gardener's world december 2014
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HomegrownChristmas
Creative projects inspired by your garden
Inside MONTY on the homegrown veg to pick for Christmas ! JOE has a plan for colour and scent ! ALAN reveals his 30 best-ever garden plants ! CAROL shares the secret of great winter gardens
December 2014 GARDEN PUBLICATION OF THE YEAR
gardenersworld.com
SAVE £££s! NEW Oriental Lilies for 2015 + 3 free clematis*
*PAY JUST £5.65 POSTAGE FOR CLEMATIS
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Your complete guide to over 60 crops! Suitable for all experience levels! GYO is full of easy to use growing guides ! Advice on year-round planning! Problem solving! Variety choice
GROW YOUR OWN
answeredA one-stop manual packed with expert advice
Turn your garden into a nature reserve with Gardening for Wildlife! 30 step-by-step projects for all the family! Spotter’s guides to help you identify visitors to your garden! Seasonal checklists to help visiting wildlife survive! Must-grow flowers to attract wildlife! Expert advice from your favourite BBC personalities
JUST£3.99
JUST£3.99
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! Planting for shade! Lawn care ! Pruning techniques ! Taking cuttings
! Pest damage ! Weed control! Fruit & veg in pots! And many more…
MORE TO DISCOVER WITH OUR SPECIAL EDITIONS
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A SOUND
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TOGETHER
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How to get in touch
Follow us…
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For our contacts, turn to page 123
Q I’ve been forcing
spring-flowering bulbs
in the hope of fragrant,
colourful blooms for
indoors. If all goes to plan
I’ll have hyacinths and
narcissus to welcome in
my guests. Kevin, Acting
features co-ordinator
Q My Christmas cracker
is Viburnum tinus
‘Gwenllian’. A highlight of
the winter garden, with
a mix of open, white
flowers and rusty-pink
buds, it also works
perfectly woven into
a door wreath. Emma,
Gardening editor
Q The plant I always hope will be in flower on
Christmas Day is my Rosa chinensis. In mild weather
there are sometimes enough blooms to pick for a
vase on the Christmas table. David, Deputy editor
Q I have pots and
window boxes packed
full of pansies and violas.
Seeing their cheeky
‘faces’ always lifts any
winter blues, and gives
me months of colour
until bulbs poke through.
Shirley, Sub-editor
Q My Clematis cirrhosa ‘Freckles’ flowers its socks
off all winter. And any bees that emerge during
warmer spells always make straight for it.
Catherine, Acting commissioning editor
Our promise to you...Every month, we bring you the very best of our
discoveries – from inspiring gardens and amazing
plants to shopping tips and advice on how to keep
your garden blooming. If you ever feel we can
improve, let us know. After all, it’s your magazine.
Team talkWhat will be in bloom on the big
day? The team shares the �owers
they rely on for Christmas cheer...
December 2014
Welcome
Lucy Hall, Editor
PS Don’t miss our great-value Christmas subscription o�er,
which includes two RHS guidebooks, worth £25.98. Order by
15 December, and you’ll get a free greetings card, too – see page 32.
So, how was 2014 for you – the year
that launched some of the wettest,
driest and warmest months on
record, and is forecast to go out with
an Arctic blast? For some, it brought
feast; for others, famine; for most,
this record-breaking weather was
a real test of our gardening skills.
But as we’re poised to ring out the
old and ring in the new, it’s time
to look on that lost plant as an
opportunity, and that bare patch of
earth as the start of something new.
You’ll discover all the temptation you need here, as we’ve persuaded
Alan to commit to paper his top performing plants of all time, those he
relies on, whatever the weather. He shares his roll call on page 46 – see
if your favourites are his too, and tell us what you’d rate ‘best ever’.
Wildlife is the star of our 2015 calendar – free with this issue – as
we know how much you enjoy wildlife-watching in your gardens.
The calendar is full of amazing reader images – and you’ll discover
more in the calendar every month by using a smartphone or tablet.
You’ll also discover our brand new series of ‘No Fuss’ video guides,
including tips from Joe on garden design and four festive makes, by
scanning the magazine pages (�nd out how on page 3) and keep an
eye on Facebook for more of our videos making their debut in 2015.
So, sit back and enjoy the issue on page and screen. We’ve even
got ways to persuade the most reluctant sprout-eater to enjoy their
Brussels (page 62)! From all the team, have a wonderful Christmas.
Take out a subscription this Christmas, for you or a friend,
and receive two of these RHS practical guidebooks to keep
gardenersworld.com 5
6 gardenersworld.com
46 Alan reveals his 30 best garden
plants of all time
34 Carol shares the secret to a great winter garden
106Raymond Blanc recommends the tastiest varieties
December 2014 WE LOVE... 8 We love December...
for warm glints and frosty delights10 Festive duos Pair cool shades with dramatic hues12 Plant for all seasons Beauty and the bark17 The Full Monty How gardening can heal the soul19 Have your say Your views on British households’ failure
to compost 20 Over the fence Tradition or innovation?22 Spotter’s guide Identify the beetles in your garden25 Clippings
What’s new, and what’s on TV and radio this month?
BE INSPIRED34 Carol’s winter garden Give your garden structure for
real winter interest 41 Joe’s Garden Notebook Bring Anglesey Abbey’s seasonal colour and scent to your own plot
CONTENTS
46 Alan’s best-ever plants He reveals the garden plants that succeed every time53 Houseplants How to give indoor plants
a modern and stylish twist
58Grow your own
for a festive feast with Monty’s tips
December 2014
gardenersworld.com 7
contents
62Home-grown
Christmas decorations
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14 FREE Clematis Claim 3 varieties worth £24 – just pay £5.65 post
32 SUBSCRIBE Save 25% PLUS receive 2 RHS books73 OFFER New fuchsia Order this fantastic climbing
fuchsia with free postage83 Save 25% on tickets to Gardeners’ World Live 95 OFFER Hybrid lilies SAVE over 35% on these fragrant Oriental hybrids138 Subscribe and save 25% PLUS receive 2 RHS books
77 Monty’s month Prune apples and pears81 Flowers82 Back to basics How to plant lily bulbs85 Greenhouse86 Fruit & veg89 Joe’s job of the month90 Around the garden93 What weather to expect in your area
WILDLIFE96 Fact!le: bank vole Read about these furry foragers98 Create a wreath for wildlife Give birds a berry-loaded winter treat100 Winners and losers We reveal how garden wildlife
has fared in 2014
GROW & EAT104 Fresh from the garden Grow parsnips for winter sweetness106 Raymond Blanc’s top veg for taste The chef shares his favourite vegetable varieties for restaurant-quality crops111 December grow guide 10 crops to plant now Q&A113 Help & advice Cutting back hellebores 114 The Big Question How to give your plants the best start 116 Gardeners’ Question Time
WHAT’S ON121 2-for-1 vouchers – save over £60 139 Next month How to help birds in your garden PLUS start your veg-growing year here
LAST WORDS122 Christmas puzzles Look out for our friend in this issue123 Crossword 124 Show & tell Reader photos and tips 140 Tales from Titchmarsh Alan on transport options for discerning gardeners
December 2014
50 THINGS TO DO THIS MONTH
Your planner for December
special offers
143 FREE clematis plants
HomegrownChristmas
Creative projects inspired by your garden
Inside MONTY on the homegrown veg to pick for Christmas ! JOE has a plan for colour and scent ! ALAN reveals his 30 best-ever garden plants ! CAROL shares the secret of great winter gardens
December 2014 GARDEN PUBLICATION OF THE YEAR
gardenersworld.com
SAVE £££s! NEW Oriental Lilies for 2015 + 3 free clematis*
*PAY JUST £5.65 POSTAGE FOR HOSTAS p95p14
p46p34
p62
p58p41
Cover photo by Sarah Cuttle, see p49 for details of the plants
ON THE COVER
XMAS SPECIAL27 25 gi"s for gardeners Find the ideal presents for
guaranteed horticultural happiness 30 Best winter gardens BBC presenters choose their favourite
UK spots for an energising walk58 Monty’s homegrown Christmas From dinner to decorations, Monty’s tips on how to grow it all yourself62 Wreaths from nature 3 easy wreath projects, all using materials sourced from your garden 67 Creative Christmas makes From baubles to candles, bring the
outdoors in with these festive makes72 Seasonal pot Instant colour in a container
We love
gardenersworld.com
December is a month of contrasts. Some
people dread the whole ‘joy to all’ vibe while
others throw themselves into the vortex of
tinsel, community singing and indulgence.
Outside, the contrasts continue: we want
Christmas to be cold and snowy but without
the inconvenience of burst pipes or blocked
roads. Take comfort from the simple things,
like harvesting your own parsnips.
Whichever camp you fall into, I hope the
month brings you everything you wish for.
Words by James Alexander-Sinclair
STAR OF THE MONTH Cotoneaster lacteus
This is a formidable plant: robust, beefy and spectacular. If you have place
for a large glossy evergreen that drips with berries as bright as rubies and as
plentiful as plankton, then this is the one for you. It’s an adaptable plant; I’ve
seen it growing as a shrub, a tree and a hedge. The �owers are small but we
can easily forgive such minor �aws when the rest of the plant is so wonderful.
P Care Happy in sunshine or partial shade. Plant in free-draining soil. Very little
pruning is needed, just remove dead, diseased and damaged shoots after
flowering. P Height x Spread 4m x 4m
for warm glints and frosty delights
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December…
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December
We love
gardenersworld.com10 gardenersworld.com
1 Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Aphrodite’ and Carex flagellifera
December 2014
gardenersworld.com 11
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Plant partners
Enchanted
aspects
1 Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Aphrodite’ and Carex flagellifera Close your eyes for a moment and imagine
yourself in the garden: the air is cold on your
cheeks and there is a delicious scent, sweet yet
spicy, so� yet brittle. Chances are you’re standing
close to a hamamelis, you lucky gardener.
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Aphrodite’
P Care Best on slightly acidic soil. Great autumn
colour. Propagate from seed or winter grafting.
P Height x Spread 3m x 3m
Carex flagellifera
P Care Evergreen tussocky sedge. Excellent as a foil.
Good in sun or partial shade. Divide in early summer.
P Height x Spread 60cm x 75cm
2 Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ and Skimmia japonica reevesiana The combination of black and red is always
striking, and here we have the perfect match of
dramatic berries as scarlet as Snow White’s lips
against the dark, sultry leaves of the ophiopogon
Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’
P Care Looks like a grass but it’s a perennial closely
related to the lily. Full sun or a bit of shade. Divide
in spring as soon as you see new growth.
P H x S 25cm x 30cm
Skimmia japonica reevesiana
P Care Acid soil if possible, but also a stalwart of the
winter container. Hermaprhodite so berries reliably.
Take semi-hardwood cuttings in the late summer.
P H x S 75cm x 100cm
3 Stipa tenuissima and Phlomis russelianaPhlomis is a useful plant – evergreen with great
seedheads, thrives in free-draining soil and has
beautifully textured, slightly hairy leaves. Works
well with most grasses at this time of year to make
a combination that, although monochrome, is very
stylish. Drop a handful of crocus in the mix and you
have something even better.
Stipa tenuissima
P Care Gorgeous, fluffy-headed grass. Best in full
sun where it should happily self seed. Short-lived.
Grow in moderately fertile, free-draining soil.
P H x S 50cm x 60cm
Phlomis russeliana
P Care Good flowers mid summer. Best in full sun and
excellent on dry banks. Spreads easily. Divide in spring.
P H x S 90cm x 60cm
Festive pairings that add a touch
of drama to winter borders
December 2014
December
We love
2 Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ and Skimmia japonica reevesiana
3 Stipa tenuissima, Melianthus major and Phlomis russelliana
Winter Spring
December 2014gardenersworld.com12
Sep Oct Nov DecFeb Mar Apr May Jun Jul AugJan
Summer and autumn leaf colour
Catkins
Attractive barkAttractive bark
Betula utilis var. jacquemontii
Autumn
gardenersworld.com
Betula utilis var.
jacquemontii
Plants for all seasons
3m
6m
Any birch is a boon to a garden
but this variety, with its chalk-white
bark, offers multi-season beauty
The quick growing West Himalayan birch grabs
our attention all year round but gleams brightest
in winter when leaves fall to reveal its bark – the
whitest of any birch – which rolls back in places
to show pinkish or cinnamon undersides and
more fresh white bark below.
But apart from its elegant white stems, it boasts
two other features at two di�erent seasons. In
early spring, there are yellowish-brown catkins,
perhaps the largest of any birch, at 10cm or more.
Then, in autumn, there’s the foliage. For most of
the season it’s two-tone green: dark on the upper
surface and pale below giving an attractive
rippling e�ect in the breeze. But in the autumn, its
bright butter-yellow foliage is quite a sight. A frost
�nally brings the leaves to the ground where they
form a golden carpet around the white trunk.
P Care Happy in most soils in sun or partial shade,
though dislikes constantly wet conditions. No pruning
necessary, though lower branches can be removed to
show more white bark. Wash the trunk with a soft brush
and soapy water in November to brighten up the bark.
P Height x Spread 6m x 3m or more in 10 years,
but never casts dense shade.
P Where to buy
Ashridge Nurseries, ashridgetrees.co.uk, 01963 359444.
Expect to pay £27.95 upwards, depending on size, plus
p&p. Or find local nurseries by searching the RHS website
at rhs.org.uk/rhsplantfinder
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December
December 2014
We love
13
gardenersworld.com December 2014
Immediate Media Company Ltd, publishers of BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, would love to keep you informed by post or phone of special offers and promotions from the Immediate Media Company Group. Please tick if you’d prefer not to receive these ! *Please enter this information so that BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine may keep you informed of newsletters, special offers and other promotions by email or text message. You may unsubscribe from these at any time. Please tick here if you’d like to receive details of special offers from BBC Worldwide via email !
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TO ORDER Complete this coupon and send it with your payment to: BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Clematis offer, Dept GW735, PO Box 162, Ipswich IP8 3BX
Free clematis offerDESCRIPTION PRICE QTY TOTAL
TCC576593 FREE Clematis for every reader worth £23.97
£5.65postage
£5.65postage
TCC12557TCC16909
Clematis ‘Fragrant Oberon’ 1 plant SAVE £4Clematis ‘Fragrant Oberon’ 2 plants SAVE £15
£10.99£14.98
£9.89£13.48
TCC14388ETCC14804F
Daphne ‘Aureomarginata’ 1 plant SAVE £4Daphne ‘Aureomarginata’ 2 plants SAVE £6
£12.99£20.98
£11.69£18.88
TCC10001CTCC10002D
Acacia dealbata 1 plant SAVE £2Acacia dealbata 2 plants SAVE £9
£10.99£16.98
£9.89£15.28
TCC10088TCC10089D
Gardenia ‘Crown Jewels’ 1 plant SAVE £4Gardenia ‘Crown Jewels’ 2 plants SAVE £13
£12.99£20.98
£11.69£18.88
TCC17021TCC51732P
Peony ‘Eden’s Perfume’ 1 plant SAVE £3Peony ‘Eden’s Perfume’ 2 plants SAVE £13
£11.99£16.98
£10.79£15.28
TCC10245BTCC10246
Rose ‘Blue for You’ 1 plant SAVE £3Rose ‘Blue for You’ 2 plants SAVE £12
£11.99£17.98
£10.79£16.18
TCC13088BONUS OFFER My order totals £20 or more – please add a packet of clematis fertiliser (worth £9.99 ) to my order for just £2.99
£2.99 £2.69
Subscribers: insert your discount code here see p32
GRAND TOTAL £
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Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’ Fragrant pink blooms open around Christmas time. H x S 1.5m x 1.5mOne 11cm potted plant £12.99 (RRP £16.99) save £4Two 11cm potted plants £20.98 (RRP £26.99) save £6
Peony ‘Eden’s Perfume’Particularly fragrant with elegant blooms from early summer – good for cutting. H x S 90cm x 60cmOne bare-root plant £11.99 (RRP £14.99) save £3Two bare-root plants £16.98 (RRP £29.98) save £13
Bonus o!erSAVE £7
on clematis fertiliser These high quality fertiliser granules release a constant,
controlled supply of nutrients to your clematis
without wastage or leaching. Just one application feeds
your clematis plants for the whole season.
Add a 100g packet to your order for just
£2.99 (RRP £9.99) when your order
totals £20 or more
Please note your contract for supply of goods is with Thompson & Morgan, Poplar Lane, Ipswich IP8 3BU.Terms and conditions available on request. All offers subject to availability. Full growing instruc tions included. Free clematis plants despatched from December 2014. Orders received after 11 December 2014, will be dispatched in January 2015. All other orders will be acknowledged by letter or email, advising despatch date. Offer closes 31 January 2015.
Clematis ‘Fragrant Oberon’Sweet perfumed flowers from March to April. Evergreen and hardy to -7ºC. H x S 1.8m x 1mOne 7cm potted plant £10.99 (RRP £14.99) save £4Two 7cm potted plants £14.98 (RRP £29.98) save £15
Rose ‘Blue for You’Compact variety with a fruity scent. Semi-double blooms from May to September. H x S 80cm x 65cmOne bare-root plant £11.99 (RRP £14.99) save £3Two bare-root plants £17.98 (RRP £29.98) save £12
Acacia dealbataScentedflowers in spring and winter, on a small evergreen tree. H x S 8m x 5m if left unprunedOne 9cm potted plant £10.99 (RRP £12.99) save £2Two 9cm potted plants £16.98 (RRP £25.98) save £9
Gardenia ‘Crown Jewels’Dwarf variety with fragrant, pearly-white blooms in autumn and summer. H x S 60cm x 120cmOne 9cm potted plant £12.99 (RRP £16.99) save £4Two 9cm potted plants £20.98 (RRP £33.98) save £13
C. ‘Ernest Markham’ C.‘Wisley Cream’C.‘Scartho Gem’
feature
December 2014 gardenersworld.com
Subscribers: get an extra 10% off – see p32 for yourdiscount code
Best deal
15
offer
You’ll receive one each of:! Clematis ‘Ernest Markham’
(summer flowering) Height x Spread 3.5m x 1m
! Clematis ‘Scartho Gem’ (summer flowering) H x S 2.2m x 2.2m
! Clematis cirrhosa ‘Wisley Cream’ (evergreen and winter flowering) H x S 3m x 1m
clematis for every readerThe delicate yet sumptuous blooms of these pretty clematis will transform a fence, trellis or wall in your garden. This collection has summer and winter-!owering types to brighten up the garden throughout the year. Clematis supplied as plug plants.
3 FREE *
worth £23.97
*just pay £5.65 postage
! 0844 573 6054 (quote GW735)
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gardenersworld.comDecember 2014
The Full Monty
Gardening not only links us with the soil, says Monty, it’s also nourishment for the soul
Plant a seed
that becomes a beautiful
�ower and your life is
immeasurably enriched
17
In this series, Monty
explores how the growing
human population impacts upon
the world’s wildlife. Tuesdays, 11am
Shared Planet
Monty on radio
hate gardening in gloves. Though I do sometimes use them, it is an admission of defeat, especially when pruning a thorny rose (the
malicious Rosa ‘Scharlachglut’ has the annoying habit of embedding itself in my scalp in return for being cut back).
The reason I loathe wearing gloves is not because of a desire to be seen as particularly butch or to parade calloused, battle-scarred hands, but simply because I want nothing between me and the soil. I plant with my hands; I hand weed not with a fork or trowel but by digging down and extracting the roots of weeds with my fingers; I draw drills with the side of my hands; and always tip seed into my palm before sowing. The connection feels umbilical and deeply personal. I want – I need – to sink my hands into the earth as much as possible.
We use the expression ‘being grounded’ to indicate being in touch with reality.
I feel exactly the same way about
keeping my hands in the soil; it keeps me true and rooted.
Part of this is stating the bleedin’ obvious. The nature of my work on television is that – other than Gardeners’ World, which I have the inestimable privilege of doing from my own garden – it comes in erratic waves and often takes me away from home for days, sometimes weeks, at a time. This means that I can spend 80-100 hours in a week filming, writing and talking about gardening, almost always in beautiful and interesting gardens all over the world – but not actually doing any. My hands stay remarkably clean and after a few days I have a real feeling of disassociation. It would be like a chef talking about food without ever cooking or eating it.
I am a hands-on gardener by default. That does not make me any better at it than anyone else, it just means that I only ever really experience a garden fully when my hands are regularly buried in its soil. After we have finished our 10-hour filming day for Gardener’s World and the crew have all gone home, I nearly always spend an hour quietly finishing the jobs we started, tidying up and trying to restore a sense of reality, feeling my garden return to me via my hands.
And it heals the troubled mind, too. I have written and spoken many times of my own battles with depression, and over the years P
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We love
have been much helped by medication, therapy, sun lamps, sunshine, yoga and, not least, by an astonishingly supportive and long-suffering family. But none of this works without the balm of touching ground, of being nourished by the earth.
In October I was a speaker at the Festival of Wellbeing. Months before I had been asked what I would talk about and, off the top of my head, I said ‘The Healing Earth’, without any idea of what I meant or what I might say. I then promptly forgot all about it until I was lying in the bath a few hours before I was due to speak. What did I mean? Could I be sufficiently down to earth to make hard sense of this?
In the end I came to the conclusion that it is not enough just to find personal nourishment and balm from direct contact with your garden. It is a very great deal and should be wholeheartedly supported, but there is more
to it than that. When we grow something it can never be truly ‘ours’ in anything other than an adoptive way. It exists independent of us and we share it with anyone and everyone who
sees or, in the case of vegetables or fruit, consumes it with us.
This sharing process is what completes the truly healing circle of a close, intimate connection with the soil. If our own personal batteries are charged by it, then it is equally important that there is a social charge too, and one that we do not need to intellectualise to share and benefit from. Plant a seed that becomes a beautiful flower and your life is immeasurably enriched. Share that beauty in some way and not only is the enrichment spread but your own is also increased. Grow good vegetables with honest hands and make a meal that is shared around a table, and you have the bedrock, the essence, of well-being.
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gardenersworld.com 19December 2014
Write to Have your say, Gardeners’ World, Vineyard House, 44 Brook Green, London W6 7BT or email [email protected] and you could win National Garden Gift Vouchers
the view from your
side of the fence
Have your say
Our readers are among the 3% keen to compost
DecemberWe love
When our local council
decided to stop funding the
emptying of garden waste bins,
I decided to keep the brown bin
for a rodent-proof composter
of kitchen waste. My husband
drilled a few holes in the centre
of the base and placed the bin
on bricks. I then slid an old
deep-sided cake tin underneath
the holes. I now have liquid
fertiliser on tap, as well as
beautiful compost.
Gloria Gerrard, Derby
I was saddened but not
surprised by your report on
composting in Clippings. When
our council began issuing food
caddies for the disposal of
kitchen waste, the instructions
were to include cooked and pet
food, peelings, teabags, fruit
etc, but there was nothing to
encourage people to compost.
On the morning of collection
almost everyone in the village
put out their food caddies. If
they were all full, there would
have been enough compost
material to supply a big bin.
I wonder if other readers have
the concern I have regarding your
advice on the use of compost/
mulch. Whatever planting advice
is being offered, for almost every
project, the text usually says ‘add
plenty of compost, well-rotted
manure or mulch’.
I’ve been composting for years
and have a fairly large garden and
I find it is impossible to produce
the amount needed. If all the
compost needed was purchased
then it would be very expensive,
so many plantings have to go
without. The average gardener
doesn’t have access to this
amount of compost all the time.
I would be interested to hear
other readers’ comments.
M North, by email
We say Small amounts of
leafmould and home-made
garden compost are best used
to make your own potting mixes.
Well rotted manure and spent
mushroom compost are cheaper
alternatives for general soil
improvements.
How marvellous it was to read
Tales of Titchmarsh, November
issue. I agree with Alan that we
must allow children to experience
the great outdoors. But using
common sense, not the views
of health and safety experts. Let
your children and grandchildren
enjoy their childhoods – ours
have loved working on the
allotment since they could walk.
Sarah Chalford, Bournemouth
We say Have you been able to
share your love of gardening and
the great outdoors with the next
generation? We love to hear your
experiences. Write in to the
address at the top of this page.
Set your children free
Pinteresting plant ideasYou asked for thoughts on how
technology shapes the way we
garden (The Full Monty, November
issue). I read your magazine and
watch Gardeners’ World and have
also found Pinterest invaluable
for gardening. If I discover a plant
I like the sound of, I find it on
Pinterest and pop it on my
gardening inspiration board.
We received many replies to
our report on Britain’s lack
of composters (Clippings,
November issue); seems our
readers buck the trend...
Labours of loveLast year I made a cage for
my fallen leaves. As the year’s
progressed the pile has shrunk
and – wow! – the feeling when
I got to fill a large compost sack
with my very own leafmould was
incredible. I couldn’t stop running
my fingers through the precious
material. If you have not done
this before, do make the effort –
it is worth it!
Stacey Watt, by email
Get inspiration
from our
galleries at
pinterest.com/
gwmag/
In the October issue we shared
tips on making leafmould. Have
you started to make your own?
How can we encourage more
people to make use of this
wonderful source of nutrients
for our gardens? It takes no
longer to put the right waste
onto a compost heap than
into a refuse bin. I’ve been a
gardener for many years, on
mostly difficult soil, such as clay
and shale. Without home-made
compost, I would not have been
able to raise the lovely crops
of vegetables I’ve produced.
Mrs Kathleen Turner,
Dumfries & Galloway
We have four compost bins
that each receive kitchen
peelings etc, some grass,
and general cuttings from the
garden. I have just dug out
the contents of one, filled six
big bags, which will be used on
my raised veg beds in spring
to improve the soil. We also
make four big bins of leafmould
each year, all free stuff, so why
on earth wouldn’t you?
Jenny Brown, Bedford
That way, when we eventually
move home and hopefully have
a larger garden to create, I’ll have
my virtual scrapbook of ideas
to refer to. I also have a board
dedicated to practicalities of my
current gardening, such as pruning
guides, propagation techniques
and border planting ideas.
Rachel Carter, West Midlands
gardenersworld.com
We love
20
December
What’s more important: tradition or innovation?
James and Helen discuss the merits of old
tools and techniques over the latest inventions and methods
Over the fence
T
here is an oft-quoted maxim
(usually directed at mobile phone
manufacturers or road planners)
that says “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix
it”. If one overlooks the bad grammar then
this saying makes sense, especially when
it comes to gardeners.
There are certain techniques and
practices that have evolved over millennia
and are constantly changing with advances
in science and technology. However, other
things have remained pretty much the
same since our prehistoric ancestors first
worked out how to grow stuff – and you
mess with that at your peril.
Even today, there is only one way to make
plants grow in our gardens: put the seed in
the ground, give it the right amount of water
and plant it in the right place. No clever
technology required. However, the modern
world has helped us in many ways. The
most useful additions to the gardener’s
arsenal are the
lawnmower, the
hedge trimmer
(but only for
small-leaved
hedges) and the
thorn-proof
glove. Also –
and I greatly
appreciate this as the years grind on – the
invention of lighter hand tools that keep
their strength. I have a couple of old iron
shovels that have been lurking in the back
of the shed for decades and they are three
times heavier than the spade I actually use.
