Amateur Gardening 22-Jun-2019

“The evocative language used by TV presenters in describing the merits of the main show gardens at Chelsea this year must have taxed their talents to the full. It reminded me of The Emperor’s New Clothes. How many different ways can you enthuse about green shrubs and trees and, of all things, a tin grain silo? Has Chelsea become gardening’s answer to the Turner Prize? It’s still a great event, but I hope those overly hyped designers will remember to put some flowers in next year and have at least some of the show relevant to enthusiast gardeners, rather than being an ego trip of ugliness.”…

EVEN after so many years of gardening it never fails to amaze me how the bare soil of winter transforms itself into the luscious, colour-crazy borders of summer. The empty brown soil of a few months ago is now crowded with plants of all shapes and sizes, some coming to the end of flowering, others lining up to take their place. The main task now is to keep plants healthy and productive throughout the summer, but also to ensure there is a succession of interest and colour stretching right through into winter. “Fill the gaps with plants grown from seed” We grow a lot of foxgloves that look their best in early summer. When they go over they leave gaps in the borders, so I am planting more bedding around them to fill…

Weeds have evolved to outpace cultivated plants, stealing water and nutrients, so they need removing as fast as they germinate. Seedlings can simply be hoed off and left to rot down on the soil. Perennial weeds need removing completely, right down to every last bit of root as they will regenerate from the smallest scrap left behind. Removing weeds gives other plants more space to grow. If they become cramped and are fighting for light, food and water, they are more vulnerable to pests and diseases, especially if airflow is impeded.…

OUR patio is currently a scene of great plant activity, with serried ranks of containers growing everything from a dwarf edible cherry and borlotti beans to bedding, shrubs (hydrangeas and ornamental physalis) and perennials such as agapanthus and lilies. It’s a diverse range of plants, but because they are growing in a confined environment they all need more or less the same type of care. Containers are a fantastic way of growing plants that can be adapted to whatever space you have available. This week I added some leftover lobelia to a ready-planted pot of Mirabilis jalapa – nothing goes to waste in this garden! However, container growing does have limitations because the plants have access to a finite amount of food and nutrients. They are also at greater danger of attack by…

THE discovery of vine weevils lurking among the roots of our poorly looking container skimmia was a timely wake-up call. This voracious pest had never troubled the garden before, so catching it red-handed was a call to arms and increased vigilance. Vine weevils are a major blight of patio pots, so be alert to the signs. The small, dark adult weevils are active between spring and late summer. Their larvae, which are small and white with brown heads and often curled in a C-shape, can be found from summer through to spring. Symptoms of their presence include bitten notches in the leaves caused by feeding adults, and the sudden wilting or death of a previously healthy plant caused by the larvae eating the roots. A heavily infested plant should be lifted and, if possible,…

AS is often the case at Chelsea, the most interesting and accessible designs were to be found in the Artisan Garden zone. This year’s plots included a Mediterranean-themed design from Mudchute Park and Farm donkey sanctuary on the Isle of Dogs (complete with donkeys Skooby and Harley), a tranquil Japanese hospitality garden by Kazuyuki Ishihara and a more traditional English garden by Kingston Maurward College near Dorchester, Dorset. Created to celebrate the agricultural college’s 70th anniversary, it comprised relaxed planting with willow hurdles, steps and walls built from local Purbeck stone, and a curving path leading to a secluded seating area that was topped by a metal cupola made by the students. Planting included shrubby acers, box, beech and Loropetalum chinense with herbs, ferns and perennials including geum, allium, foxgloves, sea holly and…