Garden Answers 01.2022

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one of the few yellows I like, as it’s a good Box is wonderful as it’s so PRETTY PAIRINGS (clockwise from
doer; ‘Diggory’ has distinctive crimped structural. It’s marvellous above) Hellebores and box topiary near
flowers; G. elwesii ‘Mrs Macnamara’ is the house; Galanthus plicatus ‘Trym’; G.
flowering by Christmas, so nice and early; in the winter garden plicatus ‘Wendy’s Gold’ and Iris reticulata
and I love G. plicatus ‘Trym’, whose petals ‘Pauline’; Crocus tommasinianus and
turn out nicely. Our soil is light and loamy created by leaving a sprig or two to Cyclamen coum; the structural beauty of
sand over ragstone. It’s very free draining encourage into a bird shape. Box is the garden shines in winter; wavy hedge
and the snowdrops seem to like that.” wonderful – probably my favourite with ornamental cherry, Cyclamen coum
of all the plants, as it’s so structural. and arch LEFT Hellebores and snowdrops
Among the snowdrops are other small It’s marvellous in the winter garden.”
gems in shades of pink and cerise – Crocus agapanthus, hebes and bulbs. “A flight of
tommasinianus, Cyclamen coum and Behind the house, a sunny south-facing steps leads up the bank to the flat, top
hellebores. “They look especially good bank is home to lavenders, salvias, roses part of the garden, where we’ve laid a long
with evergreen ferns, Polypodium and shrubs in summer, in shades of pink path marked out by clipped box, roses,
australe and P. cambricum ‘Richard and purple, interplanted with grasses, salvias, yuccas and lavenders, looking out
Kayse’, which have frilly leaves in to the grand landscape views and with
brightest green.” little eyecatchers off to each side.”

While the copse and naturalised These ‘eyecatchers’ include sculpture
snowdrops occupy the windy west side of by the Cairns’ son and a piece called
the garden, to the east is a small paved Hydra by David Harber – a 50th wedding
area where the garden is restricted to a anniversary gift to each other. Not all
chic green-and-white palette, with clipped these focal points are manmade though.
bay trees and box spirals encircled by a
box hedge with a wavy top – inspired by “Not far under the soil surface are these
those at Le Jardin Plume in France. “It’s enormous ragstones once used by the
very restful,” says Elizabeth. “I do most of Romans to build the walls of London,”
the topiary clipping myself, apart from the says Elizabeth. “When we excavated the
wavy hedge cutting. I used to shape the footings for our drive we dug some of
pieces very carefully with shears, but now them up to place around the garden. One
I’ve gone over to a battery-powered hedge of them we’ve placed in the copse, where
cutter for all but the very fiddly bits. It’s it’s surrounded by snowdrops. I think it
only in the past five years the birds have looks a bit like a wild boar...” ✿
emerged on the top of their box pedestals,

52 Garden Answers

BEAUTIFUL GARDENS

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BEAUTIFUL GARDENS

This fairytale flour mill has bags of history, character
and romance with ‘good bones’ even in deepest winter.

Owner Rose McMonigall shares its story

54 Garden Answers

Garden

ON REFLECTION With its sculptural
topiary, mature willows, formal

parterres, plant-packed borders
and secret spaces this alluring

garden bids you come and explore
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BEAUTIFUL GARDENS

FEATURE: HELEN BILLIALD; PHOTOS: ANDREA JONES a IN THE With its wildflower banks and lowest, you have to tap into something that
GARDEN river frontage, calm mill will keep you sane,” she says. “Creating the
WITH… house reflections and hidden garden became a massive passion that has
garden rooms, Dipley Mill in helped me recover.”
Rose McMonigall Hampshire has a fairytale presence. “It’s a bit
and her father like Alice in Wonderland,” says owner Rose Rose and her father turned first to the
John McMonigall, who lives here with her father structural work, dealing with asbestos
John. “I used to imagine living in a house like sheds, falling-down greenhouses and a
AT Dipley Mill, Dipley Road, Hartley this when I was about seven years old. I’d steep slope that had to be terraced. “The
Wintney, Hampshire RG27 8JP persuade my mother to drive past the mill flour mill was listed in the Domesday Book
GARDEN SIZE 35 acres including and pause on the humpback bridge that and converted into a house in 1927,” says
woodland and meadows overlooks the millpond, so we could gaze at Rose. “It was one of six mills on the River
SITE Former flour mill on it across the water. I used to dream that one Whitewater and its original granite
River Whitewater day we would live there. Then fate stepped in grindstones are set in the pavement at the
SOIL TYPE Clay with patches of when it came on the market in 2000 and my front of the house.
sand and alluvial sediment father bought it, thinking it would make an
FEATURES Herbaceous border; herb ideal family home in retirement.” “Although there were some signs of
garden; garden rooms; water meadow; original landscaping, it had become very
dew pond; streamside plantings; What came next shaped not just Rose’s overgrown. In the north-east of the garden
woodland family and the garden, but also her future we planted new trees to bolster an old
VISIT Closed due to Covid pandemic; career. “My father had come from nothing copse and expanded an herbaceous border
See www.dipley-mill.co.uk and managed to buy this dream home with that runs the length of the riverbank.”
CONTACT Rose by email for garden my mother,” says Rose. “But then very
design commissions sadly she developed an aggressive form of The rest of the garden unfolded
[email protected] cancer. So it went from being paradise to a gradually. “My idea was that when you’re
complete and utter tragedy.” standing in the garden you can’t see the far
56 Garden Answers end of it,” says Rose. “So we created lots of
Rose threw herself into transforming the compartments. I like having a bit of space
garden. “When you’re reduced to your very with wild plants, then coming into a more
safe, enclosed area as a contrast.”

I would gaze across the
water and dream that one

day we would live here

LABOURS OF LOVE (clockwise from top
left) The herb parterre has a dovecote;
the arresting view from the humpback
bridge; Buxus sempervirens and balls of
Lonicera nitida with a bamboo hedge; the
carved entrance sign has a weatherworn
look; Parrotia persica tree behind the mill
by the River Whitewater; a bench and
table with beds of persicaria, miscanthus
and a small bamboo

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The rose garden is the perfect example in a very ancient wisteria that we like to SECRET SPACES (clockwise from above)
of this sense of enclosure. “It became cover with fairy lights,” says Rose. The herb parterre combines topiaried bay
Vesta’s garden, named after the Roman and lavender; the curvacerous cream and
goddess of hearth and home,” says Rose, “There’s an enormous Gunnera green border with hydrangeas, acer,
a former classics scholar. “It’s surrounded manicata and bamboo that grows very Alchemilla molllis and luzula; the statue of
by beech hedges that keep their leaves in well here, though we have to be mindful Vesta, with climbing roses and clematis;
winter, and Vesta’s statue stands with one of their vigour. The bamboo that I did find the hornbeam terrace and tearoom;
hand slightly raised, warming herself over quite exciting, because it’s so dangerous, is pond and rill with crane sculptures LEFT
a hearth. In summer the central arches are Chusquea gigantea – giant bamboo. It’s A rustic fence encloses the Rust Garden
covered in rose ‘Snow Queen’ with Rhus absolutely crazy! Ours did get very huge,
typhina (stag’s horn sumach) trees on then flowered and died. the garden to make it feel more enclosed.
either side. There was a lot of junk from the mill – old
“We also have an old wartime pillbox rusty bits and pieces that kept turning up.
“I’ve been a bit sentimental with a lot of nestled between streams that almost You can either dismiss them or think ‘these
the garden and turned up the volume on forms a natural island. I fenced off a bit of colours look amazing’, so I decided that the
the romance,” says Rose. “It’s all white upper part of the design would be informed
virginal flowers in summer, then autumn by rust. I planted Prunus serrulata with
arrives and you need sunglasses to cope its rusty peeling bark and some really
with all the vibrant colours! In winter interesting Acer palmatum, epimediums
you’ve still got the structure from the rhus with dusky orange flowers and the
trees, with their candle-like upright flowers ‘Westerland’ rose with its wonderful
that look good in frost.” orange flowers.”

Equally effective in frost is the herb For now, Covid restrictions mean the
garden. “It’s laid out in a traditional knot garden isn’t open to the public. “I do miss
pattern with spheres of bay,” says Rose. open days,” says Rose. “But closing has had
“Eventually we settled on lavender instead a huge impact. For once I’ve had the
of box, using a mixture of ‘Hidcote’ and courage to let the garden relax and do its
‘Munstead’, keeping them low and fresh for own thing. Now we can take a big step back
a criss-cross structure.” and see what the garden does next. That’s
all part of the joy of it – going with the flow
To the south the house looks down a and seeing where we end up.” ✿
wide rectangle of water to the humpback
bridge where Rose used to pause with her
mother. “The front of the house is covered

58 Garden Answers

BEAUTIFUL GARDENS

Bamboo grows very well
here, though we have to
be mindful of its vigour

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FEATURE: LOUISE CURLEY PHOTOS: JIM HOLDEN/RBG KEW; ALAMY; SHUTTERSTOCK GET THE LOOK
from one dramatic vista to the next.
The garden’s designer-supervisor
Francis Annette reveals its secrets

60 Garden Answers

BEAUTIFUL GARDENS

Wakehurst is the Royal Botanic created at Wakehurst in the 1980s, but as I’d noticed one recurring theme was a
Garden Kew’s country outpost, the years went by it lost its edge. As other distinct block of one plant followed by a
covering more than 500 acres among the winter gardens were created elsewhere block of another and so on, which I
rolling hills of the High Weald in Sussex. with more contemporary ideas on plant wanted to capture while making sure the
Here, science and horticulture come composition, by 2017 we felt the garden garden created a sensory overload of
together to create not just awe-inspiring needed reinvigorating. The options were colour, scent and texture contrasts. We’ve
displays of planting but also to protect the to start from scratch, titivate what we achieved that by planting 30,000 plants
world’s plant heritage. In the early 20th already had or to do a bit of both, and the in the eight beds, but have used only 46
century Wakehurst became home to the last one was the option we went with, different genus of plants.
plant collection of Gerald Loder who keeping some core plants but giving
sponsored expeditions of intrepid plant everything else a complete makeover. The previous garden had just one solid
hunters of the day. Today, Wakehurst is still I did a design course at the London path and island beds surrounded by
at the forefront of horticulture, with the College of Design at that time, so I worked grass, which tended to become muddy
introduction of a six-acre North American with others on the team to give the winter in winter, so we decided to improve
prairie and plans for a Silk Road steppe garden a new design. access and put in self-binding gravel
landscape featuring plants from Central paths which means that visitors can
Asia. But it’s during the coldest months Tell us about the design and layout? now get close up to the plants.
when one of the newest spaces – the winter
garden – takes centre stage. Garden As we’re ‘Kew’s wild garden’, I took What are the key plants and how are
supervisor Francis Annette tells us about inspiration from different landscapes in
its creation and star performers. nature and what they look like in winter, they used? For me the plants that work
such as a Himalayan rhododendron glade, really well are those with clear colours, so
How did the winter garden come forest fringe, Siberian tundra, the I tend to shy away from variegated ones.
heathland in nearby Ashdown Forest and Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’, with its carmine-
about? A trail-blazing winter garden was the South Downs near where I live. red stems, is a staple of winter gardens,
and here I wanted to evoke the tundra ➤

