Somerset Country Gardener November 2019

Storing apples properly

Great tidying up ideas for your garden

It’s tree planting time

Autumn gardening events throughout Somerset

Somerset www.countrygardener.co.uk

ISSUE NO 171 NOVEMBER 2019 FREE

Let chillies WARM

YOUR WINTER How to get more spicy in the garden PLUS: THE LADY WHO GAVE ROSEMOOR TO THE RHS

A family run business that has been growing since 1967 CROCKERTON, WARMINSTER, WILTSHIRE 01985 217413

www.fonthill-lakeside.com

BATH ROAD, BITTON, BRISTOL 0117 932 3110

GREENSHUTTERS NURSERIES & GARDEN CENTRE

01823 390063 www.greenshutters.co.uk Fivehead, Taunton, Somerset, TA3 6PT on the A378 between Taunton and Langport

EVERGREENHEDGING.COM GREENSHUTTERS NURSERIES & GARDEN CENTRE

Hedging and Trees for Screening and Privacy 01460 281265

Mark Hinsley

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MSc.Res.Man.(Arb), OND (Arb), F.Arbor.A

Arboricultural Consultants Ltd.

TREE ADVICE & REPORTING Established 1994

MART ROAD, MINEHEAD, SOMERSET TA24 5BJ

We are a Dorset based company offering a friendly, professional tree consultancy service for all areas of the South.

We specialise in:

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LARGE COVERED PLANT SALES AREA

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Management Plans

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■ Tree Preservation Order Advice ■ Planning Applications - Advice and Reports (to BS5837 standards)

ALL ENQUIRIES WELCOME

CHRISTMAS EVENT - SATURDAY 7TH DECEMBER Father Christmas, Food & Drink, Music, Magic & More!!

If you are looking for inspiration check out our website & online shop

Our Café serves Breakfast, Lunch and delicious Homemade Cakes

01202 876177 www.treeadvice.info enquiries@treeadvice.info

PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPING TEAM

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK MON-SAT 8AM-5PM SUN 10AM-4PM

01643 703612

Email: wsgc@btconnect.com

www.westsomersetgardencentre.co.uk 2

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Up Front!

“ The month of November makes me feel that life is passing away more quickly. In an effort to slow it down I try to fill the gardening hours more meaningfully” - Henry Rollins “How sad would be November if we had no knowledge of the spring” - Edwin Way Teale

OUR HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GARDENING CALENDAR OVER THE COMING WEEKS IN SOMERSET

Prior Park landscape garden tours You can wander through the historic Prior Park in Bath on a number of days on free-guided tours in late October. The gardens have been working on the dams project, a multi-million pound programme to restore the Georgian dams at the bottom of the garden.

Booking isn’t needed and dogs on leads are welcome.

It is a National Trust event starting at 11.30am through to 1pm and is free but normal admission charges apply. The walk will start from the top visitor reception (Ralph Allen Drive entrance). Tour dates: Tuesday 22nd, Thursday 24th, Tuesday 29th and Thursday, 31st - all October.

Prior Park Landscape Garden, Ralph Allen Drive, Bath, Somerset BA2 5AH

AUTUMN HALF-TERM HAPPENINGS AT NT BARRINGTON COURT There’s plenty of autumn half term activity at NT Barrington Court from Monday, 28th October through to Sunday, 3rd November with a familyfriendly trail and harvest craft activities. The autumn nature trail will lead explorers through the garden and orchards, and harvest craft activities.

Booking is not needed and accompanied children are welcome. Assistance dogs only.

Gates open 10.30am with an 11am start and 5pm finish. Free event but normal admission charges apply. Call in at visitor reception on arrival for a map and directions.

Barrington Court, Barrington, near Ilminster, Somerset TA19 0NQ

Hestercombe hosts garden photography exhibition Hestercombe Gardens, outside of Taunton, is hosting the International Garden Photographer of the Year exhibition through to Wednesday 20th November.

It’s a chance to enjoy this outdoor exhibition of botanical imagery from selected winners. The competition, which was open to amateurs and professionals worldwide, followed the theme: ‘Help us celebrate the beauty and importance of a green planet’.

The stunning images range from plant portraits to fantastic botanical landscapes. Members free; adults £12.50; children £6.25; under 5s free.

Hestercombe Gardens, Cheddon Fitzpaine, Taunton, Somerset TA2 8LG

A NIGHT ON THE WETLANDS The wild wetland landscape north of Bridgwater is hosting a ‘Night Birdwatching Walk’ on Thursday, 31st October at WWT Steart Marshes to hear the waders and saltmarsh at night in a night walk through the reserve.

Places are limited so book in advance. The suggested donation is £5.

WWT Steart Marshes, Steart Drove, TA5 2PU

Christmas artisan markets back in Wells The popular Christmas artisan market takes place from Friday, 1st to Sunday, 3rd November from 10am to 4pm, at the Bishop’s Palace, Wells, where visitors can get their Christmas shopping started.

There will be unusual and inspirational artisans in attendance, from throughout the West Country.

The medieval rooms of the palace, upstairs and downstairs, will be filled with a variety of stalls, offering hand-made and unique gifts.

This event is in aid of The Bishop’s Palace and tickets are available at a special reduced price £7 for adults; children 5 to 18 £3; under 5’s and Palace members free, including entry to the whole site.

The Bishops Palace, Wells, Somerset BA5 2PD

Autumn themes at Fyne Court Fyne Court at Broomfield near Bridgwater is organising two autumn themed events. From 26th October to 3rd November there’s an autumn activity trail around the grounds of Fyne Court. Then on Wednesday, 30th October and Thursday, 31st October pumpkin decorating takes over and provides the perfect opportunity to unleash your creativity from 11am to 3pm.

Fyne Court, Broomfield, Bridgwater TA5 2EQ

The Winter issue of Country Gardener will be available from Saturday 23rd November www.countrygardener.co.uk

3

Avonfield Gardens

Marsh Road, Hilperton Wiltshire BA14 7PL Tel 01225 571331

01460 243100 Secure, Easy & Flexible Self Storage Units Lopen Business Park . Mill Lane . Lopen . Somerset . TA13 5JS

We offer a wide range of high quality trees, shrubs, conifers, alpines and herbaceous perennials, complemented by a range of key gardening products such as composts, fertilisers, tools, seeds terracotta and glazed pots and garden sundries.

The centre prides itself on excellent levels of service, horticultural advice and a clear no-nonsense, no-gimmicks approach.

Open Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm Sun 10am-4pm

Buy Online or collect from Lopen Soft Toys, Wooden Toys, Ride-Ons 01460 241800 www.beehivetoyfactory.co.uk

GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE

Triscombe Nurseries Former Victorian Walled Kitchen Garden established over 60 years ago.

Come and have a look at our extensive range of shrubs, ornamental and native trees, fruit trees and hedging plants.

CROFT GARDEN NURSERY W EST & FARM SHOP Great range of trees, shrubs, climbers, conifers, roses, herbaceous perennials.

Home grown fuchsias, geraniums, patio plants, vegetable and herb plants.

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Planted containers and hanging baskets for sale and made to order.

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• Sales • Service • Repairs • Tel: 01278 651300 Ride on Mowers andMain Push Mowers Road, Cannington, Bridgwater, Somerset TA5 2LD Chainsaws, Hedgecutters & Brushcutters www.bridgwatermowers.co.uk Leaf Blowers, Rotavator, Stone Cutters, • Sales • Service • Repairs •

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Selection of Looking Good plants and shrubs.

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Children’s toys ~ Ride on tractors, mowers, etc.

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...In the south west A LOOK AT NEWS, EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS IN THE AREA

Ten allotments available on RHS Rosemoor course Every year, RHS Garden Rosemoor searches for ten keen gardeners to join its practical and informative allotment course.

Successful candidates will receive expert RHS tuition, have their own plot to tend, and take away homegrown harvests. They will receive regular allotment master classes and weekly access to their plots, all in the picturesque setting of the RHS’ Devon garden. “Our allotment course has grown from strength to strength, and once again we are excited to welcome new novice vegetable growers to join us to learn from our expert team. “We offer brilliant facilities, all the equipment and know-how for a successful year of vegetable growing,� says course leader Pete Adams.