Manufacturers are constantly trying to
make tools more ergonomic and efficient,
sometimes this works but many just look a
bit foolish: all attitude and brightly coloured
plastic handles. The truth of the matter is
that, no matter how highly designed or
labour-saving the tool, it will only ever be
as good as the gardener on the ground.
Even today,
there is only one
way to make
plants grow in
our gardens
Y
ou are spot on about tools, James:
the best new ones – lightweight
and easy to maintain – have taken
over from clunky old ones, while
any silly novelty gizmos (spawned by non-
gardeners, I’ll swear) just gather dust in
sheds. But I will defend the best of the high-
visability hand tools, having lost so many
tasteful dark green and black-handled ones.
Fundamental gardening techniques that
have developed over years stand the test of
time, but the term ‘best practice’ often
makes me feel
uneasy. Rather
than just
sticking to
‘rules’ we
shouldn’t,
in our media-
inflamed quest
for perceived perfection, lose sight of
other gardening ‘musts’ – common sense,
curiosity and intelligent observation. There
is satisfaction to be had in ‘having a go’ and
finding out for yourself what works for you
in your own set of gardening circumstances.
And more confessions. I bet I’m not the
only gardener whose transgressions involve
things culinary. We are no longer ‘allowed’
under EU rules to mention unorthodox
gardening uses for products such as
washing-up liquid and wallpaper glue, nor
to recommend killing slugs and dandelions
with salt and liverwort with vinegar.
But through experience I’ve discovered
that wooden kebab sticks make discreet
bulb markers in borders; I’ve always found
it easiest to trim my box balls with sturdy
kitchen scissors; I’m now on my third bread
knife, having rendered the previous two
toothless by dividing hostas with them; and
a smart table fork is lost forever in my border
– put down absent-mindedly while weeding.
Most shameful of all is getting ingrained
dirt out of my hands by making pastry.
The term ‘best
practice’ is o�en
used in a way
that makes me
feel uneasy
HAVE YOUR SAY Are gardening traditions and handed-down techniques more important
than new innovations? Write in and tell us what you think at the address on p19.
December 2014
Helen Yemm is a garden writer and lecturer,
and has a small rural garden in Sussex
James Alexander-Sinclair is a garden and
landscape designer, writer and TV presenter
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On the Gardeners’ World website,
you’ll find lots of lively debate, with
readers asking questions and offering
advice. To join in conversations like
this one, or to ask a question, go to:
gardenersworld.com/forum
Will a small
pond help
reduce slugs?
O�It’ll certainly attract frogs and
toads, but if you have huge
numbers of molluscs it might take
a while to get the balance right.
Encouraging other wildlife will
make a difference – thrushes and
blackbirds are good predators.
Fairygirl
O�I totally agree with Fairygirl. To
encourage blackbirds, which are
ground feeders, sprinkle suet
treats around the garden – this will
get them foraging where they’ll
also discover slugs and snails.
Hostafan1
O�Thanks for the advice – I feared
a pond alone wouldn’t be enough.
Hopefully access to a water supply
will attract more birds. I also have
some rocks that will provide a place
for thrushes to break snail shells.
constant-gardener
O�I have quite a large pond, with
lots of frogs and toads, along with
ducks and hedgehogs, and I still
have a slug problem. Could you use
wildlife-friendly slug pellets, which
don’t leave slimy messes and
corpses all over the place?
obelixx
O�With a large slug population I
think using nematodes is a good
idea. Perhaps your garden has low
numbers of natural slug predators,
so it’s worth trying all of the
suggestions here.
BobTheGardener
Follow and add to this thread
at gardenersworld.com/
pond-slugs
gardenersworld.com
We love
Stones
A pile of stones will provide a dark, damp place
for nocturnal beetles to shelter by day. Pile a
few stones in your ornamental border and the
beetles will be closer to their prey – slugs and
snails – when they emerge to hunt at dusk.
December 2014
December
Spotter’s guide to beetles
Tidying the garden
often uncovers an
interesting selection of
beetles that live in lawn
edges or compost
heaps or lurk under
logs, as they are well
adapted to pushing
through root thatch
and getting into tight
spaces. Most are useful
predators of other
invertebrates like bugs,
aphids, springtails and
maggots. They can be
picked up carefully
between finger and
thumb if you want to
relocate them to a
nature area. Some
larger beetles will try
to nip with their jaws,
but they cannot pierce
human skin.
Visit gardenersworld.
com/bugman-jones
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Devil’s coach-horse
Ocypus olens
Length 20-28 mm
Matt black, gothic monstrosity with
large jaws. Threateningly rears up its
tail, scorpion-like, for defence; no
sting, but exudes smelly liquid from
tail tip. Its short wing cases allow
flexibility for crawling in tight spaces.
3 habitats for ground beetles
Sun beetle
Amara aenea
Length 5.5-6.0 mm
One of the many greenish, brassy or
bronze, oval and rather flattened
species Amara. Runs fast, especially
in sunshine when its metallic
glinting body confuses the eye as
it zigzags madly over the patio.
Leaf pile
Several species of beetle lay eggs among
decaying leaves and their larvae feed on small
invertebrates like slugs. Leaf piles make a
good overwintering place for beetles – they’ll
be on hand in spring to deal with early slugs.
Compost heap
An open compost heap, in which
beetles can access the waste,
provides the perfect breeding
habitat for a range of ground-
dwelling beetles. Avoid closed,
plastic bins, which prevent
access to the waste within;
wooden slatted units are best.
22
Black clock beetle
Pterostichus madidus
Length 14-16 mm
Slim, shining and with both black- and
red-legged colour forms, this is one of
our commonest ground beetles.
Lacking wings, it’s flightless but runs
like the wind. Usually a nocturnal
predator, it also nibbles strawberries.
Rove beetle
Philonthus politus
Length 10-11 mm
The largest family of beetles, this is
black with a metallic tinge on short
wingcases. Dwelling in manure and
compost, it is fast and agile, and eats
fly maggots. Flies readily.
Broad ground beetle
Abax parallelepipedus
Length 16-19 mm
Large, broad, flat, almost
rectangular, shiny black with deeply
ridged wing-cases. Flightless, it likes
hedge bottoms, log piles, rockeries,
damp areas of rough grass.
Blue ground beetle
Leistus spinibarbis
Length 8-10 mm
Rounded thorax and wing-cases are
metallic blue in sunlight; chestnut
legs and broad, flat, reddish jaws.
Fast runner, often found in small
groups under stones and logs.
These sleek, shiny critters make attractive garden visitors, says Richard ‘Bugman’ Jones
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We love
News in brief
25December 2014
December
PH
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Clippings
What’s on TV & RADIO
Young gardening hampered
Gardening could be facing a crisis, with young people
becoming increasingly dissociated from nature and the
outdoors. The news comes as a poll* revealed that more than
50 per cent of parents discourage their children from activities
like gardening and baking. David Domoney, presenter of ITV’s
Love Your Garden, believes the worrying results are due to a
generation of internet addicts. “We need a fundamental shi�
in the how children connect with the outdoors,” said David.
for conifers, while Rachel
de Thame celebrates irises.
If you missed this year’s
series, you can catch it on
iPlayer. January, BBC2. Go
to: bit.ly/garden-revival
Gardeners’ World is off-air
until March. Catch up on
clips at bit.ly/bbc-gw
Great British
Garden Revival
Look out for a new series
coming soon. Top TV
gardeners nominate
gardening styles or plants
they feel are underated.
The series includes Joe Swift,
who argues for bog gardens.
Carol Klein makes the case
Gardeners’
Question Time
The team start the month in
Bournemouth, with a visit to
the garden of actress
Thelma Barlow. On 12th,
they travel to Glasgow and
on 19th are in Carlisle. There
is no show on 26th, but on
28th, they are at Belsay Hall
in Northumberland.
Fri, 3pm (except 26 Dec);
rpt Sun, 2pm, Radio 4
Shared Planet
Monty explores the impact
of people on wolves, lions,
orangutans and Amur
falcons. Tue, 11am;
rpt Mon, 9pm, Radio 4
n Friends of the Earth
has slammed the
government’s Bee Action
Plan, claiming it’s not
committed to cutting
pesticide use and
supporting bee-friendly
farming. The charity
warns changes are
urgently needed if bees
are to reap any benefits.
n Four wildflower sites
are being created around
the UK, with help from
Kew Gardens. Groups in
Wales and Northern
Ireland can nominate
sites in their area before
2 February 2015. A site
near Glasgow was
transformed this year,
and work starts on the
site in England in 2015.
Go to growwilduk.com
n A new range of veg
seeds has launched to
raise money for war
veterans. The World War
One-themed range
features traditional
recipes from countries
involved in the conflict.
15% from each pack goes
to the charity Gardening
Leave. seedsofitaly.com
020 8427 5020
Cut Christmas costs
with a visit to Wiggly
Wigglers. Choose from
wreaths, bouquets and
table decorations, and
get 10% off, plus free
delivery. Call 01981
500391 and quote the
code GWXMASSAVINGS
or visit wigglywigglers.
co.uk/gardenersworld
Our pick of news, projects and all that’s hot in gardening this month
Featuring a 20m living wall
of 6,720 plants, and costing
£56.6m, the new University
of Bristol life sciences
centre will pioneer plant
research that will influence
the way we garden for
years to come.
Opened by naturalist and
broadcaster, Sir David
Attenborough, it includes
a greenhouse that mimics
growing conditions ranging
from chilly winters to tropical
jungles, in which to research
plant and animal behaviour.
Sir David said, “There can
be no more important area of
knowledge at the moment than
the life sciences. Human beings
should understand the works
of the world that’s our home.”
New plant research centre opens
Peek inside the Queen’s Garden
Alan Titchmarsh presents a two-part TV series giving an intimate insight into the gardens at Buckingham Palace. Filmed over a year, using aerial and time-lapse photography, thermal imaging and motion-activated cameras, he reveals 39 acres unlike any other in London, how it changes over the year and the wildlife that lives there. On ITV in
late December.
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gardenersworld.comDecember 2014 27
christmas makes
Vegetable soaps
Scented soaps from Italy.
£5.50 (+£5.95 p&p),
burford.co.uk, 01993 823117
25 Gifts for gardeners
12
3
4
5
6
christmas makes +�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�++�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�christmas gi�s
Diamond Tool
Sharpener
Three-sided sharpener.
£8.99 (+ £3.95 p&p),
homebase.co.uk 0345 077 8888
With Christmas upon us, treat yourself
or a fellow gardener to a gi� from our
green-�ngered guide
Plantabox crate
Leave your mark in
the garden with a
personalised planter.
From £23.95 (+£5.95
p&p), plantabox.co.uk 01392 829977
Garden-opoly
Trading game that’ll grow on
you. £24.99 (+£3.99 p&p),
presentsformen.co.uk, 0333 240 0707
Pick of 2014’s books
1 Gardening Myths and
Misconceptions by
Charles Dowding.
Green Books, £9.992 The Cut Flower Patch
by Louise Curley.
Frances Lincoln, £20 3 Kitchen Garden Experts
by Cinead McTernan & Jason
Ingram. Frances Lincoln, £20
4 Garden Design Close
Up by Emma Reuss.
Thames and Hudson, £24.95 (+£2.50 p&p)
5 RHS Companion to
Scented Plants by Stephen
Lacey. Frances Lincoln, £25 (+£4.95 p&p)
6 The Splendour of the Tree
by Noel Kingsbury & Andrea
Jones. Frances Lincoln, £25
Tin o’ Twine
Choice of 11 colours of
twine. £7 (+£5.95 p&p),
nutscene.com 01307 468 589
Boskke Cube
Transparent self-
watering planter.
Comes in three sizes.
From £19.99, 2tech.co.uk 020 7978 6545
Birdball Seed Feeder
Ceramic feeder, in white,
lime or blue.
£39.95 (+£4.95 p&p),
greenandblue.co.uk, 01872 858787
Porcelain
Wall Feeder
Fill with treats for birds.
£8.99 (+£4.99 p&p),
waitrosegarden.
com, 01344 578811
gardenersworld.com December 201428
+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�++�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+
Gruffalo tools
Extendable handles.
From £7.99, call 01666
511457 to find your
nearest retailer
For young gardeners
1 2
4
3
PH
OTO
S: A
DR
IAN
TA
YLO
RJunior Garden Kit
£15.95 (+£4.95 p&p),
littlepals.co.uk,
01829 260715
Children’s tools
and gloves
Gloves £5.95,
tools £7.95 each
(+£3.20 p&p),
whatyousow.
co.uk
Garden boots
What all feet need.
1 Neoprene lined £89,
goldleaf-gloves.
com, 023 8040 2025
2 See-through £24.99,
townandco.com,
01530 830877
3 Steel shank £34.99,
townandco.com,
01530 830877
4 Non-slip sole
£44.95, cuckooland.
com, 01305 231231
Companion
Planting Seeds
Protect your veg with
companion plants.
£18 (+£4.90 p&p),
henandhammock.
co.uk 01844 217060
Designer Garden
Collections
Themed selections
of seeds, plus ready-
made planting plan.
£9.99 (+free p&p),
johnsons-seeds.
com, 0845 658 9147
DIY Terrarium Kit
Make a mini world of
plants. From £24.99
(+£6.95 p&p),
theurbanbotanist.
co.uk, 0800 783 3375
gardenersworld.comDecember 2014 29
christmas makes +�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�++�+�+�+�+�+�+�+� christmas gi�s+
Christmas subscription Save 25% and get 2 RHS
books worth £25.98 when you subscribe. See p138
Jakoti Hand ShearsSingle-handed snipping.
£27.95 (+£4.95 p&p),
harrodhorticultural.
com, 0845 402 5300
21
1 2 343
Gauntlet glovesDon’t let thorns get the better of you. 1 Personalised £29.95 (+£3.95 p&p), prezzybox.com 0844 2495 007
2 Padded £14.95 (+£4.95 p&p), burgonandball.com 0114 233 8262
3 Leather £34.99 (+£4.99 p&p), waitrosegarden.com 01344 578811
Tea lovers packageGrow your own tea plant
(Camellia sinensis). Comes
with Cornish-grown teas.
£19.99 (+£5.99 p&p),
rocketgardens.co.uk,
01326 222169
Nest Box Camera SystemPerfect bird spying kit. For an extra saving
use your Robert Dyas discount card from
last month’s issue. £99.99 (+free delivery),
robertdyas.co.uk, 0191 600 0601
Gardeners’ tinFull of useful bits and
bobs. £9.99 (+£3.99
p&p), gettingpersonal.
co.uk, 0845 217 6382
Old Mucker FertiliserSoak in a water butt or
filled watering can for
nutrient-packed, pour-
able goodness. £6
(+£2 p&p),
oldmucker.com
Plantable wrappingsSeed-embedded papers
to plant out, from salads
to wildflowers. From
£4.99 (+£3.95 p&p),
edenspaper.com,
01452 835623
Winter socksKeep tootsies toasty.
1 Workforce £5 (+£2.95
p&p), sockshop.co.uk,
08000 195667
2 Cotton £25, 3 pack,
(+£4 p&p), boden.co.uk,
0330 333 0000
3 Wool £12.95 (+£4.95
p&p), sarahraven.com
4 Alpaca £12.50 (+£3.98
p&p), perilla.co.uk,
01886 853615
gardenersworld.com30 December 2014
Gardens to visit
! RHS Garden WisleySurrey. 0845 260 9000, rhs.org.uk “Wisley is so spacious that you can happily wander around for hours, calmed by the water features and entranced by the rockeries. It’s a magical place and I went there recently to enjoy the full autumnal glory of its gardens. It was even better than I had imagined – there was one tree, a Nyssa sylvatica known as ‘Wisley Bonfire’, producing a flaming torch of claret, amber and burnt orange.”Clare Balding, presenter of Ramblings, BBC Radio 4. Clare’s latest book, Walking Home: My Family and Other Rambles, is published by Viking at £20
" Crook Hall and GardensDurham. 0191 384 8028, crookhallgardens.co.uk “Set in the heart of Durham City, with an intimate country-estate feel broken only by glimpses of the cathedral, this is a succession of individual secret gardens, planted in Old English style, with their own personalities. It’s haunted, too!”Brigid Press, presenter, The Brigid & Dave Show, BBC Tees
# Winterbourne Botanic GardenBirmingham. 0121 414 3003, winterbourne.org.uk (closed 19 Dec to 12 Jan) “I’m a great fan of botanic gardens, and this quirky and historical seven acres is great for a stroll. There’s a walled garden, bog garden and nut walk, as well as glasshouses with cacti and carnivorous plants.”Anne Swithinbank, panel member, Gardeners’ Question Time, BBC Radio 4
$ Abbey Gardens Bury St Edmunds. 01284 757065 (tourist info), abbeygardensfriends-burystedmunds.com“I love Abbey Gardens. They are simple, well maintained, with floral and natural history interest, historical value and that strange feeling of having being there forever that ancient sites have.”Bob Flowerdew, panel member, Gardeners’ Question Time, BBC Radio 4
What better way to enjoy December than to put on your walking boots and visit some of the beautiful gardens open this month? We asked Radio 4’s Ramblings presenter Clare Balding and a host of BBC radio and television gardeners, to name their favourite gardens for a winter stroll. Here are the top 25.
Winter walks
Northern EnglandCentral EnglandCentral England
Gardens with this symbol are in the 2014 Gardeners’ World 2-for-1 Guide
giving you one free entry per full-paying adult
gardenersworld.com 31December 2014
DecemberWe love
South-West England! The Lost Gardens of Heligan St Austell, Cornwall. 01726 845100. heligan.com Anne Swithinbank
South-East England" Sir Harold Hillier Gardens
Ampfield, Hampshire. 01794 369317/8, hants.gov.uk/hilliergardens Georgina
Windsor, The Good Life, BBC Radio Solent
10 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Richmond, Surrey. 020 8332 5655, kew.orgAnne Swithinbank
11 Mottisfont Romsey, Hampshire. 01794 340757, nationaltrust.org.uk/mottisfont Georgina Windsor
12 Ventnor Botanic Garden Ventnor, Isle of Wight. 01983 855397. botanic.co.uk Georgina Windsor
Central England13 Cambridge University Botanic GardenCambridge. 01223 336265, botanic.cam.ac.uk Bob Flowerdew
14 The Quarry and The Dingle Shrewsbury, Shropshire. 01743 281010, shrewsburytowncouncil.gov.uk Joe Maiden, Tim Crowther with Joe Maiden, BBC Radio Leeds
Northern England15 Ness Botanic Gardens Wirral, Merseyside.
0845 030 4063, nessgardens.org.uk Bob Flowerdew
16 Thorp Perrow Bedale, North Yorks. 01677 425323, thorpperrow.com Brigid Press
17 Holehird Gardens Windermere, Cumbria. 01539 446008, holehirdgardens.org.ukBrigid Press
18 Golden Acre Park Leeds. 0113 395 7400, leeds.gov.org Joe Maiden
19 RHS Harlow Carr Harrogate, North Yorks. 0845 265 8070, rhs.org.uk Joe Maiden
Wales20 The National Botanic Garden of Wales
Carmarthen. 01558 667149, gardenofwales.org.uk Terry Walton
21 Bodnant Gardens Conwy. 01492 650460, nationaltrust.org.uk/bodnant-garden Terry Walton
Northern Ireland22 Ness Country Park Londonderry. 028 7133 8417, doeni.gov.uk/niea Cherrie McIlwaine
23 Antrim Castle Gardens Antrim. 028 9448 1338, antrim.gov.uk/antrimcastlegardens Cherrie McIlwaine
Scotland 24 David Welch Winter Gardens Aberdeen. 01224 583155, aberdeencity.gov.uk Dr Jane Bingham
25 Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. 0131 248 2909, rbge.org.uk Dr Jane Bingham
Opening times for all the gardens may vary – call ahead before you travel. Check 2014 Gardeners’ World 2-for-1 Entry Guide for any conditions
# Crathes Castle GardenBanchory. 01330 844525, nts.org.uk “With the fairy-tale 16th-century Crathes Castle as an impressive backdrop, gargantuan sculpted yew hedges lead the way through crisp, formal gardens into the enchanting walled garden and winter woodland trails beyond.”Dr Jane Bingham, Head Gardener, Beechgrove Garden, BBC2
$ Rowallane GardenSaintfield. 028 9751 0131, nationaltrust.org.uk/rowallane-garden “The atmospheric
Rowallane Garden is near where I live and I love the contrary nature of the landscape with its rocky outcrops, lovely trees and hidden places. It’s a garden that always makes me want to explore.”Cherrie McIlwaine, presenter, Gardeners’ Corner, BBC Radio Ulster
% Dyffryn GardensCardiff. 029 2059 3328, nationaltrust.org.uk/dyffryn-gardens “This beautifully restored Edwardian garden, with a grand Victorian Mansion as its centrepiece, is the perfect place to roam. It’s set in 55 acres with a large arboretum of mature trees and many other hidden treasures.”Terry Walton, Allotment Doctor, Jeremy Vine Show, BBC Radio 2
Scotland
Northern IrelandWales
South-East England
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GWNP1214
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December 2014 33
“ There are more opportunities now to see through plants to new views and vistas”December 201434 gardenersworld.com
Winter reveals a symphony of shapes and textures at Glebe Cottage
35gardenersworld.comDecember 2014
winter structure
hen frost and f ierce winds have stripped the garden bare, a sense of panic can set in. Only the
curvy, sensuous box hedges and a few evergreens and conifers remain in leaf as I look out at the winter scene; the garden is skeletal. The perennials have died down to reveal a stark simplicity. Leaves that gave trees their soft, summer shape have fallen and branches are unclad, their underlying structure revealed.
Colour has also drained away and, apart from the evergreens, the most striking elements in the garden here at Glebe Cottage are the trees, their silhouettes at a distance, and, getting up close, the texture and pattern of their bark. Apart from the lower leaves of the beech, backlit bronze against a crisp blue sky, hardly a leaf remains. Somehow though, the garden does not look bleak, in fact the absence of
foliage allows you to see elements of the garden not normally visible. In the case of deciduous t rees, it ’s a l most l i ke discovering their souls, their true identi-ties. The Cornus controversa ‘Variegata’, w h i c h h a s b e c o m e t h e f o c u s of Alice’s garden, is leafless but equally beautiful now in its most elemental form, the intricate structure of its twigs forming a series of ascending layers. There are also more opportunities now to see through plants to new views and vistas. This happens in even the smallest garden.
The natural shapes of trees and shrubs take on a wealth of forms –spreading and horizontal, weeping, rounded, conical and columnar. The upright forms of both Prunus ‘Amanogawa’ and P. ‘Spire’ make them perfect for small gardens, the latter eventua l ly forming a vase shape. Meanwhile, Fagus sylvatica ‘Dawyck’ has the same long scrolled buds and elegant
Supporting
PHO
TO: J
ON
ATH
AN
BU
CKL
EY
With the skeleton of the garden now revealed, Carol Klein shows how the bare bones, placed well, o!er interest through the depths of winter ac t
gardenersworld.com December 201436
twigs as our native beech, but all pointing
upwards so the tree makes a splendid
exclamation mark in a border.
Weeping trees are always captivating
and Betula pendula ‘Youngii’, the weeping
form of our native silver birch, is as
graceful as a tree can be. But a favourite of
mine at Glebe Cottage is Cercidiphyllum
japonicum pendulum with its dainty
framework of branches that sweep the
ground. By contrast, the wide-spreading
Viburnum plicatum ‘Mariesii’, the tiered
branches of Cornus controversa ‘Variegata’
and Prunus ‘Shirotae’, with its wide, flat
crown, all create elegant focal points
among more regular shapes.
T he w a y w o o d y
plants appear, up close
and from afar, is a result
of the way its twigs are
grouped, from dense
and bushy, to light and
airy, and the twigs’
girth and arrangement of buds. Such
shapes and textures are affected by
pruning and trimming. In formal fruit
gardens, the shape of cordons and
fan-trained fruit is unmasked in winter,
the artistry of careful pruning and patient
t y i ng-i n, clea r to see. Such a r t
complements the flat rectangular surfaces
of walls and fences, but when trained on a
free-standing frame of posts and wires the
outlines of trained fruit trees create
filigreed screens through which the rest of
the garden can be viewed.
Some plants have their own symmetry
without anyone lifting a finger to achieve
it. Cotoneaster horizontalis is one of the
hardiest, most obliging little shrubs. Its
neat herringbone branches are set with
tiny, glossy green leaves and white flowers
in spring and summer. In autumn, its
leaves turn fiery red and it’s bejewelled in
winter by sealing-wax berries like a child’s
abacus. At the other end of the scale the
stems of Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’ could
not be more higgledy-piggledy. Even the
catkins of this extraordinary shrub have a
kink in their lambs’ tails. Any ‘normal’
shoots should be pruned out as soon as the
leaves drop or they will soon take over
f rom t he c u r iou sly
distorted grow th for
which it is grown. But it is
t he st ra ig ht for wa rd
hazel that I really love at
this time of year. That, or
its gorgeous copper-
coloured counterpart Corylus avellana
‘Fuscorubra’, with its embryonic catkins
the same rich tinge, and as they develop
into full-blown lambs’ tails, look as though
they have been dusted with cocoa.
At this time too, the witch hazels’ round,
velvety flower-buds are swelling day by
day, changing the silhouette of their stems,
until they burst to reveal spidery petals in
an array of gorgeous colours, from lemon
to deep bronze. Their scents are as diverse
as their hues – so too are their shapes, some
tall and upright, others wide and spreading.
E LAYERED
BRANCHES Cornus
controversa
‘Variegata’, shown
here, and Viburnum
plicatum create layers
of branches arising
from strong upright
main stems.
G UPRIGHT STEMS
Coppicing or hard
spring pruning of
ornamental willow
(like this Salix alba
‘Britzensis’, shown
here) and cornus, as
well as less colourful
hazel, will produce
vigorous ascending
stems which add
energy to the winter
garden scene.
Seasonal
silhouettes
Carol picks plants to
create a framework for
the winter garden
The delicate architecture of beech trees is revealed against a winter sunset
Some plants have
their own symmetry
without anyone
li�ing a �nger
winter structure
37gardenersworld.comDecember 2014
E WEEPING FORMS
Tumbling branches of
trees like this Betula
pendula ‘Youngii’
create the impression
of movement even on
a still winter’s day and
look good grown to
hang over paths.
E EVERGREEN
ARCHITECTURE The
big, handsome leaves
of Mahonia japonica
are topped with bold
sprays of yellow
flowers through the
dark days of winter.
Fatsia japonica is
another shapely
evergreen to try.
E WINTER BUDS The
zig-zag branches and
fat buds of magnolias
look fabulous lined
with frost or snow.