● LOCATION
Wakehurst,
Ardingly,
Haywards Heath,
West Sussex
RH17 6TN
● OPEN All year
exc 24 and 25
Dec. 1 Mar-31 Oct,
10am-6pm (last entry 4.30pm);
1 Nov-28 Feb, 10am-4.30pm
(last entry 4pm). Closes early on
selected evenings 25 Nov-2 Jan,
see website for details.
● CONTACT 01444 894066;
www.kew.org/wakehurst

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BEAUTIFUL GARDENS

using tussocks of pennisetum Get WINTER GARDEN
interspersed with eruptions of red cornus.
look
I also wanted more straight-stemmed
birches, which have such great white bark, Team grasses
to create strong vertical accents. In the and birch
forest fringe area we’ve planted Carex
morrowii (Japanese sedge) under almost Create interest using different
everything so there’s this wonderful fresh heights, combining birch trees
green colour. It’s like a sandwich of with the tall grass calamagrostis
colours with the white of the birch, the
fiery colours of Cornus sanguinea ‘Karl Foerster’, which stands
‘Midwinter Fire’ and C. alba ‘Sibirica’ and upright throughout winter.
then underneath there’s this green layer.
I think this looks so much better than Hamamelis
having a dark mulch, which tends to drain intermedia
the colour. ‘Orange Peel’

In the old winter garden rhododendron Erica
‘Hydon Velvet’ has an interesting darleyensis
tomentum – a layer of fine hairs that make ‘Rubina’
each leaf look like it’s covered in frost.
Although they’re still young plants and it Keep the stems
takes a while for the tomentum to young
develop, in time they’ll create a
spectacular sight alongside the silver bark For the best colour cut cornus
of the birches. stems back to the ground in late
March and trim heathers in May.
In a container I like
to think of plants for Use grasses as
thrill, fill and spill groundcover

How does the garden progress through Grasses are particularly useful
as attractive groundcover, so
the year? Creating wow factor all year you don’t have to worry about
round is impossible, and in summer I
wanted it to be the antithesis mulching or weeding.
of the vibrant winter garden: a cooling,
refreshing, verdant space to wander SHOTS OF COLOUR
through. So I decided to have points of
interest through the rest of the year, with y ‘Orange Peel’ Compact, Clump-forming,
spring colour provided by the bergenia and Low-growing perennial upright witch hazel with deciduous shrub with
rhododendron flowers. Summer has the with silver-marbled coppery-coloured, fragrant deep red, slender stems
yellow flowers of the phlomis, which green leaves and blooms on bare winter and attractive variegated
provides sculptural seedheads in winter, pink winter flowers. stems. H4m (13ft) S3m (10ft) foliage. H and S2m (6½ft)
and in autumn there are grasses in flower H and S10cm (4in)
and colourful autumn foliage from the birch,
witch hazels and dogwoods.

How can readers create something

similar at home? Think about the use of
colour and how plants can contrast and
complement each other. Also think about
contours – if everything’s the same height
that’s boring! In a small garden, or even a
container you can still be imaginative. Go
for one plant that really speaks to you in
winter. If you have space that might be a
hamamelis, or a brightly-coloured dogwood
to illuminate a dark corner.

In a container I like to think of plants
for thrill, fill and spill. Plant something
thrilling in the middle, such as an
evergreen sarcococca, then fill around it
with bergenia, for instance, then allow ivy
to spill over the pot’s sides. ✿

62 Garden Answers

SEASONAL STRUCTURE

Betula utilis jacquemontii Summer-flowering perennial Pennisetum alopecuroides
Lovely leafless winter with attractive seedheads ‘Hameln’ Deciduous grass
silhouette and sparkling that look magical dusted with slender, arching leaves
white bark. H12m (40ft) in frost. H90cm (3ft) that form buff-coloured
S8m (26ft) S75cm (2½ft) mounds in winter. H and
S70cm (28in)

Betula utilis Cornus sanguinea Don’t be shy
jacquemontii ‘Midwinter Fire’
Calamagrostis Be bold with colour – soft winter
acutiflora light makes it easier to combine
‘Karl Foerster’
colours such as red and pink.

Use blocks and drifts

For winter drama stick to a
limited palette of plants and
grow them en masse in blocks
and drifts rather than dotting

them about.

Cornus sibirica Top up bulb displays

Displays of bulbs can dwindle
over time so plant new bulbs
each autumn to maintain the

impact.

Neutral Oranges
Pinks
Carex
morrowii Mboooadrd

GROUND COVER Paonrdainnkge

Evergreen sedge grass Evergreen perennial whose y Cornus and grasses
forms tufted clumps of leathery green foliage turns ‘Rubina’ Neat heather with
lustrous, strappy green reddish-purple in winter, dark green needle-like Pops of colour
leaves fading to russet. with pink spring blooms. leaves and masses of
H and S50cm (20in) H45cm (18in) S30cm (12in) magenta flowers in winter. NEXT MONTH:
H35cm (14in) S60cm (2ft) HAUSER &
WIRTH

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WILDLIFE

New Year is the
best time to turn
over a new leaf,
says Adrian Thomas.
Here are some easy
pledges for the
wildlife-friendly
gardener that will
help the planet too

At last we’ve turned the corner
and 2022 stretches out in front
of us, with our gardens promising
so much.
Bursting buds and a feast of blossom are
yet to come and, with them, birds singing and
frogs spawning. The wondrous cycle of life is
about to unwind all over again.

Alongside this spring awakening come all
our hopes and plans to improve our outdoor
spaces. Hopefully, some of those will have
wildlife in mind because, given the climate
and nature crisis we’re facing, it’s clearer than
ever before that collectively our gardens can
be a valuable part of the solution.

Taking those steps can be just as good for
us and our mental and physical health as
they are for wildlife. A nature-rich garden
offers us a pleasure boost and tonic for the
soul. It’s a win-win.

So here are my suggestions for 10 possible
resolutions for you to make this coming year,
plus some tips on how to keep them. They
include actions that benefit wildlife directly
in your outdoor space, plus steps that help
the wider planet. Set clear goals now and,
come this point next year, you could be
looking back with amazement and pride at
everything you’ve achieved.

1Say goodbye to peat
Peat has been such a convenient and
readily-available growing medium for
years. Ah, yes, but what the eye doesn’t see!
Its extraction destroys valuable peat bog
habitats and their wildlife, plus it releases ➤

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 65

Treasure and

re-use your

cable ties, cloches… plastic pots terpillars need?
Even the packaging
most garden products ter all, if you have no
come wrapped in.
erpillars, you won’t
To reduce your use
plastics, try growing any butterflies.
plants from seed rathe
buying them in pots. A smock, bird’s-foot
and reuse any plastic plant pots you already
have. If they break, only the grey pots can go d buckthorn will start
in household recycling – send the black and
brown ones to those garden centres that have range-tips, common
a return scheme, such as Dobbies.
Win peat-free compost, p101 , ones respectively.
Compost bags are a tricky item to recycle,
masses of carbon. So, if you haven’t yet made so upcycle them instead as hanging basket or 4Make a carbon saving
the switch, move over to peat-free compost. Let’s see if we can cut our carbon
Accept nothing less. If your garden centre Planting a tree in the footprint in the garden. In terms of
doesn’t stock it, find a manager and politely garden can help you greenhouse gas emissions, think through all
ask why not. Exercise your customer power!
sequester carbon the things that use or burn fossil fuels: for
Just as important as when you buy sacks
of compost is considering what plants are raised bed liners (turned inside out). Use example, maybe turn that fire pit into a pond?
growing in when you buy them. Most garden jute- or hemp-based natural fibres or metal
centres, nurseries and online plant stores still mesh instead of plastic netting and suppress And, is it time to upcycle that patio heater into
only use peat-based composts, so again let weeds with cardboard and mulch, not weed
your voice be heard and move your custom to fabrics with their hidden plastic. a bird table or plant support?
the increasing number of excellent companies
that only grow peat-free plants. 3Let wildlife dictate If you’re in the market for a new mower,
the plants you buy
2Shun ‘hidden’ plastics We all love to grow plants, and often rechargeable battery and push mowers are
It can be surprising how much plastic
there is in an average garden, sneaking have clear ideas of the types we like to grow, the greenest choices. Rem b
in under all sorts of guises. The focus is often whether that be flowers, fruit or veg. So this
on plastic plant pots, but ‘hidden’ plastics year why not incorporate wildlife into all your every new product you bu
include many weed-suppressant fabrics, kids’ new plant choices?
toys, fleece, netting, watering cans, buckets, carries a carbon footprint
Planting for pollinators is a great start (all
those cottage garden beauties from achilleas both in its manufacture
to zinnias) but there are more garden wildlife
species to care for than just the nectar sippers and transportation, so
and pollen guzzlers.
run the ‘is it really
Think of berry-rich shrubs for birds, or why
not grow the few plants that butterfly essential’ test in your

mind before you buy.

Don’t forget that

planting a tree in the

garden can help you

sequester carbon –

maximum bonus points

for sucking carbon out

of the atmosphere!

5Be more water-wise
Make 2022 the year you become
self-sufficient in water – not relying
on the mains to water plants.