Applications are welcome from people of all backgrounds and age groups - all you need is a passion to learn the basic principles of growing your own vegetables.

The cost of the course is ÂŁ50 which covers gardening boots and seeds.

Students will have access to their plots every Wednesday (10.30am to 4pm) and attend two-hour tutorials at the start of each month.

HOW TO APPLY To apply, write to curator Jon Webster with a brief personal background (approx 50 words), stating why you would like a plot at Rosemoor (approx 50 words), and indicating what you will do with your new knowledge (approx 100 words). By post: Jon Webster, RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington Devon EX38 8PH. By email: jonathanwebster@rhs.org.uk Applications for places in 2020 are open until 29 November 2019 for a February 2020 course start.

NEW BOOK LAUNCH FROM BURROW FARM GARDENS OWNER Mary Benger, owner of the 13 acre popular east Devon gardens at Burrow Farm Gardens has released a new book A Compulsive Gardener.

The book takes you through the history of her garden near Dalwood, north west of Axminster, starting in 1959 when Mary and husband John moved there. It tells how the garden was created from scratch and evolved over 55 years.

During this time Mary has developed from an inexperienced gardener to a compulsive gardener and woven throughout the narrative Mary shares her learnings about perspective, structure, plants, planting and plant combinations while threading this through with personal anecdotes about family and the animals that have strayed into the life of the gardens.

You can purchase it at www.burrowfarmgardens.co.uk/ a-compulsive-gardener/

All for the love of dogs Are you missing the company of a dog in your house and garden? Are you retired and wishing you had a dog occasionally to suit your lifestyle?

Barking Mad organises home boarding holidays for friendly, family dogs in hosts’s homes. The organisation is looking for dog loving hosts. They will bring the dog to you, with everything it needs, so as a host you can love a dog of your choice with full support. It’s the next best thing to owning your own dog!

Barking mad say hosts are at the heart of their business. “Our customers really appreciate all we and our hosts do to give their dog a great holiday.� www.barkingmad.uk.com/local/bristol/north-bristol www.countrygardener.co.uk

5

GARDENERS’ CUTTINGS IN THE AREA

Tailored tours of Burford’s Secret Gardens Behind the fascinating façade of Cotswold stone houses lining its medieval streets, are the amazing Burford Secret Gardens.

These private gardens are as varied as the plants grown in them. They range from large open gardens with beautiful views over the Windrush valley to small-enclosed courtyards and everything in between.

Afternoon and evening tours are on offer to visitors, the afternoon tours will include three to five gardens with afternoon tea if requested. The evening tours offer two gardens with a glass of wine. Also available is a guided mediaeval Burford walk and/or a curated Burford Tolsey Museum tour.

Money raised will go to a fund to provide Burford with a Town Archive.

This will ensure documents, from the 14th Century to the present day, will be available to all those interested in family and local history.

For further information of prices and how to book visit www.burfordgardens.co.uk

Contrasts jewellery fair 2019

Contrasts is a contemporary jewellery fair being held in Rowlands Castle north of Havant in Hampshire on Saturday, 16th November at St John’s Church hall from 10am to 4pm. Postcode PO9 6DF. Over twenty designer jewellers are taking part, showing skills and creations in silver, gold, wood, glass, precious and semi-precious stones and beads. It will be an opportunity to choose quality Christmas gifts for friends, family and perhaps yourself. There will be something stunning for everyone. Entry at the door is £2 or you can register for two free tickets at www.contrastsjewelleryfair.co.uk

Gotherington Nurseries steps up as sister garden centre closes Toddington Garden Centre, the popular Cotswold garden centre near Winchcombe, is closing in December. After 45 years of a garden centre operating on the site, the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway PLC are not renewing the lease when it expires, wanting to use the site for railway business.

However, it isn’t all bad news for local gardeners as the sister nurseries will continue to trade at the Gotherington Nurseries site. Here they have been growing their own quality bedding plants for the past 28 years. They sell a wide range of trees, shrubs, roses and herbaceous plants as well as a shop full of garden care products, seeds and bird care.

Toddington Garden Centre reward customers won’t be forgotten either.

They can use their cards at the nurseries and spend their vouchers there.

Gotherington Nurseries, located near Bishops Cleeve, is well known and is less than one mile from the Prescott Hill Climb with the steam railway running behind. It is a family owned and independent retail horticultural nursery which started retailing from the site in April 1991 and quickly built a reputation for own grown high quality plants.

Gotherington Nurseries, Gretton Road, Gotherington, Cheltenham, Glos. GL52 9QY Tel: 01242 67 67 22 6

Country Gardener

Biochar will move us towards zero waste in forestry businesses Awareness of biochar, the organic material carbonized under high temperatures which reduces the release of atmospheric CO2, is low but continues to build gradually and is now seen as the last link in the sustainability chain.

For example any wood from manufacturers not suitable for firewood is now often used for biochar.

Laura Russell from Say It With Wood, the fencing gates and hurdles specialists, is passionate about the opportunities for the product and here explains why it is likely to have such an important role for gardeners in the future.

“Our business lies in forestry management and chestnut fencing production. We are proud of our environmental credentials, but there’s a link missing. It’s the dirty word that businesses don’t like to talk about... waste.

“When you buy your fencing and garden structures from us we want you to know they are sustainably produced from natural British chestnut coppice and their manufacture has had minimal impact on the environment. So what was the answer to that missing link?

Biochar! You haven’t heard about Biochar-it is great in the garden! Let me tell you about it.

“All our odd bits of timber are turned into small chunks of carbon - it’s the basic structure in wood after any other volatiles have been burnt off in the absence of oxygen. These resilient and long lasting carbon chunks have a massive internal surface area due to the plants food and water conducting vessels being burnt out. This is biochar and it’s used to improve a soils structure, drainage, and nutrient holding capacity.

“The best way to use biochar is by ‘charging’ it with nutrients and nitrogenous matter which causes a mycelial and microbial population explosion. It is these organisms that are lacking in a lot of our soils. They are pivotal in making nutrients available to plants and in fending off disease.

“Use our uncharged biochar in your compost heaps, chicken pens and horse bedding to charge it up. Or use our charged biochar as part of your potting mixes, in your seed sowing regime to get plants off to a good start, and in your flower and vegetable growing.

“If you’d like more information or to order your biochar and be part of our carbon sequestering solution, you are most welcome to contact us on 0795 834 5833.”

Say It With Wood, The Grainstore, Ledbury HR8 2TE

Avon Mill

If you would like a last resting place in beautiful countryside overlooking Dartmoor.

Phone 01647 24382 and speak to Julie or Martin Chatfield

Garden Centre, & Cosy Café Shops Unique Gifts Open 7 Days Parking Dogs Welcome Woodland Walks

www.crosswayswoodlandburials.co.uk Contrasts Contemporary

Jewellery Fair

Saturday 16th November 2019 10am - 4pm

Loddiswell  Kingsbridge  TQ7 4DD

www.avonmill.com

St Johns Hall, 120 Redhill Road, Rowlands Castle, Hampshire PO9 6DF

Entry £2 or register for 2 free tickets on our web page

www.contrastsjewelleryfair.co.uk

www.countrygardener.co.uk

Where Quality is higher than the price

We are now ready for Autumn with Pansies, Violas, Primroses and Polyanthus ready now Shrubs, Alpines, Perennials and Climbers Compost available Nursery Sundries Order your Holly Wreaths now

Open every day Godney Road, Glastonbury Somerset BA6 9AF

01458 834602

sweetacre@btconnect.com

7

The HOT List Elizabeth McCorquodale looks at some different and appealing f lavours to come in from the garden to spice up your food

When we think of growing spicy plants in this country the first thing that comes to mind are windowsill chillies or the fleeting heat of summer radishes. However there are many more species on offer than you might think, and each has a distinctive flavour and wildly different methods of delivering their heat.

SZECHUAN PEPPER

Szechuan pepper is a lovely surprise in the British garden. It can be grown as a shrub or as a prickly hedge, and with its deep red seedheads, a productive Szechuan pepper bush is a fine sight, though it is the flavour of these seed heads which sets it apart. On first taste it seems similar to black pepper, but then the extra tang kicks in - a little peppery, a little citrusy - more a feeling than a flavour. We experience the heat of Szechuan pepper through hyper-sensitive touch receptors in our mouths, as well as through our taste receptors, and it is this unique sensation that gives us the physical buzz of flavour.

