be used to make bean supports and wigwams. The frilled fingers or branches are perfect for making flower supports. Stick three to five stems above the plant now, before growth gets going. Place these in a circle facing inwards and weave the pliable ends into each other to create a firm structure for the emerging plant to grow through. It will not only look attractive, providing welcome structure now but will disappear once the foliage grows.

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Country Gardener

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Christmas tree options

Many gardeners and home owners will be thinking about Christmas trees, and it’s worth considering a potted pine tree. As consumers have become more conscious of the environment the demand for potted Christmas trees has steadily grown. As well as saving you money (with a little care, a potted tree can be brought back inside next Christmas), it’s the most eco-friendly option as it can be planted in your garden after the festive period, giving you and your family, not to mention the wildlife, great pleasure.

If you do opt for a pre-cut tree, don’t be too quick to bin it after the Christmas celebrations are over, as there’s still so much to gain from it. Shred it for chippings to spread on ericaceous plants, such as blueberries, or use it for garden paths. The branches can also make useful plant supports for peas and broad beans.

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Priority is bare root plants

Winter is the time for planting bareroot plants (plants sold without any soil around the roots). It’s an economical way of planting and you’ll find a much wider variety of fruit trees and bushes are available this way. You can also plant bare-root roses, hedges and even perennials.

READER’S STORY

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Clean your pots and trays A bucket of soapy water, a duster and a wet cloth is all you need. Dust off the worst of the dirt and then it’s into the warm soapy water. If the weather’s kind, don the winter woollies and get outside and absorb some much-needed Vitamin D. If not, find a spot under cover.

Then you’ll be ready for your seed sowing in a few weeks. Larger plastic pots can be placed outside before heavy rain.

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Order your seeds

Pre-Christmas is the time to order seeds, if you haven’t already. Popular varieties can sell out quickly.

In particular, make sure you order seed potatoes, onions sets and garlic bulbs. Go for reliable, disease free varieties with AGM and F1 status. With potatoes it is well worth picking blight free varieties like Sarpo. Sarpo Miro is an excellent all-rounder, a maincrop potato with nice taste, good texture and exceptional blight resistance.

Once your seed potatoes have arrived they can be put in a light, cool, dry spot to chit.

Large egg trays are a good way of cupping the potatoes so that they stand with the leaf buds top most without touching one another.

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Do’s and don’ts in the winter garden One of the common winter garden mistakes is failing to prepare these areas for the cold season. If autumn weeks slipped by too quickly, be sure to review these winter gardening do’s and don’ts and complete required tasks before the frosts really start to bite.

• Do pick up fallen leaves. Thick mats of leaves will smother the lawn and promote fungal growth.

• Don’t let perennial weeds overwinter in flowerbeds. The roots will become well-established during the winter months, which makes weeding much harder next year.

• Do deadhead flowers with invasive tendencies. Seeds from manageable species can be left in place as winter forage for wild birds.

• Don’t trim shrubs or fertilise during the winter months. These tasks can stimulate premature growth and result in damage to the plant.

• Don’t let your irrigation system freeze. Follow manufacturers’ recommendations for purging and winterising your sprinkler system. Do clean off the vegetable garden and properly dispose of diseased or pestinfected vegetation.

• Don’t leave container plants outdoors without protection. Move the planters close to the foundation of the house, bury them in the ground, or cover with a heat-retentive blanket. Better yet, move containers into a garage or storage area.

So, what do professional gardeners do in the winter months?

Peter Cording is a professional gardener semi-retired from his work at some of the big southwest gardens, who now offers his services out to a group of landscapers. He says he’s often asked what gardeners do in the winter months.

I get asked this question all the time. A lot of people still assume that you put the garden to bed in the first few weeks of November and then start thinking about the new season in February!

A lot of tosh! This assumption there’s not a lot that can be done in the garden during the winter, however this couldn’t be further from the truth.

In fact, I have a little saying “what you don’t get done over winter, never gets done.”

The weather might be on the colder side and the days clearly a lot shorter, but it’s a great time to do some of the heavier tasks like digging over vegetable beds, as the ground will be a lot easier to work this time of year.

Tree work is always best done over winter, as the sap is down and the tree will be dormant and this is one of my favourite jobs because if you do it right it will make a huge impact on the quality and health of your fruit next spring. There’s also less disease floating around in the air that could get into fresh cuts and pass on diseases.

Also, with the leaves off the trees you can better see the shape of the tree and what the branches are doing much easier.

Lifting and dividing perennials is best left until the weather improves slightly, however it’s a good idea to make notes or take photos of your border in summer.

Some perennials will be more dominant in the border than others and can take over if not kept in check. Simply dig them up and divide them. They can be moved to fill gaps in another part of the border or given away to friends and family. Who doesn’t love a free plant!

The compost bins will need looking at. Undoubtedly your good intentions of mixing them every few weeks and adding the right ratio of carbon and nitrogen have gone down the pan but don’t let that bother you. Just build a new bin and move the contents from the old one. Mix in equal measures of straw and grass clippings.

If you managed to make some decent compost last year now is the time to put all those lovely nutrients back into the beds. Your plants will thank you for it in the spring.

Another thing that tends to get forgotten about over winter is the greenhouse. I use mine to store all my tender plants that live in pots on the patio over summer.

It’s important to remember fungus can thrive in warm moist conditions. The trick is to air it out on warmer days and give the glass a good clean with fungicidal wash before spring gets going.

If the winter isn’t too cold you can use your greenhouse to grow winter salad, and to start seedlings.