For years, we’ve treated water as an

unending cheap resource, but within our

lifetimes, we’re likely to see average rainfall

decrease in summer, something for which

even heavy winter rains do not compensate.

All that drawdown on natural supplies for

Remember to
include wildflowers
such as bird’s-foot

trefoil to attract
common blue

butterflies (left)
and save rainwater

with a water butt
or two (right)

66 Garden Answers

Reducing our WILDLIFE
mains water use
benefits wetland to other people. So, share your garden with
habitats others this year.

human use can be devastating for wetlands 7Choose sustainable It doesn’t mean you have to actually let
timber them into it (although that might be
and their wildlife. fun); you could share photos on
Most timber in trellis social media, or have your
There are several routes to managing water fences, furniture, arbours, best photos printed onto
raised beds or decking was cards. Or, why not pot
successfully in the garden: once a magnificent tree that up a seedling or take
has been felled, chopped cuttings and pass
● Cut consumption. Actively choose up, then shipped, often them to friends and
half-way around the world. family, with a note
plants that need less water, such as about how to grow
shed it and what wildlife
Mediterranean herbs (see p82). uch as the FSC (Forestry it might attract.
rdship Council) and
● Water at dusk and dawn rather than in C (Programme for the If you move house,
dorsement of Forest leave the next owners
the heat of the day. ertification) ensure timber some details of the
s harvested sustainably inspiring things you’ve
● Never water an est nd if the product doesn’t created and grown in the garden
learly say it’s from a so that they love them as much as you do.
lawn – it will bounce b ustainably managed
orest, you can confidently 10Make more
after drought. Mix veg with sume it isn’t. time to enjoy!
● Store more. Fit a ornamentals The final pledge is just for you:
water butt and, if Turn grey
to green give yourself permission to sit back and enjoy
you already have all the life the garden has to offer. Get out
Almost every garden there whenever you can, stop the ‘doing’ for a
one, add another. has an area devoid of life – patios, moment and just soak it all in. Hear the birds,
paths, driveways and so on. Yet smell the roses.
Unfortunately,
introduce plants and they can Take in the details – spot the insects visiting
most water butts become the bedrock of a new the flowers and see where they go. Take a
ecosystem. Plants are incredible curious interest in what’s sharing your space:
are plastic, but at multi-taskers: they provide food from their turn over a log, look up into the trees, gaze into
leaves, berries, seeds and flowers; offer the pond. Enjoy the moment.
least they’re built shelter from rain, wind and cold, and
escape-routes from predators; There’s no guilt in getting something back
to last for many intercept deluges, protecting the for your efforts. Gardening – especially with
soil from erosion, slowing the flow wildlife in mind – is a virtuous circle, and
years, and some into the drains and soaking up the that’s really something to celebrate. ✿
excess; and store carbon. And when they
are now made from ie and turn into compost they feed the Spend time taking in
ext generation of plants and improve the beauty of your
recycled plastic and ev the structure of the soil onto which it is own wildlife sanctuary
spread. So, pledge to fill a plantless part of
feature an integrated your garden with life this year.

in the lid. 9Pass on the love
All that knowledge you’ve
6Make a step towards accumulated about what works for
organic gardening wildlife in your garden is massively inspiring
If you still turn to chemicals to
solve ‘pest’ crises in the garden, make

this the year you seek more natural

solutions. Embrace polyculture,

for example, mixing veg with

ornamentals.

If you already avoid chemicals,

check out the other organic

principles. It all starts with

good soil health, such as adding

compost and limiting digging,

but also includes focusing on plants

suitable for your soil and location (right

plant, right place) rather than trying to

force something to survive that really

isn’t at all suited to your space. And,

realise that organic principles extend

beyond the beds and borders to things

such as wood preservatives on fences.

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WILDLIFE

WILDLIFE GARDEN
JOBS FOR JANUARY

o 1 PRUNE CAREFULLY
Pruning deciduous shrubs or
Here are five easy wins achieved by fruit trees may seem an odd
simply doing nothing. way to help wildlife, but done well it can
● Leave part of your lawn unmown keep the plants healthy and boost
for much of the summer as an easy flowering and fruiting.
‘pop-up’ meadow.
● Let seedheads stand overwinter 2 MAKE EXCITING PLANS
– they’ll provide food for birds and January is the perfect month
hideaways for insects. to survey the bare bones of the
● Don’t water the lawn in a dry spell garden, look back at the photos you
– it will recover perfectly well when the took last year, and plan amazing
rains come again. improvements for the year ahead.
● Only clip hedges on one side to allow
it to fulfil its potential for wildlife. 3 CHECK NESTBOXES Make
● Leave a corner of the garden totally sure they’re secure, aren’t
undisturbed – nature’s refuge. rotten and the entrance holes
haven’t been gnawed by squirrels.
PLEDGES INTO REALITY
Look out for...
STUDIES SHOW THAT ● Make sure any goal is way you’ll be ready to
about a quarter of realistic and achievable. learn from the experience ● COLLARED DOVES NESTING Of all
people keep all their ● Break the goal down and move on. Britain’s birds, this is the one most likely
resolutions, while almost into bite-sized chunks. ● Reward yourself, not to nest in any month of the year.
three in four achieve Then do the first one: only at the end but along ● LISTLESS FINCHES If you see sick
some of them. So that ‘A journey of a thousand the journey. greenfinches or chaffinches at feeders,
means that people who miles starts with a single stop feeding for a few weeks to allow
make resolutions are step’. local birds to disperse. Feeders can be
about ten times more ● Don’t wait until the a transmission hotspot for the fatal
likely to change their time is right – it never is. disease trichomonosis.
behaviour for the better ● As energy wanes – ● BUMBLEBEES In mild weather they’ll
than those who don’t. which it probably will – seek out winter honeysuckle Lonicera
don’t beat yourself up or fragrantissima (pictured), winter
That’s a great incentive to feel that you have failed. heather Erica carnea or winter-
try and here are eight tips ● Celebrate any progress flowering cherry Prunus subhirtella.
to help you keep going: you make.
● Focus on one goal ● Expect setbacks – that PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK; ALAMY; BAUER; B&Q
at a time.

68 Garden Answers

FEBRUARY ISSUE

onsale5 LoveJanuary is in the air
❤ Love is in the
Love is in ❤
ove is in the air❤the airair ❤ Loveisintheai
r❤ Love is
This Valentine’s Day

we’re focusing on

the plants we love.

in the air❤L We reveal our top

20 easy plants for

❤ Romantic roses to plant now stunning good looks
❤ Must-have clematis cultivars and lasting
❤ Get the look visits Hauser & Wirth
flower power

❤ Ideas to help out nesting birds

❤ Buyers’ guide to greenhouse essentials

Plus! Inspirational reader gardens ✿ Veg patch diary
✿ Expert Q&A ✿ Puzzles and Prizes ✿ Design solutions



NEW SERIES

There’s a quiet excitement
about the start of a new
growing season. Caro
Shrives is making a
willow basket to
earth up potatoes
and sorting seeds

ALAMY Fact file January falls bang in the middle I can’t help feeling a bit smug at being
able to collect fresh vegetables from the
Name: of what I like to call The Winterlude. As patch in the middle of winter. It’s
CARO SHRIVES tempting as it is to snuggle down indoors definitely worth allocating space for a
Location: with a mug of tea and stack of gardening few handsome brassicas; they take
North London books, it’s a good time to take stock of the almost an entire year to be ready, but it’s
Patch type: garden outdoors, as well as in. Obviously so worth it. Last year, I had several
Community gardens I don’t spend ages outdoors in all purple-sprouting broccoli cultivars
behind flats; weathers (although it has been known) producing stems from early January
two long beds but the still air of the garden in winter onwards. Edible heaven!
surrounded by a low brick wall tempts me out daily for a quick stroll
plus raised fruit tree border; pots around, wrapped up warmly, to check In the winter months I grow leeks, a
Size: 10x3m (33x10ft) and 11x1.5m on my fruit trees and winter crops. few Brussels sprouts, several different ➤
(36x5ft)
Soil: Topsoil over clay improved with
well-rotted manure and compost
Aspect: North-south axis;
east-facing fruit-tree border
Top 5 crops: Purple-sprouting
broccoli, tomatoes, chard,
achocha, raspberries
Failures: Cabbages – snails get them
Organic tips: Create a bio-diverse
balance with companion planting;
treasure carnivorous leopard slugs!
Find out more: www.urbanvegpatch.
com (blog); insta @urbanvegpatch

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 71

LIFE ON THE VEG PATCH

o OOGLE MAPS/GOOGLE EARTH kale and purple-sprouting broccoli
cultivars, winter carrots and oca (those
Wheeraree. little lemony-tasting South American
tubers). Oca need a period of cold
by 1990, a low wall had laced the fence weather to bulk up, so are a good potato Oca (left) and
substitute in winter. Unlike potatoes, brassicas
and small the garden their shallow-rooted tubers are easy to (above) provide
find, being brightly coloured in shades of tasty winter crops
Winner 2019 Caro took over pink, orange or yellow. Very cheerful!
the space in as well be done
2016 and won Any time this month or next is good out.
Camden in for pruning and I’m rarely without my On bitterly cold days it’s nice
Bloom for this secateurs. January is the perfect time to to be indoors, settled into a cosy spot
garden in 2019. get them freshly sharpened and oiled with a hot drink, a few gardening books,
Here she’s because who knows when a wayward a notebook and pencil. Even after years
pictured with stem might need snipping? I have apple, of food growing, I still find inspiration in
the mayor pear and quince to tidy ( l gardening books, being reminded of
and cherries are done in different plants to grow – and when –
summer) and raspberry and honing my very extensive list into
canes are chopped down a slightly more realistic plan.
in January, saving the But first, the seed box. I have zilch
stems for future peas discipline when it comes to buying
to climb. seeds, and am always tempted to grow
all kinds of crazy plants – loofah
Nothing gets
wasted, whether it’s
for the garden or for
crafting. I like to bring
the garden indoors,
making wreaths with
dogwood (cornus) or
Virginia creeper stems,
ivy, herbs and seedheads into the gaps.
A few years ago I saw bottomless
baskets made from willow stems woven
around sturdy poles, which I reckoned
would be a beautiful way to grow
potatoes, by earthing up the spuds as
they grew inside the baskets. Luckily
Virginia creeper stems grow wild where
I live and are just as good as willow for
weaving into basket structures and
plant supports in the herb garden. This
month I’m going to have a go at making
baskets, especially as it’s a project that

