BBCGardenersWorldOctober2023

October 2023 GardenersWorld.com 101 PHOTO: TIM SANDALL As we head towards the festive season, we’re here to help you spend less. From beautiful plants to the latest gardening tech, our online partners have everything you need – whether that’s creating your perfect space or treating someone special. This month, BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine is offering readers the chance to save 10%* on items when shopping on our partners’ websites – saving you £££s. *EXCLUSIONS APPLY. Offers exclude delivery and some products; not valid with any other offer. Closes 31 October 2023. Postage costs apply. Calls charged at varying rates – please check on partner website. Don’t miss more of our great offers – visit GardenersWorld.com/offers and sign up to receive our offers newsletter FARMER GRACY Offers topquality bulbs and bare-root perennials, and ensures products are processed and packed in a sustainable way. farmergracy.co.uk, online only CODE: GW23RDR MR FOTHERGILLS Specialist seed grower, with a wide range of plants, fruit and veg crops, garden equipment and more. mr-fothergills.co.uk, 0333 777 3936 CODE: GWMRF10 GARDENING DIRECT Sells plants that are easy to grow and maintain, to help ensure that ‘gardening is for everyone’. gardeningdirect.co.uk, 03333 702702 CODE: EGDGW10R SARAHRAVEN For a beautiful garden and home, discover our exclusive collections and bestselling ranges of seeds, plants, garden kit and homeware. sarahraven.com, 03450 920283 CODE: GW23OCTR10 J PARKERS A family-run company that was established in 1933 as a mail-order business, and is now a leading UK supplier of bulbs and plants. jparkers.co.uk, 0161 848 1100 CODE: JPGWSALE10 WOOLMANS Ornamental flowering garden plant specialist, suppliers of top-quality chrysanthemums, dahlias, carnations and bedding plants. woolmans.com, 0333 003 1671 CODE: GWWLM10 MARSHALLS Horticultural experts, with a wide range of vegetables, garden plants, shrubs, feeds and protection, delivered quickly to your door. marshallsgarden.com, 01480 774555 CODE: G10733 YOU GARDEN Supplier of a large range of bulbs, young plants, shrubs, trees, veg crops and more, plus gardening essentials and furniture. yougarden.com, 0844 502 0050 CODE: RGW10R offer DARLAC Supplying and creating gardening cutting tools, hand tools and watering equipment to suit every gardener’s needs. darlac.com, online only CODE: GWDAR10 DT BROWN One of the leading UK seed suppliers, offering great quality and value on everything for your garden. dtbrownseeds.co.uk, 03330 030869 CODE: GWDTB10 HARKNESS ROSES Offering some of the finest award-winning British roses, celebrated for their fragrance and repeat flowering, for over 140 years. roses.co.uk, 0844 502 0014 CODE: HGW10R HAYLOFT Nursery offering a substantial and ever-changing range of unique and rare bulbs, perennials, annuals and shrubs. hayloft.co.uk, online only CODE: GW10 10% off with selected partners

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October 2023 GardenersWorld.com 103 Key crops for October Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Apples Rich in pectin, a fibre that minimises our absorption of dietary fats. But don’t peel, as that reduces fibre levels by up to a half. Tips With bare-root trees, plant as soon as possible after delivery. Soak the roots in water for a few hours before planting. Plant at level previously growing Final spacing 3-5m apart 3-5m between rows Asparagus This spring treat contains rutin, a plant compound that aids circulation and supports the body’s use of vitamin C. Tips Keep asparagus beds weed free and mulch around the crowns each autumn with well-rotted manure. Plant 8cm deep, on a ridge Final spacing 15cm apart 30cm between rows Blackcurrants Not the sweetest fruit perhaps, but these currants are among the best for their health-promoting phytonutrient content. Tips Mulch annually with well-rotted manure and water in dry spells. Protect fruit from birds. Plant 5cm deeper than previously growing Final spacing 1.5m apart 1.5m between rows Broad beans These supply numerous B vitamins, which support nerve and blood cell development as well as maintain brain function. Tips Stake tall varieties so they don’t blow over. Pinch out shoot tips in spring to control blackfly infestations. Sow 5-8cm deep Final spacing 25cm apart 45cm between rows Garlic Add crushed cloves near the end of cooking to benefit most from the hearthealthy compounds and vitamin C. Tips Plant in your sunniest spot. Water in dry weather, but not for the final few weeks before harvesting. Sow 3cm deep Final spacing 20cm apart 30cm between rows Japanese bunching onions These provide sulphur compounds that boost immune function. Enjoy their mild, sweet favour in stir-fries and miso soup. Tips Sow under cloches/fleece or in a greenhouse border at this time of year. Harvest at pencil-thickness or larger, like spring onions. Sow 2cm deep Final spacing 3cm apart 30cm between rows Lettuce With vitamins C and E, as well as fibre and carotenoids, lettuces can help manage cholesterol and improve heart health. Tips Sow small batches regularly. Grow winter varieties under cloches or in a greenhouse border to enjoy harvests in the colder months. Sow 1cm deep Final spacing 30cm apart 40cm between rows Peas These are packed with fibre, protein and minerals such as magnesium and potassium that may lower blood pressure. Tips Sow hardy varieties such as ‘Meteor’ at this time of year and protect plants with cloches or fleece, which will also deter pigeons. Sow 3cm deep Final spacing 5cm apart 30cm between rows Rhubarb Supporting the balance of beneficial gut bacteria, rhubarb aids digestion and may strengthen immune defences. Tips Plant in moist, rich soil and start harvesting lightly in the second spring. Remove any flower spikes. Plant with the crown just above the surface Final spacing 90cm apart 90cm between rows Wild rocket Fresh leaves are rich in vitamin K, which may help to regulate blood pressure and promote wound healing and strong bones. Tips Sow under cloches or indoors at this time of year. Although plants are hardy, keep them covered over winter to prolong harvests. Sow 1cm deep Final spacing 15cm apart 30cm between rows Growing guide Plant asparagus, garlic and bare-root apple trees, and sowwinter salads and bunching onions  October Sow indoors Plant/sow outdoors Harvest VISIT GardenersWorld.com/what-to-do-now for more advice on the best crops to sow and plant this month, and how to do it. Despatch in 7-10 working days. YouGarden Ltd, Eventus House, Sunderland Road, Market Deeping, PE6 8FD. Subject to availability. We reserve the right to send suitable substitute varieties of same/higher value. Closes on 30 Nov or whilst stocks last. Delivery to UK only not including NI, £6 surcharge may apply to selected postcode areas. Full details and T&Cs atyougarden.com. *Calls cost 5p per minute plus network provider’s access charge. offer BLUEBERRY COLLECTION Early ‘New Hanover’ An early, heavy cropper with fruits of a good size but with a ‘wild blueberry’ flavour Mid ‘Blueray’ A popular, tasty mid-season blueberry variety providing big crops of juicy, sweet fruits Late ‘Ozarkblue’ Provides a big crop of delicious berries. One of the most popular varieties ◼ 3 x 9cm potted plants (1 of each variety) £14.97 £9.97 SAVE £5 (310022) SAVE £5 Visit yougarden.com/RGW248 Call 0844 502 0050 * quote code RGW248 Add £6.99 P&P

FRUIT & NUT TREES • SOFT FRUITS • SUPER FRUITS • GRAPE VINES • STRAWBERRY PLANTS • RHUBARB CROWNS • HEDGING • ASPARAGUS CROWNS and more Space Saving Cordon Fruit Trees SCRUMPTIOUS ORCHARDTREES PERFECT FOR ANY SIZED GARDEN OR PATIO Giant Raspberry RASPBERRY JOAN J - An outstanding spine-free, autumn fruiting, primocane raspberry. Superb flavour and stunning berry size make this variety second to none for picking and eating. The berries are 30% larger than Autumn Bliss and freeze exceptionally well. The canes are short and sturdy and may not require supporting in sheltered gardens. Season: late July - Oct. Plant canes 40cm (16in) apart. RSP008 6 Canes Usually £19.95 NOW £17.95 Exceptional flavour Reliable, rapid establishment Plant in tubs or beds Heavy crops on small trees Cordons on the Patio Apple Katy 10% OFF Vertical Cordon Fruit Trees These space-saving columnar trees are attractive as well as fruitful and are perfect for smaller gardens. They can be spaced as close as 2-3ft apart and are also ideal planted in pots on a sunny patio or balcony. Cordons are 3-4ft tall on despatch (including the roots) and will grow to 6-8ft. APPLE ELLISON’S ORANGE - A wonderful Cox-like apple which is easy to grow and suitable for the north. The crisp, red flushed fruits are intensely rich and aromatic. Highly disease resistant. SF APC031 Usually £28.95 NOW £26.05 APPLE FIESTA - A crisp, juicy red flushed apple with a rich, aromatic Cox-like flavour. Easier to grow than Cox and suitable for the north. Heavy cropping. Stores well. Requires a pollinator (e.g. Ellison’s Orange or Katy). APC007 Usually £28.95 NOW £26.05 APPLE KATY - Raised from a cross betweeen two favourite British apples - James Grieve and Woreceser Pearmain. Sweet and very juicy with a refreshing flavour. Very disease resistant and suitable for cooler areas. Requires a pollinator (e.g. Ellison’s Orange or Fiesta). APC045 Usually £28.95 NOW £26.05 PEAR CONCORDE - Excellent late pear suitable for most locations. Large fruits with smooth, juicy flesh & rich, sweet flavour. Crops heavily and reliably from an early age. Stores very well. SF PEC001 Usually £28.95 NOW £26.05 PLUM VICTORIA - The UK’s best known plum. Pinkish red fruit with sweet, yellow, juicy flesh. A very popular dessert variety but also excellent cooked. Heavy cropping. Can be grown in the north. SF PLC003 Usually £28.95 NOW £26.05 CHERRY SUMMER SUN - This dark red dessert cherry is an excellent choice for the north and more exposed areas, cropping well even in poor summers. Large, sweet fruits. Excellent flavour. SF CHC003 Usually £30.95 NOW £27.85 10% OFF CORDON FRUIT TREES Pear Concorde Apple Fiesta Plum Victoria Cherry Summer Sun FREE ADVISORY SERVICE Growing fruit is not difficult but if you have any queries you can take advantage of our FREE aftersales advisory service. 01255 440 410 PomonaFruits.co.uk/gw10 POMONA FRUITS LTD, Dept GW10, The Barn, Brook Farm, Stones Green Rd, Great Oakley, Harwich CO12 5BN Call for our FREE Specialist Garden Fruit Catalogue – 72 pages packed full of top fruits, soft fruits and accessories for the home gardener. 01255 440 410 Order by phone, online or with the coupon: Quote GW10 See our complete range online: Cordon Collections 3 trees from only £74.85 APC923 Apple & Pear Collection 1x Fiesta, 1x Katy, 1x Concorde £74.85 APC924 Apple, Plum & Cherry Collection 1x Ellison’s Orange, 1x Victoria, 1x Summer Sun £76.85 SAVE up to £24 We think you will enjoy hearing about our latest products and offers, as well as from carefully selected and trusted retailers by post. Please tick the relevant box if you do NOT wish to receive: Mail from us Email from us Offers by post from carefully selected third parties Send to: POMONA FRUITS LTD, Dept GW10, The Barn, Brook Farm, Stones Green Rd, Gt Oakley, Harwich CO12 5BN I enclose cheque/P.O. made payable to POMONA FRUITS LTD for £ or charge my VISA MASTERCARD MAESTRO DELTA Card No Start Date / Card Expires / Security Code / / Signature Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms Address Postcode Email Tel CODE PRODUCT PRICE QTY TOTAL APC031 APPLE ELLISON’S ORANGE £26.05 APC007 APPLE FIESTA £26.05 APC045 APPLE KATY £26.05 PEC001 PEAR CONCORDE £26.05 PLC003 PLUM VICTORIA £26.05 CHC003 CHERRY SUMMER SUN £27.85 APC923 APPLE & PEAR COLLECTION £74.85 APC924 APPLE, PLUM & CHERRY COLLECTION £76.85 RSP008 RASPBERRY JOAN J (6 CANES) £17.95 (Last 3 digits on back of card) Cultural instructions are supplied. Delivery is from late Nov/Dec. Offer closes 30th November 2023. Bred in the UK. RHS Award of Garden Merit. SF Self-fertile variety (pollinator not required) p&p to mainland UK (excluding Scottish Highlands) £9.95 TOTAL GW10