Frosty cold fresh mornings in January and February are some of the best memories I have as a professional gardener. There is something magical about being out and about in the cold crisp air, and a feeling of satisfaction when you eventually get home. There is plenty to be done over the winter months and a great deal of accomplishment knowing you have pushed the garden on to be even better when spring arrives.

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HOLIDAYS FOR GARDEN LOVERS

Gardening holidays and breaks

set to boom again

Experts are predicting a record-breaking year next year for gardening themed holidays when it seems more of us than even will be looking to combining a holiday with our passion for gardens.

Gardening is more popular in England than anywhere else and this is reflected in the number of gardens open to visit in England, Scotland and Wales.

It may be a bit of a busman’s holiday but there’s nothing gardeners love more than a garden themed holiday. The escape for green-fingered travellers means an opportunity for a great garden holiday, where you can enjoy the best of nature in some breath-taking outdoor attractions in Britain and abroad.

From the ancient gardens of Croatia to the baroque gardens of France, the Moorish landscapes of Spain or even the more landscaped gardens of Dorset and Yorkshire the demand for bookings for garden lovers to combine their passion with their holiday is expected to reach record levels. Five-star hotels are now finding that their gardens are coming out very high in what visitors appreciate during spring and autumn in particular.

From visiting the outstanding natural attractions of Japan in spring (during the cherry blossom season, no less) to experiencing the gardening event of the year, Floriade, in the Netherlands, these are the top garden holidays to have your eye on.

These great garden holidays offer inspiration to gardeners who want to learn at the same time as enjoy gardens.

Nothing is more inspiring to amateur gardeners than seeing how the professionals keep their beds and borders pristine. Indeed, horticulture is such a popular pastime that many companies offering trips to some of the world’s most spectacular gardens.

Most garden holidays now have a less rushed programme. There’s still a lot to pack in still do a lot, but at a good pace. and the guests feel looked after. There is a host out in the field, usually a host in the hotel and if going abroad, often staff at the airport too.

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There is also an added security available for travellers with a change in attitude of many travel companies of looking more sympathetically about insurances and cancellation policies.

You don’t even need to be an enthusiast – you can simply enjoy looking at gardens and the wild flora and fauna. Within a group you get people who are interested in different things; it could be plants, garden design or the history.

Many garden holidays take in floral havens with TV stars and experts, invite you to discover the world’s botanical wonders and allow you to meet the best-loved designers and gardeners to learn gardening tips and tricks along the way.

Whether you travel in spring or summer, there’s a horticultural break for you in the market . Spring is a fantastic time to seek ideas for your own garden in fabulous venues around Europe, whether in Cornwall or the Cotswolds, or in further-flung destinations such as Madeira with its famously fragrant flower parade or the Netherlands’ Keukenhof Gardens, renowned around the world for their riotously colourful spring tulips.

Spring also means milder temperatures and fewer crowds. Meanwhile, in summer, Italy and Spain beckon for blissful Mediterranean holidays with a horticultural slant.

Country Gardener

Colesbourne Park - the acknowledged ‘home of snowdrops’ Started by Henry John Elwes FRS with the magnificent Galanthus elwesii, the historic snowdrop collection at Colesbourne Park is the acknowledged home of snowdrops in England. The gardens, restored by Henry Elwes and his wife, have around 350 varieties mixed with aconites, cyclamen, iris, snowflakes, hellebores and winter flowering shrubs.

Visitors can walk beside the beautiful blue lake and along woodland paths of the 10-acre gardens.The gardens are open every weekend in February. Plant sales available. Pre-booked exclusive guided tours also available – contact to find out more.

Colesbourne Park is halfway between Cheltenham and Cirencester on the A435.

Colesbourne Park, Colesbourne, Cheltenham GL53 9NP www.colesbournegardens.org.uk

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21 14/09/2023 16:34:45

HOLIDAYS FOR GARDEN LOVERS

Whatley Manor backs up two day break with great special offers

FLORAL TOURS OPERATE ON 26 YEARS OF TOUR EXPERIENCE Bath based Floral Tours are a popular group travel operator that specialises only in horticultural and floral tour and have over 26 year’s experience focussing on tailored trips.

The variety of tours on offer remains impressive.

Gardens of North Devon is a tour available throughout the year taking in the sites of well-known and not so well-known gardens and estates.

The different settings and planting styles of the visits give delight, enthusiasm and inspiration for the tasks waiting at home for your return!

Gardens of Yorkshire – Yorkshire is another home-based tour available throughout year focussing on many great gardens One of the highlights of the Floral Tours programme next year is the trip to the Girona Flower Festival in Spain from 6th to 14th May. The history of Girona, Temps de Flors is a story of young entrepreneurs who, in 1954, decided to organise the first edition of what they called ‘Concurso Provincial Exhibition of Flowers’.

The festival has grown grew each year,and today is the largest international festival of Girona, an activity that attracts people from all over the world!

This tour is open to individuals, small or large groups and flights from a selection of airports.

Whatley Manor, the luxury manor house hotel set in 12 acres of the beautiful Cotswolds countryside is offering a quality autumn /early winter break and the chance to explore this most opulent season with some extra benefits.

Available for stays of two or more nights the five-star hotel’s Autumn Getaway Offer is the perfect opportunity for you to indulge in luxurious experiences during your stay. Included in this offer is an added gift of £50 hotel credit for each day of your stay.

You can use this credit towards any of the dining experiences, including afternoon tea, dinner in Michelin starred The Dining Room, or Grey’s Restaurant.

Alternatively, you can use it towards spa treatments, choose from treatments designed to help you relax, rejuvenate, and revive. The hardest decision you will have to make during your stay is how to use your hotel credit.

To celebrate your luxurious break a chilled bottle of Gusbourne English Sparkling Wine, will be waiting in your room for your enjoyment.

