BBCGardenersWorldOctober2023

MONTY shares why every garden needs a hedge TENDER CARE Ensure your plants are ready for winter with ALAN’sno-fuss guide AUTUMN ACTION to get your garden in M M USE dried flowers for long-lasting displays M BOOST borders with autumn daisies OCTOBER 2023 Tulips for year-on-year colour GardenersWorld.com Octoberissue on sale 21 Sept-19 Oct £ 6.2 5 FREE PLANTS FOREVER (when you save seeds!) Make 10 plants from just one leaf COOL CROPS for the winter greenhouse Delicious squash from PLOT TOPLATE

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Join us... for our special festive event at Le Manoir on 12 December – spaces are limited, so turn to p87 to book now GardenersWorld.com 3 Iused to have mixed feelings about autumn – I’ve always loved the colours of the season, the smell of bonfire smoke and the fun of fresh shiny conkers, but I once struggled to shake the feeling that autumn was a time of melancholy. I suspect it was to do with the return to school, waving goodbye to summer and being forced to do muddy cross-country runs as the temperatures dipped – but that’s another story! Fortunately, my school days are a few decades behind me, and I now embrace autumn and all it has to offer. And for us gardeners, it’s a brilliant season, with so much to keep us busy outside. Nothing beats clearing the decks and having an autumn tidy-up. Fallen leaves can be collected to turn into precious leafmould and it’s a fantastic time to plant new additions to the garden. Plus, if we’re lucky, we can still enjoy a bit of fine weather, with the possibility of the occasional lunch outside and plenty of opportunities to visit gardens and parks in their colourful glory. Autumn is also a wonderfultime to get creative, and nowadays our social media feeds are a rich seam of inspiration, filled with carved pumpkins, decorated doorsteps and delicious recipes to make our mouths water. And you can find all of that in this issue – turn to p52 for Nick Bailey’s autumn containerrecipes, inspired by the colours of the season (and featured on ourfront cover), and on p44 discover Frances Tophill’s guide to using dried flowers forindoor displays that will last for months. We’ve also got a mouth-watering roasted squash recipe from Rukmini Iyer on p99, to make the most of your veg-plot bounty. So, whatever autumn means to you, I hope it’s a time of fun, productivity and creativity in the garden. I’m just thrilled there’ll be no cross-country runs for me… Kevin Smith, Editor @kevinsmithgarden Get creative with our homegrown cookery tips and dried flower guide PS Planning some days out? Remember to check out our 2 for 1 Gardens online directory to ensure you’re making the most of your 2 for 1 Gardens entry card. Just go to GardenersWorld.com/gardens October 2023 Keepupto date withusat More from Looking to get in touch? Turn to p138 PINTEREST @GWmag INSTAGRAM @gardenersworldmag FACEBOOK @GWmagazine EDITOR’S PORTRAIT: JASON INGRAM PHOTOS: SARAH CUTTLE; DAVID LOFTUS Bring… the Christmas season to life with our latest GW Guide, Creative Christmas, full of festive projects and nature-inspired crafts. Buy now in stores or online at Mags Direct: bit.ly/GWCreative Christmas23 Listen… to season 2 of our podcast on sustainable gardening. Arit Anderson talks to a range of experts, exploring the small steps we can all take in our own plots to help protect our planet. Catch up at GardenersWorld.com/podcast Subscribe now… and get 6 issues for £24.50 plus Monty Don’s new hardback, The Gardening Book, worth £28. See p30 TWITTER @GWmag

4 GardenersWorld.com October 2023 We love... 6 We love October 14 Expert’s choice: symphyotrichums 19 Full Monty: gardening is an art 20 Have your say: readers’ letters 22 Should parks lead on biodiversity? 24 Digging deeper: tree shortages 26 2 for1 Gardens: autumn colour 28 Pot up a Halloween planter Creative autumn 44 Frances’ guide to dried flowers 52 Pot combinations with Nick Bailey 58 Tulips for year-on-year impact Do it now 32 Heavenlyhedges, with Monty 39 Sue Kent’s autumn action plan 68 Alan: overwintering tender plants 74 Plant up winter greenhouse veg 83 Thrifty seed-saving tips 122 Success with leaf-vein cuttings 126 Pruning month: bay topiary Grow & Eat 89 Timely, time-saving veg plot tips 96 Rukmini’s tasty roasted squash 103 Your monthlygrowing guide Wildlife 80 What to spot in October Q&A 131 Beating hydrangea scale 132 Gardeners’ Question Time Last words 138 Crossword 153 Next month 154 Tales from Titchmarsh On the cover… Offers for you Autumn pot display with rudbeckia, carex, violas and heuchera. Photo by Neil Hepworth FREE 16 Claim your 105 allium bulbs right now – just pay £5.95 postage Subscribe today! 30 & 152 Get 6 issues for just £24.50 and receive Monty Don’s The Gardening Book 52 44 14 122 83 offers 126 Now’s the time to get your bay topiary back in great shape Travel 87 Book now: GWevent at Le Manoir Plants 65 Get 15% off Farmer Gracybulbs 101 Save 10% on autumn essentials 117 Enjoy £10 off preplanted baskets 129 Save up to £41.94 on bulbs We October 74 68 96 39 Sue Kent’s easy guide to preparing the garden for winter 16 Fill your garden with FREE alliums worth over £27 87 Don’t miss our unforgettable GW pre-Christmas lunch event at Le Manoir For more great offers visit: GardenersWorld.com/ garden-offers 83 How to boost your borders by saving seed from plants 89 Save time with Jack Wallington’s veg plot tips 58 39 32

GardenersWorld.com 5 96 Rukmini’s roast squash recipe is the perfect way to use your harvest do this month Around the garden 106 Flowers 110 Back to basics 113 House plants 115 Adam’s essentials 116 Greenhouse 119 Fruit & veg 120 Your 11-page October planner PHOTOS: SARAH CUTTLE; GETTY/MIKHAIL ABRAMOV; NEIL HEPWORTH; JASON INGRAM; DAVID LOFTUS; JACKY PARKER PHOTOGRAPHY. DRIED FLOWERS LOCATION: WEST DEAN GARDENS, NEAR CHICHESTER, W SUSSEX. FLOWERS: LAVANT VALLEY FLOWERS Perfect your autumn container combinations with Nick Bailey Enjoy year-on-year colour with our pick of long-lived tulips 52 44 58 Creative AUTUMN Enjoy e season 32 Calming, elegant hedges make any garden better, says Monty 68 Enjoy your tender plants next year with Alan’s tips for overwintering How to make fabulous dried flower arrangements

“You don’t waste October sunshine” Katherine Arden 6 GardenersWorld.com October 2023

STAR OF THE MONTH Hydrangea aspera Hot Chocolate I have a nifty little ear worm for you: a slightly annoying thing happens whenever I come across ßâí³òÅâÅĄ ĔÌ  °ĄâÌ«  ų  í°³æ ÓÌ  .ÌíÓ ËĄ °  ßÓßæ í°  íòÌ  Volare Ђ ĄÓò ÂÌÓþϚ í°  ÓÌ  í°í «Ó æ ВD Å Åò ³ß³ÌíÓ ³ ÅòГ CĄ .íÅ³Ì ³æ ý âĄ âÓò«° æÓ . °ý  ÌÓ ³  þ°í ³í Ë Ìæ òí . ÌЕí ° Åß æ³Ì«³Ì« В°ĄâÌ« Г ³Ì ËĄ °  íÓ í°í íòÌ  t³í° í°³æ ßâí³òÅâ ýâ³ íĄ ϲ+Óí °ÓÓÅí ϳ ³í þÓòÅ   more appropriate if I sang “you sexy thing (sexy thing ĄÓòϳГ òí ßâÓ ÅĄ  æí ³ª . æí³ þ³í° В°ĄâÌ« Ϛ Ó°ЄÓ°Ϛ æß â Ó°ЄÓ°ЄÓ°ЄÓ°Г ]ß íòÅâ Ì â Å³ Å  ßÅÌí ªÓâ æòÌ Óâ ų«°í æ°  æ þ³í° ÅÅ °ĄâÌ« æ ³í Ëòæí    ßí þ ÅÅЄþí â  VâÓß«í  ªâÓË æÓªíþÓÓ òíí³Ì«æ ³Ì æòËË â Height x Spread Ë ă  ͵Ë PHOTO: SARAH CUTTLE This month we are eased gently íÓþâæ í°  ¿ÓĄæ Óª þ³Ìí â t  â ° òíÓËí³ÅÅĄ ªÓâ í°³ â æÓÂϚ þ  ÌÓ ÅÓÌ« â í°³Ì Óòí «Ó³Ì« Óòí þ³í°Óòí ¿ í c°  þ³Ì ³æ ųííÅ  ³í   Ì â Ì í°  Å ý æ ÓÌ í°  trees are getting a little bit tatty âÓòÌ í°   « æ +Óþ ý âϚ ³í ³æ æí³ÅÅ þâË  ÌÓò«° ªÓâ Ì ªí âÌÓÓÌЕæ «â Ì³Ì« Óâ íÓ «í° â ³Ì í°  Åæí Óª í°  æòËË â °âý æíϚ Ì í° â  â  æí³ÅÅ æ° Åí â  æßÓíæ þ° â  ĄÓò Ì sit with a cup of coffee to listen íÓ í°  ³âæ ß³̫ òß Ì Ë³â  í°  Åí ÓË âæ ³Ì ĄÓòâ Óâ âæ WORDS 9Cfl] =flyDflYЈ].D=.Y October 2023 GardenersWorld.com 7 We October