Szechuan pepper is an essential ingredient in Chinese five-spice powder, but it is best experienced all on its own, ground finely in Szechuan - grown as a shrub and producing a pepper mill or mortar and deep red seedheads and a distinctive flavour pestle. To make a wonderful, versatile seasoning roast a ¼ cup of Szechuan peppercorns in a heavy frying pan until they begin to smoke, then turn them into large mortar and pestle and grind them with ½ a cup of rock salt until it is reduced to a fine powder. Use this seasoning in rice dishes, stir-fries, soups and marinades or – my favourite – dusted over popcorn as a savoury snack.

8

Country Gardener

Despite the heat and spicy zing, Szechuan pepper plants are perfectly at home in British gardens, with the species Zanthoxylum simulans and Z. schinifolium hardy down to -15°C when they are well established. Until then it is a kindness to provide a windbreak in exposed conditions and to mulch around young plants.

These shrubs respond well to pruning and will repay a late winter mulch with a good crop of seed heads in summer.

Pick whole clusters of seed heads in late summer just as they begin to open. Dry these heads indoors on paper for a few days. The seed heads – which look like tiny beech nuts – are the part of the plant that you are after, not the seed.

Once dried they should be stored in airtight containers and kept out of direct sunlight.

WASABI The experience most of us have of wasabi is of the paste which is served up with restaurant or supermarket sushi, though this is often a combination of horseradish and mustard, with just a touch of true wasabi added for authenticity. True, unadulterated wasabi is full of flavour with a character all its own.

Wasabi japonica is a slow-growing, shadeloving perennial native to Japan and other parts of Eastern Asia. It likes damp to wet soil and a humid summer and it is hardy down to -5°C. Wasabi can be grown on the edge of a shady pond with its feet wet or, like homegrown watercress, in a very large pot placed in a saucer permanently topped up with fresh water.

When you first receive your wasabi plant, plant it up in a pot of good compost to allow it to develop a good root system before it has to cope with the harsher conditions of the garden.

Place it in a cool, shady spot and water it well for a month or so before transferring it to its

Wasabi - slow growing, water loving but very rewarding as an ingredient from the garden

permanent home. Mulch around the crown with well rotted manure or a rich garden compost and feed it occasionally with a balanced fertiliser. It will reach just over knee height when established. You can harvest a few tasty leaves through the first summer but you must wait for the end of the second summer before you can harvest the rhizome. To harvest the root pull up the whole plant and break off the rhizome, then re-plant the crown, mulch it and bed it back in for winter. A fleece blanket or straw mulch will ensure that it can cope with the severest weather.

Wasabi is a very beautiful plant, not bothered much by pests or other troubles and the taste of fresh wasabi as opposed to pre-packed preparations is incomparable.

HORSERADISH Horseradish is one of those plants that, if it were rare, would be prized as a delicacy. Familiarity truly breeds contempt in food circles. The deliciously hot, well-rounded bite of horseradish is hard to beat but it is rarely seen in recipes except as an accompaniment to roast beef or oily fish such as trout or mackerel. What a

Horseradish - deliciously hot but if you are growing it take care to contain it

shame, for the distinctive heat of horseradish teams beautifully with potatoes, in mash or in salads, and it is perfect to stir into rich winter stews, dips, pates and creamy salads. One of the best ways to use it is to finely grate a little horseradish root into a knob of melting butter and toss a handful of just-cooked green beans in the tasty glaze.

Horseradish is an invasive plant which can be found along almost any verge or roadside or growing wild as an allotment runaway. It isn’t that it is particularly quick spreading, just that once it gets hold it just doesn’t let go. Future problems can easily be avoided by planting it into a corner surrounded by lawn (this is equally effective when planting mint) so it is kept in check by mowing. Horseradish needs no special treatment and is easy to harvest; dig it up, chop off however much root you need and replant the rest. Clean your root, but don’t peel it, and store it, wrapped, in the salad crisper of your refrigerator.

CHILLI PEPPERS The British have a love affair with the great and glorious chilli, and the hotter, it seems, the better.

While it might be impressive to try to consume the world’s hottest peppers, it has to be said that it is far more satisfying to enjoy the flavour combinations of the milder, more flavourful cultivars, of which there are hundreds to choose from. Chillies come in a huge variety of colours, sizes and flavours, from sweet and chocolaty to lemony and fiery and with all sorts of other flavours in between.

Most chillies aren’t annuals, though we usually grow them as such. Chilli plants will keep on going for several years, their Remember chilli plants will keep yield growing each year until on going for several years they begin to decline again after the fourth or fifth year.

A few little know truths about growing chillies are that, while they need to be germinated at high temperatures (28°C, on average), once they begin to grow they do not like being too hot, neither at leaf or root level. They do not like their soil drying out and they appreciate a bit of humidity, so stand them on a saucer of damp gravel. They will only keep producing if you keep feeding them, so feed every week with half strength tomato food and help them to set fruit by dusting the flowers with a soft paintbrush, tickling the bristles over the inside of the flowers, picking up pollen from one and spreading it to the others.

A few chillies growing on a winter windowsill is a comforting site, bringing both warmth and colour into the winter kitchen.

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ADVICE

November gardening

ADV ICE

Another series of autumn problems worrying Country Gardener readers has meant a full postbag again this month

I have been trying to grow seeds from a number of shrubs and plants in my garden but nothing has been happening. A neighbour said to me I needed to cold treat them and this has ended up with me not really understanding what I should be doing.

Simon Perks, Cheltenham

I seem to have a real problem with my apple trees which has been happening over the last two or three summers. The fruit is sparse and small and the trees are not growing well. Should I just give up on them?

Cold treatment for seeds is necessary for plants or trees that require time in the ground over winter in order to germinate.

In nature, seeds require certain conditions in order to germinate. Seed stratification is the process whereby seed dormancy is broken in order to promote this germination.

So some seeds require a warm and moist treatment, while others require a cool and wet treatment. Fuchsias, rudbeckias, lavender, verbena, hardy hibiscus are just some examples.

Anna Duddington, Bideford

No not just yet. There are some things to try and get some life and vigour back into the trees. Clear the grass and weeds around the base of the tree for at least one metre as these rob the tree of vital nutrients. Next the tree may need pruning, so take out any dead wood and thin out congested spur systems but don’t shorten the shoots. Make sure the centre of the tree is not overcrowded so prune to get light and air into the heart of the tree. Mulching with organic matter keeps the ground week free and moist. You can boost growth by feeding with a general fertiliser in early spring. If the tree is really dormant then it may need you to remove the blossom from the tree for a year or two to prevent short term fruiting and encourage longer-term vegetative growth.

How late can I plant spring bulbs and what’s the effect of planting them late in the season? I ask because we are moving to a new garden at the end of November and I am wondering if it will be too late for next year?

If you are starting cold treatment in the autumn, put the seeds in a pot of soil and dig the pot into the ground. The seeds will sprout in the spring. However, if you are starting treatment in the early season, you will want to soak seeds for 12 to 24 hours and put them in a plastic bag or sealable container with equal amounts for sand and peat. Seal the bag or container and place it in the refrigerator for 10 days.

Label the container or bag so that you know which seeds they are. Check the seeds regularly to be sure that the planting medium is moist. Check the seeds after 10 days to see if they are sprouting, as some seeds may require a longer period of cold and wet conditions. Some seeds even require time in the freezer to break dormancy.

Sara Milne, Dorchester

The ideal time for getting spring bulbs in the ground is up to the end of October when hopefully the soil is still warm to allow the bulbs to make strong root systems before the real onset of winter so they give a good spring display. You can plant during late November and even December but remember that root development will be much more modest so the plant has to draw more of the resources stored in the bulb. This can result in non-flowering the following year as the bulb recovers. Where tulip fire disease has occurred planting later in November may help avoid infection. You may want to try planting late bulbs in containers where you can manage the progress and supply fertiliser to boost things a bit more.

10

Country Gardener

My garden seems to be full this autumn of colourful fungi appearing mainly in dying and dead wood, some on old log piles. Are these dangerous to the rest of the garden and plants?

