Amateur Gardening - June 11, 2016 PDF

Her Majestys
fave flowers
the Queen
What to plant to please
Amateur
This weeka!
M UST DO
Plant up
patriotic pot
O Plant a honeysuckle
O Take herb cuttings
O Earth up potatoes
O Clematis care tips
O Plant artichokes
O Top border jobs
O Layer dianthus
Discovers why
a clematis
can suddenly
change colour!
Peter Seabrook
and his 3 steps to healthy veg
Trap slugs
& snails
Organic controls
for hungry pl t
How to
grow mint
Theres a
wide rang
avours to
berries
All you need
to know, from
soil to sun
and supports
ips for top

sweet peas
herbs!
r
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Amateur
This week in
SUBSCRIBE!
11 June 2016
an
issue
0330 333 1113
and quote: 19C or go to
amateurgardeningsubs.co.uk/19C
Practical
Arthur Edwards/NP
16
Grow salad leaves
32 Her Majestys favourites
4
6
7
8
12
13
18
Tips on border care and adding new

plants to ll gaps
Plant up a patriotic red, white and
blue ower container
How to avoid harm when handling
garden plants
Step-by-step guide to taking woody
herb cuttings
Increase your stock of dianthus
plants by layering
Planting an evergreen honeysuckle
in a wildlife friendly hedge
Earthing up potatoes, planting out
globe artichokes
Features
4 Border care tips
8 Take herb cuttings
Tim Rumballs
Editors letter
OST of us expect a certain natural
order in the garden plants grow
with their roots in the soil; birds
and bees fly around; neighbours annoy you
with noisy DIY on sunny Sundays you
know the sort of thing.
There are exceptions, and I came across
one recently that really surprised me. A
good flush of flower buds on the plum trees
at my allotment simply disappeared over a
period of about a week. On close inspection
I discovered a snail high up in the branches,
munching happily on tender new growth. I
eventually found seven snails and one slug
enjoying the view and anything fresh,
green and tasty that poked its head above
the bark. There were more on the other
plum, and one in the Coxs apple tree
(obviously a discerning snail) though not in
Get in touch!
Q 01202
440840
other varieties. Thats not my

understanding of the natural order.
Gardeners in the know put grease bands
on the trunks of fruit trees. These stop the
wingless winter moth climbing up, but also
slugs and snails (there were no molluscs on
my grease banded apple trees at home).
But my point is, I just dont expect grounddwelling slugs and snails to go clambering
around in trees. I remember some years ago
being astounded to see goats climbing
small trees in Turkey to nibble the foliage.
What next weeds that duck under the soil
to avoid the hoe blade, and pop straight
back out afterwards? Plants that grow a
crop of potatoes underneath, and tomatoes
on top? Or most unlikely of all, neighbours
that dont do noisy DIY on sunny Sundays.
Have a great gardening week.
Q amateurgardening@timeinc.com
Experts helpline:
Q Westover House, West Quay Road,
Q 0843 168 0200

(12-1 Monday - Friday)
Poole Dorset BH15 1JG
Q Cover picture: Sweet pea Lathyrus odoratus variety (Shutterstock)
The Queens favourite

32 Grow
owers to celebrate her 90th
a Chelsea border with ideas
46 Plant
from this years show
Expert advice
10
14
16
20
22
24
28
35
59
Peter Seabrook
Tips for top veg crops
Kris Collins
Grow super sweet peas
Lucy Chamberlain
Keep sowing salads
Bob Flowerdew
Organic slug & snail solutions
Graham Clarke
Dragon & damselies
Tamsin Westhorpe
Pots need a focal point
Anne Swithinbank
Growing your free sweet peas
Christine Walkden
Growing blueberries & raspberries
Toby Buckland
Clematis colour change
Regulars
42
We test and pick the best of six

half-moon lawn edging tools
11 JUNE 2016 AMATEUR GARDENING
Gardening Week
with AGs gardening expert Ruth Hayes
TopTip
When planting to ll border
gaps, position them carefully
to avoid them being shaded
out by established plants.
Water new plants regularly
and protect them from
slugs and snails.
Plan your ll-in planting

by positioning pots on the soil
to get the best arrangement
Step p Improving
by ste a neglected
corner
Removing problem plants to give an
untidy area a new lease of life
This area is between a weeping

pear and a forsythia. It had weeds, a
dead shrub, and cherry suckers.
Digging up the dead fuchsia and

cherry suckers (as well as the root
they were growing from) was tough!
All TimeInc.
Tips for top borders

With peak growing time underway, Ruth shows you how to
keep your borders at their best, and ll any remaining gaps
HIS is the time of year when
I have been meaning to spruce up a
gardens should be
neglected corner of one of my
looking blooming
borders for some time.
beautiful, packed
Although its relatively late
Youll see little
with fresh green growth
in the season, I decided it
sign of bare soil
and colourful flowers.
was still worth doing
in a well-lled
In theory, you should
as you can see in the
border
need to do little more
panel to the right.
than keep your borders
As we are nearly in
ticking over with the
the middle of June, the
five simple tasks I have
threat of frosts should
listed on the following
be past so you can also
page. These will help
start planting out tender
keep plants healthy, and
bedding plants and
prolong their flowering.
annuals. However, if you live
However plants do fail
further north, or in an exposed
sometimes, leaving a hole in border. If
area, you may want to wait a week or
this happens youll need to plug the gap.
so longer, to safeguard your plants.
4 AMATEUR GARDENING 11 JUNE 2016
Once the area was clear, I forked in

well-rotted manure to improve the
soils structure and add nutrients.
I planted the refreshed soil with

varieties that like dappled shade,
such as this home-grown foxglove.
Lift tulips: If your tulips have flowered,
and the foliage has died back, lift and store

them now for replanting in November.
Five essential on-going border tasks How to fill gaps in

Prolong the beauty of your plants with these simple jobs
summer borders
Creating a colour-packed garden
Q Weeding: Get rid of

weeds as soon as they
start to emerge.
Q Edging: Well cut

lawn edges look good
and expose pests.
Q Deadheading: Remove
faded blooms so the plant
will create more.
Q Watering: The best time to water is early

morning and in the evening. Water around
the roots, dont waste water on the leaves.
Make sure the plant has room to

grow without being cramped
Before planting, check the final size

of the plant on its label. Stand the
plant in water to saturate the rootball.
Dig a hole as deep as, but slightly wider
than, the plants container.
Q Staking: As tall plants head towards

their full height, support them to prevent
wind damage and snapped stems.
The importance of tying-in climbers

PLANTS such as clematis, honeysuckle and
sweet peas should be tied on to supports or
wires to guide their growth into place.
This means you can ensure they grow in
the direction you want them to, and
encourages strong growth. Unsupported
climbers can waste their energy sending
out tendrils to find something to cling to, so
if you tie them up they will put that energy
into growth and flowering.
When tying plants, take care not to tie
them too tightly, as this can bruise the stem.
Tie string, twine or raffia in a figure-ofeight, with a loop around the support and a
loop around the plant stem, as this will help
prevent the plant rubbing directly against
the support.
Mulching helps retain water

and suppress weeds
Ease the plant from its pot, and

loosen its roots, Place the plant in
the planting hole and fill in around it.
Water well, and mulch with well-rotted
compost or manure.
2
Train plants to help them grow
Gardening Week
TopTip
Place crocks at the base of
the pot, and stand it on pot
feet once planted up,
to help improve
drainage.
Water-retaining crystals
make care easier
All TimeInc
Additional pot
and basket care
Remember to leave room for your plants
to grow and ll the entire container
Plant up a patriotic pot

Ruth plants a container in shades of red, white and blue
ELEBRATIONS for the Queens 90th
birthday continue, and you can add
to the occasion with flowers. I
planted up this summer container
in patriotic shades of red, white and blue.
With care, and regular watering, it should
keep owering until the autumn.
I lled it with a Survivor Scarlet zonal
pelargonium in the centre, trailing white
bacopas, blue lobelia and a Decora Red

trailing pelargonium, and blue tufts of
ageratum plus a Cabaret Bright red
calibrachoa.
Containers come in many sizes, shapes
and colours, but my favourite remains
traditional terracotta. It is a warm colour,
and the perfect foil for colourful blooms
and all shades of green.
Q I used a compost enriched with

nutrients and water-retaining crystals,
which should reduce the need to water
every day.
Q If you are using a multi-purpose
compost for your tub or basket, adding
water-retaining gel or crystals will
reduce the need for daily watering
though always check the compost in
very dry spells.
Q Water-retaining products are widely
available from garden centres.
Q Slugs and snails love hiding under
the rim of pots, so protect plants with
pellets, or put copper bands or
anti-slug gel around the container.
Step p
by ste
Stand plants in water before planting, to

give the rootballs a soaking, and make
them easier to remove from their pots.
Place crocks at the bottom, and ll the

pot with potting compost. Make a hole
in its centre, and put in your focus plant.
Then add your smaller side plants and

trailing plants. Plant them to the same
depth as their rootball, and rm in.
Your pot should add colour

to the garden for several months
Five steps to a
colourful container
Place the container somewhere sunny
and sheltered. Check it daily for pests and
moisture levels, and deadhead regularly
for prolonged colour.
Add extra compost around the plants

if necessary. Water well, as this helps
settle plant roots and rm the compost.
Gardening Week
Many beautiful plants, such

as monkshood (Aconitum
napellus) are poisonous
Avoiding injury
Cover up and use common sense
Euphorbia sap is an irritant. Protect

hands and arms when pruning, and
keep children and pets away from the
plants until pruning cuts heal over.
Wear sturdy gloves and long sleeves

when working with thorny plants.
Ideally, plant them where they are less
likely to damage people!
All TimeInc.
2
Wear protective
clothing when
handling euphorbia
Sensible precautions
Follow simple steps to avoid harm in the garden, says Ruth
S Adam and Eve discovered,
gardens can be dangerous places.
For all their beauty, touching some
plants can cause skin and eye
irritation, while eating them can result in
nasty illness, or in some cases death.
This applies to some edible as well as
ornamental plants (for example rhubarb
leaves can burn the mouth and throat, and
cause nausea), and the main dangers come
from eating them (poisoning) or contact
with bare skin (rashes and blistering, and
eye irritation).
Most plants sold in nurseries and garden
centres will have labels stating whether
they pose a risk, and staff should know their
plants, so always check before buying.
The key to staying safe is to be sensible

about planting, especially if children or pets
visit your garden.
Children are attracted to pretty flowers,
and bright berries that look like sweets, so
warn them away from toxic plants.
Where possible, plan your borders so that
plants with thorns, poisonous berries, or
foliage that can cause skin irritation, are
placed towards the back, away from
pathways. Wear gloves and long sleeves
when gardening, to reduce the risk of injury
from thorny plants, and to avoid your skin
coming into contact with irritating plants.
Q For a comprehensive list of poisonous
garden plants, visit rhs.org.uk and search
for potentially poisonous garden plants.
Safe gardening
How to treat plant-related problems
Always wash your hands well after
handling plants, even if you have been
wearing gloves.
If something had irritated your skin,
wash the area well and apply antiseptic
or antihistamine cream, or take an
antihistamine tablet.
Try not to rub or scratch the
irritated area.
If you think someone has eaten
part of a dangerous plant, take them
straight to A&E with a sample of the
plant, and do not make them vomit.
If skin starts to blister, or you
experience shortness of breath,
dizziness or nausea, seek medical
advice and take a sample of the plant
your touched/ate with you.
Gardening Week
TopTip
Ifyouarentplantingupyour
cuttingsimmediatelyafter
takingthem,popthemina
plasticbagsomewherecool
andshadyfor uptoanhouror
twotopreventtheircut
ends drying out.
Step p How to take

by ste rosemary
cuttings
Creating fragrant new evergreen
plants in four simple stages
Fill a seed tray with a 50/50 mix

of seed compost and perlite to aid
drainage and air circulation.
All TimeInc.
Dont overcrowd cuttings in a seed tray
Select a healthy, non-flowering

shoot around 4in (10cm) long, and
remove it with a sharp, clean knife.
Take woody herb cuttings

Ruth shows you how to increase your stocks of scented
herbs by taking softwood cuttings of rosemary and lavender
ITH plants in the full growth of inserted into compost, they should start to
early summer, this is the
develop their roots within six weeks to
perfect time to
two months.
multiply their
If you dont have any seed
number by taking cuttings.
trays, insert your cuttings
from new shoots.
around the edge of a 10in
Woody herbs such as
(25cm) pot, and grow on
lavender and rosemary
as before.
are easy to propagate
The new plantlets
through softwood
can be moved into
cuttings.
individual 3in (7cm)
This is a bonus to
pots, before being
gardeners, as lavenders
potted on into a slightly
can have a fairly short
larger pot if required
lifespan, while rosemary
before the end of the
Treat lavender cuttings as
you would rosemary
often becomes straggly and
growing season. Overwinter
unwieldy, so both may need
them in a sheltered spot
replacing every few years.
outside, then plant them out in their
Once the cuttings have been taken and
final position the following spring.
Strip off the lower leaves, dip the

cut end in rooting powder or gel,
and insert it into the compost mix.
Cover the seed tray, or seal it

in a plastic bag, and place it
somewhere warm and bright.
Gardening Week
with Peter Seabrook, AGs classic gardening expert
Peters tips for crop

growing beginners
PJS / Suttons (inset)
PJS
Purple (Shiraz)
podded peas
Q Pots left over the weekend should

be stood in saucers containing several
centimetres of water.
Writtle College students Michelle Fisher (centre) and