Keep secateurs oiled
and sharpened

Over the years the
layout has changed
a bit... but it’s always
a hive of activity

June 2010

August 2014
72 Garden Answers

Virginia creeper
stems are superb
for weaving into
baskets. Caro plans
to use them for
earthing up
potatoes (above)
and natural wreaths
(left). You can start
chitting potatoes
(far left) in January

gourds, red mountain be used this year

spinach (Atriplex (fresh is best), so out

rubra), beads (yes, I Nothing gets wasted, they go, leaving space
have a home-grown for new ones from the
bracelet!) and whether it’s for the seed catalogues. And

exploding cucumbers garden or crafting that, in theory at
(achocha)... the least, leaves me with

list goes on. a streamlined seed

So this year the plan box filled with the

is to sow the sensible seeds first, which potential to grow a beautiful, productive,

in January is leeks, onions, peas, edible garden.

spinach and maybe Jerusalem One last thing. I get bothered every

artichokes. I’m growing them in year with compost gnats buzz-bombing

modules on the windowsill next to my me from the compost my seeds are

chitting potatoes; outside I’m sowing growing in. Last year, I discovered

broad beans. butterwort, a bog-dwelling carnivorous

I planted garlic cloves in late autumn plant that thrives on these pesky gnats.

but now’s also a good time to get them Mine is named Pingu after her botanical PHOTOS: CARO SHRIVES; SHUTTERSTOCK

started (p72) – perhaps with f il Pi i l i

some horti fleece over the care for,

As for the rest of my see eep her soil

they’ll be subjected to the d she rewards

seed box detox. I use the ‘ h beautiful

Joy’ method of declutterin rple flowers

popularised by doyenne o hen she’s happy ‘Pingu’ the carnivorous
butterwort feasts on
decluttering, Marie Kondo d well fed. I may pesky compost gnats

Any seeds that haven’t be have to acquire Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 73

used in the past year are u er! ✿

EASY
PRO ECT

GC
This easy crop is ideal for sowing in early
January, with harvests in midsummer

1 Prepare the soil 2 Break the bulb into cloves 3 Space them out
Rake soil to a tilth, removing Buy certified disease-free Push the cloves into the soil,
weeds and stones. Mark out the row bulbs and separate them into cloves 2cm (¾in) deep, 20cm (8in) apart.
with string. In heavy soil, start plants for planting. Remove and discard Plant flat-end down. Use a dibber
off in modules indoors. the papery outer tunic of leaves. or small trowel to speed things up.

74 Garden Answers

EASY GARDENING

4 Mark the row 5 Harvest them when ready QWhat’s the difference between
Label your plantings. In dry As the leaves turn yellow and hardneck and softneck garlic?
weather, water the row, but hold start to flop in midsummer it’s time A Hardneck garlic produces fewer, larger
off once the bulbs are well formed to carefully dig up the bulbs with a cloves (below left) that are easier to peel
because watering can encourage fork. They won’t grow bigger once (with a looser tunic). It has a stronger
rotting. Hand weed between rows. the leaves start to die back. flavour and often produces flower stalks
or ‘scapes’ that you can eat. Softneck
garlic produces smaller, more tightly
packed cloves (right) that last longer.

Hardneck

Softneck

QWhat’s the best type of garlic to grow
in my garden?
A Softneck garlic is better suited to milder
gardens, or in cooler areas with some
winter protection, such as a cloche. Also
think about your soil type: in heavy clay
it’s better to start cloves off in modules
on a warm windowsill than sow direct.

Elephant: hardneck ‘Germidour’: French

with giant bulbs streaked softneck

6 Leave them to dry 7 Plait the stems
Let the bulbs dry in a warm, Keep the stems intact to plait
well-ventilated shed for two to four the first three bulbs together as shown.
weeks to avoid them getting mouldy or Weave in subsequent bulbs one at a
having soggy necks. They’re ready for time, adding each new stem into one
storage once the foliage rustles. of the three plait strands.

‘Early Purple Wight’: Garlic ‘Sprint’: quick

early softneck cropping hardneck

QWhat’s eating my garlic and why are PHOTOS: GAP PHOTOS; SHUTTERSTOCK; BAUER
the leaves blotchy?

A Allium leaf miner grubs tunnel into garlic
bulbs, leaves and stems to feed. The adult
flies are active March-April so the best line
of defence is to cover plants with insect
mesh in spring.

Rust is another common problem.
Avoid crowding plants because high
humidity increases the risk of infection.

8 Add more bulbs 9 Hang them up to dry Allium leaf miner Onion rust
As more garlic is added, the Trim off the excess roots and
plait becomes thicker, with each of hang the garlic plait from a hook or
the three strands containing many nail in the kitchen. Store spares in a
stems. Secure them with twine. cool dry place.

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 75

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ethet Your
questions
answered

Our experts will help you get the best from your garden

Inside SEED SOWING

78 Shrubs Solution of the month
79 Wildlife
79 Fruit trees
80 Plant IDs
83 Pests & diseases
84 Design solutions

Our experts QCan I start sowing any
plants in January?
GEOFF STEBBINGS
gives expert answers JANET SELBY, BY EMAIL
to all your gardening
problems. Geoff is an APeople often say you shouldn’t sow seeds in January: the plants grow away
author and gardening writer, and too quickly and become leggy before it’s safe enough to plant them
was head gardener at Myddelton outdoors. However, there are a few slow-growing plants that do benefit from
House, north London. being started off now, with heat, so they have extra time to grow and mature.
Just remember that low light levels and cool temperatures can lead to a fungal
GEOFF HODGE will be diseases called ‘damping off’, so make sure seed trays and pots are clean and
answering subscriber disinfected, and use fresh, good quality, peat-free seed compost.
questions in our new Live
Zoom Q&A events. Tropical crops such as chillies (inset) and aubergines will need heat to
Geoff is a horticultural author, radio germinate. Sow two to three seeds per pot at 21-27C (70-80F) to start them off.
broadcaster and speaker, and
former online editor for the RHS Bedding plants such as petunias, lobelia, bedding dahlias and coleus can also
be sown in January. Sow in trays with a gentle heat of 19-24C (65-75). Sweet
IAN HODGSON casts an peas, antirrhinums and delphiniums also benefit from a bit of warmth, while
expert eye over unruly pinks, pelargoniums, Iceland poppies, salad greens, spinach, peas and beans can
borders, providing advice all be left on an indoor windowsill or in a cold frame – no heat required.
on how to revamp them.
Ian is author of Great Gardens, in Regularly check on seedlings and remove condensation from the propagator
association with the Society of lid. Turn plants every few days on a windowsill and try not to overwater.
Garden Designers.

CONTACT US Send us

By post: Garden Answers, your

Bauer Media, Media House, Lync queries!

Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA

Email:

[email protected] PHOTOS: ALAMY; SHUTTERSTOCK

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co.uk

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Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 77

Q&A

What do I plant in a wildlife pond? Why did unripe plums fall? Read on...

SHRUBS Q Could I hard Q Would bonemeal
prune a rhamnus cause white marks
Shade protection to get rid of its on new euonymus?
bald patch?
QWhy would caryopteris in B PICKERING, VIA WEBSITE
sun lag behind one in shade? PAM DEWING, BY EMAIL
A Powdery mildew is common
SUSAN HURLE, VIA WEBSITE A Rhamnus alaternus on euonymus but bonemeal
‘Argenteovariegata’ is a mixed into its soil is unlikely to
AAlthough you might expect the plant growing in sun to be more handsome evergreen shrub that have caused it. Drought is the
advanced, the caryopteris in shade might also have enjoyed better looks good all year. It responds most common starting point for
frost protection last winter. Therefore, growth on the more exposed well to pruning so you can prune this mildew, so I suspect that
plant could have been checked back in the cold spring. your plant hard in late spring to the plants had dried out before
improve its shape. Spread a you bought them. Providing
These autumn-flowering shrubs are generally hardy so cold isn’t mulch around the base of its that the mildew isn’t too
likely to kill them. They do dislike being waterlogged, however, so make trunk afterwards to help widespread, you could trim off
sure the soil is well draining and dig in extra grit if required. promote new growth. the affected growth. Be sure
that the plants are well watered
and never allowed to dry out.

Q Can I help aucuba
with no berries and
yellowing leaves?

ROGER BRAMMAR, VIA WEBSITE

A Aucubas are fairly tough and
usually flower and berry well, but
it sounds as though yours is
deteriorating. I’m guessing it’s in a
pot, so needs feeding and perhaps
repotting. This will promote new
growth, which should then flower
and later produce berries. Aucubas
prefer a slightly shady spot and can
turn yellow in too much sun, but
that wouldn’t affect the berries.

Q What’s this monster plant that Q What caused A This is likely to be fungal
suddenly appeared?
brown spots on leaf spot, which is usually
FAY JAMIESON, BY EMAIL outdoor yucca worse in wet weather. Weak
plants are more vulnerable,
A This balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera) may have leaves? so give a high-potash feed in
appeared as a sucker from an adjacent plant, or it could be a spring and summer and don’t
seedling. Poplars are usually enormous, fast-growing trees, EILEEN WESTON,
capable of causing damage to foundations and drains so I’d VIA WEBSITE let them dry out.
remove this one as soon as possible.

78 Garden Answers

WILDLIFE PROBLEMS SOLVED

Mix it up FRUIT TREES

QWhat can I put in my newly-dug 12x12ft Q Why do ‘Victoria’
pond to attract wildlife? plums drop off
when still tiny?
M J MILLER, KEITH, MORAY
NAHID SABIR, SCOTLAND
AThe greater the mix of plants you include, the more wildlife you’ll attract. It’s best to
stick with British native plants and buy them in, rather than moving plants from A A lack of calcium in the soil can
another pond or from the wild. cause fruit to form then drop off
prematurely. Calcium is needed
Include submerged plants such as curled pond weed (Potamogeton crispus) and water for all growth but especially the
violet (Hottonia palustris); floating water lilies (Nymphaea alba) and water soldier stone. If this doesn’t form
(Stratiotes aloides). Plant marginals around the edge, such as yellow iris (Iris pseudacorus) properly the fruit will drop off. If
and water forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides). Include some vertical stems for dragonflies you have acidic soil, try adding
and place low, creeping evergreens around the edges – bergenia, lamiums and vinca are some garden lime in autmn,
useful for this. As soon as a few plants are established, more creatures will move in. keeping it away from acid-loving
ericaceous plants.
Q Can you suggest some
tall, pollinator-friendly Q How far should I
flowers that are safe for plant a pear away
pets and children? from my house?

