Amateur Gardening - 25 June 2022

60 Pages·2022·65.2 MB·English

138 years of practical advice
1884 2022
The World’s Oldest Gardening Magazine
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plus growing tips and What’s On
Great garden ideas
24 Club tropicana: if you want a tropical
effect, now is the time to plant
28 Lovely lavender: we name the best
varieties and its many uses
33 How to grow bearded iris: definitive
guide to growing these beauties
Gardening wisdom
28“See my choice of the best lavender 14 B ob Flowerdew
for all needs,” says Graham 16 V al Bourne Wildlife
19 L ucy Chamberlain’s Fruit and Veg
37 A sk John Negus
42 A ll Our Yesterdays
45 A Gardener’s Miscellany
50 T ried & tested: patio/path weeders
52 A nne Swithinbank’s Masterclass
55 L etters to Wendy: from AG readers
58 T oby Buckland
Garden news
8 Chelsea report/Plant of the Year
Reader offers

22 Check out this week’s deals!
“Our report on the RHS plant of the year
from the Chelsea Flower Show is on
page 9 and you can also read about the
7 33
“I reveal my top tips “Breaded irises will
memorial at Chelsea created to celebrate
for getting the best light up a sunny
the life and work of our former columnist
summer lawn,” says Ruth border,” says Graham
ure Peter Seabrook. Peter’s contribution to
ut
F gardening cannot be understated.
“As a grower, writer and TV presenter
he worked unstintingly to promote the
benefits of gardening. Peter exhibited at
Chelsea for 50 years, creating displays
that showcased new plants in a way all
gardeners could enjoy and benefit from.
The Queen was a regular visitor to Peter’s
stand at Chelsea and this
year was no exception — he
would have been proud of
that. We all miss him”.
d Garry Coward-Williams,
e
dit Editor
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er Contact us:
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s Subscriptions: 0330 333 1113
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unl Editorial: 0330 3903732
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a Email: [email protected]
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hs 24“Here are some great options if you Advertising: 0330 3906566
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gr want the tropical look,” says Hazel
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Cover: Bearded iris ‘Rajah’ (pic: Alamy)
25 JUNE 2022 AMATEUR GARDENING 3

Your
GARDENING WEEK
with AG’s gardening expert Ruth Hayes
Dahlia care
y
m Cannas are bright and
a
Al long-flowering
my 1 Fill little pots with newspaper
a
Al and invert on canes near your
dahlias. Earwigs, which eat dahlia
I am protecting a compact flowers, crawl in and can be
‘Star Wars’ dahlia from collected and moved elsewhere
earwigs using a plant pot
(don’t kill them as they eat aphids).
filled with newspaper
There are many
varieties of dahlia
Care of exotic perennials
Ruth sets her cannas and dahlias up for summer
W
HILE I love growing native pellets. They can also contract a virus
flowers and filling the that is incurable, meaning plants should
garden with pastel hues be removed and destroyed.
2
and delicate grasses, I Cannas thrive in sheltered, fertile soil Slugs and snails will target
can’t resist the exotic allure of dahlias in full sun or light shade and if happy, will dahlias so protect them with
and cannas. quickly grow large. Dahlias and cannas a ring of wool pellets, which also
I’m obviously not alone in this as they flower into the autumn, bringing long- acts as mulch, feeding the soil
are two of the most popular summer lasting colour and interest. and helping it retain water.
varieties, and with good reason. Unless you live in very mild areas, they
Dahlias are loved for their infinite are best lifted and stored in a frost-free
variety of heights, shapes and colours, greenhouse through winter, restarted
while cannas add height to the centre of undercover in spring and planted out
borders, their colourful broad leaves as once the frosts have finished and night
much a talking point as their sturdy time temperatures are reliably balmy.
stems holding fiery red, yellow and In very sheltered gardens in mild
orange blooms. areas, both plants can survive winter
Despite their exotic appearance, outside as long as soil is free-draining
canna lilies are fairly problem-free, and their root area is generously
3
though they do suffer from slug and snail mulched with well rotted manure or Smearing Vaseline around the
attacks so protect them with wool compost and straw. stems of potted dahlias also
helps keep snails at bay.
Getting the best from cannas
4
Keep container compost
1 2
Cannas grow well in pots but In autumn when foliage dies back, consistently damp and your
d
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dit aren’t so good at sharing space lift canna rhizomes and store dahlia fed by using a dripper and
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s as they grow large and can swamp them in trays of sand and compost bottle filled with water and liquid
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unl smaller plants. somewhere frost-free through winter. tomato feed.