Jake Taylor, Williton

It may be what you are talking about is bracket fungi which includes a series of often colourful and exotic looking fungi. Relatively few fungi species are pathogenic (disease causing). Some such as honey fungus is the exception to the rule as this is virulent and attacks mainly trees and shrubs. It is easily identified and most gardeners would be able to identify it. Less well known are the groups of fungi living on dead or dying trees and shrubs. It is these species that break down wood to help release the nutrients locked up within and are a vital part of ecosystems. The vast majority are harmless or at worst are only weakly parasitic and are little cause for concern in the garden.

I planted a couple of fig trees in a south facing sheltered part of my garden. Do I need to do anything to protect them during the winter?

Amy Smithers, Launceston

Fig trees need winter protection in areas where the temperature drops below 25°F. (-3°C.) There are two types of fig wintering that can be done. The first is fig tree winter protection for fig trees in the ground. The other is winter storage for trees in containers.

Planting a cold hardy fig will increase your chances of successfully wintering a fig tree. You can implement protection after the tree has lost all of its leaves in the autumn. Prune away any branches that are weak, diseased or crossing other branches. Next, tie the branches together to create a column. Place a thick layer of mulch on the ground over the roots. Then, wrap the fig tree in several layers of burlap. Keep in mind that with all layers (this and the others below), you will want to leave the top open to allow moisture and heat to escape.

Remove the fig tree winter protection in the early spring when temperatures at night consistently stay above 20°F. (-6°C.) If your tree is in a container then its is much easier Once all of the leaves have fallen off the fig tree, place the tree in a cool, dry place. Often, people will place the tree in a garage, shed or even basement.

For the third year in a row my garlic crop has been badly affected by garlic rust. Can we still eat the garlic and why is this happening when I’ve tried hard to get rid of it?

Peter Baille, Porlock

Firstly, yes the garlic which is affected by rust is perfectly edible because it’s the bulb part you eat not the green leaves. In all honesty, there’s not much an organic gardener can do once garlic rust sets in. Rust spores live in soil so keeping a three-inch thick layer of mulch should help a bit. The only way to get rid of the fungus is by snipping off the leaves as soon as you see the rust start to appear. Throw the infected leaves in the waste bin (not the compost bin!), wash your hands and clothes, and disinfect your shears to prevent the fungus from spreading.

Even with the infected leaves removed, the garlic stalk should continue to photosynthesize and send energy down to the bulb.

As we’ve said garlic affected by rust is still edible (and tasty) and unless the infection was severe, you should get a decently sized bulb at harvest time. There’s no need to prematurely pull your crop unless the entire plant is brown and dead.

www.countrygardener.co.uk

11

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

Ltd – utilising the Power of Nature Country Gardener

COUNTRY GARDENER www.countrygardener.co.uk

Join Country Gardener on 2020 garden holidays of a lifetime Monet and Versailles tour in June and Yorkshire gardens in July launch our own specialist holidays Country Gardener magazine has joined forces with Floral Tours, the Bath based garden holiday specialists to launch affordable tailor made package holidays for passionate gardeners.

We are delighted to announce two really special garden tours for 2020 which have original itineraries and great value - with some fun thrown in.

Both tours include a professional tour manager.

Country Gardener Monet and Versailles Tour 2020

Country Gardener Yorkshire Tour 2020

Two dates – 11th to 15th June & 9th to 13th September five days and four nights

by Executive Coach, flight option available.

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A reduction for National Trust and RHS members.

To book call Floral Tours on 01225913106 or email tours@floraltours.co.uk and you will receive a booking form to complete.

Remember to quote Country Gardener. www.countrygardener.co.uk

13

RECOMMENDED GARDENING TOOLS AND SUNDRIES

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Founded 1989

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Country Gardener

GARDENING JOBS

JOBS IN THE GARDEN

F OR NOVEMBER

These are the first few weeks of winter - so use the time carefully, let the last of the autumn run its course and target your energies to set things up for the months ahead. Tender plants will need protecting from frost, gales and freezing rains. Move plants into the greenhouse, or into a sheltered spot, but if you can’t, it is worth wrapping plants or pots. Winter can be a tough time for birds in terms of water and food, so keep supplies topped up.

Take hard wood cuttings The window between now and the end of the year is the ideal time to take hardwood cuttings. As soon as the leaves have fallen, take cuttings at pencil length and pencil thickness. Make a clean cut immediately below a bud and a sloping cut above to tell top from bottom. Plunge to half their depth in compost or a trench in open ground if you don’t have a frame.

Vines, cornus, willow, buddleia and fig will be rooted by spring and ready for potting by mid-summer. It’s a cheap and effective way of adding to your garden for next spring and too many gardeners worry it is too difficult. It isn’t - so give it a go!

TOP OF THE HEAP

If you have the room, create a separate leaf heap rather than simply adding leaves to compost, as leaf mould is a luxury soil improver if you are for example growing lilies in pots. The fibrous nature of leaf mould retains moisture and enables free drainage, which means it also makes a fine mulch for woodland treasures such as trillium or wood anemone.

A leaf heap can easily be constructed using chicken wire and posts, or you can bag your leaves and put them in an out-ofthe-way corner. Make sure you puncture the bags to prevent them from becoming anaerobic, as the bacteria that turn them to leaf mould need air to flourish. A leaf heap should take a year to rot down so empty now to make way for this year’s leaf fall.

Don’t worry too much about the leaves Only collect leaves where absolutely necessary. Don’t leave them too long on the lawns or they will kill the grass underneath. Where they have fallen in the beds and have not drifted too deeply, leave the earthworms to pull them into their burrows and to rot on the surface. This is not laziness but necessary to keep the cycle replenished.

However, where leaves have drifted deeply or are smothering smaller plants or silver Mediterranean herbs and perennials, clear to keep the plants dry and airy. Sweeping leaves off paths and terraces is all you need to keep the garden looking cared for.

ITS TULIP PLANTING TIME

Planting tulips in November won’t avoid the fungal disease tulip fire, despite what you may have read. This is generally the reason why tulips go into the ground later than daffodils and other spring bulbs. However, it is a good time to plant tulips, as they enjoy the cool, moist conditions that are associated with this time of year. Look for bulbs that have intact skins and don’t show signs of mould. Tulips should be planted two to three times the depth of the bulb. www.countrygardener.co.uk

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Order bare-root plants Save money by ordering bare-root plants, which are usually cheaper than the pot-grown equivalents, by mail order. They are only available in the dormant season, so you need to be quick. Try to plant them as soon as they arrive. Otherwise, give them a good soak in a bucket of water then roughly plant in a corner of the garden until you’re ready to put them in properly.

Container care

Remove saucers to avoid pots sitting in freezing water which can lead to rot.

Stand pots on clay feet to improve drainage. You can buy these from garden centres or save money by using broken tiles or similar to raise the base of the pots off the ground.

Protect vulnerable containers and plants from the worst weather by putting them in the warmest spot out of the wind against the house wall. You can also bubblewrap pots to protect against frost. If you hate the sight of this cover the wrap with a layer of hessian (perhaps saved from an old potato sack) and tie in place with string.

Time to really start thinking about the birds The classic winter garden would not be complete without the appearance of winter birds, which flutter in to feed and breed from November onwards.

Providing food for these amazing creatures will not only help them survive the winter, but is also a great opportunity to see them upclose and can bring a great sense of satisfaction—a feeling that encouraging wildlife into the garden often creates.

There are a number of ways you can provide food for winter birds and this includes putting out bird feeders with seeds, suet balls or blocks and a source of water. A simple bird feeder with a seed mix will draw in plenty of flying wildlife, like sparrows, nuthatches and finches which greatly enjoy sunflower seeds.

Do you have much over-ripe fruit sitting in your fruit bowl at home?

Scatter over-ripe apples, raisins and other fruits on the ground to attract thrushes and blackbirds.

It is important to remember that birds need fat as well as grains and fruit to survive throughout the winter. The most common method of providing this food group is with suet balls and suet cakes.

TLC FOR CITRUS TREES

These should now be kept indoors or under glass in a light frost-free place. It is important to continue feeding and watering as necessary using a proprietary winter citrus feed. Only water when the soil is dry. How often this is will depend on where the plants are being over wintered. Pick up and dispose of any fallen leaves.