W H AT T O D O N O W | O C T O B E R 115 Move your pelargoniums indoors PHOTOS: SARAH CUTTLE; PAUL DEBOIS; JASON INGRAM 108 Apply a deep mulch to borders 119 Harvest any last tomatoes 110 Add instant colourto containers 120 Protect chicory with cloches PLUS Planting garlic ◼ Potting up hippeastrum bulbs ◼ Dividing perennials ◼ Sowing a wildflower patch ◼ Lifting dahlias October 2023 GardenersWorld.com 105 Your 11-page monthly planner 50 things to do this month from the Gardeners’ World team

W H AT T O D O N O W | O C T O B E R Empty hanging baskets that were planted with annual summer bedding plants. Be ruthless, unless you added a few perennials and want to save them. The faded plants and roots can be chopped up and put on the compost heap. Once the basket is empty, brush out any compost and plant debris, then give both the outside and inside a good clean before putting it away to use again next spring. Keep containers watered – even when it has been raining. They can dry out in windy weather, too Empty hanging baskets Compost spent annuals, then clean and store away the basket Keep watering all containers filled with flowering plants. The root mass in a pot that’s full to the brim will need plenty of water, so make sure that it’s well soaked when you water. Check the compost’s moisture content by feeling into the surface or pushing a green cane into the pot and checking the moisture line. Don’t rely on rainfall, even after a heavy shower, as much of it will wet the foliage rather than the roots. Plants dry out fast in windy weather, too. Water autumn pots QUICK SOLUTIONS Keep an eye out for self-seeded plants such as pot marigolds and Verbena bonariensis. Remove weeds and insert canes around seedlings that have popped up in places where you want them to stay. To move seedlings to fill gaps elsewhere, dig a planting hole, then use the trowel to lever them up and put them in and water well. 106 GardenersWorld.com WORDS: ROSIE YEOMANS. PHOTOS: SARAH CUTTLE; JASON INGRAM October 2023 DRIVE four stakes deep into the ground in a formation that will support wire netting and hold the leaves as they rot down. PUT the wire netting around the outside of the frame. Tie it using strong twine to each stake, one at a time, and pull taut. FILL with leaves, pressing down to fit more in. It can take two years to rot right down and a year to make a great mulch. Make some valuable soil conditioner by stacking fallen leaves in a wire-lined frame. Fungal activity slowly rots the leaves down to a friable compost. The result is the best conditioner, adding humus to the soil, or it can be sieved and used in homemade potting compost. Build a bin for leafmould STEP BY STEP 1 2 3

GardenersWorld.com 107 AROUND THE GARDEN October 2023 Make a wildlife habitat A box filled with material found around the garden provides a safe habitat for insects to overwinter Sprinkle mycorrhizal fungi into the planting hole for healthy roots Fill an open box with nesting material for a range of garden insects to move in to for the winter. Bees, ladybirds, ground beetles and lacewings all need some cover if they are to do their work at pollinating and keeping slug and aphid populations down next year. Use a mixture of materials such as hollow stems, bits of pot or rocks, leaves, fir cones and whatever else you can find. Place it on the ground in a sheltered spot or on posts in the border. VISITGardenersWorld. com/planting for more planting advice Aerate and scarify lawns to aid drainage Check tree ties and loosen iftoo tight Plant bulbs such as daffodils and crocuses to naturalise in grass Clear dead and dying pond plantfoliage, leave on the side for an hour,then compost Plant potted hedging after a good rainfall Don’tforget W H AT T O D O N O W | O C T O B E R Add winter-flowering shrubs, such as evergreen Viburnum tinus, to the garden now so that they can settle in and provide extra interest in the garden during the cold months. Prioritise areas of the garden that you will be able to see from the house or along well-trodden paths where you can appreciate them the most. Plant the shrub at the same depth as it is in its pot and add a sprinkling of mycorrhizal fungi to the planting hole to encourage a good root system to develop. Water after planting and only water again if the soil dries out completely and goes pale and dusty, until next spring. Cut back perennials Plant shrubs for winter interest Cut back any perennial foliage or old flower stems that are on the brink of collapse and aren’t adding any visual value to the borders. Take them down to the base and chop them up to put on the compost heap. Leave stems with seedheads for the birds to feed on this winter. In the case of these peonies, below, any mulch added after cutting back should go just to the edge of the clump, rather than covering it, to be sure of flowers next summer. Clear herbaceous perennials down to the base of the plant VISITGardenersWorld. com/problems for more on keeping plants healthy

W H AT T O D O N O W | O C T O B E R 108 GardenersWorld.com October 2023 AROUND THE GARDEN Beechgrove ● VIEW FROM BEECHGROVE Protect vulnerable plants BEECHGROVE ON TV Catch Beechgrove on BBC Scotland, Thurs, 8pm, and on BBC Two, Fri, 7.30pm, until 29 Sept. At Beechgrove Garden it can easily reach -10°C in winter and cold winds can be devastating for Japanese maples and tree ferns. We move the acers to a sheltered place until they naturally drop their leaves for winter. We reduce watering, then stop when all leaves are off. Then we wrap the plants with horticultural fleece and the pots with bubblewrap (terracotta pots can crack in hard frost). Tree ferns have their fronds tied up this month and the crowns are packed with dried straw. The trunks are insulated with straw, with bubblewrap tied around it, to see it through winter. Harvestlate-maturing apples, such as ‘Braeburn’ Dig up maincrop carrots such as ‘Autumn King’ Cut beech, yew and hawthorn hedges Harvest pumpkins when they make a hollow sound iftapped Direct-sow sweet peas in polytunnels Leave rosehips so birds canfeedonthem Wrap terracotta Don’tforget pots securely with bubblewrap to prevent them breaking in a hard frost Add a deep layer of compost to borders. Weed through first as this also lifts any compacted soil and aerates the surface before you cover it. Ideally, apply mulch after rain so that the soil is moist. A 5-10cm layer of garden compost, proprietary soil conditioner, rotted manure or leafmould are best and will be slowly worked into the soil by worm and beetle activity. Bark or wood chip mulch should only be used on shrub borders, where it can stay on the surface. Mulch autumn borders Clear leaves from alpines Pick off leaves and debris that has fallen onto alpine plants. Alpines need plenty of light and free drainage so a covering of wet leaves will cause them to rot. Look right into the plant and pull out any that have found their way among the foliage or under spreading stems. Pick out any snails or slugs that have headed under there for the winter, then top up the grit layer around them. Clear fallen leaves from alpine plants to prevent them rotting VISITGardenersWorld. com/october for jobs to do this month Apply a layer of organic mulch to borders to help retain moisture and improve soil

PLEASECOMPLETE IN BLOCKCAPITALS I enclose cheque/PO for ____________ made payable to Hayloft Plants Ltd Please write your name and address on the reverse of the cheque Your details are kept securely and not shared with third parties. You will receive a catalogue, welcome email and special offers, if you prefer not to receive them please call 01386 562999. For T&Cs – see hayloft.co.uk Name Address Postcode Tel Email GWHY Please debit my Visa/Mastercard Card no Expiry Valid from CV2 THANK YOU, WE WILL CONFIRM YOUR ORDER QUOTE GWHY EXCELLENT HOW TO ORDER ONLINE: HAYLOFT. CO. UK/GWHY CALL: 0333 358 2006 Order Line 8am to 8pm, 7 days POST: COMPLETE THE COUPON AND SEND TO: HAYLOFT PLANTS, FREEPOST RTGR-JAGJ-JETG, WR10 3HB Please Send Item Code Price Qty Total 1 x 9cm pots PTFMG01-GW1023 £14 3 x 9cm pots PTFMG03-GW1023 £18 5 x 9cm pots PTFMG05-GW1023 £26 P&P £6.95 Total (UK POSTAGE INCLUDING SCOTTISH ISLANDS, CHANNEL ISLANDS AND NORTHERN ISLAND) Smothered in vibrant, buttery-yellow, openmouthed blooms dwarf ʹ˥˦˧˛˜˔ ˀ˜˜ ˝˗ ˜ Ѓ ˨˥ garden with a sweet narcissilike scent, brightening the dullest of winter days and heralding the arrival of spring. The bright blooms appear on bare stems like an explosion to your senses, long before the lush, green leaves emerge in ˘˔˥ ˦˨ˠˠ˘˥ʡ ˇ˛˘ ˥˘˔ Ѓ ˔˘ is in the autumn as the foliage turns sumptuous shades of red, orange, and yellow before dropping. Unique, unlike other Forsythia, Mini Gold only grows to a height and spread of approximately 1.2m, which makes it perfect for containers. Your 9cm pots will be delivered within 14 days, the perfect time for planting. BUY 3 POTS £6 EACH rare | unusual | exciting FORSYTHIA MINI GOLD A DWARF VARIETY THAT EMITS A SWEET NARCISSI- LIKE SCENT

