Hampshire Country Gardener April 2024

Hampshire Issue No 149 APRIL 2024 FREE

www.countrygardener.co.uk

Looking good: tasting great

The sheer pleasure of growing your own

PLUS: Wildflower lawns

Healthier houseplants Growing turnips

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

Tomato varieties for growing success Helping hedgehogs again: this summer

Victorian gardens and their glass palaces April weather and your garden

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

West Parley

Stuckton

www.basketsnblooms.co.uk 392 Christchurch Rd. West Parley, BH22 8SW 9am - 5pm Mon - Sat 10am - 4pm Sundays Blooms Cafe at our West Parley branch - tasty local produce for an even more pleasurable visit

Cell Pack Bedding plants for beds, borders and Patio pots - £3.49 3 for £10 Patio/Basket plants 9cm £1.75 18 for £25 Vegetable plants in pots and trays Ivy leaf Geraniums, Nemesias and Begonias 10.5cm £1.99 15 for £25 Geraniums 1 litre £3.25 8 for £25 Pot bedding plants (all others) 1 litre £2.75 8 for £20 Roses (all types) £10.99 2 for £20 Alpines & Perennials from £2.99 Hanging baskets and Hanging pots according to season.

Grasses, Heucheras and Ferns Good selection of garden essentials For seasonal opening times and precise locations please visit our web site 2

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Stuckton, Fordingbridge, SP6 2HG

10am - 4pm everyday Tel: 01425 655150 Both Centres are open as usual on Bank Holidays. West Parley closed Easter Sunday

facebook.com/basketsnblooms

Our business is founded on a passion for plants. Baskets and Blooms Plant Centres offer gardeners the opportunity to buy direct from the grower.

You save money and get top quality, fresh plants, locally grown.

Gardeners cuttings

in Hampshire

A LOOK AT NEWS, EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS IN YOUR AREA

Free sunflower seeds for every child

CUTTINGS

‘April is the kindest month.

It gets you out of your head and out working in the garden’. - Anon ‘You can have the rest of the year if you will give me April and May’ - Spanish proverb

BLOSSOM TRIP AROUND HAROLD HILLIER GARDENS

Otter Garden Centres are giving children the chance to grow their own sunflowers this summer - and the chance to win some fantastic prizes. The garden centre group is offering the seeds as part of the build up to National Children’s Gardening Week .Otter is encouraging children to get growing with a free packed of Thompson & Morgan seeds.

Parents and grandparents can collect the seeds from any of the company’s total of seven branches in the South West and South of England.

Each child gets a sunflower packed with 15 seeds

To claim the free seeds, parents or grandparents simply need to visit the garden centre website and fill in a form. An e-voucher will then be sent containing full information on how to collect the seeds instore. Each packet will contain around 15 sunflower seeds and free advice will be provided on planting to ensure healthy, tall sunflowers.

Later in the year, participants will be asked to upload photos of their tallest sunflower if they would like to enter the competition for great prizes.

Full details can be found at ottergardencentres.com/freesunflower

Blossom in many forms at Harold Hillier Gardens

There’s the chance for visitors to the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens in Romsey to learn more and enjoy the spring blossom throughout the gardens under the guidance of an expert horticulturist. The blossoms within the gardens are famous throughout the country and will include the best spring blossom from magnolias, camellias, rhododendrons and other flowering specimens. It’s the chance to learn more about the spring flowers in the gardens. The tour will last one and a half hours. It takes place on Thursday, April 18th and finishes with a slice of cake and hot drink. You will need your walking boots. Booking is essential. Members price £19; non-members £30.50 including garden admission Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Jermyns Lane, Romsey SO51 0QA

Borde Hill announces summer garden festival Here is a date for your mid summer diary. Borde Hill, the popular Grade II listed garden set within 383 acres of heritage parkland garden near Haywards Heath is staging the Borde Hill Garden Festival which will be taking place on 22nd-23rd June. Offering the perfect day out for families, friends, and garden enthusiasts alike, the festival will include over 40 beautifully curated independent stalls with planters, garden furniture, lifestyle trends and artisan accessories, alongside rare and unusual plants from national specialist nurseries. Guests will also be able to enjoy eclectic live music on the South Lawn, explore curated talks from leading garden designers and experts, and discover irresistible flavours from Sussex’s best pop-ups.

Tickets available at www.bordehill.co.uk Borde Hill’s 383 acres of parkland gardens to host festival

Borde Hill, Borde Hill Lane, Haywards Heath RH16 1XP

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The subscription service eliminates the hassle of buying food in bulk and storing various buckets. The recyclable packaging used

by Pondbox also makes it an environmentally friendly choice.

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SUPPLYING THE FINEST TERRACOTTA POTS

A FAMILY RUN NURSERY FOR THE EXPERIENCED AND NOVICE GARDENER

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

Over 40 varieties of

CRETE POTS HAMPSHIRE

LOOSE SEED POTATOES, LOOSE ONIONS, SHALLOTS PEAS & BEANS

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GREAT OFFERS ON COMPOST

Showroom /office open Tuesday to Friday 10am to 1pm or by appointment.

DAHLIAS

CAFÉ ON SITE

CONTACT Tom on 077677 64539 EMAIL tom@huntersfarm.co.uk VISIT www.cretepots.com for more information

(all compost we supply we use ourselves, so we can recommend it)

Our own Dahlia tubers now available for sale

Frost proof down to minus -20 Hand made using the very best traditions handed down by the Minoan Civilization.

Mud Island Garden Centre Tel: 01329 834407 www.mudislandgardencentre.com Southwick Road, Wickham, Hampshire PO17 6JF

Excellent range of seasonal plants now in

Open 7 days a week, inc Bank Holidays 9am-5pm

Plant Centre Giftware Artificial Flowers 4

Garden Furniture Country Gardener

All the gardening sundries you need in our shop, as well as beautiful gifts.

Why not pay us a visit...

CUTTINGS

Roses come out top in gardeners’ popularity research New research carried out in the west country has revealed the rose as the most popular flower for gardeners.

Somerset plant nursery Ashridge Trees analysed monthly searches over the past year for 20 common flowers to determine their popularity.

The research comes at the perfect time as people prepare gardens for plants– with March considered the key month for beginning a new gardening project, with the soil moist, and the weather hopefully getting warmer.

It is no surprise the rose takes top spot, probably the most romantic flowers and available in so many forms from standard to bush to climbing and part of the love gardeners have for them is the huge array of colours available.

Following in second place was the sunflower.

In third place was the poppy.

Ranking fourth was the hydrangea.

Hydrangeas have big, rounded petals that produce a sypherical shape and can be found in a range of colours, such as blue or white.

Rounding out the top five was the peony, one of the most romantic flowers, with lush, full blooms that are most popular in shades of pink.

along with the lack of really cold weather, it seems we’re going to have a fantastic start to the flowering season as many are already in bloom.”

EXBURY GARDENS BURST INTO EARLY SPRING COLOUR There have been clear signs of an early spring at Exbury Gardens thanks to the recent weather which has meant a very colourful start to the season for the popular Hampshire gardens Visitors to the New Forest location can see the display of spring blooms three weeks earlier than anticipated.

Influenced by the mild and damp weather, the garden’s camellias, rhododendrons, magnolias and daffodils are already showcasing their colours. Usually, these flowers don’t blossom until later in March.

Exbury’s daffodil meadow and the river of gold, a walkway adorned with more than 100,000 yellow and blue spring bulbs, are also expected into colour with the early start of the season.

Also within the gardens are 600 different types of camellia, 6,400 rhododendron cultivars, and hundreds of magnolias.

Head gardener Tom Clarke said: “It looks set to be a great, and early, spring at Exbury. Our rare plant collections were already covered in lots of buds as it was so damp last summer and autumn.

“And with the high rainfall continuing over the winter,

Visitors can also enjoy the indoor display of leopard lilies and orchids housed in the Five Arrows Gallery.

Admission to the exhibition is included within the garden entry cost.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the picturesque Azalea Bowl, the location of numerous marriage proposals and potentially the most photographed spot in Exbury.

To honour this anniversary, the gardens will offer azalea-themed guided tours and a commemorative photo page on Exbury’s website, featuring visitors’ memories captured in the Azalea Bowl.

Other highlights at Exbury include a children’s art exhibition in June to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, and half-price entry for dads on Father’s Day. July will host Dragonfly Week, featuring expert-led walks and talks centred around Exbury’s dragonfly pond, while August and September sees a spotlight on hydrangeas and a host of garden games for younger visitors.The gardens are now open from10am to 5.30pm until November Exbury Gardens Exbury, Southampton SO45 1AF

An early spring at Exbury Gardens

SPECTACULAR GARDENS AWAIT EARLY SPRING VISITORS Spring is really under way now and there are beautiful gardens awaiting visitors in Hampshire during April, where you can have a wander, enjoy a cuppa and cake, and know you’re helping to raise much needed funds for nursing and caring charities supported by the National Garden Scheme.

OLD THATCH, Sprats Hatch Lane, Winchfield, Hook, Hampshire RG27 8DD opens for the NGS on Sunday 14th

Old Thatch

April, 2pm-6pm, a chocolate box thatched cottage, with a profusion of wild flowers, perennials and homegrown annuals pollinated by the owners’ own bees and fertilised by the resident donkeys; also more than 30 named clematis and rose cultivars. Sometimes there are lambs to see.

The peaceful gardens of THE MILLENNIUM BARN, beside the Basingstoke Canal in the grounds of Old Thatch, opens on the same day for the NGS. Admission to both gardens is £5, children free, with homemade teas available, plants for sale, wheelchair access and dogs allowed on short leads.

TWIN OAKS, 13 Oakwood Road, Chandler’s Ford, Eastleigh, Hampshire SO53 1LW opens for the NGS on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th April from 1pm until 5pm each day. It’s an evolving suburban water garden, with azaleas, rhododendrons and bulbs, a lawn meandering between informal beds and ponds, and bridges leading to a tranquil pergola seating area overlooking a wildlife pond. A rockery is skirted by a stream and a waterfall tumbles into a large lily pond, home to dragonflies, and there’s an aviary.

www.countrygardener.co.uk

Twin Oaks

Admission £4.50, children free, with homemade teas available, plants for sale, wheelchair access and dogs allowed on short leads. It also opens on later dates for the NGS, and to groups by arrangement, for more details see the website at www.ngs.org.uk

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CUTTINGS

CALL TO ACTION FOR COMMUNITY GARDEN PROJECT Ryde Town Council on the isle of Wight is launching a community garden project, aimed at offering residents an escape to engage with nature.

This green initiative, undertaken in alliance with Riboleau Studios and Aspire Ryde, aspires to be more than just a garden.

Sculpture by the Lakes to host Plant and Garden Fair this May Sculpture by the Lakes, a botanic garden nestled in the heart of the countryside, is set to host a two-day event showcasing everything for the garden, from 17th-18th May.

It’s a hands-on learning experience for primary school pupils and their families and, with the support of Ryde School students, the project is progressing towards a spring opening.

Visitors will be able to purchase a selection of beautiful and rare plants from specialist nurseries, garden furniture, and ornaments, and a range of exhibitors will be on hand providing helpful advice to all.

However, there’s much still to be done and the council is inviting all residents to engage in a garden blitz.

Sculptor Simon Gudgeon will be showcasing his exclusive range of ornate fire pits, swinging seats, and birdfeeders, at the free-to-enter event at the Makers Yard.

Alison Pearce, community development officer said: “Our goal is to create a space that fosters community engagement, promotes sustainable living, and provides educational opportunities for all. Your enthusiasm and willingness to contribute are all that’s needed to make this project a success. Whether you’re passionate about gardening or simply eager to lend a hand, we welcome your participation.”

Those wishing to explore the wider park (entry fee applies) can enjoy a tranquil, retreat-like experience through a carefully curated collection of exclusive artwork among its landscaped gardens.

The initiative involves cultivating a green space within the town to create a community garden.

(Image: Supplied)

We can all learn more about composting

The event comprising setup of a polytunnel, pruning, weeding, and general garden preparation.

Those interested in volunteering should drop an email to community@rydetowncouncil.gov.uk or call 07496 382950.

Two day plant fair showcasing everything for the garden

Sculpture by the Lakes was recently accredited by the Botanic Gardens Conservation International and is the only sculpture park in the world to hold the status.

For more information about Sculpture by the Lakes and the plant fair visit: https://www.sculpturebythelakes.co.uk/event/the-plant-and-garden-festival-2024/

A composting masterclass workshop takes place in East Meon on Saturday 20th April at 10 am. It is a one-day course teaching you everything you need to know about making your own high quality garden compost. Horticultural teacher Jane Gleeson will guide you through how to get a successful compost heap going and get the all-important mix of materials right, how to look after it; use the finished compost in your garden. During practical sessions you will be able to explore a variety of compost systems at the Sustainability Centre including wormeries, hot composters and cold composters. The course fee is £75.

The Sustainability Centre, Droxford Roadd, East Meon GU32 1HR https://www.sustainability-centre.org/composting-masterclass

ARUNDEL CASTLE ANNOUNCES APRIL PLANT FAIR

A number of different themed walks are now back at Mottisfont

Themed walks through the gardens at Mottisfont Themed guided walks are back at Mottisfont Gardens near Romsey. Led by volunteers the garden is home to many tree specimens including grand horse chestnuts and stately oaks planted by Georgian owners. There’s a variety of options including a Welcome Walk for first time visitors as well as more in-depth walks and season garden walks which at this time of the year are still putting emphasis on the wonderful daffodil collections in the garden.

There is still the opportunity to see the collection of over 50 artworks of humorous drawings from both World Wars, demonstrating Heath Robinson’s ability to counter the horror of war with gentle satire and absurdity.

Arundel Castle, Arundel BN18 9AB

The touring exhibition is open until Sunday, April 14th.

Mottisfont Gardens, Mottisfont Lane, Mottisfont, Romsey SO51 0LP 6

Arundel Castle’s Plant Fair, in collaboration with Plant Fair Roadshow - a group of specialist nurseries - is returning this year on Sunday ,21st April.

Catering to seasoned gardeners and beginners alike, the Plant Fair will take place between 10am and 5pm within the castle grounds. It offers attendees the opportunity to explore and purchase locally cultivated plants from experienced growers. They can also get free advice directly from those who have propagated and grown the plants.

This year’s exhibitors include multiple RHS Chelsea and RHS Hampton Court winners, including Steve Edney and Lou Dowle from the ‘No Name Nursery’ in East Kent, who grow an eclectic mix of exotics and unusual foliage plants and can often be heard sharing their years of experience on local BBC Radio.

Other companies who are taking a break from preparing for RHS Chelsea to attend the event include Miles Japanese Maples, who will be bringing their expertly grown acers, Swallowfields Nursery, an expert in cottage garden perennials and an exciting collection of auriculas, and Pelham Plants Nursery, who offer great border perennials.

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MACPENNY’S NURSERIES BRANSGORE

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Bespoke fit-outs

Choosing reliable, easy to grow vegetables

Potato ‘Charlotte’ Runner Bean ‘White Lady’ Courgette ‘Defender’ Sweetcorn ‘Swift’

GROWING VEGETABLES CONTINUES TO ATTRACT NEW CONVERTS AS MILLIONS OF GARDENERS ALREADY GEAR UP FOR A NEW GROWING SEASON. SELECTING PROBLEM FREE VARIETIES IS HALF THE BATTLE

There are several basic requirements gardeners need when it comes to growing vegetables. As the new season starts with the longer days and hopefully warmer weather it is a question of making life as easy as possible.

That means choosing the right variety of vegetables to grow. It remains the most important decision of all.

We need our selections to be reliable, widely available, straightforward to grow and not too prone to pests and diseases. Given those criteria it’s then down to us. March and April can see a wide variety of crops being sown, some which may suit the greenhouse better and it may be a few weeks before the threat of frost has passed and it is safe to plant outdoors.

But when it comes to choosing the varieties most likely to succeed here’s a selection of gardener’s favourites:

throughout the summer. It is a disease resistant variety. Sow either indoors from midApril or direct in the soil outdoors from May.

Lettuce ‘Salad Bowl’ The easiest to grow are the loose leaf selections such as ‘ Salad Bowl ‘which once established you can pick the leaves a few at a time to avoid waste. Sow direct in the ground or in seed trays undercover from March to June. Sow seed on moist, well-prepared soil or compost. Cover with a very thin layer of compost or vermiculite. Thin seedlings out and remember to keep sowing every week so you get them throughout the summer.

Beetroot ‘Boltardy’ This is a classic red beetroot, easy to grow which will sit happily in the soil until you are ready to pick it. It should be sown direct into the soil between March and May. Remember to sow little and often so you get a regular harvest throughout the summer.

Pick when on the small side is not much bigger than a golf ball.

Carrot ‘Flyaway’ This variety has become increasingly popular recently because of its resistance to carrot root fly which can deter growing carrots with its unsightly holes in the roots. Always sow direct into the soil. It will need little attention other than some thinning out later in the spring.

Potato ‘Charlotte’ A delicious potato which is waxy in texture and has a great taste. It is a variety which is resistance to pests and diseases and has been shooting up the popularity lists with gardeners and especially allotment holders over the past few years. It makes a great salad potato. Plant from April onwards.

Tomato ‘Sungold’ This is a variety which is famous amongst growers for its sweetness and its intense flavour. It ripens with a golden orange, light red colour and has little history of disease problems. You can grow from May onwards outside but this is a variety which loves the warmth of the greenhouse or a warm windowsill and can be sown from March onwards.

Runner Bean ‘White Lady’ Easy to grow and very popular because of its very high yields. It produces lovely whiter flowers before the tender beans mature. Best sown direct into the soil from mid-May onwards. Sown any earlier and it might take a while to establish itself.

Broad bean ‘Dreadnought’ Broad bean seeds give you a crop that really is best eaten fresh from harvest. Full of nutrients, they are easy to germinate and grow. An upright, bushy half-hardy annual which is easy to grow.

This heritage variety broad bean has glaucous green leaves and clusters of black and white flowers, followed by slender pods to 20cm long, with seven or eight green-skinned white beans per pod. They are sturdy plants but as they grow to two feet and more it is best to support them with a network of poles and string to stop them falling over and rotting.

Sweet corn ‘Swift’ Well known and loved by gardeners and a variety which has a great reputation for ripening well and having a great taste. Wind pollinated so must be planted in blocks rather than in a row. Sow in the greenhouse from mid-April to mid-May. Outdoors you might have to wait until late May.

Courgette ‘Defender’

Cucumber ‘Burpless Tasty’ This wonderfully named variety produces crispy, delicious fruits with no bitterness which as the name suggests is easy to digest. Fast growing and with high yields it will grow to about 18 inch but can spread out a lot.

