29 APRIL 2023 AMATEUR GARDENING 51 Steve Bradley MA MHort (RHS) has written (or co-written) over 40 gardening books, including Propagation Basics, The Pruner’s Bible, The Ground Force Workbook and What’s Wrong With My Plant? He is resident expert on BBC Radio Kent, Sussex and Surrey, and he has built medalwinning gardens at both Chelsea and Hampton Court Palace. You can listen to Steve on alternate Sundays 10am-2pm on BBC Radio Kent’s Sunday Gardening (BBC Local) times of stress. Sprayed over grape vines to delay bud opening, it can help avoid frost damage. Growth inhibitors There are also several other hormones, including growth retardants and inhibitors, that may be used to manipulate the appearance of a plant. Growers have used these in the past to induce early flowering, produce fullsized flowers on shortened plants, full flowering on young plants or a short pot plant that, in subsequent years, will grow to full size. Chrysanthemums and bedding plants were often subject to this treatment and, while it is still done, it is more common now to use water and light manipulation to achieve a similar result. Other hormones have been used as shoot suppressants, such as in stored potatoes and onions. Ways of using hormones We can make use of these hormones in several ways, notably by adding a ripe banana to a paper bag of green tomatoes left at the end of the season. The ethylene gas given off by the ripe fruit soon turns the green tomatoes red. We can also use hormones to our advantage when we take cuttings or bend a shoot down to layer it. Damaging the stem, by cutting through or wounding, causes hormones to flood the area and produce adventitious roots at the site of the damage. Hormone-rooting powder We can provide additional help, too. Hormone-rooting powder has been around for decades and, although the formulation has changed slightly, it is still a useful way to give cuttings a boost to help them root, and it can be an essential aid on plants that are slow to form roots or find it difficult. Left alone, some cuttings will rot before roots form unless they have assistance. The main ingredient in a rooting preparation is auxin-based in order to promote callus (the first healing cells that form over the cut surface) and then the embryonic roots that will gradually grow into a supportive root system. Rooting preparations are available as powder, gel or a spray but, whichever you use, the rules are the same – keep it clean! Never dip a cutting into the pot of powder otherwise you will contaminate it and cause rapid deterioration. Always tip a small amount of powder into a saucer and close the pot again to minimise exposure to the air. Once all the cuttings have been dipped, throw away the remaining powder. Only ever dip the cut surface and tap off the excess – more is not better and it can actually act as a barrier to root formation or cause scorching of the bark. When not to use The one occasion when it is not recommended to use a rooting preparation is when you take geranium or pelargonium cuttings, as they already have a high concentration within the stem and adding any more will burn the cells, resulting in a loss of the cuttings. There are several sites on the upper part of the plant where the concentration of hormones is higher, including the shoot tips and at the nodes, where each leaf joins the stem and a new bud forms. Trimming a cutting just under a leaf node means making maximum use of this concentration to get the best results. Using against lawn weeds We can also make use of hormone action to get rid of lawn weeds. Applying a ‘hormone weed killer’ in spring has no effect on the grass (which does not have leaf nodes), but makes weeds grow upright by inducing apical dominance. This allows them to be mown down and gradually weakened in a combination of chemical and mechanical action. The downside is that there is a certain amount of residue left in the weeds, so they should never be composted along with your other waste. They can be dealt with separately and left for at least two years before you use the compost. Weedkiller contamination If you suspect you have some compost that has been contaminated by a hormone weedkiller, sow some broadbean seeds in it. The leaves will quickly develop a distinctive ‘ferny’ appearance, rather than the usual rounded shape. This relatively quick test has been invaluable since the introduction of a ‘green waste’ element to composts. Where seeds fail to germinate, batches of seedlings die off or plants fail to thrive and look sickly, it is worth doing the ‘bean test’ to see whether the compost is at fault. Bananas produce the gas ethylene, which can help ripen green tomatoes Hormones help in the production of adventitious roots when a stem is damaged while taking a cutting Some hormones improve fruit set and size, and can be used to trick plants into growing fruit without seeds Alamy
