13 minute read
Gardening Mary Payne MBE
The colours of autumn
SADLY, this year has not been good for glorious autumnal tints and many leaves have fallen prematurely due to the dry September. Autumn can be a magical month with the foliage tints changing almost day by day, but it takes certain conditions to encourage a stunning display. First the plants must receive a trigger to start shutting down for the winter. The shortening of the day length is the starting gun. This reduces the production of hormones which in turn starts the ageing process. A layer of corky cells develops between the leaf stalk and the twig.
This in turn reduces the return of sugars out of the leaf for storage and as a result the green chlorophyll starts to break down exposing other colour pigments, previously masked by the green.
Oranges, yellows and reds are the most common, but browns occur frequently in oaks and beech due to the amount of tannins in the leaves. It is the presence of the tannins that make the leaves of these species slow to break down into compost.
The development of these pigments is also influenced by climatic factors. Crisp cold nights and bright sunny days are the ideal conditions to encourage good autumn colours. But other factors are inevitably involved.
Plants need to be grown in the sun for best colours and clones can be selected for their ability to colour well. A classic example is the sweet gum, Liquidambar, which is normally raised from seed and the resulting colours can be disappointing.
Named varieties that colour well are propagated vegetatively to produce clones. Worplesdon and Lane Roberts are two worth seeking out. Do not be fooled when buying potential autumnal tint plants in garden centres. If the colours are vivid they may be starved which also leads to bright colours.
So, what plants would I recommend for the best autumnal show? The winged spindle Euonymus alatus reliably puts on a shocking pink display and for smaller gardens the Compactus form is ideal. Indeed, our native hedgerow spindle offers spectacular foliage accompanied by pink fruits that split to reveal bright orange seeds.
Japanese Maples in all their varied forms can be spectacular, but require careful positioning away from drying winds in spring and shelter from excessive sun in summer. Osakazuki and Seiryu are to be recommended.
My favourite tree for small gardens is Crataegus persimmilis Prunifolia Splendens, a form of hawthorn, offering white spring blossom followed by a good crop of red fruits amidst red, orange and yellow foliage.
For larger gardens my pick of the bunch is Acer x freemanii Autumn Blaze selected for its ability to put on a stunning show most years. The ever-popular Virginia Creeper is at its best when allowed to climb trees and then cascade rivers of red from the branches as it looses its grip. Its cousin, Boston Ivy, is much better at clinging on tightly, and will never fall off.
Some plants flower in the autumn and are welcomed by bees and other insects. They are rarely in vibrant colours, but advertise their presence by a strong perfume. The evergreen hedging plant, Elaeagnus x ebbingei flowers in October and November, followed by edible fruits know as silverberries.
This shrub also has the unusual property of fixing nitrogen in
With MARY PAYNE MBE
root nodules, although not belonging to the legume family commonly associated with this ability. Also scented is the upright Mahonia Charity.
The flowers of this genus are sensitive and if landed on by an insect the stamens clam shut remarkably fast around the stigma to ensure good pollination. If you would like to light up the landscape for miles around try the flambuoyant Red Hot Poker, Kniphofia rooperi, sporting large bright orange red heads on two metre stems.
The flowers of late season ornamental grasses such as Miscanthus sinensis varieties will stand all winter adding much needed interest to many gardens. Late flowering asters are still performing despite having undergone catastrophic name changes.
Little Carlow now correctly known as Symphyotrichum Little Carlow is a must for the autumn garden and is followed by Chrysanthemum Hillside Apricot (see picture) a hardy single flowered variety that never fails to please.
For snowdrop addicts there is a November flowering form appropriately called Armistice Day, but I prefer to wait for the post-Christmas display. Clumps of naked ladies (Colchicums), brighten up rough grass areas where their unpleasant foliage is disguised.
Nature’s “berried treasure” provides food for wildlife throughout the winter months and such plants are well worth including in your garden. Most crab apples fall by late October, but Malus Red Sentinel will keep its fruits well into the New Year as if decorated for Christmas.
Cotoneasters, in all their variety, are loved by birds. An excellent plant for a north facing wall is C. horizontalis, its fanshaped twigs are effective all winter long after its spectacular display of red leaves and berries have finished.
Our native mountain ash (rowan) berries are rarely left on the trees for long. The birds seem to prefer the native species to those of the Chinese “take-away” berries on offer from the pink fruited Sorbus hupehensis.
Our own native Guelder Rose, Viburnum opulus, puts on a matching display of red leaves that nearly mask the shining clusters of red berries. Sadly, this plant is being ravaged by the viburnum beetle which weakens the plant and may kill it. Its brother the Wayfaring tree, Viburnum lantana appears not to be so tasty.