Juliette Steyl (right) with their own grown project demonstrating
how schools can produce fruits and vegetables in a limited space
Rising stars raise veg
Salads were the

mainstay
their own fruit and vegetables.
Working on the premise that some schools
would not have access to soil, and that space
could be limited, they based their work on
large pallet dimensions. A raised bed was
constructed and then edible flowering
plants, fruits, herbs, salads and vegetables
were sown in time to start cropping for
course assessment mid-May.
It was a pretty ambitious enterprise for

students in full time education and they did
a remarkably good job, good enough to go to
the Chelsea Flower Show and form part of
the Rising Stars young peoples exhibit.
Salads were the main stay and coloured leaf
lettuce proved very useful to cover the
ground and yield plenty of pickings. A twoor ideally three-litre pot is all it takes to grow
a full size lettuce, which can provide fresh
leaves for weeks. French beans also respond
well to pot cultivation, although several pots
will be needed to harvest a reasonable
quantity at any one time.
Children in the Garden Club at St. Michaels
School in Essex had similar success with a
large pot of mange tout garden peas Golden
Sweet and Shiraz. These cultivars (Suttons)
have attractive purple flowers as well as the
yellow and purple edible pods.
They do grow quite tall and need some
form of support, in St. Michaels case elm
peas sticks did a very good job. Seems that
growing your own is childs play.
Subscribe
from just
n issue
Q Top up pots of carrots and potatoes

with extra compost to prevent roots
protruding and going green.
TimeInc.
WO students at Writtle College,

Juliette Steyl and Michelle Fisher,
took as their course project subject
Grow Food for Young Children at
Schools. Their objective was to design
something good enough to be put on show
and also be an inspiration for pupils to grow
PJS
Peter finds out how two students are inspiring the next
generation to have a go at growing fruit and vegetables
Q Where plants go pale from lack of

food a foliar spray with dilute MiracleGro fertiliser works miracles.
Call 0330 333 1113

Please quote code 11AG

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Gardening Week
Step p How to layer

by ste dianthus
Dianthus are a popular, colourful

addition to the garden
Cut stems will soon develop roots
TopTip
Weed the soil, and rake it to a fine

tilth. If the soil is heavy, add sharp
sand to improve drainage.
Shutterstock
To take stem cuttings of

dianthus, cut a 4in (10cm)
length of a non-owering stem,
remove lower leaves, and push
the cut end into moist seed
compost in a pot. Water,
put on a bright
windowsill.
Layering dianthus
Carnations are beautifully scented garden favourites, and
Ruth makes new plants by the simple layering technique
IANTHUS, also known as pinks
and carnations, are one of the
most popular traditional British
flowers. They have a delicate scent
and long blooming season and, best of all,
are incredibly easy to propagate.
The easiest way of doing so is by layering,
when a stem is slightly wounded, and the

wounded area is pressed into the soil.
The best time of year to do this is early
summer (now!), ideally no later than July, as
this gives the layered shoots time to
develop roots and be potted up before the
colder weather of autumn.
Last chance to prune early-flower shrubs

Q Always prune early-owering shrubs,
such as forsythia, as soon as the owers
have faded.
Choose a healthy, non-flowering

stem that is long and flexible
enough to bend down to touch the soil.
Score the underside with a sharp

knife. Press the wounded bit down
and pin to the soil with bent wire.
Shrubs such as forsythia ower

on the previous years growth
TimeInc. unless credited
Q This is because they produce blossom

on the previous years growth, so the
longer they have to grow, the better the
display will be.
Q Cut back owered stems to strong,
new growth, and remove 20 per cent of
older stems to create an open shape.
Q Also take the opportunity to check for
pests and disease, and remove spindly
and crossing branches.
Cover the pinned down bit of stem

with soil. Tie the shoot tip lightly to
a cane above the soil. Water well.
Gardening Week
TopTip
Honeysuckle
Step p
by ste in a hedge
Plant a climbing shrub in
a south-facing position
Evergreen honeysuckles
should be planted in spring
or autumn, while deciduous
varieties do best when
put in during the
winter months.
The honeysuckle had been in its pot

a long time, so I stood it in water to
saturate the rootball, which made it
easier to remove from its container.
All TimeInc.
I am planting the honeysuckle in a

south-facing area of the garden
Before digging the planting hole (to

the same depth as, but slightly wider
than, the rootball), I cut through the
weed-suppressing membrane.
Plant a honeysuckle
Ruth shows you how to plant a container-grown shrub that
has out-grown its pot and needs room to thrive
AST year I bought a tiny evergreen
(one-year-old trees), so we covered the
honeysuckle from a supermarket
ground around them with membrane to
for a ridiculously small sum
suppress weeds.
of money.
I had to cut the fabric open to
It was too small to plant out,
plant the honeysuckle. The
and as it was also an
soil underneath was rich
impulse buy, there was
and loamy, weed-free,
nowhere for it to go.
and with a healthy
Since then, my hubby
population of worms.
and I have planted a
Honeysuckles are easy
hedge of native trees
to grow. They do best
along one side of the
with their top growth in
garden, offering the
sun I put ours in a
Once planted, tie the stems
perfect location for the
south-facing area of
to a wire or trellis support
honeysuckle which has
garden but some lower
grown considerably since
shade will help reduce aphid
purchase, and been potted
attack. Mulch around the roots with
on twice.
well-rotted compost or manure to reduce
The hedge was planted as young whips
water loss and the risk of powdery mildew.
Before planting, loosen the rootball

with your fingers. Position it in the
hole, fill around it with a mix of soil and
compost, and water well.
I mulched around the plant with

well-rotted manure, and then
replaced the membrane, to deter weeds
and help retain moisture.
13
Gardening Week
with Kris Collins, AGs guest columnist
TopTip
3 tips for
perfect peas
Kris Collins/NP
If sweet pea leaves turn yellow

its often due to overwatering.
You shouldnt need to water
them once they are settled
in the ground. If in pots,
allow compost to
dry in between
each watering.
Remove all side shoot growth as

soon as seen, concentrating growth
into the main cordon.
Kris at Peters Sun

Flower Square exhibit at
Chelsea this year
T&M
You can buy seeds of Eleanore

Udall at thrive.org.uk
Jacqui Hurst
MONGST all the Chelsea Flower

Show successes I have a little tale
of woe for you. You see, behind the
glitz and glamour theres more
than a little heartbreak going on getting
plants to bloom in time for the worlds
Overwatering
symptoms look a bit
like sun damage
premier gardening show isnt as easy as the
professionals would have you think.
On 10th Feb, my daughter and I sowed the
seeds of this beautiful sweet pea, the sales
of which raise funds for Thrives therapeutic
horticulture courses. With supplemental
lighting and the warmth of my conservatory

I was condent of results in time for the
show. Using the tips (right) the rst ush of
fragrant blooms on long 12in (30cm) stems
appeared the rst week of May. Job done!
Then came the May heatwave.
Temperatures soared in the conservatory.
My solution; plenty of water my Suffolk
garden is exposed to constant high winds so
I was reluctant to place the soft plants
outside. Then the leaf scorch and bud drop
set in. My solution: mollycoddle with more
water. And this was my downfall. The
symptoms of overwatering look like sun/
drought damage, but by the time youve
gured out its down to watering, its too
late. What were show quality plants on 10th
May, were only t for the compost heap
come Chelsea build week. Fortunately the
Thrive gardening team at Battersea Park
had better luck than me, and Eleanore
Udall did make it to the show.
Clinging tendrils use a lot of energy

in latching on. Remove all tendrils
to conserve energy.
T&M
Learn from the mistakes Kris Collins made when he grew

sweet peas for a Chelsea flower show exhibit this year
Kris Collins/NP
Sweet pea care
With no tendrils, plants need tying

in. Sweet pea rings reduce the risk
of damage and are easy to use.

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Gardening Week
Lucy is a former AG gardening editor, and edited
a national Grow-Your-Own magazine. A BBC Essex

radio gardening expert, RHS author and lecturer, shes
also Head Gardener at East Donyland Hall, Essex.
with Lucy Chamberlain, AGs fruit and veg expert
TopTip
SelfStep p
by ste sufficient
Encourage rapid growth for

the best avour. Lettuces are
shallow-rooting, and will
benet from compost added
to soil before sowing, then add
more as a topdressing
once germinated.
in lettuces
Im cutting these mature lettuces

daily at the moment so will quickly
go through them. A gentle squeeze
of their hearts (middles) will tell me
which ones to prioritise.
All TimeInc.
1
Harvesting fresh, crunchy
lettuces what better
taste of summer is there?
A succession of salads
This week, Lucy harvests salad leaves and strawberries
OU might have gathered by now that
Im a keen advocate of sowing seeds
- usually, little and often.
Not a week goes by that I dont
urge you to open a packet of this, or scatter a
sprinkling of that, but its for good reason,
trust me. Quick-maturing veg such as
radishes, rocket, baby carrots and annual
spinach will deliver their harvest in a matter
of weeks, but then unless you keep sowing

theyre gone. So because no summer salad
is complete without lettuce, this week Im
starting off yet another batch. Just be mindful
of what is growing around you if youre
cutting one set of lettuces and the next batch
is half-way to maturity, crack open a packet
and sow some more otherwise your salad
days will come abruptly to a premature end!
These little lettuces, on the other

hand, still have a couple of weeks
of growing to do. I keep them well
watered during dry spells to ensure
they bulk up as my first batch finishes.
Plant out sweetcorn
Plant sweetcorn in a grid formation,

at 10-12in (25-30cm) spacings
IF you followed my advice back in mid April

you should now be gazing at a tray of very
perky little sweetcorn seedlings. Ive sown
mine in small modules and want to get
them into the ground as soon as possible so
they dont have time to get rootbound, but if
youve sown yours in larger pots you can
wait a little longer till you plant them out.
Its crucial that this tender crop doesnt get
exposed to frost, so if a chill is forecast cloak
your plantings in eece until it passes.
Sweetcorn is essentially a huge grass-like
plant that needs to be planted in blocks in a
sunny spot to ensure good pollination (a
sign that this has gone wrong is sparsely
swollen cobs). See my spacing guide (left).
Im now sowing a third batch to

mature once the second ones
are cut. Water the base of the drill
thoroughly and cover the sowings with
newspaper to prevent drying out.
Trim leaves
with scissors
Timeinc
Next week: Lucys training tomato

plants, netting bush and cane fruits against
birds, and lifting the first new potatoes
Time to
harvest juicy
strawberries!
Harvest
strawberries
You can return to harvest salad leaves at least twice
Grow cut-and-come-again salads

ROUND four weeks ago you might
remember me sowing some salad
leaves in shallow terracotta
saucers well now look at them!
For gardeners who like quick results,
sowing salad leaves delivers big-time Ive
got a pot of rocket, some pea shoots, one
more of radishes, and a saucer of mixed
leaves. Thats at least a fortnights worth of
daily mixed salad lunches.
I love growing a blend of leaves like this,
not least because it gives you a varied and
delicious salad to eat. And the harvest is
staggered because not all leaves mature at
the same time, so gluts are avoided. Lots of
leaves can be grown this way land cress,
The June drop

FRUIT trees have had it good this year.
We havent experienced too many
late frosts so chances are, if your tree
owered well, it should now be draped
with lots of developing fruitlets.
How alarming then, when you see
half of them turn yellow, shrivel and
fall off. This process is known as the
June drop because it generally occurs
during this month. And dont worry its
a perfectly natural response and a good
pak choi, lettuce, spinach, chard, beetroot,

turnip tops, kale, mustard, mizuna, leaf
radish, komatsuna, coriander the list is
endless! And rather than harvesting by
pulling them up, roots and all, prolong
pickings by cutting them back with scissors.
This method is termed cut-and-comeagain and it literally means that. You cut
your leaves back to a height of roughly 1in
(3cm), ensuring to leave the basal growing
point intact and then with a little water,
liquid feed and time, the plants will sprout
more shoots. You can easily get two often
three harvests from one sowing, which is
easier than having to remember to sow new
batches every three or four weeks.
sign that your tree is interested in quality

rather than quantity. The plant is naturally
shedding excess fruitlets, especially those
that are malformed or damaged.
The tree will often shed good fruitlets,
too, because weve pruned it in a way that
causes it to produce way more fruit than it
can healthily carry. If a tree is stressed, the
June drop could be excessive, so make sure
roots are well watered and fed. If youre
itching to thin out some of the excess crop,
do it later in summer wait for the tree to
complete its natural shedding rst .
WHAT could be more quintessentially

