Amateur Gardening 22-Sep-2018

“The blistering July weather might have a far more damaging effect on Britain’s lawns than the mere scorching that mine and many others suffered: it could mean many will disappear altogether! The makers of artificial lawns have seen a 30% increase in enquiries since the summer (see News, page 7) from people who care more about looks than the environment and the important benefits gardens bring to cities (see RHS Explains, page 36). Lawns are a vital element in your garden’s ecosystem. Don’t be tempted to fake it – keep it real.”…

HAVING nursed the season’s bedding plants through the summer’s drought and water shortage, it’s time to make plans for seeing tender perennials through winter. If you live somewhere extremely temperate and sheltered you may want to risk leaving plants in the ground, but even though I live on the south-west coast, I always lift mine. On these pages I’m concentrating on the pelargoniums growing in my garden, but the same treatments of lifting, taking cuttings and overwintering can also be given to marguerites (Argyranthemums) and fuchsias. Penstemons can be left in situ, but make sure you only cut them back by one-third so their stems and foliage help protect the plant’s crown through winter. Agapanthus in borders should be mulched with bark chippings or similar, while those growing in pots should be wrapped…

1 Deadhead spent flowers and any remaining blooms or buds so they don’t waste the plant’s energy or start to rot during the winter. 2 Check the plant for pests and diseases, and remove affected material. Lift the plant, keeping some soil attached to the roots. 3 Use a pot that is just large enough to hold the roots and fill it with John Innes No1 that won’t prompt the plant into new growth. 4 Water and place the plants somewhere light and frost-free. They won’t need watering or feeding until growth resumes next spring.…

SOME plants can weather the winter outside, even though they are not completely hardy, with a little extra help. Penstemons and evergreen agapanthus fall into this category, and if you live somewhere extremely balmy then your established fuchsias will survive too. Plants that are too large or inconvenient to lift and overwinter undercover are relatively easy to protect. Cloches, either bell-shaped ones for individual plants or fleece tunnels for a line of crops, work well. Just remember to anchor them as they can be prone to lifting off in high winds. A layer of organic mulch, such as bark chippings or a proprietary mulch and soil-improver, will insulate and help to nourish the soil and plants while they are dormant. Take care not to mound wet mulch over the crown of plants…

Plants in a greenhouse need monitoring to keep them healthy. A chill, damp atmosphere is a breeding ground for fungal disease and a sharp drop in temperature will soon see off plants. Keep horticultural fleece to hand to throw over plants at night. Remove it each morning, as even slightly rising temperatures will create condensation that will attract mould. Open doors and windows slightly on warmer days to improve airflow, but close them at night. Leave the greenhouse door slightly open when gales are blowing to help air blow through safely and not ‘pop’ any panes of glass.…

1 Fill a 10in (25cm) pot with a mix of cuttings compost and sharp sand or perlite. Water it well so the compost is saturated. 4 Dip the end of each cutting in hormone rooting gel or powder to help boost the development of a strong rooting system. 2 Remove 4in (10cm) lengths of healthy non-flowering shoots using a sharp, clean pair of secateurs or scissors. 5 Insert the cuttings around the edge of the pot, or insert one per 3in (7cm) pot of the same dampened compost mix. 3 Remove all the large leaves growing lower down the stem, so that just the small ones at the tip of the shoot remain. 6 Seal the container (or small pots) in a clear plastic bag and place somewhere light. The cuttings will start to grow…