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GardenersWorld.com 9 PHOTOS: SARAH CUTTLE BARBERRY BLUSH When I first started gardening the berberis was very much in fashion. Since then, its popularity has waned somewhat and you don’t see them around as much. A pity, as they have a lot to recommend themselves. They make a good hedge, their autumn colour is subtle yet striking, they have good spring flowers and wild barberry produces edible berries, but some cultivated forms have berries that are mildly poisonous. Berberis thunbergii ‘Rose Glow’ Tough and hardy on any soil. Makes a good hedge as well as a border shrub. Lots of different varieties from green to purple. H x S 1.2m x 1.2m SPOT THE DIFFERENCE Quite how did a plant this beautiful, this delicate, this finely marked and this useful end up with the unalluring common name of toad lily? True, it is lilyish but I am stumped for the toad connection – except the mottling of the petals might be a bit toady? I love a toad for many reasons (not least its slug-devouring capabilities) but only its mother would appreciate its good looks! Tricyrtis hirta ‘Taiwan Atrianne’ Keep out of the sunshine – will survive in deep shade if not too dry. Divide in spring. H x S 80cm x 50cm October 2023 We October

We October HEAT OF THE MOMENT The dahlia is very high up the list of ‘plants without which no garden would be complete’. It is not reliably hardy (as can be evidenced by the massed corpses littering landscapes after last year’s vicious frosts) but the depth of colour, length of flowering and general joie de vivre make it well worth the risk – fortunately it also comes easily from cuttings so you need never be without. Dahlia ‘Mrs Eileen’ In cold parts of the country, lift all dahlias and store them in a dry, frost-free shed over winter. H x S 90cm x 60cm 10 GardenersWorld.com October 2023 PHOTO: SARAH CUTTLE

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We October 12 GardenersWorld.com PHOTOS: SARAH CUTTLE; TORI CHUGG FLAT WHITE The last of the white umbellifers that have amused us for months, beginning with cow parsley way back in May (in which grouping I also include a dark-leaved anthriscus and a pinkly alluring chaerophyllum). Since then we have had ammi, hogweeds, orlaya, cenolophium and (if you are unlucky) good old ground elder. A garden is a lesser place without at least one (ideally a dozen) of these elegantly shaped flowers. Selinum wallichianum Good in shade. Best planted with a bit of air between plants as they lose effect if crowded together. Easily grown from seed. H x S 1.5m x 60cm October 2023 DOUBLE WHAMMY You have gone through the whole summer, watched a parade of beautiful plants bud, bloom and fade, and we are now reaching the final scenes. As the days grow shorter, then what better combination to hasten us home than these two. A class act if ever I saw one. Dahlia ‘Thomas A. Edison’ In warm and sheltered borders you can usually get away with covering the tubers with a thick duvet of mulch over winter. H x S 80cm x 50cm Salvia ‘SoCool Pale Blue’ If you have a greenhouse it is not too late to take some cuttings from your salvias for next year. H x S 70cm x 60cm

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14 GardenersWorld.com October 2023 S. lateriflorum horizontale Purple-tinted leaves are followed by stems carrying clouds of pink-eyed white daisies. H x S 70cm x 60cm S. novae-angliae ‘Harrington’s Pink’ Self-supporting and mildew-resistant. Cut back in late May. H x S 1.3m x 80cm Symphyotrichum laeve ‘Calliope’ Floriferous, tall stems look wonderful as they fall forward into miscanthus. Height x Spread 1.7m x 60cm S. novi-belgii ‘Lady in Blue’ Short mounds of lavender-blue daisies. Looks good at the front of the border or in containers. H x S 30cm x 30cm PHOTOS: ALAMY/MARTIN HUGHES-JONES; EMMA CRAWFORTH; JASON INGRAM; HELEN RICHES Symphyotrichums Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Flowering Planting

October 2023 GardenersWorld.com 15 S. ‘Ochtendgloren’ Flowers open in blushed white, then mature to rich mauve. Developed as a cut flower. H x S 1.2m x 60cm Squinting at dried plant specimens that may have lain, uninspected, in brown paper folders for decades, the taxonomic botanist (otherwise known as the messer-about with plant names) has a lot to answer for. But there is a point. It may be baffling to gardeners but updating plant names is vital. Salvias are all called ‘salvia’ because they have features in common. When botanists looked at rosemary, it turned out that salvias and rosemary were closer relatives than we thought. So what we used to call Rosmarinus officinalis is now called Salvia rosmarinus. And let’s be clear: examining dried specimens is only part of it. The latest genetic analysis also plays a crucial role in these determinations. Which brings us to the genus Aster, where botanists came to a conclusion the opposite of what happened with salvias. They decided that many of the plants in Aster were so different from each other, in tiny but crucial details, that they should be classified separately. So the genus was split into smaller groups and the plants we once called Michaelmas daisies are now known, botanically, as Symphyotrichum. But whatever name they’re called by, these are still essential autumn garden perennials. Don’t let a baffling botanical name change put you off these delightful ex-asters, says Graham Rice Symphyotrichums ■ Position Best planted in full sun or partial shade, in rich, moist but well-drained soil. Tough and resilient and will usually grow in less than ideal conditions but may be more prone to mildews. All are winter hardy across the UK. ■ Care Support taller varieties. Deadhead regularly to encourage longer flowering. Water in dry spells as drought encourages mildew. Cut the plants back hard, to just above ground level, in winter. Mulch each year in autumn or early spring. ■ Where to buy farmyardnurseries.co.uk, 01559 363389; norwellnurseries.co.uk, 01636 636337; autumnasters.co.uk, 01684 540 416. VISITGardenersWorld.com/ symphyotrichum to discover more varieties and how to grow them We October

A. amplectens ‘Graceful Beauty’ x 10 H x S 30cm x 10cm F June A. caeruleum x 10 H x S 60cm x 25cm F June A. ampeloprasum x 15 H x S 1.5m x 20cm F June-July A. neapolitanum Cowanii Group x 15 H x S 40cm x 10cm F May-June A. karataviense x 5 H x S 20cm x 15cm F May-June A. moly x 45 H x S 25cm x 5cm F May-June 16 GardenersWorld.com October 2023 For more offers and details on how to order, see opposite page * *Just pay £5.95 postage WORTH £27.12 flowering allium bulbs This Allium Bulb Bumper Pack offers a selection of classic bulbs, bringing colour from late spring onwards. Easy to grow and adaptable, these varieties thrive in pots, borders, rockeries and grass. They also make great Ƃʄ ˝Ɵɧɷ ‘Purple Sensation’ x 5 Height x Spread 90cm x 30cm Flowers June Collection includes

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Protected by ABTOT. Dates and prices are subject to availability. Prices shown are per person, based on 2 people sharing. Prices shown are inclusive of any applicable discounts. Price based on a Classic Stateroom - Lower Deck (Stern). Terms & Conditions apply, please see website for details. For more information & to book online go to greatrail.com/NER or Call 01904 527147 & speak to our expert team Based on 4,963 reviews 4.7 out of 5 Lose yourself in the scents and colours of spectacular floral displays on this scenic cruise through Belgium and the Netherlands. Walk among colourful tulips at the Keukenhof Gardens, visit poignant war sites and meander along the quaint streets of Amsterdam, Bruges and Ghent. 8 DAYS FROM £1,795PP WHAT’S INCLUDED? For full details go to greatrail.com/NER Springtime Tulips & Keukenhof Gardens River Cruise POPULAR TOUR - SELLING FAST! First Class Departures also available