British than to feast on strawberries
and cream in June if the berries are
home-grown then so much the better!
Crops forced under glass have been
ripening for well over a month now
but not all of us have the space to do
that. Thankfully, outdoor plants are
now joining the party, producing vivid
scarlet fruits that gleam up at you from
among the lush leaves. Bedding down
the plants with straw will help to keep
the fruits off the soil and also deters
slugs and snails. Netting rows will
ensure you, rather than the blackbirds,
eat the harvest, and picking daily will
guarantee perfect ripeness. Wait till
theyre really deep red for the best
avour, and eat them warm from the
sun, not chilled from the fridge.
Fruit is beginning
to swell, the June
drop will deal
with any surplus
17
Gardening Week
Keep on
earthing up
your spuds!
Ruth explains why
continually covering them
will lead to a better crop
HE warm, damp weather of late
spring and early summer is peak
potato growing time.
To make sure you maximise your
plants potential, they need a little ongoing
care. Earth up stems as they grow, as this
will encourage the plant to produce more
tubers from their stalks.
If you are growing in the open, use a
combination of soil and compost this mix
is lighter than using soil by itself. It wont
crush the growing crops, and also helps
retain moisture and provides food, which
encourages the tubers to swell.
When growing potatoes in containers,
as I am doing, use multi-purpose
compost, and remember to keep the bags
well watered.
First early potatoes should be almost
ready for harvesting now. Wait until the
flowers bud and drop, and dig up your
spuds when they are around the size of a
hens egg. Use the old compost as mulch on
your flowerbeds, or grow a crop of salad
leaves in the bags.
All TimeInc.
Compost and water for

a healthy harvest
Planting out globe artichokes

HE little globe artichoke seedlings I will add structure and interest.
bought have been successfully
Globe artichokes do best in an open,
potted on and hardened
sunny site with free-draining soil.
off, so are ready to be
Before planting, it helps to
planted out.
enrich the bed with plenty of
They are stately plants
well-rotted compost or
that can grow to 5ft
manure, and to add grit in
(1.5m) tall, and 3ft (1m)
heavier soils.
wide. Their foliage is
In the plants first year,
an attractive silveryremove flower heads as
grey and their flower
they form so that they
heads are the tasty bits
put their energy into
that are picked and
growing.
After watering, I sprinkled
cooked before they open. wood ash on the soil to ward
You can start to harvest
I have several plants, so off slugs and snails
in the second year take the
have planted three in raised
top (or terminal) bud before its
beds (where there is still room)
scales have started to open, and
and the others will go into the back and
pick side buds when they have reached the
centre of ornamental borders, where they
size of a small tennis ball.
My grown-on globe artichokes

are ready to be planted out
19
Gardening Week
with Bob Flowerdew, AGs organic gardening expert
Bobs top tips

for the week
Slugs are harder to catch as they dont

move about above ground entice them
with wilting lettuce leaves or veg peelings
Draw soil up around the bases of

broad bean plants to stabilise the
tops bearing heavy crops.
All Shutterstock
Snails dont do as
much damage as
slugs, but their
numbers still need
controlling
Slugs and snails
Keep white buttery adults off

brassicas with ne mesh netting or
eece, or hand pick caterpillars later.
Bobs reveals his methods for controlling these menaces

EW pests bother us more than
slugs and snails they seem to eat
almost anything. They appear from
nowhere in spring and become
vast hordes by this time. Theres no easy
solution, but a series of steps will help to
reduce the damage they cause.
Snails are often the lesser of the two evils
Make trapping
easier by attracting
them to bait
except in gardens with dry stone walls
where their numbers can be startling.
However in most gardens, snails do less
harm than slugs. Even so, they still need
control. Slugs are more varied, more
numerous, and do much more harm to
more parts of your plants. Inconveniently,
many slugs seldom move about above
ground so are harder to catch. Without
doubt, the most effective method is
continuous hand picking especially late on

warm, damp nights. You can make nding
them easier by attracting them to bait such
as wilting salad leaves, fruit and vegetable
peelings, cat food, hollowed out spuds and
particularly effective, buttered cabbage
leaves (dont knock it till youve tried it).
Slug pubs also help combining baiting
with despatch, these attract slugs to saucers
of fermenting liquid. Slugs are attracted to
real beer, milk and fruit juice, they slide
down in, drink too much and lose their grip,
then drown. Unfortunately, ground beetles,
which are useful friends (they eat slug eggs
for a start) also like a tipple and can drown
likewise so place some twigs to help these
climb out. (The slugs wont as theyre really
legless!) Anyway having thinned their
numbers you can then erect barriers
around vulnerable plants newly put out.
Many things work as a barrier, at least
while dry coffee grounds, ashes, soot,
crushed baked eggshells, lime, cocoa shell,
raw dirty wool and even copper bands.
Finally, you can buy slug killing nematodes,
you simply water these on their haunts and
the job is done. Not cheap though so I prefer
using the torch and a big heavy foot.
Do an early thin on choice fruits

removing infected, infested and
damaged ones before they swell much.
When its hot and dry, ea beetles

multiply disastrously unless beds
are kept moist with regular watering.

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Gardening Week
with AGs gardening wildlife expert Graham Clarke

s
What JUNE 11
On JUNE 19
Q 11 June: Plant Hunters Fair
(11am-5pm), Arley Arboretum,

Near Bewdley, Worcs. DY12 1XJ
planthuntersfairs.co.uk
Q Sat 11 June to Sun 12 June:
English Country Garden Festival
Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire. Join us

in celebrating the best of country
sports and country life.
For Tickets: 01252 555213
eldandcountryfair.com
A female emperor dragony

lays its eggs in the water
When at rest damselies (above) hold their

wings closer to the body than dragonies do
Bishops Palace
Q 11-12 June: The English Country
Garden Festival, The Bishops Palace,

Wells, Somerset. 01749 988 111
bishopspalace.org.uk
Q 12 June: Braddocks House, Oxbridge,
Dorset, DT6 3TZ (2-5pm) in aid of

British Red Cross, 01823 273713
swashington@redcross.org.uk
Q 12 June: Parker Towers, 6 Garden
Place, Church Hill, Crook DL15 9DR in

aid of the NGS (1-5pm) 01388 766277
clive.m.parker@btinternet.com
Q 14-19 June: Special Rose
Festival, Pashsley Manor Gardens,

Pashley Road, Ticehurst, Wadhurst
TN5 7HE. 01580 200888
pashleymanorgardens.com
Q 15 June: Thornton Hall Gardens,
Staindrop Rd, Darlington DL2 2NB in

aid of NGS (11-4pm). 07713 508222
mannersfarmsltd@msn.com
Q 16-19 June: BBC Gardeners World
Live, NEC, North Ave, Birmingham,

West Midlands B40 1NT. 0844 581
1340 bbcgardenersworldlive.com
Q 18-19 June: Hoby Open Gardens
(11am-5pm daily), Hoby village, Nr

Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
LE14 3DT. 01664 434 188
opengardens.co.uk;
Q Please check that the event is still going ahead before leaving
home. If you have an event that you would like us to consider
please email details to: amateurgardening@timeinc.uk
Damsels and dragons

Graham Clarke looks at the antics of dragon- and
damselies, which are commonly seen near water now
F you have a pond in your garden, or
lakes, rivers or streams nearby, youd be
very unlucky not to see dragonflies and
damselflies between mid-May and
September. They are among the most
spectacular of any insect species. But how
do you tell them apart? And would you know
the difference between a banded
demoiselle and a brown hawker, or a
common darter from a four-spotted chaser?
There are more than 3,000 species
worldwide, and sometimes they differ only
in slight changes of wing colour or veining.
Essentially, dragonflies have larger eyes,
that usually touch, and different shaped
fore- and hindwings (which they hold out
horizontally when resting). They are also
more agile in flight. Damselflies have
similarly shaped wings, but they hold them
close to the body when at rest. And they
have a gentler, fluttery flight.
Biologically the two types are known as
Odonates, and are carnivorous in both the
larval (or nymph) and adult stages. The
adults have a large appetite for just about
any insect capturing mosquitoes in flight.
Dragon- and damselflies are closely tied
to fresh water. The females lay their eggs
submerged in ponds and lakes, where the

nymphs can remain for months, or even
years. When they are ready, they crawl up
the stems of aquatic plants, emerging as
adults, then quickly fly away. Sadly, these
adults survive for just a few days or weeks.
Dragonflies, particularly, are aerodynamic
marvels. An adult can beat its two sets of
wings out of phase and, in so doing, control
the air pressure around it. This allows for
some astonishing aerial manoeuvres they
can change direction in an instant, hover for
up to a minute, and even fly backwards!
Many male dragonflies are territorial,
defending their patch against other
dragonflies, or other insects in general. A
particular perch, for example, may give a
dragonfly a good view over an insect-rich
feeding ground, such as a sunlit stretch of
shallow water, and it will want to save this
area for itself.
Look out for the species that visit your
garden. Visit british-dragonflies.org.uk,
which has a good section on identification.
Incidentally, dragonflies are among the
most ancient of creatures fossils 325
million years old show that they were some
of the largest flying invertebrates ever.
Both Shutterstock
Field & Country Fair

Gardening Week
with Tamsin Westhorpe in her country garden
TimeInc. unless credited
Mix in a slow-release feed before

lling your container with compost
When planting allow bedding

plants room to grow
Create a focal point

Give potted bedding displays a heart says Tamsin
S my early horticultural career was
spent in the parks department
I have a soft spot for summer
bedding. The vibrant colours and
chance to start from scratch each year is
refreshing. Last June I planted a raised urn,
which sits in the centre of a small enclosed
part of the garden, with a mix of bedding.
There was no centre to the display, just an
over the top mop of colour and mingling
owers. It denitely lacked something.
From this I have learnt that when a single
container is being planted as a focal point
it needs a heart - a central plant such as
a cordyline or bay. This year Ive gone for
a small box plant and surrounded it with
trailing blue lobelia, white petunias and

my favourite of all bedding plants, purple
verbena. There will be contrasts in ower
and foliage shape with my selection and
the colours will create a cool and calm
atmosphere. Colours should be chosen
with care, especially when planting against
a wall. Red brick wont work well with
bright pink and in a really sunny spot white
owering plants will be blinding.
If youre buying bedding this week then
add in a tray of Nicotiana Lime Green. This
annual makes the perfect emergency border
ller. The owers go with any colour and it
looks very much at home when planted in
drifts in the country garden.
Ive chosen a box plant for

the centre of the urn
Water in well
Shutterstock
If you cant beat it eat it!
Pick the young leaves of

ground elder and treat like spinach
IN Herefordshire we arent short of ground

elder (Aegopodium podargraria).
For those who are not familiar with this
perennial weed thank your lucky stars
you havent met it yet. We have the Romans
to thank for introducing this plant to the
country. Not only is it invasive, its also
capable of crowding out other plants. To get
rid of it youd be wise to go as far as sieving
the soil to remove each and every piece of
white root.
An alternative is to try and eat your way

out of the problem! Pick young shoots
and treat as spinach. It tastes similar to
spinach and is helped along by a knob of
butter and some pepper. However, cease
your feasting when plants start to ower
as I have heard that at this point it can be
an effective laxative! Whatever plant you
pick to eat from the garden make sure
you have identied it correctly better
to be safe than sorry.
Tip: When growing mint in a herb garden keep it in a
pot to prevent it from taking over. Sink the pot into the
flower bed and no one will be any the wiser.
Enjoy some minty moments

WITH the weather warming up I am
planning a few alfresco evening meals
and drinks in the garden. On a recent visit
to a plant fair I spoke to herb expert Kim
Hurst, from The Cottage Herbery, about
how to liven up soft drinks with herbs. She
suggested growing a range of different
mints to add to limes and water. After
rubbing the foliage between my ngers
and enjoying the many different scents
I selected grapefruit, strawberry and
Moroccan mint. There is so much choice
with apple, lemon and lime being very
tempting as well.
Mentha x piperita f. citrate Grapefruit has
large rounded leaves that are undeniably
grapefruit scented. The strawberry mint
offers pink owers and again a very
convincing strawberry scent, whereas the
more invasive of the bunch, the Moroccan
mint (Mentha spicata var crispa Moroccan)
is more minty and the perfect choice for
mint sauce.
Due to its invasive nature I would advise
container growing for these herbs. Ive
planted all three together in a pot that will
offer them room enough for one season. Its
going to spend the summer in the centre of
my garden table as mint helps keep the ies
away and I will be picking the leaves to add
Manor Farm Herbs
Raise a glass to the variety of

tastes mint has to offer
Strawberry mint has pretty pink

owers the many different scents
of the mints I have chosen will be
at their best in full sun
to drinks. To release more avour I crush

the leaves with a pestle and mortar, drop
them into a jug of the water and strain them
out with a tea strainer as I serve. The result
is a fresh, healthy, tasty and very cheap
alternative to bought soft drinks. Cheers.
Mint is crushed
before adding into a jug
of water or juice
Weed control
Get to grips with weeds
sooner rather than later
EVEN if your borders are packed with
perennials and shrubs never sit back and
ignore the weeds lurking beneath your
ornamentals, just because they are out of
sight. Leave them to ower and theyll set
seed and their offspring will continue to
haunt you.
The worst culprits in the garden here
in June are the annual hairy bittercress,
the grass Poa annua, nettles, dandelions,
birch and ash seedlings, not forgetting the
invasive clover. Annuals, like the bittercress
and poa, are easily hand pulled or hoed off
but to remove perennials, such as nettles
vigour. Therefore each and every tiny bit of
and dandelions, youll need either a very
narrow trowel or even a knife. If you just pull root needs to be removed.
There is no easy alternative to weeding
the tops off these weeds youre giving them
you can spray but you still have to remove
a real incentive to grow back with more
When taking a walk around

the garden always stop to
deadhead the dandelions
the browning foliage. Unfortunately its best

to get to know the habits of your weeds and
start to enjoy the art of weeding.
Sorry folks!
25
Gardening Week
with Tamsin Westhorpe in her country garden
Water lily
investment
AT the Malvern Spring Festival last
month we treated ourselves to some new
waterlilies from The Dorset Water Lily
Company dorsetwaterlily.co.uk. Our
selection was: Black Princess (blood red);
Seignoretti (salmon); Texas Dawn and
Albatross (white). Texas Dawn is my
favourite of the bunch, with its scented
yellow blooms being held 16in (40cm)
above the water.
As we are not ready to place them in our
water feature yet they are being kept in a
water tank in full sun. Still water and full
sun are vital. They have been planted in
aquatic baskets and topped up with aquatic
compost (a medium to heavy loam free of
fertilizers). All the water lilies selected are
for large ponds. A great plant for a small
pond is Nymphaea Ladyekeri Fulgens with
a spread of 20in (50cm).
Having divided this plant into four