Enjoy nature’s rich tapestry of autumnal colours before we snuggle down for the winter ahead and the promise of spring’s glory.
Chrysanthemum Hillside Apricot
• Check fruit trees for signs of canker. Cut off infected shoots if small but for larger important branches it will be necessary to brush away the dead loose cankered tissue, tidy it up with a sharp knife and then paint the wound. • Attach sticky Glue Band Traps to the trunks of fruit trees. These will trap the winter moth on its way up the trunk to lay its eggs. Do the stake too! • Apply Winter Wash to fruit trees and bushes now to control any insect pests that are over wintering in cracks and crevices • Remove any fruit that has brown rot. Burn or bin it. This infected fruit often hangs on the trees as mummified clusters lurking ready to infect next year’s crop! • Pinch immature figs off outdoor plants. These will not grow on if left but will rot on the tree so are best taken off now. Anything smaller than the size of a pea can be left to grow on and should survive the winter to ripen next summer. • Check stored fruit regularly. Remove and eat any that are ripe but check for any that are rotting and remove them promptly. • Plant fruit canes and bushes. Many varieties of containerised and pot grown are in stock now. • Complete autumn digging in the veg patch, leave the ground rough and let the frost and rain break it up. Add Clay Breaker and plenty of organic matter (Revive, Mushroom compost or Farmyard Manure etc.) to improve heavy clay soil and very light sandy soil too. • Plant tulip bulbs (if not done already). Urgently plant any other bulbs.
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SOUTH West in Bloom was itself a winner at Chelsea winning Gold for its garden and the trophy for the best of 42 exhibits in the Floral Pavilion. It was a triumph for Stonebarn Landscapes and John Wheatley from Chew Magna who designed and built the garden with Terry Porter from Hutton, with help from Sidmouth in Bloom.
Plants were largely grown by Terry and Jane Wheatley. Large quantities of plants were also grown for the COP26 Garden.
A spokesman for the team said: “The valleys Chew and Yeo led the way on climate change and had a major influence on this year’s Chelsea with the success of Yeo Valley with Gold in the large garden design category and People’s choice award, to the success of the Bloom garden in the Great Pavilion.”
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HUTTON has been named champion village in the South West in Bloom awards, winning both Gold and the Cox Cup.
A spokesman said: “The volunteers that make up the team, organised by Mark Perry, have done a fantastic job and the displays have been outstanding this year. Thanks go to all our sponsors and Hutton Parish Council for their continued support.”
There were also Golds for Glastonbury, Radstock and Westonsuper-Mare, a silver for Lympsham and Eastertown and silver gilt for Bleadon.
Flower show is back
Jane Hares receiving her trophy from Ann Gunner, president of Congresbury Gardening Club
AFTER a gap of two years, due to Covid, Congresbury gardeners welcomed the Gardening Club Autumn Flower Show and despite the erratic summer weather, they responded with colourful exhibits of fruit, flowers and vegetables, and increased entries from the allotment growers.
Dawn Odi beat the competition with vegetables from her allotment. Bill Maggs’ enormous onions gained him the cup for the best vegetable exhibit, and Jane Hares’ vegetables of lengthy runner beans, tomatoes and squash gave her the most points for a trophy.
Bramley apples, grown by Judy Brook, were judged the best fruit, while the cup for best flowers was won by Penny Baker's Michaelmas Daisies.
Other award winners were Denise Smith in the domestic classes, Gordon Bunney in photographic and George Baker in children's photography.
Christine’s farewell
CHRISTINECostello, a professionally trained gardener, will no longer be helping the residents to tend the garden of the Wells Almshouse Trust behind St Cuthberts’s Church. She says that their proudest moment was when they picked up the Wells Gold Cup in 2019.
Chris said: “I volunteered after attending an open day in 2017. The residents had managed to maintain the garden wonderfully since Wilf Beer, one of the residents who had cared for it for 25 years, was no longer able to do so.
“I have enjoyed working all weathers, all seasons, organising the tasks for the occasional Heads Up visits before the pandemic and since Covid have arrived earlier, from 6.30am when light allowed, in order to leave the site before the residents needed the space.
“So I’ve not seen as much of them as I would have liked and I have not been able to say thank you and goodbye. Naturally there have been no public open days. This was regrettable as the garden looked its best in summer 2020 in my opinion.
“It is with great regret I will no longer be able to tend the garden. I would like to thank all the residents for their support, interest and friendship and I look forward to keeping in touch them all.”
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Ancient and modern as far as the eye can see at Green Ore
Society president Rob Uphill Enjoying the view from the footplate of the Jack of Herts steam plough being steered by Rob Jenkins
Setting off on a tour of the match
Professional hedgelayer Alex Bown, of Oakhill, is the ploughing society’s new chairman
John Cole and Rosie in the classic class