The autumn break includes: • Full Breakfast selection each morning • Full use of Aquarias Spa • A complimentary £50 hotel credit per night towards food and spa treatments* • A Bottle of Gusbourne English sparkling wine in your room on arrival To book, call reservations on 01666 822 888 or email reservations@whatleymanor.com.

To view full terms and conditions go to www.whatley manor.com Room rates are based on the best available room and breakfast rate at the time of booking.

Available for stays up to 22nd December 2023.

Tel: 01225 913106 Email: info@floraltours.co.uk www.floraltours.co.uk

Cornwall off season is a real delight

Away from the crowds and often blessed with unseasonal mild weather, Cornwall is now proving to be really popular in winter with visitors.

Boscrege Caravan and Camping park in Cornwall is a peaceful and picturesque park, set at the foot of Tregonning Hill amongst a myriad of Cornish lanes in an area of outstanding natural beauty. The park, which is open all year through, is situated close to the wonderful Cornwall coast and only a few minutes drive to Praa Sands, one of Britain’s nicest beaches.

St Ives, Penzance, Hayle, Lands End, The Lizard Peninsular, Helston and Falmouth and many other Cornwall attractions and beaches. So, if you are looking to take an off season holiday in Cornwall this year in a self catering caravan, camping, or even purchasing your own holiday home then contact Boscrege Caravan and Camping Park. Twin lodges available to buy with a 20 year site licence.

Boscrege Caravan Park, Boscrege, Ashton, Cornwall TR13 9TG 01736 762231 www.caravanparkcornwall.com

C A R AVA N & T O U R I N G PA R K

BOSCREGE CARAVAN & TOURING PARK

THE MOST PICTURESQUE CARAVAN PARK IN CORNWALL With a welcoming atmosphere and set in 12 acres of Cornish countryside only two miles from the beautiful sandy beaches of Praa Sands, Boscrege Caravan & Touring Park is the best place to enjoy your Cornish holiday.

Each of our luxury holiday homes comes with a private garden and Wi-Fi. Perfect

for families and couples, we are open all year, and offer seasonal pitches.

We offer the following: • Designated dog walking fields • Pet friendly accommodation • Comprehensive storage • Luxury holiday homes for sale

01736 762231 • enquiries@caravanparkcornwall.com www.caravanparkcornwall.com 22

Country Gardener

• Floral Tours are working in partnership with Country Gardener to offer readers three tailored tours for 2024: • Keukenhof 25 - 29 April 2024 • The Monet and Versailles Experience 20 - 24 May 2024 • The Delights of Yorkshire 8 - 12 July 2024 If you would like to join us on these tours please call Pat at Floral Tours.

• UK Garden Tours and Events We have programs for UK tours and events that we can tailor to your club preferences if this is your choice please give us a call.

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

CROSSWORD

country gardener

CROSSWORD WIN £100 IN RHS GIFT TOKENS

Our popular gardening themed crossword is compiled by Saranda which over the past year has become enormously popular with readers. The winning entry to be drawn by us will receive £100 of RHS gift tokens. Completed entries should be sent to Mount House, Halse, Taunton, Somerset TA4 3AD. Closing date is 29th December. The winner of our November issue crossword was Olivia Daulby from Painswick.

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Garden advice for Winter The last gardening queries of 2023 see a wide range of readers problems. If you have any gardening worries you would like help with, send your questions to Country Gardener, Mount House, Halse. Taunton TA4 3AD or email us at editorial@countrygardener.co.uk

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How do I keep indoor plants healthy through the winter months? I haven’t had the best of experiences recently and have lost many plants.

Annie King Plymouth It’s common sense really. Environmental conditions indoors during winter are often poor. Low light levels, cold drafts, and low relative humidity are stressful to plants. These conditions may cause them to shed a few leaves, but consistent care should keep plants healthy.

Spots at home near east and west-facing windows are often best for sunlight, except for plants such as African violets, which do best in north facing windows. Make sure any plants are kept away from cold drafts or heat sources, and generally water until it begins to flow out the bottom of the pot. Discard excess water and allow the soil surface to dry to the touch before watering again. Most houseplants do not need to be fertilised during the winter months.

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ACROSS 1. Could come before beans and marigolds? (6) 4. A scented sap produced by many trees (6) 8. Birch tree belongs to this genus (6) 13. The fruit of this tree is only edible after starting to decay (6) 14. Large area of open land in London (9,5) 16. Common name of Lilium martagon (5,3,4) 17. A small stalk or stem of a seed embryo (8) 18. Alternative name of common marigold (7) 19. Mexican plant with a seed that moves around? (7,4) 22. Armed with prickles like a plant of this family (12) 23. Turns over in bed! (4) 27. European wild ginger or hazelwort (10) 29. A formulaic cowboy film? (5,5) 31. A unit of length (4) 32. Fruity places to sleep! (5,3,4) 37. Walking stick made from the stem of a rattan palm (7,4) 38. Genus of plants including ragwort and groundsel (7) 40. Japanese video game company (8) 41. The genus Calochortus includes this showy flower (8,4) 43. Relating to plants of the buttercup family (14) 44. Genus of plants in the nightshade family (6) 45. Sixth planet from the Sun (6) 46. Flowering trees in the Cannabaceae family (6) 47. Long arm of the Indian Ocean between Africa and the Arabian peninsula (3,3) DOWN 1. Fumaria officinalis or earth smoke (8) 2. Fabled city in South America (2,6) 3. Scientific name for members of the stonecrop family (12) 5. Fit for ploughing and suitable for crops (6) 6. Ripogonum scandens, a common New Zealand vine (10) 7. South American shrub of the holly family (4) 9. Branch of zoology that studies animal behaviour (8)

