Modern Gardens Magazine March 2022

Oooh it’s so good to be back outside in the sunshine again! Yes, it’s a bit chilly but the sight of my garden springing back into life quickly warms my soul. With stems left in situ over the winter to provide crannies for critters to hole up in, my first spring task is always to start clearing this thicket of faded brown. It sounds like a chore but I love snipping away the old to discover fresh green beneath. I’ve always felt rather in awe of this mini miracle but, having just watched David Attenborough’s The Green Planet, I’m newly enthralled. If you haven’t enjoyed the series yet, do (it’s still available on BBC iPlayer) because it’ll change the way you appreciate your garden. Seeing a leaf stretched into the…

MUSCARI MAGIC Also known as grape hyacinths, sweetly scented muscari will put up with almost anything, so you can use it to create the cutest of garden decorations. Buy a ready-to-bloom pot-full from your local garden centre now and repot into whatever little vessels you have handy, lining with moss to keep the compost in if needs be. After flowering, replant into a border for garden blooms next spring. Tabletop tea for two Even the faintest ray of sunshine has us itching to fire up the barbecue, but the risk of a spring shower, and the time that cooking dinner outside entails when the weather’s still pretty chilly, has us reluctantly switching on the oven again instead. A compact tabletop barbecue is a clever compromise – it’s quick and easy to cook on…

ADD COMFORT An outdoor rug softens the look and feel of underfoot patio slabs or decking. Black & White Motif Design Circular Reversible Outdoor Rug, £39.99/180cm homescapesonline.com Black and white is a classic combo and as it works a treat with green, it makes a great choice for an outdoor setting. This re-emergence of the trend has maximum impact with minimal effort, combining tribal patterns with pops of green from shapely foliage and leaf prints. ON REFLECTION Garden mirrors are useful for creating light, adding personality and checking you’ve rubbed in your suncream! Elements Black Round Outdoor Mirror, £25 dunelm.com FULL CIRCLE A circular chair looks inviting and softens the straight lines and corners of a table and sofa. String Chair, £35 bmstores.co.uk MIX & MATCH Combine monochrome and full-colour leaf-print cushions. Palm Cushions, £30/2 freemans.com and Palm…

FAIRY MAGNOLIA With upright, bushy growth, this showstopping evergreen hedge suits any well-draining soil in full sun or part shade. Height 2.5m Spread 2m. thompson-morgan.com QUINCE Try ‘Crimson and Gold’ for masses of flowers that adorn bare, prickly branches before leaves appear, followed by edible fruit. Height 1m Spread 1.5m. crocus.co.uk JUNEBERRY Amelanchier lamarckii’s dreamy flowers and bronze-coloured leaves are followed by delicious berries, commonly used in gin. Height 10m Spread 6m. hedgesdirect.co.uk FEATURE: CLARE WALKER. PHOTOS: ALAMY, SHUTTERSTOCK, GAP PHOTOS…

3 DAINTY dog’s tooth violets ‘WHITE BEAUTY’ £8.99/2 bareroot plants These pale cream, lily-like flowers have coppery-red centres, the hue echoed by leaves that are mottled with copper. Perfect for a shady spot that doesn’t dry out. Height and Spread 30cm. suttons.co.uk ‘OLD ABERDEEN’ £8.99/1L pot Early flowering with boldly mottled leaves, this Erythronium dens-canis has dazzling, purple-pink, swept-back blooms. Add plenty of compost when planting to keep the bulbs moist. Height 25cm Spread 30cm. ashwoodnurseries.com ‘PAGODA’ £7.99/0.5L pot If you want a dog’s tooth violet that will form clumps and spread, this vigorous erythronium is a great choice with nodding, canary-yellow flowers and gorgeous marbled foliage. Height and Spread 35cm. ballyrobertgardens.com TIME TO FALL IN LOVE! BARRENWORT ‘RED BEAUTY’ £5/9cm pot We adore this Epimedium grandiflorum not only for its divine flowers and bronzed, heart-shaped foliage, but also…

Patio SPECIAL YOU WILL NEED ✽ Leftover thick, stone paving slab, big enough to fit the top of your pot with an overhang, or try a local supplier ✽ Cardboard, craft knife and pencil ✽ Exterior masonry paints: £3/250ml wickes.co.uk, and paintbrushes ✽ Adhesive: No Nonsense Grab Solvent Free White, £1.95 screwfix.com ✽ Around 13m of hemp/polyhemp rope: £7.33 ropewarehouse.co.uk ✽ Tile stencil: from £2.20 thestencil studio.com and masking tape ✽ Old square planter, or try Durdica Plastic Pot (Dia)40cm, £75 diy.com 1 Lay the slab on the cardboard and paint the top face and sides, then leave to dry thoroughly. 2 Apply a good layer of adhesive around the four sides of the slab. A wiggly line is easiest to apply. 3 Wind the rope tightly around the sides, pressing it down. Trim the end and apply an extra dab…