This Magnolia stellata
at Glebe Cottage is
an ideal tree for a
small garden.
G CATKINS The showy
catkins of hazels,
such as this Coryllus
maxima ‘Purpurea’,
look pretty against
a winter sky and
slowly extend as
cold weather releases
its grip in spring.
gardenersworld.com38 December 2014
winter structure
There is a f ine Japanese maple
‘Osakusuki’ towards the top of the slope
that my mum gave us more than thirty
years ago. It’s already given a fine autumn
show, its vivid crimson leaves glowing
for weeks and finally f luttering to the
ground forming a luxurious carpet.
Known for its spring and autumn colour,
its bark is seldom mentioned. It should be
– steely grey snakeskin with long striations.
Many acers have exciting bark. Acer
griseum, the paperbark maple, is prized
for its shaggy trunk and branches, created
by peeling layers of tissue-thin bark,
w h i le Ac er d avi dii
‘Serpentine’ has striking,
s t r ip e y g r e e n a nd
white bark. Either could
easily be accommodated
i n a med iu m-si zed
garden and, as well as
fine winter bark, both have glorious
autumn colour, too.
Not just bark but coloured branches and
twigs are at a premium during the winter.
Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’ makes a
splendid specimen with young twigs and
branches of a bright, eye-catching pink.
We always delay cutting back our
perennial plants. Seedheads are a vital
source of food for birds and since many
stand so well for so long it seems
uncharitable to remove them prematurely.
But seedheads also make for fine winter
sculpture. Our blue and yellow garden
becomes a brown and brown garden in
winter but is saved from descent into
depression by seedheads. The black cones
of Rudbeckia fulgida deamii dance above
the elegant stems of hackonehloa. Fennel
heads form a dramatic backdrop towering
above the others. Any of the alliums have
impact, particularly Allium christophii,
A. hollandicum and A. giganteum.
Other spherical heads that make
dramatic silhouettes include echinops
(globe thistle) and cardoons or artichokes
whose oversized seedheads last long into
winter. Several of the small-f lowered
species asters have another incarnation
long after their flowers have faded. When
their f luffy seeds have set off on their
parachutes they leave behind a series
of silver stars. The silver
theme continues with
tall Miscanthus sinensis.
In w inter its f luf f y
f lower heads ma ke
a n e n t e r t a i n i n g
diversion and its tall
stems a statuesque contribution to the
bones of a winter garden.
So this month, take time to look deeply
at the outlines and branch structures of
plants in your own garden, and relish the
beauty of their tracery. And who knows,
you may even be sorry when spring foliage
covers up the grand art of winter. l
Gardeners’ World is o�-air until March
next year, but you can still enjoy
revisiting your favourite moments
from the series by
logging on to the BBC
Gardeners’ World clips
site at bit.ly/bbc-gw
Carol on TV
NEXT MONTH We go behind the scenes to reveal Carol’s travels in search of plants for her new TV series
G TREE TRUNKS
Whether coloured,
patterned, deeply
furrowed or moss-
covered, the single
and multiple trunks of
trees create large,
strident forms that
anchor the garden
to its plot in winter.
G GROUNDCOVER
CARPET Perennials
that retain their
foliage are invaluable
for a structure down
at ground level. This
Bergenia cordifolia
‘Purpurea’ turns rich
red as the winter
cold takes hold.
F HERBACEOUS
STEMS The remains of
stems and flowers,
like those on this
Eupatorium purpureum,
although a shadow of
their former selves,
provide valuable bulk
and structure within
beds and borders.
F FLOWERHEADS
The remains of larger
flowers float like tiny
satellites over the
bleached foliage of
other border
perennials, and are
brought to life when
topped with an icing
of snow or frost.
Look deeply at the
outlines and branch
structures of plants in
your garden
Charlotte £16.50Exquisite, cupped flowers.Tea scent.
Lichfield Angel £16.50Neat rosettes. Light spicy fragrance.
Lady of Shalott £16.50Chalice-shaped blooms. Spicy tea scent.
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Gertrude Jekyll £16.50Classic rosettes. Strong Old Rose fragrance.
David Austin’s English Roses combine thedelicate charm and wonderful fragrances ofthe old roses with the wider colour rangeand repeat-flowering nature of modernroses. Their graceful, shrubby habits makethem ideal for mixed borders, planting inlarge containers or for creating any kind ofrose garden. They are renowned for theiroutstanding health, reliability and vigour.
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PHO
TO: J
AN
E SE
BIRE
joe’s garden notebook
December 2014
Winter colourand scent
Does your garden lack colour and scent during the winter months? Every year I make a pilgrimage to Anglesey Abbey’s Winter Garden to get some planting ideas to use at home and re-energise myself at the same time. When days are short, and most gardens are looking far from their best, Anglesey comes alive with colour, interesting stems, bark, flowers and scent. It has a very simple design: a snaking path running its 100m length, with wide borders either side and a colourful composition revealed at every turn.
Plants such as cornus, rubus and hellebores are planted boldly in large blocks and drifts. Trees for winter interest, such as multi-stemmed Prunus serrula (Tibetan cherry) and silver birches are cleverly planted next to the path, not only to obscure views therefore increasing the intrigue and sense of discovery but so that their smooth tactile bark can be touched, too. Anglesey is not only a feast for the eyes but for the nose, too, with Sarcococca, winter-flowering viburnums and Lonicera x purpusii filling the air with their heady perfumes. At the end of the garden is a wonderful treat – a stylised woodland of silver birches underplanted with dark-leafed bergenias, which makes for a very theatrical planting statement and proves that winter can be just as colourful as any other season.
Let the season stimulate your senses with sweet smells and bright hues enriched by low winter sun
gardenersworld.com
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Joe's garden notebook
New series
41
gardenersworld.com42
1 Prunus serrula (multi-stemmed) x 1
One of the best winter-interest trees, its
tactile peeling bark reveals a shiny underlayer
that glistens in low light.
Height x Spread 8m x 8m
2 Sarcococca confusa x 3 Evergreen suckering shrubs that will grow in
dry shade. Small white tassle-like flowers pack
a sweet perfume. H x S 90cm x 100cm
3 Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ x 1
Dark-green leaves turn a good autumn colour
before revealing bright red stems in winter.
Needs to be pruned back hard in spring
to keep its colour. H x S 120cm x 120cm
4 Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ x 9 The black lilyturf is one of the only true black
plants. It looks best when planted en masse
as a textural ground cover and frosted in
winter. H x S 15cm x 25cm
5 Bergenia cordifolia ‘Purpurea’ x 3
The evergreen glossy elephants’ ears foliage
has a purple-red tinge making it an excellent
choice for the winter garden. Deep pink
flowers in spring. H x S 40cm x 50cm
6 Helleborus foetidus x 3
The stinking hellebore looks better than it
sounds with evergreen foliage and bell-shaped,
apple-green flowers with purple tinges from
January to late March. H x S 80cm x 50cm
Get this effect at home
3
4
Anglesey in February zings with golden
witch hazel over snowdrops and lilyturf
Planting style
Anglesey Abbey’s planting is all
about colour and making an impact
that looks good throughout other
seasons but reaches its crescendo
in winter. To achieve this, large
quantities of shrubs and ground-
cover plants are planted in drifts
and blocks as if painting with broad
brushstrokes. The trees form the
tallest canopy, and the sculptural
multi-stemmed forms of Prunus
serrula disappear around the corner
to give a sense of continuity to the
journey while enticing you to explore.
The white-stemmed spiny rubus and
the Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter
Fire’ straddle each side of the path
making you feel as if you’re being
carried along on a wave of planting.
Snowdrops are another feature of
Anglesey Abbey and a few small
drifts here and there provide a
teasing taster of what’s to come
further down the path. What you
can’t experience from a photograph
is the fabulous scent of the
Sarcococcas, daphnes and
viburnums, which fill the entire
garden with their sweet aroma.
My plan has been directly inspired by
Anglesey Abbey but I’m aware we don’t all
have the space for such a large winter garden!
The Prunus serrula adds height and form, and
the stems of the dogwood form a stunning,
deep-red backdrop throughout winter.
December 2014
NORTH
Joe's garden notebook
winter colour
and scent
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gardenersworld.com 43December 2014
joe’s garden notebook
6
2
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1Signature plant
Cornus sanguinea
‘Midwinter Fire’
It’s the one plant that Anglesey
Abbey couldn’t be without. Mid
green leaves and white flowers in
spring, but in winter the stems are
revealed – a vibrant orange at the
base, turning a brilliant coral red at
the tips. It’s a stunner when planted
in quantity but even if you’ve only got
room for one it will light up your
garden like a torch in winter. Easy
to grow as long as there’s enough
moisture in the ground, and though it
can cope with some shade it colours
up better in full sun. Hard prune in
early spring or, if you want to keep its
height, look to cut back about a third
of the height and it’ll still colour well.
The Winter Garden ablaze with
red cornus set off by white-
stemmed Rubus cockburnianus
Joe’s border plan
crams winter interest
into a tiny space:
2.5m wide x 1m deep
Cornus sanguinea
reaches a richer red if
planted in full sun
gardenersworld.com
joe’s garden notebook
Planning aheadWhile Anglesey Abbey’s Winter Garden is quite
low-maintenance, there are a few key things to
consider to make the most of the display and
ensure it lasts for the majority of the winter. Here
are some of the secrets to the garden’s success:
Savour scentPlant winter interest plants where you’ll definitely
see and smell them, perhaps in the front garden
or near the back door so they can be enjoyed
without a special trek.
Create winter structureDon’t prune back perennial plants such as
grasses, phlomis and sanguisorba too early.
Leave them through the winter as they look good
while decaying and add interest when frosted.
Boost colourTo get the best colour from plants with colourful
winter stems (dogwoods, willow) prune back each
spring to encourage new growth as that will
colour up best the following winter. Only cut
hard back once the plant has established itself.
Plant bulbsPlant plenty of winter bulbs, such as snowdrops
and aconites, under trees and shrubs. They thrive
in semi shade and give a welcome shot of colour.
Think tallIt is a common approach to tier up the planting
from the path and thus have taller specimens
at the back. But placing some loftier types, such
as multi-stemmed trees, alongside the path will
help to break up the central area of the garden
and create a depth of field that draws the
eye through the foreground and beyond.
December 2014
Winter aconite
‘Guinea Gold’
offers splashes of
summery yellow
The dainty flowers of
Sarcococca confusa
pack a heady, sweet
scent in winter
The garden’s Winter Lights
Festival is an arboreal delight
Anglesey Abbey In addition to the Winter Garden
at Anglesey, head to the Abbey
to see the following highlights:
WINTER LIGHTS FESTIVAL
Experience the gardens at night
as they’re lit up with special
effects – there’ll also be live
music and a shadow puppet
show, food and mulled wine.
Entry by ticket only (£11.50 per
adult) – call the National Trust
Box Office on 0844 249 1895.
GARDEN OF STATUES Take
a look at a selection of statuary
collected by former Abbey owner
Lord Fairhaven. Dotted around
the garden, some in hidden
places, the impressive pieces are
mostly mythological and biblical.
AVENUE OF TREES Anglesey
has some of the finest avenues
in the country, with mature trees
forming beautifully canopied
walkways that are perfect for
a peacefull winter stroll.
PLANT CENTRE Inspired by
Anglesey’s winter plant display?
Head to the plant centre to stock
up for your garden at home –
you’ll find seasonal plants,
furniture, sundries and more.
VISIT Anglesey Abbey gardens,
Cambridgeshire are open daily,
£7.30 per adult. Tel 01223
810080, nationaltrust.org.uk
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NEXT MONTH Joe takes inspiration from some of the earliest flower displays in the country
44
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Alan’s best-ever
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gardenersworld.com46 December 2014
PH
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Geranium ‘Rozanne’,
was voted RHS Plant
of the Centenary at the
100th Chelsea Flower
Show in 2013
Winter-flowering
pansies have been bred
for reliability
gardenersworld.com 47December 2014
alan’s best-ever plants
uring 2,000 years of gardening
in Britain, an enormous number
of plants have come and gone.
Medieva l cottagers dug up
unusual variations they found among local
wildflowers that went on to become cottage
garden favourites, while Georgian and
Victorian gentry cultivated posh plants
circulated via botanical
gardens or sent from abroad
by intrepid plant hunters.
When plant breeding took
off, hundreds of named
varieties of old-fashioned
roses, fuchsias and the like
were developed, but when
fashions changed many fell from favour;
dahlias have only recently recovered.
Post-war bloom
Two world wars took their toll. When I started
gardening as a nipper, the country was still
suffering the after effects. Nurseries had to
start again from scratch, having been forced
to drop decorative plants in favour of food
production. All they’d kept were a few stock
plants to propagate from, so there wasn’t
much to buy. When the first garden centres
opened in the 1960s, they played safe and
stocked only the same 30 or so most popular
shrubs that you’d find everywhere (forsythia,
philadelphus, ribes), plus a handful of roses
topped by ‘Peace’, named to celebrate the
end of World War Two, and the equally
patriotic ‘Queen Elizabeth’.
Keen gardeners of the time propagated
most of their own plants at home and
passed ‘spares’ round to friends. So apart
from a few oddities that clung to life in
remote cottage gardens, the only plants that
stayed the long-term
course were the ones
that were 100% reliable,
put on a good show each
year, come what may,
and were indestructible.
As the nation grew
more prosperous, garden
designers invented island beds, which made
perennials far more practical to grow, and
suddenly gardening turned sexy. We’d been
used to high street fashions changing from
year to year, but now it was happening with
plants. Every year a new star would be born.
It might be an old plant rescued from the
brink of extinction and reintroduced – like
chocolate cosmos – in a blaze of publicity, or
a high-profile launch, usually reserved for
new roses, now that the gardening public
were demanding varieties with disease
resistance and scent.
Favourites, such as the crimson ‘Ena
Harkness’ and the romantic, deep black-red,
but difficult and disease-riddled ‘Papa
Whether it’s �owers, fruit or veg you’re a�er,
Alan Titchmarsh names the top 30 plants
that always earn their keep
If I had to pick one
major plant advance
from my 50 years in
gardening it would be
New English roses
BEST OF THE BULBS
HERBACEOUS & HEALTHY
SURE�FIRE SHRUBS AND TREES
gardenersworld.com48 December 2014
Sedum ’Herbstfreude’ Tulipa ‘White Triumphator’
Clematis ‘Nelly Moser’ Narcissus ‘Tête-à-tête’
Aquilegia vulgaris ‘Adelaide Addison’
30 garden plants to rely on
1 NARCISSUS ‘Tête-à-Tête’ An
easy-going, early-flowering dwarf
daffodil, for most soils and situations
including clay and shade. Multiplies
well. After flowering the old foliage
vanishes tidily back into the border.
2 DAHLIA ‘Bishop of Llanda�’
Showy and reliable with small, single,
red flowers on a medium-sized plant;
for large pots or small borders.
3 TULIPA ‘White Triumphator’.
A versatile lily-flowered variety,
classy in individual pots for botanical-
style displays, mixed spring tub
planting schemes or in groups to
fill gaps in the garden.
4 GERANIUM ‘Mavis Simpson’
A neat grey-green-leaved hardy
cranesbill with pale-pink flowers and
light-magenta veins. This gently
threads through other plants instead
of swamping them. Sun or shade.
5 PENSTEMON ‘Sour Grapes’
A short, bushy, semi-evergreen
perennial with blue-purple-amethyst
flowers from early summer to late
autumn, even in strong sun/drought.
Hardier than it’s given credit for.
6 ASTRANTIA MAJOR ‘Rubra’
A short, clump-forming perennial with
good foliage and shaggy heads of
papery burgundy flowers; a great filler
flower in sun or light shade.
7 VERBENA BONARIENSIS A self-
sufficient, self-seeding biennial, best
left to wander through mixed borders
for an airy purple haze all summer.
8 AQUILEGIA VULGARIS A simple
cottage garden favourite, now
available with double flowers, this is a
great self-seeder for adding old world
charm or high fashion to borders,
wild gardens or prairie patches.
9 ANNUAL SUNFLOWERS These
are great fun for kids. Short multi-
stemmed varieties make great cut
flowers or patio tub plants, with good
seedheads for birds afterwards.
10 SEDUM ‘Herbstfreude’ A top
butterfly and bee flower, reliably
blooming in late summer and well
into autumn with coppery seedheads
to follow. Withstands poor soil, hot
sun and wettish winters well.
11 PELARGONIUM ‘Frank Headley’
An old variety with white-edged
leaves and single pink flowers; good
in the conservatory or summer tubs,
where it goes with most bedding.
12 HOSTA SIEBOLDIANA
ELEGANS A striking plant for a
container, damp border, pondside
or shade garden; a perfect partner
for many other perennials.
13 ROSA ‘Eglantyne’ This David
Austin shrub has old-fashioned
rosette flowers in soft pink. Almost
disease-free with no pruning needed.
14 ACER PALMATUM Dissectum
Group Stylish, cut-leaved, shrub
with superb autumn colour.
15 CRAB APPLES One of few multi-
talented small trees for any garden,
it offers year-round interest, and is
good for birds, bees and jam-makers.
16 ROSA RUGOSA A multi-purpose
species/shrub rose, bearing flowers
and huge ripe tomato-like hips all
summer. Easy-going even on exposed
sites; used as a shrub or a hedge,
with little pruning needed.
17 CLEMATIS ‘Nelly Moser’ Early
large-flowered hybrids. Unfussy and
reliable, great in tubs and climbing
through shrubs and up obelisks.
18 BOX Despite blight, box is the
natural choice for versatile balls,
spirals, neat dwarf edgings and
potted topiary; in sun or shade.
19 FUCHSIA ‘Hawkshead’ A hardy
fuchsia with slim white flowers
produced from midsummer to late
autumn. Cut back hard in spring.
20 CORNUS ALBA ‘Sibirica’
A red-stemmed, winter favourite,
this shrub has had a new lease of life
as a winter patio plant, and to cut
for creative floral decorating.
gardenersworld.com 49December 2014
Meilland’, lost out to superior newcomers; there was a fleeting craze for unusual colours (‘Blue Moon’, which was more of a pale lilac, and brown roses of which warm-buff ‘Julia’s rose’ is still popular). As more new homes were built and gardens became smaller, people didn’t want traditional formal rose beds with bare soil between bushes and so mixed borders came in. Enter David Austin’s new English Roses. These fitted in so much better. Used like shrubs, but with far greater f lower power, they team the looks and fragrance of old-fashioned roses with the long flowering season, reliability and, in most cases, disease resistance of modern bush roses. If I had to pick out one major plant advance from my 50 years in the gardening business, it would have to be these roses.
After a fashion
Changing weather patterns also played a big hand in deciding which plants passed the test of time. Tender exotics arrived when we had half a dozen mild Mediterranean-style seasons on the trot, then died out just as quickly when winters turned cold and wet, and heating costs shot up.
Trends change fast and Chelsea Flower Show is the place to spot them. The blue-grey Melianthus major appeared in the 1980s and remains a favourite. One year the ‘in’ flowers will be black, chocolate-brown or purple (Lysimachia ‘Beaujolais’ came and went quickly, ‘Patty’s Plum’ oriental poppy lingered longer), or visitors notice a plant that crops up stunningly in a number of gardens and suddenly everyone wants a particularly elegant mauve thistle (Cirsium
rivulare ‘Atropurpureum’). Right now, fruit is the new veg. Soft fruits
that have barely been seen in gardens since wartime are suddenly in demand again. Garden centres are full of blackcurrants and goosegogs, and newcomers such as blueberries and autumn-fruiting raspberries; nurseries are falling over themselves to launch new kinds, from goji berries to Arctic brambles. How many of them will still be around in five years’ time – let alone half a century later – is anyone’s guess.
What I would stick my neck out to predict is that the next 50 years will see even more pressure on space as increasingly cramped new housing sees gardens reduced to mere strips of concrete round the walls, so the popularity of container plants will increase exponentially. I’d like to see alpines make a comeback because they’re perfect for plant lovers with tiny plots, but I’m quite sure we’ll see the arrival of many new compact annuals and petite pot-worthy perennials.
Changing weather
patterns played a big hand
in deciding which plants
passed the test of time
Verbena bonariensisPenstemon ‘Sour Grapes’
Acer palmatum Dissectum Group
Dahlia ‘Bishop of Llandaff’
Astrantia major ‘Rubra’
alan’s best-ever plants
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NEXT MONTH Alan starts the new year
by helping you plan your seed sowing
‘Duke of York’ potatoes remain a good option
for early yields, outdoors or under cover
gardenersworld.com50 December 2014
Perennial favourites
Some old faithfuls keep going no matter what
happens. Pelargoniums were Victorian
favourites that never really went out of
fashion, even though now we mostly grow
them from seed or buy plugs each spring
instead of overwintering cuttings. Regal
pelargoniums, the orchid-flowered indoor
branch of the tribe, are a particular passion
of mine, and I still keep a collection of named
varieties of scented-leaved pelargoniums
staged on tiers in my greenhouse.
Winter-flowering pansies have come on in
leaps and bounds in recent years thanks to
the activities of plant breeders. We now have
a race of plants with a wide variety of colour
patterns, which recover much more rapidly
than their forbears after frosts. They are
particularly useful in containers.
Perennials never go out of style, though
over 50 years trends have swung from
classical fickle giants like delphiniums (still a
huge personal favourite despite the staking
and the slugs) to more easily managed hardy
geraniums such as ‘Rozanne’ with their easy-
going nature, long flowering season and loose
spreading habits that make them ideal as a
showy understorey below shrub roses, and
conveniently hide the dying foliage of spring
bulbs. Again, I’m a great fan and grow dozens.
So what is the winning formula for a plant
that passes the test of time? I’m sure a
nurseryman would say it’s one that’s reliable,
undemanding as to soil or situation, easy to
propagate, has a long flowering season, and
superb built-in pest and disease resistance
(especially for roses and veg crops), and
realistically they’d be right. As a gardener I’d
say they must be all this and very versatile
with multiple uses. But it’s what works best
for you, in your own patch, that counts. m
The hardiest fruit & veg varieties
Apple ‘Bramley’s Seedling’ Tomato ‘Gardener’s Delight’
Plum ‘Victoria’
alan’s best-ever plants
21 TOMATO ‘Gardener’s Delight’ Easy to
grow and very reliable, producing masses
of sweet, tasty, bite-sized fruit that is incredibly
versatile in the kitchen.
22 COOKING APPLE ‘Bramley’s Seedling’
A reliable cropper (despite being heavier in
alternate years) with good-sized, regular-shaped
fruit (so easily peeled) with many culinary uses.
Freezes well when stewed.
23 EATING APPLE ‘Sunset’ This is a great
alternative to ‘Cox’, with similar flavour but none
of the problems. Productive and easy to grow
almost anywhere. Keeps until Christmas.
24 PLUM ‘Victoria’ Another oldie that crops
every other year unless fruit is heavily thinned
in ‘good’ years, but still the most reliable heavy
cropper and tasty. Very versatile for cooking,
eating raw or making juices and jam.
25 RASPBERRY ‘Joan J’ A reliable and easy-
going heavy-cropping raspberry that fruits from
late July to November, weather permitting.
26 POTATO ‘Duke of York’ Still one of the
tastiest and most reliable heavy-yielding
early varieties; also good in tubs or under
cover for earlier results.
27 RUNNER BEAN ‘Enorma’ A heavy-cropping
old favourite with large, tasty, good-looking
stringless beans, well worth entering into
your local show, too.
28 LETTUCE ‘Little Gem’ One of the easiest
varieties to grow well, quickly reaching useable
size. The same packet of seed can be sown
all season, saving you from buying several
different varieties.
29 BRUSSELS SPROUT ‘Trafalgar’ A festive
fave with all the family, thanks to its sweet
flavour. A reliable, heavy cropper that ‘stands’
well past Christmas.
30 COURGETTE ‘Defender’ An exceptionally
heavy-cropping, reliable variety with superb
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AR
SH
A A
RN
OLD
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NA
TH
AN
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CK
LEY
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SA
ND
ALL
; S
AR
AH
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TTLE
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53gardenersworld.comDecember 2014
houseplants
One of the joys of growing
houseplants is being able to create
your own living landscape or miniature
garden. Glass vessels allow you to
watch, as well as house, your new living
worlds. The ones pictured here, and over
the following pages, are different shapes
and sizes, but don’t be afraid of placing
terrariums, bottles and vases next
to each other, as they still work well
as a single display.
Plants have been used indoors for
centuries – medieval paintings depict
Crusaders returning with plant
specimens from many corners of the
world. The Victorian period was a golden
age of plant collecting, which went hand
in hand with a passion for exploration
and discovery. Plant hunters were seen
as adventurers travelling to remote
areas to bring back exotic plants from
around the world. This era saw a rise
in popularity of terrariums and Wardian
cases. The legacy of these plant
explorers lives on in the plants that
thrive in our
modern
landscape.
Through a
glass darkly
Terrariums and glass vases are ideal for indoor gardening,
allowing the grower a full view of plants thriving in the
modern home. Isabelle Palmer shows you how
Group houseplants with similar
needs together – here, (left
to right), the peperomia,
red-leaved dracaena and Aloe
haworthioides will tolerate an
absent-minded watering regime.
PH
OTO
: H
ELE
N C
ATH
CA
RT
For more houseplant ideas, see our ‘Houseplants’ board at pinterest.com/gwmag
December 2014
Terrariums, or closed glass
cases, are great for growing plants
in centrally-heated homes, as water
evaporating from the leaves during
transpiration condenses on the
glass and then trickles down the
sides of the case to be reabsorbed
by the roots. Open terrariums can
tolerate some direct sunlight, but
be aware that too much sun may
burn any leaves in direct contact
with the glass. In contrast, closed
This striking, thick, green glass
dome makes a wonderful house for
a plant display. The narrower neck
and thicker glass keep the heat inside
the dome – if using a terrarium made
from thick glass, bear this in mind
and select plants that thrive
in warm, moist conditions.
The dark soil here is a great base
for the green moss, fittonia (nerve
plants) and an array of ferns. It’s
a lovely, simple terrarium that
boasts a warm, rustic feel.
Growing under glass
54 gardenersworld.com
terrariums need a location where
they will receive bright light but not
direct sunlight, which would ‘cook’
the plants. Violas, mind-your-own-
business (Soleirolia soleirolii), and
mosses all grow well in a terrarium.
gardenersworld.com 55
This duo of open glass vases
features an eclectic selection
of succulents, stones and green
mosses. I collected my pebbles
from walks on the beach, where
I also found some pieces of granite
and dried moss for the displays.
Try to choose pebbles with
different colours and textures
that will contrast well. Pretty
shells can also look striking
in glass displays.
December 2014
The large size and
antiquated appearance of
this terrarium allows activity
inside; it’s a great opportunity
to be creative. Inspired by
one of my favourite literary
characters – Miss Havisham
from Great Expectations –
this is a celebration of her
creative disorder.