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10. Not officially recognised or approved (12) 11. Holy day that comes after Shrove Tuesday (3,9) 12. The anatomical joining of two individuals (10) 15. Sour, dark blue fruit of a certain plum (6) 20. Genus of plants commonly called forget-me-nots (8) 21. Round, yellowish and edible seed widely used as a pulse (8) 24. The Lesser Dog, a small constellation west of Orion (5,7) 25. Spanish variety of the hazel (9,3) 26. Australian yellow-flowered plant, Acacia pycnantha (6,6) 28. Genus represented by cashew nuts (10) 30. Family to which the mignonette belongs (10) 33. Type of fern, Nephrolepis exaltata (6) 34. The brightest star in the constellation Eridanus (8) 35. Globe-thistles belong to this genus (8) 36. Genus of plants commonly known as milkwort (8) 39. Genus of plants commonly known as water hemlock (6) 42. Kiln for drying hops (4) Answers from previous issue, November 2023: T O W N L Y A

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How and when should I start seeds growing indoors? I am always keen to get growing in the New Year.

Sam Morgan Liss There’s no hard and fast formula.

Heating your greenhouse means you can start as soon as January comes round with some seeds. Vigorous plants that are started indoors flower sooner and produce an earlier harvest than plants started outdoors.

Petunias, coleus and delphinium are examples.The time for sowing seeds indoors depends on the time required to develop a healthy transplant large enough to be successfully moved outdoors. The range can be three to 15 weeks depending on the plants and the cultural conditions in the home. Chilies, aubergines can be started in January as can basil and sweet peas. Information on seed packets are the best guide.

When planted, they will need warmth but not light. Temperatures should be kept between 60° and 65°F, and they should be kept moist but not drowned.

I’d like to pot something up, perhaps a perennial, that we can leave at my mother’s grave, but we only get to visit the churchyard in Somerset a few times a year; could you recommend something nice but hardy that can deal with a little neglect?

Virginia Hawkins Petersfield Often it is possible to plant directly in the ground by the headstone, and this would be preferable as even the toughest plant will still need watering if it is grown in a container. You could try low maintenance perennials with a compact growth habit such as Primrose vulgaris, Polyanthus ‘Most scented Mix’ or Dianthus ‘Gran’s Favourite’. These could be under planted with spring bulbs such as Narcissus ‘Tete-a-Tete’ and Russian Snowdrops. All of these are resilient and should cope with a bit of neglect!

23

I have several fruitless mulberry trees which this autumn have clung on to their leaves and one has died. I’ve since learned they are approaching the end of their life cycle (45 years old) and had attributed the loss to that, but they are in a sheltered spot and I’m wondering if my trees are not getting enough dormant hours per year and if that could hasten their demise. Is this a thing?

Cassie King Poole Keep it simple if you want to revive them gradually. Don’t trim them much. Just take out the dead wood. Keep them moist. Give them a good deep soak. If they haven’t lost their leaves don’t try to make them. They will drop some. They’ll go on their own schedule if you’re doing the best horticultural practices, you can: making sure they are watered, make sure they are fertilised, and there’s nothing horrible eating the roots.

They should go on for many years.

My orange and lemon trees which are about ten years old and in pots have for the first time this summer been showing yellow leaves and starting to look unhealthy. I’m careful about taking them in during the harshest of the winter but this looks as if it’s another problem.

Kate Tamworth Martock They certainly need some winter and spring attention. Use organic mulch and put down wood chips all around. That’s going to help long term. You need to find a fertiliser with a good micronutrient mix, in particular, manganese, zinc, iron, and magnesium, which you can also get through Epsom salts. Don’t overwater during the winter -just keep moist and as you say protect them from frosts.

This summer I started asparagus from seeds in well manured mounded beds and they all look healthy and well but how long will it take for the bed to mature and produce consistent spears?

George Butley Bradford-on-Tone Asparagus plants are a great choice for any vegetable bed. They are drought tolerant, they’re high Ph tolerant, and they can tolerate wet spells. It is going to take two years, maybe three - especially since you started them from seed. After that you’ll start seeing those half-inch spears, and you’ll have the plant for 20 years.

My lawn is a disaster with more weeds and bare spots than grass after the wet summer and autumn. What can I do and should I be putting the problem right in the autumn and early winter?

Jack Hargreaves Taunton For several years in a row our weather has not supported good lawn growth. People who ignored their lawns other than to mow them, are finding a lot of them are in a bad state. If it is dry enough, loosen the soil, rake out debris, clear the leaves well then in the spring seed or turf the worst areas. If shade has increased as trees have matured, investigate pruning the trees to let in light. Let the grass grow taller, to three or four inches. Fertilise at least once a year in March or April with an organic, slow release fertiliser.

We have a plum tree which is only three years old. Last year we saw our first sight of a plum (only two) but they shrivelled up and dropped off. We had some terrible leaf curl last year which seemed to be aphids. The same thing has happened this year complete leaf curl with aphids in the curled leaf. There are also ladybirds on the tree but they can’t keep up with the extent of the problem.

Alana Porter Chichester Plum leaf-curling aphids are most active in mid to late spring. In summer they can also be followed by mealy plum aphid. The stress of heavy infestation by these aphids could be causing the tree to abort fruit. Use a soap solution to spray the tree thoroughly This spray is safe to use on edible crops and fruit trees, although never spray while the tree is flowering - wait until afterwards. For heavy infestations, spray several times throughout the growing season.). Mealy plum aphid (pale greenish-white in colour) can also be treated by applying a winter tree wash on a dry day in winter; they’re available in all good garden centres.