WORDS: ROSIE YEOMANS. PHOTOS: SARAH CUTTLE; JASON INGRAM; TIM SANDALL Carry on deadheading Plant camassias Pot on cuttings taken in summerto grow on in a sheltered spot Cut back lavatera, buddleia and tallroses by halfto prevent wind damage Compost border tidyings, adding green and brown material in alternate layers Plant spring-flowering bulbs, bedding and herbaceous perennials Keepchecking forripe seeds tocollect. Store in a cool,dryplace Don’tforget Give containers and borders a boost with a new plant or two, for extra colour through autumn. Buying plants in bloom is ideal if you want to match an existing colour scheme. This sedum (Hylotelephium ‘Carl’) will flower on for some time yet, then next year it’ll be back, with attractive clusters of buds for many weeks 110 GardenersWorld.com October 2023 Protect alpines from winter wet with an open-ended cloche. Alternatively use a recycled clear plastic container, weighed down to hold it in place without touching the plant. Make sure there is ventilation at the side. Leave the cloche or coverin place until late winter, when the plants show signs of new growth. TOP TIP Add some instant colour Even into October it’s well worth deadheading perennials regularly to encourage new buds to form and keep the plants flowering for longer. Japanese anemones, dahlias and even roses will continue budding up this month. However, if you want a good display of rosehips this winter, it’s time to stop deadheading roses, to allow the fruits to develop instead. Take care to put deadheading debris on the compost heap, as fungal diseases could take hold in anything left on the ground. Camassias produce spires of beautiful starry blue, white or pink flowers in spring, and now is the time to plant the bulbs. Choose a spot in sun or partial shade, with humus-rich, moisture-retentive soil that doesn’t get waterlogged. Use a trowel or bulb planter to make holes about 15cm deep and 10cm apart. Place one bulb in each hole, nose up, and cover with soil. Mark the planting site with a label or a sprinkle of grit, so you know not to plant over them. They also naturalise well in grass. Shoots will emerge in spring and the flowers open in April and May. New plants will settle in well at this time of year and continue to flower happily Arrange camassia bulbs in groups for maximum impact Snip off faded dahlia blooms to extend flowering until frost hits W H AT T O D O N O W | O C T O B E R before the pollinator-friendly flowers open in late summer. Dig a generous hole, set the plant in at the level it was before, firm gently, then water in well.

Sow a patch of wildflowers GardenersWorld.com 111 FLOWERS October 2023 Fill a pot with peat-free multipurpose compost, dampen it with tepid water then space out two or three sweet pea seeds on the surface. Cover with a 1cm layer of the same compost and press it gently to give the covering layer good contact with the seeds.Water once more and place somewhere sheltered in the garden or in an unheated greenhouse. Germination will take two or three weeks at this time of year and if you keep them cool they VISITGardenersWorld. com/sweet-peas for more sowing and growing tips Get sweet peas started PUT about 10cm of peat-free compost into a deep pot and arrange the first layer of bulbs on top. Tulips are perfect – they flower later and are happy planted deep. COVER with another 10cm of compost, then the second layer of bulbs – choose an earlier flower, such as daffodils. Repeat with crocus bulbs if there’s room. ADD the final layer of compost to just below the rim and firm gently. Place the pot in its final position, in a sheltered, sunny spot, and give it a good soak. Plant a layered pot of bulbs STEP BY STEP 1 2 3 Planting bulbs in layers gives extra flower power and a longer display. Put the bulbs that flower latest at the bottom and the earliest at the top. The shoots will easily navigate past each other. Use a large, deep pot with good drainage holes. won’t grow too leggy. They’ll be the first into the border next spring. It’s easy to turn even the smallest bit of bare ground into a colourful wildflower patch. Now is a good time to sow, while the soil still holds onto some summer warmth. Prepare the area by removing any perennial weeds, then rake the soil level and firm down. Finally, rake just the surface to a fine tilth. Check the sowing rate on the seed packet: it can vary from 1g to 3g per square metre. Scatter the seeds as evenly as possible, water with a fine spray and protect with netting until the seedlings appear. Sow sweet peas in autumn, for earlier flowers next year Attract more pollinators next year by creating a new wildflower area W H AT T O D O N O W | O C T O B E R

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WORDS: ROSIE YEOMANS. PHOTOS: SARAH CUTTLE GET two forks and press them into the clump backto-back and angled away from each other. Bring the handles up together and if that doesn’t complete the split, push them out wide apart to separate the roots completely. SELECT the best divisions for replanting from the outside of the old clump, where the plant material is younger. Pull out any weeds from among the roots and cut away any shoots that were damaged while dividing the plant. DIG a wide hole that’s deep enough to take the roots then water the bottom of the hole before planting. Spread the roots out in the hole and fill with soil up to shoot level. Tread it in firmly then water the plant again. Lift anddivide olderperennials With the ground stillwarm and not too wet, nowis the perfect time to divide the most vigorous herbaceous perennials. Dividing clump-forming plants is a type of propagation and keeps their growth healthy and vigorous. It also gives you a chance to discard the oldest piece, in the middle, a bitlike pruning outthe oldest branches of a shrub. Fibrous-rooted perennial plants such as heleniums dividewell in autumn. Astrantia, echinacea and achillea are also good for division now. The most vigorous perennial plants such as asters, symphyotrichum and rudbeckia could be divided as often as every other year but most are best divided every three orfour years. Don’t be afraid to use cutting tools such as a spade or old kitchen knife if the clump is too tough forthe back-to-back-forks method of splitting the plant. Fleshy-rooted plants such as hostas and daylilies are best dividedwhen they start to showshoots in spring, particularly on heavy soil aswinterwet can cause rotting. Angle the forks so that you don’t bang your hands together when splitting plants CHOOSE a dry, overcast day to divide perennials so the roots don’t dry out in the open air. Cut back all the old flower stems then use a spade to dig around the clump. Lever it up gently, then lift it out ready to divide. STEP BY STEP Split plants for renewed vigour 1 2 3 4 GardenersWorld.com 113 W H AT T O D O N O W | O C T O B E R October 2023 BACK TO BASICS

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GardenersWorld.com 115 HOUSE PLANTS October 2023 Pot hippeastrum Leave two-thirds of the bulb exposed above the soil surface Plant loose hippeastrum bulbs in pots of peat-free, multi-purpose compost for indoor blooms that will burst open around eight weeks after potting up. Choose a container that is slightly wider than the width of the bulb, with two-thirds of the bulb above the compost surface. Water your pots sparingly – just enough to keep the compost from going dusty – until the first leaves emerge. Then soak them each time the compost goes dry. Commonly sold as amaryllis, hippeastrum bulbs will grow best in a well-lit place at a temperature of 21°C. W H AT T O D O N O W | O C T O B E R WORDS: ROSIE YEOMANS. PHOTOS: SARAH CUTTLE; JASON INGRAM Pickoffoldflowersand leaves thataregoing yellowanddyingoff Wipedustfromthe surfaceofleaves usingadampcloth Moveplants closerto windows toexpose themtomorelightas daylighthours reduce Reducewateringas growthstarts toslow Potupoffsets from succulents intosmall potsofgrittycompost Don’tforget DIG up pelargoniums before the first frosts. Pot them into peat-free, multi-purpose compost, in a pot just wider than the rootball. BRING patio pots undercover and keep them in a well-lit spot so their scent, colour and foliage can be enjoyed all winter. SNIP 10cm stems of new growth from below a pair of leaves.Add to pots of gritty compost and water. Keep at approx. 15-20°C. Bring pelargoniums indoors to protect them from the cold and wet. They will provide æ Ìí Ì  ª þ ĕÓþ âæ through winter, and can be put back outside when the risk of frost has passed at the end of spring. Here are three ways to overwinter them. Overwinter pelargoniums STEP BY STEP 1 2 3 After moth orchid flowers fall from their stems, cut back the flowered stems to encourage more blooms. Carefully snip them back to just above a healthy node (bulky bit on the stem), cutting into live growth (rather than a brown, dead stem). This will encourage a new flowering Care for moth orchids sideshoot to develop. If your plant hasn’t flowered for a while, move it to a slightly cooler spot, which may initiate a new flowering stem. After cutting back, a new flowering spike should emerge from the node VISITthe website atGardenersWorld.com/ house-plants for more tips

116 GardenersWorld.com October 2023 PHOTOS: SARAH CUTTLE W H AT T O D O N O W | O C T O B E R LIFT the tubers out of the ground by pressing in a fork 15cm away from the outermost stems to avoid the tubers. Go deep to lift them all out at once. BRUSH away any soil or debris on the tuber surface to prepare them for storage. Anything holding moisture against the tuber increases the risk of rots. BURY tubers in deep trays of compost or wood chips so they stay dry, but the tuber itself retains moisture. Store somewhere cool but frost free until spring. Lift dahlias for winter Lift dahlia root tubers out of the soil before the frosts start to penetrate the ground and turn the tubers to mush. It’s important to do this if you grow dahlias on heavy, water-retentive soil, have a garden in the north of the UK or know that you’re in a frost pocket. Gardeners in less extreme conditions can overwinter them in the borders by covering with a thick layer of mulch for some extra protection. Tubers lifted from damp soil will need to be dried for a few hours. Brush off any soil and place them on newspaper somewhere dry and warm indoors, or hang them up to let the air dry the outer surface. If any tubers separate from the main group, they can still be stored and planted. If you have several varieties, whether they are left in the ground or stored in trays, it’s important to label them so that when they start shooting in the spring, you know what they are and When lifting clumps of dahlias take care not to damage the delicate tubers where to plant them. REMOVE any frost damaged soft foliage and add to the compost heap. Then cut back all the stems of the dahlias to about 5cm from ground level. STEP BY STEP Lifting dahlia tubers to overwinter ADAM’S ESSENTIALS 1 2 3 4