October 2023 GardenersWorld.com 19 These are solemn days – and there is much to be solemn about. But solemnity is a steep and treacherous slope that easily tips into puritanism, pomposity and worse. There are times and places for solemnity, but they are few and far between, and should be avoided where possible. Seriousness, on the other hand, is quite another matter. I am all for being serious about almost everything – including frivolity. That remark by Logan Roy in Succession to his children – “I love you, but you are not serious people” – was the ultimate crushing put-down. So three cheers for seriousness in all things, but at best two for solemnity. Yet I fear solemnity is creeping into horticulture. It wears a number of faces but all address themselves gravely to climate change, Nature (always with a respectful capital N), rewilding, native plants and other subjects of that ilk. Now I must preface everything by saying that I think all these are extremely serious, important topics, and I spend a great deal of time, effort and energy addressing them both at Longmeadow and in the wider world. But solemnity is not the right tool for dealing with them – not least because it makes pompous bores out of all who head in that direction. To quote WB Yeats: “The best lack all conviction, while the worst/Are full of passionate intensity.” Passionate intensity can look and sound good – especially to the adolescent sensibilities of social media – but it crushes finer and more delicate things that matter just as much. To use a gardening analogy: plants need trace minerals and the infinitely subtle and complex interaction of the soil biome just as much as easy sloshes of nitrogen or potassium from a bottle. And the biggest casualty of a surfeit of passionate solemnity is art. I firmly believe that all good gardens, of whatever kind, are as much works of art as paintings, pieces of music or poems. Artistry is right at the heart and soul of gardens, and to deny that element or bury it under a mulch of solemnity is to deny all the joy of gardens and gardening. Every time we decide to place two plants together we are making a creative, artistic decision. Horticulture might determine the success and longevity of that artistry but the gardener creates and appreciates it. When we make a garden we are primarily feeding our souls, not saving the planet. As it happens the planet will be fine, albeit without life as we A garden that does not have poetry or art at its centre is simply not a good garden PHOTO: MARSHA ARNOLD know it, but then we are probably the biggest problem the planet currently has to deal with. It follows that as all art is subjective what constitutes a good garden can be a very broad church indeed. Personally, I can find beauty in a hundred horticultural forms, be it a row of cabbages or a series of beautifully clipped hedges, a dramatic mixed border or a range of exquisitely subtle grasses. I was at Levens Hall in the Lake District recently and this latest visit – my fourth or fifth over the past 30 years – confirmed my belief that the combination of history, design, horticultural excellence and artistry stand comparison with any garden in the world. Levens features wonderful wildflower mixes and meadows, and is a haven for birds nesting in the huge hedges. But it is also mainly comprised of deeply unfashionable elements – the immaculately tended mown grass of the bowling green (now used for very serious but distinctly unsolemn competitive croquet), the famous tightly clipped topiary underplanted with its 15,000 bedding plants (albeit chosen for the bee-friendly qualities by the brilliant Chris Crowder, who as well as being Head Gardener for the past 37 years is a dedicated beekeeper), the pleached limes, crisp hedges and perfectly weeded borders. Should they be zealously ripped up and ‘rewilded’ with religious fervour? Of course not. It takes all sorts. There are a hundred ways to create beauty in the eye of the beholder, but there is the absolute necessity of beauty being there for its own sake. Gardens are unnatural, human constructs, created primarily for human delight. It is seriously important that we pursue as much diversity of plants, habitats and styles as we can in our gardens to encourage healthy and diverse habitats for our fellow creatures, and no one tries to practise or support that more than me. But a garden that solemnly fulfils every requirement of sustainability, water usage, carbon reduction, minimal plastic use and all the other important environmental factors, but that does not have poetry or art at the forefront and centre of its being, is simply not a good garden.

20 GardenersWorld.com Have your say, Gardeners’ World Magazine, Vineyard House, 44 Brook Green, London W6 7BT or email letters@gardenersworld.com and you could win a prize. Letters or emails submitted may be edited for publication. Prizes sent to UK addresses only. Wre to us at t sa M52 eyR 42 ekaR 32 at ageir aV 22li oS 02r ot ar eA 71r esseL 51sr eppeP 31 accuY 21 dnE 11 anE 01 eyE 9 sei bA 8 dee W7sugar aps A 1 SSORCA l apO12sdaoT 91 muehR 81r evli S 61 maert S 41 eiri ar P 31r edneT 6 aept ee wS 5 esaer G 4 aesoR 3secnir P 2sill yr a mA 1 N WOD HOT TOPIC The view from your side of the fence In response to Over the fence in September’s issue on whether garden ornaments are tacky or not, I think it all depends on the ornament and whether it brings you joy. I particularly like these driftwood pieces (top right) in my small garden – they please me and surely that’s all that matters? Wouldn’t the world be a miserable place if everything was homogenised. Freda Neacy, by email We have a largish garden in south Oxfordshire and, on advice from David Hurrion, decided we needed a focal point in the south-east ‘woody’ corner. So I designed and constructed these two statues (bottom right). David was right, they do draw the eye to that darker corner. I guess in a smaller garden or in a more prominent position they might dominate (they’re slightly larger than life size), but at this scale they’re quite insignificant until you look towards that part of the garden. Tacky or tasteful? Sunny delight Autumn at home and away In last month’s issue (We love September) it was suggested not to go on holiday in autumn because you’ll miss the beautiful foliage colours at home. But my husband and I have often been to the Rhine and Mosel areas of Germany in autumn, purely to enjoy the spectacular foliage colours on the riverbanks. I can assure you the views are not to be missed, whether you’re in the car or on a river cruise. There’s still plenty of time to enjoy the home display even with a couple of weeks away. Jenny Robinson, by email My wonderful mum wrote to you last summer and was overjoyed to see her ‘What’s in a name?’ letter published in your July issue. Heartbreakingly, she passed away in March this year. Looking after the garden we shared has brought a little comfort – Mum absolutely adored gardening, it was her ‘happy place’. I now totally get it, nurturing something you’ve planted is so rewarding, and seeing her plants reappear is even more poignant now. This is my first dip into gardening – I’m learning as I go and wish she were here to give advice. So here’s to my incredible mum – Alison – who I love endlessly and continues to shine brightly every day. Emily Sharman, by email I agree with Alan that keeping all pests at bay is not the answer (Problem solving: Garden pests, August issue). Three years ago I planted out brassicas and covered them with fine mesh. When I inspected them two weeks later, they were covered in aphids, because no predator could access them. Now all I do is rub them off between finger and thumb. A much better option all round! Carol Parker, Derbyshire Last year I sowed my free sunflower seeds from BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and had some relatively good results. But something extraordinary has happened this year – one little seed has self-sown into the concrete at the top of my garden! Instead of growing up, it has grown around and along. It’s HUGE and has even managed to flower. Sally-Anne, Northampton October 2023 A friend suggested there might be a Saturday Night Fever theme to the figures – but no, actually it’s my wife Sue and me, with her vaguely protesting about me playing my ukelele! Bob Mills, Oxfordshire Inspirational memories Rubbing along together PHOTO: GETTY/EMICRISTEA