Is it possible to take cuttings of a rose, as we are putting the house on the market and I would love to take a cutting of my one rose as although I am happy to buy some new ones when we move but this one is special and I would love to keep it.

Cath Davies Dawlish You can certainly take some cuttings from your rose. It’s a straightforward process and they don’t require much attention.

Cut out some strong, healthy stems from this year’s growth - do not use older wood. Just cut your chosen stems into lengths of about 25cm. You will need to cut just above a bud at the top of each cutting and just below a bud at the bottom. Remove the foliage except for one leaf at the top of each cutting. Dip the base of the cuttings into a rooting hormone, before pushing them into a pot of gritty, well drained compost. Don’t use multipurpose compost. John Innes No 3 or even some well drained garden soil is preferable. You can fit several cuttings to a large pot if you position them around the edge of the pot.

Place the pot in a sheltered, shady spot and keep them well watered. They will root over the winter months and by next summer should be ready for potting up into individual pots and growing on.

Some rose bushes in my garden were left by the previous owner. A couple of them this autumn seem to have flowers with very floppy stems - they’re not strong enough to hold up the flowers. Is this just a problem with the varieties I’m growing but there are two different (unknown) ones with this problem, growing near each other - or are they short of minerals or trace elements, which would help them hold their heads up properly? They are growing on clay and I don’t cosset them but my other roses seem fine with similar unkind treatment!

Toni Urquhart Bristol This is a common problem with roses, particularly the large, flowered English rose types. It is simply because the big puffy flower heads are too heavy for the stems, particularly in wet weather. This is their normal growth habit and tends to improve as the plant matures. You can help to prop them up by inserting a few twiggy sticks discreetly around the bush to hold the growth more upright. Insufficient sun can also be a contributing factor to weak spindly growth. It may be worth reviewing the position of these roses and moving them in the autumn if necessary.You can encourage stronger growth and thicker stems by pruning them back in winter by no more than a half. Don’t worry about your soil type – roses grow well on clay.

24

Can you give me any advice on getting rid of fairy rings on our lawn, they are spreading out in ever increasing circles?

Georgie Smith Bath Fairy rings are a fungus which grows within the roots of the grass. The fungus causes characteristic circles of toadstools in autumn but are visible throughout the year as circular areas where the grass dies back. The spores are airborne so there is little you can do to stop a colony forming. Once a colony forms it begins to spread outwards, dying back from the centre and so takes on a ring like appearance and may spread up to 30cm a year!

Fairy rings are not particularly harmful in any way.

There are no chemical controls available. Given that the mycelium grows outwards through the soil then in minor instances you could dig out that area of soil and replace it with fresh topsoil and turf. However, if you have lots of rings then this could make a horrible mess of your lawn. So ,you may have to learn to live with them, as a colony can survive for up to 100 years!

Country Gardener

CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE

Finding the perfect gardening GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS There isn’t a lot of time for those who are looking for gardening themed gifts to give as Christmas presents. Working out in the fresh air during the winter months offers plenty of options for the likes of socks and shoes as presents.

Just as no two gardens are the same, neither are any two gardeners -so the task of finding them the perfect Christmas gift can be tricky.

It is almost guaranteed that all of us have gardeners amongst our family and friends. So, when it comes to the often stressful and demanding task of finding suitable Christmas

Seasons Green Gift Shop Christmas is a particularly great time to visit Seasons Green Gift Shop and Gallery in Corfe Castle, but if you can’t make it in person, there’s plenty to see online too, like these beautiful gift sets featuring the iconic ‘Strawberry Thief’ pattern by William Morris. Largely inspired by gardens, countryside and coast, there’s a wide range of locally-made art and crafts, as well as products from British independent makers.

With such a selection, you’re sure to find something special for Christmas - and they’ll even wrap and post your gifts direct to your loved ones on your behalf!

presents again this year why not use their pastime as a theme for finding a present.

To help steer you onto the right path we’ve several ideas to think about.

Specialist shops like the ones we highlight make the task of finding something special easier.

Last-minute flower deliveries shouldn’t be ignored as having fresh flowers around on Christmas day is always special. There are also several specialist websites delivering high quality houseplants with detailed instructions about how to care for them and seasonal suggestions for seeds and plants.

There’s a wide range of personalised items on the market, for that extra special touch, and indulgent luxury garden products. Personalised garden gloves, garden tool belts, aprons, trowels- even plant pots with your name on them.

There are ideas for wildlife gardeners and small gifts to save on space, as well as an inspiring selection of gardening books, from coffee-table art to practical guides to help gardeners get growing.

All our gardens could do with more wildlife themes so nest box kits, bird baths and feeders, fantastic wooden insect hotels, and hedgehog houses all have a common theme of helping nature.

Membership to the National Trust is available in gift form at www. nationaltrust.org.uk with options for families, individuals and young people. An RHS gift membership pack is another ideal present. For 12 months it means access to more that 200 stunning gardens including the famous RHS gardens at Wisley, Rosemoor, Hyde Hall, Harlow Carr and now Bridgewater near Manchester.

The choice is clearly huge but we’ve some more details on a couple of specific ideas.

www.seasonsgreen.co.uk

EVERYONE NEEDS A PAIR OF BACKDOORSHOES! These glorious shoes make a fabulous practical Christmas gift for your loved one (or yourself!). They are ideal for popping out in the garden or going for a walk with the dog!

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If you’re regularly let down by other outdoor shoes and clogs that just don’t do the job, choose a pair of Backdoorshoes® and you’ll never look back! There are over 30 fun designs to suit all (including the new Nostalgia Rose design pictured).