October 2023 GardenersWorld.com 117 Terms & conditions: Please add £6.99 P&P to your order. Offer closes on 30 November 2023 or while stocks last. Orders despatched in 7-10 working days. YouGarden Ltd, Eventus House, Sunderland Road, Market Deeping, PE6 8FD. Offer subject to availability and in the event that this offer is oversubscribed, we reserve the right to send suitable substitute varieties of the same or a higher value. Delivery to UK only and a £6 surcharge may apply to the following postcode areas:AB, DD8-11, GY, HS, IM, IV, JE, KA27-28, KW, PA20-80, PH19-50, TR21-25 and ZE. Images show mature plants. Full product details and T&Cs at www.yougarden.com. Following Brexit there are a number of changes that prevent us from trading in N. Ireland. Further details at www.yougarden.com. *Calls cost 5p per minute plus your network provider’s access charge. 0844 502 0050* yougarden.com/RGW246 Please add £6.99 P&P  BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine (published by Immediate Media Co Ltd) would like to send you special offers and promotions.You can unsubscribe at any time – for details of how to do this, please see our privacy policy, which can be viewed at immediate.co.uk/privacy-policy. Please tick here if you would like to receive these □. BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine is published by Immediate Media Co Ltd on behalf of BBC Studios (the commercial arm of the BBC).We would like to send you BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine-related promotions, content and offers from BBC Studios.Your information will be used in accordance with the BBC Studios privacy policy, which can be viewed at bbcstudios.com/privacy. Please tick here if you would like to hear from us by email □. Please post your orders to: Offer RGW246, YouGarden, PO Box 1468, Peterborough, PE1 9XL Code: RGW246 Title Initial Surname Address Postcode Tel Email I enclose a cheque (no cash, please) for £ made payable to You Garden with my name and address on the back Or charge my Visa □ Mastercard □ Card number □□□□ □□□□ □□□□ □□□□ Start date □□/□□ Expiry date □□/□□ Signature Date offer CODE DESCRIPTION PRICE QTY TOTAL 450155 Pansy Cool Wave Mix pre-planted rattan baskets x 2 £49.98 SAVE £10 £39.98 450156 Pansy Cool Wave Berries and Cream pre-planted rattan baskets x 2 £49.98 SAVE £10 £39.98 100068 FREE Blooming Fast Superior Plant Food 50g £2.99 FREE 1 FREE P&P 1 £6.99 TOTAL £ Pansy Cool Wave Mix offer VYflC.hC VYflЈV=Dcfl t.DcflY ];flc] Pansy Cool Wave Berries and Cream pre-planted rattan baskets These trailing pansies produce an assortment of purple, violet and white blooms with a deliciously sweet fragrance. They have a long flowering period and will thrive in both cool and warm weather. Simply hang your pre-planted rattan baskets in any sunny or semi-shaded spot, water regularly and watch the flowers bloom! H x S 20cm x 45cm F Jan-May ◼ 2 x 35cm pre-planted rattan baskets £49.98 £39.98 SAVE £10 (450156) FREE PLANT FOOD! Blooming Fast Superior Plant Food encourages flowering, better roots and strong growth. 50g trial size. 5g scoop makes 5L of feed. ◼ Free with every order and worth £2.99 (100068) Pansy Cool Wave Berries and Cream Pansy Cool Wave Mix pre-planted rattan baskets Blossoming in a gorgeous mix of blues, yellows and creams, these hardy pansies will light up your outdoor space on even the dullest winter day. Your two rattan baskets are delivered fully planted and ready to hang in a bright, sheltered spot. Height x Spread 40cm x 45cm Flowers Nov-Mar ◼ 2 x 35cm pre-planted rattan baskets £49.98 £39.98 SAVE £10 (450155) SAVE £10

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October 2023 GardenersWorld.com 119 W H AT T O D O N O W | O C T O B E R GREENHOUSE WORDS: ROSIE YEOMANS. PHOTOS: SARAH CUTTLE Don’tforget QUICK SOLUTIONS Amaryllis (hippeastrum) prefers a tight pot, but if you’ve had a plant for a few years, it may benefit from repotting, especially if it flowered poorly. Choose a pot that’s about 2cm wider than the bulb on all sides, and peat-free John Innes no.2 compost. Plant so two-thirds of the bulb is above the surface. Gather your lasttomatoes Harvest all your tomatoes now, to ripen in a warm room Pick the last of your tomatoes before cold temperatures ruin them. Ripening has slowed right down but if they have started to colour up, they will continue to ripen in the kitchen. Cut off the whole truss and hang it up inside somewhere warm or pick off the individual tomatoes and leave them in a bowl with other fruits. Green tomatoes are perfectly safe to eat, so save those too. They’re delicious in chutney and salsa or fried for breakfast. Move pots of succulents back inside for the winter. Many, such as aeoniums, aloes and echeverias, appreciate the warmth and light of summers in the garden, but over winter they need frost protection in a greenhouse or conservatory. Spend some time cleaning them up first. Pull out any old foliage, particularly at the base, and cut VISITGardenersWorld. com/tomatoes for more on growing and harvesting Bring succulents under cover back any old flower stems. Place them somewhere cool, in as much light as possible, to help avoid soft, leggy growth that is vulnerable to mould. Protect your succulents from autumn rains and early frosts Tidy up to keep plants healthy Give your greenhouse a clean and tidy, ready for the coming winter. Sweep up any spilled compost and plant debris that could otherwise harbour insect pests and fungal diseases, which thrive in low light conditions. Get a bucket of soapy water and a cloth to wipe down the framework and benches, and even the outside of pots that have been brought inside for the winter. Also remove or clean anything that’s not needed, such as bamboo canes and netting. Reduce potential pests and diseases with a good clean out Continue ventilating on warm days, but close doors and vents by mid-afternoon Bin spent crops and all dead leaves promptly Sow seeds of mizuna and lettuces such as ‘Winter Density’for winter salads Thoroughly clean heatedpropagators Buy a max/min thermometerto keep a check on temperatures Stop watering tuberous begonias, so they can go dormant

120 GardenersWorld.com PUSH a spade or fork in deeply at a slight angle under a clump and lever it out with soil still attached to the roots. PULL the clump apart with your hands into fist-sized bunches. Trim the roots and shoots to stimulate growth once potted. POT into peat-free potting compost. Firm the compost gently, give them a good soak and put them somewhere sheltered. Divide and pot some chives for a few more weeks of leaves and fresh plants for next spring. Select a small bunch from the outside of the clump and discard the oldest bits in the middle. Put a few pots inside for late shoots for the kitchen. Place the rest in a sheltered spot and plant out next spring. Lift chives STEP BY STEP 1 2 3 Protect chicory forlate growth As the weather turns cooler and wetter, be on hand to cover your chicory crop with a cloche. This will help prevent the leaves and heart of the plant from rotting in very wet conditions and will also provide some extra warmth to encourage late growth, as well as keeping away slugs and snails that are looking for soft, fresh growth. After the final harvest of the year, plants cut off just above ground level can be potted up and covered, before being placed in a frost-free location for some tasty forced shoots to harvest in winter. Plant spring cabbage Space out some summer-sown cabbages to heart up next spring. Spring cabbages are often direct sown into rows where leaves are picked as spring greens. If you lift a few or buy some plants now and plant them out individually they will heart up and provide some heads in late spring before the summer cabbages take over. Plant them 40cm apart in firm ground, water in and cover with netting to protect from pigeons. Plant out some cabbages now for tasty heads next spring VISITGardenersWorld. com/vegetablefor advice on more varietiesof veg Protect chicory with cloches to prevent leaves and hearts rotting in the wetter weather WORDS: ROSIE YEOMANS. PHOTOS: SARAH CUTTLE; PAUL DEBOIS; JASON INGRAM; TIM SANDALL October 2023 W H AT T O D O N O W | O C T O B E R

Next month Mulch vegetable beds Brighten pots with winter bedding Take hardwood cuttings of summer-flowering shrubs Tie climbing roses to their supports Plant bare-roottrees and roses Tidy up blueberries now while they are an attractive autumn feature on the patio. Remove any weeds or tree seedlings from the base of the plant and scrape away the top 5cm of compost, along with any moss and debris. Add a fresh layer of ericaceous or soil-based lime-free compost to just below the rim of the pot. Check the compost isn’t too dry by pushing your finger down into the old compost. Water the plant if necessary. Harvest pumpkins and squashes Top dress blueberry plants Cut pumpkins and winter squashes off the plants now that they are fully developed and well ripened. When cutting, leave plenty of stalk intact on the fruits as this helps them to store well. When removing pumpkins, leave as much stalk as possible intact Remove a layer of compost and fill with fresh to just below the rim GardenersWorld.com 121 FRUIT AND VEG Cut off yellowing foliage on asparagus stems and remove perennial weeds around the base ofthe plant Store harvested root vegetables, keeping them safe from rodents CutJerusalem artichokes down, leaving the tubers to harvest as needed Prepare soilfor planting bare-rootfruit bushes and trees in the dormant season Take cuttings from gooseberry and currant bushes Don’tforget Plant garlic Look outfor Plant some garlic to harvest ripe apples next summer. Prepare a weed-free bed and rake in some bonemeal fertiliser. Buy garlic bulbs that are bred for the UK climate and split them into separate cloves. Using a trowel, plant them about 7-9cm deep, or three times the depth of the clove, at 20cm spacings. The cloves will root in straight away and shoots will emerge in a few weeks. Keep them well watered next spring to encourage the bulbs to swell. Pick ripe apples. Ripe fruit will come away without any tugging if you gently lift and twist it with your hand. If it resists, it’s not ripe so leave it for a little longer. Pick up any windfallen fruits that have dropped under the tree and use those first. Place the fruit in a basket carefully as you pick to avoid bruising so that you can store it without danger of rotting. Store the fruits in trays, in a dark, dry, airy room. For better results, buy garlic bulbs bred for the UK climate Fruit is ripe if it comes away easily with a gentle twist VISIT GardenersWorld. com/garlicfor more garlic growing tips October 2023 W H AT T O D O N O W | O C T O B E R Choose a dry, breezy day and leave them outside in a sunny spot if you can to help harden the skins.A sunny windowsill will do. They should store in a dry, airy room for the whole winter.

122 GardenersWorld.com October 2023 Leaf-vein PHOTOS: NEIL HEPWORTH Make new plants from leaf-vein cuttings with Nick Bailey’s essential guide Some of our tropical and sub-tropical house plants, such as streptocarpus, sinningia and smithiantha, can be pretty expensive, so propagating your own is a real money-saver. Leaf-vein cuttings may initially look challenging and difficult, but they are surprisingly easy to do. And a single leaf of, say, Begonia rex can generate up to 10 new plants using this technique. I’ve generated hundreds over the years in every glasshouse I’ve managed or owned. Summer is the ideal time to do it, so by autumn you’ll have rooted plantlets ready to pot up. It’s a similar technique to leaf cuttings, but with its own foibles. Go on, give it a try – you’ll make a whole load of plants for free and wow your friends with your horticultural prowess in the process! cuttings

October 2023 GardenersWorld.com 123 making plants How to propagate by leaf-vein cuttings 2Make vein cuts Flip the leaf over on a tile or piece of mirror and identify the strongest veins – usually close to the stalk. Aim to make 3-4 cuts of around 1cm through these veins and then find 2-3 more veins further down the leaf and repeat. 1 Gather plant material As with most vegetative propagation, it’s best to gather material when the source plant is at its fullest turgor; in other words, when it’s holding the most water, which is usually in the morning. Cut leaves from the host plant using a sterilised blade and, if you don’t intend to propagate them straight away, put them in a sealable freezer bag with a drop of water and keep away from heat and light. 4 Label the cuttings Labelling is vital when it comes to any kind of plant propagation. Many Begonia rex share similar characteristics, so make a label with the date you started the propagation and the plant’s cultivar name. 3 Pin down the leaf Fill a pot with peat-free multi-purpose compost and firm it down flat. Place the cut side of the leaf onto the moistened compost. Secure the leaf into the compost with bent floristry-wire ‘staples’ just behind each cut. 5 Soak the pot In order to avoid disturbing the compost and the newly cut leaves’ contact with it, water the pot by standing it in a tray of water and allowing capillary action to draw moisture into the compost.