We October Two-year transformation Worthy cover stars My wife Marie and I are novice gardeners, and moved to a house in rural Norfolk with a garden that was nothing but unkempt grass. We read in your magazine that a pond is one of the best things you can do to attract wildlife, so with a bit of naivety, elbow grease and tons of enthusiasm we created a large pond using recycled flint and donated plants. Within just two years our pond is looking beautiful and attracts bees, butterflies, dragonflies, birds, frogs and so much more! Gary Howe, Norfolk I loved the wonderful dahlias on the cover of the September issue. Dahlias have long been a challenge for me – I was quite a novice gardener when I planted my first tuber and was so disappointed when it didn’t bloom. Since then, I’ve learned a lot about dahlias and a new world has opened to me. My husband and I are now proud dahlia enthusiasts and have an ever-growing collection. This is dahlia ‘Wizard of Oz’, which looks as magical as it sounds! Laurette Schmitt, by email October 2023 The writer of each letter published will receive our 132-page Small Space Gardening Guide with four seed packs: lobelia, osteospermum, pansy and lettuce. For more on all our gardening guides visit bit.ly/guides-gw This month’s prize SUBSCRIBER-ONLY OFFER Terms and conditions Offer closes 31 October 2023. *Offer excludes delivery and some products; not valid with any other offer. If no phone number is provided, the offer will be for online purchases only. Calls charged at varying rates – please check the partner website. TO ORDER, see your NEW Subscriber Benefits section on p30 for all your discount codes Various delivery charges apply SPOIL YOURSELF OR SOMEONE SPECIAL WITH 15%* DISCOUNT Too early to be thinking about Christmas? For this month only, BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine is helping subscribers save more by offering a 15%* discount when shopping with our selected partners below. Save on a huge range of plants, seeds and bulbs, gifts, pots and compost, and more. NEW! DARLAC darlac.com (online orders only) DT BROWN ☎ 0333 003 0869 dtbrownseeds.co.uk NEW! HARKNESS ROSES ☎ 0844 502 0014 roses.co.uk HAYLOFT hayloft.co.uk (online orders only) FARMER GRACY farmergracy.co.uk (online orders only) GARDENING DIRECT ☎03333 702702 J. PARKER’S ☎0161 848 1100 jparkers.co.uk MARSHALLS GARDEN ☎01480 774555 marshallsgarden.com MR. FOTHERGILL’S ☎ 0333 777 3936 mr-fothergills.co.uk SARAH RAVEN ☎ 0345 092 0283 sarahraven.com WOOLMANS ☎ 0333 003 1671 woolmans.com YOU GARDEN ☎ 0844 502 0050 yougarden.com GardenersWorld.com 21

Have your say Should public parks put biodiversity first? Parks are fantastic public resources as they are, giving people respite in urban areas and also having their own cultural value as historic sites, so any change to their design should be focused on helping them to fulfil their current purpose. It can be detrimental to change them without sympathy to their heritage. Of course, many of us want to increase biodiversity, including the number of trees we have in this country, and parks are often looked to for this purpose. However, a historic park can suffer if tree planting is poorly planned, disrupting historic views and intruding on playing fields, often without achieving climate mitigation objectives. Rewilding is also a tempting proposition – why expend money and effort on fuelconsuming machinery, grass-mowing services and maintaining ornamental borders when nature can be allowed to flourish? Long grasses and new orchards offer habitats for butterflies and birds, without needing chemical pesticides. The No Mow May initiative is delightful, but the encroachment of stinging nettles, bindweed and thistles is likely if spaces are left unchecked. Nature left to its own devices may actually detract and lead to loss of green space. Well-managed lawns offer those without their own garden open skies and the sensation of grass between the toes, while also serving as the backdrop to games and summer picnics. Planting schemes deliver a seasonal rhythm to daily commutes. Hardstanding paths give access to unpolluted byways for those with prams, in wheelchairs or with a shopping trolley to hand. Many public parks are remnants of a bygone era, and have evolved to serve a variety of uses over time. Historic records and archives, such as those to be found at londongardenstrust.org, tell the stories of this heritage. To alter parks’ appearance or change their purpose could cost us the history behind them and many of the benefits they already can give us. Nature left to its own devices may actually lead to loss of green space The purpose of parks remains as it always was: safe, beautiful places for all to enjoy together. No mystery to that unchanging human need. But the world around parks is now changing at an accelerating rate. The last eight years have been the hottest on record and the UN Secretary General António Guterres has said that climate change is “out of control”. In addition, we are facing an ecological emergency. Every gardener knows and grieves over the declining numbers – songbirds from our shrubs; earthworms, centipedes and beetles from our soil; the moths around a lamp on a summer night. There is a catastrophe unfolding. But a huge amount can be done to help people come to terms with these changes. The need for parks has never been greater. As in World War Two, when allotments were dug in London’s Hyde Park, every park can play its part: none is too grand. To suggest that historic parks are threatened by management to protect biodiversity is to miss the bigger picture. What threatens all parks, and indeed human civilisation, is climate change and ecological collapse. Many of the changes that we need are reversible. More perennials, more pollinator plants, more plants with seeds or fruit favoured by birds, more water bodies for wildlife, more forest trees for shade and carbon capture, and – yes – more allotments and community gardens. Verges and areas of parks left unmown until June are good for wildlife but need to be managed positively rather than just abandoned. Many local authorities are now producing pollinator strategies to ensure that positive approach. Of course results are mixed: many councils see only a chance to cut costs. But the best, like Lancaster City Council, see the role of parks in changing hearts and minds about the crisis, and at the same time providing more for the ecological networks on which we all depend. Do you think that public parks should be repurposed to solely provide habitats for wildlife and increase biodiversity? Email or write to us with your thoughts at the address on page 20 David Lambert is Director of The Parks Agency, which is devoted to the conservation and management of public parks Helen Monger is Director of London Historic Parks and Gardens Trust, a charity that protects the city’s green spaces What threatens all parks, and indeed human civilsation, is climate change 22 GardenersWorld.com October 2023 We October

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24 GardenersWorld.com October 2023 to top up supplies because of pest and disease concerns, such as pine and oak, are likely to be “almost impossible” to get hold of. And, he adds, it’ll take years to grow enough extra stock to make up the shortfall. “Smaller trees and whips you can turn around in two years, but anything bigger you’re looking at more than five years. There is no quick fix.” In an effort to bump up homegrown tree production, the Government is pumping almost £750,000 into new high-quality tree-seed orchards, supplying seeds to tree nurseries for raising homegrown saplings. As well as landmark tree species such as oak, hornbeam and beech, the money will help to plant The Government is funding new tree-seed nurseries to boost future tree supplies, as growers warn that gardeners face years of shortages due to soaring demand. Tree retailers across Britain have told GW they expect supplies to be low again in the coming year, following acute shortages last season, when tree planting shot up by 40 per cent, with the Government piling on the pressure to increase planting to 30,000 hectares of new woodland each year by 2025. Last year, oak trees were particularly hard to find as gardeners and community groups also planted three million for the Queen’s Green Canopy, marking the Platinum Jubilee. Mike Glover, managing director of Barcham Trees, tells us he has already sold out of more popular garden trees such as amelanchier – and this year’s planting season has hardly started. “We can’t grow them quickly enough,” he says. “Everyone is short on trees.” Simon Scarth, director of Chew Valley Trees, reckons demand for trees has doubled in the past five years. He says trees that can’t be imported Nurseries can’t grow trees fast enough to meet the surging demand Amelanchiers are ideal trees for small gardens, but stocks are low new seed orchards for smaller trees too. The Future Trees Trust is using seeds from Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank to grow new stocks of blackthorn, while the Woodland Trust is identifying new seed sources for good-quality hazel and holly, as well as service tree (Sorbus terminalis), known for its resilience to climate change. Jo Clark, of the Future Trees Trust, says, “We need to deliver tens of thousands of hectares of woodland – but at the moment the industry just isn’t geared up to supplying that number of trees.” In partnership with the Earth Trust, she is helping to establish an orchard of oak trees at Sotterley Estate in Suffolk, due to start supplying top-quality acorns UK faces tree shortage dilemma Putting the spotlight on the biggest issues in gardening today SALLY NEX is a professional gardener, as well as an award-winning garden writer. within a few years. “Oak is always a massive problem for the industry, as you can’t get enough acorns,” says Jo. “Managed seed orchards help to supply both diversity and quantity.” The charity is now hunting down exceptionalquality hornbeam and beech trees to establish more seed orchards. Alisha Anstee, of the Woodland Trust, says that volunteers at community tree nurseries also play a vital role in supporting the future of our trees, gathering seeds from less accessible locations. She also suggests that anyone wanting trees for their garden could try growing their own from seed. Acorns, hazelnuts, beech mast and sweet chestnuts are among the easiest to collect (but ask the landowner’s permission first). She recommends sowing the seeds now into pots of peat-free compost and by spring you’ll have small saplings to plant in your garden or a larger pot. “You don’t have to worry about biosecurity risks or not knowing where the tree comes from,” says Alisha. “And it’s a great way to connect kids to the way things grow.” But she admits that the wait for a full-grown tree will be long: “If you want instant impact, it’s not the solution – for that we need an increase in sustainable tree supplies.” ■ For more on community tree nurseries, go to bit.ly/ctnc To bump up homegrown tree production, the Government is pumping £750,000 into new tree-seed nurseries PHOTOS: FERA SCIENCE LTD; DAVID FORD; GETTY/AL-TRAVELPICTURE; HISTORIC ENGLAND ARCHIVE; JASON INGRAM; STIGA