P LUS

Yew know it’s right Plan, order and plant new hedges. If you have had trouble with box blight, this is the moment to rip everything out and start again. A yew hedge is slow-ish growing but has all the neatness and glossiness of box and more, and is a great option should blight hit.

16

• This is an excellent time for taking stock of the things you’ll need for next year. On a warm day, scrub terracotta pots and let them dry in the sun.

• Prune red and white currants and gooseberries.

• Use netting to protect brassicas from pigeons.

• Stake any tall growing Brussels sprouts to prevent them being rocked by winter winds.

• Weed and dig over veg plots, adding in well-rotted muck or organic matter.

• Plant up hyacinths for an indoor winter flower display. If you want flowers for Christmas buy and plant up prepared bulbs.

• If you have a small garden, or are planting bulbs in pots, think about using smaller varieties of bulbs. Miniature daffodils (‘Tetea-tete’ or ‘Topolino’), dwarf tulips and crocuses.

• If your tomato plants have been affected by blight, clear the plants and burn them, as adding them to the compost heap will not kill the spores.

Country Gardener

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Specialist Plant Centre

Grange Farm NURSERY Beautiful plants to create your own unique garden

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Visit our well-stocked yard for timber, gates, fencing, decking, trellis, pergolas and arches.

• Tree Reservation System (choose early, collect later) • Seasonal Plants and Gifts available in The Garden Café Select your tree then come and enjoy our delicious winter menu in The Garden Cafe.

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17

Time to plan with Christmas in mind Keep the gardening theme well to the fore when you are planning for the festive season There is no getting away from it, the time when we have to start planning for Christmas is fast approaching.

When it comes to present buying, gardeners can be an awkward bunch to please. Come the winter months, most of us are sulky and sullen due to the lack of outdoor action, so it’s worth spending a bit of time to pick a present that will bring a smile and look forward to the new season’s action with added enthusiasm.

There’s practical solutions as we show, like shoes for popping out in the garden with.

Slip on garden clogs which combine fun and practicality For friends or relatives who love the outdoors and like something a little different, the range of Backdoorshoes waterproof, lightweight outdoor garden shoes are both comfortable and extremely practical.

With a huge variety of unique patterns they are also great fun.

Easy to put on and take off they have been designed to keep feet dry whilst removing the hassle of tying and untying laces. Backdoorshoes are best-known for the, durable garden clogs, which are available in women’s and men’s sizes and in an ever-expanding range of designs.

There are a number new designs which have been introduced into the range including hedgehogs, leopards, classic tweed and green camo. The leopard

18

A recent survey of the top ten gifts gardeners enjoyed receiving all came from the practical end of the market, such as new or even antique hand tools and potting tables, garden shears to garden gloves, tidying up utensils, plants and lanterns and increasingly popular - seed kits for the new season.

And then of course when it comes to planning for the holidays, you should always include a treat for yourself including a break away for a few days and here we have an ideal gardeners’ choice. print was created from a photograph of Kaia, a female amur leopard living at Marwell Zoo. Backdoorshoes visited a local hedgehog rescue centre and were lucky enough to take some photos of several hedgehogs who were being nursed back to good health.

Sizes available UK3 -14 and prices start from £26.95 including free standard postage. www.backdoorshoes.co.uk

Ideal Christmas Gift

New In Hedgehogs Step out in Style? Lightweight, waterproof, durable outdoor/garden clogs featuring unique prints. Sizes range from UK 3-14 with prices starting from £22 including free standard postage. There is something suitable for everyone from our entire collection, Garden Clogs, Chelsea Boots, Storage Bags or Flip Flops!

To see our full range visit www.backdoorshoes.co.uk

Country Gardener

Unique garden planters emulate traditional saddle stone If you are looking for a unique Christmas present for a garden lover then a Somerset company offers a unique style of garden planter designed to emulate a traditional saddle stone.

Stone Illusions have designed lightweight, yet strong garden planters, which are perfect for all garden enthusiasts.

The planter is great for creating new features or even covering over man-holes in the garden.

Being frost proof and UV protected, you can be reassured that they can stay outside throughout the winter months.

If you want to add a bit more of a wintry feel to your new garden planter, you can add some different colours with a variety of small leaved ivies, cyclamen and mix them with primulas.

Stone Illusions are a small local business that have been running for around two years and boast awards such as ‘Best Small Trade Stand’ at the Newport County Show in 2019.

Email: stoneillusions2018@gmail.com Tel: 07707208328 www.stoneillusions.co.uk

The Eastbury Hotel - an ideal venue for a winter Christmas time break The Eastbury Hotel in Sherborne is fast becoming one of the most talked about hotels in the West Country. It is just six minutes walk away from Sherborne Abbey and has gardens which will appeal to all garden lovers.

The hotel is tucked away in the market town of Sherborne, where ancient buildings and independent shops line the winding streets. Inside this charming townhouse you’ll find a blend of Georgian and contemporary design, and fabulous artwork hanging from exposed stone walls. The hotel’s Seasons Restaurant, has two AA Rosettes for its culinary prowess.

Set in the walled gardens is the Eastbury Spa by Amelia Rose, where you can shake off the weight of the world with a Caudalie treatment or a dip in the outdoor hot tub.

Also wrapped inside the garden walls are the luxury Potting Shed suites, featuring a private outdoor terrace.

The Eastbury has recently been announced on the short list for hotel and restaurant at the Dorset Tourism Awards and for restaurant at the Blackmore Vale Taste Awards.

The unique Victorian Potting shed rooms show off eco friendly moss and sedum rooms with flowers. Whilst externally resembling a traditional Victorian Garden Potting Shed, internally they boast luxurious bedroom accommodation with en- suite wet room facilities.

Call the Eastbury Hotel on 01935813131 to book your stay or visit www.theeastburyhotel.co.uk

A Boutique Luxury Hotel, Spa and Seasons Restaurant

Escape to the country

THE EASTBURY HOTEL Long Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3BY Tel: 01935 813131 Email: relax@theeastburyhotel.co.uk www.theeastburyhotel.co.uk

www.countrygardener.co.uk

19

SPECIALIST TREES

Don’t be fooled by pledges TO PLANT TREES

Mark Hinsley lets off steam about some of the promises he has been hearing lately to plant more trees - which only represents half of the story!

Do you rage and shout at the television? Or is it just me?

There used to be an advert for a product that assured viewers of its ‘green’ credentials by stating that it planted four trees for every one it cut down. “But that is standard forestry practice you misleading, conniving load of **@@**$$*!!!!!s”, I would shout at the television.

If you fell one plantation tree large enough to go to the paper mill, you plant at least four new little ones in its place to grow on to be managed as another crop in 20–30 years’ time. That is simply the process of forestry as it has been done for centuries. Now, if they stated that for every hectare of forest we crop for paper, we plant four hectares more... that would really mean something!

I recently attended an excellent conference put on by the Arboricultural Association at Exeter University.

The theme for the conference was tree canopy.

Up on his hind legs stood the Government’s ‘Tree Champion’, Sir William Worsley. “We are going to plant millions of trees here, and millions of trees there”, he trumpeted. In the silence that followed his announcement I heard a voice somewhere in the auditorium say, “Has anyone thought to warn the nursery industry?”

You, gentle reader, are a gardener; you know you can’t magic trees out of thin air overnight, and if our nursery industry has not been advised to produce millions of unexpected trees of the right species, we end up importing foreign trees along with nice big doses of ash die-back, oak processionary moth (coming to an oak tree near you. Don’t touch it!), emerald ash borer beetle (Give it time!) and many others – you name it, it came in on an import.

Another thing that you and I know that the politicians don’t seem to understand is that planting a tree is the beginning of a

20

process – not the end. Hands up if you remember ‘Plant a tree in ’73?’ – ‘Plant some more in ’74?’ – ‘none left alive in ’75?’

Millions of pounds spent on planting trees may make a good headline, but if you don’t spend at least as much again, and probably more, on maintaining them until they are what we call ‘independent in the landscape’, you have totally wasted your time.

When I was an arboricultural technician/instructor at Merrist Wood College near Guildford, I used to teach practical standard tree planting one month and planted tree maintenance the next.

One year after trees were planted, students were taught to clear away weed growth from around the base and replenish mulches, check stakes and ties and remove or shorten them, prune out any dead twigs to prevent coral spot and other diseases from gaining entry, and undertake formative pruning to head off future problems in the structure of the crown.