Great texture with very high yields. Two plants will be enough to sustain a family www.countrygardener.co.uk

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Rewilding

are we starting to get somewhere?

REWILDING IS ALLOWING NATURE TO RECLAIM SPACES, AND HELPING THE LAND TO RECOVER FROM THE DAMAGE HUMANS HAVE CAUSED. IT SOUNDS A BIG TASK BUT THERE’S A LOT OF SIGNS THERE IS ALREADY A POSITIVE IMPACT. It has been settled - one of the biggest predicted garden trends again this year is the ‘wild garden’.

Rewilding offers hope. In a nutshell, it is the large-scale restoration of nature until it can take care of itself – and us – again. It’s about restoring nature’s remarkable web of life, including habitats, natural processes and, where appropriate, missing species.

Rewilding can mean a lot of different things. It ranges from not mowing grass verges, to restoring rivers, through to the reintroduction of wild species.

Rewilding generally involves letting nature take the lead.

This is done by restoring natural processes and reducing human management. For gardeners it means leaving areas to nature, cutting back on chemicals and planting the right pollinator friendly trees and shrubs.

Rewilding is important because it has captured the imagination of a wide range of different people, and it continues to receive a lot of attention. It can be a powerful tool in our conservation toolkit, to help tackle the nature and climate crises.

Rewilding Britain, the registered charity formed in 2015 that aims to promote the rewilding of the whole country, wants to see rewilding flourishing across Britain,

reconnecting us with nature, sustaining communities, and tackling the climate emergency and extinction crisis.

In fact, enquiries to the Royal Horticultural Society surrounding wild gardening increased by over 28 per cent last year, and are set to continue surging again this year.

Around the edges, however, local wildlife restoration projects are having an impact. Last year, 3.22 per cent of the UK’s land was deemed to be well protected and managed, according to Wildlife Trusts, a slight increase on 2021, and councils are embracing rewilding. More and more community and private projects appear to be springing up too.

Opinion polls show that 81per-cent of Britons support rewilding, with 40per-cent strongly supportive and just 5per-cent of people opposed. Four in five adults in Britain support rewilding, according to new research.

In Dorset for example where just a year ago there were a series of overgrazed knolls, there is now a meadow bursting with purple knapweed flowers that sprouted after the sheep were allowed to mimic wild grazing.

The burst of flowers spawned a “massive increase” in invertebrates and insectivorous birds, including spotted

flycatchers and swallows, while sightings of weasels, badgers and deer are increasing.

In south-west England, the local authority in Truro, Cornwall, established a team of countryside rangers about five years ago to increase wildlife prevalence on council-owned land. The planting of new trees in woodland areas has led to the growing prevalence of the wasp spider in the area. There have also been increased sightings of bright orange fritillary butterflies, and birds such as firecrests, gold crests and buzzards.

“One of the meadows in Coosebean Woodland is now a real hotspot for butterflies and spiders,” says Ben Slattery, the lead countryside ranger. “We are seeing increases of wildlife now our sites are being managed specifically to increase wildlife.”

The community has come together to conduct biological censuses known as bioblitzes, to litter pick and to help the rangers with maintenance, alongside locally run bat tours and talks on nature. “We have seen new species arrive and numbers of local species grow,” says Eleanor Atkins, a volunteer. “It is a joy to watch the seasons change in this natural oasis.”

PRACTICAL REWILDING IDEAS IN YOUR GARDEN LET THE GRASS GROW One of the simplest things you can do is stop mowing the grass so often. Let the lawn grow longer in some areas, cutting or scything a few times a year and you will offer birds and insects an all-important sequence of flowers and seedheads that change weekly. Wildlife needs this variety to thrive. Perhaps give a thought to embracing No Mow May. It can make a significant difference.

STOP USING CHEMICALS One of the reasons behind the massive loss of insects in gardens and on farming land is the increasing use of pesticides and herbicides, So the answer is simple –

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swap fertilisers for an organic seaweed feed for example.

Or make use of your own compost heap which provides a home for all manner of creatures.

SEE WEEDS IN A NEW LIGHT So much is drummed into gardeners about weeds and which must be destroyed at all costs we forget they do provide an invaluable source of nectar, seeds, shelter and nest sites for insects, birds and mammals.

So, you don’t have to set off in a war against weeds.

A more gentle approach would help. Could you for example leave a wild patch in your garden? Brambles, honeysuckle and wild rose form dense thickets which offer a home for creatures while nettles and ivy give butterflies a place to lay their eggs.

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CHOOSE PLANTS WITH WILDLIFE IN MIND Chose and allow plants that provide all year-round nectar, pollen, seeds and berries, Clover, lavender and even snowdrops are all pollinator friendly plants for spring and summer while holly gives evergreen shelter to insects in winter. In autumn sparrow and finches feed on seedheads so leave them -just as you would see in the wild!

ENCOURAGE NATIVE TREES Native trees are so good for wildlife simply because they have evolved alongside each other. Varieties you should be thinking of include rowan, hawthorn, holly, silver birch, yew, crab apple, elderberry plum or cherry.

JOBS FOR THE MONTH

GARDENING JOBS for April April sees longer days and hopefully warmer temperatures. Spring bulbs bring welcome colour to borders and pots and the veg garden starts to fill up with new plantings. There’s plenty to do to get your garden in shape but don’t panic, take things one step at a time and you’ll get it all done. It’s important to take a few moments to sit in the sun, listen to the birds and plan your gardening.

The lengthening days however do make it the perfect time to set up the garden for summer.

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April, as they say, is the cruellest month with sun one minute and frosty mornings and bitter winds the next. In the April garden tender young leaves are prone to frost burn and judging what to do when is tricky.

It’s all a question of timing.

So, roll your sleeves up, grab your tools and sow, plant, feed and tidy. It’s good for the garden and good for the soul…

Flower seeds you can sow this month

If you haven’t already sown sweet peas now is your last chance. Sow into deep pots or root trainers as they dislike disturbance to their roots. Or, instead, look out for young plants in nurseries and garden centres. Check whether they are grown for scent or for cutting. Some longer stemmed varieties may smell less strongly.

Sow marigolds, petunias, nasturtiums, asters, zinnia and salvia indoors or in the greenhouse.

Outdoors you can sow native wildflowers and hardy annuals such as poppies and sunflowers.

3

Time to plant dahlia tubers

Bringing dahlias in for the winter doesn’t just protect them against frost. It also allows them to dry out properly, and helps you bring them on a bit earlier.

They’re now ready to be planted.

Give tubers a sprinkling of water in early spring, and they’ll start to produce young shoots in April.

Dig a planting hole, making sure it isn’t too deep. The shoots are still delicate, and you don’t want to damage them.

Gently pour coarse sand over the tubers; this prevents them from rotting and it’s also a great slug repellent.

Backfill with soil and add a ring of sand to mark the planting spot.

5

Re-energise your garden soil

6

More April garden jobs

It’s one of the oldest clichés in gardening: the answer lies in the soil.

And as all good gardeners know, it’s true! Improving soil now will pay dividends come summer, resulting in bigger crops and more flowers.

Buy sacks of well-rotted manure and dig or fork it into border soil and vegetable patches (don’t let manure touch stems of shrubs and plants). If you don’t have access to manure, the contents of your compost bin can work wonders. Open the access hatch at the bottom and if the material inside is brown and crumbly, it’s a nutrient-rich wonder that’s ready to be dug into soil.

• Keep azaleas and rhododendrons looking good by pinching off fading flower heads above a new set of leaves.

• Deadhead early flowering primulas as early as possible, as they tend to cross-breed very easily.

• Early April is your last opportunity to hard-prune late-flowering shrubs.

2

It’s now all action on the veggie front

The soil should now be warm enough for seeds to germinate so, once the nights begin to warm up find room for carrots, parsnips and beetroot.

Start sowing spinach and chard. These can go direct into the soil and will need to be watered well until they get going.

Avoid letting them dry out or they might bolt.

Sow broccoli, kale and Brussels sprouts for winter. Sow individual seeds into modules and leave to germinate either in the green house or a windowsill. They should appear within a couple of weeks. Once they have reached about four inches they can be hardened off and then planted outside.

Sow runner and French beans two to a small pot indoors or under glass. Keep the soil moist and they should soon germinate.

Potatoes need to be planted this month. New potatoes go in early to mid April.

Maincrops follow in the second half of the month but exactly when you plant your potatoes will depend on local conditions. The key is to avoid emerging foliage being burned by frost. New potatoes (also known as First and Second Earlies) should be spaced a foot apart.

4

Remember the container growing option

It doesn’t matter how small your outdoor space is, there’s always an opportunity to grow your own vegetables and fruit, even on a patio or balcony. You will have to water and feed container-grown crops more rigorously than those in the ground.

Which pot or container for growing produce?

There’s lots of choice. There are tiered strawberry pots, which can look wonderful when well cared for.There are veg trugs, raised off the ground to waist height, where you can mix and match low-growing leafy crops such as lettuces, herbs and courgettes.

Pots come in all shapes and sizes, although if you’re planning to grow a long-term patio fruit tree for instance, your pot should be rugged, squat and frost-resistant.

Bush tomatoes with a tumbling habit can be grown in hanging baskets, as can strawberries and shorter chillies. Large pots are useful for tripods of vegetables, including climbing beans, and colourful garden peas.

You can use a variety of materials for summer use, including baskets, galvanised metal and glazed pots.

Make sure, whichever pot you choose, that there’s a good-sized drainage hole in the base.

• Stake your perennials before it’s too late. Create attractive willow or hazel structures.

• Remove pure green branches from variegated shrubs, such as elaegnus, privet and euonymus – cut them right back to the main stem with secateurs.

• Start spraying roses using an organic-approved garlic formula; the key is to start early and spray often.

www.countrygardener.co.uk

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7

When, where and how to sow seeds with minimal effort

It’s a good idea to order your seeds well in advance so you’re ready for good weather. Clear out the shed, wipe down the potting table and wash the seed trays and pots so they’re free from pests.

Sow your seeds into a variety of different trays, modules and pots, depending on what you have and how large the plant is going to get. The pots should be plastic not terracotta pots, which dry out too quickly because the terracotta absorbs water from the soil.

Smaller plants such as lettuces, cosmos, marigolds and basil can all go into trays. Plants that are going to be more substantial and have strong roots, such as leeks, tomatoes and squashes, should be sown into modules.

Which is better pots/trays or modules?

The advantage of modules is that it keeps the roots of each seedling separate and so avoiding tangles when you come to planting out. The disadvantage of modules is that some are tricky to push the young plants out. They work best when the roots grow enough to form a network which holds the plant plug together.

8

Supporting role for your fast growing plants

Climbing plants head skywards as temperatures rise. Some, such as passion flowers, are masters of clinging on, using tendrils to firmly attach to supports.

Others such as climbing roses and honeysuckle may need a little bit of help, especially if conditions are windy. Use garden twine or string to anchor new growth to supports.

Installing trellis can help, too. Obelisks offer shelter and support for climbers while looking ornamental in borders.

In an ideal world one would only grow a handful of plants that need support, but in small gardens and where plants are drawn up to reach for light, this will be necessary. Hazel twigs are excellent, but steel hoops are most easily installed.

Make wigwams for sweet peas and climbing beans.

Hinged module trays known as rootrainers that allow you to remove the plant more easily are now available, but be prepared to pay quite a lot more for them compared to ordinary seed trays.

Seed trays are great for things like lettuces which are more delicate and won’t form much of a root system before planting.

Pots are good for herbs like parsley and basil as they offer the chance for the roots to travel down and establish before planting out. You should use a proper seed compost for sowing seeds.

Ordinary garden soil will be full of weed seeds and either overly nutritious or almost inert, depending on where you live.

9

Sweet peppers are a must in any greenhouse If you have a greenhouse, sweet peppers are a must. They’re one of the easiest crops to grow and have a multitude of uses in the kitchen – adding flavour and crunch to stir fries, summer salads and fajitas. Red, green and yellow varieties are commonly available. Seeds should be sown as soon as possible this month, placing seed trays or pots in a propagator at around 20°C. Once the first pair of leaves have formed, seedlings should be pricked-out into pots. Sweet peppers thrive under glass, but can also be grown in containers outdoors after all danger of frost has passed.

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...and don’t forget to attend your fruit

• To avoid risk of infection, stone fruits such as plum, cherry, peach, nectarine and apricot should only be pruned during the growing season.

Prune late April, when the plants are in leaf and after flowering. Immediately seal all cuts greater than one centimetre with wound seal.Repot your citrus in fresh citrus-specific compost. If you can’t find this, ericaceous is the next best thing.

• Top dress blueberries grown in pots with ericaceous compost. It’s important to have two different varieties of blueberries to get good production – they will fruit without, but you’ll get a paltry quantity.

• All soft fruits, for example strawberries, raspberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants, and gooseberries, will benefit from a mulch.

Garden compost, leaf mould, organic manure, straw, hay and spent mushroom compost can all be used.

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Re-pot your houseplants

As light levels increase and temperatures rise, houseplants put on new growth. Increase watering and start liquid feeding – general purpose feeds such as Baby Bio cater for a broad spectrum of houseplants, while specific feeds are available for orchids and citrus. If a houseplant looks unhappy and has been in its pot for two or more years, it may need to be re-potted (roots bursting from drainage holes at the bottom of the pot are a tell-tale sign). Choose a slightly larger pot and fill with houseplant or loam-based compost. Never use houseplant compost for orchids though, which need an open, bark-based orchid compost that allows air to reach the roots.

Start off summer bedding plants

In April, start off half-hardy annuals, such as cosmos, marigolds and zinnias, from seeds for colour in summer.

Alternatively buy plug plants online and pot them up in a compost for raising young plants.

If plants arrive in the post, take them out of the box straight away so they’re exposed to light.

Care for camellias Use an ericaceous feed and gently hoe it into the surface of the soil. If plants are growing in containers, remove the top few centimetres of compost, and replace with fresh ericaceous compost and controlled-release feed for ericaceous plants.

Remove any weeds around your plant and cover the bare soil with a mulch, such as garden compost or well-rotted manure. This will help to conserve moisture in the soil.

Most camellias just need a light prune after flowering to keep them in shape.

Overgrown plants can be cut back hard if needed. They will send up new shoots from the base. You’ll miss flowering for a few years, but they will recover.

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GREAT PLACES TO VISIT

Great spring garden days out A NEW SEASON IS ALMOST HERE AS GARDENING VENUES REACH OUT TO VISITORS WITH SPRING IDEAS FOR GREAT DAYS OUT - THE BEST INDICATION THAT WE’VE SEEN THE END OF WINTER How many times during the winter months do we long for spring?

Well it’s almost time to dust ourselves down and start to enjoy longer, warmer days to the full and while many of us prefer some sort of hibernation during the long winter months now there are signs we can start to celebrate the new gardening season.

The clearest signs are the number of garden venues who are reaching out to visitors with their new season offerings - everything from daffodil days to trips to Cornwall, to garden visits, plant fairs, days out at an NGS garden and garden festivals.

And while March saw a number of events starting to appear in the calendar, now we are steaming towards April, the diary is bursting with events all over the south and south west.

So, with that in mind we’ve lots of ideas as you start to plan those great days out.

Caerhays - a magical 140 acre woodland garden

Plenty of woodland and countryside attractions to enjoy at the Royal Bath & West Show The Royal Bath & West Show returns on 30th May and 1st June, with the Woodland and Countryside Arena offering exciting and creative attractions.

The Dorset Axemen will be performing their ever-popular displays, and there will be a horse logging demonstration through the arboretum.

Visitors can also indulge their creative side by producing their own wooden wand at the Amerton Art Studio, using traditional child-safe techniques. Woodland walks are also available, with an interactive map and worksheet to complete. These entertainments are available on all three days of the show, so you won’t miss out whichever day you choose to visit! To book visit www.bathandwest.com.

Royal Bath & West Show,The Showground, Shepton Mallet BA4 6QN

FORDE ABBEY HOSTS HIGH PROFILE APRIL GARDENING FAIR

Little Malvern - look out for beautiful pots of tulips

Colour galore as Little Malvern wakes up for spring The picturesque gardens at Little Malvern Court sit below the wooded slopes of the Malvern Hills, with far-reaching views across the Severn Valley to the Bredon Hill and the Cotswolds.

Features to look out for in May include the beautiful pots of tulips, grouped according to colour, surrounding the house.

The varied flowering cherries and crab apple trees will be in blossom. Wildflowers begin to appear in the grass banks and lovely blue camassias pop up in the tall grass of the meadow.

In the rose garden, alliums literally burst into flower and the early roses start to open.

There are cedar trees, planted from seeds brought back from the Holy Land by Charles Michael Berington. The chain of lakes, formerly fishponds for the monks, follow the layout from a plan dated 1720 and, like much of the garden, were restored in the 1980’s.

Little Malvern Court & Gardens, Little Malvern WR14 4JN Tel: 07856 035599 www.littlemalverncourt.co.uk 14

Forde Abbey hosts its high-profile Plant and Gardening Fair on Saturday, 6th April just part of a busy programme of events at the popular gardens near Chard.

There will be specialist nurseries selling plants and craftsmen with brilliant gardening sundries from 10.30am to 3.30pm.

The fair takes place at the beginning of the Abbey’s popular tulip display, a time to see the garden waking up from its winter hibernation. The coffee shop will be open throughout the day serving hot drinks, light bites and homemade cakes. The award-winning gift shop with some souvenirs will also be open, The Abbey’s in-house plant nursery is also open from 10.30am. All the plants are grown at the Abbey.

The gardens will remain open until 5pm (last entry at 4pm).

A reduced entry fee of £5 to the Plant & Gardening Fair, including admission to Forde Abbey’s 30-acre gardens. Parking is free. (The admission fee applies to all visitors including children over 15).

Ford Abbey, Chard, Somerset TA20 4LU

Blossom spectacular at beautiful Batsford Arboretum Immerse yourself in the beauty of spring blossom at Batsford Arboretum. Home to the National Collection of Prunus (Satozakura Group) cherry trees, Batsford has over 120 flowering cherries throughout the arboretum, as well as 73 species of magnolia, adding pastel hues and pretty pinks to the seasonal landscape alongside carpets of daffodils and spring-flowering bulbs.

Batsford Garden Centre is a haven for garden and plant lovers too, offering a fabulous range of quality, affordable plants and gifts.