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25

Your plants versus

our changing weather How are the plants in your garden really coping with the change in our weather pattens? Warm springs, the odd heatwave, longer periods of prolonged rain and periods of hard frost are officially testing the ability of many thousands of plants to survive.

Our patterns of weather have changed things: we will have to garden differently from now on.

It may not qualify as a trend but the repeat experience in recent years of warm, even hot springs, heatwave bursts, longer periods of rain and wet, sometimes frosty winters is having an impact on the plants we grow.

The right plant, right place mantra is not new – gardeners have said it for years. It means knowing your soil and the plant’s soil needs; they must align if our gardens are to survive wildly varying weather patterns, from wetter winters to baked-out summers.

The RHS is at the heart of year-on-year research again aiming to continue its detailed study of how the UK’s new style weather is testing many plants to their limits.

The changing weather trends has provided a window into the effects that an increasingly volatile climate may have on our garden plants – and already, we can see both trends and surprises emerging.

Navigating the challenges of gardening in a changing climate is a key research focus for the RHS, and its five gardens, as well as observations sent in by gardeners at home such as for the Extreme Heat Survey, all of which are proving valuable sources of information on how different plants respond to extreme weather events.

The information provides information on how to identify patterns of what has suffered, what has pulled through, and what copes well with both extremes of temperature that we are now seeing.

offsetting the benefits of partially closing their stomata. Contrary to what scientists believed in the past, the result will be drier soils and less runoff that is needed for streams and rivers. This could also lead to more local warming since evapotranspiration—when plants release moisture into the air—keeps the air cooler. In addition, when soils are dry, plants become stressed and do not absorb as much CO2, which could limit photosynthesis.

Warmer winters and a longer growing season also help the pests, pathogens, and invasive species that harm vegetation. During longer growing seasons, more generations of pests can reproduce as warmer temperatures speed up insect life cycles, and more pests and pathogens survive over warm winters. Rising temperatures are also driving some insects to invade new territories, sometimes with devastating effects for the local plants.

HOW TO TELL IF A PLANT IS DEAD Sometimes, a woody plant may not be killed all the way down to the ground, in which case there is hope of regrowth. To check this, gently scrape the bark or outer layer lower down the plant with a fingernail or secateur blade. If this reveals green underneath the top layer, then this part of the plant is still alive and there is hope of regrowth. This may be encouraged by cutting back to the live parts once all risk of frost has passed.

IN SURVIVAL MODE

WHY ARE HARD WINTERS SO DAMAGING? Much of the damage after recent winters is likely to have resulted from the lack of acclimation. This is the process by which plants adjust to a change in their environment, such as winter cold. So, any prolonged wet and mild autumn and an early winter, with a sudden plunge to temperatures well below freezing.

This appears to have been particularly extreme in the south and southeast, with RHS Wisley, in Surrey, particularly badly affected. There were consecutive days of sub-zero temperatures, with the garden reaching -10°C and perhaps -12°C in frost pockets.

The effect of microclimates has also been clear, with plants in known frost pockets most badly affected and often killed outright. Plants in milder microclimates have still suffered but have seen better survival rates.

A particularly striking trend is the impact on plants grown in containers. It is known from previous studies that container-grown plants are more susceptible to extreme temperatures, and this has certainly played out at the RHS Gardens with many containerised plants lost while their counterparts planted in the ground have survived.

Bulbs in unprotected pots also proved particularly vulnerable, with nerines, amarines, and newly planted hyacinths and daffodils lost, while those planted in the ground seem unaffected. These losses are thought to be due to cold damage to the bulb root plates.

UNEXPECTED SURVIVORS In some instances, horticulturists were surprised by some tender plants that appear to have pulled through the extreme cold. Planting location has a big effect on a plant’s vulnerability, with microclimates created by features such as walls and surrounding vegetation having a significant effect on the severity of conditions a plant experiences and therefore its chances of survival.

Rising temperatures are also causing growing seasons to become longer and warmer.

Because plants will grow more and for a longer time, they will actually use more water, 26

Magnolias- a great survivor of the heat and not damaged by the cold

Wisteria-long hot summers only seem to have produced more dramatic flowers

Certain plants surprised the horticultural teams by triumphing over extreme heat, and then going on to produce an impressive display even after bitter winter conditions. This has been particularly noticeable for hardy spring-flowering trees and shrubs, which have been unscathed by the winter cold, pulled through last summer’s drought and made the most of the heat to promote wood ripening and flower bud set.

• Magnolias - excellent flowering after hot summer with no cold damage to petals.

• Camellias - excellent flowering after hot summer despite extreme cold.

• Cherries - excellent flowering after hot summer despite extreme cold.

• Wisteria - covered in buds after hot summer.

• Rosemary ‘Foxtail’ - thrives in heat and drought and withstood extreme cold, unlike most prostrate cultivars.

• Agave parryi - thrives in heat and drought and withstood extreme cold, unlike most species.

Country Gardener

TREE PLANTING

No, it’s not too late to plant Gardeners are often caught in the dilemma of when it is too far into November or even December to get plants in the ground. The good news is there’s a lot more flexibility than many think.

“Much of the damage was due to rapid change from mild autumnal weather to immediately low temperatures for several days, with no chance for plants to acclimatise” Bulbs in pots are likely to be the worst affected by cold spells

Echium – very vulnerable to frosts

PLANTS WHICH DIDN’T SURVIVE THE COLD The RHS survey showed that Australian and New Zealand plants such as hebe, phormium, corokia and pittosporum (the latter two were being trialled as box alternatives) were badly hit across all five gardens.

• Bulbs in pots - nerines, amarines, and newly planted hyacinths and daffodils died, while those planted in the ground appear unaffected.

