HOW TO GROW PRACTICALLY EVERYTHING S OF GARDENING 100 PROJECTS ABSOLUTELY ANYONE CAN DO HOW TO GROW PRACTICALLY EVERYTHING ZIA ALLAWAY LIA LEENDERTZ LONDON, NEW YORK, MUNICH, MELBOURNE, DELHI Senior Editor Zia Allaway Senior Designer Lucy Parissi Project Editor Caroline Reed US Editor Jill Hamilton Editors Chauney Dunford, Becky Shackleton Designer Francesca Gormley Picture Research Jenny Baskaya, Lucy Claxton Jacket Design Duncan Turner Production Editor Joanna Byrne Production Controller Imogen Boase Managing Editor Esther Ripley Managing Art Editor Alison Donovan Publisher Jonathan Metcalf Art Director Bryn Walls RHS Publisher Susannah Charlton RHS Editor Rae Spencer-Jones Photography Brian North, Peter Anderson Additional text Jenny Hendy First published in the United States in 2010 by DK Publishing 375 Hudson Street New York, New York 10014 10 11 12 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 176547—March 2010 Copyright © 2010 Dorling Kindersley Limited, London Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book. Published in Great Britain by Dorling Kindersley Limited. A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress. ISBN: 978-0-7566-3341-7 DK books are available at special discounts when purchased in bulk for sales promotions, premiums, fund-raising, or educational use. For details, contact: DK Publishing Special Markets, 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014 or SpecialSales@dk.com Printed and bound by Star Standard, Singapore IMPORTANT NOTICE The author and the publishers can accept no liability for any harm, damage, or illness arising from the use or misuse of the plants described in this book. Discover more at www.dk.com Foreword Growing plants is easy when you know how. Most plants will flourish with just a little help, and you don’t need any special skills to sow seeds to create beds brimming with flowers and vegetables, or to pot up containers to paint your patio with color. Follow the step-by-step guides to grow almost anything your heart desires, from spring bulbs and easy-care shrubs in a border, to a tiny orchard or bed filled with tasty root crops. To make life even easier, we’ve included lots of hints and tips to make sure that your plants thrive. And if you need inspiration when choosing a plant for a particular place or purpose, take a look at the “Selections” spreads, which showcase a range of options. The book is split into eight chapters: the first is an introduction to plants and soil—a good starting point for beginners before planning or planting. The following chapters offer a feast of ideas for different areas of the garden, fruit and vegetable plot, and your home. There is also a chapter on water and wildlife gardening. Browse through to see what intrigues you, and use the quick checklists to discover how much time each project will take, and the tools and plants you will need. To conclude, there’s advice on garden care and maintenance, as well as tips on keeping pests and diseases at bay, equipping you with everything you need to know to create a beautiful, bountiful garden. ZIA ALLAWAY LIA LEENDERTZ Contents GARDENING BASICS 8 Identify plant types How plants grow and reproduce Understand soil Choose a garden style Plan your planting Prepare to plant Essential tools Seasonal planner 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 BEAUTIFUL BEDS 26 Create a new border Build a decorative edge Plant a spring border Create a shady shrub border Selections: Spring bulbs Plant spring bulbs Early summer color Grow acid lovers Plant a fiery border 28 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 Selections: Scented plants Fragrant border Ornamental grass bed Make a family garden Create a shady rockery Selections: Plants for dry shade Tropical retreat Plant bare-root bamboo Sow sunflowers and annuals Cottage garden planting Selections: Cottage garden plants Prairie-style planting Flowers for cutting and drying Planting for texture Gravel gardens Selections: Mediterranean plants Planting by a hedge Easy-care border Design with gabions Grow dahlias and cannas 48 50 52 54 56 58 60 62 64 66 68 70 72 74 76 78 80 82 84 86 Selections: Dramatic dahlias Modern mixed planting Contemporary rose garden Autumn border Selections: Jewel-like berries Simple topiary Colorful winter border 88 90 92 94 96 98 100 CREATIVE CONTAINERS 102 Choose containers Colorful spring bulb pots Sow summer bedding How to plant up pots Selections: Foolproof seeds Spring wallflowers Grasses from seed Spiky plants Climbers in containers Grow plants from plugs Selections: Plants for shade 104 106 108 110 112 114 115 116 118 120 122 Plant fragrant lilies Cottage-style containers Exotic combinations Plant a summer hanging basket Selections: Summer basket plants Containers from cast-offs Grow succulents and alpines Plant patio roses Contemporary container display Selections: Contemporary pots Bamboos in containers Creative topiary for planters Pots of autumn color Evergreen shrub display Selections: Shrubs for pots Patio with tiered beds Plant a winter hanging basket Year-on-year Christmas tree Pots of colorful hostas Plant a winter windowbox 124 126 128 130 132 134 136 138 140 142 144 146 148 150 152 154 156 158 160 162 Selections: Winter patio plants Add height to container displays Create table-top color Plant up a roof terrace Braid a bay tree 164 166 168 170 172 STRUCTURAL FEATURES 174 Choose a tree 176 How to plant a tree 178 Grow a tree fern 180 Make multistemmed trees 182 Selections: Trees for small spaces 184 Create a laburnum walkway 186 Grow trees from seeds 188 Grow an ornamental cherry 190 Plant an informal hedge 192 Selections: Hedge plants 194 Plant a formal hedge 196 Scented lavender hedge 198 Plant Mediterranean wall pots 200 Create a plant checkerboard 202 Selections: Plants for crevices 204 Turf a lawn 206 Seed a lawn Plant spring bulbs in a lawn How to plant a climber Selections: Clematis Make an obelisk for climbers Plant a clematis Grow decorative vines Make a rose arch Selections: Climbers for arches Plant wisteria Grow scented sweet peas Prune stems for winter color Weave a living screen Plant wall shrubs Selections: Decorative catkins Grow climbers for winter color Create standard shrubs Choose compact conifers Plant for all-season color 208 210 212 214 216 219 220 222 224 226 228 230 232 234 236 238 240 242 244 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES 246 Grow a row of beans Create a patio kitchen garden 248 250 Plant potatoes Build a timber raised bed Root crops for raised beds Selections: Raised bed options Plant crops in pots Grow easy leaf crops Winter-cropping vegetables Sprouting seeds and beans Selections: Edible flowers Plant onions and garlic Tomatoes in bags Peas and pods Sweet squash Selections: Squash and pumpkins Sow chilies Grow mushrooms using a kit Corn and broad beans Make a vegetable windowbox Grow your own salads Selections: Salad leaves Strawberries in pots Raspberries and blackberries Grow super fruits 252 254 256 258 260 262 264 266 268 270 272 274 276 278 280 281 282 284 286 288 290 292 294 Fruit for small spaces Selections: Fruit for containers Rhubarb and blueberries Thai herbs and spices Grow citrus fruit Nuts for the garden Create a herb parterre Selections: Herbs Tomato and herb basket Make a herb circle Grow figs and peaches Train fruit trees Plant a tiny orchard 296 298 300 302 304 306 308 310 312 314 316 318 320 WILDLIFE GARDENING 322 Make a wildlife pond Plant up your pond Plant a fishpond Create a bog garden Selections: Bog plants Plant a boggy pot Create a lush stream-side Make a barrel pool 324 327 328 330 332 334 336 338 Create a small lily pond Selections: Water lilies Make an urn fountain Plant trees for wildlife Sow a flower meadow Plant a bed for bees Selections: Plants for insects Create a home for wildlife Install a green roof Make garden compost How to make leafmold Make homes for birds and bees 340 342 344 346 348 350 352 354 356 358 360 362 PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME 364 Dramatic amaryllis Group houseplants Make an indoor hanging basket Selections: Orchids How to grow exotic orchids Create an orchid display Force spring bulbs in winter House plants as focal points Selections: Shade-lovers 366 368 370 372 374 376 378 380 382 Flowering house plants Grow indoor ferns Plant a collection of cacti Selections: Desert dwellers All-year care for poinsettias Bring plants back into flower Grow silver-leaved begonias Selections: Winter flowers 384 386 388 390 392 394 396 398 PLANT CARE 400 Tackle weeds Feed your plants Watering methods Frost protection Pruning tips How to prune shrubs Pruning clematis and roses Plant propagation Lawn care Pest control Disease control Index Suppliers 402 404 406 408 410 412 414 416 422 424 430 434 446 Gardening Basics Explore the world of plants and flowers to find out how they grow, and the best ways to care for them. Then, find out more about soil types and aspect to make sure you match your plants to the conditions in your garden. Equipped with this information, the fun can begin: put together a tool kit, decide on your style, design a planting plan, and start choosing plants and seeds. Finally, browse through the “Seasonal Planner” on pages 24–25 to discover what should be done when. << GARDENING BASICS Identifying plant types Does your garden lack color or structure, and would it benefit from more glitz or a greater sense of permanence? Different types of plant have different roles to play, and understanding what each one can bring will help you make your garden more beautiful, and create year-round interest. 1 ANNUALS 2 BIENNIALS 3 PERENNIALS 4 GRASSES These plants germinate, grow, flower, set seed, and die all in one year. They are bold and colorful, and quickly gone, although hardy ones may selfseed and appear the next year. Much like annuals, biennials are short-lived, but spread their time over two years, growing in the first, flowering in the second. They too are used as colorful bedding plants. Perennials are the mainstays of flower gardens, producing their flowers and foliage year after year. Most die down in winter and produce a fresh crop of leaves every spring. Some ornamental grasses are evergreen and keep their leaves all year, while others die back. They create movement and light in the garden, and many have striking winter skeletons. 5 SHRUBS 6 TREES 7 CLIMBERS 8 AQUATICS Deciduous or evergreen, these plants form the backbone of the garden. Shrubs have a woody framework and create a permanent structure. Many also produce attractive flowers and berries. For privacy, enclosure, and a sense of permanence, plant a tree. Evergreens provide color all year, while deciduous species bring young spring leaves and blossom, autumn color, and a wintry outline. Scrambling up walls and across trellises, climbers soften the sharp lines of hard landscaping, and they can also be grown through shrubs and trees. Many have beautiful flowers, and some are scented. If you have a pond, there is a wide range of plants to consider, from marginals with ornamental foliage or flowers that thrive in shallow water, to spectacular deep-water aquatics, such as water lilies. 11 12 GARDENING BASICS >> How plants grow One of the pleasures of gardening is that it gives you the chance to watch nature at work. As soon as you put a plant in the ground, a cycle of growth and reproduction begins. Learn what plants need to grow strong and healthy, and you can help them to put on their best performance. Vital supplies Plants need water, air, nutrients, and light to thrive, and when first planted they are dependent on you to provide them. Neglect them at this stage and they are unlikely to survive. LIGHT REQUIREMENTS Plants make energy from sunlight through photosynthesis, and can thrive only if they receive the right amount for their needs. Different plants have evolved to survive in different conditions, and some love shade, while others prefer their heads in the sun. Plants also offer clues about the conditions they enjoy—those with small hairy or gray leaves, such as lavender, enjoy sunny sites, and those with large, dark green leaves grow well in shade. When choosing plants, check their light requirements and plant them in an appropriate place. Young plants are particularly vulnerable to poor light conditions and will struggle to establish if the sun is blocked by weeds, so keep the area around them free of competing plants as they mature. REGULAR WATER SUPPLIES When young, all plants need regular watering because their small root systems are unable to search for moisture if it doesn’t come to them. You can encourage your plants to develop deep, self-sustaining root systems by watering occasionally but deeply, using one large watering can per plant. Moisture then seeps deep into the soil, and the roots reach down to find it. SOIL NEEDS Plants love to sink their roots into aerated, moist yet well-drained soil. To achieve these ideal conditions, dig in plenty of organic matter, such as well-rotted manure or mushroom compost (see pp.14–15) before planting, and spread a thick layer on the soil surface in spring. Earthworms will then drag it down into the soil, where it will gradually improve drainage and water-retention capacity, ensuring that your soil contains all the nutrients and moisture necessary for seeds to germinate and roots to explore. 