Ive potted on using fresh
compost with a slow-release
fertilizer mixed in. Plants are then
watered and left to grow on
PEOPLE often ask me if a plant will be

happy growing in a pot. The answer I
always give is that any plant will grow in a
pot but it will never be as impressive as it
would be in the ground. If youre growing
in pots then now is your last chance
to divide those that have filled their
allotted space. Ive spent the last few days
repotting and dividing crocosmias and I
now have an army of new potted plants to
sell or give to friends.
Sweeping up fallen blossom

under the Staphylea colchica
tree is a daily task
If plants are too tightly packed to

pull apart, use an old kitchen
knife to help separate the roots
Water lily Texas Dawn
Nextk with Martyn Cox

wee AGs city gardener
Sweep or keep?
MAY was a fantastic month for blossom but
it is quickly oating down to the ground as
wisteria, staphylea and magnolia blossom
decorate the paths. Heres the dilemma.
When fresh nothing beats a pretty spread of
confetti but as it ages the petals turn brown
and slushy. So do you sweep them up or
leave them be? Whats your view?
As Stockton Bury Gardens are open to the
public I sweep them up, much to the dismay
of visitors. This is done to prevent a slip
hazard. Also, larger petals from magnolias
start to look like litter from a distance. This
year I have, however, kept some of the
swept up wisteria blossom to dry. Ill let you
know how it does.
Supporting alliums
Martyn stakes his
alliums to prevent
a great display
being ruined by
strong winds.
Compact
raspberries
Juicy
raspberries
arent just a crop
for large gardens.
Find out about the best
compact varieties to grow.
Start a worm bin

Think its impossible to compost waste in
a small garden? Not with a worm bin.
Wikimedia
Plants for free
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This weeks Free Seeds
Royal Mixed sweet peas will give

a variety of beautiful colours
How to sow your free

sweet pea Royal Mixed seeds
HIS week, our free seeds are
so roots are well-developed ahead of
aptly named, as the cover date of
planting out time next March.
this issue of Amateur Gardening
Finding the right containers is important,
coincides with The Queens ofcial
and I usually sow one seed per root trainer
Birthday Parade, this year celebrating
cell. These specially-designed modules
her 90th. As usual, this is combined with
allow a long root run and open on a hinge
Trooping the Colour, and takes place
so plants are easy to remove.
at Horse Guards Parade by
If, like me, you never throw
St Jamess Park on 11 June.
containers away, youll be
I like to remember
able to hunt down good
when our Queen
alternatives like the
used to inspect the
4in (10cm) square
troops on horse
plastic pots used
back, which
here, with their
she did on 36
own carrying
occasions, riding
tray.
side saddle and
Storing seeds
wearing the
Most seeds keep
uniform of the
well in a cool,
regiment whose
dry place, so we
colour was being
make sure ours at
trooped, only taking
I grow masses of sweet
home are stored in
to a carriage in 1987.
peas every year
old biscuit tins in the
Sweet pea Royal
ofce. The worst place
Mixed delivers a rich
would be a damp greenhouse
blend of colours from white,
or the sunny windowsill of a shed.
through paler pinks and mauves, to
The intense sunlight will cook the seeds in
more intense crimson and dark purple.
their packets!
The long stems of fragrant blooms
Most packets have a sow-by date
will look as good in a vase as they will
printed on them, but they can usually be
smothering obelisks or weaving through
kept for a year or two after that. Remember,
picket fencing. For the earliest and best
the older the seeds get, the fewer will
owers in June next year, sow in October,
All TimeInc. / Mr Fothergills unless credited
How to sow with Anne Swithinbank
germinate, and eventually youll be wasting

time and resources on them.
Some growers like to soak sweet pea
seeds overnight, or gently abrade their
outer casings to help germination along,
but these techniques are not essential.
In the garden
Try placing wigwams of sweet peas in
gaps between white or pink roses, so their
perfumes can mingle. Silvery foliage from
artichokes and artemisias, or acid green
from gold tanacetum and euphorbias will
Long stems of
fragrant blooms look
good in a vase
set off the deeper colours perfectly.
Later in the season, pink and deep
crimson dahlias such as Fascination and
Arabian Night or Zinnia Envy will add to
the effect.
Incidentally, my parents werent keen
on asparagus as a vegetable (oddly), but
they used to plant them for their foliage
around owers like sweet peas.
DOUBLE FREE seeds next week:
We will be giving two packets: Sweet Williams and

Iceland poppies, together worth 3.79! Dont miss them!
Step p How to sow

by ste sweet peas
These generous square pots will give

the sweet peas plenty of root space.
Fill with good seed compost, pressing
very lightly with ngers to make sure
any air pockets are lled. Then set the
pots up in their tray.
m
Probleer
solv
Mixing nematode slug control
SLUGS and snails can be troublesome.

One control method is to use the
biological control Nemaslug, applied
in a water solution via a watering can
(above). These microscopic worm-like
creatures enter the slugs, infect them

with a bacteria and then feed on them
after theyve died. Nematodes remain
active for six weeks, but can help to
reduce numbers into the next year.
Alternative
sowing
Deal seeds out 3-4 per pot, space

them evenly, and sow each 1/2in
(1.5cm) deep using a ngertip or
dibber. Water them in, using a ne rose
(sprinkler) attached to the can, and
label with name and date.
IF you have no facilities

for indoor sowings, sow
a couple of seeds about
3in (8cm) apart directly
into their owering
positions, next April or
May, after the soil has
warmed up a bit.
Sow sweet peas outdoors
Aftercare
Place the pots in an unheated

greenhouse or coldframe, and cover
with an old propagator lid or similar
to keep mice off while germination
takes place. Remove the cover once the
seedlings are fully emerged.
MILD winters can cause shoots to

become leggy, so pinch out the
growing tip after three or four pairs of
leaves and repeat if more long shoots
grow later. Should roots become
congested in small containers, move
on to larger pots. Harden off gradually
and plant out around March time,
depending on the weather, setting
single plants or undisturbed pot-fulls
12in (30cm) apart against their
supports. They need a sunny position
and rich, deeply cultivated soil. Tie
main stems against the supports and
once owers form, give them a highpotash feed and pick regularly. Never
allow seed pods to form.
Pinch out seedlings after

three or four leaves
29
Gardening News
Got a story? call 01202 440848

or email marc.rosenberg@timeinc.com
The latest stories from around the UK
Grim: across the UK, front gardens are

being paved to create off-street parking
Shutterstock
Alamy
A rare sight: planted front gardens attract

wildlife and reduce the risk of ooding
Front gardens disappearing

Plants losing the battle as gardens are paved for parking
HE great British front garden could
be consigned to history unless
urgent action is taken.
Just 10 per cent of people quizzed
by the Royal Horticultural Society said they
would be interested in growing plants in
their front gardens.
Most said the space was needed to park
What happened
to our nation of
gardeners?
cars; that a front garden was too small for

plants, and that they dont have time for the
hard work that a front garden could create.
The negative perceptions came to light at a
front gardens summit on 24 May. Speakers
included TV gardenerAlan Titchmarsh,
planning minister Greg Clark MP, RHS chiefs,
planners and local authorities.
RHS director-general Sue Biggs said ve
million front gardens now have no plants
growing in them, while 7.24million have
been nearly totally paved over.
Sue admitted that the RHS had an even
bigger challenge ahead than we originally
thought and asked: What happened to our
nation of gardeners?
Sue said: We must promote that you can
have parking and plants. Greener front

gardens dont need to be complicated or
time-consuming.
Nearly six in 10 (57 per cent) of people
with grey driveways or front gardens said
that theywould not be encouraged to grow
more greenery in their front garden, even if
there were initiatives such as more available
parking on streets, Sue added.
Happier and healthier
Despite increasing numbers of front gardens
being paved, an IPSOS Mori survey revealed
that front garden greenery brought benets.
A huge 73 per cent of 2,000 adults quizzed
said planted areas along roads would make
them feel happier while 57 per cent said
green streets made them feel healthier.
And 58 per cent of people said planted
streets gave a perception of calm.
Researchers found that 72 per cent agreed
that planted areas along roads made locals
feel proud of their neighbourhood.
The RHS Greening Grey Britain campaign
aims to reverse the trend for paving over
front gardens for off-street parking.
Bayer pulls plug on Provado Vine Weevil Killer
GAP
Plant wrecker: adult vine

weevil and (right) Bayers
Provado Vine Weevil Killer
GARDENERS have lost another weapon in

their armoury for tackling one of Britains
worst plant pests.
Bayer Garden has stopped making
vado Vine Weevil Killer and
pplies are running out at stores.
A spokeswoman for Bayer told
AG that the company decided not
to put the product through the
costly re-registration process.
She said: We chose not to
maintain its accreditation
because of the cost of doing so.
Its perfectly legal to sell, buy
and use; its just that we dont
make it any more. We dont offer an

alternative product, she added.
Worst plant pests
Provado Vine Weevil Killer contained the
ingredient Thiacloprid a neonicotinoid.
However, it remains approved and legal to
use, and is not one of the three neonics
subject to a two-year, EU-wide ban that
resulted from concerns over bee decline.
Vine weevil came fifth in the RHSs most
recent chart of the top 10 worst plant pests.
Adult vine weevils devour foliage while
grubs feast on plant roots with container
plants at high risk.
The
grove
Beech en
Gard k
ee
this w
On Beechgrove: Its finally time to plant out summer

bedding, so Jim, Carole and George create a display with
a daisy theme. BBC2 Scotland, 7.30pm, Thursday 9 June
(national repeat: BBC2, Sunday 12 June, times vary).
ners
Gardestion
Que e
Tim ek
e
this w
On GQT: Bob Flowerdew, Anne Swithinbank and Bunny

Guinness join chairman Eric Robson in Keswick,
Cumbria. Tune in to BBC Radio 4 at 3pm on Friday 10
June (programme repeated at 2pm on Sunday 12 June).
Showbiz stars share garden secrets
TimeInc
Winning awards
Clematis chiisanensis Amber won
RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year. It
has double yellow-cream nodding
flowers. taylorsclematis.co.uk.
Dame Judi Dench at Chelsea and

(circled) BBCs Deborah Meaden
piles of rubble. Weve finished

the last piece around the 17th
century house. Its a cobbled
area with low-growing plants
and euphorbias: a sensory
garden. And viburnums that
are taller than me!
TV presenter Esther Rantzen,
who teamed up with Hiller to
launch a lavender named for
her charity The Silver Line,
said: I have wildflowers,
traditional roses and bulbs at
my cottage in the country.
TimeInc/Katherine Miller
NAFAS
Wildower meadow
Dame Judi Dench, best known
as the head of MI5 in James
Bond movies, told AG she takes
life a little easier in her garden.
She said: I dont garden
I just sit in it. One of my
favourite plants is lavender.
What I long for is a wildflower
meadow. Weve been trying to
create one but its difficult.
Investor Deborah Meaden, of
BBC Dragons Den fame, said
she had just finished creating
the last part of her garden.
Deborah said: It was a farm.
We had burnt-out tractors and
A BLOOMIN
GOOD WEEK
TimeInc.
STARS of showbiz revealed

their passion for plants at the
RHS Chelsea Flower Show, but
not all are keen gardeners.
DIY SOS presenter Nick
Knowles said: I help my
brother on his allotment. I live
in a place without a garden and
I miss it. I enjoy the allotment
and am trying to get one
myself, but it would help if I
could stop moving every six
months, then Id have a place
to put down roots literally.
Now, Im growing slides

and swings, because I have
grandchildren.
Celebrity designer Diarmuid
Gavin said he had a new book
coming out in the autumn:
Thankfully its written. The
title changes every day, but its
something like How to make
your garden better.
Diarmuid launched Harrods
Garden with the London-based
store, a world-wide garden
design and build service.
Leading designer
Andy Sturgeon won gold and
best-in-show for The Telegraph
Garden at Chelsea. It was inspired
by global geological events.
result of the research.