October 2023 Once at risk of loss, the summer houses will now be restored ‘Contorta’ quince has white flowers and twisted branches Natural healing? Allotment huts saved Colorado beetle scare Plants go pop Getting patients out into nature could save the NHS more than £635 million every year, a new report for the Wildlife Trusts has found. ‘Green prescribing’, under which doctors sign patients up for outdoor activities such as gardening and nature walks, can help reduce the cost of treating conditions including obesity, depression and restricted mobility, the report found. bit.ly/WT-health-report Three tumbledown allotment sheds that are so historically important they’ve got a Grade II heritage listing have a safe future after winning a £63,000 grant from Historic England for their restoration. The ‘summer houses’ at Stoney Road Allotments in Coventry date back to the 19th century, in various styles, some with pointed windows, terracotta roof tiles and even a fireplace. facebook.com/SRGA19 There have been two confirmed sightings of Colorado potato beetles within a matter of weeks – the first time the beetle has been seen in the UK since the 1970s. Colorado beetles can wreak devastation on potato crops, stripping the plants bare. The outbreaks, in Kent and Hampshire, were swiftly controlled, but veg growers are urged to be vigilant. The beetle is yellow or orange with black stripes and about 1cm long. Report any suspected sightings to planthealth. info@apha.gov.uk Want to be more in tune with plants? You can now listen to the ‘voices’ of ivy, tulips and lavender on a new album by Italian sound designer Andrea Baroldi, working with garden machinery maker STIGA. Created by attaching electrodes to plant leaves, The Garden Sounds is free on streaming platforms. Rare quince honoured A Japanese quince with corkscrew stems is this year’s Plant Heritage Threatened Plant of the Year. Just three known plants of Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Contorta’ remain. Find out more at plantheritage.org.uk Make this your greenest Christmas ever with nature-inspired festive crafts from our latest special edition ● 134 pages of ideas and projects ● DIY wreath ideas ● Festive pots made easy ● Simple step-by-step advice ● Tree ornaments GUIDE ONLY £7.99 ON SALE in selected supermarkets, WHSmith, and local stores from 7 September (for a limited time only) BUY NOW online bit.ly/GWCreativeChristmas23

26 GardenersWorld.com October 2023 From lime greens and charcoal blacks to burning vermilion, the acer grove at Standen House and Garden, near East Grinstead in West Sussex, has every kind of autumn colour on display. Standen’s series of enclosed garden rooms – including an orchard and kitchen garden – are the perfect places to simply sit and enjoy the calm and quiet of the autumn. The house itself is in the Arts and Crafts style, including original Morris & Co interiors, so there’s something for everyone. ENTRY OFFER House and garden: 2 for 1 £14, single reduced to £7. Open all year, visit nationaltrust. org.uk/standen. Knightshayes, near Tiverton, is home to one of the National Trust’s biggest plant collections. Emerging from the Devon countryside, it’s made up of a series of areas, varying from formal topiary gardens to richly planted woodland glades. There’s still plenty to see at this time of year, especially in the walled kitchen garden, where vibrant dahlias offer a last colourful hurrah. But this beautifully maintained garden is not just for show – look out in October for pumpkins and squashes ripening in the low autumn sun. ENTRY OFFER House and garden: 2 for 1 £14. Single reduced to £7. Open all year – for full details visit nationaltrust. org.uk/knightshayes. Offer not valid on bank holidays. SAVE £14 SAVE £14 Golden greats Acers high Join us this month as we explore some of the many 2 for 1 Gardens ablaze with breath-taking autumn colour Collector’s item

■ Use your 2 for 1 Gardens entry card at these five gardens and hundreds more across the UK until 5 April 2024 ■ Share photos and videos of your garden visits using hashtag #GW2for1 To browse the 2 for 1 Gardens directory and sign up to receive our regular seasonal and regional garden picks straight to your inbox, go to GardenersWorld.com/gardens Find more visiting inspiration at Discoverandplan 2for 1daysout GardenersWorld.com/gardens October 2023 GardenersWorld.com 27 PHOTOS: JO COUND; MIKE KERRY; DARREN MORRIS; @NATALIE_V_Z; NATIONAL TRUST IMAGES/LIZ ABBEY/MARIANNE MAJERUS/ARNHEL DE SERRA SAVE £15 SAVE £10 It’s a surprise to find 500-yearold Speke Hall right on the edge of Liverpool. First built in 1530, this beautifully preserved house is the perfect place to explore over the half-term break. There are loads of fun activities such as the giant maze and zip wire, while older kids can learn about the history of the house. Take the garden path down, through the woods, and out overlooking wide estuary mudflats to spot migratory wildfowl. ENTRY OFFER House and garden: 2 for 1 £15. Single reduced to £8. Garden: 2 for 1 £10. Visit nationaltrust.org.uk/ speke-hall. Offer not valid on bank holiday weekends. Visit before the end of the month to witness Drummond Castle Gardens in one last flush of colour – the approach features a mile-long avenue of beech trees, their gold and russet-clothed branches vanishing to the horizon. The main event, though, is the immaculate parterre. Even Queen Victoria was struck by the sight, writing in her diary that it reminded her of “an old French garden”. Perthshire’s rugged surrounding countryside, meanwhile, provides the perfect foil to all this clipped formality. ENTRY OFFER Garden: 2 for 1 £10. For 2 for 1 entry, select one adult ticket when booking online. Visit drummondcastlegardens. co.uk. Open until 31 Oct. Offer not valid on event days. Mersey marvel October fest For a bracing walk on a crisp autumn day, Tatton Park in Cheshire is the place to visit. In October its 1,000-acre deer park hosts one of these islands’ most dramatic natural spectacles – the annual deer rut. The historic Japanese Garden, in contrast, provides a scene of quiet tranquillity and reflection. Other highlights include the tropical glasshouses and grand Italianate pleasure gardens – all set against rolling country parkland. ENTRY OFFER Parkland: 2 for 1 £9.50 weekends, £8 weekdays. Open all year – for details, see tattonpark.org.uk. Offer not valid on event days. Not at all deer SAVE £9.50 We October Before setting off remember to check the garden’s website for opening and closing times, as not all gardens are open daily

28 GardenersWorld.com October 2023 WORDS: GABRIELLE SHAY. PHOTOS: PAUL DEBOIS Spice up your garden this autumn with a Halloween-inspired container of e mon WE USED ➊ Large rattan basket planter, with a fitted liner ❷ Chrysanthemum ‘Pobo Red’ x 1 ❸ Viola ‘Honeybee’ Sorbet XP Series x 5 ❹ Ornamental kale ‘Nagoya White’ x 2 ❺ Variegated trailing ivy – Hedera helix ‘Glacier’ x 2 ❻ Ornamental chilli Acapulco Yellow x 5 ❼ Ornamental gourds x 3 The devil is in the detail with this stylish Halloweeninspired display. Set in a rustic rattan planter, a warm crimson chrysanthemum makes a seasonal focal point, surrounded by mischievous-faced violas in complementary hues. To juxtapose the central structure, frilly-leaved ornamental kale is interspersed with trailing ivy, which can be kept in the planter all year for other arrangements. The flowers paired with the foliage showcase what a bountiful time of year it is, enhanced with ornamental yellow chillies and charming gourds. But if you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to eat the yellow chillies or knobbly gourds, be aware they’re best enjoyed only as decorative seasonal fun! Find more autumnal container inspiration on p52. Ghouls and gourds Put your smaller plants in place before the chrysanthemum in the middle, as it can be fragile Fill any gaps around the edge of the planter with delicate violas, inserting them gently TOP TIPS