124 GardenersWorld.com October 2023 making plants PHOTOS: TORIE CHUGG; SARAH CUTTLE; PAUL DEBOIS; NICK SMITH Plants to try Make more of these beautiful houseplants using the leaf-vein propagation technique Only a limited range of plants will successfully root via leaf-vein cuttings. Most of them are tender species of tropical or sub-tropical origin, including Begonia masoniana, Begonia rex, streptocarpus, sinningia and smithiantha. Summer is the best time to propagate streptocarpus, such as S.‘Polka-Dot Purple’ Make more sinningia plants, including S.‘Tampa Bay Beauty’, using this method When propagating plants, such as Begonia rex, make sure you label them correctly New plantlets will sprout from the leaf-vein slits within six to eight weeks Leaf cuttings are easy too, but make fewer plantlets than leaf-vein cuttings Aftercare tips All types of leaf cuttings require a humid rooting environment – and a freezer bag is all you need It’s asking quite a lot of a humble leaf to sprout forth new plantlets, so it’s essential you provide the right environment to enable it to do so. All leaf cuttings require constant moisture and humidity. To ensure they get this, they can either be kept in a lidded propagator throughout the rooting period or sealed in a freezer bag held onto the pot with an elastic band. Place them in a bright location, keep them moist and maintain a warm temperature of 20-25°C. NEXT MONTH It’s time to go below the surface as Nick shows how to take perfect root cuttings

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126 GardenersWorld.com October is a month of transition. Autumn really becomes autumn now. The equinox has passed, which means the night is now officially longer than the day. For some plants, such as chrysanthemum, shorter days trigger flowering, but for others they trigger the shutdown to winter. October can bring the first frosts meaning it’s too late to prune tender trees and shrubs. Having said that, winters can be milder now, so the order in which we do things can change. More and more of us will find that a warming climate means we can push the boundaries on what survives in our gardens. Also, gone are the days of cutting our herbaceous perennials back in autumn, as we now know how valuable leaf litter and old plant material are for harbouring overwintering bugs and larvae. But if anything has become really mushy and brown, remove it to prolong the glory of autumn beds – especially those containing winter flowers or autumn colour. And, in the name of giving our winter beds some grandeur for the coming months, now is the last chance to prune topiary before it does get too cold. Frances Tophill shows you how to get greenery in shape ahead of the colder winter months YOUR PRUNING MONTH PHOTOS: MARSHA ARNOLD; TORIE CHUGG; SARAH CUTTLE; JASON INGRAM Leave plants alone this month if they’re providing colour October 2023 See Frances and the rest of the Gardeners’ World team on Friday evenings this month on BBC Two. Times vary, so check TV listings. Catch up with Frances

GardenersWorld.com 127 Other plants to prune now LABURNUM These may not need pruning at all, but if you are training them against a wall keep them neat by pruning now. HORNBEAM Autumn pruning is great for shaping topiary, and there is less danger of disturbing birds when trimming hedges. LIME These can put out a lot of unwanted shoots from low-down on the trunk, so remove these now to keep the crown clear. BIRCH Prune them now if necessary, but be very careful: unsightly pruning is something that leaves a permanent mark on birch. Some trees and shrubs will bleed sap from the wounds if cut when in active growth from late winter to midsummer. Work on them now while they are slowing down to avoid this problem. Rosehips last longer than most other food sources for birds, so leave them in place Don’t prune these now ✗ ROSES Rosehips are a useful food source for birds once all other berries have gone over, so leave these in place until late winter. ✗ ALBIZIA and any other very tender tree, as there won’t be enough time for it to recover before cold winter temperatures set in. Prune these in spring when growth begins instead. ✗ JAPANESE MAPLES Wait until after the glory of autumn has faded, but get it done before sap flows again in January. ✗ FIG TREES These can suffer from frost damage if pruned in the cold months. Prune in spring and again in summer if necessary, wearing gloves to protect you from the sap. Using powered hedgetrimmers Although most hedgetrimmers have cutting teeth on both sides of the head, it’s easier to work by favouring one side, with broad, upward strokes rather than downward ones. Hold it close to your body to reduce the load on your back, and take lots of breaks. your pruning month October 2023

128 GardenersWorld.com your pruning month PHOTOS: SARAH CUTTLE; GETTY/MIKHAIL ABRAMOV Bay laurel A winter garden can be a slightly barren sight. Designers often say that to avoid this, at least a third of the planting should be evergreen, to give year-round structure – and nothing offers more yearround structure than evergreen topiary. Prune these specimens now to get them looking their best before winter arrives. No birds will be nesting now so that makes autumn a good time to prune these kinds of shrubs and hedges. The aim is a pin-sharp finish, whatever the shape. You may find that using string lines and straight edges will help you to get a perfect form. Trimming bay topiary Topiary adds structure but requires regular pruning to stay smart Step by step Also prune this way… ◼ Many other topiary trees and shrubs like box and yew can be pruned in exactly the same way as bay laurel, though some should be done slightly earlier in the year. ◼ Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) can be pruned to a similar finish, only the whole job is usually done with loppers and secateurs, rather than a hedgetrimmer. This is because any half-snipped leaves will show badly, and will also tend to go brown at the cut edges, leading to a poorly-looking hedge. NEXT MONTH Frances shows you how to tame bamboo in your garden Budget for safety gear when buying a trimmer When using any garden equipment there is a list of must-have protective gear, which varies with the situation and the machine. With a hedgetrimmer like this use sensible clothing, steel toe-capped footwear, protective gloves, and safety goggles or a visor to protect your eyes from flying debris. You should wear ear defenders when using petrol-powered tools, which are very loud, but as this hedgetrimmer is a quiet, cordless one they are optional. Top tip 1START with the sides to get the desired width first, using a clean, sharp and oiled hedgetrimmer. Keep stepping back to make sure your shape is staying on course. 2CLIP the upper parts, using an extension if necessary. You can adjust the angle of the blade for the very top. Be aware of what’s around you to avoid accidents. 3 TRIM the base to create a degree of separation between the ground and the shrub. Finally, go over the whole plant with secateurs to remove any protruding twigs. ◼ Learn a range of techniques with the GW Guide: Beginner Basics. Only £7.99 in shops or from Mags Direct at bit.ly/gw-basics Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Flowering Pruning October 2023

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October 2023 The first sign of hydrangea scale that most people notice is the white egg masses beneath the leaves. Eggs are laid in early summer and covered in waxy fibres to protect them from predators. The wax also reduces their vulnerability to gardeners’ sprays. These bright masses are oval and about 4mm long, so they’re easy to see, including after the eggs have hatched. The young, called ‘crawlers’, are less than 1mm long and light enough to be blown around in the wind. It is this generation that sprays (organic or not) are aimed at in July. All chemical sprays, however, have potential to harm wildlife and not just the target species. Like other scale insects, hydrangea scale (Pulvinaria hydangeae) is a sap sucker, so it can reduce plant vigour when present in large numbers. It can also colonise other woody plants, including Acer and Prunus. Birds, ladybirds and some wasps eat the insects, so these are worth encouraging in your garden. Removing the brown adult scale insects and the white egg masses (before they hatch) should help a little, but spotting them at the right time is tricky for us. Natural predators are generally better at this task. Contact us Email your questions toQ&[email protected] or write to us atthe address on p136. Hydrangea scale Emma Crawforth, Horticultural Editor WATCH video guides and gettips on how to deal with problems in the garden at GardenersWorld.com/problems Q Can you identify these white things on my hydrangea? Linda Drawater, by email A EMMA SAYS These are egg masses of hydrangea scale. You say your plant is healthy, which is a sign that your plant is looked after well enough not to be too affected by these insects now. This month 132 Gardeners’Question Time The BBC Radio 4 experts answerthis month’s pick ofreaders’ queries, including: ◼ Gardening in a dry, sunny spot ◼ Reducing damage from muntjacs ◼ Getting rid of invasive bulbs TOP TIP Inspect all your plants regularly, as it’s easier to deal with problems like hydrangea scale if you spot them early PHOTOS: SARAH CUTTLE Edited by Emma Crawforth Your questions answered

Pippa Greenwood Pippa is one ofthe foremost experts on pests and diseases. She gardens using organic methods. Anne Swithinbank A keen fruit, vegetable and house-plant grower, Anne was formerly the glasshouse supervisor at RHS Garden Wisley. Pottage Matthew is the curator of RHS Garden Wisley, í°  ĕ«æ°³ß «â Ì Óª the RoyalHorticultural Society in Surrey. 132 GardenersWorld.com October 2023 Gardeners’Question Time Our experts tackle your gardening queries, including a slimy blob, æÓË  ËĄæí â³Óòæ Åò  ĕÓþ âæ Ì Ì âËĄ Óª ß³ÌíЄËòÌ°³Ì« æ̳Åæ Q I mulch my sandy, sunny, plot butit dries out. Help! A MATT SAYS I cannot deny that the climatic extremes we are seeing are a challenge. I believe we can get a lot right by following a couple of principles. The first of these is choosing location – struggling with The second principle is to build resilience through healthy soil, and it sounds like you are working on this already, which is brilliant. Mulching, avoiding chemicals and trading synthetic fertilisers for bulky mulches will allow mycorrhizal communities to build in the soil, which in turn help plants access a greater palette of nutrients and cope with drought better. While it is necessary to water in new plants, I would avoid watering too much, to help drought-tolerant plants grow harder – stouter and shorter – and be more floriferous. Pat Bedford, Ceredigion A ANNE SAYS Water, organic matter and nutrients disappear fast from sandy soils so success is all down to choosing the right plants for your site and soil. On your well-drained sand, Mediterranean plants should survive cold winters but if there is any waterlogging, it’s best to mound or raise beds slightly. As moisture always collects under stones, your best mulch will be a hard material – probably slate in your part of the world. Cercis siliquastrum, the Judas tree, should thrive on your site and if you have shelter from wind, try unusual yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea). For a small evergreen shrub, Portuguese hairy canary clover (Lotus hirsutus) is hard to beat and cistus and lavenders should thrive, too. Salvia forsskaolii is also brilliant: hardy, droughttolerant and seeds about well. Visit the boulder garden at the National Botanic Garden of Wales in Carmarthenshire for more ideas. Q What can I do about larvae on my aquilegias? Barbara Davis, Wiltshire A PIPPA SAYS I suspect that this is aquilegia gall midge, Macrolabis aquilegiae, a fly that lays its eggs in the developing flower buds and then as the larvae hatch out they cause deformation to the flower. The main period of damage is May to June. If you look as soon as you notice the problem you may find the tiny, paleorange larvae inside the buds. Removing all the infested flowers and buds, and doing so before the larvae finish feeding and move into the soil beneath the plants, will help to break the pest’s lifecycle. On the plus side, this pest only has one generation a year – and has only ever been recorded infesting aquilegias. Q&A TEAM ANSWER Dry, sunny gardens Lavenders rarely disappoint in sun and there are many types Inspect plants often to limit Lotus hirsutus thrives in sunny sites with free-draining, poor soil aquilegia gall midge problems PHOTOS: SARAH CUTTLE; PAUL DEBOIS; GETTY/DOLE08/ROMAN OVERKO/WIRESTOCK; JASON INGRAM