Six strategies will be probed,
including combinations of
mulch, organic pellets,
chemical pellets, and
biological controls.
Tailor-made strategies using

multiple controls are widely
used by professional plant
growers; a concept thats
known in the industry as
integrated pest management.
Shutterstock
Nesting birds
The RSPB reminds gardeners that
cutting back trees and shrubs
during breeding season (March to
August) could harm nesting birds.
Costly: slugs quickly

devour plants (inset)
biological controls
Main: Shutterstock. Inset: BASF
A LANDMARK research
project will look at how to
prevent slug and snail damage.
It will see the RHS team up
with BASF, a manufacturer of
biological pest controls.
In seven of the last 10 years,
slugs and snails headed the
RHSs list of garden-wreckers.
Leader of the new research
project, Dr Hayley Jones, said:
The damage slugs and snails
do to plants has led to the
development of a wide array of
control methods. But these
animals are still a persistent
problem, which means the
current treatments are not
working as well as hoped.
Dr Jones said gardeners will
have access to guidance on
which method best suits their
unique circumstances as a
Shutterstock
Could research finally tackle slugs?
Season confusion
The daffodil season usually lasts
for 16 weeks but spanned 24 this
year, as bulbs were confused by
the mild winter and cold spring.
A BLOOMIN
BAD WEEK
31
The Queen accepting a bouquet of sweet pea Princess Elizabeth at Chelsea

2008. We know that scent is very important to the Queen, says Peter
Grow the same flowers as
The Queen!
AG columnist Peter Seabrook recalls his many encounters

with the Queen at Chelsea Flower Show, including the
moments when she was delighted with particular posies
Brigade of Guards (in blue dress uniform!) I

was sent as a runner to Buckingham Palace.
I did get to see an elderly and rather
unsteady, late Duke of Gloucester (the
Queens uncle) mount his horse to ride off
East Lothian stocks

are a favourite
on the Queens official birthday in June to
Horse Guards Parade, but that was about it.
Even after a number of years working on
exhibits in the huge Chelsea marquees, our
displays were never on the pre-planned
royal routes. The big change came when
one Chelsea Show press day The Sun
newspaper sent their most experienced
Shuterstock
HEN AGs editor asked

for a piece on the Queens
favourite plants and flowers,
it was quite a tall order.
When it comes to likes and dislikes Her
Majesty is pretty inscrutable, unlike her
sister, Princess Margaret who, at one
Chelsea Flower Show and within my
earshot, expressed her dislike of
French Marigolds.
Little did I think working at flower shows
in my teens that I would meet the Queen.
We did see royals at a distance at the county
flower shows in the 1950s when they visited
the floral marquees where we staged the
flowers wed grown. It was the
boss behind the rope doing the greeting,
while we were outside attempting to peep
in through gaps in the canvas.
It went up a notch during National Service
when as a corporal clerk attached to the
Peter regularly cuts lily-of-the-valley from

his garden to give to the Queen during her
Chelsea visits. You can plant out pot-grown
Convallaria majalis now, for owers next year
photographer of royals, Mr Arthur Edwards

to get pictures.
I explained several times to Arthur that we
were very unlikely to get a visit. He had
other ideas and when HRH The Prince of
Wales came within ear shot, he called
across with an invitation to visit our
gardens. Amazingly the Prince gave a huge
smile, abandoned the entourage and visited
four of our designs.
Once the ice was broken and with Arthurs
continuing support, we were privileged to
Alamy
4 of Her Majestys
favourite plants
Sweet rocket
A hardy biennial with spikes of purple

or white scented owers in May and
June. Sow now into a prepared seed bed
outdoors, then transplant in autumn. Seed
supplier: Chiltern Seeds 01491 824675.
Shuterstock
GAP / T&M (inset)
Sweet Williams
Dianthus barbartus is a hardy biennial

with a gorgeous spicy scent that can be
sown now. Grow two or three different
varieties together for impact. Seed
supplier: Suttons 0844 326 2200.
Peter Seabrook
sweet Williams and sweet peas. One

year, a lady-in-waiting offered to
take our posy, as is the practice on
walkabouts, but the Queen wanted to
Carnations are widely reported to be
keep it with her. They later ended up on
one of the Queens favourite owers.
Pictured: Scents of Summer
her desk at Buckingham Palace.
(Thompson & Morgan 0844 573 1818)
We do know fragrant East Lothian Stocks
are a favourite and are planted under
windows at Balmoral ready for when the
meet most members of the royal family,
family are in residence each summer. Lilyincluding the Queen on a number of
of-the-valley have proved popular, on one
occasions. There is no doubt Her Majesty
occasion being held by the Queen for the
loves flowers and has been pleased to
school girl presenter to smell.
receive posies from school children and
Sweet peas are grown in eight or more
horticultural students over the years.
feet high clumps at the back of the long
border at Buckingham Palace to form a
Hand-picked posies
feature during summer garden parties. The
Usually the floral gifts included popular
variety Princess Elizabeth has been very
cottage style flowers and leaves, cut from my well received over the years and is always
garden very early on the press day morning. included in the 100 or so cordons grown in
Most years they included sweet rocket,
my garden each year. Q
Sweet pea Princess Elizabeth
Spencer type with beautiful salmon-pink

blooms. Order seeds now and sow at
the end of September for owers next
summer. Seed supplier: Sow Seeds,
sowseeds.co.uk
Buckingham Palace Gardens

Q I worked as a gardener at Buckingham
Palace in the 1970s. The Queen would
often walk the corgis, and shed even
spend some time sweeping up autumn
leaves into piles once, Prince Charles
landed in his helicopter and blew them
all away! One day I was on my own, in a
deep hole digging out a new bed in the
rose garden (pictured). I heard the
words: Are you digging to Oorstralia?,
I looked up and was greeted by a pair
of royal ankles!
GAP
Graham Clarke, former AG Editor:
East Lothian Stocks

The Royal Collection/NP
Arthur Edwards/NP
I heard a ladys maid saying that

when guests stay at Buckingham
Palace, there are freshly picked
sweet peas from the garden in
all the bedrooms, says Peter
These summer bedding plants (Matthiola

incana) can be grown as half-hardy
annuals but results are often better if
grown as a hardy biennial. Seed supplier:
Chiltern Seeds 01491 824675.
33
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XAG code 19C
Ask Christine!
Follow Christines Masterclass on growing berry fruits
Christines expert
berry advice
Q Mulch blueberry bushes with wellAll TimeInc
Raspberries grow on almost any

soil, but it should be well-drained
How do I look after my berry fruits?

I fancy trying raspberry or maybe
blueberry plants in a former garlic
patch. How do I get these two fruits off
to the best start, and what do I need to
consider when growing, feeding and
pruning them?
James Couling, Portsmouth
If you decide to grow blueberries,

you need to ensure the soil is acidic
enough for them, ideally with soil acidity
(pH) level of 4.0-5.5. You can achieve this
by carrying out a pH test and applying the
correct amount of Flowers of Sulphur to
bring about any necessary change. In many
cases this can be applied up to 12 months
before planting the crop.
Bushes should be planted 4-4.5ft (1.21.4m) apart and up to 5ft (1.5m) from other
fruit. Avoid applying fertilisers containing
lime or calcium.
Apply 1oz per sq yd (34g per m) superphosphate and slightly less of sulphate of
potash just before planting.
Then, each March/April apply 1/2oz per sq
yd (17g per m) sulphate of ammonia and
slightly less sulphate of potash. This should
be sprinkled freely on the soil around the
plants root area.
Raspberries will grow on almost any
soil, provided it is well drained. Id select
autumn-fruiting types as they are much
easier to grow and look after. A simple
post and wire training system is all that is
needed. A bed of canes planted 24-36in
(60-90cm) wide will grow and can be
cut down to ground level every winter
youll get more new canes and more fruit
the following autumn. Apply a fertiliser
dressing of 1oz per sq yd (34g per m) of
nitro-chalk along with half this quantity of
sulphate of potash at planting time.
rotted sawdust helps keep the pH from

rising, and stops weeds growing. Apply
a 4-6in (10-15cm) layer each spring, but
do not allow it to touch the stems.
Q Dont let blueberries dry out, especially
in pots. Use only rainwater, applied at

51/2gal (25 litres) per sq yd/m each week,
from June until the fruits ripen.
How do I prune
blueberries?
During the first two winters just cut
out dead, diseased or damaged wood.
Thereafter, cut out any branches that
will fall on the ground under the weight
of fruit. Thin, bushy wood that grows on
the older branches should be cut back
to ground level this is likely to remove
around one fifth of the older shoots, and
stimulate new growth.
Q Autumn-fruiting raspberries are the

easiest types to grow and look after,
trained on simple posts and wires.
35
Ask Christine!
With experts John Negus, Anna Toeman and Dr Jane Bingham
Cardinal beetles are harmless
Shutterstock
Oriental poppies can fall foul of fungal disease
Cardinal confusion
I saw what I thought was a lily beetle,
but it was more rust-coloured than
red, and much larger. What was it?.
Julia Adams, Banbury
TimeInc
Whats damaged my poppy heads?

The heads of my Oriental poppies
have fallen off, or are partially
hanging from the stem. Below the heads is
a black sticky substance. What can I do?
Shirley Power, Hornsea, Yorkshire
I am sorry your Oriental poppy

flowers have not formed, and are
hanging from the plant. I fear that a fungus,
probably botrytis greymould, is the culprit.

Like you, I have noticed this peculiar
symptom on some of my perennial
varieties of plants.
All you can do is spray with a systemic
fungicide, such as FungusClear Ultra or
Fungus Fighter Plus, which enters the
plants vascular system to ensure inbuilt
immunity from further attacks.
It sounds like a cardinal beetle

(Pyrochroa serraticornis).
They are mainly found on the edge of
woodland and in hedgerows, where the
larvae feed underneath bark. Adults feed on
flying insects.
They cause no harm to garden flowers.
Collars around the stems of brassicas

will deter cabbage root y
Why arent my
chillies growing?
Cold weather can halt the

growth of chilli plants
I bought some chilli pepper plants,

and the label said they were
ready to go outdoors. I did so, but they
dont seem to be doing anything. Is this
normal? They are about 8 (20cm) high.
Charlie Hutton (via email)
Chilli plants can be grown outside

in a sunny, sheltered place, but will
need hardening off first.
If they are moved from relatively stable
temperatures under cover to variable
temperatures outdoors without first
getting used to the variation, growth
may be checked this is probably what
happened to your plants.
However, if they are green and
healthy-looking, chances are the roots
are establishing themselves, and new
TimeInc
Root y worries
Q
TimeInc
top growth will follow shortly.

If nights are warm, plants will come
into growth. But if there is a difference
between night and day temperatures,
or night temperatures fall into single
figures, a greenhouse or conservatory
will be beneficial and improve growth.
AG Expert hotline
Call weekdays
from 12-1pm
0843 168 0200
Some of my cabbages have

succumbed to cabbage root fly. How
can I prevent it happening again?.
Phil Webber (via email)
Cut 4in (10cm) squares of carpet

underlay (or something similar), make
a slit into the middle and place it around
the stems of transplanted seedlings.
Adult females lay their eggs on the carpet,
rather than the soil, and the eggs die.
Alternatively, cover the crop with
horticultural fleece to keep pests off it.
WRITE TO US:
EMAIL US:
amateurgardening@timeinc.com
Ask Christine,
Amateur Gardening magazine, EXPERTS HELPLINE:
Westover House, West Quay
0843 168 0200 (12 to 1pm weekdays)
Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1JG
* Calls cost 5p per minute from a BT landline, call costs from other networks may be higher.
Caterpillar protection: Net growing
Shutterstock
brassicas so they dont become food plants for

cabbage white butterfly caterpillars.
Quesitciokns
Alstroemeria are pretty

but can be invasive
K Douglas
Qu wers
& Ans
What is this beautiful flower? The

bees are very fond of it.
Kathryn Douglas (via email)
The plant is Cerinthe major, also

known as Honeywort, and is in the
same plant family as borage, comfrey,
forget-me-not and heliotrope.
It is an annual or biennial, and quite
happily seeds itself around! It does best
in a sunny, sheltered spot, and is happy
on most soil types as long as the
drainage is good.
Getting rid of invasive alstroemeria

I planted some alstroemeria and they
spread like wildfire. How can I kill
them off without damaging other plants?
Mrs P Bayes, Norwich, Norfolk
In the right conditions, alstroemeria

shoot away and get quite thuggish.
There arent any herbicides that act on
monocotyledons (bulbs, grasses etc), and
leave broad-leaved plants untouched, so
you would need to use a non-specific one
that would harm everything it touched.

Roundup Gel can be used to spot-treat
plants, and is dabbed on so is less likely to
kill plants you want to keep.
Alternatively, weaken the plants by
repeatedly removing top growth, so leaves
dont have time to start photosynthesising.
This causes plants to use up their food
reserves, and they eventually die. It is a
long-term project and may not reduce the
plants until their second year.
Problems with stubborn mares tails