• Shrubby hebe - whole trial devastated at Wisley and almost completely dead. Many badly scorched at Rosemoor (some green shoots noted in March).

• Phormium - badly impacted with many plants killed.

• Pittosporum - many of the coloured foliage variants and cultivars such as ‘Golf Ball’ very badly affected at both Wisley and at Rosemoor.

• Echium - E. pininana and E. candicans all seemed killed.

• Euphorbia - E. x pasteurii and E. stygiana dead or badly damaged.

• Cordyline australis - many rosettes killed. Yet to see if stems and trunks resprout.

• Daphne, especially D. bholua - those in open areas seem badly hit, some likely killed or at least badly defoliated.

• Rosemary - prostrate forms widely scorched or killed outright, while upright forms less affected.

• Lavenders - French and L. dentata widely killed. L. angustifolia and L. x intermedia fine in the ground, but some killed in pots.

• Acacia - A. melanoxylon, A. dealbata and variants killed.

• Agave - A. americana killed outright at Wisley after several years outside.

• Corokia - most killed.

At this time of the year the desire to plant new trees and shrubs is always tempered by the question – ‘Is it too late for me to plant?’

A good rule of thumb is that if the trees in your area still have leaves, you can plant new trees. Any time up to mid-October is an ideal time of year to plant new trees, though, that time frame can be stretched into November and December. If your soil is consistently 50°F or higher, you’re good to plant.

Ideally, trees and shrubs need about six weeks to establish roots before a heavy frost but It’s OK to plant them anytime the ground is workable, and many bare-root trees and shrubs are planted in very early spring while they’re still dormant.

It is best to plant trees when they are dormant (because you aren’t as likely to disrupt their growth), so you need to consider if the tree is deciduous or evergreen.

Deciduous trees do well if they are planted at the end of autumn, when their leaves are falling and they are beginning to go dormant, or even the beginning of spring, before they have begun to bud.

Evergreen trees, on the other hand, aren’t as finicky when it comes to their growth. You have a little more leeway, but you should still avoid planting them when it’s slightly warmer outside or very cold.

If you do nothing else, make sure to keep the newly planted trees watered. The worst part of cold damage is caused by desiccation or drying out. Keep new shrubs watered every week or two until the ground freezes, and especially just before a heavy freeze.

•Mulching is important when planting trees and shrubs in the cooler times of year. Mulch will help to maintain constant soil temperatures.

ST A E &

✔ Willow Growers ✔ Wildlife Friendly Plants ✔ Herbs & Edibles Starcross Devon www.reallyusefulplants.co.uk P O h r o on de r e r O , b n P y lin o e st

Growers of a wide selection of fruit trees for all situations

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Over 30 varieties of willow at Really Useful Plants Really Useful Plants at Easterhill Nursery, in Starcross, are passionate willow growers and makers, cultivating over 30 varieties of willow for ornamental and wildlife value, living structures, basketry and craft.

Colourful, ornamental willows make great statement shrubs and wonderful winter interest in gardens. From greens and yellows to bright reds and purples, even curly, there are so many attractive variations for floristry, craft, and basketry. More robust varieties are excellent for creating willow structures in gardens or community spaces.

Vigorous and thicker growing willows make effective windbreaks, fences, and hedges.

Willows are beneficial for wildlife with early spring catkins a source of food for pollinators. Willows can also improve soils, can be used as a rooting hormone, dye plant, and has medicinal properties!

Willows can be planted as stem cuttings or rods in the winter making growing willows very simple.

For willow sales, commissions & willow workshops: www.reallyusefulplants.co.uk reallyusefulplants@outlook.com

Plant Walcot Organic fruit trees over the winter Walcot Organic Nursery, located in the beautiful Vale of Evesham, will be supplying all sorts of fruit trees over the winter months. Grown in the soil they are available bare rooted when dormant until late March – nature’s time for tree planting.

Grown organically, there’s a wide selection of apples, pears, quinces, plums, damsons and more. Plant, then with a little training, look forward to enjoying delicious fruit in the future!

Gift vouchers are available. With Christmas in mind, or at any other time, why not encourage others around you to plant some fruit trees with a gift voucher?

Orders may be made via the website www.walcotnursery.co.uk, over the phone 01905 841587 or in person. The website provides much advice on choosing and growing fruit trees. A paper catalogue is also available.

Walcot Organic Nursery Walcot Lane, Pershore WR10 2AL www.countrygardener.co.uk

27

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28

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Large Selection of Perennials (Cottage Garden Plants),Trees, Shrubs, Herbs, Alpines and Vegetable Plants. Plus large selection of Ornamental Trees, Fruit Trees and Climbers.

Winter robins How to help Britain’s favourite feathered friend survive the season With their vibrant red breasts, cheeky personalities and cheerful melodies, robins are one of the UK’s favourite feathered friends and a popular addition to gardens throughout the winter.

Yet, they are also one of the most at-risk bird species, with an estimated life span of just two years and only 40 per cent surviving from one year to the next.

The combined threat from predators, extreme weather conditions, and lack of natural food sources and nesting sites, means that these garden visitors may need a helping hand as the winter months approach.

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Provide high-fat food perfect for foraging While robins might be a charming symbol of the festive period, the cold weather of winter can prove fatal for them. During a chilly night, a robin will use up to ten per cent of its body weight to stay warm. If they are unable to replenish these fat reserves, a particularly harsh cold snap could cause a drastic decline in the population.

What’s more, robins tend to prefer foraging on the ground, and can often be seen pulling worms out of the earth, however when the ground freezes and becomes hard, natural food sources become scarce.

Create a warm roost with an open nest box Many believe that just before spring is the best time to hang a nest box ahead of the breeding season, however there are many benefits of adding shelter for birds in autumn.