October 2023 GardenersWorld.com 29 ❹ ❺ ❷ ❸ ❶ ❻ ❼ We October

Thisisnotpartoftheinstruction 30 GardenersWorld.com October 2023 Complete your details Title Forename Surname Address Town Postcode Home telephone Mobile Email address Details of gift recipient (if applicable) Title Forename Surname Address Town Postcode Home telephone Option 2 Payment by cheque or credit card □ I would like to subscribe by credit/debit card, paying £59 for 12 issues, saving 24% □ I enclose a cheque/PO made payable to Immediate Media Co London Ltd for £59 □ Please debit £59 from my □ Visa □ Mastercard Card number □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ Valid from □□ ⁄ □□Expiry date □□ ⁄ □□ Signature ..................................................................................... Date ............................................................ Subscription order form Complete this form and send it to: FREEPOST IMMEDIATE MEDIA (PLEASEWRITE IN CAPITAL LETTERS) GWNP1023 Experience more as a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Subscriber Club member with: †This offer is only open to new UK Direct Debit customers subscribing to BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine. The closing date for this offer is 19 October 2023. The offer is £24.50 every 6 issues; your subscription will continue at a rate of £24.50 every 6 issues. The Gardening Book by Monty Don is subject to availability and will be mailed from 26 October. We reserve the right to fulfil all subsequent orders with a product of equal value. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery, but we will endeavour to fulfil orders at the earliest opportunity. You may cancel at any time and receive a full refund on any outstanding issues by contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may also be required. Prices are discounted from the full UK subscription price and include P&P. Standard UK subscription price: £77.25 / Europe and Republic of Ireland: €118 / Rest of the World: US$166 / USA and Canada: US$143.88 / Australia and New Zealand: A$180. *UK calls will cost the same as other standard fixed line numbers (starting 01 or 02) and are included as part of any inclusive or free minutes allowances (if offered by your phone tariff). Outside of free call packages call charges from mobile phones will cost between 3p and 55p per minute. For overseas subscriptions, call +44 (0) 1604 973 731. Please visit buysubscriptions.com/contact for customer service opening hours. BBC Gardeners World Magazine would like to send you updates, special offers and promotions. Tick here if you prefer not to receive these by: email post phone .You can unsubscribe at any time. For information about how we use your personal data and to change the way we contact you, see our privacy policy (immediate.co.uk/privacy-policy). BBC Gardeners World Magazine is published by Immediate Media Company Limited under licence from BBC Studios Distribution. Option 1 Payment by Direct Debit □ I would like to subscribe by Direct Debit, paying £24.50 for 6 issues, then just £27.60 every 6 issues – saving 37% and receive a copy of The Gardening Book by Monty Don. ForImmediateMediaCoLondonLtd officialuseonly. A/Cno□□□□□□□□□□ Instructions toyourbankor buildingsocietytopayby DirectDebit.Originator’s reference:941499 Nameofbank Address Postcode Accountholder Sortcode Accountnumber □□ □□ □□ □□□□□□□□ Instructions to your bank or building society:Pay Immediate Media Co London Ltd.DirectDebits from the account detailed on this instruction subjectto the safeguards assured by the Direct Debit Guarantee.I understand thatthis instruction may remain with Immediate Media Co London Ltd and,if so,details will be passed electronically to my bank or building society. Signature Date NB:BanksandbuildingsocietiesmaynotacceptDirectDebitinstructions fromsomeaccounts. 1 2 FREE delivery GardenersWorld.com Premium – access special subscriberonly content on GardenersWorld.com 4 direct to your door Subscriber events and opportunities to meet the magazine’s experts 3 Exclusive money-saving offers plus competitions, discounts and free seeds

October 2023 GardenersWorld.com 31 Call 03330 162123* and quote code GWNP1023 Visit buysubscriptions.com/GWNP1023 Post your completed order form to the Freepost address at the top of the form SPECIAL SUBSCRIPTION OFFER Subscribe to Offer ends 19 October 2023 for only £24.50 every 6 issues† and receive Monty Don’s The Gardening Book BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine 3 EASY WAYS TO SUBSCRIBE The Gardening Book is Monty Don’s most practical and accessible book to date, created to answer the most popular gardening questions that he has received over his many years of gardening. An essential book for any gardener, whatever their level of expertise. Receive a copy of Monty Don’s new book

32 GardenersWorld.com October 2023 It’s the restrained order and quiet calm of hedges that makes them such perfect partners for exuberant P flower borders HOTO: JASON INGRAM

monty’s garden October 2023 GardenersWorld.com 33 A hedge, for all its fresh-cut crispness, retains the anarchy of growth that is the pulse of even the most rigidly tamed garden perfect way to bring structure to your garden – and now is the best time of year to plant one, says Monty Heavenly

34 GardenersWorld.com October 2023 Hedges of various heights provide the living structure of Longmeadow Ilove all hedges. At their best they create magnificent living sculpture in gardens, while at their worst even the scruffiest hedge provides ideal nesting and cover for birds, insects and small mammals. Hedges baffle the wind far better than any fence or wall, filtering and sluicing it through their mesh of branches, and create microclimates that can transform the range of plants a garden can contain. Their shade is usually benign and protective and, not least, they provide the privacy that every garden must have if it’s to be fully enjoyed. But the thing I like most about hedges is the spaces they create. It is a truism worth repeating that the best bits of any garden are the spaces between plants. While these can be explored with infinite variety and subtlety in a border filled with glorious flowers, nothing in a garden so deliberately cossets space as a fine hedge. Walls come close, but very few walls have the volume of a hedge or the adaptability to swoop, curve or billow with elegance – let alone explode with a flurry of sparrows as you pass. A hedge, for all its fresh-cut crispness, retains the anarchy of growth and change that is the pulse beneath the surface of even the most rigidly tamed garden. Our garden in London in the 1980s didn’t have a single hedge – we were hedgeless in Hackney. But we did have walls all round (the one on the southfacing side being astonishingly high and lovely) and we built another right across the garden to divide it. The spaces were made, but entirely in brick and stone. Was that a city thing? Or, to flip the question, are hedges more suited to rural gardens? No, and no. Although I liked that garden very much – loved it even – it was a missed opportunity. If I were doing it again, I’d have built those blocks of air with the softness of hedges. Long divisions Here at Longmeadow we’ve redressed the balance with lots of hedges. We have a large yew hedge dividing the walled garden from the topiary-filled front (which we never film). Hornbeam marks out all the paths and larger areas nearer the house. These in turn are sub-divided by more hedges including hawthorn once you reach the coppice and orchard, as the garden loses formality and softens into the surrounding landscape. There is a mixed hedge around the boundary and a long hedge of field maple down one side. Yew is, of course, evergreen and the tried and trusty tool of garden designers. Nothing makes a better backdrop or a more solidly green structure than a wellkept yew hedge. The main advantage of

October 2023 GardenersWorld.com 35 Long-reach tools reduce the need for climbing when trimming high hedges Long-reach tools reduce the need for climbing when trimming high hedges Enclosing hedges combine well with features such as pleached limes PHOTOS: JASON INGRAM Monty’s tips for trimming ■ Late summer to mid-autumn is a good time to trim deciduous hedges. Aim to make the base wider than the top. Gently sloping sides let light reach the lower half of the hedge, so it maintains its thickness and density right to the base. There are many different hedgetrimmers and I use several here at Longmeadow. Petrol machines are powerful, but heavy and noisy, while electric trimmers are excellent for fine finishes and smaller lengths. The new lithium-battery cordless machines have transformed cutting hedges, being lighter and less noisy than a petrol machine, without the trailing wire of a simple electric one. However, you will need a spare battery and a charger, and these can be extra costs. ■ For tall hedges, a long-arm trimmer is great, allowing you to stay on the ground. If you do have to get up in the air – to cut the top, for instance – use only a really secure set of trestles, ladder or moveable platform, all of which I use at Longmeadow. Good hand shears can be as effective as any mechanical tool for a fine finish, at a fraction of the cost. But whichever tools you use, make sure they are sharp. This is safer for you, better for the plant, and makes trimming much easier. monty’s garden Hedges baffle the wind better than any fence, filtering and sluicing it through their branches evergreen hedges is their permanence and solidity of colour, and the way in which they provide winter structure that delights even on the bleakest December afternoon. Deciduous hedges, on the other hand, provide the rolling rhythms of the seasons that add extra delight as well as moments of despair. While the spiny, picked-over bones of a hawthorn hedge can compound winter’s bite, nothing makes the spirit soar quite like the first flush of new leaves in March and April. There is always a week or so in early May when I swear that the whole garden is visibly breathing and pulsing with life, so intense is the charge from the fresh leaves unfurling along my hedges. At such times heaven is here, now, in the garden. Hornbeam clings on to its leaves, but without the solid resoluteness of yew or box. About now they’re turning silky yellow, but unlike hawthorn, field maple and ash that shed every last leaf by Christmas, they’ll have assumed a coffeecoloured tan by the end of November and will last all winter. This half-way house works well in the winter garden, keeping the shape and structure of the clipped summer hedges, while retaining the magic of spring with April’s new green growth. There is another detail about hornbeam in winter that I love. On a sunny, crisp day in the new year, when the hedges are as dry and sere as bone, I can be working quietly in the garden when I hear – but do not feel or see – the rattle of rain on leaves. In fact, this is the tiniest breath of breeze that flutters the crisp leaves, exactly reproducing the pattering of raindrops. It’s delicate, magical – like a thousand distant chimes playing. Ithink hedge height is critical, and people often get it wrong.It must be proportionate to the space it is creating and to what you want the eye to do.In other words, it’s a vital aesthetic decision, down to the last inch. As a rule, it’s betterto be too high than too low. Counter-intuitive as it might seem, height makes all spaces seem bigger, while a hedge that is squat and scant diminishes everything around it. Think how a smallroom seems so much more spacious if it has a high ceiling. Measure of the man I like to relate all garden space to the scale of the human body. Broadly speaking this means I have hedges that are too high to see over, hedges at hip height and hedges at knee height. The latter two are easy – I never measure them, but just run