Pre-booking is advisable for arboretum visits via www.batsarb.co.uk Batsford Arboretum & Garden Centre, Batsford, Moretonin-Marsh, Gloucestershire GL56 9AT Tel: 01386 701441 Country Gardener

24 acres of Rare Shrubs, Trees, Pools & Waterfalls Home-made soups & cakes

10th March - 9th June on Sundays, Wednesdays and Bank Holidays 11am - 5pm

Harford Ivybridge PL21 0JF Tel 01752 691749

www.lukesland.co.uk

DOWNSTREAM DORSET, RIVER TALES AND LOCAL HISTORY

by Mary van Coller

A perfect gift for all lovers of Dorset Just £19.95 plus p&p Order from www.downstreamdorset.co.uk or www.spiral-books.com 20% of proceeds to DORSET AND SOMERSET AIR AMBULANCE

April at Hartland Abbey & Gardens Easter Sunday & Monday Easter Egg Hunts Sunday 14th & 21st - Bluebell Sundays and Tulips Visit this stunning family home with its fascinating collections, exhibitions, beautiful walled and woodland gardens and walks to the beach. Film location for ‘Malory Towers’, ‘The Night Manager’ and more. * Dogs welcome * Holiday Cottages * * Delicious light lunches & cream teas * House, Gardens etc and Café open until 3rd October Sunday to Thursday 11am - 5pm (House 2pm -5pm last adm. 4pm)

For more information and special events see www.hartlandabbey.com Hartland, Nr. Bideford EX39 6DT 01237441496/234

Tea Room & Walled Garden Nursery

WELL BEHAVED DOGS ON LEADS WELCOME

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.

walledgardens@btc.ac.uk

Nestled in the heart of North Devon, Marwood Hill Garden is a hidden gem Home to four National Plant Heritage collections, this private valley garden spans over 20-acres and showcases three stunning lakes, rare trees & shrubs, and colourful surprises throughout each season. Not only a haven for wildlife, the garden is also the perfect environment to explore and be inspired.

MASSIVE PLANT SALE! Open to the public

Enjoy a day of inspirational and relaxation for the whole family.

27 & 28th April 2024 th

SATURDAY 9AM-5PM SUNDAY 10AM-4PM Follow the yellow signs from the A420 FREE ENTRY Over 5 Acres of plants • Refreshments • Catalogues sold in aid of local charities

01249 782822 www.wknurseries.co.uk West Kington, Nr Chippenham, Wiltshire SN14 7JQ

Catch up over coffee and homemade cake or a cream tea in the picturesque Garden Tea Room or take a bit of Marwood magic home with you from our Walled Garden Nursery and Plant Sales.

Enquiries & Tea Room 01271 342528 Plant Sales & Nursery 01271 342577 e info@marwoodhillgarden.co.uk w marwoodhillgarden.co.uk Marwood Hill Gardens, Marwood, Barnstaple, Devon EX31 4EA www.countrygardener.co.uk

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GREAT PLACES TO VISIT

Beaulieu House welcomes back BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair Beaulieu House and gardens welcomes back BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair from Friday, 3rd May to Sunday 5th May, celebrating spring plants and gardens. Returning to the Hampshire home of the National Motor Museum, it promises to be a thrilling three days.

Visitors will be able to drop in at the BBC Gardeners’ World magazine stage to join special guests including Adam Frost, Joe Swift and many more. With daily talks from the editors, plus special guests. Each day, you’ll get practical tips, topical advice, and the ultimate growing guide to get the best out of your garden this season.

And don’t miss BBC Gardeners’ World Live, at the NEC Birmingham from 13th to 16th June.

You can purchase tickets at www.beaulieu.co.uk/events/bbc-gardeners-world-fair-spring

Two top quality Rare Plant Fairs in April

The season of Rare Plant Fairs continues in April with two fantastic events. The first is a longstanding fair at The Old Rectory at Quenington, near Cirencester on Sunday, April 14th in support of Cobalt Health. The second is set in the stunning 60-acre woodland gardens at Evenley Wood, near Brackley in Northamptonshire on The Old Rectory at Quenington Sunday, April 21st.

Visitors will get see a great selection of specialist nurseries attending both fairs, including several National Collection holders, all of whom are experts in the plants that they grow. There will be a wide range of interesting and unusual plants for sale including choice perennials, plants for shade, rare climbers, cacti, succulents and house plants, alpines, native wildflowers and a great selection of unusual shrubs, all accompanied by the expert advice that you need to select and grow the right plants for your garden.

There are 13 fairs this year. Visit the website at www.rareplantfair.co.uk for details of all the events, including lists of the exhibitors attending.

WALLED GARDENS OFFER MIXTURE OF CLASSIC AND MODERN The Walled Gardens of Cannington is an RHS partner garden with a Grade 1 listed medieval priory backdrop. 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. It is 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 to Sunday, 10am to 3pm/4pm/5pm (seasonal), year-round excluding two weeks at Christmas, Monday ,1 April and Monday, 8 April Last admission to the gardens is one hour before closure. The gardens hold a variety of events and special offers throughout the year suitable for all age groups. Check the website for further information.

Kelmscott Manor a captivating experience

Walled gardens of Cannington Church Street, Cannington TA5 2HA Tel: 01278 655042 Email: walledgardens@btc.ac.uk

Kelmscott Manor - a captivating experience Discover the captivating Kelmscott Manor, the iconic country home of William Morris. Immerse yourself in the charm of his house, gardens, and nearby River Thames. This Grade I listed house was loved by Morris as an example of traditional craftsmanship in harmony with the nearby village and surrounding landscape, towards the very upper reaches of the Thames.

Uncover the remarkable farm barns housing the tearoom and exquisite shop beyond the formal garden walls.

It’s the chance to be inspired to unleash your creativity through the series of free drop-in family workshops led by visiting artists and skilled volunteers.

Kelmscott Manor, Kelmscott, Lechlade GL7 3HJ For further information visit www.kelmscottmanor.org.uk

May Bank Holiday Monday plant fair at Longstock Park

Hampshire Plant Heritage Group’s high-profile event amongst their busy 2024 calendar takes place on the early May Bank Holiday Monday, May 6th when it organises its annual grand plant fair with over 20 nurseries, food outlets and other entertainments. The event is being held in Longstock Park, adjacent to Longstock Farm Shop café and garden nursery. The event runs from 10am to 4pm and is free to plant heritage members; £2 to John Lewis employees and £5 for the public. The postcode covers a large rural area therefore if using Google Maps please search for ‘Longstock Farm Shop and Cafe, SO20 6EH’.

Longstock Park, Longstock, Stockbridge SO20 6EH 16

Twenty five acres of stunning colour at Lukesland

VISITORS DELIGHT IN THE BEAUTY OF LUKESLAND

‘Beautiful, hidden gem, vast array of plants and trees, breath taking. Tea rooms a welcome addition. Go and enjoy nature at its best!’

‘Dog friendly and a good little trail for the kids.’

‘Our first visit and we hadn’t expected such a lovely treat. In April there is so much colour, wonderful streams and water features and stunning views of Dartmoor. Nice people as well and good value.’

These are some of the comments from appreciative visitors to the spectacular 25-acre Lukesland Gardens, Ivybridge. Tucked away in a woodland valley on the edge of Dartmoor (just 10 minutes off the A38), Lukesland’s noted collection of camellias, magnolias and rhododendrons provides a spectacular show of colour through the spring. The Addicombe Brook at the heart of the garden is criss-crossed by a series of charming and unusual bridges over pools and waterfalls. There are also many sculptures, including a redwood carved into a buzzard. With delicious home-made soup and cakes on offer in the tearoom, and Free Entry and fun activities for children, these family-owned gardens have something for everyone. Dogs are welcome on a lead. Spring openings are on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Bank Holidays 11am to 5pm from 10th March to 9th June.

For further details call 01752 691749/07479 383531 or visit www.lukesland.co.uk or facebook.com/lukeslandgardens Country Gardener

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

Stroll through the blossom-filled arboretum, visit our garden centre for all your spring gardening essentials, and enjoy delicious food in the café. A perfect day out for all the family – including the dog!

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

Little Malvern Court Nr Malvern, Worcestershire WR14 4JN

Garden open Wednesday & Thursday afternoons 2.00pm to 5.00pm from 17th April to 18th July

BATSFORD ARBORETUM AND GARDEN CENTRE Batsford, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire GL56 9AT.

PHOTO: MARCUS HARPUR

House tours to be prebooked, please see website for further details & to book.

www.batsarb.co.uk

Tel: 01386 701441 E: arboretum@batsfordfoundation.co.uk @BatsfordA

07856 035599 www.littlemalverncourt.co.uk

@BatsfordA

© Liz Mitchell

BatsfordArboretum

Visit a tulip garden and enjoy a riot of colour this month Find your perfect garden: ngs.org.uk

April Fairs 14th April The Old Rectory, Quenington, Nr. Cirencester, GL7 5BN

21st April

Evenley Wood Gardens, Northants NN13 5SH

www.rareplantfair.co.uk Please visit our website for full details of admission fees and times of opening. www.countrygardener.co.uk

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GREAT PLACES TO VISIT

Badminton Open Garden Day promises to be a treat Mark your calendars for the first Badminton House Open Garden Day of the year on Sunday, 21st April. This event promises to be a visual delight, showcasing the beauty of Badminton House gardens, designed by Russell Page and Francois Goffinet. Visitors will be treated to an array of colourful tulips as you explore the historic grounds, pick up some horticultural tips and visit one of the many plant and flower stalls. Refreshments will be available to purchase including teas and hot cross buns inside the Badminton Old Kitchen. Open 10am to 4pm. Ticket prices: £7.50 pre-sale/£10 on the day (65+), £10 pre-sale/£12.50 on the day (adults). Children under 12 enter for free.

The Badminton Estate, South Gloucestershire, Badminton GL9 1DD Book at www.badmintonestate.com

Inspiring guide to the delights of Dorset

Spring wildlife at Westonbirt

Looking to get away this summer? Well, there are so many great places to discover in Dorset!

Downstream Dorset, River Tales and Local History provides a colourful and truly inspiring exploration of Dorset with its many rivers and riverside towns and villages.

It delves into lesser-known tales and gems of Dorset rich history as well as explaining placenames.

Mary van Coller travelled throughout the county discovering riverside communities and their history before being published by Spiral Publishing Ltd. It’s just £19.95 plus p&p from www.Downstreamdorset.co.uk or www.spiral-books.com 20% of all proceeds is donated to the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

As winter passes, something magical is happening at Forestry England’s Westonbirt, The National Arboretum as spring arrives. The warmer and longer spring days bring the emergence of many forms of new life.

One of the most exciting things to see is new leaves appearing on the trees and flower buds opening.

Springtime is also signalled by the sound of songbirds and sights of newborn wildlife.

This spring why not join one of Westonbirt’s daily guided spring walks, free after paying admission, to learn more about this beautiful home to wildlife.

Plan your visit, see https://www. forestryengland.uk/westonbirt/wildlife

APRIL IN THE HARTLAND ABBEY VALLEY

BOSCREGE, A BREATH OF CORNISH FRESH AIR Boscrege Caravan and Touring park in Cornwall is a peaceful and picturesque park, set at the foot of Tregonning Hill, Godolphin National Trust and amongst a myriad of Cornish lanes in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

April is a busy and beautiful time at Hartland Abbey. Early Easter means many daffodils and narcissi will still be flowering for ‘Easter Egging.’

Children follow clues to their ultimate chocolate dream whilst exploring all the paths around the woodland gardens allowing parents time to experience the best of the spring bulbs and shrubs! Its doggie heaven too!

The park, which is open all year, is 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 are very easily visited.

Bluebell Sundays on April 14th and 21st are a wonderful time to visit the house and gardens at a reduced entry rate. Stunning bluebells stretch from the walled gardens to the sea with wild garlic, anemones, orchids, primroses and violets carpeting the woodland walks. Dazzling tulips and emerging flowers on rhododendrons and azaleas and late camellias make April one of the loveliest times to visit. The beautiful wild flowers on the cliffs at Blackpool Mill start their display too.

Hartland Abbey, Hartland EX396DT Tel: 01237441496/234 www.hartlandabbey.com 18

So if you are looking to take a luxury holiday (doggie friendly with dog friendly homes and on site designated fields for the dogs too) in a either a self catering caravan, lodges touring or even purchasing your own holiday home then contact Boscrege Caravan and Touring Park.

Dazzling tulip displays at Hartland Abbey

Country Gardener

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

SCAN HERE

30 MAY - 1 JUNE 2024

DISCOVER MORE AT THE ROYAL BATH & WEST SHOW Book your tickets now: bathandwest.com/tickets

Be part of the world’s leading cultivated plant conservation charity Something for everyone interested in plants and their conservation: Ca s tl e & S pr ing G ardens

Ca s t l eCa &stSle pr&ing G a r de ns Spring Gardens Ca st le & S pring Gar dens

• talks and celebrity lectures, • plant fairs, garden visits, plant exchanges, • propagation & social events.

Hampshire & IoW Group

GRAND PLANT FAIR Caerhays is one of the Great Gardens of Caerhays is one of Cornwall and home to a the Great Gardens of world-famous National Cornwall and home to a Collection of Magnolias. world-famous National This magical woodland Collection of Magnolias. garden has a spectacular This magical woodland springtime display. garden has a spectacular display. www.caerhays.co.uk 01872 501310 enquiries@caerhays.co.uk springtime

GARDENS OPEN: 12th February - 16th June GARDENS OPEN: th CASTLE IS OPEN 12 February - 16th June FOR GUIDED TOURS: CASTLE IS OPEN 11th March - 7th June FOR GUIDED TOURS: th th 11SUMMER March - 7FETE: June th Sunday 16 June SUMMER FETE: Sunday 16th June

enquiries@caerhays.co.uk

01872 501310

Mon 6th May 2024 10am - 4pm

at Longstock Park Nursery Nr. Stockbridge SO20 6EH Join online at www.plantheritage.com, or at our May Plant Fair and we will refund your admission.

www.caerhays.co.uk www.countrygardener.co.uk

19

Frances Tophill (Friday)

Book now!

Adam Frost (Saturday)

Sue Kent (Saturday)

Rachel de Thame (Sunday)

Garden inspiration + Plants to buy and great shopping Hillier Experience + BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Stage Get Growing Stage + Top Experts + NEW Bouquet Workshops Tours + NEW Workshops with the Plant Experts + Bandstand Good Food Market + Beaulieu’s visitor attractions Hosted by

Fe at u r

i ng th

e

To save 10%*, quote SPRING2024 by 16 April | bbcgardenersworldfair.com *10% is valid on adult/over 60s standard entry tickets only. Not valid on 1:30pm tickets, added extras, or with any other offer. Offers end 23:59 on 16 April 2024. £3.95 transaction fee per e-ticket order. Not all experts appear on all days, check website for details. Details correct at time of print. Transaction fee applies per advance booking. Details correct at time of print. £3.95 transaction fee per advance order. The Gardeners’ World logo is a trademark of the BBC. © BBC. The Good Food trade mark is used under licence from Immediate Media Company London Limited. Organised by Immediate Live (trading name of River Street Events Ltd).

20

Country Gardener

GREAT PLACES TO VISIT

NGS have a 2024 treasure trove of gardens for visitors to enjoy

CAERHAYS CASTLE SPRING GARDEN Nestled in a sheltered valley on the south coast of Cornwall near Mevagissey you’ll find the world class, magical 140-acre woodland garden at Caerhays Castle, steeped in history and often described as a spring-time wonderland for visitors. Home to a National Collection of Magnolias, the gardens are also famous for their camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas. Caerhays is one of the Great Gardens of Cornwall.

There is a treasure trove of gorgeous National Garden Scheme gardens just waiting to be explored in 2024. As well as the traditional country gardens that have supported the National Garden Scheme ever since the foundation in 1927, today the gardens represent the glorious kaleidoscope that makes up today’s diverse garden landscape. With almost 3,500 gardens, including 908 new and returning gardens, the year ahead is bursting with horticultural promise. And it’s never too early to start planning your garden visits or to book one of the special events.

The gardens are open daily until the 16th June. The castle is open for guided tours from the until the 7th June. Caerhays Charity Fete on Sunday 16th June supporting Children’s Hospice South West.

Caerhays Castle Gorran Churchtown, Saint Austell PL26 6LY Tel: 01872 501310 visit.caerhays.co.uk enquiries@caerhays.co.uk

Find your perfect garden ngs.org.uk

Fourteen acres of RHS partner gardens and medieval Palace in the heart of Wells If you’re looking for a day out with a difference this spring, don’t miss the Palace’s Medieval Falconry Day on Saturday 13th April. Held against the stunning backdrop of the Palace’s Great Hall specialist falconry firm, Raptorcare, will entertain crowds with a day of fantastic flying displays, fascinating information and beautiful birds.

Displays at 12pm and 3pm. The palace building, gardens and award-winning Bishop’s Table café will also be open.

This event is included with the 12 month admission ticket and membership.

The Bishop’s Palace and Gardens, Wells, Somerset BA5 2PD Tel: 01749 988111 info@bishopspalace.org.uk www.bishopspalace.org.uk

TWO-DAY WEST KINGTON PLANT SALE IS BACK One of the most popular plant sales in the Cotswolds returns on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th April when West Kington Nurseries hold their ‘massive’ plant sale. Entry over the two-day event is free and visitors with have the chance to wonder over the five acre site of the nursery which promises to be bursting with spring plants and bulbs. Catalogues for the sale are sold in aid of local charities.

Call 01249 782822 or visit www.wknurseries.co.uk for more information. West Kington Nurseries, West Kington, Chippenham. SN14 7JQ

OVERBECKS A MUST IF YOU ARE VISITING SOUTH DEVON

Overbecks Garden at Sharpitor in Salcombe, stands at the gateway to stunning countryside and coastal walks encompassing the South West Coast Path in an area managed and owned by the NT. Magical sea views are a feature at Overbecks The garden was created and developed by each family who owned the property in turn, leaving us today with what has been described as ‘a true plantsman’s garden’, packed with tender and exotic species from around the world. Narrow paths lead you through woodland, formal beds, a walled tropical garden, and Mediterranean planting, and the view across the Kingsbridge and Salcombe estuary is unforgettable. A visit to South Devon cannot go by without a trip to Overbecks garden, for essential information please check the website.

Overbecks Shapitor, Salcombe TQ8 8LW www.nationaltrust.org.uk/overbecks-garden www.countrygardener.co.uk

April at Marwood Hill Gardens and one of the best displays ever

Colour is everywhere at Marwood Hill Gardens gardens with camellias and magnolias in full flower – on display are over 500 different varieties of Camellias flowers, both in the garden and in a large greenhouse in the Walled Garden.