1 Sunflowers literally love their heads in the sun and the blooms follow its path throughout the day. 2 Earthworms produce gums that bind soil particles together, improving the soil structure. 3 Water young plants regularly to help their roots establish. << GARDENING BASICS How plants reproduce All plants are designed to ensure their survival or that of the next generation, but they go about it in different ways. Some produce copious numbers of seeds, while others reproduce vegetatively, extending their root systems through the soil. a Hungry roots The area close to the root tips is covered in tiny hairs that absorb nutrients dissolved in the soil water. Take care not to damage these. MAKING SEED ROOTING AROUND Plants with colorful, nectar-filled flowers attract pollinating insects that pick up pollen from one flower and transfer it to another. This process activates plants’ sexual reproduction and prompts the flowers to start developing into seeds. The benefit of reproducing sexually is that every seedling has a slightly different genetic makeup, and when adverse conditions hit, only the fittest survive to breed again, strengthening the species. Many creepers and climbers throw out long stems above ground that produce roots when they touch the soil. The roots of others clump up and spread gradually, while some send up shoots from long, extended roots. The danger of vegetative reproduction is that it produces a less diverse population, which is more vulnerable to changing conditions. This is why plants that reproduce asexually also flower and set seed, just in case. FOOD FOR THOUGHT Plants feed via their roots, removing minerals dissolved in water in the soil. They are constantly seeking new areas to exploit and form a large underground network, so that when one area dries out or is killed off, other roots can be relied upon to take over and keep the plant alive. In a natural environment, the plant population will adjust to the nutrients that are available. In a well-stocked garden where plants are growing closely together you will need to top-up the nutrient level regularly by applying fertilizer and organic matter, such as well-rotted manure. Organic fertilizers are a good choice for borders because they release nutrients slowly, feeding plants for a season, and do not harm beneficial soil organisms. You can also apply fertilizer to the leaves with a foliar feed. If a plant is suffering from a trace element deficiency, such as iron or manganese, a spray of foliar fertilizer can quickly improve its health. Apply fertilizer to the backs of leaves where they can absorb it more easily. 1 Insects, such as bees, transfer pollen from one plant to another, which activates sexual reproduction. 2 The male pollen grains fertilize female parts of the flower, stimulating the production of seeds. 3 The arching shoots of brambles start to grow roots when they touch the soil, producing a new plant. 4 Bamboos throw out long underground roots called “runners,” which in turn generate shoots that grow to form new plants. 13 14 GARDENING BASICS >> Understanding soil Your most important task as a gardener is to gain an understanding of soil. Your soil type determines what will grow well and what will fail, so save yourself heartache and miserable plants by spending a little time getting to know the soil in your garden and how to make the most of it. TESTING YOUR SOIL SANDY SOIL There are two main types of soil particle: sand and clay. Sand particles are relatively large and water drains freely through the spaces between them, while clay particles are tiny and trap moisture in the miniscule gaps. They are also slightly absorbent. This explains why sandy soils are dry and clay soils are moisture-retentive. Most soils are a mixture of both, but tend toward one or the other, but the ideal is “loam,” which contains almost equal measures of sand and clay. Loam retains enough water for plant roots to use, but also drains away excess moisture to prevent waterlogging. Test your soil type by digging some up and rolling it between your fingers. When rolled between the fingers, sandy soil feels gritty, and when you try to mold it into a ball or sausage shape, it falls apart. It is also generally pale in color. The benefits of sandy soils are that they are light and well drained, and easy to work. Mediterranean plants are happiest in sandy soil, because they never suffer TOP TIP: TESTING ACIDITY i Shapeless and gritty Samples of sandy soil feel gritty and when you try to roll them into a ball, they simply fall apart, even when wet. CLAY SOIL Roll clay between your fingers and it feels smooth and dense, and retains its shape when molded into a ball. Soils very rich in clay will not crack even when rolled into a horseshoe shape. Sticky and impossible to dig when wet; solid, cracked and impenetrable when dry, clay soils are hard to work. But in return, when looked after A simple pH test, available from the garden center, will tell you how acidic (lime-free) or alkaline (lime-rich) your soil is, and this will determine the range of plants you can grow. Add the supplied solution to a small sample of your soil in the tube provided. Wait until the solution changes color, then match the color to the chart. from soggy roots. However, their poor water-holding capacity makes sandy soils prone to drought and lacking nutrients because nutrients are dissolved in water. correctly, they have excellent waterretaining properties, and are rich in nutrients. Greedy rose bushes and fruit trees love to sink their roots into them. i Smooth and sticky Like the material used for making pots, clay soils feel smooth and pliable. Roll them into a ball or sausage and they will retain their shape. << IMPROVING YOUR SOIL Whether you have a dry sandy soil or a sticky clay, the prescription is the same: lots and lots of organic matter, such as well-rotted manure, spent mushroom compost, and garden compost. These bind together sandy soils and loosen dense clay soils, so ladle them on. GARDENING BASICS Sun or shade? Some plants like a hot spot, and enjoy basking in the sun all day long, while others prefer cool shade. Find out what your garden has to offer before you buy or start planting. ASPECT EXPLAINED a Using a compass Line the red arrow up with north on your compass to discover your garden’s aspect. a Fork in manure Regular applications of manure and other types of organic matter will help to alleviate every problem related to soil type. LIGHTENING CLAY Horticultural grit helps improve drainage in clay soils. Dig it into the soil over a large area, rather than using it to line the base of planting holes. In heavy downpours grit-lined planting holes act as sump pumps and water pools around the roots of plants, which can kill them. a Add grit To improve the structure of heavy clay soil, spread a thick layer of horticultural grit over a large area, and then dig it in. CHECK YOUR PLOT Patterns of sun and shade change throughout the day, and a garden that is in full sun at midday may have dark pools of shade by late afternoon, so spend some time watching your garden on a sunny day and make a note of the way shadows move around the plot. You can then plan what to plant where and identify areas for seating. Remember, too, that the patterns change depending on the season. A garden can look very different in low-light winter conditions, and areas that are in full sun for half the day in summer may not get any at this time of the year. To assess light and shade, take pictures of your garden at different times of the day. This north-west-facing garden has been shot morning, noon, and evening. 1 The patio is partially shaded in the morning. 2 Most of this large garden is sunny at midday because the house is not tall enough to cast shade over it. 3 Sun floods the whole patio in the evening. Stand with your back to each of your boundaries and use a compass to figure out the direction that they face. Those facing south will be in the sun all day and hot, while those pointing north will be in shade most of the time and cooler. East-facing areas offer morning sun and evening shade, while the opposite applies to those facing west. 15 16 GARDENING BASICS >> Choosing a style When planning your garden or planting design, start with an idea of the look you want to achieve. Whether it’s a formal, ordered design or a wild and rambling feel you’re after, choose a style and then follow it through with appropriate plants and materials. WHAT DO YOU WANT? o A place in the sun When planning your garden, locate areas in sun and shade, and plan seating and planting accordingly. Here, the seating area is a sunny terrace, ideal for loungers, surrounded by summer flowers. The ferns in baskets need some shade during the day and plenty of moisture to succeed here, and most of the perennials will die down in winter, leaving bare beds. Before deciding on a style, gather together some inspirational images. Take a camera to local open gardens and flower shows, snapping plants or designs that you like. Add pictures from magazines and books and you will soon have a scrapbook of plants and designs. Think, too, about what you want to do in your garden, whether it’s to relax and entertain, tend a vegetable plot, or grow a colorful flower border. MEETING YOUR NEEDS It is a good idea to focus on a particular style when designing your garden, but you will need to factor in your specific needs too. Write a list of practical requirements and incorporate these into your plans. For example, you may need a space to store trash cans or bikes, or perhaps room for a greenhouse or shed. Also consider access to utility buildings. When planning a dining area, consider how many people you will need to seat around a table, and calculate the size of a proposed patio to accommodate them. a Bicycle sculpture The problem of storing bikes in a small front garden is solved here with these cleverly designed racks that not only keep them secure, but transform them into a sculptural feature. a Beautiful bins Most households have recycling bins and trash cans that take up space and look unsightly. Here, a small shed with a roof planted up with mind-your-own-business (Soleirolia soleirolii) hides them and blends in with the garden. a Raised vegetables Growing fruit and vegetables in raised beds makes them easier to tend. The beds can also double as seats where space is limited. Planting styles The type of plants you choose, and the way in which you group them, will affect your designs. For instance, packing lots of different plants together lends an informal note, while using just a few species creates a modern, urban look. THEME YOUR PLANTING Use your favorite plants to evolve a garden style to suit you. If you love large, leafy plants, consider a tropical theme. Summer annuals lend themselves to traditional cottage gardens, while spiky succulents and drought-tolerant plants suit gravel gardens. 1 Spiky yuccas and hardy bananas create a lush tropical flavor. 2 Relaxed planting best suits the cottage-garden style. 3 The tepee and butterfly-friendly plants make this garden a haven for children. 4 Strong lines and few plants reflect a stark Modernist style. 5 A circular lawn and grassy borders update a traditional theme. 6 Sun-loving succulents sit happily in this desert-style bed. 18 GARDENING BASICS >> Planning your planting The plants you choose for your garden will depend on your taste and the style you want to achieve, but there are some basic rules about placing and grouping them that are relevant to all designs. If you have just inherited a garden, wait a couple of seasons to see if any plants appear that are worth keeping. ASSESS YOUR PLANTS In addition to making a list of the plants you want to include in your garden, also note those you have already. Think carefully before removing trees and large shrubs because these will take the longest to replace if you subsequently regret your decision. You may find that a hedge or shrubs are sheltering the garden from prevailing winds, or a tree could be masking an ugly view or neighbor’s house. Remember, too, that you can easily move clumps of perennials and bulbs, or split them into smaller groups. Shrubby shelter belt p The shrubs surrounding this patio shelter it from wind, and provide shade and privacy. When deciding whether to keep or remove large plants, try to visualize the garden without them, or cut them back first to see the effect. PLAN THE STRUCTURE FIRST a Stairway to heaven To create this beautiful landscape, plant the shrubs first, and fill in between them with perennials and grasses. Plants that require good drainage are squeezed between large boulders. a Planting plan When planning a tree in a border, take note of its spread, which will affect the light and water available to plants beneath it. The light leaf cover of this Acer allows dense planting below. First, mark out your bed or border with nontoxic spray paint, sand from a bottle, or a hose (see p.28). Then make a rough paper plan by scaling down the length and breadth of the bed to, say, 1 in (2.5 cm) on paper to 10 in (25 cm) on the ground, or 1 in (2.5 cm) to 20 in (50 cm). Then start plotting areas for the main structural plants, such as shrubs and trees. Check their heights and spreads to ensure they will have space to grow where you want them. Then draw circles