36 GardenersWorld.com October 2023 a hedgetrimmer along at these points of my own body. The tall hedges have evolved into two different but constant heights. The first is 6ft – my head height – and I use these underneath the pleached limes and around the Jewel Garden, for hedges backed or topped by trees. All the tall dividing or boundary hedges are 11ft 4in high. I tinkered with this height until it felt right, and maintain it by using a measuring stick cut and renewed from hazel in the coppice. Any hedge, whatever its height, must be trimmed regularly to preserve its value as structure. It’s amazing the lift it gives a garden when the hedges are freshly cut. Of course they’re more trouble to cut at this height, but in my book easily worth it. And anyway, if you don’t want trouble, then best give up gardening. But as troubles go, these are easy ones. The point is that you have to work out these things for yourself in your own garden. What’s right for me at Longmeadow almost certainly won’t be ideal for you. Evergreen hedges, for example, may have to be kept below 2m if the neighbours complain. But the principle remains: every garden is betterfor plenty of hedges. Trust your eye and body for establishing their height, trim regularly, and don’t be scared to let your hedges stand tall. □ monty’s garden LISTENto Monty talking aboutthe story of Longmeadow at GardenersWorld.com/ podcast CatchMonty andthe team onGardeners’World every Fridayevening. See TV listings fordetails. Monty on TV Monty’s pick of hedges Stalwart plants for trimming to shape ◼ Holly (Ilex aquifolium) makes an excellent hedge, but is rather slow growing, especially at first. Don’t plant it along borders though, as the fallen leaves are impossibly hostile if you’re weeding or planting nearby. ◼ Thuja plicata and Lawson’s cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana) also make great evergreen hedges. They grow quickly and can be clipped into a barrier. ◼ Yew isn’t just for large gardens and grows faster than you might expect, at 60-90cm a year. It regenerates well after hard pruning and needs only one trim annually. But if kept to below 1m, it rarely retains a tight shape – for that, choose box (Buxus sempervirens). ◼ I love both hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) and beech (Fagus sylvatica), but would never plant both in the same garden. They do the same job in the same way, but have different soil preferences: hornbeam is happy in heavy, clay-based soils; beech likes better drainage and a chalk or sandy soil. Both are ideally trimmed twice a year, in early August and again in the new year (although once, in early autumn, will suffice). Hornbeam grows quickly – at Longmeadow it makes a dense, 2m tall hedge in three years, twice as tall in five. PHOTOS: MARSHA ARNOLD; SARAH CUTTLE; JASON INGRAM This crisp ‘window’ in Monty’s boundary hedge frames the landscape beyond Holly Yew Hornbeam Beech Thuja

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PHOTO: JASON INGRAM October 2023 GardenersWorld.com 39 how I garden Tending to hardy seedlings sown earlier in the year helps to get the garden off to a great start next year Ensure your garden is in great shape for the colder months ahead – and next year’s growing season – with Sue Kent’s guide to hassle-free autumn preparation I find giving the garden a once-over before winter arrives a very rewarding job

40 GardenersWorld.com PHOTOS: SARAH CUTTLE; JASON INGRAM Sue’s 10 key jobs to get your garden autumn-ready Move seedlings I have lots of self-seeded plants around the garden including wallflowers, forget-me-nots and verbascums. Most of them are in unwanted areas so I move them to where I want them to grow. This is a great way of saving money and reducing the garden’s environmental impact by using less resources. Store apples The cooking apples are now ready on the trees and are best picked in the morning when the fruit is still quite cool. I wrap them up loosely in newspaper so they’re not touching each other and store them in single layers in trays at a temperature of 3-7°. I also use any damaged ones immediately, making cider vinegar with the good parts. Make leafmould The falling of leaves marks the passing of the season. I love leaves; they are garden gold to be swept, kept and stored in bags behind the shed where they will turn into leafmould. One-year-old leafmould can be used as a mulch, while two-year-old leafmould can be used for growing seedlings. Keep deadheading There is still the regular task of deadheading to keep me busy. Cosmos and scabious continue October is a mellow month with a fading, romantic and relaxed atmosphere to enjoy while putting the garden in order. There are still fruit and vegetables that need harvesting and storing to maximise the potential from this year’s hard work. Plus there are young plants to protect through winter as temperatures dip. I always prepare in case the winter proves to be very cold – my small hands are not suitable for gloves so outdoor work isn’t always possible – and by the end of October my major work in the garden needs to be completed. I have to confess I don’t like housework, but I find giving the garden a once-over before winter a very rewarding job. The mild warmth of mid-autumn presents gardeners with the perfect opportunity to enjoy a few restful days outside, gathering final harvests, storing and preserving this year’s bounty, and stealing a march on next year’s growing season. to flower, particularly as I live in a mild, coastal location where frosts are quite rare, and some repeat-flowering roses can keep going until Christmas. Deadheading keeps colour in my borders, though I find roses often need reducing in size to withstand strong autumn winds. Collect and dry flowers Life is not all about harvesting food crops; selecting interesting seedheads and picking some hydrangeas to dry is a happy pastime. Pick mophead-type hydrangeas after the flowerhead has slightly changed colour and is firm to the touch. Preserve green tomatoes My indoor and outdoor tomatoes will not produce any more viable fruit and are ready for one final harvest. I like to get a big crop of green ones to make green tomato marmalade and pickled green tomatoes – both are winter favourites in our house. Harvest potatoes Collecting these is a priority, particularly with the potatoes in pots. When they are ready I tip the pot over with my feet. There is no digging and the potatoes are not damaged by a garden fork. They are easy to pick out and are fairly clean, too. Store apples Plant lettuce seedlings Make leafmould

GardenersWorld.com 41 how I garden Keep deadheading Preserve green tomatoes Harvest potatoes Collect and dry hydrangeas

Get more advice and inspiration from Sue and the Gardeners’ World team on Friday evenings this month on BBC Two. Times vary, so check TV listings. Catch up with Sue 42 GardenersWorld.com October 2023 how I garden PHOTOS: GAP/VISIONS; GETTY/MINT IMAGES; JASON INGRAM If you have noticed that some plants self-seed more than you would like, cut back faded flower stems before they can make lots of seed ■ Reduce work next spring by covering empty veg beds with a mulch of well-rotted manure – this keeps weeds at bay and improves the soil. ■ Leave interesting seedheads in place for winter interest and to benefit wildlife. However, do cut back spent flowerheads on plants that are liable to self-seed out of control, such as toadflax, to reduce weeding next spring. ■ Use a long-handled fruit collecting tool to gather fallen apples – it makes the task far less time-consuming. Make it work for you Cut your autumn preparation to-do list down to size with Sue’s labour-saving tips and tool recommendations ■ Get spring-flowering bulbs in place with a long-handled bulb planter. These make the job easier and create suitable holes for most spring-flowering bulbs. ■ Collect fallen leaves with a pair of leaf grabbers. They are easy on the back and are much quieter and lighter to handle than a leaf blower. ■ Prune with a long-reach tool. Invest in one that’s lightweight and has a quality cutting head. Choose one with a cut-and-hold function to stop prunings from falling on your head. Plant bulbs Pot on plants Protect kit from the elements Protect pots and tools from the elements My potting shed is open to the elements and it can get damp in the winter. With this in mind it’s important to collect any hastily abandoned seed packets and remove tools that may rust in the salty coastal air. I also collect any empty plastic pots, sort them by size and store them away from sunlight for use next year. I turn empty terracotta pots upside-down and put them in a sheltered spot outside to avoid frost damage. Plant bulbs The promise of spring beauty in a small, dried bulb is a marvel. Living as I do in Wales, planting daffodils is a must at this time of year. I have chosen Narcissus ‘Albus Plenus Odoratus’ which is white and strongly scented. I am cultivating a wild area within my lawn and white daffodils take centre-stage in early spring. Pot on plants A little earlier in the summer I collected and sowed seed from foxgloves, honesty and Ammi majus. I now have lots of free homegrown seedlings that are ready to be potted on and placed in a sheltered spot, ahead of being planted out to fill my borders next spring. ■ More from Sue Kent Sue’s new book, Garden Notes, is available to order now – it’s the perfect tool to help keep your garden on track and for recording your own gardening notes. (Graffeg, £15)