I started with the white
roll-top bath, and placed
small pieces of Ajuga reptans
(bugleweed) and moss inside,
so creating a sense of green
neglect. I then built up the
moss and busy green plants,
which include maidenhair
and Boston ferns, along with
nerve plant, around the bath.
This terrarium is best placed
in a sunny position.
How to grow mossIt is possible to grow moss on a potting tray. It takes quite
a while, but growing your own means you can use different
types that aren’t readily available to buy. Take some samples
of moss from a shed roof or paving. Divide the moss into
squares, measuring 4-5cm, and place these pieces on a layer
of well-watered potting compost. Soak the moss well with
water. Mosses need to be kept moist at all times to grow and
retain their lush, green colour. Pieces of moss can be stored
in the fridge when you’re in between projects.
houseplants
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gardenersworld.com May 201156 December 2014
The basics of terrarium
horticulture are easy. Once
you’ve found a suitable
terrarium container, make sure
you clean it thoroughly before
use to prevent bacteria growing
inside. Place rocks at the bottom
for drainage, and add a layer
of charcoal and clay pellets.
I usually add these using
a funnel made from a piece
of strong card, as terrariums
often have small openings.
The charcoal and clay pellets
are important because they
help to reduce excess moisture
and the build-up of moulds,
odours and fungus, and keep
the environment healthy. This
is because the charcoal acts
as a purifier: as the water
cycles through the terrarium,
it is cleansed by the carbon
in the charcoal. You can then
add the potting mix and,
finally, the plants.
Hanging arrangements are
a wonderfully creative way to
display indoor plants. They
create a point of interest in
a living room, above a long
table in a kitchen, or displayed
in a hallway or bathroom.
This beautiful metallic
container is handsome and
simple – great, perhaps, for
a stylish bedroom or at the
top of a flight of stairs. The
delicate glossy leaves of the
plant fall over the edge of
the container, making for
an easy uncluttered look.
In this display I used
muehlenbeckia it is easy to
grow and creates a unique look
with its small, rounded leaflets.
PH
OTO
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December 2014
houseplants
Choosing a potting mix
Most indoor plants will thrive in a soil-less potting mix, ideally
one that’s peat-substitute-based. It is not recommended that you
use garden soil, as it may contain weed seeds or diseases. Potting
mix is sterile and does not contain any fungi, weeds, pests, soil-
borne diseases, seeds or toxins to prevent your plants from
growing well. Speciality potting mixes are also available for plants
with specific needs, including gritty, fast-draining mix for cacti,
and coarse, low-nutrient potting mixes created for orchids.
Get Isabelle’s inspiration on
how to grow plants indoors,
including hanging
gardens, vertical
planting and
water gardens,
in her book: The
House Gardener
(Cico Books, £25).
The House
Gardener
Where to buy
terrariums
P Chive UK
0800 434 6225,
chiveuk.com; from £6
P Etsy.com
from around £16
P The Urban Botanist
0800 783 3375,
theurbanbotanist.co.uk;
from £10
Discover more
57gardenersworld.com
Lush, green succulents,
assorted pebbles and a terrarium
on its side: a simple, classic look
but it works. This small terrarium
would add interest to a corner or
side table, perhaps on a shelf in
your bathroom. The display inside
emulates the beauty of a lotus leaf
flowing in a sea of pebbles and
stone. The vivid greens are striking
and draw your attention to how
glorious these plants are.
FE
ATU
RE E
XTR
AC
TE
D F
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HE H
OU
SE G
AR
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Y IS
AB
ELL
E P
ALM
ER
(CIC
O B
OO
KS
, £
25
) W
ITH
PH
OTO
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Y H
ELE
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CA
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y December garden is, at the best of times, an act of faith recalling the good days we once had together and, at the
worst of times, the burnt-out wreck of a relationship. But by Christmas I know good times are round the corner and, anyway, the garden helps make Christmas better than any amount of frantic commercial consumpt ion. So, a mid t he org y of Christmas shopping, I tr y to carve a garden-shaped space where there is plenty of consumption but no money changes hands. At the heart of this is Christmas dinner – and the sequence of meals that f low from and after it – which is so much the better for having as much as possible gathered from the garden or allotment.
Planning is obviously needed to make this happen, starting right back in the previous spring. But for all of us who have failed to some degree in this department, and are gazing upon empty vegetable beds – believe me, I do, every year – the time for ordering seeds for next year is fast upon us.
Brussels sprouts are as iconic a Christmas veg as any, although they need a long growing season. They’re best sown in mid-March and stand unproductive from May right through to November. I have this
image of a thousand midwinter train journeys with allotments sliding past rain-spat tered w i ndow s a nd ever y plot brandishing stands of sprouts on stalks like tree trunks – an image of resilience or despair according to your mood or, literally, taste. Some people cannot abide a sprout, but they can and should be delicious if grown and cooked well. Brussels sprouts are thought to have been cultivated in Italy in Roman times, but the modern-day sprout was bred in Belgium in the late 1500s. The first mention of them in a recipe book came in 1845, which is around the time that Christmas became the family tradition, with presents and a tree, that we still observe now. So while many may denigrate their presence at Christmas dinner, they are absolutely at the centre of it.
Add frost for flavourIf you are growing sprouts as a seasonal token then it is best to sow F1 varieties such as ‘Revenge’ or ‘Wellington’, which tend to ripen all at once – though they should stay t ight and pickable for months. Older varieties such as ‘Bedford Fillbasket’ or ‘Evesham Special’ will produce sprouts that gradually ripen as they progress up the stem. All varieties taste better after a sharp
gardenGifts from your
gardenersworld.com December 2014
Christmas is a time of giving but what will your garden give you this year? With planning, says Monty, your patch can yield tasty treasures for the table
58
PHO
TO: M
ARS
HA
ARN
OLD
gardenersworld.com
monty’s garden
December 2014 59
PACK IN THE PLANTS
Overplant at first
then thin out later
HARVEST
Feb-May in seed
trays or modules
under cover, or
direct in a seed
bed from Mar
Mar-Apr, and Jul
in seed trays
or modules, or
direct in a seed
bed outdoors
Plant out seed
potatoes Mar-
May in enriched
soil, and Jul-Aug
for Christmas
Aug-Feb. Sprouts
keep well in the
ground, or can be
stored in a dark
shed for a week
Spring sowings:
early Aug;
summer sowings:
Oct
Jun-Oct
and Dec
GREEN ‘Revenge’
F1, ‘Wellington’ F1,
‘Evesham Special’
RED ‘Rubine’
‘Red Drumhead’,
‘Red Dutch’
‘Charlotte’,
‘King Edward’,
‘Sante’
BRUSSELS
SPROUTS
RED CABBAGE
POTATOES
SOW HARVEST VARIETIES
gardenersworld.com60
frost. I have grown red Brussels sprouts,
too, and they are decorative enough, but
t a ste no b et ter t h a n t hei r g re en
counterparts, and are less productive.
To me, red cabbage is as essential at
Christmas as sprouts and my favourite way
to serve it can be found in The Home
Cookbook ( Mont y a nd Sa ra h Don,
Bloomsbury) in the braised red cabbage
recipe, with apples, juniper berries, red
wine and muscovado. This dish improves
with reheating and is probably best with
cold meat, its spicy sweetness doing much
to improve the blandness of Boxing Day
turkey. I like ‘Red Drumhead’, with its
deep, almost purple colour. ‘Red Dutch’
is also good. Like all cabbages, they are
slow to grow and mature so to be at
their best for Christmas should be sown
in spring; no later than the end of May.
I sow mine in seed trays and then prick
the seedlings into plugs, growing them on
in a cold frame before planting them out
into final positions.
You can just as well sow them into the
soil of a seed bed, but be sure to thin
ruthlessly so that they are at least 8cm
apart by the time they are 8cm tall. This
will help establish healthy roots from the
first. Transplant them to their growing bed
when they are about 15-20cm tall, which
will be some time in July.
If you are rotating your crops, cabbages
should follow on from a legume crop, such
as broad beans or peas, to make the most of
residual nitrogen, but they also benefit
from a dressing of compost to get a good
start. They should be ready for harvest
from November through to May.
Right royal roasties
There will be potatoes of course, roast and
maybe mashed, but not many varieties can
perform both culinary functions with
equal aplomb. I like a waxy potato such as
‘Charlotte’, but f loury varieties soak up
more fat during roasting and become
crisper as a result – ‘King Edward’ is a good
December 2014
Monty grows
waxy ‘Charlotte’
for roasties
and mash
A good frost will
intensify a parsnip’s
sweetness
Monty’s culinary
Christmas choices
PH
OTO
S: A
LA
MY
/FO
OD
AN
D D
RIN
K P
HO
TO
S; M
AR
SH
A A
RN
OLD
; SA
RA
H C
UTTLE; JA
SO
N IN
GR
AM
; N
OEL M
UR
PH
Y
gardenersworld.comDecember 2014 61
See the highlights of Monty’s
year on Gardeners’ World at
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/
b006mw1h/clips
Watch again
monty’s garden
PACK IN THE PLANTS
Overplant at first
then thin out later
choice, while I have found
‘Sante’ to be a pretty blight-
r e s i s t a n t , s u c c e s s f u l
roaster. Roast parsnips
are good but parsnip
purée is better and the
t e x t u r e a p e r f e c t
emol l ient for d r y
turkey meat. Frost
i n t e n s i f i e s a
pa rsn ip’s suga rs
but t hey’re st i l l
very sweet without
– a reminder that
until the 1600s they
were a key source of
s we et ne s s i n ma ny
people’s diets. I always
like to have a salad, too, as a
kind of token healthy part of the
mea l a nd to show-of f t hat t he
greenhouse can still produce a supply of
f resh sa lad leaves. My last culinar y
Christmas tip is, if you grow celeriac (and,
if not, you need to ask yourself why), try
celeriac purée. This is essentially mashed
celeriac and lashings of butter, cream and
seasoning, and is good to eat from the
fridge at midnight. Or try chestnut and
celeriac soup, a hearty meal perfect for
Boxing Day and beyond. I admit I cheat
and buy in the chestnuts.
Bring the outdoors in
The table, indeed the house, will be decked
with green from the garden. Up to the 19th
century, when evergreens became more
common in our gardens and landscape,
Christians regarded them as symbols of
hope and Christ’s birth, and pagans as
emblems of potency, possessed of a magic
that kept them green throughout winter
and could even ward off evil spirits.
We cut holly from trees around the
garden (although by Christmas the birds
have often had most of the berries), ivy that
we’ve clipped back hard every spring in the
walled garden, and yew cut from a bushy
bit of hedge at the back of the border.
My mother always had a wreath in the
centre of the table, rather than hanging on
the door, and sometimes we follow that
tradition, gathering materials for it from
the garden. They look as good horizontal
as on the doorknob. And whether you lay it
or hang it, a green circle is a satisfying
image of continuity, the seasons, life the
universe and everything. l
HARVEST
Apr-May. Sow
direct in the
ground where
they are to grow
Aug-Sept. Sow
direct in ground
outdoors, or later
under glass or
in cold frames
March in
modules in a
propagator
under glass
Aug-Mar
Oct-Mar
Nov-Mar
‘Javelin’, ‘Tender
and True’
Radicchio ‘Palla
Rossa’, Mizuna,
Mibuna, Lamb’s
Lettuce ‘Verte de
Cambrai’
‘Iram’, ‘President’,
‘Tellus’
PARSNIPS
WINTER
SALADS
CELERIAC
SOW HARVEST VARIETIES
Sow sprouts in spring,
ready to harvest for a
delicious Christmas treat
Braised red cabbage
works perfectly with
Boxing Day turkey
Turn over for Christmas wreath ideas e
What better greeting to a gardener’s home than a hand-made wreath.
Helen Riches takes inspiration from the garden and countryside
Festive WELCOME
Use the skills you’ve honed as a gardener to make your own wreath and save money.
A homemade wreath can incorporate unique and locally sourced ingredients in colours to match your taste. Ours were gathered from the garden, !elds, hedgerows and supermarket shelves. Ask neighbours for a few berried boughs if you don’t grow any.
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62 gardenersworld.com December 2014
63gardenersworld.com
christmas makes +�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�++�+�+�+�+�+�+�+� christmas makes +A
LL P
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TOS: S
AR
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Step by step
1Fold a handful of raffia in two. Wrap it around
the willow ring and pull the ends through the
loop, as shown. This will be the top of the wreath.
2
Use a skewer to spear a sprout near its base.
Thread a 30cm-long wire through the hole
to give two ‘legs’ for attaching it to the wreath.
3 Fasten lengths of wire to all the ingredients,
by either skewering them or winding wire
round the stalks. The wires can be trimmed later.
4
Attach ingredients to the frame, starting with
the sprouts. Fix snugly together with no wire
showing. Finish with bay sprigs using more wire.
How to make a stunning adornment for your door
Here’s the perfect way to
introduce reluctant kids to Brussels
sprouts. Using a willow ring will
guarantee the base structure is
sturdy enough to support the
ingredients, while also being an
attractive object in itself. The pink
and orange are great foils for the
greens, with the raffia picking up the
rosier hues. Try alternative shades
from other fruit and veg, such as
chilli peppers and crab apples, which
have strong, bright colours and last
well outdoors. This wreath isn’t a
quick 5-minute make, but will raise a
chuckle from your seasonal visitors!
We used:
+��25cm willow ring (available
from florists and craft shops)
+�Shallots x 6
+�Brussels sprouts x 35
+�Physalis x 8
+�Mini bell peppers x 2
+�Tied sprigs of bay leaves
+�Fine florists’ wire – approx. 7m
+�Metal skewer
+�Raffia
More sprouts?
FESTIVE FACT
The record for the heaviest Brussels sprout has stood
since October 1992 – it weighed a
whopping 8.3kg
Top tip Fix the
sprouts and shallots
�rmly, but don’t pull
the wire too tightly or
they may fall apart.
Distribute the other
ingredients evenly
round the ring
December 2014
000gardenersworld.comNovember 2014
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gardenersworld.com64
FESTIVE FACT
In the 1800s postmen
wore red waistcoats and
were known as robin
redbreasts – leading to
the robins’ popularity
on Christmas cards
Insert the sprigs all round the oasis,
making sure that no foam is showing
A floral foam ring is definitely
worth the small investment.
They’re widely available online and
in florists from about £4 each, less
if you buy more. It makes it easy to
achieve a professional result and
keeps the foliage fresh for weeks.
For this wreath, we used many
different variegated materials, from
the blousy ornamental cabbage to
an ivy-leaved geranium sprig, to
give the feeling of frost-dusted
foliage. We also aimed for a good
range of leaf size and texture, from
neat and spiky, to floppy and broad.
Seek out berries where you can for
the festive finishing touch. Take the
ring down once a week to resoak
the foam from below.
We used:
+��30cm floral foam ring (soak
the ring before you start)
+�Fine and stiff florists’ wire
+�Variegated evergreens
+�Holly berries
+�Crab apples
+�Ornamental cabbage
Seasonal classic
Top tip Cut the
foliage into short
lengths. Poke them
into a wet oasis,
ensuring there is an
even distribution of
berried sprigs
December 2014
christmas makes +�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�++�+�+�+�+�+�+�+� christmas makes +
Tie everything tightly to ensure your
wreath lasts throughout the season
This gorgeous twiggy wreath is
our inspiration to you to get outside
and forage. Experiment with
seedheads, fir cones and berries,
and garnish with dried flowerheads.
Search parks and hedgerows for
mossy bark, catkins and bead-like
rosehips (though never take too
much from any one place). Nature
can provide joyous colour at this
time of year, but reach for the spray
can for a helping hand. After
making the wreath base (see right)
use a light touch to allow the
natural structure to show through.
We used:
+�Fine florists’ wire
+��Vine stems or other
woody stems
+�Lichen-covered twigs
+�Rosehips, mistletoe, catkins
+�Variegated ivy
+�Dried eryngium flowerheads
+�Fir cones and seedheads
+��Allium and teasel seedheads
(we sprayed ours blue using
an acrylic craft paint)
On the vine
FESTIVE FACT
The UK decorates
around 8 million
Christmas trees a
year. The US adorns
35�40 million
Top tip Soak the
woody stems in
water to make them
easier to bend
without splitting.
Form into hoops
then wire together
65gardenersworld.comDecember 2014
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EKETH01 Eckman 9ft Electric Telescopic Hedge Trimmer £89.99
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Standard 7 Working Day Delivery £3.99 – £3.99
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Features: Double safety switching and a clever
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weighs just 3.8kg (8.4lbs) Super lightweight aluminium,
IT’S THE UK’S TALLEST THERE’S NO JOB TOO HIGH!
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Use the garden to add interest to your home this festive season
Creative CHRISTMAS
Add a personal touch to your Christmas decorations this year with the following easy-to-make projects. From tree and table decorations to candle holders, we show you nine quick and simple ways to bring the great outdoors inside, using basic materials found in the garden.
Don’t worry if you haven’t got to hand the exact objects that we’ve included – just raid the garden for whatever’s looking good and follow our methods as inspiration. And get the kids involved – the projects will put excess energy to good use as the fever pitch of Christmas builds.
FESTIVE FACT
Roman emperor Constantine the Great
was the !rst to celebrate Christmas on 25 December – in
the 5th century
gardenersworld.com 67December 2014
christmas makes +�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�++�+�+�+�+�+�+�+� christmas makes +
Look to the stars
Use a glue stick to attach birch bark to cardboard
Give starry sparkle to Christmas trees and festive branches with these Scandinavian-style decorations. The birch bark adds a light, simple finish, although you could use colourful leaves instead. Simply draw a star on a strip of bark, glue it to a piece of thick cardboard and cut it out – it’s as easy as that. Punch a hole through the star and hang it with garden wire or twine.
We used:+�Pencil+�Birch bark+�Thick cardboard+�Glue stick+�Scissors+�Wire or twine
For even more ideas for festive projects, including alternative Christmas trees and wreaths, visit our Homemade Christmas gallery at pinterest.com/gwmag
gardenersworld.com68
You can’t beat this star decoration
for rustic charm (below). Simply
cut 8-10cm lengths of colourful
twigs (cornus and hazel are ideal),
and bind them together with garden
string to make a star. Bind twigs
together if yours are very flimsy
and use a string loop for hanging.
Add a dusting of gold or silver spray
paint if you’d like to give the stars
some festive zing.
We used:
+�Twigs from the garden
+�Secateurs
+�Garden string
+�Scissors
Make the most of what the garden
has to offer by creating this rustic
table decoration. Secure lengths of
stems around a small terracotta pot
with a rubber band and hide the
band with a raffia bow. Fill the pot
with pebbles and nestle a tealight
among them to complete the look.
We used hazel stems as they’re nice
and straight, but any you can cut
from the garden will work – willow or
cornus would add a splash of colour.
We used:
+�Small terracotta pot
+�Hazel stems
+�Rubber band
+�Raffia
+�Pebbles
+�Tealight
Create baubles with a difference
by filling your own with greenery
and berries from the garden. This
clever idea produces a traditional
tree decoration, with the scope to
add a personal touch and change
the look each year. You could also
fill the baubles with seedheads or
dried flowers. We bought our clear
glass baubles from Amazon (£12.50
for 12), although you’ll find them in
most craft shops.
We used:
+�Clear glass baubles
+�Greenery and berries
+�Secateurs
+�Thin wire/garden string
Top pot
Bespoke bauble
Twinkle twigs
FESTIVE FACT
Father Christmas
would have to travel
at 650 miles per
second to deliver the
world's presents
in one night
December 2014
+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�++�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+
FESTIVE FACT
It takes 10�15 years
to grow an average-
sized Christmas tree,
from 3-year-old
saplings
christmas makes christmas makes +
FESTIVE FACT
The world’s tallest
Christmas tree – in
Monte Ingino, Italy –
is 650m high and
decorated with
3,000 lights
To place your priority order visit:
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A pristine, picture perfect garden doesn’t have to be
diffi cult to maintain. Now is the perfect time to care for
your garden; pruning helps promote blooms while also
stopping wild and unruly trees, bushes and shrubs from
taking over your garden and with our new pruning saw it
doesn’t have to be hard work. Razor sharp teeth line the 7”
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Meanwhile a sturdy and easy to use safety lock
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securely open or closed. The ergonomic, rubberised
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Order today for dispatch within 24 hours!
Keep your garden in shape!Our new compact pruning saw makes garden
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Cuts through branches 5" (10cm) thick Hardened, rust-resistant blade Soft, easy grip handle Blade safely locks in place
Pruning Saw
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gardenersworld.com70
You can’t beat this project for
hassle-free results, as it transforms
a simple shop-bought candle into a
beautiful table decoration. Just put
the candle in position and surround
it with festive trinkets – there’s no
wiring, gluing or complex arranging
required, so it really couldn’t be
easier. We used pine cones and
plane tree seedheads, combined
with physalis for a pop of colour,
although you could use holly or
berries for an extra festive touch.
We used:
+�Candle or tealight holder
+�Pine cones
+�Seedheads
Give your mantelpiece a fiery
Christmas makeover by decorating
it with swags of home-grown chillies.
Wire the chillies to lengths of ivy and
weave them through tealights in
plain glass holders. The chillies and
ivy will dry out over the Christmas
period, which adds to their charm in
the subdued lighting of winter.
Create a similar effect with
evergreen Christmas tree offcuts,
berries and rosehips, aiming for a
look that's relaxed and informal.
We used:
+�Chillies
+�Ivy strands
+�Fine florists’ wire
+�Tea lights
+�Glass tealight holders
This is just the thing for adding
festive cheer to doorknobs and
cabinet handles. Use fine wire
to form a ring – ours was around
10cm in diameter. Don’t worry if
the circle isn’t perfect as the
rustic construction adds to the
charm. Bind sprigs of rosemary
and rosehips to the circle using
fine florists' wire. You can create
alternative mini wreaths using ivy
stems, clematis seedheads, and
other berries.
We used:
+�Rosemary sprigs
+�Rosehips
+�Fine florists’ wire
+�Medium craft wire
Mantle magicMini wreath
Candle light
December 2014
FESTIVE FACT
Like the name
suggests, mince pies
were originally �lled
with meat and
�avoured with
spices and fruit
FESTIVE FACT
Boxing Day is named
a�er all the money
collected for
the poor in church
alms-boxes
+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�++�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+
Add a warm glow to the festive
scene with these easy-to-make
candle holders. Just cut the top
from an orange, scoop out the
centre with a spoon and add a
tealight – it’s as simple as that.
The skin of the orange will dry out
over the Christmas break, meaning
the holder will become more
robust as time goes by. Surround
the holders with holly and other
seasonal evergreens to complete
the festive scene.
We used:
+�Oranges
+�Sharp knife
+�Spoon
+�Tea lights
This simple display will work
perfectly on a table centre or
sideboard. The utilitarian tin can
creates an interesting contrast
with the festive evergreens and
glittery spangle of more elaborate
decorations. Remove any labels
from the can and make sure
there’s no sharp metal at the
opening – using a ring-pull can is
best. Fill the can with water and
pack it with sprigs from the
garden. Search for holly, ivy and
anything with berries. Complete
the look with a pretty raffia bow.
We used:
+�Tin can
+�Secateurs
+�Greenery and berries
+�Raffia
Can do…
Full of zest
Top tip Position
candles and twinkly
lights in front of mantle
mirrors to add sparkle
to the re�ection!
FESTIVE FACT
Edward H Johnson invented the �rst set of electric Christmas
lights in 1882, using them to decorate his
New York home
FESTIVE FACT
Although we use poinsettias to brighten
a chilly Christmas scene, they originate from sunny Mexico
gardenersworld.com 71December 2014
Use florists' wire to attach chillies to lengths
of ivy – remember to wash your hands
christmas makes +�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�++�+�+�+�+�+�+�+� christmas makes +
FESTIVE FACT
Foil-wrapped chocolate coins
were inspired by St Nicholas who used to regularly give money
to poor children
+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�++�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+�+ christmas makes
gardenersworld.com72 December 2014
Seasonal pot
3
Fill gaps with more compost. Water well but
gently so the liquid doesn’t spill over the side.
2
Add the evergreens, putting the tallest at the
back, followed by the cyclamen. Pack tightly.
1
Add multi-purpose compost to your pot until
it’s half full, and mix in slow-release fertiliser.
Celebrate the colours of the festive season
by creating this cheery container for a patio
or front doorstep. Red and green are classic
partners, and here vibrant scarlet cyclamens
combine with sturdy evergreens for a
display that will look good for most of the
winter. Best of all, the evergreens can be
planted in the garden when the container
has passed its best, making this collection
of plants great value for money.
1
5
2
3
Plants
1 Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’ x 1
2 Picea glauca ‘Conica’ x 1
3 Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’ x 1
4 Red mini cyclamen x 3
5 Green trailing ivy x 1
PR
OJE
CT:
KEV
IN S
MIT
H. P
HO
TOS: S
AR
AH
CU
TTLE
4
Deck THE POTS
For more containers ideas, see our ‘Pots for
every month’ board at pinterest.com/gwmag
+
Top tip
Deadhead cyclamen
regularly to keep the
display tidy and
the blooms coming.
Add fairy lights for
extra sparkle
gardenersworld.com 73December 2014
offer
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Address
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I enclose a cheque for £ made payable to Thompson & Morgan with my name and address on the back
Or charge my Visa ! Mastercard ! Maestro ! Card number !!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Start date !!/!! Expiry date !!/!! Maestro issue no !! Extra card security !!! Last 3 digits from the back of the card
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Exclusive to Thompson & Morgan, this new ‘climbing’ fuchsia has in-built flower-power, with a better balance of blooms all the way up each stem.
It’s hardy to -10°C and quick growing so you can easily grow plants of 120-150cm in a single
season to train against fences, trellis, obelisks or any other frame.Or grow as a spectacular patio plant in a tower pot (see below).Height x Spread 150cm x 50cm3 plug plants £9.999 plug plants £19.98 (RRP £29.97) save £9.99
Fuchsia ‘Pink Fizz’ offerTO ORDER Please send your order and payment to: BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Fuchsia ‘Pink Fizz’ Offer, Dept GW737, PO Box 162, Ipswich IP8 3BX
Code: GW737
New fuchsia for 2015
�
Beat the rush and pre-order this free-!owering new variety, ‘Pink Fizz’, for 2015
offer
This easy-to-assemble supportive lattice frame and pot is ideal for Fuchsia ‘Pink Fizz’ as well as climbing petunias, climbing geraniums and sweet peas. Simply train the stems on to the Tower Pot™ frame and secure with twine.