We have just moved house, and the
garden is plagued by mares tail. How
can we get rid of it?
Bob Marshall (via email)
Horsetail/mares tail is a pernicious

weed that comes back from the
slightest bit of root left behind.
Repeated hoeing to destroy the foliage
will weaken the plant considerably, and
if done frequently enough will eventually
cause it to disappear.
Excluding light from the foliage will
also weaken it covering with carpet or
thick cardboard for at least one season is
effective, as long as no light can penetrate.
Spraying isnt usually very effective
as the stems have a waxy coating that
causes the chemical to run off before it is
absorbed. However, bruising the stems
by walking on them or bashing them will
improve the penetration of the chemical.
My onions
have been
attacked by
something. What
can I do?
Tom Higgin,
Thornaby-on-Tees
Thrips are
probably the
cause. Spray them with an insecticide
based on fatty acids or pyrethrum basically an organic pesticide.
This pest is not easy to deal with, as
the sprays only work on the insects
they touch, so repeated applications
will be necessary.
T Higgin
TimeInc
Shutterstock
Mares tails are hard

to get rid of
TimeInc
My pond has been colonised

by frogs and newts. Would it be
unwise to introduce goldfish as well?
Bet Naylor (via email)
It is lovely to have frogs and

newts, but I wouldnt add any fish
larger than sticklebacks or minnows,
as they will eat spawn and tadpoles.
37
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Reader offer
*
Get 100 FREE

freesia bulbs
Buy any
3 plants f
or Get the or 15
C
look colle helsea
ction
12 plants of
for just 3
0
HALF PRI CE!
when you buy

our Chelsea
look collection
HELSEA FLOWER
Show showcases
the very best in
horticulture, with
award-winning exhibits
and show gardens.
These lovely herbaceous
perennials are popular with
garden designers and visitors
alike, and are often seen at
the worlds most famous
flower show.
A well-known garden design
rule is to plant in groups of

three, as its easier on the eye.
So if youre looking to recreate
the Chelsea look in your own
garden and youve got the
space consider buying the
collection of 12 plants. Youll
then get 100 free* freesia bulbs
(which can be planted outside
up until the end of July).
Supplied as young plants in
28 days. *Just pay postage.
Enjoy the delicious scents of freesias in your home
Myrrhis odorata
Thalictrum delavayi
Umbellifers like Myrrhis odorata are a favourite of garden

designer Cleve West. Their long stems with white owers forming
umbrella-like clusters are not only irresistible to bees and
butteries, they add a touch of class to any border.
Height (30in) 75cm and spread (24in) 60cm.
Described as a Chelsea hero plant by The Telegraph, this

specimen is perfect for use in the middle of borders where its
frothy pink-mauve owers dance in the wind above divided
aquilegia-like foliage. Unfussy on location and soil. Height (5ft)
1.5m and Spread (20in) 50cm.
From
Q Buy 3 plants for 15 (x3 of same variety) or buy the
Get the Chelsea look collection of 12 plants (3 of
each) for 30.00 (RRP 60.00) HALF PRICE!
How tro Cardholders call direct: 01386 426245

orde quoting ROAG16-23
Alternatively, please complete the coupon in BLOCK CAPITALS. Remittance
may be made by MasterCard, Visa, Maestro, postal order or cheque (name,
address and ROAG on the back of cheque, please), crossed and made payable to
Hayloft Plants Ltd. Offer available to UK addresses only.
All plants will be despatched in 28 days -unless stated otherwise. Online orders will receive an
order acknowledgement via email with approximate delivery date. Offer closes 25/07/2015.
All items are subject to availability; we reserve the right to send suitable substitutes or for paid for
items, offer a refund. If demand exceeds anticipated volumes for free items, we retain the right to
replace with products of a similar retail value with no further notice. Offer available to UK
addresses only. Reader Offers cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotions or
discounts. Please tick here if you prefer not to receive offers from any company other than
Hayloft.*Free items are supplied as bulbs.
Q TELEPHONE ORDER LINE
01386 426 245, please quote ROAG16-23.
Q ORDER ONLINE at
hayloftplants.co.uk/ROAG16
Geranium Rozanne
Voted RHS Chelsea Flower Show Plant of the Centenary (2013).
Prolic blue owers smother the foliage from May and continue
throughout the summer. Rozanne has large showy owers which
create long-lived unrivalled displays. Unfussy on location and soil.
Height (24in) 60cm and Spread (16in) 40 cm.
Amateur
CHELSEA READER OFFER

ROAG16-23
Send to: Amateur Gardening Reader Offer, PO Box 2020, Pershore WR10 9BP
CODE
PRODUCT
Price
ROAG16-23YPCD03 3x Myrrhis odorata
15.00
ROAG16-23YPTD03 3x Thalictrum delavayi
15.00
ROAG16-23YPGR03 3x Geranium Rozanne
15.00
ROAG16-23YPLP03 3x Lupin Gallery Pink
15.00
ROGA16-23YPCF12 Chelsea Look Collection of 4 (1 of each)
20.00
QTY
Total
1
[ ] TICK
5.99
POSTAGE
ROGA16-23YPCF12 Chelsea Look Collection of 12 (3 of each) SAVE 30 30.00

100 FREE Freesias when you buy the Chelsea look
ROAG16-23YPCF12 collection of 4 or 12 - just pay postage
FREE
Total
I enclose my cheque no............... Value ...............

made payable to: Hayloft Plants Ltd. (with your name and address on the back).
To pay by Mastercard/Visa/Maestro (delete as applicable) complete card details below.
My card number is
(Maestro only)
Valid from
Expires end
Issue no.
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PLEASE USE BLOCK CAPITALS
Signature
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Address
Postcode
Telephone
Lupin Gallery Pink
Q Please tick here if you would prefer not to be contacted by Amateur Gardening or Time Inc. (UK) by post or telephone for the purpose of research or
marketing of Time Inc. (UK)s products or services.
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11 JUNE 2016 / ROAG16-23
Often seen at Chelsea, Gallery Pink lls borders with stout spires
of whorled pea-like bi-coloured blooms in June and July. Drawing
the eye upwards and lling borders with variety, they are loved by
bees and make splendid cut ower specimens. Ideal in a sunny
location. Height and Spread 60cm (24in).
Date of birth
Amateur Gardening is published by Time Inc. (UK). Your personal information is collected by Time Inc. (UK) in order to
process your order.
41
Tried&tested
We try before you buy
Half moon lawn edgers

Consumer editor Julia Heaton nds out
which half moon has the edge on the others
OW that the grass is growing more vigorously mowing
the lawn is a weekly task, however it never looks
completely nished until the edges are done. There
are many types of lawn edger, but you cant beat a
traditional half moon design for ease of use.
A good edging tool should feature a well designed handle,
comfortable enough to accommodate both hands, and a at
foot tread as a hard edge can be felt through the soles of your
shoes. Most designs follow the traditional half moon shape but
weve also included in the test a rather unusual Qualcast version,
with a deep central foot tread that allows for even pressure and
accurate cutting.
Like many things, the more you spend, the better the quality,
so for serious gardeners, the more expensive tools among our
six test samples will give you years of service. But theres also
a couple of more economical buys that might suit less rigorous
usage in small gardens.
Humphries
Bulldog Premier Solid

Forged Edging Knife
32.64 + 3.95 p&p
Half Moon
Lawn Edger
26.95 + 4.95 p&p
Wilko
Lawn Edger
5 + 4 p&p or collect from store
0800 783 2202

qualitygardentools.com
0114 233 8262

burgonandball.com
08000 329 329

wilko.com
Features
Features
Features
Forged, 8in (20cm) wide blade

with a bevelled edge made of
a single piece of steel with foot
tread. Long steel blade socket
is powder coated and painted.
The handle is
sustainably
Score
sourced ash
with T-handle,
set within the
socket. Overall
length: 36in
(91cm). Supplied
with a 25-year guarantee.
The blade is stainless steel

rust resistance and feature
a serrated edge, with a wid
tread. Long, FSC ash shaft a
wide T-handles at 13in (33c
Overall length:
37in (95m),
Score
blade width
9in (20cm).
Endorsed
by the Royal
Horticultural
Society and has
a lifetime guarantee.
Carbon steel, hammer

finished blade with foot tread
is 8in (22cm) wide, finished
with epoxy coating. Tubular
steel shaft is topped
by a smallrough
plastic moulded
Score
T-handle. Has
an overall
length of: 39in
(99cm).
Performance
Performance
Made to a high standard of workmanship,

and although the heaviest on test, it was
comfortable and well balanced. The weight
put power and accuracy into the job to give
a positive, sharp edge to the lawn.
A pleasure to use. The smooth handles

were wide enough to exert pressure, rock
side to side and withdraw easily. The sharp
stainless steel blade gave a good clean cut
even through thick grass and sticky soil.
It looks impressive, but in

use, the handle could only
accommodate two fingers and the moulding
was rough underneath, making it actually
painful to use. The blade was the least sharp
of the six. However, on a positive note, the
length of the shaft saves you from bending.
Value
Value
Value
Although in the higher price bracket, you

will be rewarded with a strong, highly
efficient tool for life.
Attractive edger and no parts will rust - any

keen gardener should enjoy using this tool
with its broad handles.
Given the price many gardeners may give

this a go but will be disappointed with the
feel of it in action.
14 5
1
14 5
1
9 5
1
Performance
Qualcast Lawn Edging Knife

17.99 + 3.95 p&p or collect in store
0345 077 8888 homebase.co.uk
Features
Amateur
Bestbuy
15 5
1
Next week: Traditional

and more unusual
designs of hoe are
put to the test
Whats new
Keeping you up to date on the
latest gardening gear
A large strong, carbon steel head, fibreglass shaft

and polypropylene and soft rubber grip. The deep
tread has shoulder struts and allows pressure on a
centre plate. Blade width: 8in (20cm), overall length: 39in (99cm
Performance
A brilliant tool thanks to the central foot tread allowing even
pressure across the cutting blade. The deep wide blade
performed effectively, slicing through tough grass, and the plate
was wide enough to use even with wellies. A well-balanced tool
and the grip handle with rounded edges was comfortable and
suitable for two handed use.
Agapanthus gloves
32 + 4.95 P&P if required
AGA Cookshop agacookshop.co.uk
Leather gauntlets, featuring the

distinctive blooms of agapanthus on the
water repellent acrylic coated cuff,
incorporate a supple, yet tough, leather
hide glove for full-on protection.
Value
Excellent value for a brilliant tool, deep enough to cut turves
when laying new lawn.
Multi Change Lawn

Edging Iron 17.99 for edger
9.99 for handle, FREE p&p over 25
Draper Carbon Steel

Lawn Edger (Ref. 14307)
9.76 (promotional price)
0845 894 1599

wolfgarten-tools.co.uk
0345 026 7598

drapertools.com
Features
Features
Stainless steel blade with

wide, flat foot treads and
deep half-moon design with
a bevelled edge, 9in (22.5cm)
wide. As part of Wolfs Multi
Change system, we
chose the
Score
lightweight
aluminium
D-handle (other
designs available)
to go with it.
Overall length:
39in (1m). 10 year guarantee.
Hammertone carbon steel

blade with foot treads and an
epoxy coated finish.
The ash shaft and T-handle
have a lacquered finish.
Light in weight
with a blade
Score
width of 8in
(21.5cm). Overall
length: 35in
(89cm).
Performance
The two parts that make up this tool were
easy to lock together. At the working end it
provided a smooth, easy action and sharp
cut. The foot treads were generous for a
large boot, but the D-handle wasnt as good
as the Qualcast for two-handed use.
Value
Quality tool that wont rust, and economical
if you already have a Wolf handle.
P&P from 6.98

0001 ukhs.tv
MC (British Mower
tiller has a 1400w
otor, cutting width
400mm) and
g depth of 9in
0mm). Retractable
wheels and
folding handles
make for
easy storage.
9 5
1
Performance

Wouldve been beneficial to
have a bit of weight behind it
help control the blade, which tended to
jerk to one side, perhaps because its an
arrow-shaped head. The handle wasnt that
comfortable to work with either.
Value
Traditional looking tool, slightly harder to
use than the top edgers but if youre willing
to compromise on this, its a fair price,
especially for shorter gardeners.
Inflatable hot tub

599 (FREE delivery)
0845 576 0116 lay-z-spa.co.uk
ALay-Z-Spa Paris tub givesyou the

choice of seven different coloured LED
lights to suityour mood. all remote
controlled. Theres space for 4-6 people to
enjoy the massage system of 87 air jets.
43
All prices correct at time of going to press and may vary at garden centres
11 5
1
n tiller
Every week in
Gardeners
Amateur
Prize draw
/
0
('
((
Tea break
()
(*
(+
Keep your plants protected from slug damage

with Growing Success Advanced Slug Killer.
Pellets contain a naturally-occurring ingredient
(ferric phosphate) that remains effective after
exposure to rain, watering and sunlight. Its
certied for organic use, and edible crops can
be consumed shortly after application.
We have ve packs to give away this week,
worth 6.99 each.
Crossword
How to enter this Prize Draw:

Send your name and address on the back of a postcard to:
Advanced Slug Killer Draw, Amateur Gardening, Westover
House, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1JG. Or you can email
your details to ag giveaway@timeinc.com, heading the email
Advanced Slug Killer Draw. Closing date: 13 June 2016.
ACROSS
1 Large cup, often used for
religious ceremonies, as in
Narcissus pseudonarcissus
(known as the _______
ower) (7)
6 Taxus cuspidata is
commonly known as this
(8,3)
7 Draba verna is the
common ____wort,
according to a spikeshaped metal pin! (4)
8 Sailors call upon
sighting the hoya plant! (4)
(anag)
9 Hemerocallis is the ___
lily (3)
10 Tempo, sounding like
the rst half of the red
root! (4)
11 Representation of
anything or anyone
revered; as in the
narcissus cultivar (4)
13 If you wish to become
a member of, for example,
the local gardening group,
you have to do this! (4,3,4)
14 The ways things
appear when viewed from
Win
30!
...just for fun!

particular directions, such
as north, east, south or
west (7)
DOWN
1 Member of an ethnic
group, primarily living in
Southern Louisiana, as
well as their spicy food
and Hemerocallis _____
Christmas! (5)
2 The act of laying on, as
if spraying a plant with
a pesticide, or spreading
fertiliser on to soil (11)
3 Genus of the bedding
wallower (11)
4 He dips cycle in multiple
bright colours (similar
to those seen in druginduced hallucinations)
(11) (anag)
5 Type of troublesome
mildew disease (5)
10 Small and delicate, as
in the cultivar of gaillardia,
and Rhododendron _____
de Ledeberg (5)
12 Roundish projections
or divisions, as of certainshaped leaves (5)
CROSSWORD ANSWERS
ACROSS 1 Chalice 6 Japanese yew 7 Nail 8 Ahoy 9 Day 10 Beat 11 Idol
13 Join the club 14 Aspects
DOWN 1 Cajun 2 Application 3 Cheiranthus 4 Psychedelic 5 Downy
10 Bijou 12 Lobes
This word
search
comprises
plant names and words
beginning with the letter
T. They are listed below; in
the grid they may be read
across, backwards, up, down
or diagonally. Letters may
be shared between words.
Erroneous or duplicate
words may appear in the
grid, but there is only one
correct solution. After the
listed words are found there
are seven letters remaining;
arrange these to make this
weeks KEY WORD.
TANACETUM
TAXUS
TELEKIA
TELLIMA
TEUCRIUM
THISTLE
THUJOPSIS
THYME
TIARELLA
TILIA
TRICYRTIS
TUBERS
TULBAGHIA
TULIP
TUPELO
T
A
I
H
G
A
B
L
U
T
E
A
M
I
L
L
E
T
I
S
L
I
N
O
S
U
X
A
T
I
T
K
T
A
L
E
R
U
E
T
S
E
I
A
C
E
B
E
M
R
I
L
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L
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P
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U
I
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T
M
R
T
S
I
S
P
O
J
U
H
T
HOW TO ENTER: Enter this weeks keyword on the entry No:

317
form, and send it to AG Word Search No 317, Amateur
Gardening, Westover House, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset
BH15 1JG, to arrive by Weds 23 June, 2016. The rst correct entry
chosen at random will win our 30 cash prize.
This weeks Keyword is ..................................................................................
Name.....................................................................................................................
Address ................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
Postcode..............................................................................................................
Email .....................................................................................................................
Tel no.....................................................................................................................
Time Inc. (UK) Ltd, publisher of Amateur Gardening will collect your personal information solely to
process your competition entry.
KEYWORD TO WORDSEARCH 312 (AG, 7 MAY ): OBELISK

AND THE WINNER IS: JOAN ALMOND FROM MOLD, FLINTSHIRE
Wordsearch

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This beautiful and tranquil garden designed

by Chris Beardshaw was relocated to Great
Ormond Hospital after the show
Get the show garden look:
Chris won a gold medal for his

garden at Chelsea this year
Recreate Chelsea at home!