October 2023 GardenersWorld.com 133 gardeners’ question time Q&A Steve Runar, by email A PIPPA SAYS This sounds like pyracantha scab disease, caused by a fungus closely related to the more widely recognised apple and pear scab infections you may also have seen. The fungus can infect the flowers and foliage as well as the berries and may cause extensive early leaf-fall and dieback. Although this fungus does not pose a threat to your apples and pears, it will attack medlars or loquats. There is no fungicide I would recommend but as the fungus overwinters on fallen leaves and on the stems and berries, rake up fallen leaves and prune out any infected areas too. If you end up having to prune out a lot of growth, be warned that this may reduce the amount of flowers and subsequently berries you get next year. Q The berries on my elderly pyracantha are marked. Why? Q My beetrootis never very sweet. Where am I going wrong with it? Q Can you identify my neighbour’s plant? Heather Sinclair, Hampshire A PIPPA SAYS I suspect the molluscs in question are snails. I have heard that on occasion they will consume paint if they are not able to access the more natural sources of calcium that they need for the formation and maintenance of their shells. I have never seen this happening myself, but as for many years I have gardened on calcium-rich soil, that might be why. It might be worth stripping and repainting the door, as fresh paint may be less attractive to the snails. Also perhaps see if you can deter them at all with a strip of self-adhesive copper tape around the entire outwardfacing perimeter of the door. I find this works really well on pots and on raised bed edges, so it might be worth a try? Q Why are molluscs obsessed with eating the paint off my door? Snails may strip paint to build up their shells with calcium ‘Burpees Golden’ is one of the sweeter beetroot varieties Q Can I stop muntjacs eating plants? MJ Dean, by email A MATT SAYS A deer fence is the only real solution. It would need to completely encircle your garden and have suitable gates, which would have to be shut securely when you’re not there. If that isn’t possible, why not try a display of plants with tough, strappy leaves such as phormium, cordyline, yucca, astelia and kniphofia. These types of leaves seem to be undesirable to deer, and with some careful planning you could create something quite striking. Try mixing in ornamental grasses, too; while I have seen ornamental grasses lightly grazed by deer, some of the tougher, more vigorous ones such as miscanthus are not high on their list of favourites. Plants with tough, strappy leaves are less tasty to deer Penny Rose, by email A ANNE SAYS It took me many years to appreciate beetroot but now I love its earthy taste. They are flavoursome boiled but possibly even better roasted. I would only describe beetroot as slightly sweet but they should have a strong and distinctive flavour. It’s possible that you are growing them slightly ‘too well’. I start ours by sowing into modules. Once they are up and growing, I plant them as a cluster, spacing these a trowel length apart in a sunny spot. They are watered in and if there is a drought, I will give them an occasional soak but I avoid overwatering and overfeeding as this will dilute the concentration of sweetness and flavour. Harvest the biggest ones first. I have found most cultivars tasty but do try the beautiful beet ‘Burpees Golden’ for rich, golden skin and tasty flesh. Remove growth where you suspect pyracantha scab disease Felice, London A ANNE SAYS Your picture shows the shrubby plumbago (Ceratostigma willmottianum). This small shrub is well worth growing for its late flowers and striking autumn tints. Growth reaches a metre in height. The plant can die back in cold winters, but it is hardy and returns to growth in spring. Ceratostigma willmottianum is a star performer in the autumn

134 GardenersWorld.com October 2023 Q&A HOT TOPIC Bamboo Linda Moir, by email A MATT SAYS Bamboo has notoriously wiry roots and a stubborn clump like this can be grubbed out with most ease with a mini-digger. However, if that isn’t possible, several sharp spades are needed and a party of committed friends who you must tempt over to your garden with the offer of a delicious lunch as a reward. If neither of the above are possible, try cutting the top flat with a saw and standing a pot on top of it, but good planting to anchor the pot into its setting would be needed, and it would only work if the bamboo is dead. Alternatively, if you could make the levels look okay, burying it with soil and planting shallow-rooted plants over the top could help disguise it. But it could still have the ability to grow back, so the mini-digger comes out top for me. Trish Lewis, by email A PIPPA SAYS Phyllostachys nigra is the most widely grown black-stemmed bamboo. It has runners – whereas many other bamboos are clump-forming – so it can become pretty invasive. I would be concerned that there is a risk that these plants could penetrate the wall behind, the runners finding their way between the stones in the wall. To decide whether the bamboos could be left in Q Will these bamboo plants damage the wall behind? Divide bamboo clumps before they become too big to split Fine mesh keeps pests off everything from lettuce to soft fruit Q How can I get rid of this big, old bamboo? Tessa Brooks, by email A ANNE SAYS Dried runner bean seeds are edible but come with a health warning. Like other dried peas and beans, they contain lectins, which seriously disrupt our digestive systems. Soaking for 24 hours, boiling in water for ten minutes and simmering for the rest of an hour or until soft renders them edible. Q Saved, dried runner beans: okay in a chilli? Drying runner beans is a great way of saving a bumper crop Slime moulds like cool, moist spots and can live on lawns Ken Beney, by email A PIPPA SAYS This is a slime mould. There are many different species in various colours. They do not harm the plants they are on – they are simply using them as a surface on which to grow and from which to disperse. You’ll probably find that it disappears in time. There’s no need for control, just enjoy this unusual life form while you can. QWhat is this disgusting thing? Take care when using plants with invasive roots near walls PHOTOS: SARAH CUTTLE; JASON INGRAM; TIM SANDALL place or do pose a threat, get a professional to examine the planting, the raised bed and the wall as the dimensions and construction are important. Some types of bamboo have been shown to damage house foundations based on bricks, but they will be less likely to breach intact concrete. If the wall is ‘dry stone wall effect’ (with a solid block or concrete backing or centre) damage is less likely than if it is a proper, traditional dry stone wall. David Thomas, by email A ANNE SAYS I cover our fruit bushes with protective mesh as the fruit starts to colour, fixing it using clothes pegs, with bricks at the base. If you want to avoid buying new plastic, use old net curtains, though they tend to snag on any thorns. There are also plasticfree, biodegradable products, though they can be shorter-lived. Q How can we keep pigeons off softfruit?

October 2023 I love the trees inmy garden– except at this time of year whenthe leaves begin falling!What canIdo withthem? Fallen leaves can be put to good use in so many ways. Here are some of the best: Create a refuge – Make a pile of leaves in an unused part of your garden. This safe space can provide shelter for a variety of wildlife through winter, including caterpillars, ladybirds, toads and hedgehogs. It also provides food for fungi and all kinds of minibeasts, from spiders to centipedes. Make garden gold – As well as improving soil structure, aeration and water retention, leafmould attracts organisms that boost soil health. Just gather leaves into a wire container or bag with air holes and keep damp. In 6-12 months, it will be ready to dig into soil, use for mulching or add to potting mixes. Get mulching – Apply leaves straight to beds and borders as a mulch. It will protect plants from the elements, suppress weeds, retain soil moisture and keep worms (a gardener’s best friend) safe from birds. Leaves improve soil too, supplying nutrients as they break down. Shredding first will help them break down faster so air and water can get through to the soil and plants. Apply a three-inch layer, avoiding plant stems. Enrich compost – Leaves are a great brown material to combine with fresher green matter. Mix and turn once a month to let air in for a nutrient-rich compost in no time – but don’t add too many leaves at once. Store any extra nearby and add when needed. Mow them up – If leaves fall onto your lawn, mow over them with the grassbox fitted to collect and also shred them at the same time. These shredded leaves can then either be added to compost, saved to make leafmould or used as a mulch. Only mow when dry and before too many leaves accumulate, though, otherwise the leaves won’t be picked up properly and may clog the mower. Ask the Woodland Trust Registered charity numbers 294344 and SC038885 To become a member ofthe Woodland Trustfrom just £4 a month, scan the code or visit woodlandtrust.org.uk/join Fallen leaves can have many uses, including sheltering wildlife, such as hedgehogs (inset) Q&A John Stamp, Derbyshire A PIPPA SAYS You’ll be pleased to hear that I don’t think that choosing plants that are bee-friendly is very difficult at all. As time progresses people’s ideas of favourite plants and what they want to grow in their gardens may have changed. But, that said, the change is gradual and many of the old favourites are still very much top sellers. They are still very widely grown and many of them are good nectar and pollen sources for bees and other pollinators. Many nurseries and garden centres often flag up pollinatorfriendly plants, frequently using a bee symbol on the label or plant description. The classic suggestion that open-centred or tubular single flowers are generally the best is a good guide to follow (and just because a plant is dwarf, has larger blooms or flowers of a certain colour does not mean to say that it is not bee-friendly, either). Peter Bates, by email A MATT SAYS I would try hiring a leaf vacuum to pick up the acorns. As long as the grass is dry enough, and is kept quite short, it should work. This would, however, need to be done regularly. If this method works for you, add a leaf vacuum to your Christmas list! Q How can I always buy bee-friendly plants? Q What’s a low-effort way of getting fallen acorns off my lawn? Flowers like these heleniums are a great food source for bees Remove any fallen acorns and leaves for a healthier lawn

136 GardenersWorld.com October 2023 VISIT GardenersWorld.com/how to for more pest and disease advice, along with creative and problem-solving projects Gardeners’QuestionTime Enjoy a fascinating cropoflisteners’questions andanswers from the experts every week,onBBCRadio4, Fridays at 3pm,repeatedSundays at 2pm. Catch up with Contact us Email your questions toQ&[email protected] Write to Q&A, Gardeners’ World Magazine, Vineyard House, 44 Brook Green, London W6 7BT Weregretthatwecannotofferapersonalgardenadvisory service. Q&A gardeners’ question time Jasmine, by email A ANNE SAYS In tropical Africa and Asia, polyscias grow into modest evergreen trees but will be smaller if kept indoors and confined to pots. They need good but indirect light, warm living quarters (minimum 15°C) and moderate humidity. The roots of your plants may have suffered from underwatering or overwatering, combined with fluctuating winter temperatures. Let the compost begin to dry out before giving more and never leave plants sitting in water. Hopefully summer has sorted most issues but next winter look out for draughts, raise humidity by grouping the polyscias with other plants, and water carefully. Give healthy plants a balanced liquid feed monthly from spring to autumn and repot in late spring or early summer, using a good peat-free compost with added John Innes. Q My polyscias is yellowing and losing branches. Why? Ian Kirkpatrick, by email A PIPPA SAYS I have to start by saying that detergents have no legal label recommendation for use on pests. Treatments like this are less persistent than many others, but they can still damage non-target creatures. Consider encouraging natural predators and parasites of aphids, and introducing ladybirds or ladybird larvae. Laura Spindlove by email A MATT SAYS Cats do not enjoy fighting through plants to go to the toilet, so keep borders densely planted. They also far prefer bare soil, so a thick mulch covering the surface will also inconvenience them. Q Is washing up liquid spray bad for wildlife? Q How can I stop cats using the garden as a toilet? flų̠ &ÓÅĔÌ°Ϛ Ą  Ë³Å A MATT SAYS Bulbous plants with aggressive, spreading behaviour can become real nuisance weeds. Some species of allium are known for it, and nothoscordum (an allium relative) is especially troublesome. The most thorough way of eradicating them is removing and replacing the soil, usually to a depth of 30cm. This guarantees the plants are physically gone, whereas spraying will only kill what is active above ground Q How can I get rid of invasive bulbs in a lawn? (and any dormant bulbs below ground will burst into life later). Lawnmowers are the biggest enemy of persistent weeds: laying badly infested areas to lawn and mowing twice a week will eventually exhaust them. The other change of mindset is to accept the invader is there and put taller, denser plants over it, so it becomes overwhelmed and less visible – big perennials such as veronicastrum and rodgersia take off quickly in the spring and will shade out weedy, bulbous plants. Regular mowing weakens invasive bulbs, eventually killing them Position polyscias in a well lit room away from direct light Cats love open soil surfaces that are light and crumbly Reduce wildlife damage by spraying only on dull days PHOTOS: SARAH CUTTLE; PAUL DEBOIS; GETTY/PENPAK NGAMSATHAIN; JASON INGRAM