Each pack contains 1 x 38cm pot, 1 x pot saucer and two-part frame. Total height of pot and frame 130cm
O 1 Tower Pot £19.99O 2 Tower pots £29.99 (RRP £39.98) SAVE £9.99
SAVE £9.99 ON TOWER POTSGet the most from your climbing fuchsia with these patio Tower Pots™
CODE DESCRIPTION PRICE QTY TOTAL
TCC57098TCC57099
Fuchsia ‘Pink Fizz’ 3 plugsFuchsia ‘Pink Fizz’ 9 plugs SAVE £9.99
£9.99£19.98
£8.99£17.98
TCC47569PTCC47570P
1 Tower Pot2 Tower Pots SAVE £9.99
£19.99£29.99
£17.99£26.99
TCC57100
SAVER COLLECTION 3 Fuchsia ‘Pink Fizz’ plants; 1 Towerpot™ pack; 25l incredicompost™; 100g fertiliser WORTH £44.96
£29.99 £26.99
Postage worth £4.95 FREE FREE
SUBTOTAL
£Subscribers: insert your discount code here see p32 GRAND TOTAL
PRE!ORDER
FREE postage
Fuchsia ‘Pink Fizz’
! 0844 573 6054 quote code GW737
www.thompson-morgan.com/GW737
Subscribers: to claim your extra 10% off – see p32 for your discount code
Best deal
Terms & Conditions Plants despatched from March 2015. All orders will be acknowledged with an expected dispatch date. Offer closes 31 January 2015. Please note your contract for supply of goods is with Thompson & Morgan, Poplar Lane, Ipswich, IP8 3BU. Terms and conditions available on request. All offers subject to availability. Full growing instructions included.
Enjoy your garden all year roundwith a Glass Veranda from Eden
CALL FOR A FREE NO OBLIGATION QUOTATION AND BROCHURE
0800 107 2727Or write to: Eden Verandas Ltd, FREEPOST RTCG-SEBB-KJAH, Unit 13 Armstrong Mall, SouthwoodBusiness Park, Farnborough, GU14 0NR. *Correct at time of printing, please see website for latest offers. Terms & conditions apply.
Quoting GW21/11
• Manufactured in all shapes andsizes to suit your home
• Our glass verandas can beconverted into an open glassroom at any time
• Huge choice of frame colours and weatherproof finishes
• Optional energy efficient heating and lighting
• Wide range of bespoke designs available
• Professionally installed by skilled craftsmen
• 10 year guarantee
www.edenverandas.co.uk
WINTER
SALEU
P T
O30%OFF
*
N
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W
Y
o
u
r
l
o
c
a
l
w
e
a
t
h
e
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v
e
a
l
e
d
gardenersworld.com 75December 2014
This practical section is packed with advice from the Gardeners’ World team on…
O Potting up winter shrubs O Making �loral gifts O Planting roses and tulips
O Sowing cacti O Cleaning greenhouse glass… and more
TURN THE PAGE FOR 50 THINGS TO DO IN THE GARDEN THIS MONTH
90 HARVEST the best foliage for decoration
79 DISCOVER the advantages of planting bare-root trees
81 BRIGHTEN your patio with shrubs in pots
82 LEARN how to plant lily bulbs
87 GROW salad under cover
WHAT TO DO
NOW
PH
OTO
S: M
AR
SH
A A
RN
OLD
; JA
SO
N IN
GR
AM
; TIM
SA
ND
ALL
Living indoors… outdoors
Timeless designs and handmade in the finest timbers; a Chelsea Summerhouse is the idyllic hideaway
to escape from the interruptions of everyday life and enjoy the changing seasons.
For further information about Chelsea Summerhouses call 0800 3317742 or visit www.chelseasummerhouses.co.uk
WINTER SALE NOW ON
Buy with 12 Months Interest Free CreditExample Cash Price £5995. Deposit £1499. Pay balance of £4496 over 12 monthly payments of £374.67.
Total amount payable £5995. Credit subject to status. 0% APRrepresentative
WHAT TO DO NOW
VISIT gardenersworld.
com/winter-prune
for advice on pruning
benefits and techniques
gardenersworld.com
PH
OTO
: JA
SO
N IN
GR
AM
77December 2014
WINTER PRUNING can begin
once the leaves have fallen from
the trees in the orchard – a good
job for a frosty day. The first task
is to remove any damaged or
overcrowded branches. Before
making each cut, though, bear in
mind that any pruning at this time
of year will stimulate vigorous
new growth next spring that will
not bear fruit straight away.
Pruning apple and pear trees
Monty’s monthTOO OFTEN at
Longmeadow,
December is a damp,
cold and dark month.
The garden loses
its body and sinks
into itself like a
wounded animal.
But this is also the
time when evergreens
come into their own,
especially the box and
yew hedging, which
changes from being
the frame around the
pictures that the
summer borders make
and becomes the
picture itself. That’s why
it’s important to have all
hedges, topiary and
shrubs tightly clipped.
Another December
pleasure is the �locks of
�ieldfares and redwings
that arrive from Siberia,
fussing in the orchard.
Monty removes vigorous
‘water shoots’ to encourage
productive fruiting growth
gardenersworld.com78 December 2014
MONTY’S MONTH DECEMBER
Some well-positioned
nails provide handy
tool storage
A DAMP DECEMBER often follows a
rainy November here in the western
half of the country and the ground
does not get a chance to dry up for
weeks – even months – on end. The
best advice is often just to keep off
the ground and hope for a hard frost.
However, this is a chance to get your
behind-the-scenes set-up in order
and ready for next season.
The plastic pots, seed and plug
trays that have been accumulating
through the summer are washed
and put away in their proper places,
and the terracotta pots carefully
stacked. The seeds drawers are
inspected, and all the half-used
packets and those that are over two
years old are chucked and a fresh
seed order made. Hand tools are
checked and given new handles
if necessary, and all machines
undergo an annual service.
The final job, for really awful
weather, is to take wire wool and
start scrubbing the writing from the
labels that we used throughout the
year. These are recycled and stacked
into boxes ready for further use in the
year to come. But when the rain is
beating down outside and there is a
good radio programme to listen to it’s
often more appealing to stay in than
trudge around outside in the wet!
Tidy your shed
WATCH Monty
choose secateurs
at gardenersworld.com/
choose-secateurs
E
PH
OTO
S: M
AR
SH
A A
RN
OLD
, JA
SO
N IN
GR
AM
, TIM
SA
ND
ALL
Cleaning and
organising seed and
plug trays is a good
rainy-day job
Space saver
gardenersworld.com
WHAT TO DO NOW
79December 2014
compost it
N Clean tools by
washing, drying and
oiling metal and wood
N Monitor greenhouse
salad crops, picking
out any brown leaves
N Turn houseplants
regularly to ensure
even growth
N Check stored
summer bulbs and
tubers for signs of rot
N Avoid walking on
lawns that are frozen
or waterlogged
N Tackle overgrown
shrubs and hedges
N Continue harvesting
and storing winter veg
such as parsnips
N Take precautions to
prevent the pond from
freezing over
��CHECKLIST
MONTY ON: THE IMPORTANCE OF PLANTING TREES
� If everyone added just one small tree to their garden then
this would be enough to attract the widest possible range of
British wildlife, most of which evolved in woodland �
Vital cold-frame
maintenance
A COLD FRAME is incredibly useful
for protecting plants over the winter
months, but there are two things
to remember: one, it must be
ventilated well, especially in mild
weather, to reduce the risk of fungal
problems and acclimatise plants
to the cold; and two, it must be
checked regularly for slugs – ideally
once a week – by taking everything
out and examining underneath to
remove unwanted visitors.
Planting bare- root trees
Find a balance in border clearing
UNTIL THE 1970S almost all
deciduous trees were planted
bare root, which meant that they
were dispatched from the
nursery in a sack or hessian
wrapping, and then you had to
plant them immediately, where
they were to grow.
The trees never spent any
time in a container. The
disadvantages of this were that
planting could only safely
happen in the dormant period,
between October and March,
and that you had to get them in
the ground immediately.
However, there are advantages
to buying and planting bare-root
trees; for example, the tree tends
to have a better developed root
system that will have been been
disturbed less, so it should get
established in your garden much
more quickly and thus grow
more successfully.
TRADITIONALLY, herbaceous
borders were completely cleared
in November and remained
barren until the following spring.
However, a mixed border,
especially one with grasses and
shrubs, can offer a skeletal winter
beauty, and most forms of wildlife
– particularly birds and insects –
benefit hugely from the cover
and source of food. Nevertheless,
it is a good idea to go through the
garden once a month and remove
soggy, fallen foliage and stems
to avoid the risk of rotting the
crowns of neighbouring plants.
Leave some spent
stems for wildlife cover
but clear away soggy
and �loppy material
Monty mulches
a newly planted
bare-root walnut
after staking it
Monty makes a careful check of
his cold frame for slug intrusion
I enclose cheque made payable to Country Collection or charge my
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These best selling trousers are woven withan inner layer for extra warmth. ClassicBlackwatch check design in shades of navyand bottle green. Flat front style with zipand button fastening, side waistelastication, side pockets and belt loops. Codes: 4EH BW inside leg 28”
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WHAT TO DO NOW
gardenersworld.com 81December 2014
FLOWERS DECEMBERP
HO
TO
S: S
AR
AH
CU
TTLE
; JA
SO
N IN
GR
AM
; TIM
SA
ND
ALL
GET AMARYLLIS (also called
hippeastrum) bulbs potted
quickly because they’ll take eight
weeks to flower. Some bulbs come
in a ready-made kit. If yours didn’t,
choose a pot with a diameter 4cm
wider than the width of the bulb
(with a drainage hole). Place John
Innes No.2 or multi-purpose
compost in the bottom of the pot
then position the bulb so only the
lower half is covered by compost.
Water in then just water enough to
prevent the compost drying out.
Keep in good light at 21°C.
Plant bulbs of
amaryllis now
��CHECKLISTN Order seed catalogues
and plan a new border
N Reduce lily beetle
numbers by removing
debris on soil beneath
lilies to expose them
N Move containers to
sheltered positions
in bad weather
N Prune out pitted
stems on viburnums
to reduce beetle pests
N Keep houseplants
insulated by wrapping
them up if you’re going
to transport them
N Remove dead leaves
that are resting on top
of plants
N Last chance to plant
tulips. They need
some cold weather
to push out roots
Keep your patio
fragrant with
containers of
sweet box
Get quick impactSHRUBS SELECTED for seasonal
blooms or scents are ideal for
providing winter interest in patio pots.
Try Viburnum ‘Eve Price’, witch hazel,
chimonanthus, sweet box, euonymus
and Daphne odora. Large containers
are essential to provide sufficient
compost and moisture, as well as the
stability to prevent them blowing
over. Fill with John Innes No.3
compost. Stand pots on feet and
check watering weekly. Once shrubs
outgrow their container they can
be planted out in your garden.
STEP BY STEP How to plant rosesBARE-ROOT ROSES are supplied
in winter and must be planted out
straight away. However, if the
ground is frozen or waterlogged it
is better to wait before planting.
In this case you can soak then wrap
the roots in some hessian or plunge
the roots into some damp compost
to stop the plant drying out and
keep the roots cool.
The graft union should be at soil
level or slightly below, so check the
depth of the hole with a horizontal
cane and place the rose against it.
Roses grow well on rich soils so
add a general- purpose fertiliser
and organic matter while digging
out the planting hole.
Spread the roots in the hole, add
mycorrhizal fungi, hold the plant
upright while back-filling with soil
then firm the rose in well.
2
1
3
Bear in mind that amaryllis bulbs
take eight weeks to bloom
TRY THIS
WATCH a video of Sarah Raven planting a rose to avoid root
rock and sucker growth. gardenersworld.com/plant-rose
E
FLOWERS DECEMBER
gardenersworld.com82 December 2014
PH
OTO
S: P
AU
L D
EB
OIS
; TIM
SA
ND
ALL
. WO
RD
S: V
ER
ON
ICA
PEER
LESS
Oriental lilies make
a spectacular
scented display
How to pot up lily bulbsTHE LARGE, �lamboyant blooms of lilies bring
glamour to the summer garden, and they grow
very well in pots – you can position them for
maximum e�fect on the patio or plunge pots into
a border in summer. Oriental types have large
blooms and a heady scent, while the more
compact Asiatic lilies are less strongly scented
but come in a wide range of colours.
Lilies are grown from bulbs, planted from autumn
to spring; check that the bulbs are �irm, with no signs
of rot. As the plants grow, tie taller varieties on to
canes to prevent them �lopping. Feed with a high-
potash feed, such as tomato food, weekly in high
summer. Deadhead regularly, but leave the foliage
to die back naturally, feeding the bulbs for next
year. Keep the pot in a cool but frost-free place over
winter and your lilies should �lower again next year.
VISIT www.bloomingdirect.com/BDGWM1 for a fantastic
offer on lily bulbs. See page 95 for full details
Back to
basics
2 3 4
STEP BY STEP How to plant lily bulbs
Place the lily bulbs on the surface
of the compost, ensuring that
the basal plate (with the roots
hanging down) is facing
downwards. Position the
bulbs about 5cm apart.
Fill in around the bulbs with
multi-purpose compost, and
then fill the pot to about
2.5�5cm from the rim (this
will ensure that it doesn’t
overflow when watering).
Water the pot. Move it to a
greenhouse or sheltered spot as
the bulbs develop, and ensure
that the compost is kept moist,
but not wet, at all times. Water
frequently in summer.
Fill a large, deep pot with good
multi-purpose compost to
around half its depth. Terracotta
is ideal – lilies can be tall, so a
heavy pot is more stable and
will support a cane.
1
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Celebrate summer gardening with expert advice, fabulous shopping, show-stopping inspiration and practical know-how at BBC Gardeners’ World Live from 11-14 June 2015. Tickets are now on sale and we’re offering readers a special 25% off* - book before 31 January 2015 quoting GWR1 (subscribers see p.32 for your discount).
Explore the RHS Flower Show Birmingham with Show Gardens, the RHS Floral Marquee and the RHS Plant Village, while our indoor zones focus on container gardening, wildlife and much more. Plus Monty Don, Carol Klein, Joe Swift, Toby Buckand and other special guests will be live on stage in the BBC Gardeners’ World Theatre. All tickets include free entry into the BBC Good Food Show Summer!
*25% off valid on advance Adult and Over 65s standard tickets. Not valid on VIP or with any other offer. Ends 31.01.15. Price is fully inclusive, no additional admin or transaction fees. BBC Gardeners’ World Theatre seats may be added to your booking for an additional charge.Details correct at the time of going to print. BBC™ & Gardeners’ World™ under licence to BBCW Limited©. BBC Gardeners’ World Live is organised and presented by River Street Events.
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J & C R Wood, Dept MGW10, FREEPOST NEA15848, Hull HU5 1BR Tel: 01482 345067 Email: [email protected]
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QUICK solutionSOW SPROUTING SEEDS for a salad crop that can be
harvested and eaten after one to three days. Pre-soak green
lentils, sunflower, pumpkin, alfalfa, radish, broccoli or cereal
seeds for half a day in water at room temperature or higher.
Drain off and wash them, then place in yoghurt pots with
holes for drainage. Rinse with fresh water twice a day.
WHAT TO DO NOW
gardenersworld.com 85December 2014
GREENHOUSE DECEMBER P
HO
TO
S: JA
SO
N IN
GR
AM
; TIM
SA
ND
ALL
STEP BY STEP Sowing cacti
Sow seed thinly onto pre-soaked
loam-based seed compost with
added grit for aeration. The
compost must stay moist.
Cover the seed with vermiculite
to insulate them. Place in a
propagator or warm windowsill
with a temperature of 20°–23°C.
Seedlings need moisture and
less light than mature plants.
Spray to keep the compost moist
and keep out of direct sunlight.
1
2
3
PLANTED NOW, young cacti
seedlings will have the longest
possible period for growth after
germination, which can take from
10 days to several weeks. They
do best in a cold greenhouse
where night temperatures are
lower than day temperatures.
��CHECKLIST
N Keep picking dead
leaves off plants and
sweeping plant debris
from benches
N Sow onions now for
summer exhibition
N Water azaleas from
the base with tepid
water from a butt
N Cut chrysanthemum
stems back to the
base after flowering
N Pick cut-and-come-
again salad leaves
N Move pots of autumn-
planted forced
hyacinths onto sunny
windowsills indoors
VISIT gardenersworld.
com/greenhouse for
more information on
gardening under glass
Keeping your
greenhouse glass
clean guards against
fungus and pests
Let in some winter light
CLEAN GREENHOUSE GLASS so
plants benefit from the best of the
winter light. Plants in low light are
vulnerable to fungal disease and
clean surfaces help keep pests at bay.
Choose a bright, dry day so the
greenhouse can be ventilated
afterwards. Use warm soapy water
with plant-safe disinfectant spray.
A soft brush will get right into the
corners. Rinse off with clean water
then, to deter fungal rots, use a
rubber blade and wipe inside with
a dry cloth to remove as much
moisture as possible.
KEEP POTS of autumn-sown
sweet peas in good light through
winter to prevent seedlings
becoming drawn and lanky.
Sweet peas don’t need much
heat, just protection under
glass from frost.
Once seedlings are around
15cm tall and have produced
three or four leaves, pinch out
the main tip. This encourages
sideshoots to develop at each
leaf joint, with the resulting multi-
stemmed plants producing more
flowers for garden displays than
single-stemmed sweet peas.
Manage sweet pea seedlings
Pinch out the main
tips to encourage
more sideshoots
VISIT gardenersworld.com/pot-sweet-peas to watch
Sarah Raven’s video on how to pinch out and pot on sweet peas
gardenersworld.com December 201486
FRUIT AND VEG DECEMBER
PH
OTO
S: S
AR
AH
CU
TTLE
; JA
SO
N IN
GR
AM
; TIM
SA
ND
ALL
Look out
for…
ROTTING GARLIC
Garlic bulbs should be
stored at 5�10°C in a dry
place and, unlike most
veg, kept in the light.
Bulbs may have been
a�fected by rotting
diseases that were not
obvious at harvest time
so check stores and
throw away bad bulbs.
Clearing away plant
debris prevents
reinfections and
repeat pest attacks
TAKE ACTION to prevent pests and
diseases being carried over from
this year to next by removing any
remains of overwintering weeds and
old crops from your plot.
Dig up roots and collect leaves
and plant debris. Where you find
diseased material, don’t place it in
your home compost unless you are
using a hot system. If your crops
succumbed to soil-borne problems
such as clubroot, canker, potato
scab, onion white rot or nematode
attack then do not grow the same
crop in that area next year. Plan a
four-year rotation cycle to ensure
crops are grown in different beds
each year to reduce the chance of
infection being passed on.
Collect canes and plant supports,
cleaning thoroughly before storing
in the shed. Also gather up pots
and trays to wash and rinse well in
garden disinfectant before storing.
Keep pests in check
Veg waste from your kitchen can
be buried in a composting trench
where marrows, squash, dwarf or
climbing beans will be sown next
year. They will benefit from extra
moisture retention and nutrients.
1 Dig out a trench about 25�30cm
deep. The more vegetable
kitchen waste, the longer
and wider the trench can be.
2 Throw in the waste. If it’s
wrapped in newspaper, this
will easily rot down, too.
3 Sprinkle soil over each layer
of waste, gradually building
up. Once about 15�20cm of
waste has been added top-up
the trench with soil.
STEP BY STEP Make a compost trench for next year’s crops
1 2 3
TOP
TIP
gardenersworld.com
WHAT TO DO NOW
December 2014 87
��CHECKLIST
N Inspect stored veg
and fruit and remove
any with rot
N Prepare ground
where you’re going
to plant in spring
N Keep harvesting kale,
Brussels sprouts,
parsnips and leeks
N Plant ‘Hispi’ cabbage
for spring in frames
or in a greenhouse
N Order seed potatoes
and vegetable seeds
N Plant garlic cloves
in module trays
N Take hardwood
cuttings from
gooseberries
N Stake tall Brussels
sprout plants
Plant out blackberry canes
CULTIVATED BLACKBERRIES
are much more productive than
their wild hedgerow relatives and
very easy to grow. Varieties such
as ‘Loch Ness’ or ‘Silvan’ have large
fruit, are largely thorn-free, with
long stems for training. They’ll
grow in any soil type, in sun or
shade – even on a north-facing
aspect. Prepare a weed-free area
and add bonemeal fertiliser to the
planting hole to help establish
roots. Water the plant in the hole,
back fill and firm in well. Next, cut
back the young stems to good
healthy buds then wait for spring
growth. Train on horizontal wires
45cm apart. You will have to wait
a year for fruit, canes grown one
season fruit in the next.
MONTY SAYS: MAKE THE MOST OF WINTER SALADS
� Mibuna and mizuna are brassicas with a mustardy tang
that are easy to grow if you have some protection. Mizuna
tends to be more hardy but mibuna has a delicious �lavour �
LATE�FRUITING raspberries are
the easiest to prune. Old fruited
canes die back if left and fruiting
occurs on new canes grown each
year. Wait for winter then use
secateurs or long-handled
loppers to cut all the canes back
to 5cm. Once you’ve cleared the
canes, remove any weeds from
within the clumps and dig out
unwanted suckers; raspberries
are prone to wandering away
from the main clump. Mulch
with garden compost or manure.
Prune autumn
raspberries
Cut autumn-fruiting raspberries
to 5cm and get rid of suckers
A great variety of salad leaves is available to grow all through winter
Blackberries
grow well in
any soil type
YOU CAN ENJOY several pickings
of salad leaves throughout the
winter months by growing them
in cold frames or unheated
greenhouses, or covering outdoor
crops with cloches.
Try out salad burnet, corn salad,
American land cress, winter
purslane (also called claytonia or
miner’s lettuce), mizuna, rocket
and hardy varieties of lettuce such
as ‘Valdor’ and ‘Arctic King’.
Plants kept under cover won’t
be irrigated by winter rain, so keep
them regularly watered. Take
measures to control slugs, which
are still active throughout winter,
and keep an eye out for other
pests, including aphids.
Grow salad
under cover
20 mins to spare?
GO ON snail patrol. In cold winter weather snails hibernate in clusters in overgrown blackcurrant beds, walls and rockeries. Protect next year’s crops by removing them now.
VISIT
gardenersworld.com/
fruit-veg for practical videos
and step-by-step guides to
growing fruit and veg
WHAT TO DO NOW
gardenersworld.com 89
WO
RD
S: JO
E S
WIF
T. P
HO
TO
S: S
AR
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TTLE
; JA
SO
N IN
GR
AM
December 2014
JOE’S JOB OF THE MONTH DECEMBER
DECEMBER IS a month when many plants are
dormant, which provides an opportunity in the
garden to add key design features and install
structures with minimal disruption. Vertical
elements, such as garden boundaries or simple
divisions within the plot, are relatively simple to
construct as long as you are con�ident with a few
basic tools and don’t mind digging a few holes!
Rapid-set post concrete can be used to anchor
posts if ground temperatures are above freezing.
There are plenty of simple yet e�fective ways
to achieve height and divide the garden into
sections while increasing the sense of privacy
in key areas too. Consider the best design
solution to work alongside your garden style.
It may be a structure, a soft landscaping solution
using plants or a combination of these.
Divide the garden
Use a spirit level
to get your new
structures straight
Five plants to grow on a trellis
� Clematis montana ‘Marjorie’ – fast growing and scented
� Clematis ‘Warszawska Nike’ – two �ushes of purple �owers
� Hedera algeriensis ‘Gloire de Marengo’ – variegated ivy
� Lonicera japonica ‘Halliana’ – prune in spring to keep in check
� Trachelospermum jasminoides – an easy climber for mild areas
TALL yet see-through herbaceous
plants such as Verbena bonariensis
used in the foreground suggest
division – drawing the eye into the
distance, which increases the depth
of field and creates a sense of space.
FOUR WAYS ... to break up a space
CONSIDER the ultimate height
you want a hedge to be and think
which views will be blocked. Low
hedges formalise and delineate
areas, whereas taller hedges will
increase privacy and enclosure.
SIMPLE archways can be bought
in a range of materials and create
a ‘door’ from one area to another,
adding immediate height. Once
climbers mature the structure
itself often vanishes visually.
REED screens can be bought as
ready-made panels and create a
very different garden style to
standard fence panels. They work
as a boundary or when cut into the
garden space as a clear division.
gardenersworld.com90 December 2014
AROUND THE GARDEN DECEMBER
20 mins to spare?
CLEAN SPADES and forks by rubbing o!f dried dirt from the blades with a scouring pad, brush or wooden batten, and then oiling if you’re not going to use them for a while.
Look out for...
LAWN WEEDSPerennial lawn weeds such as dandelions, buttercups, daisies, cat’s ear, plantain and yarrow can be spotted easily now, and dug out when soil is damp. Work from planks and always avoid treading on frosted or waterlogged lawns.
Refresh your collection of seedsTAKE STOCK of opened or unused seed packets, checking ‘sow-by’ dates and disposing of any that are no longer viable.
Store packets still in date in a cool position in sealable sandwich boxes, adding a few sachets of dry silica gel to keep the air inside dry.
Use shrubs for festive trimmingWHETHER FOR use as table arrangements or welcoming wreaths, several garden shrubs provide perfect material for festive decorations.
Choose sprigs of evergreen foliage from established plants, carefully cutting away pieces that won’t spoil the shape of your shrubs. You can use green or variegated holly – bearing berries when possible – shoots from ivy, laurel, conifers and herbs, such as rosemary and bay. Your garden may also have seasonal flowers, fruits or berries, along with colourful stems from willow and dogwood for weaving into wreaths or decorations. Look out for seed heads or natural materials such as fir cones.
Use netting to protect berries on holly and other shrubs from birds this month, tying it firmly in place to reduce the chance of any birds getting trapped.
Cut material from plants just before you need it, plunging cut stems into water and keeping in a cool place until you’re ready to use it in displays. Carol uses trimmings from holly and box to make a wreath
��CHECKLIST! Continue making
leafmould from collected fallen leaves
! Insulate outdoor taps with bubble polythene
! Clear weeds from paving gaps using an old kitchen knife
! Cut back diseased hellebore leaves to prevent spread
! Tidy deciduous climbers that have grown into other plants
! Clean bird boxes before hanging them up again
! Remove dead material from clumps of grasses
! Brush snow off shrubs before the weight damages them
! Take hardwood cuttings of shrubs such as cornus
Make an inventory of seeds you have available to sow next spring, then arrange them in order so you won’t forget to sow them at the right time. If you have gaps you can send off for catalogues from mail-order specialists to plan next year’s seed purchases.
CAROL SAYS: USE EARTH"FRIENDLY DECORATIONS ! Gathering foliage and berries always beats buying ready-made glitz, and it’s sustainable, too – the materials travel no further than the distance from your garden to your home "
£Money saver
PHO
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SA
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Arrange your seeds by month they need to be sown
Clearing debris from a mower’s blades and casings will ensure it overwinters well, and is in good shape for use the following year
WHAT TO DO NOW
Tim Sandall �Tim Sandall �
gardenersworld.com 91December 2014
Feed birds through winterGARDEN BIRDS will have enjoyed the fruits of the autumn, but by now the pickings are getting thin. By eating well through the cold, barren season, birds will be in good condition for breeding in the spring.