How can the dazzling and often out-of-reach gardens at Chelsea Flower Show be incorporated
into our gardens? Tamsin Westhorpe offers suggestions from this years exceptional show
FTER spending two days at RHS

Chelsea Flower Show I am back
home in the real world. Attending
this event is like being on another
planet. a wonderful planet where bay
trees spin, thousands of pounds have been
spent and every plant has a healthy glow. So
how can a trip to this world famous
extravaganza be of any relevance to our
plots at home? The secret is to look deep
into the gardens here you will find plenty
of achievable ideas.
The first garden I drooled over was Chris
Beardshaws gold medal-winning The
Morgan Stanley Garden for Great Ormond
Street Hospital. Im a fan of Chris planting
style and the garden did not disappoint. This
garden is to be rebuilt at Great Ormond
Street in a position with restricted sunlight.
Sound familiar are you living with a shady
plot? If so, a lot can be learnt from the cool
and calm plantings of hostas, ferns and
cardiocrinums used here.
The aim of the garden is to provide a
space for parents to catch their breath,

explained Chris. When I spoke to him I
could clearly tell his passion for this
noble project.
In search of ideas for small spaces I
eagerly scurried to the Artisan Gardens.
The garden is to
provide a space
for parents to catch
their breath
Here the contrast between each tiny plot is
breath- taking. Back and forth I walked to
pick my favourite. The Viking Cruises
Mekong Garden with its incredible floating
ornamental and vegetable planters was
tempting, but it was pipped to the post by
the classic The Meningitis Now Futures
Garden (Silver-gilt). Designer John Everiss

explained to me that the garden represents
30 years of the Meningitis Now charity.
What Im taking home from this space is the
story. Each cedar sculpture used represents
a real meningitis sufferer. I wasnt expecting
to be so moved by garden sculptures. It was
a lesson to me in how a feature can bring on
emotions. If we take anything from this
On trend for 2016

Q Purple was a dominant colour
with alliums, salvias, verbascums
and aquilegias offering deep purple
owers. This colour is best used
against a green backdrop such as a
box hedge, or lime-green euphorbias.
Q Plant-free water features were
also a popular choice. A rill cascading
down steps and a water wall were
among the most memorable features.
The Meningitis Now Futures Garden

An example of telling a story with features and plants
What the
designer
says...
Q Ive really enjoyed
working with this colour
palette. The tones work with the cedar
wood features and the Cotswold
stone wall. The orange Iceland poppy
Champagne Bubbles is the perfect
colour as it represents the Meningitis
Now charity colour, says John Everiss
TopTip
When adding a feature
or sculpture to your own
garden choose something
thats meaningful to
your family
Key plants
Q Geum Totally Tangerine a hardy
perennial reaching (35in) 90cm.
Q Salvia nemorosa Serenade
spires of purple owers. 27in (70cm).

Q Aquilegia vulgaris White Barlow
bright white owers held on 19in
(50cm) tall stems.
Q Cirsium atropurpureum Frosted
Magic white thistle-like owers.
Q Euphorbia characias subsp.
wulfenii lime green owers making
the perfect ller plant.
All images Jacqui Hurst
The cedar sculptures represented real

people who suffer from meningitis
Reclaimed stone
Instant ageing
Meaningful colours
The stone for the wall was recycled from

a fallen down wall in the Cotswolds.
Reclamation yards are good places to look
for salvaged materials like brick and stone.
The Chilstone Kent Bowl containers

have been aged. To do this brush natural
yoghurt onto your new stone and it will
soon look ancient!
The plant combination of Verbascum

Clementine, Aquilegia White Barlow and
the orange Iceland poppy Champagne
Bubbles is one to copy. Its stunning.
piece it is that we should give great thought

to the features we add to our plots we can
make them personal to us and our families.
People and stories are what make a garden
so special.
The Chilstone folly in the heart of the
garden also demonstrated how a large
feature can make a small space work. Go
big and the space will grow.
In complete contrast to this contemplative
plot I was thrilled to find myself standing in
front of The RHS Greening Grey Britain
Garden for Health, Happiness and
Horticulture. Wow, what a feast of colour
and adventure. I defy anyone not to find at

least one idea to take home from designer
Ann-Marie Powells magical space. At first
glance you might think the bright orange
shipping container thats been transformed
into a garden room, the bunting and the
clashing colours are far too much. However,
for me, it was a joy to experience a garden
that was so inclusive of everyone, and
where the traditional rule book had most
certainly been put in her willow woven
compost bins.
The mood in and around this garden was
undeniably a happy one. She had cracked it
and Im convinced that her planted

dustbins, the tiny bird feeders, the hanging
orchids and the painted pots will find their
way into many gardens. Her ideas can be
copied on a shoe string, and for that she
should be applauded.
This garden will live on, not only in our
memories, but it will be relocated to the
Angell Town estate in the borough if
Lambeth. With so many gardens being
relocated and so many ideas for us all to
take home RHS Chelsea offers something
to all of us and 2016 certainly was a year
to remember.
47
RHS Greening Grey Britain

This garden shows how you can have it all in one space
TopTip
What the
designer
says...
Q This energetic garden
has been created for a mad keen
gardener who lives in the city. They
are dreaming of the country and
making the most of the space they
have, explains Ann-Marie Powell. I
am thrilled with the willow woven
compost bins this is an idea I will
be taking home to my own garden.
Dont be scared of bright

colours. Clashing colours
are uplifting and add that
sense of fun. Express
yourself!
Key plants
Q Anchusa azurea Loddon Royalist
has gorgeous electric blue blooms.

Q Anthriscus sylvestris
Ravenswing a see through plant
with dark stems and white owers.
Q Cirsium atropurpureum Trevors
Blue Wonder a thistle that offers
purple blooms (dont be fooled by the
Blue in its name).
Q Dicentra King of Hearts
delicate heart-shaped owers.
Perfect for the front of a border.
Q Eremurus Cleopatra spires of
burnt orange owers for the back
of a border.
Q Lupinus Purple Swirl a tight,
neat lupin reaching 31in (80cm).
Q Osmunda regalis this fern adds
height and drama for a shady spot.
Q Rogersia Dark Pokers lovely
foliage, perfect for a moist soil.
Anne-Maries Chelsea garden was

part of the RHS Greening Grey Britain
campaign, which aims to inspire people
to transform paved-over front gardens
into beautifully planted areas
Party palette
Compost coils
Hibernation sorted
Traditional rules have been broken when

it comes to working with colour on this
garden. The clashy mix of oranges,
pinks and purples is a success and is
certainly uplifting.
Every garden needs a compost bin. AnnMarie has created coils of willow and
copper to disguise the compost and they
now double up as a decorative feature. This
is a project for the creative to tackle.
This garden offers a home for creepy

crawlies as well as people and plants. The
insect hibernation boxes on the wall are
simple to make yourself from old bamboo
canes, cones and stems.
More to take home

Even in the largest and grandest Chelsea gardens,
youll nd ideas to steal. Heres a few head turners.
Pot within pot
Alpines are the perfect way to add colour to
even the smallest of plots. Alpine
specialists DArcy and Everest had placed
pots inside each other and planted with
sedums. The result was a terracotta treat
with rings of interest that contrasted with
the silky smooth alpines.
Another effective idea used here was to
place slate in large, shallow terracotta pots
to divide the alpines and create that
natural rocky habitat.
Alpines undercover: Consider growing show
quality alpines by displaying them in a cool
greenhouse. This will prevent damage from
rain and keep the slugs at bay. Position them
on a bench and it is far more likely that you
will spend time admiring the tiny blooms.
4 must-have
Chelsea plants
Viola Jean
Jeanie
a cracking plant
introduced by
Wildegoose
Nursery a few
years ago.
Perfect for a
pot. One for
the Bowie fans
among you.
boutsviolas.
co.uk
Paeonia
Coral
Charm
a semi-double
scented stunner.
Available
from Claire
Austin who
recommends it
for cutting.
claireaustinhardyplants.
co.uk
Recycled charm
Diarmuid Gavins Silver-gilt
dramatic Harrods British
Eccentrics Garden certainly was
memorable. Revolving bay and
box spirals almost sent you dizzy.
Amongst all the drama he had
placed an old table and folding
chairs they had seen better
days with paint peeling.
Although an unlikely addition
to this over the top plot they
added charm and grace.
Rosa
Queens
London
Child
Look for hand me downs: Your

rst thought might be to brush up
old wooden or metal tables and
add some paint. However, a little bit
of character and peeling paint
might add more charm to your plot.
Park on the plot

The demise of the front garden is a concern
to many gardeners but the reason is mainly
due to need for a parking space. The
Senri-Sentrei Garage Garden got us all
thinking with their ingenious parking
solution. The garden had been designed
around a garaged mini although not a
practical solution for many, it certainly
offers some attractive possibilities.
Plants not paving: You might not be able to
build a garage with a wall of water and roof
garden above but how about lifting a strip of
paving directly under your car.
Leave a track for the wheels and plant the
strip with camomile or just grass. If your car is
out all day the plants should receive enough
light to thrive.
pale pink patio

rose with an
appropriate
name for this
year. Ideal for
containers.
Scented and
repeat flowering.
suttons.co.uk
Petunia
Anna
this stunning
white and pink
double petunia
comes highly
recommended
by AGs Peter
Seabrook.
Perfect for
baskets next
year. mrfothergill.co.uk
49
Your
letters
with Jenny Bagshaw
Write to: Jenny Bagshaw, Amateur Gardening Westover House, West Quay Road,
Poole, Dorset BH15 1JG or email: amateurgardening@timeinc.com
Its a family passion

Y granddad Charlie suffered a
severe stroke a while ago and is
now unable to do what he loved
doing the most, walking down to his
allotment on a daily basis.
However we hope that weve found a way
of making things easier for him. Weve built
up stacks of tyres to the height of his
wheelchair to make flowerbeds so now he
can do a bit of pottering when he feels like
it. Weve even created an access path
suitable for him and his chair so he can
reach different areas. This means he can
still get a great deal of enjoyment from
going to his allotment.
My daughter Lilia (7years old), his great
granddaughter, loves giving him a helping
hand too, so theres lots of fun for the family
doing things together.
Rachael Stather, Great Sutton, Cheshire
Star
letter
Jenny says... I loved doing the gardening

with my grandma, so this will be a terrific
memory for Lilia to have in years to come.
Roadkill rendition
WE spotted this sculpture in one of our
local garden centres. I know that
everyones taste is different but Im not
sure that many people will buy this run
over garden ornament of a hedgehog.
Peter Hodson, Wolverhampton
Jenny says... Its a sad truth that many
hedgehogs do get run over but I wouldnt
want to have this in my garden!
Race you for it!
Way with words
SATURDAY is a special day for us as its the

day that Amateur Gardening is delivered,
and its a race between my husband and I
as to wholl be the rst to grab it as it comes
through the letterbox!
It never ceases to amaze us howyoure
able to cram such a huge amount of
information and illustrations into such a
super magazine and with a bonus of free
seeds! Weve even taken out your offer of
an annual subscription of what amounts
to 1 per issue, which is astounding value.
You make two thrifty OAPs very happy,
so well done AG!
Peter & Jenni Price, Vale of Glamorgan
I THOUGHT that AG readers might enjoy

these funny gardening denitions and
could perhaps come up with a few more
of their own to add to the list!
KNEE - a device for nding stones.
GREEN FINGERS - something that
everyone else has.
PERENNIAL - this year, possibly next
year, unlikely the year after.
SEED CATALOGUE - a work of ction
with fantasy photos.
SPADE - a highly efcient back pain
generator and leaning post.
Mrs Tina Vowles, Stroud, Gloucs
rs
e
d
a
e
R
Quick
Tips
SPICE jars with
dispensing holes in
the top are ideal for
shaking out small seeds when sowing.
You can either use the jars to store your
various small seeds ready for sowing or just
ll and reuse one jar as you need it.
Judy Berrow, Chaddesley Corbett, Worcs
Our Star Letter wins 40 in National Garden Gift