TANYA AXE, RINGWOOD, NEW FOREST CHRIS RIGHT, VIA WEBSITE

A Tall flowers that attract pollinators A An untrained pear tree will
include asters, rudbeckias and perennial reach about H3m (10ft) when
sunflowers. Annual sunflowers and mature so I’d plant it at least 3m
rudbeckias are quick and easy from seed from the house. They don’t have
too, and Verbena bonariensis is another particularly vigorous roots, so you
good choice – attracting a wide range of can plant one against the house if
pollinators. It’s also tall, so fun for children. you’re training it as an espalier.

Q Which wildlife-friendly Q Do we have an
groundcover perennials apple/pear hybrid?
tolerate shade and being Our apple produces
stepped on occasionally? pear-shaped fruits.

LOUISE COOPER, BY EMAIL F PHOENIX, GREASBY, WIRRAL

A For a shaded area the best groundcover is A There’s no such thing as an
probably vinca, which keeps weeds down apple/pear hybrid. The fruit and
and tolerates a little treading. Hardy
geraniums are also good, especially u sent are of a pear and the
G. versicolor (above), which attracts bees. speckling on the leaves is
For part shade, evergreen dwarf mondo r blister mite. Affected
grass Ophiopogon japonicus ‘Nanus’ has w growth in spring will
arching leaves, lilac flowers and glossy how as pink blisters that
blue-black berries, and can be walked on. ter turn black. It won’t
ffect cropping so is best
lerated.

➤

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 79

identification

CLIMBERS

Amazing annuals Q Can you name this
climbing rose?
QCan I grow this pretty plant
that I saw in a public park? RICHARD ROBSON, BY EMAIL

MAI HABIBI, BY EMAIL A To identify plants such as roses
with thousands of different cultivars
AAtriplex hortensis ‘Rubra’ is an annual and, where happy, will s available, I really need good close-up
reach maybe H2m (6½ft). As well as being attractive, it’s also edible – the young leaves photos of the flowers, as well as the
are a tasty spinach substitute. Those round discs contain the seed and if you dry them and habit. It also helps if you can tell me
sow them outside in April they should germinate readily. where it’s growing, when it flowers
and if the blooms are scented. If this
Q Could you identify this Q What is this small rose has strong perfume and the
pretty poppy? petunia-like flower that stems are largely free from thorns it
bloomed all last summer? is probably ‘Zephirine Drouhin’.
JENNIFER MILLER, BY EMAIL
LIZ WRIGHT, BY EMAIL Q Will this plant with
A This is annual opium poppy ‘Danish Flag’. hairy stems and leaves
The flowers are indeed lovely and, as your A Calibrachoas, also known as million bells, ever flower?
picture shows, they attract pollinators. come in a huge range of colours. They have
Planted in full sun it should bloom June-Aug, a trailing habit and flower for months, JOAN COPLAND, NORWICH
reaching H60cm (2ft) S30cm (12in), and making them ideal for containers and
they’ll probably self sow. GA gave some baskets. Although they’re perennial, they’re A Chinese gooseberry or kiwi fruit
away in July last year but you can buy 300 not frost hardy so people usually pull them (Actinidia chinensis) is a very
seeds for £2.49 from Thompson & Morgan. up at the end of summer. The best way to vigorous twiner that can grow 2m
grow them is from plug plants in spring. (6½ft) in a season. In a sunny spot it
will produce pale apricot flowers in
Q This lovely plant popped late spring and fruit, provided you
up last year. What is it? have both a male and female plant.

LORRAINE WILKINSON, BY EMAIL Q Is it worth training
this rampant vine?
A Clarkia amoena (or godetia) are hardy
annuals that are very easy to grow from BARRY RUTLAND, BY EMAIL
seed. You can sow them outdoors March-
May for flowers June–Sept. Dwarf types A Clematis vitalba is a native plant
(H25cm/ 10in, S15cm/6in) and azalea- that usually grows on c
flowered hybrids (H45cm/18in, soils. It grows vigorousl
S30cm/12in) are available from most good and produces clusters o
seed suppliers if you Google them. dull white flowers in
late summer, followed
by fluffy seedheads
that give it the name of
old man’s beard. The
seeds travel on the win
and probably blew in to
your garden. It’s not rea
suitable for a small gard p

80 Garden Answers

PROBLEMS SOLVED

Super shrubs QShall I keep
this plant
Q How should I trim Q This looks like a that’s popped
this shrubby plant? raspberry but bears up in my border?
no fruit. What is it?
ALAN DAVIS, BY EMAIL SELINA FALGATE, BY EMAIL
VICKY WILLIAMS, SOUTH WALES
A This is a philadelphus, possibly A Dark-leaved elders (Sambucus nigra) are tough, attractive plants
‘Virginal’. Philadelphus are A Rubus spectabilis ‘Olympic that grow to about H and S3m (10ft) but can be kept smaller with
always vigorous but yours has Double’ is a tough shrub that pruning. There are cultivars such as S. nigra porphyrophylla ‘Gerda’
particularly long stems! To thrives in sun or part shade.. Its (also called ‘Black Beauty’, inset) and ‘Guincho Purple’, which are darker
encourage growth lower down, early summer flowers are double than your plant. Yours might be a seedling donated by the birds and the
I’d shorten them by at least half so it doesn’t produce fruit. leaf colour might be less intense if the plant is in shade.
in spring, then in subsequent Reaching about H1.5m (5ft), it’s
years prune only after flowering. a useful long-blooming filler Q What’s this
shrub but it can sucker so isn’t flowering shrub?
ideal for tiny gardens.
WENDY CHAMBERS, BY EMAIL
Bee magnet
A Portuguese laurel (Prunus
lusitanica) is an attractive
alternative to common laurel for
hedging. It has deep green leaves
on red stalks and produces
masses of flowers in a hot
summer. Birds love the berries
but they’re toxic to humans.

Q Can you name
this evergreen?

FRED BROWN, BY EMAIL

A Native Daphne laureola, also
known as spurge laurel, is a
pretty but not very showy plant
that naturally grows in shade on
chalky soils. The green flowers,
usually unscented, are followed
by black berries (poisonous to
humans) that are eaten by birds.

QCan you ID this large shrub Q Where should I
that bees just adore? put this pretty
variegated plant?
JACQUELINE COOPER, VIA WEBSITE
RUTH HEDGES, GLOUCS
A Photinia davidiana ‘Palette’ is a large shrub or small tree
grown primarily for its pink and white-variegated foliage. Its A Evergreen Trachelospermum
reddish bark, small pink flowers and orange berries make it an jasminoides ‘Variegatum’ is a
attractive, wildlife-friendly choice for any garden. climber but, perhaps because it
has been struggling, yours is
rather dwarf. It prefers a warm, ➤
sunny spot and will then start to
twine up its support. It flowers for
many months in spring.

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 81



PROBLEMS SOLVED

PESTS & DISEASES

Go-slow seedlings

Q My seedlings seem to struggle in John
Innes No1 compost – what would you use?

HAKIM AKBERALI, BY EMAIL

A Compost quality varies a lot,

not least when it’s based on loam

(as John Innes compost is). So, it’s

not always good for all seedlings.

Because drainage is important for

seeds and they don’t need any

nutrients in their first few weeks, I

make my sowings in multipurpose

with added perlite or vermiculite. compost, to give them more QHow can we stop field mice
eating our flowers? We trap
Then I transplant seedlings into a nutrients. You won’t need to feed and release them 3 miles away!

mix of one part John Innes to for about a month, then any MADDIE FOUNTAIN, GUILDFORD, SURREY

three parts multipurpose fertiliser will do. A Chilli is a good deterrent to use, in addition to your humane traps.
Buy a bulk pack of dried chillies (available from the Asian foods section
Q Are water butt worms a p of larger supermarkets) and sprinkle it liberally around your
vulnerable plants in spring. Repeat every few weeks.
L STOKER, KENT Hopefully that should dissuade them.

A If you’re using the water on plants, the
worms shouldn’t be a problem. If you want
to get rid of them, you’ll have to empty and
clean the water butt with a suitable organic
cleaning product.

Pest-proof plants Q What’s this white fungus
under the soil surface?

DIANA RIDLEY, VIA WEBSITE

A This fungal mycelium may be there because of burie
organic matter, such as dug-in garden compost or woo
from building materials, or an old shed or tree branch. These
beneficial saprophytic fungi break down organic material into useful
nutrients for plants – they’re not likely to do any harm.

PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK; ALAMY; BAUER Q How can I stop squirrels eating ASK THE EXPERTS
my tulip bulbs?
Send us your questions!
SUE MACINTYRE, BY EMAIL
Need some gardening advice? Fill in this form and post it to
A Squirrels are drawn to all sorts of spring-flowering bulbs, us, or email your query to [email protected]
but they’re not as keen on Allium roseum (above). The
bulb’s pungent smell and flavour will even drive browsing Dear Garden Answers,
deer away! Flowerheads contain red bulbils as well as pink My gardening problem is
flowers, helping it spread quickly. They’re an ideal
companion plant for tulips. My name & address

Send to: Garden Answers, Bauer Media, Media House,
Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 83

Design Solutions
Drought-tolerant Mediterranean plants offer an easy
route to colour, scent and texture, says Kristina Clode

QHow can I make the most of a Back to school:
sunny well-drained slope? Kristina’s design

is for a sensory
school garden
with yellow shade

sail and a circle of

THIS STUNNING school fill in the gaps – chosen because they’re sleeper benches
garden encapsulates all the texturally exciting, flower for a long time and for story time

best things about wildlife- offer autumn interest as well. Repeating these

friendly, sustainable plants is a way to knit the planting scheme

gardening. Designed to appeal together, while a fine bark mulch helps retain

Kristina to children, it’s got colourful moisture and prevent weeds.”
Clode flowers, fragrant herbs and Taller feathery grasses and perennials
tactile grasses to delight the
are planted in the gravel around the seating

senses, it’s low maintenance and the plants areas, creating height and a light screen for

are drought resistant. privacy. Many of the plants used here are

“The design was made for our local reliable self-sowers, such as E

primary school in Sedlescombe, East karvinskianus and evening Exploit a
Sussex,” explains designer Kristina Clode. primrose (oenothora). sunny slope
“I was waiting for one of my daughters to
finish her after-school swim club and got “Having a garden like this i Turn a steep, sunlit slope into
chatting with the Head. She had just had wonderful resource, helping a flower-rich tapestry of planting
the willow tree pollarded and the other children to appreciate the using a mix of low Mediterranean
parents were a bit disgruntled… so I beauty of the natural world, shrubs and perennials, mulched with
suggested they turn that part of the playing how to nurture living things fine bark chips. Here Kristina has
field into a sensory garden to make the and develop an interest in
most of the space, and she leapt at the idea. horticulture that could last used purple, white and yellow
a lifetime,” says Kristina. flowering plants that are all mound-
“I created the design, then volunteer
parents and teachers helped with the hard The garden has won two forming, but easy to see thanks
landscaping and soil preparation. I planted awards in the recent Society to the natural ‘amphitheatre’
of Garden Designers Awards, effect of the slope.

the garden with help from the school including the prestigious Jud

children – each child planted a plant and Award. Head judge Richard S

laid a stone to mark out the paths.” described the garden as “extr y

The design is organised around an generous, beautiful, stimulating, creative… all

existing willow tree and yurt, with gravel the things that you want a garden to be.

paths leading in and out. Three gravel areas “It possibly sets a new high bar for school

are marked out with large cobblestones, grounds in the future, and if it goes on to

with a yellow shade sail over one area and a inspire other school gardens and proper

story chair in another surrounded by rustic funding for them, it might well be the most

sleeper benches. important Award we’ve given in the last

The highlight of the garden is the ten years.” ✿

exciting planting palette – a

combination of easy-care

Mediterranean plants for

colour, scent and texture.

“On the sunny bank behind

the story chair I’ve used

low-growing, mounding

plants such as santolina,

DESIGN: KRISTINA CLODE; PHOTO GAP/ABIGAIL REX rosemary, cistus and Genista

lydia, which lights up the

slope with its yellow flowers.

They’re a mix of evergreen

shrubs with green or silver

foliage that hug the slope in

an arc of three, creating a

framework. They don’t need

deadheading or pruning

other than a quick annual

trim and they flower for ages. Drought-tolerant shrubs and perennials

“Hardy, drought-tolerant perennials traverse the sunny slope, with existing

such as achillea, amsonia and gaura help to trees incorporated into the design

84 Garden Answers

PROBLEMS SOLVED

Add rustic Incorporate
seating existing trees

A story-telling corner is Larger trees and mature shrubs
ideal for a school garden, create a feeling of maturity and are
providing an attractive outdoor
learning space. Here a series of costly to replace, so it’s best to
rustic sleeper benches is incorporate them in any new design.
arranged in a circle around a Existing plants here include a large
designated story chair to
willow Salix babylonica, a mixed
encourage quiet native hedge for wildlife and
listening.
ornamental cherry Prunus incam
‘Okamé’ for its pink spring
blossom.

Edge
the gravel

Stop soil and mulch
spilling onto gravel areas by
using flexible steel edging.
These zones are additionally
marked out with large cobbles
to define the garden layout

and keep the children
from playing on the

planting areas.

Other plants include
hylotelephium, Stipa
tenuissima, echinacea and

iris ‘Superstition’

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 85

Notebook 20 19 18 17 16
15
Prunus Salix 14
babylonia 13
1 12
2
3

Prunus
‘Okamé’

4
5
6

Get the Mediterranean look 7 8 9 10 11

1Briza media 2Salvia nemorosa 3Phlomis russeliana 4Deschampsia 5Santolina
Quaking grass with ‘Caradonna’ Vigorous perennial cespitosa ‘Goldtau’ chamaecyparissus
tufts of arching green Handsome perennial with whorls of hooded Evergreen mound- Cotton lavender with
leaves and oval-shaped with fragrant, upright, yellow flowers May- forming grass with aromatic silver foliage
pale green flowers May- deep purple flower Sept on upright stems silver-gold flower spikes and button-like yellow
Aug that fade to buff; spikes June-Oct in sun and heart-shaped giving a shimmering flowers July-Aug. Full
sun and well-drained and moist but well- leaves. Excellent feathery effect June- sun and well-drained
soil. H90cm (3ft) drained soil. H50cm seedheads. H90cm Aug. Sun or part shade. soil. H50cm (20in)
S30cm (12in) (20in) S30cm (12in) (3ft) S75cm (2½ft) H and S75cm (2½ft) S1m (3ft 3in)

6Rosmarinus 7Cistus pulverulentus 8Genista lydia 9Cistus dansereaui 10Lavandula
officinalis ‘Sunset’ Broom with arching ‘Decumbens’ angustifolia
Prostratus Group Compact, spreading branches bearing Evergreen rock rose ‘Hidcote’
Low-growing rosemary magenta-flowering masses of gold flowers with delicate snow- Neat English lavender
with blue, bee-friendly rock rose (June-July) May-June in full sun and white flowers June-Aug with fragrant flowers
flowers May-June and with evergreen foliage. fertile well-drained soil. and glossy leaves. Suits July-Sept for bees.
fragrant needle-like For sun and well- Deciduous shrub good sun or part shade and Needs sun and well-
foliage. H50cm (20in) drained soil. H90cm for an exposed setting. well-drained soil. H1m drained soil. H60cm
S1.5m (5ft) (3ft) S1m (3ft 3in) H and S1m (3ft 3in) (3ft 3in) S1.5m (5ft) (2ft) S75cm (2½ft)

86 Garden Answers

Design Solutions

11Geranium 12Hebe rakaiensis 13Calamagrostis 14Gaura lindheimeri 15Stipa tenuissima
psilostemon Shrubby evergreen brachytricha ‘Whirling Semi-evergreen
Magenta cranesbill forming neat green Upright clump-forming Butterflies’ with wispy yellow-
flowering June-Aug hummocks, with small grass with arching Graceful perennial with green leaves that turn
in sun or part shade. spires of white flowers grey-green foliage and fluttering white-pink blonde in autumn with
Long-flowering and June-July. Minimal silvery purple-tinted flowers May-Sept on fluffy flowers June-
fast growing, with good pruning for sun or part flowers June-Aug, for wiry stems forming a Sept. Ideal for sunny
autumn leaf colour. shade. H1m (3ft 3in) sun or part shade. clump in sun. H75cm gravel garden. H60cm
H and S1.2m (4ft) S1.2m (4ft) H1.5m (5ft) S90cm (3ft) (2½ft) S45cm (18in) (2ft) S30cm (12in)

16Anthemis 17Achillea 18Symphyotrichum 19Santolina 20Amsonia
tinctoria ‘Moonshine’ ‘Little Carlow’ rosmarinifolia hubrichtii
‘Sauce Hollandaise’ Perennial with bright Bushy perennial Green-leaved cotton Narrow-leaved, clump-
Chamomile with yellow umbels June-Sept producing masses of
feathery foliage and on strong upright stems purple daisies Aug-Oct lavender producing forming herbaceous
creamy bee-magnet with feathery green in sun or part shade.
daisies May-July, ideal foliage. Best in sun Best in moist, fairly yellow button flowers perennial with blue
for sun and well-drained and well-drained soil. fertile soil. H90cm (3ft)
soil. H and S60cm (2ft) H and S60cm (2ft) S45cm (18in) July-Aug on neat spring flowers April-July

mounding bush of in sun or part shade.

aromatic foliage. H50cm Good autumn colour. H

(20in) S70cm (28in) and S60-90cm (2-3ft)

Sleeper bench lGotheoetk
(L1.2m) £84.95
Forest Garden Kookaburra (L3m)
at Garden Oasis waterproof shade sail
01543 889900; www. £59.99 (in 16 colours,
gardenoasis.co.uk square or triangle)
Primrose 0118 903 5210;
Eden Learn About www.primrose.co.uk
Nature tree stump
stool bundle £174.14
School Furniture Direct
01359 298072;
www.schoolfurniture-
direct.co.uk

Classic bell tent (D3m) Wooden sandpit
£279 Boutique Camping play boat £149.99
020 3319 1315; www. Big Game Hunters
boutiquecamping.com at Amazon www.
amazon.co.uk
Cotswold gold gravel
from £120/850kg Decorative Woodland Garden
Armchair £225
Aggregates 01629 630256; Sustainable FurnHitauretwoo
www.decorativeaggregates.com 01726 884123; whwowr.izont
sustainable-furnpituarnee.cl wo.iuk

£70 Shed
6481; www.sheds.co.uk

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 87

BUYERS’ Powered
GUIDE
saws

Ma e g t wor o tree and s rub prun ng
by investing in a decent power tool.
Geoff Hodge reveals what to look for

EASY REACH Prune tree
branches safely with a
long-reaching tool, such as
the Ryobi 18V ONE+ Cordless
32mm Bypass Pole Pruner,
featured p89