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138 GardenersWorld.com How to get in touch Please contact us online in the first instance Issue number 392 ISSN 0961-7477. Copyright ©Immediate Media Company London Ltd 2023. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part prohibited without permission. The BBC logo is a trademark of the British Broadcasting Corporation and is used under licence. ©British Broadcasting Corporation 1996. Reproduction in any manner, in whole or part, in English or other languages, is prohibited. This work may not be photocopied or otherwise reproduced within the terms of any licence granted by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd or the Publishers’ Licensing Society Ltd. The publisher cannot accept responsibility for errors in articles or advertisements, or for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations. Dates and prices are correct at time of going to press. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher. 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LEADERSHIP Managing Director Catriona Bolger Head of Content Kevin Smith Head of Digital Delivery Daniel Haynes Marketing & Commercial Director Sephora Jinks CONTENT Commissioning Editor Adam Duxbury Digital Editor Catherine Mansley Horticultural Editor Emma Crawforth Reviews Editor Kay Maguire Picture Editor Sarah Edwards Wildlife Editor Kate Bradbury Premium Content Manager Blake Roberts Senior Content Creator Miranda Luke Content Creator Lily Middleton Editorial Assistant James Jessel ART Senior Art Editor Jo Cloke Deputy Art Editor Andrew Ellis Multimedia Designer Emma Langschied Reprographics by Rhapsody PRODUCTION Chief Sub-editor John Perkins Horticultural Sub-editor Oliver Parsons Sub-editor Shirley Accini Operations Manager Gregor Shepherd With thanks to Neil Darby, Greg Loades, Jean Postle, Liz Potter,Tamsin Hope Thomson EDITORIAL REVIEW BOARD Executive Producer, Gardeners’ World, Bristol Gary Broadhurst Series Producer, Gardeners’ World Sharon Fisher External Members Chris Collins, Jo Thompson ADVERTISING ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES: [email protected] Advertising Manager Tim Bennett Head of Agency Trading Simon Fulton Business Development Manager – Inserts Steve Cobb Senior Account Manager Sundeep Prakash NORTHERN AGENCY SALES: Advertising Director Gavin Barber 0161 240 4021 Regional Business Development Manager Liane Birchall 0161 240 4027 Direct Business Development Manager Richard Burns 0161 240 4026 BBC GARDENERS’ WORLD LIVE EVENTS Emily Cloke, Head of Commercial 020 7150 5988 PUBLISHING AND MARKETING Brand Manager Emma Davis Commerce Manager Rita Baptiste Brand Marketing Executives Amy Bloom, Phoebe Elliott Data Analyst Michael Sidhu Senior Management Accountant Rory Westwood Finance Manager Miraj Gudka PRODUCTION AND ADVERTISEMENT SERVICES Production, Sustainability & Ethical Director Koli Pickersgill Production Manager Joanne Beattie Ad Services/Display Sarah Barker Ad Services/Classified James Webb Ad Services Manager/Inserts Eleanor Parkman-Eason CIRCULATION AND SUBSCRIPTIONS Direct Marketing Manager Sally Longstaff Trade Marketing Director Martin Hoskins Direct Marketing Executive Amy Corbett Basic annual rate 12 issues: UK £64.40; Europe and Republic of Ireland €105; rest of world $144 Director of International Licencing & Syndication [email protected] IMMEDIATE MEDIA LEADERSHIP CEO Sean Cornwell Group Managing Director Alex White CFO & COO Dan Constanda Non-Executive Chairman Tom Bureau Online ■ Print and digital subscription enquiries (for issues relating to delivery delays, damaged issues and missing seeds) visit: buysubscriptions.com/GW Email ■ Editorial enquiries (for questions about features and magazine content): [email protected] ■ Reader offer enquiries (for issues relating to featured offers and events): [email protected] ■ Website enquiries (for issues relating to registration, Premium activation or forum access): [email protected] Phone ■ Subscription enquiries: 03330 162123* (option 2 for missing gifts, option 6 for magazine slipcases at £9.99 incl. postage) ■ Reader offer enquiries: 020 7150 5780* ■ Editorial enquiries: 020 7150 5770* Please note we do not offer a gardening advisory service. 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Put down your trowel, pick up a pen and exercise those brain muscles instead… Crossword SOLUTIONS to this crossword can be found in Have your say on p20 October 2023 ACROSS 1 Cut down the ferny shoots of this plot delicacy to soil level once they’ve turned yellow (9) 7 An unwanted wild plant (4) 8 The fir genus (5) 9 Black __ is a form of frost damage on strawberries (3) 10 ‘__ Harkness’ is a classic red hybrid tea rose (3) 11 Blossom __ rot is a problem for fruits like 13 across (3) 12 Spanish dagger is a name for __ gloriosa (5) 13 The green, red or yellow fruits of Capsicum annuum (7) 15 Vinca minor, or __ periwinkle (6) 17 Tool that helps your lawn to breathe (7) 20 Chalk, sand and clay are different types of this (4) 22 Latin name indicating multi-coloured foliage (9) 23 __ up fallen leaves to rot down into leafmould (4) 24 It’s a good time to sow green manure, such as winter __ (3) 25 The autumn woods are full of these beech fruits (4) DOWN 1 Plant bulbs of this beautiful indoor bloomer in pots now for brilliant Christmas flowers (9) 2 __ feather is a noble name for Amaranthus hypochondriacus (7) 3 Alcea __ is better known as hollyhock (5) 4 Wrap __ bands around fruit trees to stop female winter moth (6) 5 Annual climber formally called Lathyrus odoratus (5,3) 6 Start moving __ plants into the greenhouse as the weather cools down (6) 13 Carex ‘__ Fire’ provides yearround colour and interest (7) 14 ‘Gulf __’ is a heavenly bamboo with rich autumn colour (6) 16 Betula pendula is better known as __ birch (6) 18 The rhubarb genus (5) 19 These warty amphibians will appreciate dark, damp hideyholes in the garden (5) 21 Reliable, heavy-cropping, reddish-purple plum (4) 1 2 3 8 12 6 10 11 18 13 21 15 20 19 4 5 23 14 16 25 22 24 7 17 9

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To advertise in the classified section call 020 7150 5155 October 2023 GardenersWorld.com 141 Marketplace Garden …useful gear Baby Special 276 LED Lantern Illuminate every moment with Feuerhand’s Baby Special 276 LED Lantern! The Baby Special 276 LED combines the traditional design of a Feuerhand Hurricane Lantern with the brilliance of energy-efficient LED technology. Perfect for social gatherings, romantic evenings, or peaceful “me time”, the warm white light creates a cosy ambiance in the garden, on the terrace or indoors. Enjoy over 14 hours of light on the highest setting or up to 18 days on the lowest setting. Available at berryuseful.co.uk Scan to browse

142 GardenersWorld.com October 2023 Marketplace Garden TM ‘Strulch’ is a scientific success story. At Leeds University, Dr Geoff Whiteley found he could replicate a natural process which preserves straw. He and his wife Jackie brought the new environmentally friendly, biodegradable mulch to market . Fast becoming the preferred mulch of professional and amateur gardeners. Strulch is made from wheat straw and the mineralisation process preserves the straw and turns it dark brown. It has a neutral pH so can be used anywhere in the garden and it lasts for up to two years. Over time, the mulch improves soil structure and adds nutrients. The physical properties of the mulch and the added minerals deter slugs and snails. Strulch is available in 9kg bags from our stockists. For best value buy direct in bulk on pallets of 12, 25  or 48 x 13.5 kg bags. Advertisementfeature Available in bulk and in small amounts from our stockists visit: www.strulch.co.uk or call 01943 863610 With slug and snail deterrent Professional gardeners see the benefits too: “I have used it on the veg beds as a heavy mulch and experimenting in some areas as a no dig concept; laid it on cardboard on the beds and will sow wildflower seed into it. I have used it on two of the herbaceous borders to keep the weeds down and keep the ground warmerto help protect the crowns. HeadGardener, Floors CastleGardens “I am extremely pleased with the product’s ability to suppress weed growth and have noted an observable improvement in overall plant health and soil structure over a wide range of plants with successive applications. David Redmore, DirectorGarden and LandscapeDesign. The straw mulch for organic gardening as used by major horticultural gardens

To advertise in the classified section call 020 7150 5155 October 2023 GardenersWorld.com 143 Marketplace Garden 5 Reasons to love Genus 3-Season Gardening Trousers ® The Royal Horticultural Society. The Royal Horticultural Society, and its logo, are trade marks of The Royal Horticultural Society (Registered Charity No 222879/SC038262) and used under licence from RHS Enterprises Limited. INTEGRATED KNEEPADS No more sore, wet knees "$҃ff!flfl fffl$" No more lost secateurs RAISED WAISTBAND No more bare backs )$!ff!flfl SEAT PANEL No more vo]] 0oolv "$!$ ! Total freedom to move