This year’s display is one of the best and this truly is a bumper year for flowers.

The Magnolias are responding too, with nearly 100 different kinds covering the bushes with their colourful blooms. Elsewhere Daffodils are creating a colourful carpet beneath the trees and after a glorious walk around this 20 acre garden and lakes, interesting and desirable plants await in thePlant Centre, as well as a relaxing cup of tea or coffee and cake in the Garden Tea Room.

Marwood Hill Gardens, Nr Guineaford, Barnstaple, North Devon EX31 4EA Tel: 01271 342 528 Email: info@marwoodhillgarden.co.uk www.marwoodhillgarden.co.uk 21

GREAT PLACES TO VISIT

Spring at The Bishop's Palace & Gardens, Wells, Somerset

ry

14 acres of tranquil RHS partner gardens, moat, medieval Palace building and award winning Bishop's Table café in the heart of medieval Wells.

Tickets valid for 12 months from purchase on any normal sightseeing day.

Purchase on site or online at: www.bishopspalace.org.uk

Overbeck’s Garden Overbeck’s Garden is a hidden paradise packed with sub-tropical and exotic plants. Lose yourself along narrow paths that wind through palms, ferns, Mediterranean terraces and oriental-inspired planting. Why not climb to the top of the olive grove to soak up the stunning coastal views?

nationaltrust.org.uk/overbecks-garden © National Trust 2023. Registered Charity no. 205846. Photography © National Trust Images/Chris Groves

22

Country Gardener

Growing from seed IS THE ANSWER

GIVE TURNIPS A TRY Turnips are easy and quick to grow especially if harvested as baby roots and they are often an overlooked choice in the vegetable garden Turnips have been grown in gardens and allotments for hundreds of years – and generally looked down on. Ugly, lumpy roots were used as cattle feed and as a winter staple in hard times so they generally had a very poor image when it came to the list of popular garden vegetables.

However, they are worth considering if you are looking for something different to grow this season. Quick growing cultivars with small tops known as baby turnips or baby roots are tender and succulent and have a peppery sweetness - delicious eaten young raw in salads or steam fried.

Turnips are quick and easy to grow from seed, forming small rounded or flattened roots, usually with white or purple skins. They are ready in as little as six weeks and are best harvested young, at their most tender and tasty. The leaves can be eaten like spinach too, making this a doubly useful crop.

Turnips like a sunny spot and grow best in cool The secret in growing turnips conditions, in fertile, moisture-retentive soil. is to pick and eat them young You can also grow them in large containers, for and small harvesting as mini-veg.

You should sow in small batches every few weeks from spring to late summer for regular harvests without any gluts. The priority is to keep them well watered, especially in dry spells.

The main sowing season is from March to midAugust, although early sowings can also be made in February under cloches or in a greenhouse. Choose early varieties for sowing up to June.

Turnips generally prefer cool conditions, so spring sowings usually germinate quickly and abundantly, while in hot dry weather germination may be less successful.

Turnips like moisture-retentive soil, in an open, sunny spot. Like most root crops, they are best sown direct outdoors, where they are to grow, either in the ground or in large containers. However, they can also be sown indoors.

Small individual cells, usually in a tray, used for sowing seeds. The resulting seedlings can be transplanted with minimal root disturbance.

As they grow so rapidly, turnips are great for filling any gaps that appear on the veg plot after harvesting other crops, or for sowing between slower-growing crops, such as parsnips, for harvesting before the slower crop needs the space.

If you make regular small sowings, you avoid large gluts and can have harvests from early summer through into autumn and beyond.

Choose early varieties for sowing up to June, then maincrop varieties in July and August. Turnips generally prefer cool conditions, so spring sowings usually germinate quickly and abundantly, while in hot dry weather germination may be less successful.

Most varieties will be ready to harvest when the diameter has reached two to four inches. Pay attention to the size at maturity for the specific varieties that you are growing. If you leave a turnip in the ground for too long, it may grow larger but it will also lose its flavour and become pithy.

If you’re short on ground space, or just want a few small or mini-roots, you can sow turnip seeds into containers outdoors in a warm sunny spot.

The choice of tomato varieties available to growers this summer will be daunting but there are choices for every option One of the true joys of summer to look forward to must be freshly picked tomatoes, warm from the sun and full of flavour.

One of the biggest problems facing gardeners for the new season are the choice of varieties of varieties which are now available.

It can be daunting.

However, there is a type, colour, size of fruit and plant for most locations, even the smallest of spaces.

Growing from seed will always give you the widest choice. Premier Seeds Direct offer one of the largest selections of varieties, they trial all varieties themselves to ensure they perform well in the UK. Growing in a greenhouse will deliver higher yields, however growing outside provided the location is sunny and sheltered can deliver excellent results.

The first decision to make is how large a plant you want. An Indeterminate / cordon which is simply a variety that grows on a single stem with the trusses of classic vine tomatoes every couple of leaves or a determinate / bush varieties that are multi branched, and ideal for container growing or for smaller windowsill sized plants.

The choice between an F1 hybrid and an heirloom variety.

Almost every commercial tomato you buy in a shop will be an F1 hybrid, these are more expensive but deliver more vigorous

plants, better uniformity, and disease resistance, however, often some of the true tomato flavour is compromised. An heirloom variety is where you find the greatest variety in shape, colours, flavours and texture developed over hundreds of years. You may get slightly lower yields, disease can be a problem, but they have unique characteristics, often more flavour.

Disease resistance is an important factor, especially if you are growing outdoors in a poorer UK summer, where tomato blight is in the area. There is nothing more devastation than losing your entire crop just as they ripen over a few days. Luckily breeders have in recent years developed several excellent varieties which provide high resistance, and it is always worth having at least one of these growing.

Then it’s simply what sort of tomatoes you like: Beefsteak, standard or cherry, round, plum or pointy, and any combination of colour or even multi-coloured varieties.

Try something different this year in addition to your usual favourites, and hopefully you will find a new favourite in the process.

Remember tomato seeds usually germinate in seven to 14 days if you maintain a steady temperature of 21°C. Pot on the tomato seedlings as soon as they're big enough to handle. Hold the plants by the leaves, taking care not to touch the stems, and transplant them into threeinch pots.

Some favourites for you to try: Outdoor – 'Crimson Crush' F1, 'Cocktail Crush' F1 Blight Resistant – 'Rose Crush' F1, 'Crokini' F1, 'Merrygold' F1 Heirlooms – 'Cherokee Purple', 'Flame', 'Golden Bumblebee' Cherry – 'Sungold', 'Sweet Million' F1, 'Cerise', 'Vesuvio' Beefsteak – 'Burlesque', 'Gigantomo' F1, 'Costoluto Fiorentino', 'Buffalosun' F1 Dwarf / Hanging baskets - 'Maskotka', 'Veranda Red' All the above are available from Premier Seeds Direct, www.premierseedsdirect.com

The choice of tomato varieties is daunting and important to get right 23

GARDEN HISTORY The Crystal Palace at the Great Exhibition of 1851

VICTORIAN GLASSHOUSES - cathedrals of glass and iron

by Vivienne Lewis

With new technology and the end of a tax on glass, Victorian glasshouses became imposingly vast and allowed many more exotic plants from all over the world to survive in this country

The great glasshouses and conservatories that sprung up in the mid-19th century were an amazing innovation.

Some have survived, particularly the Palm House and the Temperate House at Kew Gardens, while others proved to be too expensive to run.

Glasshouses not only became larger as technology improved, but increasingly specialised, so that professional gardeners could concentrate on growing orchids or raising exotic fruit such as melons. This was all helped by the end of a tax on glass in 1845.

The Industrial Revolution made glasshouse production costs drop.

Timber became cheaper to import, paint and bricks could be mass produced, and innovations in the machine tool industry meant an increase in the production of wrought and cast iron. When the glass tax was repealed in 1845, along with the abolishment of window tax in 1851, glass became a more affordable material.

The middle-classes could now afford to build and Joseph Paxton: from rural own glasshouses too. poverty to professional Manufacturers started to gardener produce smaller, plain glasshouses – iron and glass structures, also wooden structures, that could be selfassembled in your own back garden.

One of the most important Victorian gardeners was a great innovator, particularly in the development of glasshouses. Joseph Paxton had a remarkable career, coming from rural poverty to become a professional gardener and only in his early 20s became head gardener 24

for the Duke of Devonshire at Chatsworth in 1826. Within a couple of years he began experimenting with glasshouse construction and by 1832 Chatsworth’s kitchen garden had 22 hot houses and forcing pits in which to grow exotic fruits.

He preferred wood construction to metal in the construction of glasshouses as he found it more resistant to corrosion, easier to repair and as a frugal person, a much cheaper product. He invented the ‘Paxton gutter’ a wooden glazing bar with an outside channel for catching rain water and to eliminate condensation inside.

He became increasingly captivated by glasshouse design, with the building of the Conservative Wall in Chatsworth’s grounds, which is still standing and is now called The Case. It’s backed by an ingenious system of flues and hot-water pipes, to keep the temperature high enough in the winter for half-hardy plants to grow successfully.

Initially, there were projecting wooden panels from which canvas curtains could be hung in the coldest weather, but in 1848 Paxton covered it with a wood and glass frame. The structure is 91m long, and protects figs, peaches, nectarines, apricots and various shrubs from the unpredictable Derbyshire climate.

This was followed by the Great Stove or Conservatory, a glasshouse so large that Queen Victoria and Prince Albert could ride through it in their carriage when they visited in 1843. It continued to amaze visitors and an illustration shows people walking around it. It had taken four years to build, completed in 1840. At 84m long, 37m wide and 19m high, the largest glass building in England before the erection of Paxton’s subsequent marvel, the Crystal Palace in London in 1851. But it proved to be very expensive to run, and during the First World War coal supplies ran low nationally, causing all the plants to die in the unheated building, so the huge structure was blown up in 1920.

Paxton had a special glasshouse built, designed specifically to house the giant water lily from the Amazon in South America, and named after Queen Victoria, Victoria regia later renamed V.amazonica. He had Country Gardener

managed to get a giant water lily to flower for the first time in this country. People were fascinated by this plant introduction from South America, which became famous for the illustrations and photographs of a small child, one of the first being Paxton’s daughter Alice, sitting comfortably on one of its huge leaves floating in water.

The original Chatsworth lily house is now destroyed, but the plants are still raised in the Display House. It is an annual and still grows at great speed in the pond in the Tropical zone of the greenhouse, the glasshouse team propagating the lily from seed collected from the previous year’s plants.

This success led to his amazing design for the Crystal Palace, built for the Great Exhibition of 1851. Paxton said that the building’s design was inspired by the huge ribbed floating leaves of the great waterlily; 1,851 feet (564m) long and 128 feet (39m) in height, three times the size of St Paul’s cathedral, it proved to be one of the wonders of the Victorian age, standing in London’s Hyde Park where some of the park’s elms were accommodated inside. Later it was dismantled and rebuilt in Sydenham Park, south London, becoming a popular concert venue but dramatically burnt down in 1936, the blaze seen for miles.

Decimus Burton was the architect at Kew Gardens who designed the Palm House and later the elegant Temperate House, built in stages in the 1860s and 1890s. The Palm House was built in 1844 by Richard Turner according to Decimus Burton’s designs. Architects borrowed techniques from the ship building industry to achieve the ambitious project and the Palm House resembles the upturned hull of a ship. It houses not only palms but many rare tropical plants including cycads, prehistoric plants resembling palms, that were widespread more than 250 million years ago, before dinosaurs and well before the appearance of flowering plants.

Imposing glasshouses and conservatories became the ultimate luxury and status symbol for the wealthy, and were emulated round the country in more modest glasshouses in the gardens of middle class homes.

“Manufacturers started to produce smaller, plain glasshouses - iron and glass structures, also wooden structures, that could be self-assembled in your own back garden.”

Bicton Park’s beautiful Palm House, dating from 1825

Exotic plants from all over the globe were increasingly sought after by wealthy owners and glasshouse technology allowed these plants to grow in the UK. Nurseries such as those run by the Veitch family in Exeter and then also in London, sent plant hunters out to meet the demand for ever more rare specimens never seen before in this country. Orchids were the height of fashion with a growing craze, and the Veitch company sent Thomas Lobb, a Cornishman, out to the jungles of Malaysia to bring home orchids that could be bred in the nursery and fill not only conservatories but be pinned as corsages on to the ball gowns of society ladies.

A lovely glasshouse that has survived into the 21st century is the Palm House at Bicton Park Botanical Gardens, Devon, near Budleigh Salterton. It was built in 1825, about 20 years before Kew’s Palm House, in a circular design that used single flat panes of glass. The small size of the 18,000 overlapping panes fit smoothly between the curved, thin iron bars forming the roof’s skeleton. The structure is strengthened by slender cast-iron columns in the side

wings, but the larger central dome is self-supporting.

There are no horizontal glazing bars - without the glass the roof would become unstable.

Bicton Park’s Palm House underwent a huge restoration project in1985, with modern glass replacing the original panes, hand-moulded to be thicker at the edges than in the middle so that water would run away from the ironwork.

Ventilation is by rope-operated louvres high up in the rear brick wall, and underfloor heating still operates with large hot-water pipes acting as a huge radiator. Bicton Park is a wonderful place to visit, displaying 300 years of garden history, with its Italian Garden, arboretum and rose garden as well as the Palm House and glasshouses among the 64 acres.

West Dean Gardens at West Dean near Chichester, West Sussex has an impressive collection of 13 working Victorian glasshouses, all built between 1890 and 1900, but were completely derelict before their restoration in the early 1990s. Now there is always colour on display from the large collection of plants including exotic plants, orchids,

Descendants of those Victorian greenhouses The descendants of the great Victorian glasshouses are the biodomes at Cornwall’s Eden project, where collections of tender plants from all over the world can be grown easily. Modern glasshouses sit near the Palm House and Temperate House at Kew. Victoria amazonica is the most familiar of the giant water lilies, with leaves reaching nearly 3m in diameter, while the leaves of Victoria cruziana are slightly smaller. At Bristol University Botanic Gardens the Victoria cruziana water lily can be seen in its own glasshouse, one of the highlights at the gardens, in the pond in the tropical glass house. Its enormous leaves, which can reach two metres in diameter, are studded with spines on the underside and always provide a wow factor for visiting children and their families.

We have to thank the innovators of the 19th century for their careful designs so brilliantly carried out so that exotic plants could be grown successfully in this country.

strawberry plants, figs, nectarines, peaches, gourds, grapes and melons.

The glasshouses are repainted on a four year cycle; the exteriors over summer, and the interiors over winter, when the glasshouses can be emptied and hand scrubbed from top to bottom, inside and out, a process that takes two gardeners two months to complete.The glasshouses are heated by a woodchip burning boiler which also heats West Dean College and associated buildings using woodchips produced from West Dean Estate’s commercial forestry.

Visit Bicton Park and West Dean Gardens Bicton Park Botanical Gardens, Bicton East, Budleigh Salterton EX9 7BJ. Open daily. www.bictongardens.co.uk West Dean Gardens, West Dean, Chichester, West Sussex PO18 0RX. Open daily. www.westdean.ac.uk

The great waterlilies growing in the glasshouse at University of Bristol Botanic gardens

A biodome at the Eden Project in Cornwall

www.countrygardener.co.uk

25

SPECIAL PLANTS

HOW NURSERIES OFFER PLANTS THAT

thrive, last longer and save you money Specialist plant nurseries and the nurserymen and growers who work in them are almost a race apart. When it comes to the skills needed to grow and care for plants, they call on a lifetime of experience and knowledge as they propagate and grow almost all their stock themselves.

The network of specialist nurseries, often small and family run are based on remarkable horticultural skills and experience. Many nurseries are open to the public either for general visits or special open days and they provide a wonderful opportunity for the enthusiastic and adventurous gardener to have a unique insight into plants. No-one will know how to care and make the most of a plant more than the grower and one who is keen to share a wealth of experience.

Typically, these specialist nurseries are often tucked away and will supply in bulk to larger gardens and outlets, but whose real strength is to deal directly with the gardening public. They offer great value, high quality plants through online sales and visits to the nurseries themsleves, to some of the best horticulturists in the country.

They also have a great passion for gardening. Which comes across when you get the chance to discuss their plants and what your needs are with the person who knows everything there is to know.

Try something different and grow purple vegetables from Premier Seeds Direct Did you know that purple vegetables and fruit aren’t just colourful? These edibles are packed with potent antioxidants that help to promote blood circulation and cellular health, which is great for our skin. They also often contain a more intense flavour.

There are many tasty purple vegetables to grow that not only stand out from the crowd due to their captivating appearance and deep flavours, but also for their health-boosting benefits. Try our favourites: Purple Haze carrots, Midnight Sun kale, French Bean Blauhide, Cauliflower Di Sicliana Violetto all available from www.premierseedsdirect.com

Cauliflower Di Sicliana Violetto

Purple Haze carrots

LET BURNHAM NURSERIES LEAD YOU INTO THE EXOTIC WORLD OF ORCHIDS For a truly exotic experience, Burnham Nurseries, just outside Newton Abbot, is the place to go as they are the leading specialist orchid growers. This awardwinning nursery has specialised in these tropical plants for 75 years and has been run by three generations of the same family. Orchids have become even more popular in recent years as a great The orchid family is huge houseplant to decorate homes and they are easier to grow than many think.

The orchid family is huge with over 150,000 species and hybrids. Many need more specific care, but there are also lots of simple to grow varieties that are perfect for the home. The nursery with its shop, café and greenhouses to browse around, is a gem in the Devon countryside and open all year round. Expert advice on what to purchase is always on hand.

Orchid Paradise at Burnham Nurseries is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 3pm plus one open weekend every month. Tel 01626 352233 or check online at www.orchids.uk.com for dates, lots of orchid info plus online ordering.

Perfectly packaged chrysanthemums to your door Chrysanthemums Direct are the UK’s leading grower and supplier of chrysanthemum plants to the public. They stock over 480 varieties covering a wide range of different types, including exhibition and garden hardy cultivars. They also sell via mail order and have developed a sustainable packaging solution, which ensures that you receive top quality plants, within 24 hours of dispatch, from their nursery in Cheshire.

Chrysanthemums Direct supply over 1.2 million stems of incurved bloom chrysanthemums for the cut-flower Award winning chrysanthemums through market each year. the post with sustainable packaging They also supply these blooms by mail order from May until Christmas directly to the public.