Vouchers; tip of the week, 10; other letters 5
(10 if we use a photo youve sent).
WE recently read Graham Clarkes

wildlife column in AG 14 May Be a
garden twitcher and are happy to
report that all the bird species featured
in his article visit our garden. To
our delight we even saw a nuthatch
this year.
We noticed his comment that
starlings appear on the Red List.
Theyre a bird that weve always loved
and call the crazy gang.
This year though weve never seen
so many, with between 30 and 40 of
them all scoffing dried worms, which
they love, from 7.00am to 8.30pm,
then swirling around in a flock to
settle somewhere for the night. We
also have a pond with a fountain and
they queue up to have a shower which
is really comical.
The point Im making however is
they theyre certainly not on red alert
here and are costing us a fortune!
Mrs B G Mortimer, Worsley, Lancs
ic
Digi p
of the
week
All things bright and beautiful

THE fun and colourful gardens at Paultons
Park took our breath away. Theyre lovely
to look at, as you can see from his picture,
There are other

alternatives
PLEASE could I ask AG readers to try natural
methods to control slugs and snails rather
than reaching for slug pellets?
There are well documented cases of birds,
hedgehogs, dogs and other animals eating
slug pellets and being poisoned by them.
Sadly this happens every year. Most slug
pellet containers even carry warnings to
keep them away from children!
With all this in mind, why not try natural
methods of slug repellent instead. Beer
traps are very successful simply sink
plastic cups filled with beer around your
crops and wait for the slugs to visit!
Try sprinkling your veggie patch with pea
shingle or fish tank gravel. Slugs and snails
are unable to negotiate the uneven surface
crushed egg shells are equally as
Amateur
Meet the team!
amateurgardening.com
Editorial offices: Westover
House, West Quay Road,
Poole, Dorset BH15 1JG
01202 440840
Fax: 01202 440860
Email: amateurgardening
@timeinc.com
Need a back issue?
01202 440840
Subscriptions:
020 3148 6340
and might even inspire others to copy

the ideas in a small way at home.
R Grifn, Bristol
Editor:
Tim Rumball
Features editor: Sally Charrett
Gardening editor: Ruth Hayes
Consumer editor: Julia Heaton
News editor: Marc Rosenberg
Art editor: Bob Kemp
Designers: Al Rigger,
Del Shults, Katherine Miller
Editors PA/ Admin manager:
Jenny Bagshaw
Classified advertising
020 3148 2858
Marketing manager:
Natalie Paszkowski
Advertising director:
Kate Barnfield
020 3148 2575
Publisher: Simon Owen
Managing director:
Oswin Grady
Group magazine editor:
Garry Coward-Williams
Shutterstock
The crazy gang!
Vouchers can be bought and redeemed at over

2,000 UK outlets offering more than 90,000 garden plants
and products. Visit thevouchergarden.co.uk for details.
successful. My grandfather used to swear

by the properties of marigold planted
among his veggies. Slugs adore marigolds
and would rather munch on those than
tasty newly planted crops. Lastly, why not
try smearing your pot rims with Petroleum
Jelly to stop the menaces.
All the natural methods are harmless to
humans and animals so please do give
them a go.
Sarah Holmes, Leighton Buzzard, Beds
Head office: Time Inc. (UK) Ltd,
Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street,
London, SE1 0SU 020 3148 5000
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Printed and bound in England by the Polestar Group. Distributed by
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Registered as a newspaper at the post office. Amateur Gardening (inc.
Popular Gardening) AMATEUR GARDENING Westover House, West Quay
Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1JG 01202 440840. Amateur Gardening is a
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51
***

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the look
Get
Ideas for gorgeous gardens
Good structure provided by well-designed hard landscaping and

contrasting shrubs creates a feeling of space in Amanda and
Roberts small garden, which was once part of a strawberry eld
Let me take you down...

...to a year-round-colour garden near Southampton that used to be strawberry elds
HE legacy of a once vibrant fruit
growing industry was something
that Amanda Bailey found herself
confronted with when she
became the rst person to live in the new
build home she now shares with husband
Robert. It was all strawberry elds
around here at one time, explains
Amanda. The soil is generally poor and
stony and was quite compacted after years
of farming. In one part I came across what
would have been a footpath through the
strawberry beds; we needed a steel bar to
get it up.
Over the years Amanda has worked hard
to raise the fertility of her garden, adding
sack after sack of soil conditioner made
from municipal green waste, along with
her own compost. Even so, it took around
10 years for some of my shrubs to really
get established and last year was the rst
that I was able to grow carrots and
beetroots, she says. Ive learned that if
The soil was quite

compacted after
years of farming
you have challenging soil, its not worth
trying to grow challenging plants.
While improving the soil, Amanda and
Robert have gradually changed the layout
of their garden, transforming it from an
uninspiring plot of turf with a token
border to a stylishly productive and pretty
outdoor area that appears larger than it
actually is. This has been achieved by
using layers of plants to blend the
boundary wall with mature trees beyond
and incorporating design features, such
as a circular lawn, partially surrounded by
a rill, to create a feeling of space.

Amanda has also found room for raised
beds to grow fruit and vegetables, not to
mention a perfectly-proportioned
greenhouse that sits neatly against a back
wall. With its unusual blue nish the
greenhouse is a feature in its own right.
The gardens ornamental and productive
areas are united by the use of a limited
number of materials throughout the plot,
including long-lasting oak sleepers
employed for both the raised beds and
border next to the circular lawn.
Meanwhile shrubs and perennials in the
latter provide contrasting foliage
throughout the year and need little in the
way of maintenance.
The elds of fruit may be long gone but
what has replaced them is far more
nourishing. For me the garden here is a
sanctuary, says Amanda. It not only
physically feeds us but mentally fulls us
and relaxes us.
53
Let me take you down...
Commission a piece of art,

like this stained glass panel,
that reects the colours of
your plants
High walls create privacy and contribute

to a gardens micro-climate
Use oak sleepers to build raised

beds that provide plenty of
space for growing vegetables
Words by Sue Bradley/ photography by Peter Chatterton
In a small garden its important not to

use too many different materials, says
Robert. In the kitchen garden brick
pathways tie in with the rest of the plot
the look
Get
Ideas for gorgeous gardens
Brighten a corner with a pot
of arum lilies (zantedeschia)
I grow them in containers
because they can be a bit
of a thug in the open
ground, Amanda explains
Where ground space is limited

make the most of walls with
plants like Clematis Niobe
Pack a punch in a border with the zingy

yellow and lime leaves of shrubs such as
Cotinus coggygria Golden Spirit. Its a real
injection of colour, observes Amanda
Create a theme by planting different cultivars of the

same plant, as Amanda has done with wiegela. I love
this Wiegela orida Rubidor, especially the contrast
created by its golden leaves and dark pink owers.
Meet the owners
Add the soothing sound of owing water

with a rill. Here it follows the circular lawn
OWNERS Amanda and Robert Bailey

ADDRESS 2 Sampan Close, Warsash,
Southampton, SO31 9BU
GARDEN SIZE 50ft x 27ft (15m x 8m)
ASPECT West-facing
SOIL Stony, neutral to acid pH, greatly
improved by the addition of soil conditioner
and homemade compost
SPECIAL FEATURES Colourful borders
planted with contrasting shrubs and
perennials, circular lawn with rill, blue
greenhouse and productive raised veg beds.
55
Speed
tools weck
orth
Treasure Hunt
468
Win a Hedgehog
Speedeck
Tackle the job of installing a deck in no time

with the help of a Hedgehog Speedeck
LANNING on giving your garden

a facelift by adding some
decking? then new Hedgehog
Speedeck is on hand to help you
tackle the task.
Hedgehog Speedeck is the essential
new decking tool to put an end to the
tedious and time-consuming method of
positioning and fixing decking boards one
at a time. Now you can simultaneously
position and fix multiple boards quickly
and safely in less than half the normal
time meaning less time spent on your
hands and knees.
Amateur
Lightweight, durable and easy-to-use

Hedgehog Speedeck partitions up to
five boards in one go with perfect gaps.
It also helps to get the job done safely
ensuring hands are clear of hazardous
nail guns.
Available in sizes to suit boards from
90mm to 145mm Hedgehog Speedeck
retails at just 26.00 inc. VAT and can be
found in most good builders merchants
and DIY outlets nationwide.
Q For more information visit
speedecktools.co.uk or contact
01227 712833.
June 2016 Treasure Hunt
Fill in this coupon and send it to: June 2016 Treasure Hunt, Natalie Paszkowski,
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Business Park, Farnborough, GU14 7BF.
Picture
Your answer
TO ENTER: This month were giving 18 lucky readers the chance

to win a new Hedgehog Speedeck worth 26. For your chance to
win simply track down the four images below in this issue of Amateur
Gardening, ll in the coupon telling us which page each one appears
on and send to: June 2016 Treasure Hunt, Natalie Paszkowski, Time Inc.
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1288
Amateur
Classieds
Call 0203 148 2517 / Fax 0203 148 8314 / or email Lee.Morris@timeinc.com
ACCESSORIES
MISCELLANEOUS
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GARDENING EQUIPMENT
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Toby Buckland
Tune in
to Toby on BBC
Flower Show
coverage
Nurseryman and former Gardeners World host
TimeInc
Tobys top tips
Clematis Crystal Fountain
Chameleon clematis
Toby discovers why a clematis can suddenly change colour
The only thing she

could do was rip up
and burn the plant
lot. Understandable, I suppose, as we all like
to blame the neighbours!
That said, there are plants that dont get
along. Ornamental grasses, for example,
will malinger when grown among lavender,
and the leaves of walnuts have it in for
lawns. But generally speaking, plant-on-
plant animosity is rare.

Dont worry I said, wait until summer,
and the plant will come good. You see, my
first thought was that the cold start to spring
had affected the production of pigments in
the opening petals.
After all, fluctuations in heat and cold are
the reason that the ever-popular Salvia Hot
Lips turns from white to bicoloured, then to
red. And, as the customers flowers had
opened with no sign of distortion, an
infection seemed unlikely.
But the lady was in again the next week,
saying that shed read the change was
caused by the deadly virus phytoplasma,
and the only thing she could do was rip up
and burn the plant before it spread.
Dubious about this, I decided to put in a
Job
of the
week
TimeInc
LOVE a good mystery, so when a

customer came in to our nursery and
asked me why the blooms of her
Clematis Crystal Fountain were
opening green instead of the proper
lavender-blue, I was all ears.
Last year, she said, the climber had been
beautiful and wondered if anything
planted close by could have prompted the
sudden change.
The idea that one plants ill health could
be caused by another is something I hear a
TimeInc
Graham Clarke
Q Clematis need lots of water when they

are in ower note that a can-full once a
week is better than a cupful every day
Q Mulch clematis with well-rotted

compost, to lock moisture around the
roots. A good supply of moisture will also
help to prevent powdery mildew
call to my clematis-growing friend and allround good egg Marcel, from Floyds
Climbers and Clematis in Wiltshire.
He confirmed that paler hybrid clematis
are susceptible to this chameleon foible in
cold springs. The condition even has an apt
name: clematis green petal, and occurs
because nutrients responsible for colour
cant be drawn up by the flower buds until
temperatures warm up.
So today, when I saw the lady in again, I
rushed over to confirm the diagnosis, all the
while worrying she had taken an axe to her
plant unnecessarily. But I neednt have
bothered. She was actually disappointed
the condition would disappear as now she
prefers the green to the blue! Hmmph!
Clematis planting depth

When planting a clematis, dig a big planting hole
thats at least 6in (15cm) deeper than the pot your
clematis came in. Fork over the bottom, adding
well-rotted compost and a handful of bonemeal,
and add a layer of soil to bring the clematis up to a
level where the bottom buds are buried roughly
4in (10cm) deeper than the surface of the soil.
59

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Her Majestys

ips for top

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and quote: 19C or go to

Grow salad leaves

32 Her Majestys favourites

Tips on border care and adding new

8 Take herb cuttings

other varieties. Thats not my

Q Westover House, West Quay Road,

Q 0843 168 0200

Poole Dorset BH15 1JG

Q Cover picture: Sweet pea Lathyrus odoratus variety (Shutterstock)

The Queens favourite

We test and pick the best of six

with AGs gardening expert Ruth Hayes

Plan your ll-in planting

This area is between a weeping

Digging up the dead fuchsia and

Tips for top borders

4 AMATEUR GARDENING 11 JUNE 2016

Once the area was clear, I forked in

I planted the refreshed soil with

Lift tulips: If your tulips have flowered,

and the foliage has died back, lift and store

Five essential on-going border tasks How to fill gaps in

Q Weeding: Get rid of

Q Edging: Well cut

Q Watering: The best time to water is early

Make sure the plant has room to

Before planting, check the final size

Q Staking: As tall plants head towards

The importance of tying-in climbers

Mulching helps retain water

Ease the plant from its pot, and

11 JUNE 2016 AMATEUR GARDENING

with AGs gardening expert Ruth Hayes

Plant up a patriotic pot

bacopas, blue lobelia and a Decora Red

Q I used a compost enriched with

Stand plants in water before planting, to

Place crocks at the bottom, and ll the

Then add your smaller side plants and

Your pot should add colour

Add extra compost around the plants

Many beautiful plants, such

Euphorbia sap is an irritant. Protect

Wear sturdy gloves and long sleeves

The key to staying safe is to be sensible

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