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25 JUNE 2022 AMATEUR GARDENING 5

Your
GARDENING WEEK
with AG’s gardening expert Ruth Hayes
Cultivating
your wild side
Forking soil before
reseeding
Field poppies add
a splash of colour
Wildflower lawns are important
feeding posts for pollinators
Mowing, feeding and For the past few years we have
removing moss are all turned No Mow May into No Mow
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essential summer jobs ur Summer, letting some of our lawn
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All grow wild, while keeping other areas
Summer lawn essentials cropped short.
This creates what the charity Plant
Life (who started the No Mow May
Feed, mow and take care of bald patches, says Ruth initiative) call ‘the Mohican’.
It is designed so that low-growing
W
HILE we’re busy catering starts to go brown during dry weeks, as it wildflowers such as clover, kidney
to the every need of our will green up again when it rains. vetch and daisies are available for
beds, borders, pots and Keep up with edging around borders, bees and pollinators in early summer,
baskets, let’s not forget as it’s a quick and easy way of making before they make way for taller
that our lawns need looking after too. your garden look smarter. It also plants such as scabious, bedstraws,
It’s often the largest single area in the removed straggly areas of cool shady oxeye daisies and knapweed that
garden and the UK’s usual warm, damp grass where pests often like to hang out. provide pollen through summer and
early summer is perfect growing You may decide to feed your lawns to into autumn.
conditions for grass so you may find keep them lush. This is best done after The key to successfully growing a
yourself needing to mow once a week rain and on overcast days as fertiliser wildflower lawn is to keep the soil
at the moment. can scorch the grass in bright sunlight. poor, so when we scythe the grass
Keep the blade on a fairly high setting Stop feeding with a summer fertiliser and flowers down in late August, we
as this ensures the lawn will stay looking in August, as it contains high levels of leave them lying for just a couple of
lush even through dry spells. Cut too nitrogen to encourage grass growth. days so seeds can fall, before
short and the parched soil below will These new soft shoots won’t have composting it. That way, the plants
start to show through. time to mature and harden off before regenerate, but without enriching the
Unless you are planning a garden autumn, leaving them vulnerable to cold soil underneath.
event, it isn’t worth watering if your lawn weather and hungry pests.
Expert Four tips for getting top lawns
advice
1 2 3 4
While proprietary lawn Where bare patches Moss growing in shaded Only feed your lawn
weed killers will get have formed, or large areas can be combated when it is damp and
rid of large patches of weeds have been removed, by using Mo Bacter moss on overcast days to avoid
unwanted plants, a simple fork up the soil and reseed, killer and Recovery, an scorching the grass. Don’t
puller is good for removing then water it in and protect effective organic, child-and use summer lawn feeds
large perennial weeds. from hungry birds. pet-safe product. after August.
25 JUNE 2022 AMATEUR GARDENING 7
Your
GARDENING WEEK
with AG’s gardening expert Ruth Hayes
Plants were back at Chelsea
This year’s show was a welcome return to ‘proper’ gardens
M
OST years Team AG
approaches the RHS
Chelsea Flower Show with
slight trepidation because
many of the gardens verge on the
pretentious and show nothing that our
loyal readers would consider adding to John Warland’s Ice
Garden represents
their patch.
global warming
This year, however, our fears were
unfounded as plants were back in their
rightful place at the forefront of the
displays, not overshadowed by strange
concrete blocks or rusty American
prairie grain silos.
While there was nothing on show to
scare the horses or make you scratch
your head, there were plenty of
inspirational and very eye-catching ideas The ‘With Love’ garden
White alliums and
to take home and try yourself. by the horticultural
‘Totally Tangerine’
A rare exception was the Plantsman’s charity Perennial won geums were
the People’s Choice
Ice Garden, John Warland’s chilly everywhere
Award 2022
monolith representing the threat of y
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a
global warming. Al
AG editor Garry Coward Williams said: Perennial show garden designed by Tangerine’ was everywhere, as were
“At previous shows the ugliness was Richard Miers. Richard created a quietly purple lupins and irises, white alliums
ignored like the Emperor’s New Clothes, beautiful arrangement of deep purple and foxgloves, creamy-yellow and dusky
as many commentators waxed lyrical lupins surrounded by beautiful snow- pink Verbascums, a myriad salvias and
about concrete and weeds, but there white peonies, foxgloves, roses, gladioli, delicate, floaty grasses.
was a palpable sign of relief this year alliums, gypsophila and Baltic parsley.” It was a refreshing return to basics
that they could talk about plants again. Many of the varieties used were that renewed our faith in the future of
“A good example of this is the springtime favourites; geum ‘Totally British gardening.