88 Garden Answers

GARDEN BUYS

Many trees and shrubs will STIHL GTA 26 CORDLESS GARDEN PRUNER, SEE P91
need pruning and cutting
back at some point during the
year, and it pays to be tooled
up with the right equipment. Where
trees are involved, it’s a good idea to look
for a tool that allows you to cut them
safely from terra firma, without having
to clamber up through branches or
wobble on the top of a rickety step ladder.
While standard manual secateurs,
pruners and saws will do an excellent
job, those gardeners with lots of trees and
shrubs will find powered tools a godsend,
as will gardeners with mobility or other
health issues. (Thick branches can
involve a hard squeeze with manual
secateurs, which is a painful exercise if
you suffer from arthritis, an old injury or
simply don’t have the strength anymore.)
However, don’t forget that powered
tools are heavier than their manual
counterparts, so wherever possible,

more versatile than those powered by

Look for a tool that mains electricity, with no risk of Understanding battery power
allows you to cut trees
safely from terra firma electrocution. Depending on battery size With battery power there are two things
to consider: the battery’s voltage and its
check how heavy the tool is before you and power output, you should get at least amp hours.
make the purchase. ● Voltage (V) can be thought of as being
30-40 minutes of cutting time from a fully similar to a car’s engine size – a higher
Tools powered by lithium-ion batteries voltage generally means higher power
are the best bet for most of us; they’re the charged battery. and performance. But, as with cars, a
only option for powered hand pruners. larger voltage doesn’t always translate
They’re much lighter and quieter than As most manufacturers now offer a to better performance because this can
petrol-powered machines, with no be affected by other factors. Those with
smelly emissions and they’re easier to range of battery-powered tools that use a higher voltage are better equipped to
maintain. And, having no cable, they’re tackle wider and thicker wood.
the same interchangeable battery, you ● Amp hour (Ah) is analogous to the size
of a car’s fuel tank; the higher the amp
may be able to buy the tool on its own, hours, the longer the battery will last
between charges. Higher amp hours
often referred to as a ‘bare tool’, which have no effect on increasing the
power output.
cuts the cost. Otherwise, it will come as a
TELESCOPIC
complete kit that includes the battery SHAFT Allows
you to alter the
and charger. If you do a lot of cutting, you overall reach

may want to consider a second or ‘spare’

battery, so you can use one while the

other is charging. ➤

GRIP HARNESS FLYMO EASISTORE 340R LI £259.99
Comfort Increases
grip handles control over the
reduce fatigue machine and
improves
in use comfort

BATTERY WEIGHT BAR
SIZE Make sure it’s not LENGTH
too heavy to use, This determines
The higher the the thickness of
voltage, the more especially at its wood it can cut
longest length if through
powerful it is
telescopic Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 89

GARDEN BUYS Ryobi 18V ONE+ Cordless
Secateurs £114.99 + battery
POWER PRUNERS
18V, cuts up to 2.5cm,
Powered pruners often look like, and 2Ah battery £59.99
operate very much like, a large pair of
bypass secateurs, which cleanly cut Kärcher TLO 18-32 Tree
through wood. The majority of these Lopper £169.99 + battery
battery-powered hand-held pruners 18V, cuts up to 3cm,
are trigger-operated with a 2.5Ah battery £69.99
comfortable one-finger trigger action.
The Bosch EasyPrune works like Ryobi 18V
ordinary manual secateurs, but as you ONE+
squeeze the handles together the
power takes over to cut through the Cordless
stem. Both the Kärcher TLO 18-32 32mm
Tree Lopper and the Ryobi 18V ONE+
Cordless Bypass Pruner are long- Bypass Pole
bodied versions for working at height Pruner
in trees, and the Ryobi 18V ONE+
Cordless 32mm Bypass Pole Pruner £230.99 +
is telescopic and can reach battery
up to 2.7m (9ft).
18V, cuts up
Bosch to 3.2cm,
EasyPrune
5Ah battery
£84.99 £89.99
3.6V, cuts up

to 2.5cm

LIGO Electric Pruning
Shears £61.99
7.2V, 1.5Ah,
cuts up to 2.5cm

POWER SAWS Ryobi 18V ONE+ TNEIIA Electric
Cordless Bypass Pruner Pruning Shears £54.99
As with manual saws, £120.99 + battery 16.8V, 2Ah,
a powered pruning saw 18V, cuts up to 3.2cm, cuts up to 3.2cm
is perfect for cutting 5Ah battery £89.99
through wider Ryobi 18V ONE+ Cordless 150mm
branches Bosch AdvancedRecip 18 Pruning Saw £99.99 + battery
than can’t be £99.99 18V, cuts up to 8cm, 5Ah battery £89.99
cut with a pruning tool. 18V, 2.5Ah, cuts up to 10cm
Pruning saws are better
than using a standard saw
because the blades
provide a cleaner cut.

90 Garden Answers

SMALL POLE SAWS Black+Decker 20cm
CHAINSAWS Lithium-ion Pole Saw
These can be thought of as a small £161.99 18V, 2.0Ah,
If you’re worried about using a standard chainsaw on the end of a pole. This cuts up to 20cm,
chainsaw, and haven’t been trained nor means you can reach quite high up height up to 3m
have all the required safety clothing and into the branches of a tree without
equipment, these are the perfect having to climb up it or use ladders.
alternative. Treat them with reverence Every year there are numerous
and respect at all times; they can zip garden accidents caused using
through dense wood with ease. these tools. (Just saying.)

Bosch UniversalChainPole 18 £124.99 18V,
2.5Ah, cuts up to 15cm, height up to 2.6m;

£189.99 with battery

Energizer ELPC Cordless Pole Saw £179.99
20V, 2Ah, cuts up to 16.5cm, height up to 2.8m

Black+Decker Lithium-ion Gardena Battery Telescopic Pruner TCS 20/18V P4A £124.99 + battery
Alligator Lopper £119.99 18V, 2Ah, 18V, cuts up to 20cm, height up to 2.5m; 2.5Ah battery £79.99
cuts up to 10cm; £173.99 with battery
Greenworks 24V Pole Saw £172.99
Bosch 24V, 2Ah, cuts up to 20cm, height up to 2.6m
AdvancedCut 18
£144.99 18V, 2.5Ah, Husqvarna 530iP4 £499 + battery
cuts up to 6.5cm; 36V, cuts up to 25cm, height up to 4m;
£199.99 with 2.6Ah battery £140
battery
Ryobi 18V ONE+ Cordless 20cm Pole Saw £125.99 + battery
18V cuts up to 20cm height up to 3m; 5Ah battery £89 99

Stanley 18V FATMAX Pole Saw £159.99
18V, 4Ah, cuts up to 20cm, height up to 4.5m

Stihl GTA 26 Cordless Stihl HTA 65 Cordless Pole Pruner £602.30 PRICES CORRECT AT TIME OF WRITING
Garden Pruner 36V, 2Ah, cuts up to 25cm, height 2.4m
£159 11V, 2.6Ah,
cuts up to 10cm

Suppliers ● Black+Decker 01753 260090; www.blackanddecker.co.uk ● Bosch 03447 360109; www.bosch-diy.com/gb/en

● Energizer 08082 808031; www.energizer-tools.com ● Gardena 03448 444558; www.gardena.com/uk ● Greenworks 01793
333219; www.greenworkstools.co.uk ● Husqvarna 03442 251540; www.husqvarna.com/uk ● Kärcher 01295 752000; www.
kaercher.com/uk ● LIGO from Amazon www.amazon.co.uk ● Ryobi Tools 03330 069474; uk.ryobitools.eu ● Stanley 01753 511234;
www.stanleytools.co.uk ● Stihl 01276 20202; www.stihl.co.uk, shop.stihl.co.uk ● TNEIIA from Amazon www.amazon.co.uk

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 91



YOUR GARDEN LIFE

WRITE TO US AT Garden Answers, Bauer Media, Media House, Lynch
Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA EMAIL gardenanswers@bauermedia.
co.uk TEL 01733 395076 WEBSITE www.gardenanswersmagazine.co.uk

HELPING HARRIETTE letter

When Harriette the hedgehog came health. We’re hoping that
into our garden last spring, she was a when she wakes up this
weak, sickly little thing so we fed her up year, she might produce a little family of
on meat-based cat food and slugs that her own...
my five-year-old son loved to seek out Carole Gasan, Belfast, N Ireland
from the flower bed!
Fashionably late She grew very tame
over the summer,
I’m amazed at how many flowers were waiting for us to put
still going strong in November. Since out food each evening.
May, alstroemerias have been flowering She’s now hibernating
constantly and cosmos grown from in an adjusted,
Garden Answers seed, which surpassed hay-filled rabbit hutch,
all my expectations. Hopefully it should in a quiet, sheltered
just be a short wait now until spring. corner of the garden.
Eileen Dockrill, by email It’s been a delight to
look after her and help
her back to good

CONGRATULATIONS! As author of this month’s star letter
Carole wins this complete set-up for feeding garden birds
from the RSPB: a classic seed feeder, nut and nibble
feeder and lots of lovely bird food.
● The kit is part of the RSPB’s Giving Nature a Home
initiative. For more information on this and other RSPB
products, go to www.rspbshop.co.uk
All proceeds go towards helping birds and wildlife

It’s hard to believe there was so much Bye bye carrot fly
colour in the garden late in November!
June Deaton, Moulton, Lincolnshire For years our allotment carrots
suffered from carrot fly so last year we
This beautiful followed Geoff Stebbings’ advice to
gazania glowed spray them with garlic water. We put
in the low cut pieces of garlic in boiling water, let
winter it cool then strained it a
sunshine. spray on the growing ca
Lynda Illsley, We harvested our best
Warsop, Notts carrots yet – clean and
sweet tasting!
bin my A flotilla of flowers Mr & Mrs Williams,
rries... Cumbria
My cosmos were still flowering well in
managed to November but were looking a bit sorry after GA says: We’re
nap this robin some strong winds. So I cut off the blooms delighted the garlic
njoying his pick and floated them in a tray of water to enjoy spray worked! Many of
of the berries. their lovely flowers for a little longer. readers have also foun
Dee Fairweather, Rod Honeyball, Newmarket, Suffolk it’s an effective organi
y email slug deterrent too.