Details of all the products are available on the website, www.chrysanthemumsdirect.co.uk

JAPANESE MAPLES GROWN WITH LOVING CARE AND EXPERTISE Barthélemy and Co, near Wimborne in Dorset, is a Japanese maple nursery that was founded in 1920. From sourcing and picking the seeds, some years over 100,000 Japanese maples are produced and grown each year on the nursery by the Skinner family.

Approximately 10,000 to12,000 of these seedlings go on to be grafted with named varieties, using techniques passed 26

Country Gardener

down through the generations. Their focus on these maples has allowed them to perfect their growing and grafting techniques, producing some of the finest specimens available in the UK. Barthélemy & Co is not just a place to buy plants, but a living museum of horticultural history, where every aspect of the growing process is done with care and attention to detail.

Visitors to the nursery can see the passion and dedication involved on display, and leave with a new appreciation for the beauty and complexity of these unique and captivating trees.

01202 874283 www.barthelemymaples.co.uk

JAPANESE MAPLES Acer palmatum varieties We produce and grow the largest selection available in the UK. Plants are pot grown and suitable for garden, patio or bonsai.

Visitors welcome Mon-Sat 9am-1pm & 2pm-4pm Barthelemy & Co (DCG), 262 Wimborne Rd West, Stapehill, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 2DZ

Visitors Welcome Mon - Fri 9.00am - 4.00pm all year round Sat 10.00am - 4.00pm Apr - May

WE HAVE A LARGE COLLECTION OF HYDRANGEAS AVAILABLE INCLUDING NEW VARIETY “SKYFALL” Koirin, Crossroads Nursery, Woodlands, Wimborne, Verwood Road, Dorset BH21 8LN (Near Verwood) Mail order available

Tel: 01202 874283 enquiries@barthelemymaples.co.uk www.barthelemymaples.co.uk

Chrysanthemums Direct

THE RHODODENDRON & AZALEA CENTRE

Tel: 01202 824629

enquiries@azaleacentre.co.uk www.azaleacentre.co.uk

Holmes Chapel Road, Over Peover, Knutsford, Cheshire. WA16 9RA

Telephone: 0800 046 7443 sales@chrysanthemumsdirect.co.uk 2024 Catalogue available online now or, contact us to receive your FREE paper copy.

The widest range available in the U.K. with over 480 cultivars, including a choice selection of hardy garden (Korean) varieties, plus many others suitable for the garden or exhibition.

www.chrysanthemumsdirect.co.uk

Leesa’s Alpines ✔ Willow Growers ✔ Wildlife Friendly Plants ✔ Herbs & Edibles Starcross Devon www.reallyusefulplants.co.uk

www.countrygardener.co.uk

A small independent nursery based in Dorset growing garden worthy alpines & perennial plants.

Mail order & plant fairs only.

www.leesasalpines.co.uk leesasalpines20@gmail.com 27

SPECIAL PLANTS

REALLY USEFUL PLANTS PERFECTLY LIVES UP TO ITS NAME

Really Useful Plants at Easterhill Nursery in Starcross, Devon, specialises in growing useful plants – herb plants for wellbeing, food and medicine; pollen rich perennials, and native wildflowers for creating wildlife and herb gardens; perennial vegetables and forest garden plants to promote good soil health and encourage balance with nature in gardens.

They are specialist willow growers, cultivating over 30 varieties of useful willow for ornamental and wildlife value, living structures, basketry and craft. Colourful, ornamental willows make great statement shrubs for year-round interest in gardens. Slender varieties are good for basketry and are used in workshops that take place at the nursery.

More robust varieties are excellent for creating willow structures and living fences with commissions and advice offered.

Really Useful Plants cultivates over 30 willow varieties

www.reallyusefulplants.co.uk

Want to advertise in one of our features?

We offer special all counties prices when advertising with our features, plus 100 words of free editorial with an advert.

Speak to one of our sales people for more details.

Beautiful Orchids!

The widest range of orchids in the UK with a fantastic choice in flower all year round.

Browse 1000s of plants in our nursery and shop, expert advice always on hand.

Freshly made salads, sandwiches, toasties etc.

Barista coffee. Spacious indoor and outdoor seating.

Open Monday - Friday 10am - 3pm plus one weekend each month, please contact us for the dates.

Forches Cross, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 6PZ 01626 352233 @burnhamorchids www.orchids.uk.com Facebook “f ” Logo

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Hardy plants of real quality from Leesa’s Alpines Leesa’s Alpines is a small independent nursery based in Dorset growing garden worthy alpines and perennial plants which can be purchased via mail order and plant fairs only.

Alpines are ideal for tradtional rockeries

KOIRIN, THE RHODODENDRON AND AZALEA SPECIALISTS Koirin, Rhododendron and Azalea Centre specialise in rare and unusual varieties including old varieties from family collectors such as waterer and The Rothschild family of Exbury. At the nursery they produce their own plants from their own cuttings. They have over 800 varieties of plants including many scented varieties of deciduous azaleas and rhododendrons. They have been established for over 20 years and the nursery is three acres in all and in the spring is an abundance of colour from hot fiery reds, orange and yellows to all the pastel colours you can think of. They also supply a planting service and watering systems and free advice.

The nursery is worth a visit.

Email: enquiries@azaleacentre.co.uk Tel: 01202 824629 Koirin, the Rhododendron & Azalea Centre Woodlands, Verwood Road, Nr.Verwood, Wimborne BH21 8LN

One and a half acres of very special plants Old Court Nurseries and The Picton Garden is located at the foot of the Malvern Hills, a compact site offering a wealth of special and unusual plants. In the one and a half acre garden you can explore a huge variety of plants with areas ranging from herbaceous borders to woodland glades. Being home to both the National Plant Collection of polypodiums and the National Plant Collection of autumn flowering asters (Michaelmas Daisies) gives you an idea of the range there is to see. The adjoining nursery is well stocked with many unusual varieties from tender succulents to the tough asters and all sorts in between, and all grown peat free. www.autumnasters.co.uk 01684 540416 Old Court Nurseries Walwyn Rd, Malvern WR13 6QE

All the plants are grown in a reduced peat compost in a polytunnel initially but moved outside as early as possible to ensure their hardiness.

Alpines (or rockery plants) are hardy perennial plants suitable for many situations in the garden. Although ideal for traditional rockeries and crevice gardens they can also be used for containers, stone troughs and sinks as well as pots, with many species being used to edge borders and pathways as they benefit from well drained soils, many being extremely drought tolerant.

You will be able to see Leesa’s Alpines out and about exhibiting this April and May: • Burrow Farm, Axminster Easter Sunday • Forde Abbey, Chard 6th April • Mapperton House, Dorchester 14th April • Moreton Gardens 20th April • BBC Gardeners World Beaulieu 3rd-5th May • Yarlington house, Wincanton 11th May • Athelhampton House, Puddletown 12th May • Sculpture by the Lakes, Dorchester 17th and 18th May www.leesasalpines.co.uk for other dates leesasalpines20@gmail.com

Rosybee specialises in helping gardeners be wildlife friendly Rosybee is an independent plant nursery specialising in plants for pollinators, aiming to make gardens more wildlife-friendly. Their range is based on many years of research to ensure they provide plants that maximise the pollinator food supply. The research and plenty more tips on wildlife gardening can be found on their website. Great value plants in trays of six. All plants are grown peat-free and pesticide-free and in recycled plastic trays. www.rosybee.com 28

Country Gardener

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

Order your plants now for delivery in May. ORDER ONLINE or catalogue available by request.

Open Wednesday to Saturday 11am - 5pm Inspiration for your four season garden: Join us on Saturday 13th April, 22nd June, 5th October 2024 & 8th February 2025 for this fun and informative workshop. £15.00 per session or £40 to book all four, pre-booking essential.

Also open 19TH APRIL and 17TH MAY for the National Garden Scheme please book at www.ngs.org.uk

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

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29

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Garden advice If you have any queries, questions or gardening problems then let us know and we will try and help.

Contact us at Country Gardener, Mount House, Halse, Taunton Somerset TA4 3AD or at editorial@ countrygardener.co.uk

I’ve an evergreen hedge which has been neglected quite badly over the past five years.

We’ve been looking at it this winter and wondering if we should just replace it. It is about 25 metres along the end of our garden backing on to open fields.

Jimmy Slater

Bridgwater You should try renovating because no matter how bad you think the hedge has become, it will be worth it and it will recover. The key trick is not to try and do all the pruning at once. Spread the work over two or three years so the hedge will retain its value for wildlife and giving privacy for your garden at the same time. And it is certainly cheaper than planting a new hedge from scratch.

Privet, yew and laurel all regrow well after hard pruning and it will look fine after a couple of years.

Start by cutting one side of the hedge back by at least 15cms less than the final width you want. Cut almost to the main stems if necessary.

Do check for nesting birds because remember it is an offence under the 1981 Countryside Act to intentionally take damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built.

I have always been a lover of flowering cherries and now we have a new garden I’d like to make a feature of a couple of medium to large trees. I want some traditional colours but perhaps something white. Do you have any suggestions?

Renee Davies

Weston There’s quite a choice in front of you. In total there are around 30 species and more than 600 hybrids and named cultivars available.

Amongst these you can P. ‘Tai-haku’ - a strong flowering medium sized cherry tree find individual trees which will be in flower from every month from October to the end of May. The vast majority bloom in late March through to May. They are exquisite garden plants and very useful in a planting scheme thanks to the range of flower types.

Two very popular hybrids are: • P. ‘Tai-haku’ a medium to large tree with large single, white flowers and bronze young foliage. Known as ’the great white cherry’ and it comes with a fascinating history.

• P. ‘The Bride’ a smaller elegant tree with profuse early season, white single flowers, yellow and orange autumn colour and ideal for a smaller garden. Loved by bees.

I have through the years tried growing sweetcorn but although the plants seem to flourish and grow well the final cobs never seem to come to much and never ripen. I’d like to try again but I am conscious I have to do something differently.

Peter Greenway Petersfield Good pollination might be a problem. Grow the sweetcorn in blocks rather than long rows around 40cms apart to help the pollen disperse more effectively between plants.

This is important as sweetcorn is wind pollinated. A minimum of 12 plants will ensure good pollination and cob development. You should tap or shake the plants occasionally when you notice pollen falling from the tassels to help disperse it. Don’t over water, the plants only need watering when young and too much water can harm the final cobs.

I have a much-loved acer in my front garden which is now being overrun by shrubs and plants around it. I think I must move it. We are now coming into March and I wondered what is the best time for me to move it?

David Binney Taunton Acers can be very fussy about being moved. You should do it before the real growth of spring sets in while it is still reasonably dormant, digging up as much of the rootball as you can. Make sure the new site is well prepared for a swift replant because this will help the roots from drying out. You will probably have to stake the tree. It will need watering for a couple of years while the roots re-establish themselves so check the roots down to at least 15cms . If it feels dry keep on with the watering regime.

30

There is a white substance which has appeared in early March on my otherwise very healthy and strong growing box hedge. Can I afford to leave it or should I be treating it?

Ian Weller Salisbury This white substance comes from an insect known as box sucker (Psylla buxi). It is unique to the box plant but rarely seems to cause a great deal of damage. The aphids suck sap from the sheet tips in spring, stunting them so the leaves are cupped together to form a cabbage like shape. They create a sugary substance which you can see on the plant although in your case it seems very early in the season. You don’t need to do anything as the box sucker can usually be tolerated.

I have a number of vertical lesions on the trunk s of my three cherry trees. In one of them the inner wood is clearly visible. Is the tree dying and do I need to replace them?

Fran Morris Portsmouth Don’t rush to do anything drastic, Many fruit trees are susceptible to bark splitting. This can occur in response to environmental factors such as dry weather which slows growth, followed by wet weather which encourages growth- a combination which leads to splitting.

Support the trees by mulching generously and watering well in dry periods. While this will help it clearly won’t heal the wounds making it vulnerable to rot and disease. Give the trees at least one season to see if things don’t get worse.

Country Gardener

Can you hand pollinate a pear tree? My two trees are struggling and I think pollination might be the problem. And can a pear tree be pollinated by apple?

Andie Frenchman Dawlish Your best bet is to find a blooming pear somewhere else, and with permission, cut some branches with flowers and put them in water. Set them in or near your tree so bees can find them. Or take pollen off the new pear flowers and pollinate your tree by hand.

Choosing two different cultivars as partners greatly increases the chances of pollination and, therefore, fruit set. As long as a partner pear tree is not further than 100 feet (30.5 m.) from your tree, you can still get plenty of fruit.

Bear in mind that apples pollinate apples, but not other fruit trees species e.g. pears. The same goes for plums. So, if there are no other fruit trees anywhere nearby, successful pollination needs two or more varieties of the same species.

My amaryllis bulbs haven’t flowered this spring. I watered them over winter and they seem to have some very thin leaves this year.

Oona Davis Southampton

This is a standard problem with amaryllis. Your plant needs to have a dormant period to come into flower again. Once the risk of frost has passed move it to a sheltered place outdoors for summer, shaded from direct sunlight. Water and feed regularly with a balanced liquid feed. In late September move it to a place at around ten to 13 degrees for two months, stop feeding and watering it. After the summer rest period cut away any dead leaves and pot then plant into new compost. Bring it finally into a warm, bright room and water sparingly until growth resumes and the flowers should appear again.

What is the best month to prune hydrangeas? My shrubs seem to be in rather a sad state and are quite overgrown and scruffy Keith Harris Martock The ideal pruning period is February or March in most of the UK. Some will say you shouldn’t prune until later in March. The dried hydrangea flower heads give the buds below some protection from very bad weather so the shrub has some protection in bad weather. Try to leave as much of the flowering growth as possible, as most flowers appear towards the top of the plant. If your plant is very old or overgrown, you can cut it back hard. However, this may reduce flowering for the next couple of years - aggressive pruning should be avoided as the flowers bloom on the previous years’ growth.

I have some old roses in my garden and some of them look past their best, but I want to give them a chance and feed them properly this spring. What is the best thing to give them. Do Epsom salts help?

Frank Skeates Bournemouth Firstly, the best time to feed roses is from late March to early April and then again from late June to early July. To add to this, you can feed them every six weeks throughout the growing season.

Ideally use a good feed with something like fish, blood, and bone, or Vitax Q4 that contains all essential trace elements and nutrients after the late-winter prune in February, then feeding every two weeks throughout the flowering period with a high potash feed.

Epsom salts can help prevent magnesium deficiency in roses, resulting in healthier foliage and what’s more, additional magnesium supply may produce more blooms, larger flowers, and support the formation of strong stems.

How can I guarantee no tomato blight which I have suffered for each of the three last seasons. If I can’t understand what is happening it really isn’t worth me bothering.

Ian Davies Poole No gardener can guarantee no blight. The first step is of course to grow blight resistant varieties. It’s not a 100 per cent deal but will certainly help. If the worst happens and you do find signs of blight on some of your plants, then the best tomato blight treatment is to remove the infected plants immediately. Check tomato plants regularly during the growing season, especially when the conditions are warm and wet.. Slow the spread of the disease by pruning tomato foliage to improve air flow. Thin the whole plant by removing one-third or so of the foliage. Fruit production will likely be reduced with extensive pruning.

How and when can I prune my magnolia tree which has again been wonderful spectacle over the past few years and is a real talking point in the whole neighbourhood?

Jody Holden Exeter Deciduous varieties should be pruned in late summer, evergreen varieties should be pruned in spring, and wall-trained specimens should be pruned in summer after they have finished flowering. Many magnolia varieties bleed when cut, so it’s important to prune at the correct time of year to avoid this.

In late autumn or early winter, the magnolia tree will begin to prepare for dormancy.

This is when the tree’s leaves will start to turn yellow and fall off. Once all the leaves have fallen then the tree will be dormant until spring.

You will need to cut the branches at a quarter of an inch from the side. Remove suckers and water sprouts. These hold back your tree from growing up to its full potential.

Do you cut raspberries down every year or can they be left as the jobs mount up?

Anna Duggal Havant Cutting back raspberries to a set system is vital if you want a good harvest. Simply cut the canes to the ground each year in the late autumn or early spring when they are dormant.. New canes will emerge from the ground in the spring.

Once you’ve harvested the berries later in the year, all the stems that bore fruit should be removed. Cut all the old wood to the ground – it’ll be dark brown – leaving the new green shoots to develop and fruit the following year. Removing the old wood encourages healthy new shoots to grow from the base, reinvigorating the plant.

www.countrygardener.co.uk

31

ACCESSORIES

GARDEN ACCESSORIES

- a few things that will make life easier in the garden

Spring is finally here – that means all the thinking and planning of the winter months is behind us. It’s time for the garden itself and with it all the challenges that April brings– often hard physical work in the garden, in borders and vegetable beds, planting for the summer, tidying and ensuring borders and making sure we have the right product for the right jobs For many gardeners it the most popular month of the year – and one of the busiest. So, a few garden accessories can come in handy.

It is important to get some help. There are so many products lined up now to take off the hard physical work in the garden that most of us would be crazy not to seek help.

At Country Gardener we are always on the look out for great products and fresh ideas so here’s a few to help take the strain and make the garden even more enjoyable.

Concrete Post Fixings (Wire Anchors) & Easy Trellising System Quick & Easy Solution to fix wires to concrete posts NO DRILLING - simply clamp the two halves together Three sizes to fit most concrete posts

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Wire Anchor

Main Stockists of Gripple Trellising

Wire Anchor with Gripple Trellising System

Visit our website to view our other gardening accessories and gift ideas www.rivelinglenproducts.co.uk info@rivelinglenproducts.co.uk 01246 462666

COIR VITALGROW Crafted from the dust and fibres of coconut husks, our 50L Coir Vital Grow is a high quality, peat-free and sustainable growing medium for all types of plants and crops.

COIRPLUS Enriched with NPK, our high quality 50L Coir Plus is a peat-free growth substrate providing your plants essential elements for healthy and robust growth.

COIRNUTRI A revolutionary, specially-formulated mix, our peat-free 50L Coir Nutri blends age-old traditions with the inherent goodness of coir, giving plants the extra boost they need for optimal thriving.

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Country Gardener

HARNESSING THE POWER OF COIR WITH OUR REVOLUTIONARY 50L COIR BAGS. TRANSFORM ORDINARY GARDENING INTO AN EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCE.

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READER’S STORY

SAVE YOUR BACKS AND KNEES WITH THE INNOVATIVE ONELEG STOOL The ergonomic and functional OneLeg stool, enables you to sit rather than kneel, when completing low-level tasks around the home and garden.

With a rounded base, you can naturally rock and tilt as you sit, increasing your reach as you tilt forward, improving your core and saving you from kneeling or bending which can cause pain to the lower back and knees when gardening or cleaning.