Fond memorial to Peter Seabrook
Peter’s effects and “Peter Seabrook’
sweet peas on his memorial bench
THE first Chelsea Flower Show without early flowering and highly scented and
Peter Seabrook was always going to was discovered as a ‘rogue’ by Peter and
be a strange event. The absence of developed by Thompson and Morgan.
gardening’s most irrepressible The brand’s horticultural
character was commented director, Paul Hansford, said:
on by many. “Sweet peas were one of
This year, his Peter’s favourite plants
s
ubiquitous floral and he spotted this one ard
display was replaced wards as a rogue (unwanted ur Edw
by a touching ur Ed plant in a seed crop) and Arth
memorial featuring a Arth selected it.
garden bench with his “We grew it and it has new plants developed each year.
trademark straw hat, come true to type.” Alan Titchmarsh, who presented
gumboots, sunflower tie The Queen with her The Sun newspaper will the BBC’s Chelsea coverage with
and overalls. ‘Peter Seabrook’ be selling 10,000 packets of Peter, paid tribute.
There was also a bouquet sweet peas sweet pea ‘Peter Seabrook’ in He said: “He was great company,
of sweet peas named in his honour September and £1 from every pack extremely generous and a real fighter
and later presented to The Queen sold will be donated to Peter’s beloved for horticulture.
when she made her customary tour of RHS Garden Hyde Hall to enable staff “He was the greatest champion of
d
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the Great Pavilion. there to continue working on the Floral our industry. We see gardening at its dit
e
‘Peter Seabrook’ is a new variety in Fantasia. This is an annual initiative best here, every May, and Peter was s cr
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e
shades of mauve. It is long-stemmed, started by Peter to showcase the best always at its forefront.” unl
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8 AMATEUR GARDENING 25 JUNE 2022
New to you: In next week’s AG we’re showcasing s
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the best of this year’s new plants and where you s r
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can buy them. eal
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Maritime Armeria pseudarmeria
‘Dreamland’ was second placed
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x Semponium ‘Destiny’ is a cross between a w S A pink version of the ever-popular
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hardy Sempervivum and an aeonium ndr Salvia ‘Amistad’ came third
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3
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Hardy ‘Destiny’ is Plant of the Year
This attractive crossbreed is the perfect variety for times of climate uncertainty
B
OLD, beautiful and not, leaves that hold their colour all year, and of unique new hybrids between a
perhaps, a traditional choice, pretty yellow flowers. humble super-hardy houseleek,
the winner of the 2022 It grows to 60cm across on a single Sempervivum, and a more exotic rather
Chelsea Flower Show Plant rosette of leaves and may start to branch tender succulent Aeonium, ‘Destiny’ is a
of the Year may raise a few eyebrows, out when mature enough. The plant was dramatic patio plant that looks like a
but there are good reasons why x developed at Surreal Succulents in west bronze sculpture and will make an
Semponium ‘Destiny’ walked off with Cornwall by Daniel Michael. impressive 40cm x 40cm feature in just
the prestigious accolade. AG expert Graham Rice was one of three years.”
It is a cross between a hardy the RHS judges called upon to choose Armeria pseudarmeria ‘Dreamland’
Sempervivum and an Aeonium and is the winner and he says ‘Destiny’ won (Dreameria Series) from Stonebarn
the perfect plant for these times of thanks to its innovation and lasting Landscapes came second, with a pink
climate change and uncertainty. appeal and also because it is ‘a version of Salvia ‘Amistad’ from
Drought-tolerant and hardy down to genuinely good specimen’. Middleton Nurseries Ltd winning
-2°C, ‘Destiny’ has striking dark red Graham added: “Picked from a group third place.