After two years weeds were again removed, mulches replenished, and stakes and ties were taken away.

During these two years, if it didn’t rain for ten days during the growing season, the trees were watered. Weeds growing around the base were controlled if they got out of hand.

Trees planted in the grounds of Merrist Wood College thrived; I don’t think we ever lost a single one.

Politicians like sound bites – and as long as we swallow them, they will churn them out. We need the politician who says, “we are going to plant 250,000 trees and we are going to ensure they are maintained until they are properly established” – that is the one to vote for!

Mark Hinsley is from Arboriculture Consultants Ltd, specialists in tree advice and consultancy. www.treeadvice.info

Country Gardener

Top tips • Store apples in a cool, dark, well-ventilated place with an even temperature of between 37° and 45°F which is slightly humid and free from rodents.

Garages, sheds and cellars are ideal.

HOW TO store apples This autumn is seeing another bumper crop of apples so storing them properly is vital if you are to enjoy eating and cooking with them through to the New Year.

If handled carefully, placed in the right environment and checked regularly, apples from your garden may be stored for several weeks, or even months. So, with a little planning, you could be eating your own apples beyond Christmas.

Once picked, the apples should keep for a few weeks and in many cases months when stored in the right conditions.

The key point is to only store perfect looking apples that you picked from the tree. Any damaged or windfall fruit will not keep for very long and you should use them for juicing, cooking, made into jam or just eaten immediately. Late ripening cultivars usually store for longer than early season ones.

Store apples in a cold but frost-free place.

A little humidity in the air is beneficial, but there should also be decent ventilation.

To keep the fruit in good condition wrap each apple individually in greaseproof or just newpaper, carefully folding the paper round the fruit, holding it gently so that it is not bruised, then place the apple (folded end of the paper down) in the rack.

If wrapping the apples seems too much of a chore, then check them regularly, removing any that show signs of disease or rotting.

Avoid stacking the apples if possible. If you have to do it, only stack one layer high and place a sheet of thin cardboard between the two layers to spread out the weight.

A cropping apple tree usually needs to be picked over several times. Fruit on the sunny side of the apple tree will ripen before the

ones on the shady side and apples on the outer branches will ripen before the ones on inner or lower branches. Pick apples with the best colour and only pick them when they are ripe.

You will encounter problems in storing apples. You just need to accept it – clear out the damaged fruit and make sure you have sufficient left to keep going.

Fruit in storage is prone to rotting. Fungal diseases usually attack blemished fruit and are encouraged by poor ventilation.

• Choose clean containers, which allow air to move around the fruit such as open sided crates, slatted shelves or shallow wooden boxes.

You can buy special apple storage racks.

• Make sure the fruit is free of blemishes, not bruised and ideally with their stalk intact.

• If there’s even the slightest sign of maggot damage then discard the fruit as it will rot very quickly. Check the fruit for signs of codling moth caterpillar and their exit hole. There are often signs of the caterpillar excrement pellets around the hole also.

• Don’t mix and match your apples. Keep mid season varieties away from late season ones so they do not speed up ripening.

• The fruit can be damaged by strong scents so don’t place them near to fertiliser, onions or paint.

Common rots include brown rot and grey mould. Clean storage areas and containers thoroughly each year to help reduce the risk of brown rot. Shrivelling can be caused by high temperatures or a lack of humidity. If necessary, maintain a moist atmosphere, or store apples in polythene bags.

Bitter pit causes dry, brown sunken spots which are most apparent during storage.

Core flush (pink or brownish discolouration to flesh around the core) is usually the result of carbon dioxide build-up and is common in apples stored in plastic bags. www.countrygardener.co.uk

• Check and keep checking regularly. It is inevitable that some won’t keep and you will need to discard to make sure others remain useable.

• Small quantities can be stored in the fridge for a few weeks. Fill a plastic bag, pierce several holes in it and fold the top loosely to allow air circulation.

21

It’s time to plant and get roots flourishing Perrie Hale offers Country Gardener readers discount on quality trees

Adam’s Apples boast top quality fruit tree selections

Autumn and winter is prime planting time for trees and hedging as the dormant plants can be moved to new homes with minimal disturbance to their growth. Perrie Hale Nursery offer bare-rooted stock for woodland and hedgerow planting. They have recently taken on many of the plants that were part of the Thornhayes Nursery range. They are a long standing family business known for its quality UK grown stocks of hedging plants, shrubs, broadleaf and conifer trees, top fruit and soft fruit. They are offering readers of the Country Gardener Magazine a 5 percent discount when ordering online or over the phone quoting the code ‘CG5’ by 30th November.

Tel: 01404 43344 or Email: faye@perriehale.co.uk www.perriehale.co.uk

Now is the time to think about bare root fruit trees. Adam's Apples nursery in East Devon grow the largest range of fruit trees in the West Country. This includes over 200 apple varieties, plums, gage, pears, cherries, damson, quince and medlar, all on a range of root stocks. They also sell bare rooted soft fruit plants. Adam’s Apples are passionate and award winning cider makers too, and grow and sell traditional cider apple trees from Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Herefordshire.

All the trees and bushes are sold bare rooted, available from late autumn through to spring. Bare rooted trees are cheaper to purchase and are the quickest way for trees to establish and thrive. Trees delivered throughout the UK. Adam's Apples, Egremont Barn, Payhembury, Honiton EX14 3JA. sales@adamsappletrees.co.uk

KICK STARTING ROOT GROWTH Many gardeners find using rootgrow mycorrhizal fungi an essential starting point to success when planting. You can treat any size of plant with rootgrow, from mixing a couple of teaspoons into the compost of a seed tray to a treating a whole planting project. The mycorrhizal fungi in rootgrow will quickly colonise new plants enabling them to explore a much greater volume of soil in search of nutrients and water resulting in faster establishment and greater yields. The empathy range of seaweed stimulants and fertilisers work in harmony with the mycorrhizal fungi, helping to nurture and feed the life in our soils and subsequently the plants themselves. www.rootgrow.co.uk

Northcote Hill, Honiton, Devon, EX14 9TH Tel: 01404 43344 'Growing in Devon since 1957' Growers & suppliers of native & ornamental trees, shrubs & hedging for: • Native, Formal & Evergreen Hedges • Screening • Woodland • Amenity • Wood Fuel • Gardens Now stocking a large range of ornamental trees & top fruit Call us for friendly and expert advice for species selection, planting & tree protection. We can also provide a planting & maintenance service.

5% READER DISCOUNT online or call quoting CG5 by 30/11/2019 Call us for friendly and expert advice • Delivery available

Email: faye@perriehale.co.uk www.perriehale.co.uk

22

Country Gardener

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Sleeps 3. Private Enclosed Garden. Dogs Welcome. Phone Jan For Brochure & Details On 01984 641321 Cornwall, near St Just. Chalet, sleeps 4, heated indoor pool, open all year – near gardens/coast, golfing nearby. Prices from £300 pw. 01736 788718

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Pets welcome. Short Breaks available.

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Accommodation Abroad Creekside Cottages, Near Falmouth, Cornwall

Beautifully romantic cottage for two In sunny SW France just 30 Shepherd Hut Winchcombe North Cotswolds AONB Sleeps 2, En-Suite, Central Heating.

Wood Fired Hot Tub. Central for Cotswold Attractions. Views and Excellent Walking.

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Carmarthen Bay South Wales Seafront chalet situated on estuary.

Sleeps up to 6. Seaview. Well Behaved Dogs Welcome. Open from 1st March - 31st Dec. For brochure Tel: 01269 862191

Devon. Tamar Valley. Pretty cottage sleeps 2-4. Wood burner, garden, small dog welcome. 02073 736944/07940 363233 www.northwardshippon.co.uk Wye Valley/Forest of Dean. Fully equipped 4-star single storey cottage.

Two bedrooms both en-suite. Central heating/bedlinen provided. Rural retreat with shops/pubs one mile. Short breaks available. Warm welcome.