with diameters that represent the spread of each plant on your paper plan. Alternatively, draw circles with sand from a bottle or nontoxic spray paint marking the positions of the plants on the actual bed. The next step is to plan the planting around these large specimens. Make sure perennials are a good distance from the central stems of trees and shrubs; spring bulbs that flower before the canopies open can be planted closer. GROUPING PLANTS Specimen trees and shrubs look great as individual statements, but bulbs and perennials have greater impact when planted en masse. Bulbs are best planted in large groups of 10 or more if you have space—weave them between laterflowering plants. Perennials work well in swathes of five or more. You can achieve a naturalistic design by interlocking sausage-shaped groups together, or for a modern look, plant in more regimental square or rectangular shapes. You can also add rhythm and continuity to your design by repeating the same plants throughout the garden, and try combining contrasting leaf shapes as well as flower colors for a rich, textured look. Creative contrasts p Although the predominant color in this border is green, the bold groups of perennials with contrasting leaf shapes and forms more than compensate for the limited color palette. CHOOSING A COLOR THEME Skillful garden designers are adept at matching colors to create harmonious planting displays, and by applying their methods, you can create similar effects. For a bright bold display, choose hot colors, such as canary yellow, fuchsia pink, red, and orange, or try cool blues, mauves, purples, and white to imbue your design with a mellow mood. Alternatively, mix the two schemes, placing blue next to yellow, or purple with red, to achieve a more balanced effect, but avoid too many different hues or your design will look disjointed and messy. Another option is to limit the palette to just one or two colors for an elegant mono- or duotone scheme. o a Lively or low key Red tulips and yellow wallflowers toned down with blue forget-me-nots create a bright, exciting design to herald spring (left). At the opposite end of the spectrum, this blue and white design of grasses, daisies, Bergenia, and Euphorbia has a tranquil effect (above). 20 GARDENING BASICS >> Get ready to plant Having assessed your site and soil conditions, you are now equipped with the information you need to buy the best plants for your garden. Browse through the rest of the book for ideas and plans, and make a list of your favorites. Make your choices When buying plants at a garden center or nursery, take the list of those you want with you, and try to stick to it. Remember, perennials look best planted in groups of three or more, while shrubs will need space to grow. CHOOSE CAREFULLY If some of the plants you have chosen are not available at your local garden center, it is tempting to select a similar plant, but take care to check the labels for heights, spreads, and growing conditions first (left). Different species of the same type of plant may grow to very different proportions from the one on your list. a Small selections Garden centers often stock a large range of plants, but only a small selection of each species. For a greater choice, use specialist nurseries; many offer mail-order or online service. BUYER BEWARE Before buying a plant, give it a quick check to make sure you take home a healthy one. First look at the leaves and stems for signs of pests and diseases, and reject any plant with wilted foliage. Large weeds growing in the pot are also a sign of neglect. Then, turn over the pot. If there is a mass of roots growing through the drainage holes, the plant has been in its pot too long—a condition known as “root bound.” Finally, look for plants with lots of leafy stems and fat flower buds. a Cause for concern Of the two climbers shown here, the one on the left is the best choice, with lots of leafy stems. o Root check Just a few roots showing through the drainage holes suggest that the plant has a well-established root system but has not been in its pot for too long. Storing plants It is best to plant your purchases within a day or two of bringing them home, but if this is not possible, store them carefully and they should continue to flourish until you have time to plant them, or the weather improves. a Cool conditions Store new plants in a cool, shady spot, and water daily until planting. TEMPORARY HOMES Do not plant if the soil is waterlogged or frozen; the roots of young plants will not survive in either of these conditions. Planting in a drought is also not advisable because you will bring cooler, damp soil from beneath the ground up to the surface and lose precious moisture. In either case, store your new plants in a sheltered area in the shade, and water daily until the conditions improve. a Bare-root storage If you are unable to plant bare-root plants immediately, simply bury their roots in the ground to keep them protected and moist. Prepare the ground Taking a few hours to prepare the soil before you plant always pays dividends, and often ends up saving time in the long run. Removing weeds and enriching the soil are essential jobs that are best done in the autumn or early spring. REMOVE ALL WEEDS First, dig out all of the weeds from the site by hand, or apply a weedkiller to pernicious types, such as bindweed or ground elder (see pp.402–403). If the weeds are really problematic, consider covering the soil with old carpet for a few seasons. This excludes light and moisture, as well as forming a physical barrier against weed seeds, and should kill off even the most troublesome types. DIG IN DEEP If you have taken on a neglected plot, or want to improve all the soil in your garden, try “single digging.” This involves digging a trench across your plot, one spade wide and deep. Move the excavated soil to the far end of the plot and add manure to the base of the trench. Dig a second trench next to the first, filling the first with the excavated soil. Then add manure to the second trench. Repeat across the plot. This is hard work, but well worth the effort. a Time saver When weeding try to completely remove the root systems to prevent the plants from regrowing. o Fertile ideas By digging in well-rotted manure or garden compost over the whole plot you will not have to worry about adding it to individual areas each time you plant. 22 GARDENING BASICS >> Essential tools You don’t need to spend a fortune when you start gardening, but a few basic tools are essential if you want to perform more than the smallest tasks. When you have more than three or four tools, consider investing in a small shed or box to keep your collection clean, dry, and free from rust. YOUR TOOL KIT A beginner’s kit should include a watering can, fork, spade, rake, trowel, and a hand fork. Add to these as your interest increases, and the list of jobs you carry out diversifies. If you find yourself doing a particular task frequently, such as digging the vegetable patch, invest in one tool of particularly good quality to make the job easier and more pleasurable. DIGGING, PLANTING AND HARVESTING 1 A sturdy garden fork is an essential tool, ideal for digging heavy soil and aerating lawns. 2 Buy a lightweight gardening basket for weeding and moving plants around the garden. 3 If you are tall, invest in a long-handled spade and fork, which will help prevent back injuries. 4 Trowels are ideal for planting seedlings and filling pots with soil. 5 Use a hand fork for small planting jobs and removing weeds. 6 A standard rake is used to level seedbeds and tamp down soil; buy a spring-tined fork for removing moss from lawns. PRUNING AND CUTTING The cutting tool you require depends on the thickness of the material you need to remove. There are lightweight clippers for cutting flowers and shaping fine topiary; heavier clippers for pruning stems of around pencil thickness; and loppers and pruning saws for larger branches. Choose the right pruning tool for the job because clippers may be damaged by material that is too thick, and a pruning saw will be too rough and unwieldy for small branches. Using the right pruner also makes the job much easier. a Pruning with clippers Invest in a good-quality pair of clippers if you have shrubs and trees to prune. Look for those with long-term guarantees. Spades and forks are both used to cultivate the soil but they have distinct roles. Use a fork to dig heavy soil, lift root crops, handle bulky material, such as garden compost, or to incorporate organic matter, such as manure, into the soil. Spades are best for digging holes and trenches, and shifting large quantities of soil; they cope better with light soils that fall through the prongs of a fork. However, if you find a spade too heavy, buy a border spade, which has a smaller head. a Coping with larger branches Small branches should be cut with a pruning saw, which has a curved blade to make sawing easier, and fits into awkward spaces. WATERING In summer, watering becomes the main task in the garden, and a basic watering can serves most needs. Fit a rose on the spout to sprinkle water on delicate seedlings or new plants after planting. An additional benefit is that watering cans fit easily under a rainwater butt tap. In larger gardens, or if you have lots of pots, you may find it necessary to use a hose. Look for one with adjustable settings so that you can gently sprinkle water on to containers or spray established plants. You can also buy long-handled hoses for watering hanging baskets. a Shower young plants Use a garden hose with a spray fitting to water newly planted areas with a gentle shower. a Watering cans for all jobs Use a full watering can to soak the roots of new plantings, and for large potted trees and shrubs. WEEDING a Good slicing action Keep your hoe sharpened and it will sever the roots of annual weeds more efficiently. a Dealing with deep roots A weed grubber can lever tap roots out of the soil, preventing regrowth. CLEANING AND CARE Clean your tools regularly to keep them in good condition. Oil clippers every few months to prevent them from rusting and check that the blades are tight so they cut efficiently. Brush soil from spades and forks regularly, and apply oil to the blades and prongs once or twice a year to deter rust. Before trimming or pruning a plant, help to prevent the buildup of plant diseases, such as box blight (see p.99), by cleaning your cutting tools, including saws and clippers, with household disinfectant. 1 Clean all pruning tools before each use to avoid spreading diseases from one plant to another. 2 At the end of the season, clean and oil spades to prevent rust. 3 Wipe pruning saws with a soft cloth and oil them. The most useful tool for weeding is a hoe, which you push along the surface of the soil to slice through the necks of weeds, where the stems meet the soil. Although hoeing kills annual weeds instantly, perennials chopped off in this way will survive and regrow. Weeds with tap roots, such as dandelions, are better dealt with using a weed grubber—a long pointed tool that penetrates deep into the soil. Use a spade or trowel to tackle perennials without tap roots, such as dock. 24 GARDENING BASICS >> Seasonal planner Spring Every season brings its own tasks in the garden, whether it’s making long-term changes, preparing for the months ahead, or maintaining it in the present. Do these jobs at the right time and in the correct order, and caring for your garden will be easier, quicker, and more satisfying. Your plants will benefit, too. Ǽ Cut back ornamental grasses (pp.52–53), prairie-style borders, (pp.70–71) and autumn-flowering perennials (pp.94–95). EARLY SPRING Ǽ Prepare beds and borders for planting; weed and dig over the soil; add organic matter where appropriate (p.249). Ǽ Prune late-flowering shrubs, early summer-flowering clematis and roses (pp.412–415). Ǽ Pollard willows and coppice dogwoods (pp.230–231). Ǽ Cut lavender hedges back (p.199). Ǽ Apply a granular fertilizer around shrubs, trees, and perennials (p.404). Ǽ Sow half-hardy annuals indoors (pp.108–109). Ǽ Pot up plug plants indoors (pp.120–121). Ǽ Lift and divide established clumps of perennials (p.416). Ǽ Plant hardy grasses (pp.52–53). Ǽ Plant snowdrops “in the green” (p.41). Ǽ Regularly deadhead spring-flowering bulbs and bedding plants. Ǽ Repot Christmas trees (pp.158–159). MID–LATE SPRING Ǽ Plant perennials (pp.28–31); summer-flowering bulbs (pp.124–125); and pond plants (pp.326–327). Ǽ Inside, plant Thai herbs (pp.302–303) Ǽ Plant indoor hanging basket (pp.370–371). Ǽ Sow hardy annuals directly outdoors; sow tender annuals indoors (pp.208–209). Ǽ Sow vegetables (pp.248–289), and plant potatoes (p.252). Ǽ Sow a wildflower meadow (pp.348–349). Ǽ Mulch the soil (p.495). 1 Sow annual flowers and vegetables inside in spring for earlier displays and crops. 2 Deadhead flowering plants throughout spring and summer, to encourage more blooms. Store dahlia tubers in a frost-free place for the winter. 