Keep feeders topped up well into the spring, as adult birds will also
teach their young to come to your feeders next year. Fat balls and mealworms can be put on bird tables protected from the rain. Closed feeders dispensing seeds provide a high-protein diet for a range of birds. Hang sunflower heads upside down for grazing tits
and finches. Wire-mesh feeders filled with nuts are a great source of protein and fat for many birds; tits, robins and sparrows love them.
Use wire covers to protect bird food from pillaging squirrels and always site feeding stations out of the reach of predatory felines.
MAKE THE MOST of winter rain by collecting and storing all you can for use during dry weather. Choose the largest butt you have space for, or link several together in a row with pipework so that when one is full water flows into the next. Site water butts next to gutter downpipes. Rainwater flows into the butt until full, then excess water will flow back to the downpipe to drain away.
Winter is a good time to clean out accumulated debris from the base of established water butts.
Set up more water butts
Don’t let rainwater go to waste; use gutters and pipes to save it
� Monty Don harvests boughs from hazels
� Winter prune wisteria for better !owers this year
� Take root cuttings from herbaceous perennials
� Sharpen garden tools� Plan a crop rotation for
good vegetable health� PLUS more essential
things to do in January
Next month...
Propagate plants that don’t provide stem cuttings
Wildlife friendly
Give your mower a clean
! WATCH Chris Beardshaw provide
food and shelter for garden birds at gardenersworld.com/help-birds
Fat balls are an excellent winter
food for birds
THE MOWER is rarely needed in winter so leave it clean and dry to avoid seized blades and rusting fittings. Disconnect power-driven machines and turn them on their side to remove debris built up under the hood – use a soft brush and plastic spatula.
Soak packed-on grass clippings, then dry the area afterwards. Spray penetrating oil onto the clean, dry blades and into the moving parts of the blade mechanism.
VISIT gardenersworld.com/mower-care for more
tips on mower maintenance
WHAT TO DO NOW
UK average
6.7°C
1.1°C
gardenersworld.com 93
WEATHER TO GARDEN DECEMBER
December 2014
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IF I’D PLANTED a tree every time I was asked the
question “Will it be a white Christmas?” I would now
be living in the middle of a very large forest. Actually,
snow is more common at Easter than at Christmas in
most lowland parts of the British Isles. The surrounding
seas hang onto small remnants of summer warmth,
as water loses heat relatively slowly, and this can lend
a little mildness to approaching weather systems.
Air frost is a different matter, and the long
December nights allow plenty of time for
temperatures to fall. However, those surrounding
seas play their part here by reducing the incidence
of air frost, which means that more tender plants
can survive the winter closer to the coast.
FROST DAMAGES tender plants, young foliage, flowers and even some forming fruits. If
vulnerable plants are growing in pots, move them under cover or close to a sheltered spot,
such as a south-facing wall. Wrap pots in bubble wrap and vulnerable plants in a double layer
of fleece. Leaving last season’s growth on tender plants will also provide some protection.
How to cope with frost in your garden
*ST
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Your monthly guide to weather in your area
with BBC Weather forecaster and Gardeners’
Question Time chairman Peter Gibbs
CENTRAL
EAST
COAST
WEST
COAST
11.0
In�luence of the sea
Coleshill, Warks
Aberporth,Wales
Hemsby, Norfolk
Days of air frost for
locations of similar
elevation above sea level
Hours of sun 55.4 51 46.5 52 37.6 54.3 38.3 55.4 27.4 53 47.851.2 31.7 37.124.5 46.8 32.9 34.4 43.1 14.6
Days of air frost 8.5 8.9 12.2 7.7 13.7 10.7 10 9.5 10.9 11.2 11 10.2 11.7 12.5 8.5 11.3 10.8 7.5 11.8 12.2
6.9
87.7
8.3
7.6
77.2
6.7 6.87.1
6.7
8.7
77.2 7.3
7
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7.7
6.5
7.1
2.32.6
1.1
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1.5 1.6 1.7
1.1 1.1 1.1
1.9
1.2 1
1.71.3
1.0
2.6
0.7 0.90
December’s average regional temperatures in °C Min.Max.
Scotland
Scotland
NI
NI
Wales
Wales
England
England
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December’s average regional rainfall*
Days of rainRain in mm
115.9
14.9
90.3
13
86.8
12.1
55.2
10.2
56.1
11
49.7
10.1
63.5
11.7
49.3
10.2
122.3
16.2
56.6
10.6
57.0
11.7
150.7
15.8
125.8
15.8
162.1
16.7
114
.416
.4
124.2
14.2
104.4
14.7
61.2
11.5
174.4
17.7
263.7
19.8
5.9
4.3
Eta
il Ltd
, R
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Ltd
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C, Thorp
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Delivery to all of the UK including Northern Ireland, Scottish Highlands and Islands, ChannelIslands and Isle of Man. We normally despatch orders within one working day of receipt but please
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gardenersworld.com 95December 2014
feature
offer
Be among the !rst in the UK to grow these new Oriental hybrid lilies for colour and fragrance
�
offer Oriental lilies offerTO ORDER Complete this coupon and send with your payment to: BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Lilies Offer, Blooming Direct Ltd, PO Box 637, Wetherby Road, York, YO26 0DQ
Title Initial SurnameAddress Postcode
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Terms & Conditions Bulbs supplied as 14-16cm, giving four to six large blooms per stem. Bulbs will be despatched from January 2015. Delivery to UK addresses only. Offer subject to availability. Cards will not be charged until bulbs are sent. Your contract for supply of goods is with Blooming Direct Ltd.
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Lily ‘Playtime’ 5 bulbs £7.19
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‘Debby’ An Oriental trumpet hybrid originating from the USA. The bright orange and red flowers are delicately scented and the plant will increase in size each year with more and more flowers per stem. Still new and not widely available.5 bulbs £8.09* (RRP £8.99)
‘Acoustic’ A great variety for pots and planters as it naturally grows to only 50cm. One of the largest flowering pot lilies with blooms up to 15cm across. Can also be grown at the front of a border or the edge of a patio.5 bulbs £7.19* (RRP £7.99)
‘Conca D’Or’ Striking golden yellow blooms with a rare colour break brought about by breeding with trumpet lilies. Grows to 120cm, although can grow much taller in subsequent summers, making it perfect for borders. 5 bulbs £7.19* (RRP £7.99)
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FACTFILE
Bank vole
Myodes glareolus
DID YOU KNOW? They are widespread throughout
Britain but not found in Northern Ireland. They may
be confused with field voles, which are smaller,
have smaller tails and more of a grey-brown coat as
opposed to reddish-brown. The sub-species Skomer
vole is found on Skomer Island, off the Welsh coast.
DIET They forage at dawn and dusk for berries,
seeds, leaves, fungi, moss, tree bark and woody
material, bulbs, tubers, plant roots and occasionally
invertebrates such as snails, worms and insects.
At times they will climb shrubs to reach fruit.
Predators include owls, foxes, stoats and weasels.
LIFECYCLE The lifespan of bank voles is typically
just 18 months, but they pack a lot into their short
lives. Adults become sexually active when just four
to five weeks old, and typically nest in underground
burrows between March and October. Each year
they have five to six litters of four or five young,
and females are able to conceive while still suckling
the young from the previous litter. They do not
hibernate; in mild winters, when there is an
abundance of food, they may continue raising young.
HABITAT Beneath hedges and in shrubbery, in
long grass or brambles. They typically frequent
the woodland edge but will also visit gardens.
AT RISK There is no conservation action targeted at
them, though local populations may be at risk from
pesticide drift, fragmented woodland and hedgerow
removal. In over-manicured gardens they may be
prevented from nesting due to lack of ground cover.
The burrowers
Voles come to gardens to eat fruit, nuts and small insects,
and we may even see them taking seed from the bird table.
But, unlike other garden rodents, they are rarely a pest
WO
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December 2014gardenersworld.com
Voles forage amongst
fallen leaves and can
be encouraged by
planting ground cover
96
gardenersworld.com
See clips of your favourite
natural world moments, such as
Attenborough’s Frozen Planet
and close-ups of garden birds,
insects and mammals at
bbc.co.uk/nature/collections
Wildlife on TV
BBC Wildlife
wildlife this month
gardenersworld.comDecember 2014 97
C
The harlequin ladybird is a common sight in cities
wildlife this month
1 Bend the two dogwood stems together and
tie them loosely into a loop, using florist’s
wire to secure them. Then weave in more
stems, ideally using alternating colours.
2 As you weave in the stems, gently bend
the frame into a circle. Use secateurs to
trim any ends sticking out from the
frame to create a strong, even loop.
3Push sprigs of rosehips into the circle of
stems, making sure they are tightly packed
so they don’t fall out. Hang from a shed or
fence, where you can enjoy the view.
December 2014gardenersworld.com98
A recent paper published in the Journal of
Biogeography suggests that the invasive
harlequin ladybird, which landed in Britain in
2004, prefers urban areas and sunnier habitats.
By settling in cities and overwintering in
buildings, it has outcompeted native ladybirds,
which have also suffered habitat destruction.
The study, led by the Centre for Ecology
and Hydrology, with Edinburgh and Reading
universities, used records from citizen
scientists who submitted sightings to the
UK Ladybird Survey (ladybird-survey.org)
between 2003 and 2011.
City slicker
4 Keep bird feeders topped up with fat-rich food
such as peanuts, suet products and sunflower
hearts. The short day lengths mean that every
calorie counts for garden birds, which use huge
amounts of energy just to keep warm at night.
4 Avoid turning the compost heap as it may be
sheltering hibernating wildlife such as hedgehogs
and other small mammals, as well as reptiles,
amphibians and even bumblebees. Wait until
April instead, where disturbance will be minimal.
4 Make a bee hotel for solitary bees, using an old
wooden box filled with bamboo canes and the
stems of other hollow-stemmed plants such as
teasel and sunflower. Hang in the sunniest part
of the garden (late-morning sun is ideal).
4 Keep bird baths topped up with fresh water.
By bathing, birds are able to regulate oils in
their feathers, enabling them to control
their temperature more efficiently.
Wildlife gardening jobsLeave your compost heap unturned, build a
hotel for single bees and make a bath for birds
4 PLANT native shrubs such
as hawthorn and guelder rose,
which will provide flowers for
pollinators, berries for birds and
leaves for caterpillars (and
therefore food for baby birds).
Birds love the juicy
red berries of the
guelder rose
Make a wildlife-friendly wreath
PH
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S: JA
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GR
AM
; TIM
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How to…
A rosehip wreath
is attractive to
birds and humans
Christmas wreaths typically feature berries like
rosehips, holly and pyracantha, all of which are
eaten by birds in winter. So why not make a feature
of the berries and create a wreath you expect to be
eaten? This simple design is made using dogwood
stems and long-lasting rosehips. Hang it where you
can easily view any visiting birds. For more ideas
on making wreaths, see our feature on page 62.
YOU WILL NEED
P Several dogwood
stems – both red
and green
P 10 sprigs of rosehips
P Secateurs
P Florist’s wire
Yes, I’d like to adopt a:Polar bear Snow leopard Adélie penguin
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Please return in an envelope to:
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As our planet gets warmer, its sea ice is shrinkingand its mountain snows are melting away. This threatens the survival of three of our mostbeautiful and best-loved animals – the snow leopard,the Adélie penguin and the polar bear.
Today, snow leopard numbers are in crisis throughout theirrange – with as few as 300 left in the mountains of Nepal.Adélie penguins and polar bears are also under threat,
as they struggle to feed, roam or raise their young in theirrapidly changing polar habitats.
Protect their homes. Help secure their future.
By adopting one of our three snowy animals today, you’ll bemaking a very special commitment to their survival. You’ll behelping us protect the remote, snowy regions they live in. Andin doing so, you’ll be helping keep the snow leopard, Adéliepenguin and polar bear safe for generations to come.
© W
WF
-CA
NO
N / S
IND
RE
KIN
NE
RØ
D
© K
LE
IN &
HU
BE
RT
/ WW
F
© N
AT
UR
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L.C
OM
/ SU
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SZ
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AS
/ WW
F
ADOPTIONADOPTION
ON THIN ICE Adopt a snowy animal today and help protectthese beautiful animals from an uncertain future.
Adopt an animal today byfilling out the form below, visiting snowyanimals.comor calling 0845 200 2394A gorgeous
snowy animal toyAn exciting
welcome packRegular updates
about your animals
=+from just
£3 amonth
+
Adopt asnowy animalfor someoneyou love
Order
online before
2pm December 18th
for delivery by
Christmas
gardenersworld.com100 December 2014
&wınners
losers
Our wildlife has evolved to live in
harmony with our weather and seasons.
Amphibians breed in spring after winter
rains have filled up ponds; bees and
butterflies mainly fly in summer when
conditions are warm and sunny; birds
breed in late spring when numbers of
caterpillars – which many birds use to feed
their young – are at their peak. The weather,
therefore, plays a huge part in their survival
and abundance.
This year started with unsettled and
stormy weather, followed by warm, dry
conditions with sunshine and higher-than-
average temperatures from April to July.
August was the coolest since 1993, while
September was the driest on record. Compare
this to 2013, which started cold and didn’t
warm up until late May, or 2012, which saw
the wettest summer for 100 years and was
named by Butterfly Conservation as ‘the
worst year on record for butterflies’.
We asked BBC Gardeners’ World
Magazine Insiders to tell us about the
wildlife in their gardens so we could build
a picture of how different species have
fared in 2014. Here we reveal your results
to show how you’re monitoring wildlife
in your back yard.
This year was another record-breaker for
weather statistics, so how did our garden
wildlife fare under extreme conditions?
WEATHERWATCH: HOW CONDITIONS INFLUENCED WILDLIFE
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2012
2013
2014
d d d
ddd
ddd
DOWNLOAD a PDF with a more
detailed version of the survey results
*
from gardenersworld.com/results
WildlifeP
HO
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: SA
RA
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LE; T
IM S
AN
DA
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SO
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AG
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SID
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ILD
LIFE
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3-3
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SOURCE: THE MET OFFICE
gardenersworld.com 101December 2014
wildlife year
Bird sightings came in at number one in
our Insider survey and although a higher
proportion of insiders spotted birds this year
compared to last year, overall numbers for
individual species declined. And It was all
change in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch
(BGBW) top 10 this year. Scientists think the
weather played a role in the change, as many
birds were recorded in lower numbers in
gardens due to the mild winter weather.
Blue tits ranked in the number two spot – their
highest since the first BGBW. It’s likely that they
were more reliant on food provided in gardens
than others, such as blackbirds – which fell from
second place in 2013, to fourth place in 2014.
Blackbirds can easily find worms and insects
outside gardens when conditions are mild.
Overall winners in the BGBW included
goldfinches. Just 10 years ago they were in 14th
position, but scientists believe that the increase
in gardeners providing nyjer seed and sunflower
hearts in feeders may have contributed to their
steady rise to number seven.
Losers included starlings and song thrushes,
which have declined an alarming 84 and 81 per
cent respectively since the BGBW began in 1979.
Both species are on the UK ‘red list’ due to
worries about decreasing numbers.
There is slightly better news for the house
sparrow, as its decline seems to have slowed
and it remains the most commonly seen bird in
our gardens. Indeed, of the birds nesting in our
gardens, house sparrows were most often seen
feeding their young. But the RSPB’s Richard
Bashford warns against complacency. “House
sparrows hang around in big gangs, have small
territories and don’t move about much,” he says.
“So if you have house sparrows nesting in your
area you’ll almost certainly see their chicks.”
Birds
The fall in
blackbird sightings
is due to mild
weather – there
were plenty of insects and
worms to eat in the wild
Miranda Krestovniko�, RSPB President
Sightings of blackbirds were a lot
higher than fieldfares in 2014
*
96%
Blackirds
6%
Fieldfares
KEY
Sun
Rain
Snow
Cloud
Frost
Storm
Ice
Wind
d
ddd
Starling decline has
been attributed to
a lack of food and
pesticide use
In mild weather,
blackbirds are able
to find food more
easily in the wild
How has garden
wildlife fared in
2014, compared to
previous years?
While declines have slowed, the house
sparrows’ long-term outlook isn’t great. Richard
says, “Gardens are among the best habitats for
house sparrows. Nest boxes, hedges, wild areas
and leaving flowers to seed can all increase the
breeding success of local populations.”
For more information on helping birds in the
garden, visit homes.rspb.org.uk
gardenersworld.com102 December 2014
In our survey, bees came second in the list of
most common insects. Bumblebees had another
good year, after the washout summer of 2012
saw numbers crash but fine weather in 2013
gave populations a boost. Bumblebee expert
and author of A Sting in
the Tale, Dave Goulson,
said 2014 was a pretty
good year for bees,
although, “it ended a
little earlier than usual,
probably because all
the good weather
brought the lifecycle
forwards a bit.”
There are two
bumblebee winners of 2014, according to
Richard Comont, Data Monitoring Officer at
Bumblebee Conservation Trust. “Both the early
bumblebee, Bombus pratorum, and the tree
bumblebee, B. hypnorum were abundant in the
warm, dry April, May and June – bouncing back
from a miserable 2012 and 2013,” says Richard.
“Both species were seen almost twice as often
as last year.” Others that fared well included the
rarest bumblebee in England and Wales, the
shrill carder, Bombus
sylvarum, which was
found in two new sites;
in Wales and Somerset.
The broken-belted bee,
Bombus soroeensis,
also did well. This was
seen in Pembrokeshire
for the first time in
10 years. The ivy bee,
Colletes hederae is
another winner of 2014. This arrived in Britain
in 2001 and has steadily spread along the south
coast and into Greater London. This year for the
first time it was recorded in Rugby, Cambridge,
Bedfordshire, Evesham and Pembrokeshire.
“The butterfly of the year has to be the small
tortoiseshell”, says Richard Fox from Butterfly
Conservation. This was the second-most
common butterfly seen in Insider gardens and
the fourth most-spotted butterfly in the Big
Butterfly Count. Numbers increased by 22 per
cent since the 2013 Big Butterfly Count, and
were fivefold higher than in 2012. “The hot, dry
months of June and July were perfect for the
small tortoiseshell and some other butterflies,”
he says. Other winners this summer were the
common blue, red admiral and speckled wood.
Veg growers may be glad to hear that Insider
sightings of the large and small white, whose
caterpillars lay waste to brassicas, were down
year on year. These two were also losers in the
Big Butterfly Count, with sightings down by a
huge 65 per cent and 62 per cent respectively.
“Gardeners may find the apparent drop in
numbers of whites pleasing but butterflies are
a key indicator species of the health of our
Bees Butterflies
More gardeners are
growing wildflowers for
pollinators than last year
*
Sightings of the large
white were down
by 15 per cent on 2013
*
15%
2014
Good weather may
have encouraged
bumblebee lifecycles
to finish early
The cold August
may have led to
the fall in sightings
of large whites
30%
2013
37%
2014
The season
ended a bit early
– the good weather
brought the lifecycle
forwards a bit
Dave Goulson, Professor of Biology, University
of Sussex, and author of A Sting in the Tale
PH
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gardenersworld.com 103December 2014
wildlife year
It’s been a great year for bats, with Insider
sightings of bats flying over gardens up by 14 per
cent. Dr Kate Barlow, Head of Monitoring at the
Bat Conservation Trust, says, “The continuing
pattern of increasing or stable trends we are
seeing from bat
monitoring suggests
positive conservation
action and legal
protection is helping
populations.” Bats have
now been protected for
nearly 20 years, but
weather patterns affect
them, too. Giving birth
to just one baby per
year, female bats need good weather to boost
insect populations so they have enough food to
feed themselves and breastfeed their young.
This year, the Bat Conservation helpline recorded
sightings earlier than usual, reflecting a mild
winter, higher insect numbers and the successful
rearing of more young. For more information on
helping bats visit batconservation.org
Insiders reported seeing fewer hedgehogs this
year than previously. Hedgehogs are increasingly
threatened by the
combined assaults
of overly manicured
gardens, habitat loss
in rural areas, and a
lack of food. To help
hedgehogs in your
garden make sure
there are holes under
your fences for them
to travel between
plots, and ensure they can escape safely from
your pond. Avoid using slug pellets and always
dismantle and reassemble bonfires before lighting.
For more information on helping hedgehogs
visit hedgehogstreet.org
Mammals
environment,” says Butterfly Conservation
President Sir David Attenborough, “so if they
are struggling then other species are struggling,
too. On top of changing weather conditions,
habitat loss is one of the leading factors behind
butterfly declines, but gardeners can play a key
role in helping to reverse these declines. Why
not let a small patch of grass grow or leave a
patch for nettles and brambles to flourish?”
For more on helping butterflies in your
garden visit butterfly-conservation.org
The decline of
the UK’s hedgehogs
is comparable to the
loss of the world’s
tigers! Please try to help these
gorgeous creatures
Twiggy, Patron of British Hedgehog Preservation
If large whites
are struggling then
many other species
are struggling also.
Why not leave a patch for
nettles to �ourish?
Sir David Attenborough, Butter�ly Conservation
Sightings of the small
tortoiseshell rose by
22 per cent on 2013
Hedgehog sightings
down since 2012*
Bat sightings up
since 2012*
36%2012
31%201422%
201433.5%2012
40% 2014
Hedgehog
sightings
continue to
decline
Good weather
helpied small
tortoiseshell
numbers increase
SO
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UTT
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CO
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VA
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BIG
BU
TTE
RFLY
CO
UN
T
gardenersworld.com
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Freshfrom the garden
Christmas dinner wouldn’t be complete without parsnips,
and cold weather will make them taste even sweeter
FACT FILE
Parsnips
DID YOU KNOW Naturally sweet in flavour,
parsnips were once used as a cheaper alternative
to sugar in fruited cakes and desserts.
NUTRITION A rich source of vitamin C, which helps
to maintain healthy teeth and gums. High in dietary
fibre to reduce cholesterol and aid digestion.
HARVEST For the sweetest flavour, harvest after
the first frosts, levering out with a fork or spade.
STORE Best left in the ground (in free-draining soil)
and dug up as required, if carrot fly is not present.
Store in a plastic bag in the fridge for up to two
weeks. For longer, place in sturdy boxes between
layers of sharp sand; make sure the parsnips do not
touch each other.
HOW TO GROW Parsnips enjoy an open, sunny
spot in sandy, deep soil that has not been manured
in the last 12 months. If growing in shallow soil,
choose shorter-rooted varieties.
Seed germination is slow and fresh seeds are
essential; sow thinly in April or May, when the
ground is warm, in 3cm-deep drills. Firm down
after sowing to avoid the flaky seed being blown
away and ensure seeds do not dry out.
Once germinated, parsnips require little care.
Weed thoroughly, especially early on, to avoid
seedlings being smothered. Once established,
only water when conditions are particularly dry.
In early summer, plants may be given a boost by
mulching between the rows with compost.
OUR CHOICES ‘Javelin’ F1 provides good yields and
is canker-resistant; ‘Tender and True’ for canker
resistance and a sweet taste.
Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
SPACING
SOW
Parsnips
Calendar
Jan
Sow 2cm deep Final spacing 14�20cm apart 30cm between rows Avg. yield: 4kg per 3m row
HARVEST
December 2014104
PARSNIP RECIPES taken from Olive Magazine. For more delicious ways to use
your parsnip harvest go to olivemagazine.com and search for ‘parsnips’
in season
gardenersworld.comDecember 2014 105
Three ways with parsnips...
SPICED BUBBLE AND SQUEAK CAKES WITH RAITA
Serves 2
spring onions � bunch, chopped
butter
cooked parsnip or butternut squash 100g
cooked potatoes 200g
cooked Savoy cabbage, greens or sprouts
100g, chopped
curry powder 1-2 tsp
natural yoghurt 150ml pot
cucumber �, seeds scooped out and sliced
Cook � of the spring onions in a little butter
until soft. Cool then roughly mash with the
veg and curry powder, and season well. Form
into four cakes then fry in another knob of
butter until crisp and golden. Mix the yoghurt
with the cucumber and remaining spring
onions; season and serve with the cakes.
PARSNIP AND POTATO RÖSTI
Serves 2
potato 200g, peeled and grated
parsnips 200g, peeled and grated
onion �, grated
thyme 2 sprigs, leaves stripped
butter 25g, melted plus extra for frying
Put the grated potato in a clean tea towel
and squeeze to remove excess water.
Tip into a bowl with the parsnip, onion,
thyme and melted butter. Season well
and mix. Heat a non-stick frying pan to
hot then tip in the mixture and press
down with a spatula. Cook for 6-8
minutes until golden brown and crisp
underneath. Flip the rösti out onto a plate
then put back in raw-side down and
continue cooking for 6-8 minutes until
cooked through. Divide into 2 and serve.
CARAMELISED PARSNIPS AND SHALLOTSServes 4
marmalade 2 tbsp (use a good-quality one)
oranges 2, zested and juiced
parsnips 6-8 quartered
shallots 4, peeled and halved
butter 25g
Put the marmalade, orange zest and juice into
an ovenproof frying pan and bring to a bubble.
Add the parsnips and shallots, and cook over a
low heat, turning until tender. Dot with butter,
then grill under a high heat for a few minutes.
Tell us what you’re harvesting for Christmas.
Go to immediate.co.uk/christmasharvest
before 3 December 2014
December 2014106 gardenersworld.com
Every vegetable
at Le Manoir must
meet Raymond’s
exacting standards
� DON’T OVERFEED or overwater
� ENSURE SOIL is fertile, but don’t
go crazy with the manure
� ALLOW VEG to grow at its own pace,
don’t try to speed them up
� KEEP NOTES of the varieties you
grow so you can build a picture of
what does well in your garden.
� ASSESS WHAT went wrong with a
bad crop – use your notes to help you
Raymond’s growing
tips for top flavour
gardenersworld.comDecember 2014 107
grown for �avour
Chef’s guide to the
tastiest vegWe share top chef Raymond Blanc’s favourite
vegetable varieties, so you can recreate the
Michelin-starred restaurant taste at home
hen growing vegetables for your two-Michelin-starred restaurant, the f l a v o u r h a s t o b e
incredible – bland fruits or woody roots just aren’t going to cut it. To ensure the produce that’s used in his Oxfordshire Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons restaurant is up to his exacting standards, Raymond Blanc’s team of gardeners and cooks tr ia l dozens of dif ferent vegetable varieties every year, to find the tastiest ones. T hey ’ve sha red t hei r t r ia l results with us, so you can recreate a little bit of the Raymond Blanc experience in your own garden.
In March this year, Raymond’s team started creating a new garden within Le Manoir’s 1.5-acre garden in Oxfordshire, growing heritage varieties of vegetables. “We’ve not created the heritage garden to say that all heritage varieties are amazing, but it is important the gene pool of those varieties is preserved and not lost forever,” says head gardener Anne Marie Owens.