52 AMATEUR GARDENING 29 APRIL 2023 Q We’ve decided to make our small, sunny, south-facing back garden into a herb garden with edible flowers. For this, we’ll need a lot of plants. What perennial herbs can we raise from seed? Sam Whittaker, Andover, Hampshire A Herbs look great in generous swathes and Mediterranean types will love your sunny plot, especially if soil is well drained. You’ll soon have a haze of drought-tolerant aromatics whose nectar-rich flowers will attract pollinating insects. Most bloom from early summer to the autumn, but rosemary often flowers during mild winter spells and evergreen kinds such as bay have a year-round presence. Any gaps can be plugged by edible flowers, starting with primroses early in the year. For a backbone of shrubs, use Szechuan pepper, roses (for their edible petals) and low-growing dyer’s greenweed (Genista tinctoria). Raising plants from seed yields speedy results and will deliver the large numbers you need for edging borders and filling beds. Tried-and-tested species for culinary use include common sage (Salvia officinalis), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’, chives (Allium schoenoprasum) and winter savory (Satureja montana). Decorative and aromatic anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) is easy from seed. Try lesser calamint (Calamintha nepeta) for sharp scent and small pinkish-purple flowers, plus the orangescented lemon balm ‘Mandarina’. Add wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) for showy pink flowers and leaves for flavouring tea. Both pot marjoram (Origanum onites) and Greek oregano (O. vulgare subsp. hitrum) are available as seeds. Fill shady corners with sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum). For successful germination, invest in the best peat-free compost you can buy. For small seeds, create a smooth, moist surface in pots or seed trays and sow thinly and evenly. When large enough to handle, transfer them singly to small pots, modules, or grid-fashion in a tray. Larger seeds can be sown one per module or fibre pot. All photographs John Swithinbank/Future unless otherwise credited Favourite edible flowers SAGE flowers are tasty and worth sprinkling on salads, as are chives, rocket and peppery nasturtium. Heartsease pansy and borage blooms are pretty, though they don’t taste of much. The petals of pot marigolds (calendula) are great for baking into cakes. Heads of elderflowers are delicious dipped in pancake batter and fried. Making a herb garden Alamy inset: Alamy Inset: Alamy This was the year after I raised a lot of thyme, sage and lavender from seeds. Planted all along the paths of our kitchen garden, they made soft mounds of foliage and flowers Perennial herbs such as lavender ‘Imperial Gem’ that don’t come true from seed are easily multiplied by taking cuttings from plants Masterclass on: herbs and edible flowers Ask ANNE SWITHINBANK Raising plants like chives (Allium schoenoprasum) from seed yields speedy results and delivers large numbers for borders and beds 1 Both common thyme and clumps of chives are easy to raise from seed. Thyme is a low, shrubby herb while chives are herbaceous, dying back for winter and growing again in spring. 2From seedlings transplanted one per pot, these plants of common sage are well grown and ready for planting in generous groups. Try leaves fried in butter as a garnish. 3The sage plants have made a soft-green backdrop dotted with purple flowers to pinks (yielding edible petals) added as young plants. Both are easily propagated by cuttings. 4Fennel seedlings resent root disturbance, so either sow direct or set two seeds per module, thinning to one afterwards. I’m using pots made from newspaper. Perennial herbs on a budget TI Archive Step bystep Borage and nasturtium petals in a salad TI Archive TI Archive
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29 APRIL 2023 AMATEUR GARDENING 55 Reader material unless credited Do as you please,I say! I READ the letter from your reader Stuart Meeson about garden ornaments (AG, 1 April), and would like to add mine to the list. I have ‘fairies’ at the bottom of the garden, frog pots, a tin dog, a metal ant and, last but not least, a gnome on my patio. And I have also painted my shed pink and white and put up bunting. My lovely husband passed away four years ago so I work on his three raised vegetable beds and pots, I have Write to us: Letters, Amateur Gardening magazine, Future Publishing Limited, Unit 415, Winnersh Triangle, Eskdale Road, Winnersh, RG41 5TP (please include your address). Email us: [email protected] Your LETTERS TO WENDY Please note, prize monies will be sent approx 10 weeks after publication . Please continue to send in your gardening-themed poems. Each week, the writer receives £20 prize money. WIN £20 The Invitation Come into my garden, there are treats in store for you. Smell the roses on the arch, the honeysuckle too. Follow the old grey stepping stones that meander through the lawn, And marvel at the flowers that greet us every morn’. Here’s my old thatched cottage – it’s stood here many-a-year, And will be here for many more; of that I have no fear. Wisteria on its