3 Check all vegetable and fruit crops regularly, and harvest them when they’re at their best. 4 Rake up fallen leaves from the lawn in late autumn to keep the grass green. Use them to make leafmold. Ǽ Start weeding (p.23 and pp.402–403). Ǽ Prune early-flowering shrubs and early clematis after flowering (p.412; p.416). Ǽ Stake herbaceous perennials (p.67). Ǽ Start mowing the lawn (pp.422–423). Summer Autumn << Winter GARDENING BASICS EARLY SUMMER EARLY AUTUMN Ǽ Harden off tender seedlings sown indoors (pp.108–109). Ǽ Prepare beds for spring planting (p.249). Ǽ Plant bare-root trees and hedges (pp.192-193). Ǽ Plant spring bulbs, except tulips, in beds (pp.40–41) and lawns, (pp.210–11). Ǽ Take root cuttings from perennials (p.418). Ǽ Plant containers and baskets for winter color (pp.156–157). Ǽ Prune wisteria (pp.226–227), and most trees, including apples and pears (pp.410–411). Ǽ Plant out summer bedding and vegetable plants. Ǽ Plant up containers (pp.110–111) and hanging baskets (pp.130–131). Ǽ Protect young plant growth from pests, especially slugs (pp.424–429). Ǽ Take hardwood cuttings (p.419). Ǽ Sow sweet peas for an early display the following year (pp.228–229). Ǽ Prune late-flowering clematis (p.414). Ǽ Prune trees to create multistemmed specimens (p.182). Ǽ Put houseplants, including citrus (pp.304–305), outside for summer. Ǽ Plant wallflowers for spring color (p.114). Ǽ Feed flowering shrubs and roses with a rose fertilizer to promote flowering (pp.404–405). Ǽ Bring houseplants back indoors, checking for pests and diseases first. Ǽ Chit potatoes in late winter to plant in spring (pp.252–253). Ǽ Protect slightly tender exotics from frost by wrapping in fleece (p.181). Ǽ Plan your vegetable and flower beds. Ǽ Cover slightly tender perennials with a thick mulch of straw or bark chippings. Ǽ Group containers for stability in high winds and for insulation. Ǽ Move tender dahlia tubers and cannas inside (pp.86–87). Ǽ Wrap terracotta pots in bubble plastic or hessian for frost protection (p.409). Ǽ Turf or sow lawns (pp.206–208). Ǽ Build a raised bed (pp.254–255). Ǽ Apply an autumn lawn fertilizer to established lawns (pp.422–423). Ǽ Put up new bird boxes (p.363). Ǽ Prune evergreen shrubs (p.411), and hornbeam, cherry, and pear trees (p.413) after flowering. Ǽ Earth up potatoes and harvest after flowering (pp.252–253). Ǽ Sow beet (p.254), radishes (p.260), spinach (p.263), and lettuce (p.286) every two weeks. Ǽ Take softwood cuttings (p.420). Ǽ Harvest winter crops (pp.264–265). Ǽ Order flower and vegetable seeds. Ǽ Lay chamomile lawns (p.209). Ǽ Make a woodpile shelter for wildlife (pp.354–355). ANY TIME OF YEAR Ǽ Trim lavender hedges after flowering (p.199). Ǽ Prune hedges for the last time. Ǽ Make a compost bin; fill, turn Ǽ Prune wisteria to restrict growth (p.226). LATE AUTUMN LATE SUMMER Ǽ Sow spring cabbages (p.262). Ǽ Take semi-ripe wood cuttings (p.421). Ǽ Make an insect hotel in time for winter hibernation (pp.354–355). ALL SUMMER Ǽ Water containers and new plantings frequently, particularly in hot weather (pp.406–407). Ǽ Plant shrubs (pp.20–21); roses (pp.92–93); trees (pp.178–179); hedges (pp.192–197); climbers (pp.212–213); and fruit bushes (pp.292–293). Ǽ Plant tulips (pp.40–41). Ǽ Sow broad beans (see p.283). Ǽ Plant onions and garlic (pp.270–271). Ǽ Grow trees from seed (pp.188–189). Ǽ Mow the lawn as required. Ǽ Indoors, plant amaryllis bulbs (pp.366–367), and prepared hyacinths and narcissi (pp.378–379). Ǽ Deadhead flowering plants to extend blooming. Ǽ Trim late-flowering shrubs to reduce winter wind-rock (p.412). Ǽ Prune hedges and topiary as required. Ǽ Rake up fallen leaves and make leafmold (pp.360–361). Ǽ Weed beds and borders. Ǽ Tie climbers in to their supports. and empty when necessary (pp.358–359). Ǽ Make a wooden obelisk (pp.216–218). Ǽ Create a bog garden (pp.330–331). Ǽ Dig out a pond (pp.324–325). Ǽ Make a border and lawn edge (pp.32–33). Ǽ Make a rose arch (pp.222–223). Ǽ Check tree ties, and loosen if necessary (p.179). Ǽ Look out for pests and diseases, and take appropriate action (pp.424–433). Ǽ Cut out dead or diseased wood (pp.410). Ǽ Clean all cutting tools after use to prevent spreading plant diseases (p.23). 25 Beautiful Beds In this chapter you will find everything you need to know to make stunning beds and borders, from digging out a new site, to creating a group of grasses or a sparkling winter display. Learn how to plant bulbs, perennials, and shrubs, and then create a range of beautiful planting designs—either copy the ideas here or use them as inspiration for plans of your own. From old-fashioned cottage perennials to modern architectural foliage plants, there’s something for everyone. Create a new border Before you start digging a new border, think about the best place for it. Try taking a photograph of your garden from an upstairs window, or from a seating area, to see where you need color and interest. Also consider where the sun falls at different times of the day, and the types of plant you would like to use. Many summer-flowering plants need sun to bloom well, while large leafy types often prefer shade, and others are happy with both, so check what your chosen plants need before buying them. << WHEN TO START Early autumn AT ITS BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE 2 days YOU WILL NEED Tape measure Hose Half-moon turf cutter Spade Fork Rake Well-rotted organic matter, such as manure Horticultural grit (for clay soil) Granular fertilizer Watering can BEAUTIFUL BEDS MARK OUT THE BORDER With a tape measure, mark out the length and breadth of your border, making sure that it is not too narrow— a minimum width of 3 ft (1 m) is best. Use broad sweeping curves or a geometric design; avoid wiggly shapes, which look messy. Use a garden hose to mark out curved borders or pegs and string for straight edges. Carefully following the outlines, cut through the grass using a half-moon turf cutter or a spade. LIFT THE TURF Cut the turf into squares within your marked out area. Turf is heavy, so to make the squares easier to remove, make them a little smaller than the width of a spade blade. Use the spade to slice through the grass roots under each square before lifting the turf. Plants used in this border: Achillea Crocosmia masoniorum Verbena bonariensis PREPARE THE SITE TOP TIP: RECYCLING TURF Remove the turves and store them upside–down and out of the way (see Top Tip, right). Clear the site of large stones, debris, and weeds, removing the roots of perennial species, such as dandelion, dock, and bindweed. Break up large clods of soil with a garden fork to give an even texture. Then, check your soil to see if it is sandy or rich in clay (see pp.14–15). ENRICH THE SOIL Whatever your soil type, it will benefit from an application of well-rotted organic matter, such as manure or garden compost. Either use the “single-digging” method (see p.21), or dig in organic matter by spreading a 3 in (8 cm) layer over the border and mixing it into the top 6 in (15 cm) of soil. If you have heavy clay, also dig in some horticultural grit to improve drainage. Rake the surface smooth. continued... You can use turf removed from the border to patch up holes in lawns elsewhere in the garden, or pile it up and leave for about a year to rot down. Grass turves make excellent compost, which you can apply as a mulch to your border in early spring, before the perennials start to shoot. 29 30 BEAUTIFUL BEDS >> SET OUT YOUR PLANTS WATER PLANTS WELL Now that the border is prepared, it is time to start planting. Make sure you buy plants that will suit your site and soil conditions, and the style you wish to create (see pp.14–17). This free-draining, sunny site suits a prairie-style design. Set out your plants in their pots and step back to see how the arrangement looks. Check that tall plants will not shade the smaller ones, and position the perennials in groups of three or more. Water them well before planting, either with a watering can or by plunging the pots in a bucket of water, waiting for the bubbles to disperse, and then removing the plants to drain. CHECK PLANTING DEPTHS REMOVE PLANTS FROM POTS For each perennial plant (see p.36 for shrub planting), dig a hole twice as wide as the pot, and a little deeper. Place the pot into the hole to check that the plant will be at the same depth after planting as it is in its pot. Lay a garden stake across the hole to help judge the right depth. Fork the bottom of the hole to break up any compacted soil. Then squeeze the sides of the pot and turn it upside down. With your fingers threaded through the stems and holding the soil, give the bottom of the pot a tap. The plant should slide out easily, but if not, tap the pot until it does. FINISHING TOUCHES When you have planted the whole border, use a hose to water the plants thoroughly. A good soaking will settle the soil around the plants, helping them establish. If any roots are exposed by the watering, cover them with soil. FIRM IN If the roots have circled around the root ball, gently tease them out (see Top Tip, opposite). Place the plant in the hole. Add some granular fertilizer to the excavated soil, and use this to fill in around the plant. Firm it in with your hands. << BEAUTIFUL BEDS CARING FOR YOUR PLANTS Apply a mulch (see p.405) to the whole border. Perennials take about a year to establish fully, and if planted in spring, they should have a healthy root system by the autumn. Until then, the plants will need to be watered regularly, even daily during periods of drought. After planting, feed them every year in spring with an all-purpose fertilizer and reapply a mulch. Planting depths The depth at which you plant can have a great impact on growth. Most plants, including shrubs (see pp.36–37) and perennials, should be planted at the same depth as they were in their pots. However, there are exceptions, including those mentioned below. Most trees also have specific planting needs (see pp.178–179). PLANTING PROUD TOP TIP: TEASING OUT ROOTS When planting, you may see the roots growing around in a tight circle, where they have been restricted by the pot. This is known as “root-bound,” and will limit the plant’s development. Remedy the problem by gently teasing out the roots so that they will grow away from the ball into the surrounding soil. Some plants perform best when planted slightly above the surrounding soil level. These include irises, whose rhizomes (bulblike structures—see right) will rot if buried, and other plants sensitive to wet soils, including Verbascum, Sisyrinchium, Sedum, and other hardy succulents. Plant these 1 in (2–3 cm) above the surface, leaving iris rhizomes exposed; for other plants, raise the soil in a mound around the rootball, so that water drains off. DEEP PLANTING Moisture-loving plants often prefer to be planted more deeply in the soil, so that their roots are not exposed to the drier conditions near the surface. Plant hostas with their roots 1 in (2 cm) below the surface, and bury Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum) at a depth of 4 in (10cm). 31 32 BEAUTIFUL BEDS >> Build a decorative edge Edging is both practical and aesthetic. At its most useful it marks out the boundary of a lawn, while also allowing you to simply run the mower over it. With a wide variety of materials to choose from, edging can be a decorative feature in its own right, chosen to complement the plants it contains. WHEN TO START Any time AT ITS BEST All year round TIME TO COMPLETE 5 hours YOU WILL NEED Bricks String and pegs Sharp spade Wet mortar mix Dry mortar mix Club hammer Spirit level Trowel Brush USE STRING AS A GUIDE REMOVE A STRIP OF TURF Use one brick to measure the correct distance from your raised bed (or border) and set up a line of string between two pegs from which to work. Cut through the turf along the line using the sharp edge of a spade. Dig out a strip of turf deep enough to accommodate the bricks plus a 1 in (2.5 cm) layer of mortar. First slice the turf up into manageable sections, then slide the spade underneath and lift them out onto a piece of tarpaulin. << BEAUTIFUL BEDS LEVEL THE GROUND Use the spade to roughly level out the ground. Mix wet mortar and add a 1 in (2.5 cm) layer to the bottom of the trench to bed in the bricks. Edging options Different edging materials will bring different looks to your garden, from delicate and ephemeral to solid and hard working. Copper piping, bent into a graceful curve (above), provides a pretty edge that echoes the colors of the planting. LAY BRICKS ON MORTAR Place the bricks on the mortar and set slightly below the level of the turf. Leave a small gap between each. Use a spirit level to check they are horizontal, and firm them using a club hammer. APPLY A DRY MIX Finally, use a dry mortar mix to fill the joints between the bricks, working the mixture in with a trowel. Clean off the excess with a brush. 1 In an informal area, allow your plants to spill over onto solid brick paving. 2 Geometric Victorian-style brick edging suits both formal and cottage-style gardens. 3 The attractive soft gray of slate chippings provides a perfect foil for edging plants. 4 Log edging is the ideal choice for seaside-themed gardens, especially when used with a gravel mulch, mixed with larger pebbles. 33 << BEAUTIFUL BEDS First flush of spring Awkward areas of bare ground beneath trees or shrubs are perfect for spring-flowering perennials and bulbs that bloom before the trees’ leaves are out and casting shade. Choose woodland dwellers, such as snowdrops and hellebores, for dense areas of shade, and sun-loving crocuses for the edge of the border. PREPARE THE GROUND WHEN TO PLANT Spring for snowdrops Autumn for bulbs and plants Woodland bulbs enjoy a moist, open-textured soil, rich in organic matter, so add plenty of well-rotted leafmold (see pp.360–361). AT THEIR BEST Early spring PLANT THE BULBS TIME TO COMPLETE Most spring bulbs are planted in autumn, but snowdrops do best when transplanted “in the green”—after flowering but while their leaves are intact. For a natural effect, plant bulbs in drifts. 