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mins from Bergerac airport. www.maison-bb.com

Accommodation Holiday Cottages Padstow house, 4 + baby, gardens, parking, Wi-Fi, Camel Trail, beaches 07887 813495 holidaysat55@gmail.com Self-catering cottages in countryside near Lyme Regis. Japanese food available. 01297 489589 www.hellbarn.co.uk Lanlivery near Eden and other Cornish Gardens lovely summertime woodland lodge 2/4 people www.poppylodgecornwall.co.uk 01726 430489/07836 256693 Cornwall, St Just- in- Roseland.

Modern 3 bedroom cottage in AONB with en-suite, Wifi, parking. Wonderful walks, beaches, NT gardens, Heligan and Eden. Sorry no pets. Tel: 01392 256195 oliveg@blueyonder.co.uk www.countrygardener.co.uk

Waters-edge, Rural & Village Cottages Sleeping 2-8. Peaceful & Comfortable.

Available year round. Dogs Welcome.

Open Fires.

Call us on 01326 375972 for our colour brochure www.creeksidecottages.co.uk

Accommodation with Beautiful Gardens North Devon near Clovelly. 3 delightful cottages situated in 12 acres of idyllic countryside. Sleeps 2-4. 1 Wheelchair friendly. Prices from £190 p.w. Brochure: 01237 431324 www.foxwoodlodge.co.uk

Near Stratford-upon-Avon Lovely self-catering cottage in peaceful location: Large garden, Sleeps 2. Perfect for famous gardens, NT properties & Cotswolds.

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Bed & Breakfast Somerset 5* Restaurant with Rooms.

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Garden Plants/Accessories

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Country Gardener Magazine Editorial Publisher & Editor: Alan Lewis alan@countrygardener.co.uk Tel: 01823 431767

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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.

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25

Dog lovers wanted

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The trouble WITH TREES

READER’S STORY

C ountry Gardener reader Val Joliffe has lived in her home on the edge of the New Forest National Park for 30 years and like many gardeners now realises just how big yet wonderful trees can become We should all love a tree.

Trees, as we know, are the lungs of the earth and they have many important roles to play in our world but there comes a time when a tree becomes too big for the space its in and a decision has to be made whether to let it live, prune it or fell it.

Maybe we should all be planting trees to help save the planet but what and where? Not all trees are welcome in a back garden. So when we moved into our house and inherited the long mature garden we found ourselves the proud owners of many trees of all shapes and mostly large sizes some of which had outgrown their welcome.

The five dense leylandii fir trees towered over everything casting great shadows across the garden. Underplanted roses leaned out and grew long in the poor soil. Needless to say the trees were felled without too much sadness. The 16 Corsican pines are constantly shedding something - pollen, cones, catkins and needles in that order, demanding attention from the gardener when other tasks would be preferable.

Worst of all being the needles which shed from September to December and carpet the flower beds.

Cheeky squirrels scamper around the pine trunks and chew the pine cones throwing the cores to the ground.

Rooks see them as an ideal nesting site, if they are allowed to build that is! It was a big mistake to let this happen which we did only the once. Not only were we woken at 4am each morning by their constant cawing but also the untidy nests were liable to fall out leaving a black sticky mess on the grass beneath.

So now we clap hands and bang buckets to frighten them off to the woods. On the brighter side, however, the pines form a closely planted clump which bend and sway poetically in the breeze sounding like waves breaking upon the shore. The straight trunks lend themselves ideally as hammock anchors and if you can get high enough, great for nest box sites and the woodpecker loves them. May they live long and prosper.

The silver birches shed seeds like confetti and their delicate branches break in the autumn winds leaving bits of twig strewn on the lawn for the wood pigeons to pick up, so they are staying.

What can be wrong, you’d be thinking, with a mature apple tree? Well, our established tree leans at a precarious angle, so much so that the branches on one side have been lopped off to prevent the roots from lifting up on the opposite side.

The neighbour’s sheep over the fence are partial to a bit of Granny Smith so they browse all they can reach and bleat for you to throw them the June drop crop and later on the half rotten fallers.

A few other trees, viburnum, hazel and cherry are managed with judicial branch lopping so they may continue to thrive where they are as we wouldn’t want to be without their spring blossom.

A mature fir tree blew down in a gale one autumn narrowly missing the neighbour’s greenhouse and leaving our paved path 18ft in the air amongst its roots. It provided hours of fun for the children until it was chain sawed into manageable trunks. We now have a lovely clematis covered fence and patio where the tree used to be, so we are grateful in retrospect for the tree’s demise.

Now if we buy a tree we consider the full height it will attain and maybe buy a garden variety of a large tree grafted onto smaller root stock or perhaps get a standard tree.

If we look to the future we will need all the trees we can get so let’s love at least one and get planting.’

www.countrygardener.co.uk

27

Lady Anne Berry

the lady who donated Rosemoor to the RHS The establishment of RHS Rosemoor in North Devon was the vision of a remarkable plantswoman who transformed the estate from a dairy farm to a famous and much loved RHS garden

Lady Anne Berry, who gave her house, its garden and 32 acres of pasture, Rosemoor in north Devon, to the Royal Horticultural Society in 1988, has died at the age of 99. She had lived long enough to see RHS Rosemoor become one of the most important public gardens in the UK and closely followed its growth over the past decades.

Jon Webster, Curator, RHS Garden Rosemoor said: “We celebrate our 30th anniversary next year, and it is sad to think that Lady Anne will not be joining us. Without her amazing generosity and skill as a renowned plantswoman RHS Garden Rosemoor would not exist. We are incredibly grateful to her for her foresight and vision in giving her treasured garden to the RHS.” “I will miss receiving Lady Anne’s regular emails in which we chatted about certain plants within her garden. She had a very good memory as to where things were planted and the stories behind them, and was always keen to know how they were thriving or in some cases, sadly not. She always wanted to know about our successes in winning tourism awards or attracting visitors, and was proud that the garden she started was being loved and enjoyed by so many likeminded people.”

Lady Anne Walpole was born in 1919; her father was the fifth (and last) Earl of Orford, Robert Horace Walpole. The first Earl of Orford, Sir Robert Walpole (1676-1745) became Britain’s first prime minister in 1721; generations of the family have remained an established part of the British political, cultural and literary world.

In 1923, Lady Anne’s father bought Rosemoor (originally part of the Rolle estate) as a salmon fishing lodge. In the 1930s, the Stone Garden was created by Lady Anne’s mother using various artefacts from antique shops in Bideford. The lions on the grinding stone and in the wall are believed to be some sort of Rolle emblem. Lady Anne lived with her mother at Rosemoor until World War II when the house was used by the Red Cross as a refuge from the bombing for evacuees from London’s East End. In 1939, she married Colonel Eric Palmer (who died in 1980) and her early married life was spent ‘camp following’ the regiment.

Lady Anne returned to Rosemoor in 1945 with her family and for a number of years ran the estate as a dairy farm. In 1959, while in Spain recuperating from measles she met the 28

plant collector and gardener Collingwood ‘Cherry’ Ingram of Benenden in Kent, an authority on Japanese flowering cherries; he was a great gardening influence on her and helped her to start a plant collection at Rosemoor.

She became a wonderful plantswoman, collecting seeds and plants from all over the world to create the amazing garden and arboretum at Rosemoor in Great Torrington. Her extensive travels allowed her to see plants in their natural habitats; she became skilled at propagating material collected during these trips and from the cuttings and seeds made available to her by fellow enthusiasts. In the 1960s Lady Anne joined the RHS and was soon invited to judge woody plants and new introductions. She was also a Founder Member of the NCPPG (now known as Plant Heritage).

In 1988, after being awarded the Victoria Medal of Honour by the RHS and appointed a Fellow of the RHS, she donated Rosemoor House, the garden and around 32 acres of pastureland to the RHS and in June 1990 RHS Rosemoor opened to the public. After leaving Rosemoor she moved to New Zealand with her second husband and fellow plantsman Bob Berry where she extended the arboretum at Hackfalls, Tinoroto to 3,000 rare trees and shrubs over 120 acres.

Lady Anne had kept abreast with all the developments at Rosemoor, from its beginnings to the great variety of different areas to see now, from the rose gardens and long borders, to the Hot Garden which contrasts with the new Cool Garden, the Winter Garden, the Potager and Cottage Garden, the Exotic Garden, the Cherry Garden, the Mediterranean Garden and many other different areas including The Stumpery, woodland and the Woodland Garden, meadows, bog garden, lake, play areas, the learning centre, plant centre and shop.