whitewashed wall pours down like purple rain, A sight that gladdens every heart as spring comes round again. We’re coming to the pathway that takes us through a hedge, I’ve often seen young blackbirds here, when they begin to fledge. The worn stone steps lead us to a seat beside the pond, I often sit here contemplating the view that lies beyond. A moorhen who has built her nest amongst the spiky reeds, Shows her fluffy little chicks where to find their every need. Whilst dragonflies dart to and fro on transparent rustling wings, And somewhere in the clear blue yonder, a tiny skylark sings. If you visit in the autumn, a new vista will delight, For spiders will have worked their magic – a truly wonderous sight. Cobwebs hanging from every plant are dressed in morning dew, Like fragile fairy necklaces, in shades of every hue. The oak tree – once an acorn, planted by my children years ago, Now supports my grandchild’s swing – how the years come and go. Although I’m getting older and life’s not as it was, My garden; just like the bees that visit; still gives me such a buzz. Joy Meiklejohn, Caithness also painted his old wooden wheelbarrow pink and white! My thoughts are, it’s my cottage garden, and I will have it how I want it, that is including 80 pots. I lose myself in my garden, and find great comfort out there since my Alan passed. Mrs J Chandler, Leicester Wendy says Your cottage garden sounds like a lovely place to be. Too true, our garden style should be as unique we are A CHRISTMAS gift that lasts usually until Easter, is one of my favourite house plants. The flowers are so impressive. This lovely amaryllis blooming was too irresistible not to capture. Steve Watkin, Wingate, Co Durham Wendy says A fantastic display, Steve. They’re also lovely to plant in September to flower in time for Christmas Fav house plant! The irresistible amaryllis Mrs Chandler finds joy in the decorative touches in her cottage garden Star letter EVERY year I add more spring bulbs to my garden. What happens? When you order them, you head out to your garden to plant, suddenly you can’t remember where all the rest were growing… what we do is mark and/or photograph the spring bulb plantings now, while the foliage is still visible, so that in the autumn you will know where to plant or not to plant. David Gallacher, Falkirk Take photos mark the spot now Reader’s Tip Shutterstock
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29 APRIL 2023 AMATEUR GARDENING 57 I DID enjoy the highly entertaining ‘Cat’s Spring’ poem by Sandra Hopwood this week (AG, 8 April). The line ‘Cat’s leaping through the air’ reminded me of our cat Jasper. He loves to climb trees including the Christmas tree, which he brought crashing down one year! He also stalks anything that moves in the garden, leaping from his favourite hiding place in my epimediums, where he also takes lengthy naps. Because he’s so camouflaged, all I see is his green eyes blinking lovingly at me. Jilly Day, West Sussex The epimediums are the perfect Tiger eyes hiding place for Jasper Photo of the week SHARE YOUR STORIES TIPS AND PHOTOS and you will receive a fantastic pair of Town & Country’s Master Gardener gloves — the UK’s best-selling gardening glove and a perfect companion to help you in the garden. State small, medium or large with your letter. Money-saving tips to save £s I WAS very interested in the recent article Your Price Watch. My best saving this year was at our local B&M store. What a very good idea! They were selling 10kg tubs of Westland Chicken Manure for £4.99 each, a brilliant price! At the time, B&Q and Dobbies were selling the same size containers for a whopping £19.99. In fairness, I think B&M were actually selling off stock because this size container is no longer sold in our local store or online. However, the point I would make is when you see a bargain, snap it up Westland’s Organic Chicken Pellets, found in Boston, just £4.99 for 10kg RUTH’S price comparison (AG, 25 March) gave best and worst prices of spring gardening products available across the country. Thank you for checking out your stores and sharing your findings straight away as it won’t be there very long. How I wished I’d bought four. Barry Lea, Boston, Lincolnshire I WAS interested in your article regarding differing prices for the same product and look forward to the series for all those bargains. One item you featured was Miracle-Gro All Purpose Feed. I have been buying this with my online shop, from my local Asda for £3.97. Dawn Warner, Balby, Doncaster Wendy says Thanks for your tips, the next Your Price Watch looks at all the essential items you might need as we head into summer, including plants foods, pest and weed controls – on sale 16 May. Future Publishing Ltd Unit 415, Winnersh Triangle, Eskdale Road, Winnersh, RG41 5TP. Editorial: Editor: Garry Coward-Williams Email: [email protected] 0330 390 3732 (Mon-Fri 9.00am-6.00pm) Gardening Editor: Ruth Hayes Assistant Editor: Janey Goulding Art Editor: Al Rigger Editorial Assistant: Lesley Upton Picture