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To advertise in the classified section call 020 7150 5155 October 2023 GardenersWorld.com 145 Marketplace Garden Find our full range at www.gardenbird.co.uk or call us on 0800 6444 322 (8.30am - 5pm Monday to Friday) Autumn and Winter Sunflower Hearts Seed Mix Premium Gold Seed Mix Premium Insect Suet Pellets 20% off offer ends 30/11/23. This offer code can only be used once. Some exclusions apply, please visit https://www.gardenbird.co.uk/terms-and-conditions for full details. *Delivery charges apply for orders under £25 or post codes classed as ‘out of areas’. See www.gardenbird.co.uk/delivery. Prices shown are subject to change. 12.55kg 12.55kg 12.75kg 25.1kg (2 x 12.55kg) 12.55kg 15kg (3 x 5kg) 25.5kg (2 x 12.75kg) 20kg £33.99 £21.99 £27.99 £64.99 £22.99 £27.99 £51.99 £26.99 your first order 20% off GWGB20 Use offer code Over 300,000 Happy Customers FREE Express Delivery on orders over £25                 fl                    Quick & Easy Solution to fix wires to concrete posts NO DRILLING - simply clamp the two halves together Three sizes to fit most concrete posts Main Stockists of Gripple Trellising FREE UK DELIVERY Visit our website to view our other gardening accessories and gift ideas www.rivelinglenproducts.co.uk [email protected] 01246 462666 WireAnchorwithGripple Trellising System WireAnchor Concrete Post Fixings (WireAnchors) & EasyTrellising System Aquaplancton Voted Home and Garden “Product of the Year” Pond before WŽŶĚ ĂŌĞƌ www.aquaplancton.co.uk Tel: 01298 214003 Aquaplancton has been clearing ponds of blanket weed, duckweed, algae, JUHHQ ZDWHUVOXGJHVOLPH RGRXU DQG FORJJHG ƓOWHUV IRU RYHU  \HDUV 3HRSOH UHRUGHU WLPH DQG WLPH DJDLQ ZKLFK VD\V D ORW IRU WKLV VDIH QDWXUDO UHPHG\

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150 GardenersWorld.com October 2023 Marketplace Lifestyle/ Nursery Single Snowdrops £3.25 per 25 £6.50 per 50 £10.75 per 100 £52.95 per 500 Double Snowdrops £5.25 per 25 £8.95 per 50 £15.95 per 100 £74.95 per 500 Bluebells £5.75 per 25 £9.95 per 50 Aconites £10.45 per 50 £17.95 per 100 Wild Garlic £10.95 per 50 £19.95 per 100 Wood Anemone £9.00 per 50 £17.00 per 100 Allium Purple Sensation £6.95 per 15 £12.95 per 30 Queen of Night £4.95 per 25 £9.95 per 50 Mixed Miniture Daffs £6.95 per 25 £11.95 per 50 Tete a Tete £5.00 per 25 £8.95 per 50 Triumph Tulips Mixed £4.50 per 25 £8.00 per 50 Large Mixed Crocus £6.95 per 50 £12.95 per 100 Dwarf Iris £7.45 per 50 £16.95 per 100 Thalia Dwarf Narcissus £6.50 per 25 £11.95 per 50 Dwarf Winter Crocus £4.95 per 50 £9.45 per 100 01945 464167 • www.abbeycountrygardens.co.uk Please add £3.95 towards P&P. All major debit and credit cards accepted. All cheques made payable to Abby Gardens Supplies (IIL` *V\U[Y` .HYKLUZ 3P[[SL ,HZ[ÄLSK )HYU 3`UU 9VHK >PZILJO *HTIZ 7,fl ff(3 PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MANY MORE VARIETIES SPRING FLOWERING BULBS ALL ORDERS OVER £50 WILL RECEIVE 50 FREE SPECIES CROCUS FAMILY NURSERY BUSINESS – EST 1963 TOP QUALITY BULBS FOR SPRING FLOWERING 10 Placatus Warham Snowdrop FREE with every £50 spent on bulbs 25 50 100 500 1000 Single Snowdrops £3.75 £6.50 £10.75 £52.50 £95.00 Double Snowdrops £5.25 £9.00 £16.00 £75.00 £140.00 Snowdrop Plicatus Warham £22.00 per 10 Hyamalis (Winter Aconite) £5.75 £10.00 £17.50 £80.00 £150.00 Cultivated English Bluebells £5.75 £10.00 £17.50 £80.00 £150.00 Large Flowering Crocus Mix £7.00 £13.00 Leucojum Gravetye Giant £18.00 £35.00 Specie Crocus Collection £9.50 25 of 4 differentvarieties: Snow Bunting, Whitwell Purple, Ruby Giant, Gipsy Girl Anemone Nemorosa £9.00 £17.00 Muscari Armeniacum (Grape Hyacinth) £4.00 £7.50 Scilla Siberica Bright Blue £5.00 £9.00 Mixed Garden Tulips £4.50 £8.50 £16.00 Tulip Grand Perfection £4.50 £8.50 £16.00 Fritillaria Meleagris (Snakeshead Lily) £4.00 £7.50 £14.00 Tete e Tete Narcissus £5.00 £8.50 £15.00 NarcissusTresamble £9.00 £15.00 £25.00 Narcissus Growers Pride £6.50 £12.50 £20.00 NarcissusTete Delixe £6.50 £12.50 £20.00 Dutch Iris £3.50 £7.00 Many more varieties on our website • $OO EXOEV DUH ŴRZHULQJ VL]H LQFOXGLQJ IUHH JLIW 'HOLYHU\LV e 8. PDLQODQG RQO\ • 3D\PHQW ZLWK RUGHU SOHDVH • 7HO RU HPDLO IRU GHOLYHU\ HVVHQWLDO [email protected] • 01945 430009 Eurobulbs 314,Smeeth Rd, Marshland StJames,Wisbech.Cambs PE14 8EP Growers of a wide selection of fruit trees for all situations www.walcotnursery.co.uk Order by Phone, Post or Online Detailed catalogue available 01905 841587 Sea Spring Seeds www.seaspringseeds.co.uk SEEDS For vegetables that work Tomatoes, chillies, salads – and much more Order direct online at www.dejager.co.uk to get a 10% discount By Appointment to HRH The Prince of Wales Supplier of Garden Flower Bulbs P. de Jager & Sons Limited Kent Top Quality, Top Size Bulbs Flower Bulb Specialists Since 1868 For a FREE Catalogue Tel: 01622 840229 CREDIT AND DEBIT CARDS ACCEPTED P&P £3 – MAKE CHEQUES & POSTAL ORDERS PAYABLE TO: ANGLIA BULBS, LORDS LANE,WISBECH, CAMBS PE13 4TU PHONE 01945 410966 MINIATURE DAFFODILS TETE ATETE / MINNOW £10 PER 50 FRITILLARIA £10 PER 50 MINIATURE TULIPS £10 PER 50 DOGSTOOTH PAGODA £11 PER 10 HYACINTHS £10 PER 15 SINGLE SNOWDROPS £11 PER 100 DOUBLE SNOWDROPS £16 PER 100 ENGLISH BLUEBELLS £16 PER 100 CROCUS £9 PER 50 DWARF IRIS £10 PER 50 SPRING FLOWERING BULBS KCDQ "NLLNM BL SQ@MROK@MSDC {  { LDK@MBGHDQ BL SQ@MROK@MSDC {  { !DDBG &QDDM BL RDDCKHMFR {  { !DDBG &QDDM BL SQ@MROK@MSDC {  { !DDBG /TQOKD BL SQ@MROK@MSDC {  { !DDBG /TQOKD BL SQ@MROK@MSDC {  { !DQADQHR &QDDM NQ /TQOKD BL SQ@MROK@MSR {  { !DQADQHR #@QVHMHH  ONS FQNVM {  { !K@BJSGNQM BL RDDCKHMFR {  { !K@BJSGNQM BL SQ@MROK@MSDC {  { !NW "NLLNM BL ONS FQNVM {  { "NSNMD@RSDQ EQ@MBGDSHH BL SQ@MROK@MSDC {  { "NSNMD@RSDQ RHLNMRHH BL SQ@MROK@MSDC {  { #NFVNNC BL SQ@MROK@MSDC {  { #NFVNNC 1DCRSDLLDC BL SQ@MROK@MSDC {  { %HDKC ,@OKD  SQ@MROK@MSDC {  { &TDKCDQ 1NRD  SQ@MROK@MSDC {  { '@YDK BL SQ@MROK@MSDC {  { 'NQMAD@L  SQ@MROK@MSDC {  { 'NQMAD@L BL SQ@MROK@MSDC {  { 'NQRD %QHDMCKX 'DCFHMF SQ@MROK@MSR {  { +@QBG  SQ@MROK@MSDC {  { +@TQDK BL A@QD QNNS {  { ,HWDC -@SHUD 'DCFHMF RDDCKHMFR {  { ,HWDC -@SHUD 'DCFHMF BL SQ@MROK@MSDC {  { ,NTMS@HM RG  SQ@MROK@MSDC {  { .@J $MFKHRG  SQ@MROK@MSDC {  { /KTL ,XQNA@K@M BL RDDCKHMFR {  { /QHUDS &NKCDM BL SQ@MROK@MSDC {  { /QHUDS &NKCDM BL SQ@MROK@MSDC {  { /QHUDS &QDDM BL A@QD QNNS {  { /QHUDS 6HKC  A@QD QNNS {  { 0THBJSGNQM BL RDDCKHMFR {  { 0THBJSGNQM BL SQ@MROK@MSDC {  { 0THBJSGNQM BL SQ@MROK@MSDC {  { 1NR@ B@MHM@ #NF 1NRD BL RDDCKHMFR {  { 1NR@ QTFNR@ BL SQ@MROK@MSDC {  { 1NR@ QTFNR@ 1DC NQ 6GHSD BL SQ@MR {  { 1NRD 2VDDS !QH@Q BL SQ@MROK@MSDC {  { 2D@ !TBJSGNQM BL SQ@MROK@MSDC {  { 2HKUDQ !HQBG BL SQ@MROK@MSDC {  { 2HKUDQ !HQBG BL SQ@MROK@MSDC {  { 8DV $MFKHRG BL SQ@MROK@MSDC {  { 8DV $MFKHRG BL SQ@MROK@MSDC {  { 5HRHS NTQ &@QCDM "DMSQD NM  VDRS NE !TBJHMFG@L ATS CN BGDBJ NM @U@HK@AHKHSX ADENQD B@KKHMF .ODM  C@XR @ VDDJ ,NRS NQCDQR DWBDOS 2BNSSHRG 'HFGK@MCR  (RK@MCR " 11( &$ @CC {  '$#&(-&  8.4-& 31$$2 .UDQ  NSGDQ U@QHDSHDR NE GDCFHMF @MC XNTMF SQDDR EQTHS SQDDR BKHLADQR ODQDMMH@KR DSB KHRSDC HM NTQ %1$$ ".+.41 !1."'41$ %NQ LNQD HMENQL@SHNM UHRHS NTQ VDA RHSD  3HMFDVHBJ 1N@C !TBJHMFG@L ,*  $ 3DK   %@W   HMENfiGDCFHMF BN TJ "@S@KNFTD 1DPTDRS +HMD   5% DISCOUNT using code GW5 ends 30/10/23 ROSES cottage-memories.co.uk VIEW OUR ONLINE CATALOGUE We are a family business specialising in growing classic roses, delivered to your door.