Amateur Gardening 30-Jan-2021

“January is such a busy time in the garden, with lots of clearing, soil preparation and some planting. The weather can make it a challenge, though, and sometimes my enthusiasm wilts when I look through my kitchen window to see the frosty, cold bleakness that is my garden. However, once I get out there, put in the work and start to warm up, that reticence fades and I’m pleased I braved the elements. So don’t be put off by the weather: wrap up warm and get out there, as you’ll feel better for making the eff ort and your garden will thank you for it.” Contact us: Subscriptions: 0330 333 1113 Editorial: 0330 3903732 Email: amateurgardening@futurenet.com Advertising: 0330 3906566…

SPRING is in the air – no, really, it is! It may not feel particularly warm and welcoming out there but January is almost out of the way and a thin green fuzz will be covering our gardens and beyond as buds break and leaves start to unfurl. You need to get a shimmy with pruning before trees do green up again, otherwise their sap will be flowing well and cutting wounds may bleed profusely, creating an entry point for diseases and pests. At this time of year we are only tackling certain deciduous trees, as it is way too cold for evergreens as frosts damage and blacken cut shoots. Trees and shrubs that flower early, such as forsythia, should also be left as pruning now will remove their blossoming stems. We are…

Growing media: In next week’s AG I look at compost. There is a baffling array of varieties out there so I will talk you through what they all do and how to make your own. WHEN it comes to pruning, certain areas of caution are advised. Firstly, think about your personal safety, so make sure tools are sharp and clean so they are less likely to slip or bounce off the wood and cause injury. If working at height, make sure you are standing on something stable, so either get someone to hold your ladder or invest in a platform or larger ladder such as one in the Henchman range – it is money well spent. Sturdy but flexible gloves are a must, too, and in winter I use Town and Country’s Thermalmax…

LIKE all fashions, many plants wax and wane in the popularity stakes and one that seemed to disappear for a while, though it is now coming back, is aubrietia. Creating glorious spillages of colour down walls and rockeries early in the spring, it was a mainstay of gardens when I was growing up. Then it seemed to fall from favour (or did I simply stop noticing it?) before rebounding and becoming part of your free seeds schedule for 2021. This week’s seeds are for a variety called ‘Cascade Mixed’, which will produce mounds of flowers in shades of pink and purple. Although they seem, to human noses, to have little scent, bees and other pollinators love them. Aubrietia is wonderful at carpeting areas such as walls, rockeries and in between flagstones, where precious…

1 Pansy leaf spot and downy mildew are common problems. Leaf spot can be controlled by removing and destroying material and by fungicide, downy mildew only by removing leaves and improving plant ventilation. 2 Greenhouses and coldframes are a haven for pests and diseases that thrive in a still, warm atmosphere. Treat pests on sight and remove infected plant material. Improve ventilation but close doors and windows at night. 3 Keep an eye on precious winter veggies. Aphids colonise greens in mild spells, so wipe them off with a gloved hand. Leek rust on your alliums is unsightly and will weaken plants, rather than kill them off. 4 Seek professional advice with bracket fungi as they show serious problems. Coral spot can be a sign of a weak tree, so remove to healthy…

I LOVE lilies, with their extravagant glossy flowers that immediately add an exotic look and scent to the garden. Even better, their stunning beauty belies a relatively easy-going nature, for they are happy growing in most situations and are especially good in pots. Bold and beautiful, for many people lilies are the star of the summer garden. Dwarf ones shine out at the front of borders, while taller varieties and tree lilies hold court further back. These versatile bulb plants also do well in containers, and we have two varieties on our patio: ‘Orange Pixie’, which is a cheery dwarf Asiatic number that also works well at the front of beds, and the statuesque ‘Stargazer’, with large pink-and-white blooms. Asiatic lilies are among the easiest to grow and the earliest to flower. They…