Editor and Letters: Wendy Humphries Email: [email protected] Photography All copyrights and trademarks are recognised and respected Advertising Media packs are available on request Ad Manager: Kelly James-Miller, 07972 769267 email: [email protected] Amateur Gardening is available for licensing and syndication. To find out more contact us at licensing@ futurenet.com or view our available content at futurecontenthub.com Head of Print Licensing: Rachel Shaw Subscriptions New subscribers go to: www.magazinesdirect.com Subscription renewals: www.mymagazine.co.uk Phone orders: 0330 333 1113 Customer services: 0330 333 4333 Overseas order line & enquiries: +44 (0)330 333 1113 Subscription delays Disruption remains within UK and International delivery networks. Please allow up to 7 days before contacting us about a late delivery to [email protected] Circulation Retail Category Director: Ben Oakden Production Group Head of Production: Mark Constance Senior Production Manager: Matthew Eglington Advertising Production Manager: Joanne Crosby Digital Editions Controller: Jason Hudson Director of Group Finance: Oli Foster Content Director: Laura Crombie Managing Director: Jason Orme SVP Lifestyle, Knowledge and News: Sophie WybrewBond Printed by Walstead Group Distributedby Marketforce(UK),121-141Westbourne Terrace,Paddington,LondonW26JR. marketforce. co.uk.Email: [email protected]
29 APRIL 2023 AMATEUR GARDENING 59 WHEN the gavel fell on Banksy’s Girl with Balloon painting for a cool $1.4 million, a shredder within its frame whirred to life and chewed through the artwork as if it were an old bank statement. I was thinking of this stunt because I’ve been mowing the big green frame (aka the lawn) in our garden. Lawns are a horticultural miracle. They survive wear and tear, cost pennies to create, and last a lifetime with only rudimentary care. But they have another attribute that’s less appreciated, much like Banksy’s picture frame – they can improve or detract from what they surround. When setting out a garden, it’s natural to think about the shape of borders (where the interesting stuff is) first, and the grass second. But because borders undulate, it’s impossible to get a handle on a bed’s true outline so if they are narrow/triangular/wonky at the back, you’ll never notice. “Reframe the way you think of mowing” A lawn is different. The level height and homogeneous colour mean it stands out, and that’s why – if you give your grass an arrow-straight edge or graceful curves (see panel below) – your garden will look smart and cared for, even if the beds are full of weeds! The contrast between the bustle of the borders and the framing effect of the lawn increases with regular cutting. This is because the more the grass is mown, the denser the sward becomes. That’s not to say you can’t have longer areas for daisies and dandelions. If, like me, you’re leaving your lawn for no-mow May, the same trick of creating contrast by mowing paths around the edge and through the middle makes all the difference to its look. Neighbouring areas of short grass enhance the wildness of the meadow. If it’s all long and shaggy, it looks untidy and just as monotonous as if it were shorn all over. So reframe the way you think of mowing. It’s not a chore, but a way of making your garden look like a picture. And if you’re not convinced, remember Banksy. When the shredded Girl with Balloon was resold along with the clever frame, it went for $25.4 million! REGULAR edging defines the outside of a border and stops grass spreading from the lawn among your plants. A ‘halfmoon’ is designed for the job, but a spade with a flat blade works just as well. Standing on the lawn, angle the handle towards you and push the blade a few inches into the soil. Using the toe of your boot as a fulcrum against the back of the blade, pull back on the handle to sever the grass edge and create a shallow trench. Repeat all the way around the bed, then collect up the unwanted strips of grass. All photographs Alamy unless otherwise credited Frame academy Every garden is capable of being a work of art, but the right lawn regime can give your art the edge, says Toby TI Archive Give your lawns the edge This cultivated wildflower patch has a lawn ‘path’ mowed through its centre Toby ’s trivia 2 When setting out a lawn, the best viewpoint to check that the lines work is often the upstairs window. If it looks good from above, it will look good at ground level. Well-kept lawns make the perfect framing device for a garden, giving a clean edge to vibrant displays of daylilies, roses and astilbes Main: Shutterstock Plantsman and BBC gardening presenter TOBY BUCKLAND 1 A trick to make a double border look longer is to have a central grass path that narrows as it runs away from the house or viewpoint, creating the illusion of length as it runs to the distance. You can cultivate a dense and healthy sward if you cut the lawn regularly Edging a border is worth doing regularly Inset: Shutterstock
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