Weather proof, impact resistant, lightweight, easy to clean and 100 per-cent recyclable, the stool comes in a great choice of colours and two heights, with a free black silicone anti-slip foot. You can add a seat cover for extra comfort.

Once you have one you may wonder how you ever lived without a OneLeg. Tel: 0800 195 4252 Email: oneleginfo@oneleg.co.uk www.oneleg.co.uk

COIR BIRD NESTS: the perfect companion for your feathered friends

Crafted with care and attention to detail, CoirProducts coir bird nests provide a luxurious sanctuary for birds, blending seamlessly into any landscape. CoirProducts coir bird nests are handcrafted from discarded coconut shells, providing a natural and cozy sanctuary for birds. Completely biodegradable, the bird nests are a blend of beauty and eco-consciousness. With their natural insulation properties, these nests maintain optimal temperatures year-round. Not only is it a functional bird nest, but it also serves as an aesthetic addition to any garden or balcony. The coconut shell design adds a touch of rustic charm to any outdoor space. The organic shape and texture mimic the feel of their natural habitats, ensuring a stress-free environment for nesting and resting. ww.coirproducts.co.uk

Give plants the support they deserve One of the biggest problems with a fastgrowing garden in spring and early summer is the support so many plants and shrubs need.

You can control your shrubs & climbers using Rivelin Glen Products uniquely designed Wire Anchors. They are quick and easy to attach to concrete posts (without drilling) to act as an ‘eye’ by threading wire through them to create a trellising system.

The Gripple Trellising System is ideal to use with the Wire Anchors as the wire does not stretch, takes up to 100kg load and has a life of up to 15 years. Multiple rows can be achieved with one length of wire and two tensioners. No more sore hands or sagging wires!

Rivelin Glen Products are the main stockists of the Gripple Trellising System.

Prices: Wire Anchors from £10 for a pack of three; Gripple Starter Kit - £19.75 Details available at www.rivelinglenproducts.com Email: info@rivelinglenproducts.co.uk Tel: 01246 462666

‘In adversity I turned to nature’ When west country banker Alex Chapman was involved in a serious car crash he eventually found gardening was the route to dealing with the trauma and learning to relax My route into gardening was through a serious crash in 2017 - a pivotal event in my life. What was a normal Saturday evening out ended in tragedy with my best friend killed and me injured with a damaged spine and a broken arm.

Physiologically I was in a mess, let alone physically.

I had no ability to concentrate, no desire to meet people or interact with anyone as part of my route back to something like my old life.

Hundreds of people must feel like this after an accident or an illness. All my effort such as it was, I guess was put into recovering physically but there were other perhaps deeper scars which left me depressed and wondering what life offered.

As I slowly recovered and the weeks went past, friends and family urged me to fill my time with something.

They suggested painting and artwork but that had no interest for me.

Then I stumbled on a derelict, neglected unloved space and it unlocked my mind.

It was a small area of garden where I had lived for two years but had been so busy with career and travelling that it had remained neglected – and truth be told I had barely noticed it other than perhaps on a sunny summer afternoon sticking a deckchair out in it and sitting and reading.

It was less than half an acre.

I appreciate there is a lot about my story which is perhaps a bit of a cliché but gardening became with the help and advice of a group of friends a way of dealing with trauma.

I had to start at the beginning – clearing two year’s worth of weeds and rubble and working harder physically than I ever had done in my life. Then I needed help – what to plant. how to plant it, how to tend for it.

“What I learned is that you don’t have to know everything to get involved. You don’t become a gardener, you are already a gardener - you just need to activate it” Gardening saved me at a time I was feeling low, and I liked to think it helped others around me as well. I was getting a lot off my shoulders, just by speaking with other people and learning about gardening, being in the fresh air and when often the biggest thing I had to worry about was whether the tomato plants needed watering again!

Looking back, I was bottling everything up and the garden became a good way to open up and break down barriers and relax.

It’s not a therapy session, no one is questioning you and it felt and still feels very natural.

What I learned is that to you don’t have to know everything to get involved.

You don’t become a gardener, you are already a gardener- you just need to activate it.

At first it was almost as if I was embarrassed to be in a garden - now you still can’t shut me up about it.

I’ve given talks to hospital groups and tried to share my experience. I think the work in the garden played a huge part in my recovery. I now work for a charity and I have put all the big career hopes behind me – without any bitterness at all.

My garden will never win acclaim from fellow gardeners. I don’t feel as it is too scruffy, but it is busy and things grow. I grow vegetables and fruit, and it remains an escape and I love it.

I don’t know where I would be without it.

33

WILDLIFE

How to prepare your garden for hedgehog season Hedgehogs are one of Britain’s favourite familiar faces found in our gardens. Spring will bring their fresh appearance and with it the demands of caring gardeners to again do whatever they can to aid their survival.

Although these adorable little creatures seem to be everywhere, due to a decline in rural habitats almost one third of the national hedgehog population has been lost since the 2000’s.

That’s why it’s reasonable to suggest do everything we can to protect the hedgehogs, and one way we can do that is by turning our gardens into a hedgehogs’ favourite spaces to be. It’s not complicated but some fairly basic rules need following.

So, as we s move into spring, wildlife experts and lovers have put together a guide on how to prepare your garden for the best time of year, hedgehog season.

HEDGEHOG SEASON Hedgehog season (or mating season) is the most crucial time for hedgehogs. It begins in April, and can last all the way to September, although peak breeding months are in May and June.

Usually, a female will have up to seven hoglets, who will nest all together in a layer of leaves and grass, until the hoglets leave the nest four to five weeks after being born.

Throughout this season and especially up until this point, try to keep leafy and unkept areas of your garden as undisturbed as possible.

April onwards is the time of year when you are most likely to actually see hedgehogs in your garden. Though they are nocturnal creatures, nights are so short in the summer months and hedgehogs have so much to do, that it’s not unusual to spot a healthy hedgehog out and about in the daylight.

HEDGEHOG HIGHWAYS The first step to creating a hedgehog-friendly garden this spring is to embrace the open road by creating a hedgehog highway. They are nomadic creatures and can roam up to two miles every night. However, one reason their numbers are declining is due to the reduction in access they have to land. By creating a hedgehog highway, or a small gap in your fencing to allow them to pass through, your hedgehog can roam far and wide. This 34

gap should be around 13 square centimetres, perfect for hedgehogs, but not for the larger mammals you want to keep out!

GOING WILD Despite their innocent faces, hedgehogs are carnivorous animals and roam at night in the search for small insects such as beetles, worms, slugs, earwigs, and millipedes.

Sometimes they’ll even eat baby birds, frogs, snakes, bird’s eggs - and for dessert - garden fruit.

The best way to bring insects into your garden is by keeping your garden healthy and bio-diverse through letting parts of it grow wild. To do this you can: • Start by growing insect friendly plants and wildflowers such as foxgloves, and hawthorn.

• Avoid cutting the grass, and keep parts of your garden unkept and wild in patches.

• Create a compost heap to create the perfect environment for worms, slugs, millipedes, and beetles.

• Start a bug hotel to attract a diverse amount of bugs into your garden.

DO THE ROUNDS Before the start of the season, do the rounds and rid your garden of any potential hedgehog hazards. Check for the following potential hazards which you can tick off your list one by one: • Avoid man-made dangers or anything a hedgehog could get trapped in or fall into.

• Don’t use any pesticides.

• Don’t put down any slug pellets.

• Although hedgehogs are keen swimmers, hedgehogproof garden ponds and swimming pools by fencing them off, or creating sloping sides so that they can easily get in and out.

• Clear your garden of any nets, traps, and toys.

Country Gardener

Disturb hedgehogs as little as possible to help nature thrive

FROM HOUSE TO HOME Planting hedges can be a great alternative to fencing. Not only do they provide more shade, absorb noise and dust, they also provide better shelter to all forms of garden wildlife. They can promote better soil, attract insects, and usually allow for leaves to gather at their sides which provide a great nestling spot.

Another great way to provide a cosy home for these animals is to place a wooden hedgehog house in the garden. They provide safe, robust, and secure shelter where they can hunker down for winter or get ready for mating season.

MINDFUL MAINTENANCE Once you have prepared your garden for hedgehog season, remember a little bit of maintenance goes a long way. Keep pruning and gardening to a minimum, and keep the lawnmower and strimmer locked away in the garden shed. Try to disturb them as little as possible by doing your bit to keep nature thriving.

To give a helping hand here and there, you can put out small bowls of water for easy drinking access and small portions of meaty cat or dog food in the evening to make sure they’re well fed and hydrated. Better yet, set up a wooden hedgehog feeding station which keeps the food safe and hidden from other animals - perfect for a night in and meal for one!

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35

The weather in your April garden Weather historian and lover of folklore Andrew Lancaster looks at what April is likely to offer in terms of our garden and the weather. Andrew gardens a two-acre site in Somerset and he plots a way through the signs in the weather which can make gardening easier.

Will it be the ash (left) or the oak which appears first to help predict the summer ahead

are becoming hotter and drier so it may be a bit early to write off the saying just yet. The English oak (Quercus robur) can live in. extreme cases for 5000 years. The ash (Fraxinus excelsior) which is easy to recognise in winter from its black buds and silver grey bark is often called the Queen of the Forest.

I like the analogy of our weather in April being compared with an adolescent teenager.

At one moment brilliant and promising, the next moody, cantankerous and unpredictable.

There is so much energy and hope around yet it is often that the month stops us in our tracks with not only prolonged rain but worryingly low temperatures.

It’s not I think a coincident that the month starts with April Fool’s Day as the whole month can take us for fools and catch us unawares. But these days I like to take a positive approach. I am ready to be proved wrong but for me the arrival of April means that winter is done and dusted, put behind us.

Shoots are pushing up from the ground, the trees are in bud and call me a romantic but the air smells different now, the scent of growth and renewal is a head brew that lifts the spirits after the long winter weeks.

April can be surprisingly dry and affect the flowering of spring bulbs the following year.

The real treachery of the month comes from late frosts which strike when apple and pear blossom is in full cry for then the chilled air can blacken the centre of each flower and prevent the fruit from setting.

For centuries, farmers and sailors—people whose livelihoods depended on the weather— relied on lore to forecast the weather. They quickly connected changes in nature with rhythms or patterns of the weather. Which is why I still put a lot of store on some of these sayings • Moist April, clear June.

• Cloudy April, dewy May. • Snow in April is manure.

Days of the Month 1st April ‘If it thunders of April Fools day it brings good crops of corn and hay.’ This old saying might in fact have something about it as thunderstorms only occur when warm air rises from heated ground forming highly charged clouds which produce the rain and thunder.

Ground that is warm enough for thunderstorms at the beginning of April, suggests an early spring and a good growing season.

14th April National Gardening Day – a day to celebrate all things that grow and encourage others to do the same.

23rd April Sayings about St George’s Day on the 23rd claim it is the day when green growth starts. In European tradition there’s a saying that ‘ George is the keeper of the keys to summer and is asked to make the grass grow and disperse the clouds’.

23rd April Start of the English asparagus season which ends on June 21st with the Summer Solstice.

Easter - even if a bit earlier this year Weather watchers always take note on the weather at Easter. A bad year is forecast by poor weather on Palm Sunday but rain on Good Friday is believed to foreshadow a fertile year easter being a moveable feast means the weather can vary from snow to warm sunshine. If there is fair weather from Easter to Whitsun butter will be cheap (that is the cows will produce plenty of milk.) A good rain on Easter Day means a good crop of grass but little hay.

The worst weather - it’s raining cats and dogs April is known for some pretty bad rainfall, often heavy downpours.

It was in 1653 that the expression: “It shall raine…dogs and polecats” was first recorded but there has never been any acceptable explanation where this comes from. One theory is that it relates to the fact that in Norse weather the cat was supposed to have great influence on the weather and ‘have a gale of wind in her tail’.

More likely is that cats and dogs were drowned in poorly drained medieval streets during severe storms.

The oak and the ash myth A rhyme long used in the spring to predict what the weather might hold in the summer is ‘Oak before ash, only a splash, ash before oak, soak, soak, soak,’ suggesting that the weather for the coming summer will be drier if oak comes into leaf first.

It is all about which of these two trees come into leaf first. Britain’s Woodland Trust using records going back to the 18th century bears out the dubious nature of this prediction.

Even though the ash bears its delicate sprays of tufted flowers before the leaves of either tree emerge, it is rarely in leaf before the oak. However, we all known that British summers 36

The asparagus season runs from April through to high summer

Asparagus beds and the spring weather April sees the start of the asparagus season and the weather is a key factor in the quality and timing of the harvesting of the spears. Asparagus is a hardy perennial that will last for 15 years or more in the garden. And, it’s one of the first crops harvested in the spring.

Asparagus is generally considered a temperate/cold climate plant but it is easy to grow in a subtropical climate as it thrives on the rain and has no problems with pests or diseases.

Asparagus crowns make a worthy addition in any vegetable garden. You need to choose a fertile, sunny well drained site with soil that holds its moisture well. Late spring frosts can kill emerged spears, so find an area that is not low-lying or exposed to frost. Asparagus plants have deep root systems. Avoid areas with shallow soils, or soils prone to watersaturation.

Country Gardener

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 Friday 19th April.

The winner of our March issue crossword was Nigel Eaton from Warminster.

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Garden wildlife and the April weather nests Many bumblebees and birds will be establishing nests and plenty of other species, such as moths, leaf miners and other insects, are already breeding. Hedgehogs, which typically emerge from hibernation in March, will be fattening up to be in good condition for breeding in May. This is a month of frenzied activity - non more so than for bees where there’s lots of effort and work going into making nests in anything or everything that’s available: last years plants, airbricks, holes in dead wood. The warmer feel to the days encourages the female to make a series of chambers in the nest each with a ‘cake’ of pollen and nectar and lays an egg in each one before sealing it up. After laying up to 40 eggs she dies, never having seen her offspring.

April sees many garden birds ready with their nests. Each lays one egg a day , typically at dawn while the male sings nearby to defend the territory. It’s also a very noisy month specially on sunny clear April mornings when blackbirds, tits , song thrushes and wrens all come together at dawn.

April is still a month when wildlife needs your help.

Avoid cutting hedges between from March onwards, so as not to disturb any nesting species. Wild bird nests are protected by law under the Wildlife and Countryside Acts of 1981, although this tends not to apply to garden hedges Offer high-protein bird food sources to support breeding species, such as sunflower seeds, mealworms and calciworms.

There is still the chance of a frost in April. Break ice on bird baths and water bowls if needed and refresh the water supply daily.

How many days of frost are we likely to get in April?

If I look at records I keep (and they only go back to 2001) then the gardener should expect ten days when there’s a frost in April. The Met Office who have records going back to 1960 say that it’s slightly more and that we should expect 12 days of below freezing. That sounds a lot doesn’t it and of course it’s difficult to be precise when you consider which part of the country your garden is and how sheltered your garden is.

When high pressure dominates as it often does in April that can lead to clear skies overnight and this allows temperatures to fall below zero and brings frosty nights.

We have also seen the winds often coming in from the north which brings in colder air and overnight this can lead to cold and frosty nights.

So I guess the answer is stay alert in April and don’t expect we’ve seen the end of damaging frosts!

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ACROSS 1. Plant of the Convolvulus family whose roots yield a strong purgative (8) 5. Sometimes called butter fruit? (7, 5) 12. Alternative name of the herb coriander (8) 13. Genus of plants commonly known as birthwort or pipevine (12) 15. Family of plants named after Swiss naturalist Conrad Gessner (12) 16. Scottish word for a farmhouse with its outbuildings (8) 17. Confesses or admits guilt (4, 2) 18. Sudden, very heavy rainfall (10) 22. A small round soft fruit, typically red or black (6) 23. The month of buds in the French revolutionary calendar (8) 24. A large branch of a tree (4) 28. Jack-by-the-hedge or hedge-mustard (5, 5) 29. Totally or utterly (10) 30. Manihot esculenta, commonly called cassava (4) 31. Of more humble origin or social status (8) 33. A particular breed or variety of an animal or plant (6) 36. A genus of timber trees native to Australasia (10) 37. Large greyish-green lizard of tropical America (6) 40. The family of flowering plants commonly known as rue (8) 41. An easy or defenceless target? (1, 7, 4) 43. Any flower of the Iridaceous genus (6, 2, 4) 44. Spore-bearing gills of a mushroom (8) 45. Something totally believed without having been checked (5, 2, 5) 46. A name for various kinds of apple, mostly of French origin (8) DOWN 1. A feudal tenure of land involving paying rent to a superior (6) 2. Reddened or ruddy (6) 3. Cultivated root vegetable sometimes called field beet (12) 4. Daffodils or jonquils (8) 6. Genus of flowering plants whose common name is mullein (9) 7. The price of Bible leaf without Mary! (4)

8. General feeling of pessimism or hopelessness (4, 3, 5) 9. New Zealand genus of plants sometimes called flax lily (8) 10. Famous collection of poems by A. E. Housman (1, 10, 3) 11. The mycelium of a fungus, especially of cultivated mushrooms (5) 14. Grapes native to the southern United States (12) 19. Aristocratic or blue-blooded (2, 5, 5) 20. Irish dramatist (1880-1964) who wrote Oak Leaves and Lavender (6) 21. Name sometimes given to Quercus robur (11, 3) 25. Wild climbing hedgerow plant with red berries (6) 26. Botanical feature specialising in plants grown at high altitudes (6, 6) 27. Smooth grassy area at the end of a golf fairway (7, 5) 32. Plants that may include cabbage, broccoli and turnips (9) 34. Appearing in a film or television programme (2, 6) 35. A substance extracted from plant roots (8) 38. A small nut, especially an achene (6) 39. The former currency of Equatorial Guinea (6) 40. Restoration or repair of machinery (5) 42. Botanically, another term for axillary (4) Answers from previous issue, March 2024: S A P O T A C A R H O S T A S N P A C A D P L P L U M S

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The spring greenhouse effect Timing is everything when it comes to growing in your greenhouse. The chances are you can make a start on sowing and growing much earlier than you think

A recent RHS study claimed that one of the biggest underused resources in our gardens were greenhouses.

A greenhouse is a great asset to any vegetable plot, enabling gardeners to make the most of the sun. Even the smallest, unheated structure will allow gardeners to extend the seasons and produce good crops of a wide range of vegetables.

The trouble is too many gardeners are not using them to their full potential- starting growing too late in the season and finishing too early A greenhouse is suitable for growing vegetables in several ways: • Starting off hardy vegetable plants earlier than outdoors.

• Getting earlier harvests of tender plants such as French beans.

• Growing tender crops such as aubergines, cucumbers, peppers and chillies and tomatoes through the summer months.