This has involved going to extreme
lengths to track down seeds. The team was determined to grow a heritage pea called ‘Carruthers Purple Podded’, which comes from Northern Ireland, because their 2014 scholarship student gardener also hails from there. “But we couldn’t find it anywhere,” explains Anne Marie. “The Heritage Seed Library didn’t stock them; nowhere had it.”
In the end, a call went out on local radio in Northern Ireland asking if any amateur growers had seeds, and 83-year-old gardener Josh Toombs, who’d been growing the variety for 50 years in Co. Antrim, came forward. The seeds were delivered to Le Manoir and the peas made it onto the menu.
Other heritage varieties have been simpler to track down, and Raymond’s team has been impressed w ith the ha r vests produced. Because much modern vegetable breeding is focused on i mprov i ng d isea se resista nce, heritage varieties have a reputation for being troublesome to grow, which could cause problems in an organic garden.
Le Manoir has created a
new garden dedicated
to heritage varieties
Vegetables are grown to have the best possible
flavour when cooked in specific ways
WO
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Exclusive tours
gardenersworld.com108 December 2014
Visitors can now book tours of the gardens
at Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons
in Oxfordshire – and BBC Gardeners’
World Magazine readers can be among the
�rst to experience this special day out.
Tours start in January, but can be booked
now. They run Monday-Friday, excluding
Bank Holidays, starting at 10am, with
tea/co�ee and biscuits followed by the
tour, which is led by one of the gardeners.
Tours cost £30 per person and must
be booked in advance.
Phone 01844 278881 to �nd out more, or
Email [email protected]
“But we haven’t noticed any real
difference in disease susceptibility – our
heritage and non-heritage tomatoes all got
blight at about the same time,” says Anne
Marie. The biggest difference she has
noticed is in the uniformity of the crop.
“Our carrots in the main veg garden are
all about the same size and mature at
about the same time, whereas the heritage
varieties are much less uniform; some are
big, some small and maturing is much
more staggered,” she explains. “The
modern varieties are also slightly more
compact, and are productive in a smaller
space, whereas we’ve had to give the
heritage varieties more space to keep them
healthy and productive.”
For Raymond the most important
consideration is how the vegetables taste.
And he and his team will be trialling more
heritage varieties over the coming years, in
pursuit of the most delicious crops
possible, looking, says Anne Marie, “for the
variety that makes you say ‘wow’!” m
Heritage varieties have proved to be less
uniform growers than more modern types
Raymond’s top 10 vegetable varieties
1 Bean, climbing ‘Neckargold’
These are our best tasting yellow beans.
seedsofitaly.com 0208 427 5020
2 Beetroot ‘Chioggia’
This stripey pink-and-white-fleshed
beetroot looks great and tastes sweet.
sarahraven.com, 0845 092 0283
3 Brussels sprout ‘Falstaff’
These dark-red sprouts have a milder,
nuttier flavour than standard green ones.
thompson-morgan.com, 0844 573 1818
4 Carrot ‘Early Nantes’
Despite trialling 34 varieties of carrot, to find
one with a good flavour, texture and colour,
we still came back to ‘Early Nantes’ as the
best. mr-fothergills.co.uk, 0845 371 0518
5 Celeriac ‘Prinz’
There aren’t the same number of varieties
of celeriac as other vegetables, but ‘Prinz’
is our favourite for flavour.
organiccatalogue.com, 01932 253666
6 Chilli pepper ‘Padron’
We’ve never grown these before, and now
we have, we love them. southdevon
chillifarm.co.uk, 01548 550782
7 Lettuce ‘Fat Lazy Blonde’
Also sold as ‘Grosse Blonde Paresseuse’,
this has a lovely texture and an unusual
flavour. thomasetty.co.uk, 01460 298249
8 Parsnip ‘True and Tender’
This variety produces big roots that have
a good, strong parsnip flavour, and don’t
go woody. realseeds.co.uk, 01239 821107
9 Potato ‘Red Duke of York’
We wanted to find a first early potato
that made a great roast potato, and this
was a brilliant all rounder.
suttons.co.uk 0333 400 2899
J Turnip ‘Demi-long de Croissy’
This is a long-standing favourite, and
hasn’t been surpassed in any trials.
thomasetty.co.uk, 01460 298249
Each vegetable grown in the garden goes
through a rigorous testing process.
“We grew 34 varieties of carrot to find
one with a good flavour, texture and colour,”
reveals head gardener Anne Marie Owens.
After being grown in the same way, each
variety is prepared and put before a tasting
panel of chefs and gardeners, including
Raymond and Anne Marie. Each vegetable
will be cooked in several ways to see how it
performs – the celeriac that tastes best boiled
may not give the smoothest purée, for
example. The vegetables are then grown
to go into a particular dish on the menu.
“When we’re choosing our varieties, it’s
important for us to know how they are going
to be used in the kitchen,” explains Anne
Marie. “We could be looking for a beetroot
that has great flavour when it’s baby size, or
one that doesn’t go woody when it’s larger.”
Sometimes Raymond has unexpected
demands. “He has this wonderful curiosity;
he always wants to try new things,” says Anne
Marie. This year he was looking for a first-early
potato that would make a great roast potato –
ideal if you want roasties but have limited
space – and he found success with the
‘Red Duke of York’ (see below).
Dozens of vegetable varieties are trialled every year
at Le Manoir to �nd the ones with the best �avour
Tracking down the tastiest varieties
Of all the parsnip varieties
tested, ‘True and Tender’
came out on top for flavour
gardenersworld.com 109December 2014
grown for �avour
Raymond’s winter recipe
Hot-smoked salmon,
beetroot salad and
horseradish crème frâiche
Serves 4
120g hot-smoked salmon
For the beetroot salad
480g small beetroot (about 4), washed
and trimmed
� shallot, peeled and finely chopped
2 tsp aged balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp water
2 pinches of sea salt
2 pinches of freshly ground black pepper
For the dressing
100g crème frâiche
1 tsp finely grated fresh horseradish
2 pinches of sea salt
pinch of cayenne pepper
squeeze of lemon juice
For the garnish
A few dill sprigs
To make the beetroot salad Put the
beetroot into a large saucepan, add enough
cold water to cover and bring to the boil.
Reduce the heat and simmer for about 1 hour
until tender (alternatively, you could steam
the beetroot). Drain and leave to cool slightly,
then peel. Cut the beetroot into even-sized
wedges and toss in a bowl with the remaining
salad ingredients. Taste and adjust the
seasoning, if necessary.
To make the dressing In a bowl, mix all the
ingredients together until evenly combined.
Taste and adjust the seasoning, if necessary.
To serve Divide the beetroot salad among
individual bowls. Break the salmon into
generous flakes and scatter on top. Spoon
over the horseradish crème frâiche and
garnish with dill.
Recipe from Kitchen Secrets by
Raymond Blanc (£16.99, Bloomsbury)
Beetroot
‘Chioggia’
Carrot ‘Early
Nantes
Celeriac
‘Prinz’
Chilli pepper
‘Padron’
Brussels sprout
‘Falstaff’
Potato ‘Red
Duke of York’
REC
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ALL
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HARVEST
PLANTPLANT SETS
PLANT
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PLANT
HARVEST
PLANTPLANT
HARVEST
PLANTPLANT
HARVEST
PLANT PLANT
HARVEST
PLANT PLANT OUTDOORS
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PLANTPLANT
Tip: If planting a bare-root plant be sure to soak the roots well beforehand. Plant 5cm deeper than the stem soil mark Final spacing 1.5�2m apart 1.8m between rows Avg. yield: 4�5kg per bush
Tip: Help young plants to establish quickly by using foliar feeds. Sow 2m deep Final spacing 35cm apart 35cm between rows Avg. yield: 110�225g per 3m row
Tip: Train in fan forms that are easier to protect against frosts and birds. Plant at nursery level Final spacing for fans 6m apart 2.7m between rows Avg. yield: 5.5kg per tree
Tip: A great companion plant with brassicas. Plant 2.5�10cm deep Final spacing 18cm apart 30cm between rows Avg. yield: 17 bulbs per 3m row
Tip: When growing under cover, remember to water and check for slugs. Sow 1cm deep Final spacing 15cm apart in pots or grow bags Avg. yield: 18 heads per 3m row
Tip: These are fairly resistant to pests and disease, and are self pollinating. Plant level with stem soil mark Final spacing 1�9m apart 5m between rows Avg. yield: 5�8kg per tree
Tip: Mustard needs warmth so grow under cover in winter. Sow on the surface of the soil Final spacing almost touching Avg. yield: 3kg per 3m row
Tip: Create shelter around it as pears �ower early in the season, making them more vulnerable to frost. Plant at nursery level Final spacing 1�5m apart 3�7m between rows Avg. yield: 13.5�27kg per tree
Tip: Plant in a frost-free, sheltered site as the �owers will not withstand the chill. Plant at nursery level Final spacing 1�9m apart 5m between rows Avg. yield: 25�45kg per tree
Tip: Plant out in smaller sets as they are less likely to bolt. Plant so that just the tips are showing
Final spacing 15�20cm apart 30cm between row Avg. yield: 60�180 shallots per 3m row
growing guide
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December 2014
QuincesOUR CHOICE ’Champion’ has a bountiful crop and healthy-sized fruits, with a fresh, green, thin, skin.
CabbagesOUR CHOICE ‘Pyramid’ is a versatile, dark-leaved variety that can be sown and harvested all year round.
LettuceOUR CHOICE ‘Winter Gem’ can be grown in an unheated cold frame throughout winter. Wonderfully crunchy texture.
PearsOUR CHOICE ‘Conference’ is the classic dessert variety, producing delicious, long, green fruits that keep well.
ShallotsOUR CHOICE ‘Matador’ crops heavily, and bears bulbs of good size and colour that store well for many months.
MustardOUR CHOICE ‘Fine White’ has a strong kick with its mustard flavour and is extremely quick to sprout.
BlackcurrantsOUR CHOICE ‘Ben Connan’ produces large, early-ripening berries with excellent flavour and stays compact.
CherriesOUR CHOICE ‘Stella’ is a self-fertile, sweet cherry with large, juicy fruits. An early and prolific cropper.
MulberriesOUR CHOICE ‘Chelsea’ produces scrumptious, juicy fruits that turn a rich red when ripe.
GarlicOUR CHOICE ‘Spanish Roja’ is a hardneck variety with a strong flavour and thin skin.
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Help and advice
Edited by David Hurrion
Hellebores are one of the stars
of the garden in late winter and
spring, but we are o�en asked
how to stop their leaves, and in
some cases their �owers,
becoming covered in black
spots. Caused by the fungus
Microsphaeropsis hellebori,
hellebore leaf spot overwinters
on the old foliage and spreads by
airborne spores that infect the
young leaves and stems as soon
as they start to grow. In severe
cases, a large proportion of the
foliage can turn black, reducing
the plant’s ability to �ower,
weakening and even killing it.
Cutting back all of the old
leaves now and clearing up any
dead, infected material around
the plants will reduce the
chances of re-infection from
your own plants. Mulching
around the crowns of the plants
with a 2.5cm layer of compost
will smother most of any fungal
spores le� on the soil surface.
Encourage your
neighbours to follow
the same advice, as
the spores can travel
to your plants from
their infected leaves!
Contact us: email your questions to Q&[email protected] or write in to Q&A, Gardeners’ World Magazine, Vineyard House, 44 Brook Green, London W6 7BT
We regret that we cannot offer a personal garden advisory service.
CUTTING BACK the old foliage of
hellebores at this time of year reveals
their developing �lower buds so the
blooms can be enjoyed to their full.
TOP TIP
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This month
114 The Big Question
How can I give my plants the best start?
116 Gardeners’ Question Time The BBC Radio 4 experts answer this month’s pick of readers’ queries
David Hurrion,
Deputy Editor
The answers to your gardening questions
114 gardenersworld.com December 2014
Whether you have
bought new plants or been
given them by friends and family,
it’s crucial to follow some basic
rules if you want them to survive.
Now, in the dormant season, is
a great time to plant pot-grown
and bare-root trees, shrubs and
perennials – as long as they are
fully hardy and deciduous.
Borderline hardy plants and
evergreens are best left until late
April or May when there is less
risk of severe frost.
It is also a good idea to plant
during mild, damp conditions
and avoid extremes of weather; for
example, in very cold conditions,
frost can damage the roots of
plants during the planting process
and penetrate the loose soil
around newly planted specimens.
If conditions are not suitable
then keep potted plants in a cold
greenhouse or a sheltered position
outdoors. Protect bare-root
specimens by plunging their roots
into large pots of compost and
putting them in a frost-free shed.
At the other extreme, don’t
plant during hot, dry spring and
summer weather when the soil
is likely to be dry. When you do
start planting, the aim is to get
new roots to grow as quickly as
possible so that they can support
the leaves, shoots and flowers
at the top of the plant during
the growing season. Remember
that roots are able to grow
underground in the winter, even
when the top growth is dormant.
It may come as a surprise, but
rooting is quickest where roots get
plenty of air as well as moisture
and the action of digging a hole to
plant into will open up the soil
structure, allowing air to permeate.
Adding compost to heavy soil will
help to hold this structure open for
at least a year after planting to aid
good establishment. And on dry,
sandy soil the compost will retain
some extra moisture for the roots
to use during the summer.
Get the hole right
When it comes to digging the hole,
make sure that it is deep enough
to accommodate the roots
comfortably and at least 10cm
wider all the way around the
rootball. It’s also a good idea to
use a border fork to loosen the
base and sides of the hole to
allow the roots to grow out into
the surrounding soil.
Good establishment is also
encouraged by firming the soil in
layers around the roots, so that
the plant is held upright and
doesn’t blow over in windy
weather. Short stakes can be used
to give extra support to trees and
large shrubs for a year or two, until
the roots have taken hold.
After planting it’s a good idea to
create a shallow depression in the
soil surface, around the base of the
new plant to make watering more
effective. This will help channel
water to the roots, to keep them
moist during the growing season.
Finally, new plants will benefit
from being pruned back by about
one third immediately after
planting. This will help reduce
the amount of top growth that
needs to be supplied with water
in the first year and make the
plant more stable while it gets
its roots well established.
David answers
How do I give my plants the best start?
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The big question
115gardenersworld.comDecember 2014
the big question
Avoid planting in dry
weather as it’s di��icult
to keep the plants watered
enough to stop them
from wilting.
J Snead, Dudley
Make a shallow depression
in the soil around the base of
new plants to direct water to
their roots.
Sally Share, Hull
Buy small shrubs as they will
establish and grow quickly,
and catch up in size.
P Crake, by email
Mix homemade compost in
with the soil when you plant
to help hold onto water in
the �irst season.
S Brown, by email
Cut back any long stems
so that the plant has fewer
leaves in summer to lose
water from. This will also
encourage it to make roots.
Colin Harris, She��ield
Don’t feed plants too much
at planting time as you may
scorch the roots and it could
also make them produce
lots of leafy shoots that will
wilt in hot weather.
C Allen, by email
Avoid buying pot-bound
plants. They may be cheap
at the garden centre, but the
roots may not grow into the
surrounding soil and so the
plant won’t do well.
Ellen Gross, by email
Give the plants a good soak,
rather than a quick sprinkle,
when you plant them.
Rick Hewett, Mold
Cover new plants with a
piece of garden �leece in hot
weather to shade them from
the heat of the sun and to
stop too much water being
lost from their leaves.
B McGough, Cumbernauld
on success
with planting
Readers’ tips…
1 Soak pot before planting
Make sure that the compost is
thoroughly damp to make it easier
to knock the plant from its pot,
limiting damage to the roots.
3 Tease out roots
Where roots have coiled around
inside the pot, carefully pull them
out of the compost to encourage
them to grow into the soil.
5 Mulch after planting
Covering the soil with a 5cm
layer of compost around the base
of new plants will help retain
moisture at their roots.
2 Improve poor soil
Add a little bagged or homemade
garden compost to improve
drainage on clay soil and moisture-
holding in sandy conditions.
4 Use mycorrhizal fungi
These natural soil fungi connect
to plant roots, increasing the area
over which the plant can take up
water and nutrients from soil.
6 Water well in first year
Give new plants a good soak
every 10-14 days when they are in
leaf – more frequently in hot
weather or on dry, sandy soils.
6 ways to help your trees
and shrubs establish quickly
David says
Bare-root trees
and shrubs will
establish quickly
if planted at this
time of year, and
are cheaper to buy
than pot-grown or
potted specimens.
December 2014116
Our experts tackle your gardening problems
– including advice on �ig growing, wildlife-friendly
shrubs, rose pruning, and overwintering peppers
Gardeners’ Question Time
The British climate can make
fig growing a challenge
Cyclamen hederifolium is a strong woodland survivor
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Campbell Adie, Aberdeen
A ANNE SAYS: They are
often used for bonsai, so any
container is feasible. Pot on
gradually to reach a large
container using a 50:50 mix of
John Innes No. 2 and soil-less
compost, with added grit and
sieved leaf mould. Fertilise each
spring and place in semi-shade.
Q Could I grow
a Japanese
maple in a pot?
Q Which woodland plants
will survive rabbits?
Jules & Tom, St Ives
A MATT SAYS: There are
plenty of plants to choose from.
Aconitum septentrionale ‘Ivorine’,
which reaches 60cm, has white
flowers in summer but is
poisonous, so treat it with care.
Ajuga reptans ‘Alba’, with white
flowers in spring, or the blue-
flowered ‘Silver Queen’ provide
ground cover. Lamium orvala
forms a mound of heart-shaped
leaves and peach-pink flowers,
while Alchemilla mollis gives
bright lime-green flowers in spring
and early summer – remove the
flowers to prevent self-seeding.
The flowers of Cyclamen
hederifolium come in a range of
colours, from pink to shades of
white, with prettily marked leaves
– it looks lovely when naturalised.
Several attractive native plants
will enjoy the conditions, too.
Try Convallaria majalis (lily of the
valley), foxgloves in dappled shade
on the woodland margins, plus
Galanthus nivalis (snowdrops)
or winter aconites.
gardenersworld.com
Stephanie Ray, by email
A CHRIS SAYS: The broad
leaves and pink, hirsute leaf stalk
give this away as an actinidia,
possibly the species A. chinensis,
commonly referred to as the kiwi
fruit. Originally from China, this
deciduous vine has male and
female flowers on different plants,
so cultivating both is required to
ensure pollination and the
production of fruit.
The female of the species
typically produces small, sweet,
edible fruits, pointed at the base
and less hairy than the
commercial kiwi, A. deliciosa.
Q Can you identify this vigorous climbing plant?
Ian Tomisson, Crowhurst
A ANNE SAYS: Figs are native
to Afghanistan and Syria, so it
helps to imagine their native
habitat – all hot sun and poor
soils. We set ourselves a
challenge straight away by
attempting to grow them in our
north European maritime climate
where soils are usually too fertile
and there’s not enough sunshine.
Containerising (preferably sunk
into the ground) mimics the effect
of poorer soil, but they need as
much sun as they can get, so
partial shade won’t do. The best
solution is a trench in the ground,
1.2m long, 60cm wide and 60cm
deep, lined with paving slabs,
against a south-facing wall. Wear
gloves when handling the plant.
If it stays in a pot, apply a
controlled-release fertiliser to
the surface in spring, under the
mulch. Water regularly and add
a liquid feed every two weeks
after the fruits have set.
Q How can I get more fruit on my pot-grown �ig?
Actinidia has
distinctive broad
leaves and pink stalks
gardeners’ question time
December 2014 117gardenersworld.com
Anne
Swithinbank
A keen fruit, vegetable
and houseplant grower,
Anne was formerly the
Glasshouse Supervisor
at RHS Garden Wisley.
Matt
Biggs
Matt trained
at Kew and has
been gardening
professionally for
more than 20 years.
Chris
Beardshaw
The newest member
of BBC2’s Beechgrove
Garden team, Chris is
also an award-winning
garden designer.
Polinators are drawn to
the lilac charms of
Buddleja alternifolia
The juicy berries of
Viburnum opulus are
a magnet for bird life
A CHRIS SAYS: The obvious
example is buddleia, or the
butterfly bush, but try the pendant
B. alternifolia, which produces a
plentiful supply of pale-purple,
nectar-rich flowers.
Viburnum opulus is a great
option for attracting birds,
because it offers lavish
displays of autumn berries.
Also try roses, especially
the species ones such as
R. rubrifolia, for great flower
and fruit production.
Q What wildlife-friendly shrub can I grow in a sunny spot?
Q&A
TEAM ANSWER
WILDLIFE
Monika Desborough, Canterbury
A MATT SAYS: It is asking a
lot from one plant to provide
everything, so you will have to
keep your options open. Bees and
butterflies need nectar while
birds require nesting and roosting
sites, and insects, fruit or berries
for food. Buddleja ‘Buzz’ comes in
a range of colours and is the first
‘dwarf’ variety, reaching
90-120cm. Among its virtues is
the fact that it flowers in the first
year, does not set seed and is
attractive to butterflies and bees.
Lavenders such as ‘Hidcote’
attract bees and butterflies in
abundance, followed by seed-
eating birds including goldfinches.
Pyracantha coccinea ‘Red
Column’ offers thorny protection
for nesting, nectar in spring and
berries for autumn food.
Lonicera periclymenum
‘Heaven Scent’ is beautiful; its
yellow and cream flowers are
followed by red berries, which are
enjoyed by thrushes and
blackbirds. It has a lovely
fragrance that you will
enjoy, too.
Nick Hackett, Somerset
A CHRIS SAYS: Closely
related to the more familiar and
easily cultivated African violet,
achimenes is a native of tropical
places. Most forms grown in the
UK are suitable only for indoor
cultivation, except in the most
mild regions where plants can be
summered outside.
Start in winter when the scaly
rhizomes of the plant should be
allowed to lightly dry off, with top
growth trimmed back. Place pots
in a sheltered area at 18-20°C. If
planting new rhizomes, or potting
on use fertile, sand-based
compost enriched with leaf
mould. Plant with tips of rhizomes
no deeper than 1.5cm, moisten
the compost and shelter at 20°C.
Start a regular watering regime in
spring once growth begins, using
only tepid water.
In summer, water freely,
keeping compost permanently
moist, humidity high and
irrigation off the leaves. Place the
pots in a tray of water or gravel,
watering by briefly plunging the
plant in a trough. Feed with a
half-strength houseplant feed.
Problems with flower emergence
or bud drop on an otherwise
healthy plant usually indicate
watering-related problems.
Q Why won’t my
achimenes deliver?
To flower well, achimenes
needs correct watering
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gardenersworld.com118 December 2014
Use sharp secateurs and angle
cuts away from buds
Q How do I prune my rooted rose? Rowland Nuttall, by email
A CHRIS SAYS: Cuttings and
layering are great ways to expand
your rose collection, especially
the species and shrub forms that
grow well on their own roots. In
young plants there is a tendency
for growth to be upright,
especially if the cutting was taken
from the tip of the original plant.
To encourage a more bushy
habit, prune the tip of the plant
just above a healthy bud once the
plant reaches winter dormancy.
This can be as low as three buds
up from ground level.
Susan Jenkins, Newtonmore
A ANNE SAYS: South African
Clivia miniata is a lovely
houseplant, which has evergreen,
strappy leaves that are joined
by stems of orange flowers in
March. During winter, plants should
be healthy but resting, with dryish
compost. Yours is a sorry sight!
The plant has sunk in its pot and
the compost looks wet and sour.
The base is scorched and there
are rusty-looking marks that
indicate it might have a virus.
It looks as though the plant
may have been in the garden, or
exposed to harsh light. For now,
pull away the worst of the bottom
leaves and make sure there are
no slugs present. Remove some
of the surface compost and
replace with fresh. If your compost
is wet, let it dry out.
Stand the plant in indirect
light (it will scorch in full sun) at
normal room temperatures away
from fires or radiators. Water again
only when the surface of the
compost is dry. In spring, repot it
into fresh compost, keep indoors
and water it normally, adding
liquid fertiliser after six
weeks. If virus symptoms
persist, you are best
throwing it away.
Lucy Morel, Stonehaven
A MATT SAYS: Roots do grow
out from the pot; this means it’s
thriving. Repot every two years
in late spring, after flowering, in
free-draining orchid compost.
Select a pot that is transparent
and large enough to retain all the
roots comfortably; do not use a
pot that’s too big. Remove the
plant carefully, taking off dead,
damaged or diseased roots with
a sharp pair of secateurs, then
wash the old compost from
around roots. Hold the plant
in the position where it is to be
planted in the centre of the pot
then carefully refill around the
roots with new compost.
Q Which tree can I plant at the centre of a circular bench?B Winstanley, by email
A ANNE SAYS: I’ve seen many
trees fitted with seats including
walnut and sweet chestnut; they
make great garden features.
Most trees with good, straight
trunks would be suitable; some
lovely examples include Japanese
cherries (Prunus ‘Shogetsu’ is my
favourite) and maidenhair tree.
The red-leaved Acer platanoides
‘Crimson King’ grows quickly, but
like limes and, to an extent, beech,
they can suffer from aphids that
will drip honeydew continuously,
making the seat sticky. A
whitebeam (Sorbus aria) will
suit a smaller garden, as long as
you don’t want to sit out when
the berries fall in October.
Amelanchiers are lovely
(producing small fruits in
September) and birch are
graceful, though they are messy
when they shed catkins.
Rusty marks on
this clivia could be
caused by a virus
Fertilisation in
mistletoes needs
two plants
Amelanchier has snowy blossom
in spring and good autumn colour
Wandering roots indicate this orchid is thriving
Q My moth orchid roots are escaping. What should I do?
Q What is wrong with my clivia?
Q&A
HOT TOPIC
HOUSE PLANTS
Q Where are my mistletoe’s berries?Alison Howard, by email
A MATT SAYS: Mistletoe
plants are male or female; if
yours is male, it will not produce
berries and nor will a female if
it is in an isolated spot away from
male plants, as pollination will
not be possible. To help you with
identification, male plants are
more pendulous while females
tend to be more upright.
gardenersworld.com 119December 2014
gardeners’ question time
Q How can I move a well-established grape vine?
Established trees benefit from
winter and summer pruning
The glory flower is well suited to
an exotic border
Banana plants can be left out in
warmer areas during winter
Grow courgettes in well-manured
soil to help retain water
Q Can I take
cuttings of my old
bosc pear tree?
Q Why did my butternut squashes
get mould on their leaves?
Q Can you identify
this plant please?
Q Are our
bananas edible?
Kapil Joshi, by email
A MATT SAYS: The bosc
pear is a delicious, dual-purpose
variety, so it is no surprise that
you would like to replace it.
Unless you are a skilled
propagator, and can ‘graft’ or
‘bud’ and are patient enough
to wait until the new tree
is established, you would be
better off buying a new plant.
Suppliers are listed in the RHS
Plantfinder – look online using
this URL: bit.ly/1E83AcF
Ideally, your new tree should
planted in a new location, in fresh
soil. If this is not possible, remove
as much of the old tree’s root
system as is practical, then
improve the soil with well rotted
organic matter and allow it to
settle before replanting. If you
are replanting in a lawn, leave
a circle of clear soil around the
base about 1.5m in diameter;
this will help the tree establish
and avoid mower damage.