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44 GardenersWorld.com October 2023 Creative AUTUMN

âĄ³Ì« ĕÓþ âæ October 2023 GardenersWorld.com 45 Dried flowers need no water, so be creative with the vessel you choose and let your imagination run wild Drying flowers has gone through phases of popularity (and unpopularity) but in recent years it seems to be something people are trying more and more. The driving force behind this is probably financial. Times are hard for us all, and spending money on fresh flowers can seem like a stretch too far. Growing cut flowers is great in the spring and summer, but virtually impossible in the winter, so preserving summer blooms to brighten up the house seems like a logical step. The other big factor driving the dried flower revival is sustainability. The vast majority of bought cut flowers are imported from other countries, especially in winter. Drying your own flowers – even in some cases without the need for your own garden, with foraged flowers such as the buttercup drying beautifully – is so much more environmentally friendly. The process is easy, too. Sometimes you can just let plants dry in their vases, throwing out the blooms that go over and retaining those that stay attractive for the best of both worlds. Tansy and hydrangea work well with this method. For others, hanging them upside-down is the best way. PHOTOS: SARAH CUTTLE. LOCATION: WEST DEAN GARDENS, NEAR CHICHESTER, W SUSSEX. FLOWERS: LAVANT VALLEY FLOWERS Growing cut flowers in spring and summer is rewarding, but what about winter? Drying flowers is the answer, and Frances Tophill shows us how flowers

46 GardenersWorld.com PHOTOS: SARAH CUTTLE. LOCATION: WEST DEAN GARDENS, NEAR CHICHESTER, W SUSSEX October 2023 Frances’ flowers that dry well Ammi majus A beautiful annual in the carrot family; sow seeds from March until May. They can be direct sown or sown into trays or modules. Plant out from late May and expect flowers by August. To dry them, hang upside-down in a well-ventilated, dry room, out of direct sunlight, for around three weeks. H x S 1.5m x 50cm F Jun-Sep ▲ Craspedia globosa Billy buttons should grow well from direct sowing in spring. Pick them with as long a stem as possible on a dry day when they’re in peak colour. Suspend them upside-down in bunches in a dark, well-ventilated and dry room for one to two weeks. Height x Spread 90cm x 50cm Flowers May-Sep ▲ Salvia viridis ‘Oxford Blue’ This is the annual clary sage, with bract-like flowers of deep blue. Because this plant grows in one year, the flowers aren’t so tall, but they look stunning in dried flower arrangements and offer some rigidity. Grow from seed and harvest when they’re at peak colour. H x S 50cm x 50cm F Jun-Aug W Gomphrena globosa These can be a little bit delicate once they are dried so be careful while you are arranging them. They grow best in full sun but partial shade will also be fine – the blooms might just be a little less vibrant. To dry, bunch them together and hang for three weeks. H x S 60cm x 30cm F Jun-Sep

October 2023 GardenersWorld.com 47 âĄ³Ì« ĕÓþ âæ W Briza maxima A delicate and tremulous grass, it grows easily from seed, either direct sown in the ground or raised in trays. The beauty of this grass is in the hanging seedheads, so the best way to dry them is in situ, picking them dried from the garden. In a wet season, dry them upside-down, indoors. H x S 60cm x 60cm F Jun-Aug ◀ Nigella papillosa Love-in-a-mist is a great addition to any dried flower arrangement. Not only do the flowers look lovely, the dried seedheads make striking architectural flourishes, too. Nigella, once grown, often self-seeds. If not, though, it is best direct sown. H x S 50cm x 30cm F Jun-Aug Larkspur Makes a great pot-pourri or confetti so drying this usually involves stripping all the petals from the flower spikes and laying them flat on a dry surface. A cloth or newspaper can help to remove moisture. If you have pink or blue ones, keep the petals out of direct sunlight to avoid their colour fading. H x S 60cm-1.2m x 1m F Jul-Sep ▶ Xeranthemum annuum An ‘everlasting’ flower that can either be dried in the vase with other fresh flowers, then gleaned off, or hung in a dark, well-ventilated room. These annual plants hate to be moved, so are far better performers when direct sown in their final position in the beds in spring. H x S 60cm x 30cm F Jun-Sep

October 2023 GardenersWorld.com 49 âĄ³Ì« ĕÓþ âæ ◀ Growing flowers for drying Drying flowers are also able to offer beauty in the garden, and usually nectar for pollinators. Where you grow them will depend on space; the larger your garden or allotment, the more space you can dedicate solely to cut flowers. In small spaces, I find the best option is always growing these ‘functional’ plants in among everything else for beauty. Most are annuals and are sown from seed in the spring, pricked out if grown indoors, potted on and planted out, or thinned out if sown direct. With taller stems it is best to stake them well before they flop, otherwise the result is kinked flowers that have bent upwards to face the sun. ▶ qŔɭʽơɽʋǫ nj  ˁơɭɽ for drying The best time to harvest anything that you intend to dry, whether it be seed or flowers, is on a dry day, after the dew has burnt off but before the heat of the day has scorched and depleted the flower. When picking cut flowers, generally the best time to cut them is just as they are about to open, so they can unfurl in the vase. Drying flowers are different. The aim is to preserve them as near to exactly how they are at the time of picking, so it’s best to pick them when they’re in their prime. Remember to leave a few for the insects! The seedheads of the ‘Candy Floss’ poppy are ideal for drying Cut everlasting strawflower for a beautiful driedflower bouquet In small spaces, the best option is growing these ‘functional’ plants among everything else for beauty PHOTOS: SARAH CUTTLE

ON TV Get more advice and inspiration from Frances and the Gardeners’ World team on Friday evenings this month. Times vary, so check TV listings for details. Catch up with Frances 50 GardenersWorld.com October 2023 âĄ³Ì« ĕÓþ âæ PHOTOS: SARAH CUTTLE. LOCATION: WEST DEAN GARDENS, NEAR CHICHESTER, W SUSSEX. FLOWERS: LAVANT VALLEY FLOWERS Hang flower bunches upsidedown in a dry, well ventilated space ■ °³Åí âÌæ  æÓò 01491 824675 ■ ËâЄªÓí° â«³ÅÅæÓò 0333 777 3936 ■ ßÅÌíæÓª³æí³Ìí³ÓÌÓò 01449 721720 ■ ßâ Ë³ âæ  æ³â íÓË 01722 238030 ■ æâ°âý ÌÓË 0345 092 0283 ■ æ  æÓª³íÅĄÓË ■ specialplants.net 01225 891686 ■ æòííÓÌæÓò 0844 736 4208 ■ í°ÓËßæÓÌЄËÓâ«ÌÓË 0333 400 0033 Where to buy ▶ 7ɭˊǫnj  ˁơɭɽ How to dry flowers varies from species to species. Some, like hydrangea, need to be dried with a constant supply of water, and not hung upside-down. Most, though, prefer to be hung. The reason for this is that the flowers dry in their correct position and do not flop under the weight of the bloom as the stem withers. In order to preserve them to best effect, thereby maximising their lifespan, they need to stay dry and well ventilated. If they don’t, fungus can easily enter the plant. The reason for avoiding direct sunlight is to stop the blooms from fading and losing colour. Seedheads of teasels, alliums, amaranth and honesty make a spectacular display ◀ Arranging ƎɭǫơƎ  ˁơɭɽ Using dried flowers is a really enjoyable exercise because you can be creative with them. I love the varied nature of the plants – flowers, seeds and even fruits and vegetables. They can offer faded golden or straw tones if used minimally, or warm ochres, burnt oranges, silvery blues and pink – all colours and textures I love. Feel emboldened to be incredibly playful with how and where you display them. They don’t need a vase with water, so you can hang them, make a wall of them, weave them or put them in any vessel you have to hand that takes your fancy.