• Trying more exotic, heat-loving plants such as okra, melons and sweet potatoes.

A number of early risers can be started off in a greenhouse by sowing into seed trays, pots or cells. Try sowing hardy plants, such as shallots, onions, sprouts, cabbage, celeriac, early leak, lettuce and peas. Your greenhouse is the ideal location for starting these vegetables off and then planting them outside in the garden when the warmer weather arrives to sow the fast-growing tender plants, including squashes, pumpkins, courgettes, cucumbers, melons, French beans and sweetcorn. Use a greenhouse to start off the tender plants and vegetables, as this will prepare them for planting in their final outdoor locations in your garden, either under glass in late spring or outside in early summer.

In heated greenhouses tomatoes, peppers and other tender plants can be sown early in propagator. Mid spring is also a good time to sow basil, for growing indoors or for moving outdoor in early summer.

Cabbage, leeks, cauliflower, lettuce, broccoli, and onions 38

seeds can be planted, and now is the time you can buy ready grown tiny plug plants such as peppers and tomato plants to bring on in your greenhouse.

Basil plants can be started from seeds as can many other salad crops such as chard and parsley. You can plant pumpkins, squashes, and courgettes in a mini greenhouse.

Be careful not to overwater your seeds, while moisture is required for germination too much water can mean the seeds drown and rot.

Once the frost has passed, you can plant out the young plants that need to be moved outside to grow fully. Root systems will be longer and hardier after a head start in the ideal environment of the greenhouse, and that will mean a healthier and more robust plant once it is outside. Once the outdoor crops have been moved outside, space is left in the greenhouse for plants that need more humidity than the outside can provide, including the Mediterranean crops such as tomatoes, peppers, chillies, and cucumbers.

Your greenhouse action plan from early spring through to summer Early spring •

Sow hardy plants such as Brussels sprouts, cabbage, celeriac, early leeks, lettuce, onions and peas for planting out when the warmer weather arrives.

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In heated greenhouses, tomatoes, peppers and other tender plants can be sown early in a propagator.

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Sow fast-growing tender plants such as courgettes, squashes and pumpkins, cucumbers, French beans, melons and sweetcorn so they are ready for planting in their final positions under glass in late spring or outside in early summer.

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Buy ready-grown pepper and tomato plants for introducing to unheated greenhouses.

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Sow basil for use throughout the summer.

Houseplants A standard greenhouse will experience shifts in temperature from day to day and week to week so it is important to be aware of those hot and cold extremes when planning house plants for your greenhouse Most will thrive but you’ll need to give more attention to watering and feeding

Collect water As we all try to live more sustainably, collecting rainfall to use in your Garden and greenhouse is essential. more than that its beneficial for the potted plants in the greenhouse.

They prefer rainwater because it doesn’t contain the artificially added minerals that tap water does Most plants thrive on slightly acidic water such as rainwater which had a pH of between 5.5 and 6.5 whereas tap water from the mains is usually alkaline.

Luckily rainwater is easy to harvest through water butts and greenhouse guttering. Also keep a watering can topped up inside the greenhouse so the eater is at an ambient temperature, as in early spring it can be too cold for your plants if it comes straight in from outside.

Country Gardener

Early summer •

Transfer young plants from one container to a slightly larger one, where they will have more room to grow and fresh potting compost. This encourages continuous, healthy growth.

Late spring to early summer •

Plant summer greenhouse plants into their final positions indoors.

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Harden off and plant out young plants of outdoor crops once the frost has passed.

HOW TULIPS KEEP THEIR PLACE IN THE SPOTLIGHT In a special Q&A on tulips we look at the new ‘superguys’ in the early garden in dazzling colours and flower shapes. You can grow them in borders, rock gardens and containers before summer flowers appear and remember specialist tulips often multiply in gardens Tulips provide a splash of spring colour in dazzling shades. Different flower forms add to this variety, with lily-, fringed-, parrot- and peony-flowered forms. They are ideal for filling borders, growing in rock gardens and for bedding schemes. A few smaller specialist tulips are best grown in a cool greenhouse

Can you leave tulip bulbs in the ground all year?

There is no reason to dig up tulips in the garden at all.

Most gardeners leave their bulbs in the ground where they were originally planted, and, are left to rebloom.

Sometimes gardeners will dig up tulip bulbs but only when the plants seem to have offered fewer flowers.

Do tulips come back every year?

What do you do with tulips after they have flowered?

To encourage your tulips to bloom again next year, remove the seed heads once the blooms have faded. Allow the foliage to die back naturally then dig up the bulbs about 6 weeks after blooming. Discard any damaged or diseased ones and let them dry.

What is the lifespan of a tulip?

Tulips can live for many years in the proper climate. In good conditions, some species of tulips live for up to 20 years and live the longest where the winters are cold and wet and the summers are dry

Is it worth saving tulip bulbs?

A few tulips like the Darwin hybrids and Kaufmanniana cultivars are known to reflower with greater certainty, so are worth leaving in the ground. For cultivars more likely to reflower see our list here. Lifting, drying and storing tulip bulbs over summer can improve reflowering.

Can you get seeds from tulips?

Once the flower of a tulip plant dies off, you can extract the seeds from the pod to plant in the fall. If you allow the plant to go to seed after it blooms, the pod will eventually turn brown and crack open

The tulip is a perennial flower. This means that a tulip should be expected to return and bloom year after year.

But for all intents and purposes this isn’t always the case.

Most tulip lovers’ content themselves with treating it as an annual, replanting every year.

Can you regrow tulips from cuttings?

Do tulips multiply?

Can tulip bulbs be planted too deep?

Tulips will need a full year’s growth in order to start multiplying and spreadingThis means that the initial process will begin after their first bloom in spring. When this process begins baby bulbs will sprout from the main tulip root. This usually creates two to five more bulbs each cycle.

Yes, if you plant your bulbs too deep it can cause the bulb to rot, delaying springtime growth. The general rule for planting tulips bulbs is to plant bulbs a depth two to three times their vertical diameter.

Without the tulip bulb, there cannot be roots. While tulips can grow from seed, it takes at least 3 years. Planting bulbs in the autumn for spring flowers is a much better option.

www.countrygardener.co.uk

Do tulips need a lot of water?

Tulips can survive and thrive on very little water. You will need to water them well once when planting, then you can forget about them until spring. They will only need about 17mm of water per week, especially in late winter to early spring, to help the plant prepare to flower.

Do squirrels eat tulip bulbs?

Yes, squirrels can be a nuisance and are highly attracted to tulip bulbs. A good way to protect your new bulbs from being eaten is to cover the area with chicken wire or plastic garden netting as this will prevent the squirrels from digging in the area. Rats are also attracted to tulips, scratching away at the bulb and often destroying it.

What is the best fertiliser and soil for tulips?

Tulips do not need fertilisation at their time of planting.

The best kind of tulip bulb fertiliser will have a nutrient ratio of 9-9-6. You should also use a slow-release fertiliser to ensure that the nutrients continually reach the bulbs.

Tulips will thrive when they are grown in loose, crumbly soil that is easy to work and has excellent drainage. The well-drained part is critical. Bulbs can rot in soil that’s too wet. Tulips can be grown in sand, which guarantees they’re never in a soggy situation.

Do tulip bulbs divide?

You can divide tulips bulbs in a fairly simple process.

They multiply by growing miniature bulbs from their root systems. As the bulbs or bulblets, as they are also known by, mature and become larger, they grow up next to the original bulb.

Where do tulips grow best?

Tulips thrive when they are hit with full or afternoon sun.

In hot climates, choose a more shaded site or one with morning sun only, as tulips don’t like a lot of heat.

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Grow healthier HOUSE PLANTS ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS SENT TO COUNTRY GARDENER ABOUT CARE FOR INDOOR PLANTS THROUGH SPRING AND BEYOND

What is the best place to put my houseplant?

Annie Worth, Petersfield Except for cacti and succulents many foliage houseplants have evolved in rainforests where they enjoy shade and high humidity. So, grouping several plants together or standing them over a tray of moist gravel helps them to create a humid microclimate. Ideally choose a spot in the house out of direct sunlight which can scorch their leaves.

They need bright light for good growth so an east facing window would be ideal.

I’ve moved into a new modern house and would like to brighten it up a bit with houseplants. But I am a beginner and would like some ideas please.

Tammy Lorde, Tradescantia (Spiderwort) Cirencester Cacti and succulents are the obvious choice as are spider plants and snake plants, but they're quite boring and not at all exciting to care for. A better option would be to opt for a more interesting looking plant that's just as easy-going. Here are some thoughts about plants for beginners: • Aegagropila linnaei (Marimo Moss Ball) • Fittonia (Nerve Plant) • Tradescantia (Spiderwort) • Zamioculcas zamiifolia (ZZ Plant)

Zamioculcas zamiifolia (ZZ plant)

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Can I water my houseplants with tap water? Mary Winchell, Minehead Clean rainwater at room temperature is best for watering indoor plants. The water in hard water areas is alkaline which doesn’t suit plants that prefer slightly acidic compost such as orchids and Epiphyllum and it can contain fluoride which some plants are sensitive to, resulting in brown tips and edges to their leaves.

So it may be a quick fix but try to avoid tap water and keep some sort of supply of rainwater to hand.

However, tap water is better than letting the plants dry out. Mains water attached to a water softening system should never be used as it is toxic to plants.

Do I need to feed and repot? I felt it was necessary to repot some of my beloved houseplants which looked as it they needed perking up after the winter. Now I have done that should I feed them too? Nicky French, Exeter There should be enough fertiliser in fresh compost to last a couple of months after repotting so wait a while before you add any more fertiliser. Too much feed over a short period of time will do more harm than good and damage the plants roots and waste all your efforts to repot.

I think I have had it drilled into me that overwatering my houseplants will not do them any good but I suppose now I am not sure what the rules are about providing a proper watering regime? Karen Browne, Martock The arrival of spring changes things a bit when it comes to The 'finger tip' method watering. Plants are starting to grow so their whole system needs more attention. They are in fact much more needy during these weeks than in the winter. The best method of judging when a plant needs water is to monitor the moisture level of the compost every few days and only water when the top inch of compost has become dry to the touch. Watering to a routine such as weekly can lead to the plant becoming too dry or even worse a risk of overwatering.

So, it’s not a question of regular watering times, it's being sensible as to the immediate feel of the compost.

My plant is drooping / has yellowing leaves and I don’t seem to be able to do much about it. Carrie Newton, Portsmouth It could be the natural aging process. Plants will drop older leaves as they produce new ones, it's nothing to worry about.

If the older leaves are drooping or browning and new growth has slowed or stopped completely, it’s likely you’re over-watering. Other signs of overwatering are limp, soft leaves with poor growth and brown leaf tips. Check the soil, is it soggy or damp? Let it dry out and keep an eye on the plant.

Signs of under-watering are limp and wilted leaves, little or no growth, flowers and older leaves die and fall off.

If you’re certain over-watering isn't the problem, it could be that the plant is in a spot that's too sunny or too dark. If the older leaves are growing in smaller or losing their variegation, the stems are elongated, and blooms are non-existent, your plant needs more light. If the leaves are brown or scorched, have a washed out appearance, and the plant looks shrivelled, the problem is too much light. Check the light and humidity requirements for your plant and find a better spot for it.

How do you prevent/deal with flies and fungus gnats which seem to be ever present on my plants? Louis Drake, Liss You'll never prevent them completely but covering the top layer of soil with gravel helps prevent flies laying their eggs. Regularly raking the top level of the soil–perhaps once or twice a week–with a fork is effective. If you notice you have an infestation, fly traps containing apple cider vinegar and a drop or two of washing up liquid can help.

Country Gardener

Why kale is king!

Nutritious, easy to grow and providing many pickings of leaves it is no surprise kale is so popular as a winter veg You can keep your cabbages, cauliflowers and sprouts – for many gardeners, kale is king and for so many reasons.

The main one being that kale can provide many pickings of leaves throughout much of the year and it just keeps on giving, especially in winter.

You don’t need a lot of plants to give you a good harvest, often at a time when fresh veg is at a premium. And they are so nutritious.

As well as having all the usual antioxidants that greenleaved veggies have, kale exceeds many others in its vitamin C and A content. Kale is hardy and once it is established it is fairly resistant to pest damage, although whitefly can sometimes be a problem.

Kale is also extremely tasty and can be used as baby leaves in salads or grown to maturity and then added to any dish you like.

Weather tolerant Kale is a hardy plant and will tolerate severe weather. It can almost be buried in snow, frozen to the core, beaten by fierce winds, but when the storms have passed it stands proud. It is your best winter friend on the plot. To further convince you that kale is king there has been a lot of breeding work done with kales in recent years and you can now find some really beautiful ones to grow that would not look out of place in a flower border.

A biennial plant, kale produces leaves in the first year, and then, in the next year (or sometimes late in the first year), it will form a flower stalk. The stalk forms flowers and then seeds. Once the seeds mature, the plant dies.

Kale leaves are ready to pick 55 to 75 days from seeding, or when the leaves are about the size of your hand. The central rosette is the tastiest part of the plant, but let it grow if you want the plant to produce more leaves. The small, tender leaves can be eaten uncooked and chopped up to use in salads.

How to grow Kale is not difficult to grow, which is another point in its favour.

It can be sown all year round, especially if you just want to eat kale as microgreens in the depths of winter by sowing a shallow tray on your kitchen windowsill. In early spring or autumn you could sow some in a cold greenhouse border or in a pot and harvest kale as young plants.

To grow plants to full size it is best to start them off between March and June. You have two options in sowing. If you have room on the veg plot then devote a small area as a seed bed. Dig over and rake well to create a level crumbly surface. Sow the seeds 1cm (½in) deep and seeds about 2.5cm (1in) apart. When they germinate remove some as they grow to about 7.5cm (3in) apart.

You can eat the thinnings. Keep the plants covered with Enviromesh or Veggiemesh. netting. When the plants are 13cm (5in) or so, you can lift them and transplant into their final positions about 45cm (18in) apart. Firm them in well.

You can also sow into cell trays and grow them on in a cold greenhouse or cold frame or under some netting until large enough to plant out. Use some multipurpose compost of your choice and sow two seeds per cell and thin out to one when they germinate.

Grow on until they’re about 13cm (5in) tall before planting out.

Protect with covers Kale is a brassica and so is vulnerable to a lot of pests, including pigeons and cabbage white butterflies. It is best to keep the crop covered from seed sowing stage until at least mid to late autumn when pests start to be less of an issue. That said, whitefly can sometimes be troublesome all year round and the really curly kales can harbour this pest among the ruffles in the leaves. A flat-leaved type may be better if these start becoming a problem.

Harvesting The beauty of kale is you can harvest when the plants are small or grow to maturity and take a leaf or two when you want them. Avoid damaging the growing tip of the plant and use a few of the younger leaves for best flavour but if used in cooking, some of the older leaves are also fine. www.countrygardener.co.uk

Kale is popular as a container vegetable

Some varieties to try ‘Emerald Ice’: A stunning white-veined kale with a sweet flavour and crisp leaves. Can be eaten young but you need to grow to maturity to get the colour.

Kale ‘KX-1’: A very colourful kale with deeply divided leaves. Ideal for cutting as baby leaves for salads. (Mr Fothergill’s) ‘Cottagers kale’: A very hardy heritage variety with pink-tinged mid ribs to the leaves. It is long lived and you can take cuttings from it too.

‘Rainbow Candy Crush’: An unusual pretty pink ornamental kale that is also good to eat.

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READERS LETTERS

Have your say...

If you have anything you would like to share with our readers, ideas, views, moans or gardening ideas then write to us at Country Gardener, Mount House, Halse, Taunton TA4 3AD or email editorial@countrygardener.co.uk

The folklore of my wonderful rosemary bush

KEEP AN EYE ON THE ANTS

I’ve been doing some research into the wonderful rosemary plant I have outside my back porch which seems to have been there forever and perhaps has been taken too much for granted. Our forebears ironically used to plant rosemary on their porches to ward off witchcraft and curses.

Legend has it that rosemary bushes originally had white flowers and that before Mary gave birth to Jesus, she is said to have placed her blue cloak on a rosemary bush. The flowers then turned blue and thereafter the plant was called 'Mary's rose'.

Another piece of folklore says that a rosemary plant will never grow taller than Jesus Christ and if it out lives the 30 years it will grow prostrate instead of upright.

In ancient times it was believed to strengthen the memory; in literature and folklore it is an emblem of remembrance and fidelity. Rosemary is slightly stimulating. In traditional medicine it was a popular aromatic constituent of tonics and liniments.

For my family and I it is a wonderfully useful plant which if kept under control and properly pruned is a great ingredient when cooking meat or stews and fills the winter kitchen with a sensational aroma.

Amamda Swift Torquay

I enjoyed your article about folklore and March weather. My old aunt who managed to get to the age of 101 said she had a foolproof way of predicting the weather. It was all to do with ants. If they came out of their nest in straight lines or single file then you could expect stormy weather. If they were more random in their work, then the weather would be more settled. Perhaps odd but always memorable.

Nora Fairweather Bideford

Keeping a record of my garden

One of the most important nuggets of advice I was given when studying at Bicton College in Devon was the importance of keeping notebooks. I have since then always kept a diary or a notebook about my garden. They were rather scrappy things but then I discovered you could buy a five-year RHS gardening diary. It has columns for weekly comments of what’s been planted, what has grown successfully and what has died plus notes on garden visits, plant suppliers and so on.

I am now in my 21st year of recording and of a winter evening it's fascinating to look back on how my garden has changed and the work I have put into it.

Jacquie La Dell via email

Fabulous fungi While on a walk in a local park in December I came across a fallen tree with many different types of fungi growing from its branches and trunk. Apart from being colourful and quite alarming looking, fungi do have several useful functions in the natural world, notably the breakdown of organic matter and nutrient cycling. I am not an expert, but I left well alone but enjoyed taking some photos that show their amazing beauty.

Hazel Dean Bridgwater

No need to be neat I always trimmed my lavender plants to look neat in winter until one year we watched with amazement as a couple of bullfinches spend two weeks returning daily to eat the seeds. Since then, I no longer trim them until April. They produce just as good a crop of flowers but a bit later. There’s no need for this neat and tidy nonsense. Time is running out. If people want a neat winter look then trim your box hedge.

Beth Ransome Newbury

OFFERING DIFFERING DELIGHTS I believe the secret in helping bees in gardens is to keep offering something new in the garden. I was dismayed when our large Mahonia x media ‘Charity’ which has been attracting bees for year and years failed to flower well last year and there was a big gap in our gardening offering. I then saw some bees feasting on our winter flowering honeysuckle which has been growing well from a cutting I planted just two years ago near the back door. I’ve learnt not to rely on old faithful’s but try and find new ideas to help bees and other pollinators.