Jackie Mountford, Bognor Regis
A ANNE SAYS: Clerodendrum
bungei is one of my favourite
autumn-flowering plants and fits
well in an exotic-style border, as
it looks more like a conservatory
plant. From China, it is also known
as the glory flower. It will reach a
height of 1.8m and its suckers will
form clumps, but not (at least in
my garden) in an invasive way.
Marg, the Midlands
A MATT SAYS: Musa basjoo,
also known as the Japanese
banana, comes from China.
The fruit contains large seeds
so it is ornamental, not edible.
This handsome plant will
fruit occasionally in response
to growing conditions, usually
after long, hot summers in
a sheltered spot, or in cities
where the temperatures are
a few degrees warmer.
Dawn, by email
A CHRIS SAYS: Grapes will
move successfully but this will
depend on the care with which
the operation is done. For such
a mature plant, it will be
necessary to excavate around
the largest possible rootball,
to at least a 60cm depth and,
if possible, a 90cm diameter.
This will inevitably involve
severing significant roots, so work
must only be carried out once
the plant is dormant in winter.
Get help to lift the rootball,
rocking it onto a large sheet or
tarpaulin will help. Have your pot
ready, part filled with compost; if
this is to be the vine’s permanent
home, go for the largest possible
pot, taking a lead from the size
of the root ball. Ensure there is
a good layer of drainage gravel
in the base, then backfill with
a 50:50 mix of John Innes No.3
compost and sharp grit. Trim the
main growth back to within two
buds of any principle stem.
Keep it well watered once
spring growth occurs and be
prepared for undignified growth
initially, as it will often take a
season for the plant to settle,
during which time you can prune
it into the required frame.
Kerry, by email
A ANNE SAYS: This was powdery mildew, encouraged by dry roots.
Add more compost and manure to help hold water in the soil, and water
more copiously during droughts. When small fruits rot, this indicates
poor pollination and can happen when temperatures are high. Grow
several plants in the same area to increase the likelihood of a good set.
With care, grape vines can be moved during dormant winter months
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gardenersworld.com120
Q How can I stop the roots of my parsnips forking?
Covering a carborundum stone
with oil helps when sharpening
Worms play a vital part in most
outdoor composting systems
Neil Cox, Somerset
A CHRIS SAYS: A total lack of
earthworms in compost indicates
possible problems with the
cycling of organic matter. Firstly,
ensure the compost is in contact
with the ground, preferably
turned soil. Also, make layers of
fresh and dry matter. Keep the
heap damp, but not waterlogged
as extremes deter worms. Check
the compost’s pH – worms prefer
a pH reading of pH5 to pH 7.5 and
this can be upset by the addition
of ingredients such as wood ash.
Q Why are there no worms in my compost bin?
Q What is the best way to sharpen garden tools? Joyce Ricketts, by email
A MATT SAYS: The key to
correct sharpening of tools is
to take a close look at what you
wish to sharpen to see how the
cut is made; for example, some
shears have a factory-milled
sharpened angle on both blades,
others have this only on one
blade. To sharpen, ensure that
you adopt the exact angle applied
by the manufacturer. To do this,
grip the tool blade in a vice or
clamp, and run a mill file along
the blade at the sharpening angle.
Use a similar process for hoes,
scythes and spades. Secateurs
are best dealt with by unbolting
the handles, then using a
carborundum stone in the same
way as you would a mill file.
For curved blades you could use
a rounded carborundum stone.
You will also find offered
so-called ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ stones
– this refers to using the former
stone with a layer of oil for
a cleaner and sharper finish.
John Atkinson, by email
A ANNE SAYS: The answer
has to lie in the soil, which could
cause forking or ‘fanging’ if it is
too compacted. This should be
relatively stone-free and of good
texture, so you can sink a fork
or spade blade in without much
resistance, yet not too loose
and powdery either.
Mulch with well-rotted compost
in autumn and let the worms take
it down. Parsnips appreciate a
‘sweet’ soil, so make a soil pH test
and add lime if acidic. Sometimes,
too early a start results in rain
compacting soil before there
are any roots to penetrate and
alleviate this, so try waiting until
mid- or late April.
Consider mixing in sharp sand
or grit to improve texture. Direct
sowings are likely to be the most
effective and I would recommend
setting three seeds per station,
say 15cm apart, and thin to one
after germination.
Ensure you tackle compacted soil, which can cause parsnips to fork
If you have a gardening problem, email the details (and your
location) to Q&[email protected] or write to David Hurrion
at Gardeners’ World Magazine, Vineyard House, 44 Brook Green,
London W6 7BT. We regret that we cannot o�er a personal
advisory service or guarantee a reply.
You’ll also �ind lots of pest and disease advice, along with creative
and problem-solving projects, at gardenersworld.com/how-to
Ways to �ind more help
Missed it?
Listen online
within seven days
at bbc.co.uk/
radio4
Gardeners’ Question Time
Enjoy a fascinating crop of listeners’
gardening questions
and experts’ answers
every week, on BBC
Radio 4, Fridays at 3pm,
repeated Sundays at 2pm. 92-95FM & 198LW
Gardening on the radio
K Doyle, by email
A MATT SAYS: Tomatoes and
sweet peppers are best grown
annually from seed; overwintering
is not practical and there is
nothing to be gained by doing it,
but you could try sweet peppers
if you like a challenge! Some
chillies overwinter successfully,
such as the tabasco and cayenne
types and their relatives.
Q Can tomatoes
and peppers be
overwintered?
gardeners’ question time
December 2014
gardenersworld.com 121December 2014
SUBTROPICAL PARADISE
Trebah GardenNr Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 5JZ
Exotic plants from the southern hemisphere
thrive in the micro-climate of this sheltered,
canopied valley. A stunning coastal backdrop
plays host to champion trees which dominate
the landscape. Open daily, 10am-5.30pm (dusk if earlier); adults £4.50,
seniors £4, 5-15s £3 S 01326 252200, trebah-garden.co.uk
TOWERING TOPIARY
Athelhampton House & Gardens Dorchester, Dorset DT2 7LG
Set around a 15th-century manor house, the
Grade 1 listed gardens include the Great Court
with giant topiary pyramids. There are also
fountains, pools and riverside walks. Open
Sunday only (Dec-Feb), (closed 28th Dec), 10.30am until dusk; adults £12.50,
OAPs £10.50, under 16s £2.50 S 01305 848363, athelhampton.co.uk
BREATHTAKING VIEWS
Rydal Mount & GardensAmbleside, Lake District LA22 9LU
Wordsworth’s informal garden remains largely
as he designed it. Overlooking Windermere
and Rydal Water, there are terraces, rock pools
and an ancient mound. Open Wed-Sun, Nov, Dec
and Feb (closed 25-26 Dec and Jan), 11am-4pm; adults £6 (house & garden), £1.50
(garden only), 5-15s free with adult entry S 01539 433002, rydalmount.co.uk
ONE ADULT FREE with one full-paying adult
Valid until 28 February 2015*
This coupon cannot be used for groups or in conjunction with any other offer. Coupon to be used
once only. Voucher is not valid on event days. Photocopies are not acceptable. No cash alternative.
Garden discount vouchers
IMPRESSIVE PINES
Belmont Gardens Faversham, Kent ME13 0HH
This 18th century garden has a pinetum,
including coastal redwood and blue Atlas
cedar. A Victorian shell grotto has ammonite
fossils, plus a walled garden and Victorian
glasshouse. Open daily (incl. Christmas & New Year, 10am-6pm (dusk if earlier);
adults £5, OAPs £4,12-16s £2.50 S 01795 890202, belmont-house.org
GLORIOUS IN ALL SEASONS
Wakehurst PlaceArdingly, West Sussex RH17 6TN
Kew’s country cousin is home to the world’s
largest seed collection. Natural woodlands
include a grove of monkey puzzle trees and
giant redwoods. There are rare, beautiful and
fascinating plants at every turn. Open daily, 10am-4.30pm; adults £12.50,
under 17s free S 01444 894066, kew.org/wakehurst
WINTER WONDERLAND
Sir Harold Hillier GardensRomsey, Hampshire SO51 0QA
A remarkable garden with one of the largest
Winter Gardens in Europe. A wide range of
plants, including the National Collection of
hamamelis, mean it’s full of colour contrasting
foliage and flowers. Open daily (except 25 & 26 Dec.), 10am-5pm; adults £9.30,
concs. £8.40, under 17s free S 01794 369318, hilliergardens.org.uk
ONE ADULT FREE with one full-paying adult Valid until 28 February 2015*
This coupon cannot be used for groups or in conjunction with any other offer. Coupon to be used
once only. Voucher not valid for special events. Photocopies are not acceptable. No cash alternative.
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once only. Voucher is not valid on event days. Photocopies are not acceptable. No cash alternative.
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Valid until 28 February 2015**
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once only. Voucher is not valid on event days. Photocopies are not acceptable. No cash alternative.
ONE ADULT FREE with one full-paying adult
GREAT GLASSHOUSE
National Botanic Garden of Wales Carmarthenshire, SA32 8HN
This adventurous garden offers woodland
walks, a double walled garden and a nature
reserve. While Lord Foster’s Great Glasshouse
hosts acacias from Western Australia and
brooms from the Canaries. Open daily, 10am-4.30pm; adults £8.50, concs. £7,
5-16s £4.50, under 5s free S 01558 667149, gardenofwales.org.uk
ONE ADULT FREE with one full-paying adult
Valid until 31 January 2015*
This coupon cannot be used for groups or in conjunction with any other offer. Coupon to be used
once only. Voucher is not valid on event days. Photocopies are not acceptable. No cash alternative.
A TRANQUIL HAVEN
The Walled Gardens of Cannington, Somerset TA5 2HA
Set in the grounds of a medieval priory, enjoy
a mix of the contemporary and classic,
including herbaceous borders, a sub-tropical
walk and a glasshouse full of arid and tropical
plants. Open Mon-Fri, 10.30am-2.30pm, (closed 20 Dec-5 Jan); adults £3.95, OAPs
£2.95, under 18s free S 01278 655042, canningtonwalledgardens.co.uk
ONE ADULT FREE with one full-paying adult
Valid until 28 February 2015*
This coupon cannot be used for groups or in conjunction with any other offer. Coupon to be used
once only. Voucher is not valid on event days. Photocopies are not acceptable. No cash alternative.
ONE ADULT FREE with one full-paying adult
Valid until 28 February 2015*
This coupon cannot be used for groups or in conjunction with any other offer. Coupon to be used
once only. Voucher is not valid on event days. Photocopies are not acceptable. No cash alternative.
ONE ADULT FREE with one full-paying adult Valid until 31 January 2015*
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SAVE £62.25
*Y
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December 2014
Sit down with a mince pie, a pen and your horticultural head on to solve some festive quizzes
Christmas conundrums
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Branching out See if you can spell out the following trees vertically
in the grid to spell out in the highlighted row a word
that describes them all.
F I R J U N I P E R L A R C H P I N E R E DWO O D S P RU C E Y E W
In this issue…1. Who said this? “I want – I need – to sink my
hands into the earth as much as possible”
2. Which elusive creature is this?“They pack a lot into their short lives”
3. Which garden is this?“A stylised woodland of silver
birches underplanted with
dark-leafed bergenias”
4. Where is Nigel?Monty’s dog, Nigel, appears
four times in this issue
– can you �nd him?
Ruffled feathersBelow are 10 birds often seen in gardens over winter.
Can you solve the anagrams to identify them?
1. A fried elf
2. Bald brick
3. Buttlie
4. Con dunk
5. Dog �inch
6. Game pi
7. In orb
8. Kiss in
9. Lunch blif
10. New grid
Know your body language Can you fill in the missing parts of the body to
complete the common names of 10 plants?
Mistle (Viscum album)
ese lantern (Physalis alkekengi)
Ox daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)
Bleeding (Lamprocapnos spectabilis)
Horse nut (Aesculus hippocastanum)
Date (Phoenix dactylifera)
Hart’s fern (Asplenium scolopendrium)
Prickly p (Opuntia species)
Sweet (Liquidambar styraci�ua)
Dog’s violet (Erythronium dens-canis)
Winter berries wordsearchHidden in the grid below are 12 plants with winter berries.
The names can be read forwards, backwards, vertically,
horizontally or diagonally. Can you find all 12?
Aucuba
Berberis
Callicarpa
Cotoneaster
Euonymus
Firethorn
Gaultheria
Holly
Ivy
Laurel
Skimmia
Sorbus
R A I R E H T L U A G A
B E R B E R I S K O A U
E F T E O U V F T L P C
R I O S K I M M I A R U
A R V L A L L A C U A B
B E I Y L E L U G R C E
U T S U M Y N O U E I R
C H E O Y L L O H L L Y
U O B E R O B E T L L O
A R E S U B R O S O A U
C N R U A L S O H K C E
PH
OTO
S: A
LA
MY
/AR
CO
IM
AG
ES G
MB
H; M
AR
SH
A A
RN
OLD
; JO
NA
TH
AN
BU
CK
LE
Y; P
AU
L D
EB
OIS
; TIM
SA
ND
ALL
gardenersworld.com122
How to get in touch
gardenersworld.com 123December 2014
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Issue number 287
ISSN 0961-7477. Copyright © Immediate Media Company London Ltd 2014. 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. Printed by Polestar Chantry Ltd. Distribution by Frontline, Peterborough. 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. Immediate Media Company London Ltd is a registered data user whose entries in the Data Protection Register contain descriptions of sources and disclosures of personal data. Immediate Media Company London Ltd is working to ensure that all of its paper is sourced from well-managed forests. This magazine is printed on Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper. This magazine can be recycled, for use in newspapers and packaging. Please remove any gifts, samples or wrapping and dispose of it at your local collection point.
BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine is published by
Immediate Media Company London Ltd
under licence from BBC Worldwide who help fund new BBC programmes
Editor Lucy Hall Deputy Editor David Hurrion
Chief Sub/Production Editor John Perkins
EditorialGardening Editor Emma Crawforth
Acting Commissioning Editor Catherine Mansley Acting Features Co-ordinator Kevin Smith
Sub-editors Shirley Accini, Carol Cooper Contributing Editor (Wildlife) Kate Bradbury
Picture Co-ordinator Janet Johnson Editorial Administrator Michelle Allwood
ArtArt Director Guy Bennington Art Editor Nikki Fabris Senior Designer Andrew Ellis
Reprographics Technicians Darren McCubbin, Jonathan Shaw
With thanks to Elliott Ackroyd, Neil Darby, Rory Glanville, Jean Postle
gardenersworld.comWebsite Editor Daniel Haynes Acting Content Producer Jean Postle
Sub-editor Veronica Peerless
Editorial AdvisorsRosie Atkins Launch Editor of Gardens Illustrated and former Curator of Chelsea Physic Garden
Jane Ellison Commissioning Editor, BBC Radio 4 Jim Gardiner Director of Horticulture, Royal Horticultural Society
Liz Rumbold Series Editor, Gardeners’ World
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The solutions to the Christmas quizzes and
puzzles can be found in Show & tell on p124
Crossword
ACROSS
1 Pot up this bulbous bloomer
for rich indoor winter colour (9)
7 Hoe bare areas in the garden
to remove __ seedlings (4)
8 Make sure ponds are not
completely covered by this (3)
9 Aromatic dried flower bud
used to spice up recipes (5)
10 A sweet brown dried fruit
that is a Christmas staple (4)
12 Dried white seedless grape in
Christmas cake and puddings (7)
13 Genus of bee-loving plants
commonly called mignonette (6)
15 Annona cherimola is better
known as __ apple (7)
18 & 1 down Traditional
Christmas tree, also called
Norway spruce (5,5)
20 Term for a plant that
completes its lifecycle
in two years (8)
22 Echinacea
purpurea ‘Kim’s __
Head’ has prolific
white blooms (3)
23 All parts of
this member of
the daphne genu
are poisonous (8)
24 Sidalcea ‘__ Heugh’ has
fringed purpley flowers (5)
DOWN
1 See 18 across
2 Small ‘bumps’ on cacti where
spines form (7)
3 Genus of plants with sword-like
leaves and spikes of white bell-
shaped flowers (5)
4 Lilium pardalinum is better
known as __ lily (7)
5 These root vegetables are often
served mashed and buttered with
Christmas dinner (6)
6 Organic matter once popular
as a compost, now avoided for
conservation reasons (4)
11 ‘__ Harkness’ is a hybrid tea
rose with red blooms (3)
14 Genus of bulbous perennials
known as pineapple flower (7)
15 Another name for hazel (3)
16 Protect __ plants with a warm
covering of fleece or straw (6)
17 A __ bed has many benefits
for growing fruit and
veg, such as improved
drainage (6)
18 Popular name
for platanus (5)
19 Your __ and pear
trees may need pruning
this month (5)
21 Genus of prickly plants closely
associated with Christmas (4)
1 2 3
8
12
7
23
16
9
10
22
11
17
18
24
19
15
13 14
4 65
20 21
& tell
Show
gardenersworld.com124 December 2014
Send your tips and photos to Show & tell, Gardeners’
World Magazine, Vineyard House, 44 Brook Green, London W6 7BT or email [email protected] and you could win National Garden Gift Vouchers.
Eyes like a hawk moth
Agapanthus has a ring to it
We award National Garden Gift Vouchers for all published letters: £50 for a makeover, £25 for a letter and photo, and £10 for a letter. We are unable to return photos. If sending digital photos, make sure they are taken on the camera’s highest image resolution setting. We can’t give individual
replies and we reserve the right to edit letters. National Garden Gift Vouchers can be bought and redeemed at more than 2,000 outlets in the UK, with more than 90,000 plants and products on offer. Visit thevouchergarden.co.uk.
When we moved into our
house in March 2013, the garden
was a bland strip of lawn,
dominated by a large cherry
tree and a soft play area.
My partner, a long-term
devotee of BBC Gardeners’
World Magazine has always
been a passionate gardener
and has managed to convert
me to the cause.
After 18 months of planning,
planting, landscaping and design,
we have transformed our garden
into a place of beauty and
relaxation. We had the cherry
tree removed, a difficult
decision, but this has given us
more light. We have widened
and shaped the borders to
create a natural flow throughout
the garden, leading to different
areas of interest.
To compensate for the loss
of the cherry tree, we’ve
introduced a variety of new trees.
The plants reflect our love of pale
and pastel flowers, balanced with
the dramatic colouring of the
trees and shrubs.
Ian and Sandy, Bristol
Ian and Sandy’s
garden now has
colour and interest
Going with the natural �lowREADER MAKEOVER
AFTER
BEFORE
My large garden is full of trees
and shrubs, and at the end of
summer admiring my fuchsias, I
spotted this large caterpillar with
huge black eyes watching me.
M Zuismanbolford, East Sussex
In late summer, elephant hawk
moth caterpillars pupate in the soil
BRANCHING OUT: Conifer
IN THIS ISSUE… 1. Monty Don, in The Full Monty, p17 2. Bank voles, in Wildlife, p963. Anglesey Abbey Garden, in Joe’s Garden Notebook, p414. Nigel appears on pages 7, 61, 78, 111
RUFFLED FEATHERS1. Fieldfare 2. Blackbird 3. Blue tit 4. Dunnock 5. Goldfinch 6. Magpie 7. Robin 8. Siskin9. Bullfinch 10. Redwing
KNOW YOUR BODY LANGUAGE Toe (MistleTOE)Chin (CHINese lantern)Eye (Ox EYE daisy)Heart (Bleeding HEART)Chest (Horse CHESTnut)Palm (Date PALM)Tongue (Hart’s TONGUE fern)Ear (Prickly pEAR)Gum (Sweet GUM)Tooth (Dog’s TOOTH violet)
CROSSWORDAcross 1 Amaryllis 7 Weed 8 Ice 9 Clove 10 Date 12 Sultana 13 Reseda 15 Custard 18 Picea 20 Biennial 22 Mop 23 Mezereon 24 Elsie
Down 1 Abies 2 Areoles 3 Yucca 4 Leopard 5 Swedes 6 Peat 11 Ena 14 Eucomis 15 Cob 16 Tender 17 Raised 18 Plane 19 Apple 21 Ilex
CHRISTMAS QUIZ SOLUTIONS
£50
WINNER
This elephant
hawk moth
takes a break
Log piles make a �ir-pect homeA few years ago we cut down
a border of a dozen 50ft fir trees.
We used the chopped up trunks
to make log piles between the left
over stumps, then added cheap
fencing to fill the gaps. This year
we’ve had an abundance of garden
creatures, including field mice,
frogs, hedgehogs, and endless
birds and butterflies. But my
favourite garden visitor has to be
this beautiful elephant hawk moth.
Louise Mahoney, Plymouth
I thought you might be
interested in Monty’s strange
powers. I was watching his
recent series Big Dreams Small
Spaces, when a lady asked why
her agapanthus had not
flowered – mine had the same
problem. We were informed
that it needed to be pot bound
before it flowered. As mine was
planted in the border, I duly dug
it up ready for re-potting. As I
scooped up soil from the hole,
there was my grandmother’s
wedding ring that had been lost
for months. It must have fallen
off my finger when planting.
If it hadn’t been for Monty’s
advice it would have been
underground forever.
Mrs B Hayes, Blackpool
R A I R E H T L U A G A
B E R B E R I S K O A U
E F T E O U V F T L P C
R I O S K I M M I A R U
A R V L A L L A C U A B
B E I Y L E L U G R C E
U T S U M Y N O U E I R
C H E O Y L L O H L L Y
U O B E R O B E T L L O
A R E S U B R O S O A U
C N R U A L S O H K C E
WORDSEARCH
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*To receive your greetings card in time for Christmas, all gift orders must be received by 15 December 2014. All Christmas gift subscriptions will start with the first issue available in January 2015.
All gifts are subject to availability and will be sent separate to the magazine within 28 days. Please note, for gift subscriptions the books will be sent to the donor. This offer is only open to new UK
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138 December 2014
gardenersworld.com 139December 2014
Next month...January 2015 issue on sale 24 December
���Identifying birds by sight and song
���Giving them the food they need
���Creating places to roost and nest
HOW TO HELP OUR GARDEN BIRDS
Carol reveals the origins and stories behind our favourite garden plants
Alan starts the growing year with his guide to what’s best sown in January
Make a healthy start to 2015
Grow only the best veg with our experts’ choices for a top harvest
The fastest-ever salads for fresh, tasty pickings in just days!
! 5 ‘Charlotte’ seed potatoes
! 5 planting bags! Pair of potato
scrubbing gloves ! PLUS 5 packs
of veg seeds
Top tomatoes – ranked and ratedPruning – our year-round guide so you’ll always make the right cutsContainer gardening – advice and inspiration for every garden2-for-1 garden entry card & guide
COMING UP IN 2015
Your gardening experts
*Just pay £5.65 postage
Monty on the best plants for winter scent in your garden
for every reader
PLUS
Can you tell a robin from a wren? Learn more about what your visitors need:
Worth over £23
FREE* potato kit
TitchmarshTales from
And �nally…
Fresh from a hairy ride home in a two-seater, Alan takes a spin
through transport options for the discerning modern gardener
ILLU
STR
ATIO
N: A
ND
Y R
OB
ER
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a hand cart with iron-rimmed wheels that the two of us had to push through town piled up with the roof sections and sides of the 6ft by 8ft greenhouse. My ex-schoolmates, who were out shopping for cool clobber, looked on with wry amusement. Well, ‘wry’ is a generous description; ‘ribald’ would be more accurate. We rattled our way over a mile of Tarmac road past the shops at the posher end of town until we and the greenhouse reached home. How I wished that the ground would open up and swallow me. But once it was built, the embarrassment faded away and it gave me years of pleasure until I left home and went to college. After that my dad grew a few tomatoes in it.
Now the majority of my horticultural shopping is brought home in the back of a Volvo estate, though I do have to remember to spread out the plastic sheet before I load the plants, lest Mrs T should get rattled at the amount of compost that finds its way into her weekly groceries. Perhaps one day I will own a decent-sized van. But if it is of pallid complexion then I know I will be transformed within moments of entering its cab into one of those dreadful people who drive white vans as though nothing else was on the road. It will become de rigeur to cut people up, jump red lights, overtake on the inside and honk my horn loudly at other road users. On second thoughts, I think I’ll plump for a horse and cart. There is another advantage to this more traditional form of transport: I’d get free manure into the bargain. Neat, eh?
want to give you a run-down on a shopping trip I undertook in the summer. It comprised five
bags of sharp grit, eight bags of John Innes No.3 potting compost, 15 herbaceous perennials, two large phormiums, a fuchsia and an agapanthus in a 12in pot. Nothing strange there, you might think, except that I managed to get them all into my Mazda MX5. It was a push, I admit, and I had to keep reminding myself that the phormium strapped into the passenger seat was not my wife.
The car is not ideal, but it is perfect for the narrow country lanes on the Isle of Wight. I’ve had it for 16 years and refuse to part with it because it was bought with the proceeds of my first novel. The fact that its seats are made of cream leather can sometimes be a problem, but I have an ample supply of plastic carrier bags that can be used as protection. I suppose I should invest in a lorry, though I fear it would not fit in my garage.
So, apart from a wheelbarrow, what actually is the best form of transport for a gardener’s assorted goods? Having brought plants and compost, tools and those lovely things
Perhaps
one day I will
own a decent-
sized van. But
if it is of pallid
complexion,
then I know
I will be
transformed
into one of
those dreadful
people who
drive white
vans
140 Decwember 2014gardenersworld.com
called sundries home in everything from my sports car to a hand cart, I feel I ought to be in a position to advise, but I confess I do not always get it right.
I mean, let’s be honest, a serious gardener should really have a van. It should be capacious and covered in, with plenty of headroom for tall specimens. Do not make the mistake of thinking that an open pick-up truck is the answer to your prayers. It may be fine for bringing home loads of manure and leafless trees in winter, but in summer, if you travel at a speed exceeding 15mph, it will shred leaves with the efficiency of a kitchen liquidiser. This means you arrive home with severely defoliated plants, each and every one of which is a dead ringer for Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum’.
I bought myself an old van a few years ago. It was an Austin A30. There were sentimental reasons for the purchase – it was the vehicle I taught myself to
drive in through the parks department nursery when I was 16 and it brought
back happy memories of eventful circuits of the track around the toolshed, even if
I never did get out of second gear. Alas, the mechanics of the van proved rather trying and its capacity was only a little more
generous than the Mazda, so we parted
company and I bought a vintage motor instead – one
that I was not prepared to soil with... well... soil.
The hand cart I mentioned was responsible for my most embarrassing journey ever. I was 15, and I had saved up and bought a second-hand sectional greenhouse from old Harry at the nursery for £5. My dad said he would help me get it home one Saturday morning. I thought he would be using his plumbing firm’s van. He turned up behind
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