An autumn visit to RHS Rosemoor should take in the autumn colours of the Bicentenary Arboretum and Lady Anne’s Arboretum which she began in earnest in the mid-1970s, raising many of the trees from seed and keeping a meticulous record of the collection.

The events planned to mark RHS Rosemoor’s anniversary in 2020 include a Garden Party Weekend in June, followed by family events throughout the summer as well as an exhibition celebrating Lady Anne’s life and how Rosemoor has changed in that time.

RHS Rosemoor, Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH. Tel: 01805 624067 www.rhs.org.uk/Gardens/Rosemoor RHS Rosemoor is open every day except Christmas Day, October to March 10am-5pm, and daily 10am until 6pm April-September.

Country Gardener

TIME Off

COMPILED BY KATE LEW IS DIARY EVENTS FROM CLUBS AND ORGANISATIONS AROUND SOMERSET

Our hugely popular Time Off section is a regular free opportunity for gardening clubs, associations, societies and organisations to publicise their events to Country Gardener readers.

Here’s a selection of gardening events to look out for during the next few weeks throughout Somerset.

If you are a garden club or association looking to promote an event then please send us details at least eight weeks before publication and we will publicise it free of charge. Make sure you let us know where the event is being held, the date and include a contact telephone number.

We are always keen to support events and we will be glad to publicise talks, meetings and shows held during the year where clubs want to attract a wider audience, but we do not have space for club outings or parties. It is much easier for us if garden clubs could send us their diary for the year for events to be included in the relevant issue of the magazine. Please send to Country Gardener Magazines, Mount House, Halse, Taunton TA4 3AD or by email to timeoff@countrygardener.co.uk We take great care to ensure that details are correct at the time of going to press but we advise readers to check wherever possible before starting out on a journey as circumstances can force last minute changes. All NGS open gardens can be found on www.ngs.org.uk or in the local NGS booklet available at many outlets.

OC T OBER 21st BURNHAM ON SEA HORTICULTURE SOCIETY ‘SOIL SCIENCE’ – PAUL HENDING Details on 01278 788058 22nd CHILCOMPTON GARDEN CLUB ‘GETTING READY FOR WINTER & CHRISTMAS HERBS’ – CAROLINE PACKENHAM EAST MENDIP GARDENING CLUB ‘FLOWER ARRANGING IN THE GARDEN’ – KATHERINE FEAR Details on 01749 840200 WEDMORE GARDENING CLUB ‘FUNGI IN FACT AND FICTION’ – MARK BULLEN Details on 01934 712046 23rd ALPINE GARDEN SOCIETY ‘CELESTIAL FLOWERS OF THE SILK ROUTE’ – LADY CHRISTINE SKELMERSDALE Details on 01984 656413 24th BARNSTAPLE & DISTRICT HORTICULTURE SOCIETY DEMO AT ST JOHN’S GARDEN CENTRE Details on 01769 574551

TAUNTON FLOWER CLUB ‘CHOP AND CHANGE’ - FIONA HAMMOND Details on 01823 461679 28th CLEVEDON GARDENERS’ CLUB PLANT AUCTION: BRING & BUY Details on 01275 847879 29th ENMORE & DISTRICT GARDENING CLUB ‘TREES IN YOUR GARDEN’ – MARK HINSLEY Details on 01278 671980 MERRIOTT GARDENING CLUB OWLS VISITING FROM THE HAWK & OWL TRUST – CHRIS SPERRING Details on 01460 72298

NOVEMBER 6th CLEEVE PRIOR GARDEN CLUB ‘EXTRACTS FROM A HEAD GARDENER’S JOURNAL’ – HARRY GREEN Email: jansgard13@gmail.com 9th SOMERSET PLANT HERITAGE, EDINGTON ‘STUMPERIES, FERNS & SHADY FRIENDS’ – ANDREW TOLMAN Details on 01278 451631

www.countrygardener.co.uk

12th FROME SELWOOD HORTICULTURE SOCIETY ‘CLIMBERS AND CLEMATIS’ Details on 01373 462162 13th KILMERSDON GARDENERS ‘THE 12 PLANTS OF CHRISTMAS’ – JULIE HENDERSON Details on 01761 233325 NAILSEA & DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY AGM and ‘History of John Brown‘ - Maggie Fordham More details on 01275 855342 14th SEAVINGTON GARDENING CLUB ‘MY JOURNEY THROUGH GREAT GARDENS’ – ALAN POWER Details on 01460 249728 WELLS AND DISTRICT GARDENING CLUB ‘THE HISTORY AND FUTURE OF COTTAGE GARDENS’ – NEIL LOVESEY Details on 01749 679182 WEST BAGBOROUGH GARDEN CLUB ‘FLORA AND FAUNA OF CENTRAL AMERICA’ – IAN HART Details on 01823 430579 WESTON VILLAGE (BATH) GARDENING CLUB ‘THE AMAZON’ – TONY RUSSELL Details on 01225 427377

29

WESTON SUPER MARE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY ‘REVIVE YOUR GARDEN’ – NICK BAILEY Email: SecretaryWSMHorticulturalSoc @gmail.com 15th CARHAMPTON GARDENING CLUB ‘FILMING ON LOCATION’ – PETER JACQUES 18th BURNHAM ON SEA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY ‘HOLLIES AND IVIES’ – ROY CHEEK Details on 01278 788058 19th BARRINGTON & DISTRICT GARDENING CLUB ‘GROWING ORCHIDS’ – HOWARD BURNETT Details on 01460 54691

20th MENDIP GARDENING CLUB ‘ALL ABOUT FERNS’ – HELENA CROUCH Details on 01761 750139 NORTH CADBURY GARDENING CLUB ‘COMPANION PLANTING’ – CASTLE GARDENS SPEAKER

26th EAST MENDIP GARDENING CLUB ‘BULBS AND THEIR SELECTION’ – MICKY LITTLE Details on 01749 840200 ENMORE & DISTRICT GARDENING CLUB ‘FLORA & FAUNA OF THE AVON GORGE DOWNS’ – MANDY LIEVERS FROM BRISTOL ZOO Details on 01278 671980 MAGDALEN FARM, CHARD VOLUNTEER DAY – HEDGELAYING Details on 01460 30144 MERRIOTT GARDENING CLUB ‘THE WINTER GARDEN’ – NEIL LOVESEY Details on 01460 72298 WEDMORE GARDEN CLUB ‘WINTER CHEER/SPRINGTIME’ – CHRISTOPHER BIRCHALL Details on 01934 712046

21st DULVERTON GARDENING CLUB ‘WALL SHRUBS AND CLIMBERS’ - CHRISTINE BRAINE Dulverton Town Hall 7.30pm 22nd - 30th LONG LOAD VILLAGE HALL ANNUAL EXHIBITION OF EMBROIDERY AND TEXTILES BY SOMERSET GROUP, ‘CONNECTIONS’ Email: dragonflyliz@btinternet.com

28th TAUNTON FLOWER CLUB ‘THERE’S MORE TO CHRISTMAS THAN HOLLY AND IVY’ - ALISON PENNO Details on 01823 461679

23rd SOMERSET HARDY PLANT SOCIETY ‘TALES OF A MODERN-DAY PLANT HUNTER’ – TOM HART DYKE Details on 01884 820840

Devon

Cotswolds 2018 ISSUE NO 139 SPRING

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Are you part of a garden club or society?

Please send us your diary for the year - we’d love to include your talks and shows Send them into us by email, giving us 10 weeks notice of the event to: timeoff@countrygardener.co.uk or by post to: Mount House, Halse, Taunton, TA4 3AD. Your event can also be listed online at:

www.countrygardener.co.uk Sign up and start adding your events today

30

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A proper garden centre with plants at its heart Open every day

November sees the arrival of our

• bare-root fruit trees and hedging plants • roses • ornamental trees We also have a fantastic selection of plants to provide colour & interest throughout winter Plus our beautiful Christmas shop is open and we are taking bookings for our Wreath Decorating Workshops on the 2nd & 5th of December (see website for more details)

Brackenwood Garden Centre, Leigh Court Estate, A369 Pill Road, Abbots Leigh, BS8 3RA Tel 01275 375292

www.brackenwood-plantandgardencentre.com