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In praise of slipper orchids I want to sing the praise to your readers of something which I was introduced to a few years ago and now which I am proud to be able to grow in my Somerset garden hardy slipper orchids which were once the preserve of experts but now more easily grown hybrids have opened them up for us less talented gardeners. Hardy slipper orchids have always been considered hard to grow but a group of gardeners specialising in orchid hybrids has changed things so this wonderful plant can now thrive in all our gardens.

It is an herbaceous perennial which needs a well-drained cool place in part shade and dry in winter. There are now 50 species. Our UK native Cypripedium calceolus was brought to the edge of extinction by collectors who plundered it. It is now becoming more available and is superlative plant which can now be found at the best garden centres, certainly on request. I would recommend it as a must for the serious gardener.

Ester Parker Bournemouth

BANISHING BONFIRES SUCCESS Success! I thought I should celebrate the fact that after a bit of a mini-campaign in our neighbourhood before Christmas we have just celebrated six weeks without sight of a single bonfire.

I’m not sure if this is down to our letter box campaign asking people to stop or just people not being in their gardens very much but it has worked and long may it continue.

Mary Sanders Honiton

Country Gardener

FOLLOWING THE 2023 COLOUR OF THE YEAR I wonder how many of your readers have the courage to plant something crimson in their garden or borders. We now have quite a collection of the colour . Did you know it was chosen as Pantone’s Colour of the Year last year so I think we are ahead of the trend. Pantone launched its colour matching system over 50 years ago and I know garden designers are always keen to see what the new colour of the year is.

We have three crimson delights in our Dorset garden - Dahlia ‘Western Pirate’ which is the most wonderful strong colour; Astrantia ‘Burgundy Manor’ and Acer palmatum ‘Astropurpureum’.

Crimson is a colour which works beautifully with silvers and blues.

Connie Trantor Wellington

READER’S STORY

MY NEW

wildflower

LAWN

Last spring Phillip Hermans dug up a big area of lawn in his garden outside of Torquay and planted a wildlife lawn. He’s now urging more gardeners to do the same.

I wonder if your readers would like to share my efforts (very successful I think) last year to create a wildflower lawn in my Devon garden.

It was a wonderful success and for anyone who wants to try it now is certainly the right time.

Our starting point was that we had too much ordinary lawn. It was pain and hard work to mow and for several years now I had been looking for a solution – a different approach.

Mowing the lawn had become a real chore. The faster you cut it in May and June the faster it grows and it takes too much gardening time which could be more creatively used.

Seeing the photos of what other people have done to “We found it important to get create wildflower areas in the mowing regime right.” their gardens inspired us to do the same!

So last March we dug out a large section of the lawn (which took a while but was a good workout!). We scattered lots of wildflower seeds, using a seed mix but adding in extra cornflower seeds as they’re my favourites. We also planted some verbena in there separately.

We then added a layer of topsoil (mostly taken from the grass we’d dug up) and covered it with netting to discourage the pigeons from eating the seeds and walking over the shoots when they started growing!

We watered the seeds a couple of times when it was really dry and hot, but otherwise they took care of themselves, and by June, perhaps early July, we had a beautiful wildflower patch in the middle of the lawn, with lots of cornflowers and poppies, which the bees and butterflies have been enjoying ever since.

We’ve even noticed the birds enjoying hopping through the flowers as well!

The less pristine the meadow, the more promising it is for wildlife. Once you have the wildlife meadow you just raise the cutters on your mower to make some paths and leave the rest of the mowing until July or August after plants have flowered.

Wildflower meadows establish best on unproductive soil. You must check what sort of soil you have and its pH before you choose which seeds to sow; wildflower seed merchants supply mixes suitable for various soil types and situations.

If your soil fertility is too high for perennial wildflowers to flourish, consider sowing a cornfield annual mix that includes plants like cornflower, corn poppy, corn marigold and corncockle, with some barley and wheat seed to add an authentic touch!

During the first year, we found it was important to get the mowing regime right. We became a bit nerdish about it all but we felt it was important so we cut seven centimetres high whenever the height reached 10-20 cm. I think we cut it three times during the summer.

So go on try it. It’s a great gardening experience!

Coir potting mix in new 50 litre bags Coir, the by-product of the coconut industry which is fast gaining a place in the compost market is now available in 50 litre bags CoirProducts.co.uk of Salike, is now bringing its coir potting mix in the bigger bags. Natural and peat-free, the 50 litre coir bags are easy to use and store, the potting mix bags are ideal for growing a variety of plants and crops.

Coir is derived from the dust and fibres of the coconut husk. Completely peat-free, coir has been growing in popularity as an alternative to the peat-based growing products. The natural properties of coir means it also has excellent water holding capacity and air porosity, as well as facilitating drainage. Such properties allow plants to access the moisture, while draining excess amounts of water, helping them grow stronger and healthier root systems within appropriate growing conditions.

The larger coir potting mix bags are crafted to meet the diverse needs of gardeners and growers. The range includes CoirProducts’ signature peat-free coir potting mix, Coir Vital Grow. Designed for easy and convenient use, Coir Vital Grow is ideal for seasoned growers or those new to gardening. The potting mix range also includes two new products, Coir Plus, which is enriched with nitrogen,phosphorus and potassium, providing plants with essential elements for healthy and robust growth as well as the revolutionary Coir Nutri. A multi-purpose compost, a first of its kind in the market, this specially formulated mix blends age-old traditions with the inherent goodness of coir. The added benefits of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, give plants the extra boost for optimal thriving.

CoirProducts’ parent company, Salike, is carbon neutral compliant and continues to adopt ethical practices in the producing and sourcing of its products. www.coirproducts.co.uk

Compost Week ends with new action plan for gardeners The success of Compost Week throughout the UK has led to the launch of a new action campaign to get more gardeners involved in making their own. Compost Week UK is an annual campaign aimed at raising awareness of the environmental benefits of composting. Now the plan is to follow the week up with very specific ideas for which include: • Start Composting: Set up a compost bin in your garden or backyard and begin adding appropriate waste. Take steps to ‘pest proof’ your compost bin to keep rodents away, such as putting wire mesh under the bin.

• No garden? – Even if you don’t have garden, you can use compost in outdoor planters.

• Attend local workshops: Many communities host workshops or events during this week, offering guidance on effective composting techniques.

• Spread the Word: Educate friends, family, and neighbours about the benefits of composting.

• Support Green Initiatives: Consider supporting local organisations or projects that champion composting and other sustainable practices, such as your local allotment group.

• Schools – Schools can start by introducing composting programs into their classrooms, dining areas and staff rooms and by teaching students and staff about the environmental benefits of composting food waste. Composting for schools / RHS Campaign for School Gardening

43

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SEED SUPPLIERS

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ENDANGERED VEG SEEDS Franchi seeds Eden Project seed range now includes Butterbeans and Chickpeas. Try our New PURE Native British Wildflower seeds. Request your catalogue of endangered, heritage, regional and ethical seed varieties now.

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TIME OFF

CLASSIFIED

Diary events from clubs and organisations around

Dorset & Hampshire

SPECIALIST NURSERIES

FORTON NURSERY

Garden clubs and associations are starting to fill up their events calendar for the new season. If you would like to share club events then take advantage of our traditional free service which lists events, meetings and outings. Send your information to timeoff@countrygardener.co.uk

Top Quality Perennials, Shrubs & Trees

T: 01460 239569 E: fortonnursery@btconnect.com W: www.fortonnursery.co.uk Forton village, near Chard TA20 4HD Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays

March TERRACOTTA POTS

Est. 2003

CERTIFIED ORGANIC VEGETABLE PLANTS

The Terracotta Pot and Gift Shop Stockists of frostproof pots and garden ornaments from Greece and around the world as well as a host of other gifts and bits and pieces

Growers Organics, Kitley Farm, Yealmpton, Devon PL8 2LT

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WANT THIS SPACE? ADVERTISE HERE FROM JUST £2 PER WORD Email: classified@countrygardener.co.uk for more details

GET MORE FROM YOUR GARDEN THIS

Spring

20TH Milford Gardeners’ Club ‘THE LAND AND THE NO NAME NURSERY’ - STEVE EDNEY www.milfordgardenersclub.co.uk Tarrant Valley Gardeners, Keyneston Hall ‘LATE SUMMER COLOUR’ - DERRY WATKINS Details on 01258 480778 21ST

www.countrygardener.co.uk

Totton & District Gardens Society ‘GREAT BRITISH GARDENS’ - GILLIAN TAYLOR email: cotton.gardeners@btinternet. com 11TH Petersfield Gardeners’ Club MONTHLY MEETING www.petersfieldgardenersclub.com 12TH

Ringwood Garden Club ‘A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF A KINGSTON LACY GARDENER’ - STEPHEN CANDY Details on 01202 574875

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

27TH

16TH

Uplyme & Lyme Regis Horticultural Society ‘RISK TAKING IN LANDSCAPE’ - KEITH WILEY www.ulrhs.wordpress.com Details on 07767 261444

Southill Gardening Club ‘MY SEASONAL SHOPPING BASKET’ - THE GOLD CLUB Details on 01305 788939

Warsash Horticultural Society ‘MY GREENHOUSE YEAR’ - GILLIAN TAYLOR Details on 01489 573755

Milford Gardeners’ Club ‘SEASONAL HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS’ - ROSY HARDY www.milfordgardenersclub.co.uk

30TH

18TH

West Moor Horticultural Society SPRING SHOW Details on 01202 871536

Corfe Mullen Gardening Club ‘GARDENS WORTH THE JOURNEY’ - MIKE WEBBER Details on 01202 692526

April

Ringwood Garden Club ‘MEDITERRANEAN GARDENS HOME & ABROAD’ - BEN TURNER Details on 01202 574875

4TH

8TH

COUNTRY GARDENER

10TH

Corfe Mullen Gardening Club ‘A YEAR IN THE COUNTRYSIDE’ - PAUL STURGESS Details on 01202 692526

Ringwood Garden Club AFTERNOON MEETING & PLANT AUCTION Details on 01202 574875

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

Woodlands Gardening Club ‘SUCCESSFUL VEGETABLE AND HERB GARDENING’ - STEF BRADFIELD

West Moors Horticultural Society ‘CARE AND CULTIVATION OF CACTI GROWING’ - DAVID ENNALS Details on 01202 871536 9TH

Blackmore Vale Bonsai Group MONTHLY MEETING Details on 07837 781744

17TH

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Lymington Gardeners Club ‘NATURE’S PRODUCTS: PLANTS AND YOUR WELLBEING’ - PATTI SANDHAM Details on 01590 672909 45

TREE SPECIALIST

SHADE – a matter of life or death?

You are walking across the Sahara Desert in the middle of the day, and it is very hot.

All you have to protect you from the sun’s rays is a parasol. As you look ahead the parasol blocks some of your view. Annoyed by this interruption of your view, you cast the parasol aside.

You walk on now unprotected from the scorching heat.

Is this a good idea?

In 2012 154,000 air conditioning units were sold in the UK. By 2021 this had increased to 213,000 for the year. Over the whole survey period 2,105,000 air conditioning units were sold. Recently the electricity demand to power these units in a heatwave forced the electricity generating companies to resort to firing up some coal-fired power stations to prevent the collapse of the grid.

Is this a good idea? Trees cool the air.

In the summer our rivers run dry or low. Lack of rainfall is blamed. Water companies’ abstraction is blamed, housing development is blamed. (They would blame 4x4s if they could think of a reason!) Nobody mentions evaporation. Why not? 14 per cent of lake and river water is lost through evaporation and it can only get worse. The dwindling, though doughty, band of us who knew the British countryside before Dutch Elm Disease remember a countryside with a great many more trees (about 60 million more trees) and consequently a lot more shade.

The Woodland Trust is offering encouragement to people to plant trees alongside rivers because trees next to rivers cast shade over the water, which regulates the river temperature and nutrient levels. This helps to prevent algal blooms and keeps the aquatic ecosystem in balance. Our native fish are shrinking and dying because the water in our rivers and streams is becoming too warm. Should this be left to a charity to try and cure, or should it be a national emergency?

At an arboricultural conference I attended, the Government sent its appointed 'Trees Champion’ to deliver the keynote address.

Sir Limp-Wrist-Twisleton-Smyth III couldn’t have been more out of touch: “You tree chappies will be delighted to hear that your government is committed to planting 4,000,000 new trees next year."

Editorial

Magazines

A professional tree grower in the front of the audience asked him, “Has anybody thought to tell the nursery industry so that we can grow them?”

Oh dear! Bang goes the OBE! Since 1900 in England and Wales we have lost more than half of our orchards. We produce about 60 per-cent of the food we eat in this country – but only 18per-cent of our fruit.

Traditional orchards are a UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority Habitat because of their high value for wildlife conservation. We currently import about 80 per cent of the timber we use.

The earliest evidence we have for the management of trees in the UK for produce is the use of coppicing to create the materials for trackways in the Somerset levels dating back to 4,500 years BC. Over the last 6,500 years our precious indigenous wildlife has evolved/developed to live in a productive landscape, perhaps not intensively productive, but not unmanaged wildwood.

We desperately need more trees – in our towns and our countryside. The main responsibility for those trees will fall on individual landowners.

For that to work they need to see value in those trees. We need to value homegrown fruit, homegrown timber, shade and shelter.

We need to change our attitudes as landowners and consumers.

We have lost trees to disease – we have lost more to commercial pressures – we need to make them valuable again.

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

Advertising Sales

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

Ava Bench - Somerset & Hampshire ava@countrygardener.co.uk Tel: 01278 786139

Time Off

Cath Pettyfer - Devon cath.pettyfer@countrygardener.co.uk Tel: 01837 82660

Kate Lewis timeoff@countrygardener.co.uk

Mark Hinsley says the need to plant more trees is on the edge of a national emergency and we need a rapid change in our attitudes

Corina Reay - Cotswolds & Dorset corina@countrygardener.co.uk Tel: 01823 410098

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The Country Gardener magazines are distributed FREE at Nurseries, garden centres, National Trust Properties, open gardens, garden machinery specialists, country stores and farm shops in each county. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or made available in any form, without the written permission of the copyright holder and Publisher, application for which should be made to the Publisher. Unsolicited material: do not send or submit your only version of manuscripts and/or photographs/transparencies to us as these cannot be returned to you. While every care is taken to ensure that material submitted is priced accurately and completely, we cannot be responsible or liable for any loss or damage suffered.

Views and/or opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of Country Gardener or the Publisher. Printed by Mortons Print Ltd, Morton Way, Boston Road Industrial Estate, Horncastle, LN9 6JR.

46

Country Gardener

THE HANGING GARDENS of Marqueyssac Famous and unique gardens suspended high above the Dordogne River on a rocky outcrop and listed as a National Monument. And pioneers of hard pruned box which many gardeners could learn from.

Think of a famous French garden and you probably think of a classical, formal landscape with lots of straight lines and symmetry.

But The Hanging Gardens of Marqueyssac - the gardens of the Chateau de Marqueyssac in the Perigord region in south-west France - are far from that.

Instead, these picturesque gardens are known for their romantic flowing feel - the focus of which are the 150,000 boxwood hedges, all individually hand-trimmed and which create a cloud-like landscape, fitting in perfectly with the Dordogne Valley.

The gardens stand 130 metres above the river and command the most spectacular view of the valley, surrounding villages and beyond. It is a garden designed for walking with 6km of paths, arranged in three circuits, winding among the hand-pruned boxwood, belvederes, rockeries and waterfalls.

The chateau itself is relatively simple in design but has an

Tens of thousands of boxwood trees were imported which gave Marqueyssac a striking deep green landscape

impressive roof made of local materials and weighing 500 tons.

The chateau was built at the end of the 17th century by Bertrand Vernet de Marqueyssac and its gardens featured alleys, terraces and a kitchen garden. In the 1830s a chapel and a one metre long grand alley for horseback riding was added.

But it wasn’t until the new owner, Julien de Cerval, purchased the estate in 1861 that the gardens started to resemble the landscape which so many visitors enjoy today.

With a passion for topiary, Cerval imported tens of thousands of boxwood trees which gave Marqueyssac a striking deep green landscape. Many of these were clipped into shapes, including the cloud-like formations for which the garden is so famous. He also redesigned the pareterres and created long walkways.

He was passionate about Italian culture and introduced several ornamental species to the estate: cypresses and umbrella pines, lime trees and a Naples Cyclamen which creates a coloured carpet at the end of the summer.

After his death in 1893 the gardens were left to deteriorate and were left that way until a new owner, Kleber Rossillon, started to restore the gardens to their former glory. After substantial restoration work, Marqueyssac opened its gates to the public in March 1997 and is now the most visited garden in Perigord.

WHAT IS BOX? Box (buxus sempervirens) has been, for many years, a popular choice for neat hedging due to its small leaves, slow growth rate and tidy appearance.

The evergreen tolerates many types of soil, suits both sun and shade and takes close clipping - making it the perfect choice for pruning into topiary shapes.

WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS WITH BOX?

Box blight is a fungal disease that causes the affected leaves to turn brown or black resulting in bare patches and dieback. Box tree caterpillars feed on box leaves, leaving holes which weaken the plant’s structure and even kill it.

Although there are treatments available for both problems, and they can be kept in check under close supervision and outbreak can easily occur and so many gardeners now look for other options.

WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES? Lonicera nitida (‘box leaf honeysuckle’) Has similar sized leaves to box, and a bright golden green foliage. Agreat alternative to box hedging because it can be easily trimmed to create a neat and tidy look Taxus baccata (‘repandens’) Like all yews it clips to a dense hedge. This type is a low, spreading form making it ideal for topiary. It isn’t too vigorous needing only one clip a year.

Euonymus japonicus (‘green spire’) Slow growing and can be easily trimmed. Perfect for creating a bright and colourful garden border.

Podocarps nivalis An easy to propagate conifer. Looks similar to box with matt-green, small leaves. Grows in full sun or part shade.

Only requires one clip a year.

Podocarps ‘chocolate box’ Similar to podocarps navalis but with darker green foliage in summer and a deep chocolate bronze in winter.

Pittosporum tenuifolium (‘Oliver Twist’) A delicate yellow variegation. Easy to clip but needs up to three clips each summer to maintain a tight appearance.

Since 2011 the shrub has increasingly suffered from ‘box blight’ and ‘box tree caterpillar’ - both now well established in the UK. www.countrygardener.co.uk

45

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