2 hours YOU WILL NEED Slim trowel or bulb planter Spade Well-rotted leafmold 1. Snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis 2. Winter aconite, Eranthis hyemalis 3. Crocus tommasinianus 4. Helleborus x hybridus (purple) 5. Helleborus x hybridus (pink) AFTER FLOWERING In rougher corners of the garden, dying bulb leaves can just be left, but if you feel the need to tidy, make sure the leaves have died down completely before you remove them. Give all plants an annual mulch of leafmold. 5 1 2 4 3 35 36 BEAUTIFUL BEDS >> Plant a shady border A border set in deep shade can be a real bonus in the garden if you choose your plants carefully, because some of the most beautiful shrubs will only grow well in low light conditions. These areas may lack the drama of a sunny spot, but they have a cool and understated sophistication of their own. WHEN TO START Autumn AT ITS BEST Spring TIME TO COMPLETE 2 hours for preparation 3 hours for planting YOU WILL NEED Spade Organic matter, such as well-rotted leafmold Shrubs such as: Camellia and flowering currant, Ribes sanguineum. Underplanting, for example, Bergenia, Dicentra spectabilis, ferns, and hellebores. BEFORE YOU PLANT Many plants that grow well in shady conditions grow naturally in woodlands, and need a cool, moist soil, which has been enriched with leafmold. In autumn, clear the planting area of all weeds, then mix plenty of leafmold into the soil (to make leafmold, see pp.360–361). DIG PLANTING HOLES Buy your shrubs in autumn or spring, and plan carefully where you are going to plant them, taking into account their final size. The shrubs go toward the back of the border, with the underplanting below them and in front. The planting holes should be twice as wide and slightly deeper than the pots. TOP TIP: FEEDING SHRUBS Shrubs need regular feeding to thrive. Early spring is the best time to sprinkle a fertilizer, such as blood, fish, and bone meal, around the base of the plants. Repeat each year to keep growth vigorous and healthy. CHECK PLANTING DEPTHS Put some leafmold in the bottom of each hole and then place a plant on top of it. Use a stake across the hole to check that the plant will be at the same depth when planted as it was in its pot. WATER IN WELL Fill in around the plant with soil and leafmold, and water in well. Water regularly until the plant is established. Mulch with organic matter, like leafmold, leaving the area around the stems clear. << Planting options BEAUTIFUL BEDS Shade-tolerant shrubs that are grown for their flowers, such as camellias, need a little light. The selection below is best planted where some sun can filter through, such as near deciduous trees or a trellis. 1 Daphne laureola subsp. philippi; h18 in (45 cm) s24 in (60 cm) 2 Rosa rugosa ‘Rubra’; hsto 6 ft (2 m) 3 Paeonia delavayi var. lutea; h6 ft (2 m) s4 ft (1.2 m) 4 Hydrangea aspera Villosa Group; hsto 10 ft (3 m) o Kept in the dark This beautiful white form of flowering currant, Ribes sanguineum, and pink camellia are underplanted with a golden-leaved bleeding heart, Dicentra spectabilis ‘Gold Heart’, and other shade-lovers. 37 SELECTIONS >> 38 BEAUTIFUL BEDS >> Spring bulbs Spring bulbs brighten the garden from the depths of winter to the beginning of summer. The first out is always the snowdrop, often pushing its pale little flowers through a layer of snow. At the end of the season, alliums come into their own, heralding the start of summer with their globelike purple flowerheads, floating above early perennials. Plant your bulbs in autumn and your efforts will be rewarded come the spring. A full sun B partial sun C full shade D well-drained soil E moist soil F wet soil HARDINESS ZONES (H): coldest zone needed to flourish and warmest zone in which plant’s cold requirements are met 1 Allium hollandicum ‘Purple Sensation’; h3 ft (1 m) s4 in (10 cm) Ad H12–1 2 Grape hyacinth, Muscari armeniacum; h8 in (20 cm) s2 in (5 cm) AdE H8–1 3 Tulipa ‘Prinses Irene’; h14 in (35 cm) s4 in (10 cm) Ad H8–4 4 Scilla siberica; h8 in (20 cm) s2 in (5 cm) ABdE H8–5 5 Crocus corsicus; h4 in (10 cm) s2 in (5 cm) AD H9–6 (15 cm) s2in (5 cm) AbdE H10–6 H11–4 6 Narcissus ‘Canaliculatus’; h6 in 7 Narcissus ‘Tête-à-Tête’; h6 in (15 cm) s2 in (5 cm) ABdE 8 Hyacinthus orientalis ‘Blue Jacket’; h8 in (20 cm) s3 in (8 cm) ABD H9–1 9 Fritillary, Fritillaria raddeana; h24 in (60 cm) s4 in (10 cm) AD H9–6 0 Tulipa sprengeri; h20 in (50 cm) s4 in (10 cm) Ad H8–4 q Snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis; hs4 in (10 cm) BE H8–1 BEAUTIFUL BEDS 39 SELECTIONS >> << Plant a bed of spring bulbs Harbingers of spring, bulbs transform sleeping gardens into oceans of color as the seasons turn. Starting with the first brave snowdrops that peek through the soil in winter, and closing with a spectacular display of tulips and alliums at the end of spring, bulbs provide a long period of interest. Plant them in autumn—leave tulips until late in the season—and they will flower the following year. << How deep? WHEN TO START Mid autumn AT ITS BEST Early to late spring For bulbs to succeed, you need to plant them at the right depth, usually two to four times the height of the bulb. Plant too shallowly, and they may not flower; too deep, and they might not grow at all. TIME TO COMPLETE 30 minutes for planting YOU WILL NEED Fork Spade Horticultural grit Bulb planter or trowel Chicken wire Selection of spring bulbs DIG A HOLE Dig to a depth of about 2–4 times the height of your bulbs (see right). Place the bulbs in the hole with the pointed growing tip facing upward. Discard any that are moldy or soft. TOP TIP: PLANTING SNOWDROPS Snowdrops have tiny bulbs that dehydrate quickly, and often fail to flower if planted in autumn. Instead, buy pot-grown bulbs in leaf in the spring and plant them so that the pale bases of the stems are just below the soil surface. If you already have large clumps of snowdrops, lift and divide them in spring, after flowering (see pp.416–417 for tips on dividing plants). BEAUTIFUL BEDS PREPARE TO PLANT All bulbs need well-drained soil, so if you have heavy clay, either dig in plenty of grit before you start, or grow them in pots (see pp.106–107). You can either plant bulbs individually, using a bulb planter or trowel, or dig a wide hole and plant them en masse, which is an easier method, and more naturalistic. COVER BULBS Fill in the hole with soil, taking care not to damage the growing tips, and firm it down with your fingers. Cover with chicken wire to prevent animals from digging up the bulbs; remove it when the first shoots appear. 1 Tulips prefer to be planted deeply, four times their own depth; a 2 in (5 cm) bulb is planted 8 in (20 cm) deep. 2 Daffodils are planted three times their own depth; a 2 in (5 cm) bulb is planted 6 in (15 cm) deep. 3 Plant grape hyacinths (Muscari) at three times their depth; a ¾ in (2 cm) bulb is planted at a depth of 2½ in (6 cm). 4 Alliums are also planted at three times their depth; a 1¼ in (3 cm) bulb should be planted 3½ in (9 cm) deep. 41 << BEAUTIFUL BEDS Seasonal pastels Many of the bulbs and flowers of early summer come in pastel shades that can be easily combined to create a harmonious design. Striking alliums dotted through the border provide a touch of drama. PREPARE THE SOIL WHEN TO PLANT Autumn and early spring Many bulbs and most of these plants prefer a well-drained soil, and suffer if left to sit in damp conditions over winter. If your soil is heavy, dig in horticultural grit to improve drainage. AT THEIR BEST Early summer TIME TO COMPLETE PLANT UP 5 hours Plant the alliums in autumn and mark their positions with labels. In spring, plant the perennial wallflowers and the aquilegias around the alliums in drifts. Plant the tall foxgloves at the back. YOU WILL NEED Horticultural grit Spade Bulb planter or slim trowel 1. Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea f. albiflora 2. Allium hollandicum ‘Purple Sensation’ 3. Aquilegia vulgaris ‘Nora Barlow’ 4. Perennial wallflower, Erysimum ‘Bowles's Mauve’ AFTERCARE Alliums have beautiful seedheads, so leave for as long as they look good. Aquilegias can be cut back after flowering to promote fresh growth. Alliums and aquilegias come up each year, foxgloves self-seed, but the wallflowers may need replacing after a few years. 1 2 4 3 43 44 BEAUTIFUL BEDS >> Grow acid-lovers If you have tested your soil (see p.14) and found that it is acidic, some of the most beautiful flowering and foliage shrubs, including Japanese maples, camellias, and rhododendrons, will thrive in your garden. WHEN TO PLANT Autumn or early spring AT THEIR BEST Spring TIME TO COMPLETE 2 hours YOU WILL NEED Well-rotted organic matter, such as manure Spade All-purpose fertilizer for acid-loving plants Selection of acid-loving shrubs: Japanese maple, Acer palmatum Flowering dogwood, Cornus florida Korean rhododendron, Rhododendron mucronulatum SPACING THE PLANTS You can use any Acer palmatum or rhododendron for this design but they may have different growth habits from these, so check labels for sizes and allow space between plants for a few years’ growth. ADD ORGANIC MATTER Choose a partly shaded site, sheltered from cold, drying winds. Before planting, dig a bucketful of well-rotted organic matter into each square yard of soil. Water the plants well, and then plant according to the instructions for shrubs on page 36. CARING FOR ACID-LOVERS Each spring, apply an all-purpose fertilizer for acid-loving shrubs, and mulch annually (see p.405) to aid soil moisture retention. In spring, after flowering, trim back lightly any wayward growth. Planting in containers If you have an alkaline soil but would like to grow acid-loving plants, try planting them in containers filled with ericaceous soil, which is specially designed for them. CREATING THE RIGHT CONDITIONS Choose a large container or make a raised bed (see pp.254–255) for acid-loving shrubs, such as camellias, azaleas, and rhododendrons. Fill your planters with ericaceous soil and, each spring, replace the top layer of soil from the bed or pot with fresh soil mixed with a fertilizer for acid-loving plants. a Acid colors Azaleas come in a range of fiery shades that set off simple white containers beautifully. If leaves start to yellow, which is a sign of iron deficiency, give them a dose of fertilizer for acid-lovers. << BEAUTIFUL BEDS Planting options Combine the spring shrubs in this design, and those below, with summer-flowering blue hydrangeas, Kalmia latifolia, and fragrant summersweet, Clethra, to extend the season. Alternatively, create a conifer and heather garden, which will thrive in acid conditions. 1 Enkianthus deflexus; E10 ft (3 m) 2 Grevillea rosmarinifolia; H6 ft (1.8 m) s8 ft (2.5 m) 3 Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’; E30 ft (10 m) 4 Winter heath, Erica carnea; H6 in (15 cm) s18 in (45 cm) o Candy color mix This sumptuous mix of blowsy pink rhododendron flowers (Rhododendron mucronulatum), dark purple maple leaves (Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Garnet’) and elegant red dogwood stems makes a stunning spring display. 45 << BEAUTIFUL BEDS Fiery border Hot-hued plants in shades of orange, red, and yellow are guaranteed to brighten up your garden. Plant them in a sunny spot, and position them against a dark background for maximum impact. PREPARE THE SITE WHEN TO START Late autumn to early spring Between late autumn and early spring, remove all weeds from the site and dig in well-rotted organic matter (see also p.29). Buy plants in spring. AT ITS BEST Mid- to late summer TIME TO COMPLETE SET OUT THE PLANTING PATTERN 1 hour preparation; 3 hours to plant First plant the clematis against the screen (see p.219). Set out the other plants in pots and arrange them in groups of three or more, with the dahlias, Kniphofia and Crocosmia at the back. YOU WILL NEED Organic matter All-purpose fertilizer Stakes and twine 1. Clematis x diversifolia PLANT AND STAKE 2. Kniphofia ‘Bees’ Sunset’ Plant as for perennials (see pp.30–31) and include some all-purpose fertilizer in the planting holes. Insert a stake next to the dahlias, and tie in the stems as they grow. Water well after planting and during dry spells for the first year. Overwinter dahlia tubers in a frost-free place (see p.86). 3. Dahlia ‘David Howard’ 4. Feather grass, Stipa tenuissima 5. Achillea Summer Pastels Group 6. Helenium ‘Moerheim Beauty’ 7. Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ 8. Dahlia ‘Bishop of Llandaff’ 8 1 2 3 7 6 5 4 47 SELECTIONS >> 48 BEAUTIFUL BEDS >> Delicious scents Even the most beautifully designed and colorful garden is lacking an essential ingredient if it contains no fragrant plants; some emit strong scents that fill the garden, others are best appreciated at close quarters. Use perfumed plants next to seating areas or alongside walkways to experience them in full. Most flower from spring to summer, but include mahonia or Christmas box for delicious scents in the depths of winter. A full sun B partial sun C full shade D well-drained soil E moist soil F wet soil HARDINESS ZONES (H): coldest zone needed to flourish and warmest zone in which plant’s cold requirements are met 1 Mock orange, Philadelphus ‘Burfordensis’; h10 ft (3 m) s6 ft (2 m) ABd H8–5 2 Daphne x burkwoodii ‘Somerset’; hs5 ft (1.5 m) ABdE H7–1 3 Wallflower, Erysimum cheiri ‘Fire King’; h10 in (25 cm) s8 in (20 cm)Ad H7–1 s18 in (45 cm) AdE H12–1 4 Chocolate plant, Cosmos atrosanguineus; h30 in (75 cm) 5 Mahonia x media cultivar; h15 ft (5 m) s12 ft (4 m) ABDe H9–8 6 Rosa Escapade; h30 in (75 cm) s24 in (60 cm)AE H9–5 h18 in (45 cm) s24 in (60 cm) Ad H8–5 7 Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’; 8 Pink, Dianthus ‘Bovey Belle’; hs12 in (30 cm)AD 9 Rhododendron luteum; hs12 ft (4 m) Be H9–7 0 Christmas box, Sarcococca confusa; h6 ft (2 m) s3 ft (1 m) BCE H9–6 q Viburnum carlesii ‘Aurora’; hs6 ft (2 m) ABdE H8–5 BEAUTIFUL BEDS 49 SELECTIONS >> << << BEAUTIFUL BEDS Fragrant combination Scent is one of the most evocative senses, and this profusion of perfumed plants is sure to tempt you closer to enjoy the fragrant flowers of old-fashioned roses, lilies, lavender, and pinks. PLANT THE ROSES WHEN TO PLANT Early spring Most of the plants here prefer free-draining soil, so dig plenty of grit into clay soils to improve drainage. The roses require more moisture: plant them as recommended on page 93. AT ITS BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE 3 hours COMPLETE THE PLANTING YOU WILL NEED Plant a line of lavender and lilies in front of the roses, and position the thyme and pinks along the front edge. Mulching with gravel will keep plant stems dry, and keep them from rotting off. Well-rotted organic matter, such as manure Grit Spade All-purpose granular fertilizer AFTERCARE 1. Bronze-leaved fennel Keep the bed well watered for the first year, and during any prolonged dry spells thereafter. To ensure a good display, feed the plants each spring with a granular fertilizer. Regularly remove any faded rose and Dianthus flowers as they appear to extend their performance. 2. Easter lily, Lilium longiflorum 3. Pink, Dianthus ‘Super Trooper’ 4. Silver-leaved thyme 5. French lavender, Lavandula stoechas 6. Rosa ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ 1 2 6 3 5 4 51 52 BEAUTIFUL BEDS >> Grassy border Decorative grasses produce fabulous textural effects and look stunning when grouped together. Most are easy to maintain, and have a long season of interest, with plumes of flowers in summer followed by seedheads and stems that offer color and structure in winter. PREPARE A BORDER WHEN TO PLANT Autumn or early spring Choose an open, sunny site for your border. Grasses generally tolerate a wide range of soil conditions, but it is always wise to dig in well-rotted organic matter before planting your border. If you have heavy clay, incorporate some horticultural grit to increase drainage. AT ITS BEST Summer to early autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 2½ hours YOU WILL NEED Well-rotted organic matter Spade All-purpose fertilizer SET OUT THE PLANTS 1. Pampas grass, Cortaderia selloana ‘Aureolineata’ 2. Cortaderia selloana ‘Pumila’ 3. Feather grass, Stipa calamagrostis 4. Stipa splendens 5. Miscanthus sinensis ‘Malepartus’ 5 The Miscanthus and pampas (Cortaderia) are the tallest grasses, so set them toward the back of the border, leaving space at the front for the feather grasses (Stipa). Allow about 4 ft (1.2 m) between the larger grasses for them to spread, and 30 in (75 cm ) between the smaller ones. PLANTING AND AFTERCARE 1 2 Plant grasses at the same depth as they were in their original containers and mulch with gravel to help suppress weeds. Keep the plants well watered for the first year until they are established. Leave the dried stems on the plants to overwinter, and in early spring, cut them down almost to ground level to allow new growth to emerge. 4 3 Rustle and sway p This bold group of grasses creates a dynamic effect as their plumes and foliage dance in the breeze. The tall grasses grow to about 6 ft (1.8 m), while the shorter feather grasses (Stipa) at the front reach 3 ft (1 m) in height. << BEAUTIFUL BEDS Planting options There are many grasses to choose from and most require free-draining soil and a sunny site. For a smaller area, select the more compact cultivars—you will find a large selection available by mail order from specialist nurseries. 1 Helictotrichon sempervirens; Hs3 ft (1 m) 2 Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’; H5 ft (1.5 m) s3 ft (1 m) 3 Miscanthus sinensis ‘Zebrinus’; H8 ft (2.5 m) s4 ft (1.2 m) 4 Pennisetum alopecuroides; H30 in (75 cm ) s3 ft (1 m) 53 54 BEAUTIFUL BEDS >> Make a family garden Creating a plot that children and parents will both enjoy is not easy. The key is to provide kids with space to play without filling it with garish toys, while setting aside a relaxing area for grown-ups to relax. COMBINING PLAY WITH PLANTING Research shows that children and adults benefit mentally and physically from being in a natural environment. So although it is tempting to buy a plastic swingset and set it in the center of the lawn, it may not be very beneficial for your children in the long run. Instead, surround play areas with plants that children will enjoy, such as cheerful sunflowers (see pp.64–65) and those that attract butterflies (see pp.352–353). Children’s interests change rapidly, and what they like one year will be passed over the next. Prevent boredom setting in by providing toys that are not permanent fixtures, and will seem new and exciting time after time. Tents are a great choice, appealing to all ages, and offering limitless opportunities for imaginative play. All you need is an area of lawn to pitch one on. Growing fruit and vegetables allows children to take a real interest in gardening; sowing seeds and watching their plants grow gives young ones a real sense of achievement. Plastic sandboxes often languish unloved once the novelty has worn off, but one made from a raised bed can be converted into a small vegetable plot, the perfect size for little hands to tend their first crops. a Raise your play This sandbox is made from a timber raised bed, which you can buy as a kit, or make yourself (see pp.254–255). When children outgrow the sand, fill the bed with colorful sunflowers, edible flowers, such as nasturtiums, and quick-growing vegetables. a Green fingers Children enjoy the responsibility of looking after their own projects, so why not encourage them to grow their own food and learn how plants develop? TOP TIP: SIMPLE SWINGS You can make a simple swing from a thick rope attached securely to a sturdy tree branch. Tie an old tyre to it to make a traditional swing, checking that it will hold your child by swinging on it yourself first. Alternatively, knot the rope at intervals for children to climb up. Adult supervision is always advisable when small children are using any type of play equipment. a Swing seat Play equipment need not be expensive or store-bought. A rope and old tyre are all you need to keep children happy. Just make sure your child is strong enough to hold onto the rope when swinging. Water and wildlife If your children can swim and are old enough to understand the dangers of water, ponds offers more play opportunities than almost any other garden feature. They are easy to build (see pp.324–327) and will soon attract a wealth of wildlife to your garden. BE SAFE Small children can drown in just a few inches of water, so wait until yours are old enough to appreciate the dangers before installing a water feature. If you have older children with younger siblings, fit a custom-made metal grill over the water surface and sure it will take the weight of a child, should he or she fall. sloped so they can get out if they fall in, and plant around the sides to provide them with cover and habitats. Frogs and toads will be drawn to any pond, large or small, and in spring will fill the water with spawn. Other creatures to look out for include water beetles, pond skaters, water snails, newts, damselflies and dragonflies. WILDLIFE HAVEN a Aquatic homes Wrap planting around your pond to create shelter for wildlife, such as birds, frogs and toads. As soon as your pond is installed, birds and small animals will visit to drink and bathe, and many other creatures will become permanent residents. Make sure the sides are o Beauty and the beast Look out for dragonfly nymphs as they climb from the water and shed their skins, before emerging as adults. Plots for pets o Dog territory Boisterous dogs can devastate gardens by trampling plants, so grow your favorites in raised beds to help reduce the risk. Also, weigh down containers so they won't be knocked over accidentally. Sharing your garden with pets can be a fun and fulfilling experience, and by catering for their needs, as well as your own, you can all live happily together in the same plot. PET SPACES Small pets, such as guinea pigs and rabbits, are happiest in a secure run on a lawn. If you move the run every few days, you may even eliminate the need to mow the grass altogether. Dogs that have free reign of the garden can present problems if they are not trained. Set aside a quiet area, such as behind a shed, for your dog to use as a toilet. After a few weeks, and treats for good behavior, he or she will only go there. Raised beds and borders edged with low hedging will also help deter your dog from rampaging through your favorite flowers. Cats are not as easily trained as dogs, especially in their toilet habits. Encourage them to use a litter box, and deter them from using the borders by inserting short pieces of cane in the areas where they are likely to dig. Cats like bare soil, so these are the areas to concentrate on. Kitty treat p Cats adore the scent of catmint (Nepeta) and love to roll around in it. Give your pet a treat and set aside a bed for this pretty plant. 56 BEAUTIFUL BEDS >> Make a shady rockery Transform a dull, shady corner into a rockery for spring interest. Many shade-loving plants, such as ferns, ivies, and violas, love the cool, moist but well-drained conditions and will thrive here. WHEN TO START Autumn AT ITS BEST Spring TIME TO COMPLETE 6 hours: preparation and planting YOU WILL NEED Topsoil (if not working on a sloping site) Attractive large stones Bugle, Ajuga reptans Creeping phlox, Phlox stolonifera Dog’s-tooth violet, Erythronium Hardy ferns Hostas Ivies, Hedera Violas SELECT AND PLACE STONES Set rocks into the soil, with larger ones at the base of the slope and smaller ones at the top. Bury one third of each stone, and angle them so that rain will run off into the soil. PREPARE THE SOIL If you have a flat site, create a slope with weed-free topsoil in autumn, so it has time to settle. If you have a slope already, weed it thoroughly. Dig in some grit if the drainage is poor. CHECK PLANTING POSITIONS In spring, buy your plants. Arrange them around the rock garden while they are still in their pots, to see where they will look best, before deciding on their final planting positions. PLANT AND MULCH Plant in the pockets between the stones, then water well. Mulch with composted bark, or similar, to help keep moisture sealed in and to suppress weeds. Water regularly for the first year. Versatile ferns Ferns are a wonderful choice for shady areas. They will grow in the tiniest of dank crevices, as long as they have enough moisture and a glimmer of light. Sunken pits echo the way ferns sometimes lodge themselves in subterranean drains and peer up from the gloom. You can also try growing them under a bench, where little else will thrive. For dry sites under trees or close to walls, try the male fern, Dryopteris filix-mas, or the evergreen hart’s tongue fern, Asplenium scolopendrium. The royal fern, Osmunda regalis, is perfect for damp areas and looks very effective planted near water. a Cool perspective Ferns don’t mind shade, so grow them where little else will thrive, such as under garden furniture. o Star performers Ferns are ideal for these mesh-covered troughs, which were designed as a green car-parking bay. SELECTIONS >> 58 BEAUTIFUL BEDS >> Dry shade solutions Shady, dry areas, such as those beneath trees and large shrubs, are some of the trickiest for plants to cope with. Choose sun-lovers for these sites and you will have scrawny, dried-out plants stretching for light. However, there are a few stalwarts that will not only cope, but thrive in such a spot. To give them a head start, dig large planting holes and mix plenty of wellrotted manure with the soil, then apply lots of water while they settle in. A full sun B partial sun C full shade D well-drained soil E moist soil F wet soil HARDINESS ZONES (H): coldest zone needed to flourish and warmest zone in which plant’s cold requirements are met 1 Kerria japonica ‘Golden Guinea’; h6 ft (2 m) s8 ft (2.4 m) ABd H9–1 2 Deadnettle, Lamium maculatum ‘White Nancy’; h6 in (15 cm) s3 ft (1 m) BCdE H8–1 3 Lungwort, Pulmonaria ‘Lewis Palmer’; h14 in (35 cm) s18 in (45 cm) BCE H8–5 (30 cm) BCde H9–5 4 Saxifraga stolonifera ‘Tricolor’; hs12 in 5 Brunnera macrophylla ‘Dawson’s White’; h18 in (45 cm) s24 in (60 cm) BCDe H7–1 6 Viburnum davidii; hs5 ft (1.5 m) ABde H9–3 Group; h3 in (8 cm) s4 in (10 cm) BCd H9–5 7 Cyclamen coum Pewter 8 Jacob’s ladder, Polemonium caeruleum; h24 in (60 cm) s12 in (30 cm)ABDe H9–1 9 Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’; h24 in (60 cm) s36 in (90 cm) Be H9–2 0 Aquilegia vulgaris ‘Nivea’; h36 in (90 cm) s18 in (45 cm)ABde H8–1 q Fringe cups, Tellima grandiflora; h32 in (80 cm) s12 in (30 cm) ABde H8–1 BEAUTIFUL BEDS 59 SELECTIONS >> << << BEAUTIFUL BEDS Tropical retreat You don’t need to live in the tropics to create a lush, leafy, junglelike corner in which to hide away from the stresses of the world. Choose sculptural plants with dramatic leaves in shades of green. CHOOSE THE SITE WHEN TO START Spring All these plants prefer a sunny site, but will tolerate light shade. They also need to be sheltered from strong winds, which could damage their foliage. AT ITS BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE PREPARE TO PLANT 4 hours YOU WILL NEED Spade Well-rotted organic matter Mulch 1. Loquat, Eriobotrya japonica 2. Phormium cookianum subsp. hookeri ‘Tricolor’ 3. Polystichum setiferum Clear the border of weeds and dig in organic matter over the site. Arrange the plants in a tiered jungle effect, then plant and water well (see pp.30–31 for planting method). Mulch with bark to give the feel of a forest floor. AFTERCARE All of these plants are quite hardy, except Musa basjoo. In winter, surround it with chicken wire attached to stakes, and fill with hay (see also p.408). In mild areas, wrap it with garden fleece. 