Not only will it provide protection against the extreme elements to come, but it will also encourage them to establish the garden as a safe space, increasing the chances of a breeding pair returning in spring.

Unlike other small songbird species such as blue tits, robins will not use traditional nest boxes with a small entrance hole. Instead, increase their chances of surviving the winter by offering a nest box with a half-open, cup-shaped entrance.

Ensure there is a supply of fresh water While it might be tempting to forget about a fresh water supply for birds after the heat of summer has passed, all species will benefit from a regular source right through winter.

Most birds’ diets consist mainly of dry foods such as seeds and nuts, so it’s important they can find plenty of fresh water to keep them hydrated and healthy. They also require a water source to bathe, as a regular wash helps to keep their plumage in top condition; essential for good insulation on cold nights.

Don’t forget to empty the bird bath regularly and clean it with a chemical-free cleaner to prevent harmful bacteria from developing. Rinse well after cleaning and replenish with fresh water, then all that’s left to do is to sit back and wait for a robin to appear.

By simply providing the right food, sturdy shelter and fresh water, the chances of a robin surviving the winter is greatly increased. What’s more, these simple additions will also increase the likelihood of attracting a red-breasted garden visitor, so that its beauty can be enjoyed not just in winter, but all through the year.

WIN

Win copies of John Boman’s novels

If you’re looking for some new styled fiction reading over Christmas then here’s the chance to win copies of novels which are sure to appeal to gardeners. The Gardening Club and The Tyranny of Friendship are by Dorset author John Boman who comes from Bournemouth.

The author’s basic idea for The Gardening Club is one most women will recognise and most men will deny, is that when men get together they talk about what needs doing but rarely action anything. The club are five retired men from different backgrounds who share a shed on an allotment. They moan about the pests in their town; they do act but it doesn’t all go well. It’s a good tale from a Bournemouth based author whose own background is gardening. His dad worked for Suttons Seeds as a seed analyst.

The second novel to be won, The Tyranny of Friendship, is set around Bournemouth and the New Forest.

TO WIN COPIES OF THE TWO NOVELS JUST ANSWER THIS QUESTION:

Which town does author John Boman come from?

www.countrygardener.co.uk

Send your answers on a postcard to John Boman Novels Competition, Mount House, Halse, Taunton TA4 3AD. Closing date is Friday 29th December.

29

TREE SPECIALIST

The melancholic joy of autumn colour Mark Hinsley explains the wonders of leaf changes and urges everyone to enjoy the show as it doesn’t last long.

It is that time again; the treescape is turning yellow, red and orange.

Some colours so bright they can take your breath away.

The butter yellows of tulip trees and ginkgos, liquidambars which look as though they are on fire with purple, reds, and oranges, maples from tiny Japanese varieties to large sugar maples glowing in the autumn light.

To me, it is a sad beauty, glorious but ephemeral. In fact, by the time this article has come to print most of it will probably have already gone. Mother Nature gives wonderful colours with one hand and takes them away with the other in the form of autumn gales.

We arboriculturists, when identifying trees on site, must look down for leaves on the ground rather than up for leaves on the trees.

Enough of the sentimentality – what is actually going on?

The main leaf colour is green. This is the colour of chlorophyll, which is found in the chloroplasts and performs, with some help, the single most important process on our planet – photosynthesis. Chlorophyll is green because it does not use green light, it uses mostly reds and blues. However, chlorophyll is not the only pigment in leaves, it is just, during the summer months, the dominant one.

As day length shortens and light levels drop the chlorophyll breaks down to reveal other pigments in the leaves which it has been masking through the preceding months.

The oranges and some of the yellows are carotenes. Carotenes were named after carrots because man discovered carrots long before he discovered carotenes. Carotenes are hydrocarbons. They contribute to photosynthesis by transmitting light energy they absorb to the chlorophyll.

The other yellows are xanthophyll. Xanthophyll turns light energy into heat to protect the chloroplasts. It is particularly important in evergreens because it helps the internal structure of the leaf survive the winter to be ready to function again in the spring.

Not universal and not every year are the fiery red anthocyanins. Hot dry summers, acid soils, heavy frosts and general plant stress can trigger the productions of anthocyanins as a ‘last gasp’ action to get a bit more energy out of the leaves before they fall.

What is a blaze of colour for us is a survival strategy for the trees, followed by a recycling

Editorial

Magazines

Publisher & Editor: Alan Lewis alan@countrygardener.co.uk Tel: 01823 431767

“Mother Nature gives wonderful colours with one hand and takes them away with the other in the form of autumn gales”. process when everything that cannot be retrieved is dropped to the ground. This serves to sustain the soil life the tree root system needs to function and to eventually have some of the elements of the leaves released into the soil for the tree to absorb and use again.

It was a system that worked fabulously for millions of years until man invented the lawn, the rake, the dustbin bag, and the municipal facility.

I have many books on tree pests and diseases, but I don’t think man the gardener is listed in any of them!

Most of the truly stunning autumn colour species are exotic introductions.

However, in a good year, some of our native trees put on a slightly understated, rather British, but still wonderful show.

After a good summer, beech trees in avenues, in hedges or standing alone can give most of the exotics a run for their money. silver birch and field maples when their yellow leaves are pinned against a November blue sky are pretty special.

Rowans are good, but they do seem to drop rather quickly. Even the humble hawthorn can be a sight to behold as a small tree or a countryside hedge.

So, enjoy it while it lasts – it won’t be there for long.

Mark Hinsley, of Mark Hinsley Arboricultural Consultants Ltd, offering tree consultancy services. www.treeadvice.info

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30

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