Team AG’s plants of the year
I CHOSE the Armeria THIS floribunda rose PLANT of the Year was
pseudarmeria ‘Loyal Companion’ bred packed with gems, but
‘Dreamland’. by Peter Beales Roses Iris sibirica ‘Fran’s
I’m a fan of what I has delicate pink, semi Gold’ caught my vote.
call sea thrift, (it has double cup-shaped I like Sibirian flag
many common names flowers that open wide to irises because they are
including cliff rose and reveal prominent stamens less fussy than bearded
lady’s pincushion) and I have several. – an ideal landing pad for bees! Perfect irises. ‘Fran’s Gold’ has green-yellow
Armeria pseudarmeria is a larger, for the smaller garden at 3ft x 2ft (90 x foliage followed by delicate, long-
taller variety that got my attention. 60cm), and ideal for pots. One striking lasting purple flowers flecked with
The plant is available from several feature is the changing colours at every white and yellow.
suppliers including the plant shop at stage of maturity, starting with apricot Fully hardy, great for pollinators
RHS Wisley, and Bodmin Nursery, buds, opening peach to pink and finally and perfect for adding mid-border
m Laveddon Mill, Laninval Hill, Bodmin, petals fade to white. height, it likes moisture-retentive soil
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de Cornwall, PL30 5JU ((cid:9) 01208 72837, ((cid:27) Classicroses.co.uk) £18.95 bare root in dappled shade or sun. ‘Fran’s Gold’
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w (cid:27) bodminnursery.co.uk delivery from November. will be available later this summer.
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ndr Garry Coward-Williams Wendy Humphries Ruth Hayes
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25 JUNE 2022 AMATEUR GARDENING 9
Your
GARDENING WEEK
with AG’s gardening expert Ruth Hayes
Tender veg
I am cutting back our Clematis montana
to keep it in shape
Finally out and ready to grow
Plant butternut squash somewhere
fertile, sunny and sheltered
Give Coronilla a trim
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m in early summer
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Al
Top Tip
Pruning every year
keeps clematis THANKS to holidays and general
flowering on all its disorganisation, I was a bit late
stems, rather than d planting out our
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just at the top dit
e courgettes and
cr
above eye s
es butternut
level e unl squashes, but
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ut now they are
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Early summer pruning in the ground
and we’re
keeping
fingers crossed Harvest courgettes
Trim back early clematis and other shrubs, says Ruth
as they ripen
for good harvests.
O
UR Deutzia and weigela are profusely. It is the montana’s turn for a Both plants like sunny, fertile soil
still just about flowering so I’m hard chop this autumn as it has and need regular feeding and
not quite ready to prune them, outgrown its space and is pulling its old watering through the growing
and the forsythia is growing wire trellis away from the wall. season. Chicken manure pellets,
well so I won’t trim that or I’ll lose next I also trimmed a Coronilla valentina forked into the soil, will release
year’s flowering stems. ‘Citrina’, a compact shrub with blue- enough nutrients to keep plants
However, this point of the summer is green leaves and sweet yellow flowers growing well, and watering with a
the perfect time to prune early-flowering that scent the garden from January right solution of tomato fertiliser once the
clematis such as C. montana, winter- through to early summer. courgettes and squash have formed
flowering varieties and C. armandii. This variety doesn’t take kindly to will help them crop well.
It is easy to do, just trim away dead hard pruning so I just deadhead and trim Young plants also need
flowers and any long, straggly stems that off the straggly ends to stop it growing protection from slugs and snails, so
are outgrowing their allotted space. over the path, before removing any ring them with a collar of deterrent
We have a montana and an armandii stems that look dead, diseased or weak. wool mulching
that need cutting back. I hard pruned the (cid:81) I will soon be trimming other summer- If you prefer to use pellets, just
armandii three years ago and this is the flowering shrubs as well as our plum and put one or two under a tile near the
first year since that it has really flowered cherry trees. Watch this space. plants – the pests will retreat under
there during the day and eat the
pellets. Dispose of the corpses in
Top tips for summer pruning
the bin.
Both butternut squash and
courgettes can suffer from powdery
mildew, so keep them well watered
and with good airflow.
Once ripe, keep butternut
squash on the plants for as long as
possible before harvesting.
Courgettes should be harvested
as soon as they are large enough to
1 2
Simply trim away straggly Feed shrubs after pruning, then eat as this will encourage the plants
Coronilla stems, cutting back to water well and mulch around the to produce more. If you leave them
healthy wood or a strong, outward- root area with well-rotted compost on the plant you risk ending up with
facing shoot. or manure. one large courgette and no more.
10 AMATEUR GARDENING 25 JUNE 2022