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 93

Waste not, want not Rose that lives Confessions of a skip diver
up to its name
Two bottomless Thank you for your recycling special issue
plant pots When I moved from Devon to Cumbria I (January 2022). I have to say I am one of the
screwed to the brought a climbing rose with me, called ‘High most avid garden recyclers I know – finding
shed with an Hopes’. It transplanted well into the new new life in all sorts of ‘old tat’ that other
unbroken pot at garden and when I first pruned it I stuck people like to throw away!
the bottom some of the pieces of stem into the soil.
make an Only one of them took. In the past year I’ve found all sorts of new
excellent store planters and salvage treasures for the garden
for bamboo However, six years on I’m - all from diving into skips. In the last year
canes. happy to say the
John Morphett, rose has come on e retrieved an old fireplace, two
Hampshire treat, has y pots, pavers, and old crockery that
flowered at last, urned into a mosaic table top.
Upturned glass and is During the pandemic it seems
food jars make a attracting eryone has been busy doing house
great mini slug bees already. I novations, which is great news for
deterrent! love the hrifty skip divers like me!
Valerie Crossley, ongoing circle arah Skeller, Bristol
Sussex of gardening!
Vivien Convolvulus cover up
We never ‘tyre’ of Knapman,
the sound of by email This convolvulus, growing on my sunny
trickling water from west-facing border is a great low
this feature built My super seed pods maintenance groundcover. It can get a bit
out of used car carried away growing up my roses and other
tyres, a horse feed Our moth plant (Araujia sericifera) is a plants, so does need cutting back, but in
bucket, rocks from perennial vine summer it flowers happily and generally
the garden and a with small, survives the frost.
solar water pump. beautifully Amanda Renwick,
Ian and Una perfumed Cramlington, Northumberland
Goddard, flowers in
Carmarthenshire summer. This
year it went on
to produce
these enormous
seed pods. It’s
quite a
spectacle!
Wendy Hill, by
email

I made this dustbin hideaway between WIN SECATEURS
my shed and patio wall by creating two WORTH £50.99!
simple gates out of strips of wood and
hinging them together. On dustbin day I Send us a high-res photo of
just open the gates and let them out. your favourite plants with a
Melvyn Griffiths, by email short description and you
could win these GARDENA
Rabbits are always a problem in Premium Bypass Secateurs.
our large, semi-rural plot, and ●Precision-ground stainless
veg growing is a real steel blades, sturdy aluminium
problem. My husband handles and 25-year warranty
John created some ●Ergonomic design with two
high-rise veg planters, holding positions for power
using some second- cutting and quick snipping to
hand plastic barrels max 24mm branch thickness
from our local farmer, ● Adjustable blade tension and
cutting them in half an angled cutting head
and then welding some ●Sap groove, wire cutter
legs for them to sit on. and safety lock.
We now have trouble-free
RAINDROPS ON ROSES
delicious veg!
Alison Sawyer, by email In our shaded garden this pale rose covered in
raindrops exudes richness and delicacy.
94 Garden Answers Josephine Kelly, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire

YOUR GARDEN LIFE

Our garden favourites...

Here’s a gallery of your flowers and wildlife – thanks for sharing!

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House, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA
Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’. An enchanting single This hoverfly could be Email: [email protected]
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Crowning glory of red Easy-to-grow Verbena This frog feels at home in Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
alstroemeria. Jacqui bonariensis makes a real my new mini wildlife pond!
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Ladybird on love-in-a-mist A supposedly squirrel- The beauty of a valerian
‘weed’. Jan Reynolds,
seedhead. Katherine proof bird feeder! south Devon

Brown, by email Susan Sims, by email

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 95

SOFT FRUITTHIS SUMMER

6

FREE*

canes worth
£10.99!

Renowned for its
high yields of

large, deep red
berries, raspberry

‘Glen Ample’ is
easy to grow and

maintain

96 Garden Answers

SAVE £££ ON THESE SOFT FRUIT OFFERS... GARDEN BUYS

BLACKBERRY STRAWBERRY RASPBERRY
‘BLACK CASCADE’ ‘CAMBRIDGE FAVOURITE’ ‘ALL GOLD’

This breakthrough in blackberry The enduring popularity of Discovered among a nursery crop of
breeding enables gardeners to grow strawberry ‘Cambridge Favourite’ ‘Autumn Bliss’, this chance seedling
blackberries in hanging baskets. Just has made it one of the most bears large, yellow fruits with an even
pop out to the patio and harvest from well-known and best-loved cultivars more exquisite flavour than its
your baskets at leisure. Traditional available. This mid-season red-fruited cousins. The delicious,
blackberries are sprawling plants that strawberry produces a bumper sweet fruits can be harvested from
don’t suit a garden setting but ‘Black crop of juicy orange-red fruits with late August until mid-October. These
Cascade’ produces compact, arching an excellent flavour and texture tall young canes are perfect for
plants with thornless trailing stems. from June to July. This superb smaller gardens, where they can be
Each plant stem produces berries and strawberry is reliable and tolerant grown in a large container to make an
crops more than once a season. of most growing situations. attractive feature on the patio.
H30cm (12in) S45cm (18in) H20cm (8in) S30cm (12in) H1.5m (5ft) S50cm (20in)
Supplied as 9cm potted plants. Supplied as bareroot plants. Supplied as primocanes.
● Buy 1 for £8.99 – save £1 ● Buy 6 for £7.99 ● Buy 6 for £11.99
● Buy 2 for £14.99 – save £4.99 ● Buy 12 for £9.99 – save £5.99 ● Buy 12 for £16.99 – save £6.99

HOW TO ORDER & SUBSCRIBER SAVINGS

● SHOP ONLINE at www.thompson-morgan.com/TM_GA71 ● SHOP BY POST Fill in this form and send to Garden
Garden Answers subscribers can go to www.thompson-morgan.com/ Answers, Raspberry Offer, Dept TM_GA71/TM_GA72,
TM_GA72 to enjoy 10% off (see Subs Price below) PO Box 162, Ipswich IP8 3BX. Please include payment
by cheque payable to T&M, or fill your credit/debit card
Code Description Qty Price Subs Cost details where shown.
price
Title.................. Initial................. Surname...............................................
KC1908FFP 6x raspberry ‘Glen Ample’ 1 FREE FREE £5.80
canes worth £10.99 Address.........................................................................................................

KC1904 12x raspberry ‘Glen Ample’ £14.99 £13.49 .........................................................................................................................
canes worth £21.98
.........................................................................................................................
70647 1 x 9cm potted blackberry £8.99 £8.09
‘Black Cascade’ Postcode.......................... Phone no ........................................................
worth £9.99
Email address..............................................................................................
KC1996 2 x 9cm potted blackberry £14.99 £13.49
‘Black Cascade’ I enclose a cheque for £ .................... made payable to
worth £19.98
Thompson & Morgan with my name and address on the back.
KC3004 6x bareroot strawberry £7.99 £7.19
‘Cambridge Favourite’ OR charge my Visa/Mastercard/Maestro

KC1905 12x bareroot strawberry £9.99 £8.99 Card number................................................................................
‘Cambridge Favourite’ worth
£15.98 Start date.......................................Expiry date.........................

KC2490 6x canes raspberry £11.99 £10.79 CSC digits.....................................................................................
‘All Gold’
Signature.....................................................................................................
KC3045 12x canes raspberry ‘All £16.99 £15.29
Gold’ worth £23.98

Postage 1 £5.80

TOTAL

TERMS & CONDITIONS Your ‘Glen Ample’ raspberry plants will be despatched from January 2022 onwards. All other orders will be acknowledged

with a despatch date in writing, by letter or email. Offer closes 8 January 2022 or until stock lasts ● Please note that your contract for supply of goods is with
Thompson & Morgan, Poplar Lane, Ipswich IP8 3BU ● If in the event of unprecedented demand this offer is oversubscribed, T&M reserves the right to send
suitable substitute varieties ● Please tick ■ this box if you would like to receive offers from Thompson & Morgan ● Full Terms & Conditions available on request
● All offers are subject to availability ● Images are for illustration purposes only. This product cannot be delivered to the following postcodes HS, IV41-IV49, IV51,
IV55-56, KW15-KW17, PA34, PA41-48, PA60-PA78, PA80, PH40-PH44, TR21-TR25, ZE1-ZE3. We are unable to ship seeds or plants

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 97

FANTASTIC
OFFERS

Light up your winter garden with
beautiful hellebores in a mix of

complementary colours!

Ellen Red’

‘Double
Picotee Red’

‘D
Ell
W

98 Garden Answers

Buy GARDEN BUYS

6 for BUY THREE AND SAVE £16!
£24
DAPHNE ODORA ‘REBECCA’
just £4
per pot!

This unique winter-flowering daphne will give year-round interest. In late
winter and spring, clusters of small purple buds open to reveal highly fragrant
pink flowers above attractive, glossy green leaves with a wide creamy-yellow
margin. Colourful berries follow in summer.
Plants come supplied in 11cm pots, delivery in 14 days.
● Buy one Daphne odora ‘Rebecca’ plant for £18* or buy three plants for £38*
– saving £16.

ORDER COUPON Title.................. Initial................. Surname...................................................
Address....................................................................................................
Code Description Qty Price Cost ....................................................................... Postcode..........................
£12 Daytime phone number........................................................................
ROGA- x1 Hellebore ‘Double Ellen Red’ £12 Email address............................................................................................
49HER1 £12 I enclose a cheque for £ ............…........ made payable to Hayloft
x1 Hellebore ‘Double Ellen White’ £18 with my name and address on the back.
ROGA- £24 Or charge my Visa/Mastercard/Maestro
49HEW1 x1 Hellebore ‘Double Ellen £18 Card number............................................................................................
Picotee Red’ £38 CV2..................………………………..………Expiry date..……………………...
ROGA- x3 Hellebores (1 of each cultivar) Signature....................................................................................................
49HEP1 in 9cm pots – save £18 1 £4.95 £4.95
x6 Hellebores (2 of each cultivar)
ROGA- in 9cm pots – save £48
49HEL3 x1 Daphne odora ‘Rebecca’
in 11cm pot
ROGA- x3 Daphne odora ‘Rebecca’
49HEL6 in 11cm pots – save £16

ROGA- Postage (per order)
49DAR1

ROGA-
49DAR3

ROGA Total

ORDER BY POST: Send coupon to Garden Answers Reader Offer, PO BOX 2020, Pershore WR10 9BP ORDER BY PHONE: 01386 426245
and quote ROGA ORDER ONLINE: at www.hayloft.co.uk/ROGA TERMS & CONDITIONS Hellebores and Daphne dispatched in 14 days.
Offer closes 31 December 2021. Please note your contract for supply of goods is with Hayloft, Manor Farm, Pensham, Worcs
WR103HB. Full T&Cs available on request. All items are subject to availability. All orders will receive an order acknowledgement.
Occasionally the advertised delivery date may change, however, this will be clearly stated on your order confirmation. Offer available
to UK addresses only. Reader offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotions or discounts.

Subscribe at www.greatmagazines.co.uk 99