4. Arum lily, Zantedeschia aethiopica 5. Musa basjoo 5 1 4 2 3 61 62 BEAUTIFUL BEDS >> Plant bare-root bamboo Bare-root bamboo plants are significantly cheaper than those grown in pots, and are a good option if you need several to create a screen, as shown here. You may also get a bare-root plant if a friend has sections to spare. Plant them as soon as you get them home to prevent the roots drying out. << KEEP ROOTS MOIST WHEN TO PLANT Autumn Because the roots are not in soil and will dry out and die very rapidly, you must keep them moist before planting. Place a plastic bag filled with moss around the roots, and keep the moss damp until the last minute, when you are ready to plant. AT THEIR BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE 1–2 hours YOU WILL NEED Bare-root bamboo Plastic bag Spade Compost Watering can Root barrier Garden moss ADD ORGANIC MATTER o Elegant screen Bamboo makes a perfect screen to hide ugly objects in the garden or to ensure privacy. Evergreen, clothed in foliage all the way up the stem, and with an upright habit, it takes up less space, if controlled, than the average hedge. Dig a hole larger than the rootball and break up the base using a fork. In the bottom, add a layer of well-rotted organic matter, such as garden compost or manure, and mix it in lightly. Add more organic matter to the excavated soil from the hole and mix this together also. PLANT AND FIRM IN BAMBOO PLACE BAMBOO INTO HOLE Unwrap the bamboo, gently tease out the roots, and carefully lower it into the planting hole. Keeping the plant upright, add the organic matter and soil mix, firming down as you go to make sure there are no air pockets between the roots. Fill in the hole around the stems, making sure the plant is at the same level as originally planted. To do this, look for an earthy tidemark on the stems, showing where the soil had previously come up. Firm well and water. TOP TIP: CONTROLLING BAMBOOS AFTERCARE Keep the immediate area weed-free while the plant is establishing. Water regularly during dry spells to ensure that the plant roots do not dry out. Thin out and tidy established clumps every two years in early spring, before they begin shooting. Cut any dead or weak stems down to ground level. BEAUTIFUL BEDS Some bamboos are “runners” and once established will send out roots all over the garden. These plants need to be contained with a root barrier made from a nonperishable material, such as rigid plastic or slate. Dig a narrow trench around the clump and insert your barrier. Cut and remove all peripheral roots, then fill in with soil. 63 64 BEAUTIFUL BEDS >> Sow an annual border Annual bedding plants are great in pots and window boxes, but they can also be planted straight into the summer border, where they offer a quick and colorful way to fill bare patches in new gardens. Sunflowers From towering giants to knee-high midgets, sunflowers are real crowdpleasers, and always a hit with children. WHEN TO SOW Spring AT THEIR BEST Mid- to late summer TIME TO COMPLETE 20 mins to sow; 20 mins to plant YOU WILL NEED Sunflower seeds 3½ in (7 cm) pots Seed soil Garden stakes String PLANT SEEDS In spring, sow sunflower seeds indoors in a light, warm spot. Sow a single seed in each pot since they make large seedlings. Coir pots (above) can be planted whole, straight into the soil. SUPPORT YOUNG PLANTS WATER FREQUENTLY Water seedlings regularly, and keep them indoors or in a warm greenhouse until mid-spring. Then put them outside during the day, bringing them indoors at night, to harden off. Prepare a suitable area of soil outside, and once the risk of frost has passed, plant the sunflowers out into the garden. Their young stems bend easily, so tie them to short stakes. For extra big sunflowers, choose a large cultivar. Feed and water your plants all summer. Planting options Flowering annuals come in a wealth of shapes and sizes, and even scents; many are tender, so plant outside after the frosts. Cosmos has delicate, ferny foliage, with flowers that float on tall, delicate stems. In contrast, Iberis scrambles across the soil and offers useful groundcover. Senecio’s silvery foliage provides a wonderful foil for flowers, and low-growing Gazania is a dazzler, adding vivid color to a sunny spot. 1 Cosmos bipinnatus; H3 ft (1 m) s18 in (45 cm) 2 Senecio cineraria; Hs24 in (60 cm) 3 Gazania; H8 in (20 cm) s10 in (25 cm) 4 Candytuft, Iberis umbellata; H12 in (30 cm) s9 in (23 cm) o Pot of gold Not all sunflowers are giants. The shorter varieties, such as ‘Teddy Bear’ and ‘Dwarf Yellow Spray’, are planted alongside bedding geraniums (Pelargonium), Salvia farinacea ‘Strata’, nasturtiums, and black-eyed Susan (Thunbergia alata), in this colorful bed. << BEAUTIFUL BEDS Cottage dream The gentle hues and varying textures of cottage garden perennials can be used to create beautiful combinations in an informal planting design. This is the classic sun-loving border of many gardeners’ imaginations, with spires of lofty delphiniums piercing through lower mounds of colorful flowers. PREPARE THE SOIL WHEN TO START Autumn AT THEIR BEST Midsummer TIME TO COMPLETE 2 hours preparation; 3 hours to plant YOU WILL NEED Spade Well-rotted organic matter Grit In autumn, clear the border of all weeds. Dig in organic matter, such as garden compost or well-rotted manure. Ideally you should dig down one spade depth (see p.21), incorporating organic matter into the top 6 in (15 cm) of soil. On heavy soils, spread a layer of grit over the whole area, and dig it in to improve drainage. SET OUT THE PLANTING PLAN 1. Delphinium Black Knight Group 2. Anchusa azurea 3. Alstroemeria ligtu hybrids 4. Achillea filipendulina ‘Gold Plate’ 5. Salvia sclarea var. turkestanica 6. Verbascum olympicum TOP TIP: STAKING Many perennials, such as delphiniums and Achillea, become top-heavy and require support. If you provide supports early in the season, plants will grow through and disguise them, and they will still look natural and attractive. Plants staked at a later date, once they have already flopped, tend to always look trussed up. Buy plants in spring and set them out across the border, taking time to arrange them and to visualize how they will grow in relation to each other. The classic arrangement is taller plants at the back and shorter plants at the front, but consider using tall, airy types, such as Achillea or Verbena bonariensis, farther forward. AFTERCARE 6 1 5 2 4 3 Some of the plants will need staking as they grow (see right), and in their first year they will require regular watering to help them establish. Although these herbaceous perennials die back in winter, where possible, leave their stems to stand until spring. Then cut everything back to the ground to neaten the border and allow space for new growth. This is also a good time to apply a general-purpose granular fertilizer and a mulch of well-rotted organic matter. a Stop the flop Use short stakes to support tall flowers, such as delphiniums (top left). Plants with moundlike growth will grow through and be supported by twiggy sticks put in place in spring (top right). Linked metal stakes serve a similar purpose (above). 67 SELECTIONS >> 68 BEAUTIFUL BEDS >> Cottage garden plants There are many different plants that suit a cottage garden, but as a rule, the simpler ones that have not been highly bred look most at home in such a design. Plants such as anemones, Cirsium, and Anthemis create easy-going, loose arrangements, while the tall flower spires of lupins and hollyhocks provide structure. Cottage garden plants are generally loved by bees and other nectar-seeking insects. A full sun B partial sun C full shade D well-drained soil E moist soil F wet soil HARDINESS ZONES (H): coldest zone needed to flourish and warmest zone in which plant’s cold requirements are met 1 Monkshood, Aconitum carmichaelii Arendsii Group; h4 ft (1.2 m) s12 in (30 cm) ABdE H8–3 2 Golden marguerite, Anthemis tinctoria ‘E.C. Buxton’; h24 in (60 cm) s36 in (90 cm) Ad H8–3 3 Aquilegia formosa; h24 in (60 cm) s18 in (45 cm) ABE H7–1 4 Coreopsis verticillata ‘Moonbeam’; h20 in (50 cm) s24 in (60 cm)ABd H9–1 5 Cirsium rivulare ‘Atropurpureum’; h4 ft (1.2 m) s24 in (60 cm) ADe H8–1 6 Bleeding heart, Dicentra spectabilis ‘Alba’; h4 ft (1.2 m) s18 in (45 cm) BE H9–1 cm) ABe H7–5 7 Anemone hupehensis ‘Hadspen Abundance’; h24 in (60 cm) s16 in (40 8 Meadow cranesbill, Geranium pratense ‘Mrs. Kendall Clark’; hs24 in (60 cm) ABDe H8–1 9 Lupin, Lupinus ‘Inverewe Red’; h36 in (90 cm) s24 in (60 cm) ABD H10–6 0 Hollyhock, Alcea rosea Chater’s Double Group; h8 ft (2.4 m) s24 in (60 cm)Ad H10–3 q Astrantia major; h36 in (90 cm) s18 in (45 cm) ABe H7–1 BEAUTIFUL BEDS 69 SELECTIONS >> << a Autumnal tones This design looks beautiful in autumn, when the seedheads of late-flowering perennials offer shades of copper and bronze. a Winter structure The plants have a strong structure, so their stems and seedheads remain intact all winter, for the benefit of birds and wildlife. << BEAUTIFUL BEDS Prairie partners Popularized by Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf, prairie planting designs use dramatic swathes of grasses alongside perennials that have a strong structure in winter. Particularly suitable for larger gardens, these borders are often at their most beautiful in autumn and winter, a time when many perennial beds are lackluster and dull. PREPARATION WHEN TO START Spring or autumn AT ITS BEST Late summer to early winter TIME TO COMPLETE 4 hours YOU WILL NEED Well-rotted organic matter, such as manure Horticultural grit for clay soils 1. Deschampsia cespitosa 2. Sedum spectabile 3. Echinacea purpurea ‘Rubinstern’ 4. Lythrum virgatum 5. Eupatorium It is important to dig over the soil thoroughly and incorporate plenty of organic matter, such as well-rotted manure, before you start planting. This style of gardening uses groups of plants that enjoy similar well-drained but moist soil, so you will also have to incorporate grit into heavy clay soil (see pp.14–15). PLANTING LAYOUT The prairie planting style uses interlocking swathes of plants, with each swathe comprising just one species or type of plant. To create this effect, you will need lots of plants, so buy young ones to minimize costs. If you have a small garden, follow the same rules for larger plots but reduce the number of different species used. Set your plants out in teardrop-shaped swathes, with the narrow sections neatly slotting together. 5 CUT BACK IN SPRING 1 This border is designed to look good all winter long, so you must resist the temptation to cut it all back or neaten it too much in autumn. Most cutting back can be left until early spring, when new shoots appear at the base of the plants. If some areas start to look really messy, neaten stray stems earlier. 4 3 2 71 72 BEAUTIFUL BEDS >> Flowers for cutting and drying One of the greatest pleasures of owning a garden is growing an abundance of flowers, many of which can be picked and brought indoors to decorate the house as well. Some are particularly well suited to cutting, while others can be harvested and dried to last into winter and beyond. Cutting FLOWERS FOR CUTTING Many plants can be cut frequently with little impact on the garden display; they just keep on producing more flowers. Plant a cutting border full of such varieties. Allium Alstroemeria Antirrhinum Chrysanthemum Cleome Cornflower, Centaurea Cosmos Daffodil Dahlia Foxglove, Digitalis Peony (above) Rudbeckia Sunflower Sweet pea Sweet William Tulip Zinnia WHEN TO START Autumn or spring AT THEIR BEST Spring to late summer TIME TO COMPLETE 5 hours for sowing and pricking out 2 hours for planting YOU WILL NEED Seeds of annuals Bulbs Perennials Spade Well-rotted organic matter, such as manure Watering can PLANT IN SWATHES Clear the area of weeds, and dig in organic matter. In autumn, plant bulbs and mark their positions (see pp.40–41). Then, in spring, plant large swathes of perennials and annuals (see pp.30–31 and pp.108–110), so you can cut the flowers regularly without leaving large gaps in the border. PICK AND MIX When you are planning to pick your flowers, water the area well the night before. This helps stems plump up, and the cut flowers will keep for longer. It is best to cut first thing in the morning, plunging the stems immediately into a deep bucket of water. Always cut to just above a leaf. << BEAUTIFUL BEDS Drying Some flowers retain their colors and scents when they are cut and dried, and can be used in flower arrangements throughout the year. Seedheads look striking in indoor arrangements too, but leave some on the plants if you want a dramatic winter border. WHEN TO START Summer to autumn AT THEIR BEST All year round TIME TO COMPLETE About 2 weeks for drying YOU WILL NEED Flowers for drying Rubber bands Tacks or pins Hooks or paperclips String PLANT AND SOW Several perennials are useful as dried flowers, but you may want to sow some annuals too. Sow half-hardy annuals into modules or pots indoors in spring, planting out when all risk of frost has passed (see pp.108–110). Hardy annuals can be sown direct in autumn or spring. Water, feed, and deadhead as you would any other plant. CUT IN DRY WEATHER Pick flowers for drying in fine weather to avoid excess moisture on the foliage and petals. Most flowers will dry better if they are cut before they are fully open. Pick roses just as the buds begin to open, and lavender stems as the top petals start to emerge. AIR-DRY THE BLOOMS Tie a few stems together with string or a rubber band. Use a kitchen hook or a paper clip to attach the band to a line of string or tie them to a bamboo cane. Then fix the string or cane to the ceiling in a cool, airy place. Because strong light bleaches out the colors, it is best to hang them in the dark, or at least in low light. FLOWERS FOR DRYING Achillea (above) Cornflower, Centaurea Globe thistle, Echinops Hare’s tail, Lagurus Lavender Love-in-a-mist, Nigella Quaking grass, Briza Sea holly, Eryngium Statice, Limonium (above) Strawflower, Xerochrysum (below) 73 << BEAUTIFUL BEDS Textured edge A striking design such as this should be treated as a modern take on bedding. The perennials will last far longer than annual plants, but the formal effect will eventually lose its crispness as they grow. MARK OUT YOUR PATTERN WHEN TO PLANT Autumn or spring Chose a sunny site and improve the soil with organic matter before planting, then use sand or string to mark out lines to create the formal, parallel effect. Space out the plants to allow room for them to spread. AT ITS BEST Early summer TIME TO COMPLETE 2 hours PLANT OUT YOU WILL NEED Sand or string Well-rotted organic matter, such as manure 1. Iris chrysographes 'Black Knight' 2. Salvia x sylvestris ‘Mainacht' 3. Heuchera ‘Beauty Colour’ Plant the tall Persicaria at the back, and the Heuchera and Salvia at the front to form a neat carpet. Use accent plants, such as Angelica, to add interest to the pattern. AFTERCARE 4. Feather grass, Stipa tenuissima 5. Persicaria microcephala ‘Red Dragon’ 6. Angelica archangelica You may have to lift and replant every few years to keep the pattern strong. Experiment with rows of different plants until you find a combination that is well suited to your conditions. 6 1 5 4 2 3 75 76 BEAUTIFUL BEDS >> Lay a gravel bed Drought-tolerant plants that originate from arid, rocky places look most at home in a gravel garden. Ideal for a hot, sunny spot, a gravel border is easy to make, and can create a mosaic of colors and textures in areas where other plants struggle to survive. WHEN TO START Spring AT ITS BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE 6 hours YOU WILL NEED Drought-loving plants Horticultural grit Washed sand Landscape fabric Scissors Galvanized staples Watering can Gravel Boulders PREPARE THE AREA Dig over the area thoroughly and remove any weeds. You need a well-drained soil to keep drought-tolerant plants happy, so dig in washed sand and horticultural grit to make sure that yours drains freely, even in wet weather. LAY MEMBRANE Weed-suppressing membrane or landscape fabric allows rain to soak through to the roots, yet prevents weeds from growing. Lay it over the entire area, overlapping the edges and pinning them down with galvanized staples as you go. << BEAUTIFUL BEDS CUT CROSSES FOR PLANTS Place your plants in their positions on the landscape fabric, and then arrange them to create a pleasing display. For each plant, cut a cross in the fabric, and fold back the flaps. Self-seeded gravel garden A slightly different style of gravel garden uses no landscape fabric. Plants are left to self-seed and create a wonderfully natural effect, but make sure you remove every scrap of perennial weed during the preparation. ENCOURAGE SEEDING PLANT THROUGH FABRIC Dig a hole and plant your plants at the same depth they were at in their pots. Add a little fertilizer to the back-filled soil, and firm it in. Replace the fabric to fit around the stems. Both weeds and seedlings of desired plants will spring up in a gravel bed, and it is important to learn the difference between them. You may have to allow weeds to grow larger than you would ideally like to identify them. In addition, take a relaxed approach to deadheading; seeds will never get the chance to form if the flowers are cut off the moment they start to fade. 1 Eryngium giganteum H36 in (90 cm) S12 in (30 cm) 2 Meconopsis cambrica H18 in (45 cm) S10 in (25 cm) 3 Nigella damascena Persian Jewel Group H16 in (40 cm) S9 in (23 cm) 4 Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea H5 ft (1.5 m) S24 in (60 cm) SPREAD GRAVEL MULCH Once all of the plants have been watered in, spread a 2 in (5 cm) layer of gravel over the entire area. You may need to top this up occasionally to keep the garden looking its best. Water the plants in dry spells for the first year. OTHER PLANTING OPTIONS Alchemilla mollis Alyssum Aquilegias Eschscholzia Feverfew Nasturtiums Shirley poppies Snapdragon Stipa tenuissima Verbena bonariensis 77 SELECTIONS >> 78 BEAUTIFUL BEDS >> Mediterranean-style plants Many of the plants that we associate with vacations abroad grow well in cooler climates, particularly in a well-drained, sandy soil. Choose those with bold shapes and silvery foliage to evoke Mediterranean memories, and throw in a few with vivid flowers, such as Hibiscus, to brighten things up. Keep plants with aromatic leaves, such as Cistus, nearby. They release spicy oils as the sun warms them, and will transport you back to lazy days. A full sun B partial sun C full shade D well-drained soil E moist soil F wet soil HARDINESS ZONES (H): coldest zone needed to flourish and warmest zone in which plant’s cold requirements are met 1 Rock rose, Cistus x dansereaui ‘Decumbens’; h16 in (40 cm) s24 in (60 cm) Ad H8–7 2 Viper’s bugloss, Echium vulgare ‘Blue Bedder’; h20 in (50 cm) s12 in (30 cm) Ad H8–1 3 Phormium ‘Sundowner’; hs6 ft (2 m) Ad H10–1 (50 cm) Ad H8–5 H8–5 4 Sea holly, Eryngium x tripartitum; h32 in (80 cm) s20 in 5 Myrtle spurge, Euphorbia myrsinites; h4 in (10 cm) s12 in (30 cm) Ad 6 Eriobotrya japonica; hs25 ft (8 m) Ad H12–8 s6 ft (2 m) Ad H12–1 7 Oleander, Nerium oleander; h10 ft (3 m) 8 Cardoon, Cynara cardunculus; h 5 ft (1.5 m) s4 ft (1.2 m) Ad H9–1 9 Anthemis punctata subsp. cupaniana; h12 in (30 cm) s36 in (90 cm) Ad H9–6 syriacus ‘Boule de Feu’; h10 ft (3 m) s6 ft (2 m) Ad H9–1 hs12 in (30 cm) Ad H8–5 0 Hibiscus q Lavandula angustifolia ‘Nana Alba’; BEAUTIFUL BEDS 79 SELECTIONS >> << 80 BEAUTIFUL BEDS >> Plant by a hedge Hedges make beautiful backdrops to beds and borders, as well as providing superb habitats for wildlife, but they present their own problems. The soil close to a hedge is usually dry and it can shade the planting in front, but choose carefully and both plants and hedge will thrive. PLANTING IN A SUNNY SITE In south-facing gardens, hedges can help shade plants that receive the full force of the summer sun almost all day. However, for both the hedge and plants to succeed, they need sufficient water. When planting (see pp.192–197 for methods) dig plenty of organic matter, such as well-rotted manure, into the soil before you start, and mulch around the hedge annually with more organic matter. This should help keep the hedge happy. Select drought-tolerant plants for the beds, as a mature hedge will suck out much of the soil water. Plant about 18 in (45 cm) in front of the hedge, and again dig organic matter into the soil and mulch to help it retain moisture. a p Sun worship Cirsium rivulare and Geum rivale are combined here in front of a mixed deciduous hedge to produce an airy, informal effect (above). Lavender tolerates the dry conditions in front of this smooth yew hedge, creating an elegant line of purple flower spikes in summer (right). PLANNING FOR SHADY AREAS Your choice of plants for borders in dense shade in front of a hedge will be limited, since only a few have adapted to the extremes of drought and darkness. When planning a hedge, try to site it where it will not shade the beds in front all day; if you have inherited a hedge that does this, select plants that can tolerate these difficult conditions (see pp.58–59). You will have a wider choice of plants for areas that receive sun for part of the day, but moisture retention will still present a problem here, so dig plenty of organic matter into the soil. In addition, you could lay a trickle hose (a perforated hose pipe that seeps water into the soil) around the border. In these damper conditions, many woodland plants, such as Geranium phaeum, foxgloves (Digitalis), bleeding heart (Dicentra), and Japanese anemones (Anemone x hybrida) will thrive. o Flowery picture The hedge here provides a dark backdrop to the pale foxgloves and pink roses, which will tolerate some shade, and annual tobacco plants (Nicotiana). The Alchemilla mollis in the foreground is happy almost anywhere. << BEAUTIFUL BEDS DESIGNER TRICKS Where space allows, a wide margin between the hedge and border allows a much greater plant choice and less maintenance because the plants will not require watering as frequently. Turf over the area between the hedge and the border, or opt for a paved, decked, or bark-chip walkway to separate them. Another designer trick is to make a “fedge,” which is simply a chain-link or wooden fence covered with ivy. Ideal for smaller gardens where a deep hedge is not an option, a fedge will still draw moisture from the soil, but to a lesser extent. a p Simple solutions This “fedge” (above) is a chain-link fence with ivy growing through it, providing a super-slim screen to enhance the bright perennials in front. For larger gardens (right) a border set about 3 ft (1 m) from the hedge allows sun-loving shrubs and perennials to thrive. Planting options Unless your border faces south, and is sunny for most of the day, select shade-tolerant plants to grow in front of hedges. CONTRAST COLOURS AND TEXTURES Check plant labels before you buy and select those whose foliage is not exactly the same color as your hedge, or they will simply disappear into the background. Pastels and white flowers show up best against a dark yew (Taxus) hedge, and large-leaved plants work well with hornbeam (Carpinus) or beech (Fagus) hedges that have a more textured look. Dark foliage creates a striking contrast when matched with golden privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium ‘Aureum’) or shrubby honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida ‘Baggesen’s Gold’). The following plants are all good choices to plant in beds in front of hedges: 1 Bergenia x schmidtii; h12 in (30 cm) s24 in (60 cm) 2 Hypericum calycinum; h24 in (60 cm) sindefinite 3 Maianthemum racemosum; h36 in (90 cm) s24 in (60 cm) 4 Epimedium x versicolor; E12 in (30 cm) 5 Campanula poscharskyana; h6 in (15 cm) s24 in (60 cm) 6 Tricyrtis formosana; h32 in (80 cm) s18 in (45 cm) 81 82 BEAUTIFUL BEDS >> Create an easy-care border This bold mix brings together rich colors and contrasting flowers and foliage to create an easy-care summer border. Ideal for free-draining soil and a sunny site, these plants rarely need watering once established. PREPARE THE SOIL WHEN TO START Early spring AT ITS BEST Summer 1 TIME TO COMPLETE 2 1 hour YOU WILL NEED Horticultural grit Well-rotted organic matter, such as manure Spade All-purpose granular fertilizer Choose a sunny, open position and, a week before planting, spread an 3 in (8 cm) layer of organic matter over the soil, and dig it into the top 6 in (15 cm). Clay soils will also require horticultural grit to improve drainage. PLANT THE PERENNIALS Starting at the back of the border, plant the Crocosmia, with the Heliopsis and Sedum in front (see steps on pp.30–31). Take care not to bury their stems, which may cause them to rot. 4 1. Montbretia, Crocosmia ‘Bressingham Blaze’ 2. Heliopsis helianthoides Loraine Sunshine 3. Lavandula angustifolia Blue Cushion 4. Sedum telephium (Atropurpureum Group) ‘Bressingham Purple’ Easy-care shrubs For a really low-maintenance border, try these hardy shrubs. They look after themselves once established, and tolerate periods of drought. Simply trim them annually to keep them in shape, removing dead, diseased, or damaged stems. 1 Brachyglottis (Dunedin Group) ‘Sunshine’ (evergreen, prefers sun); h5 ft (1.5 m) s6 ft (2 m) 2 Choisya x dewitteana ‘Aztec Pearl’ (evergreen, prefers sun); hs8 ft (2.5 m) 3 Mahonia x wagneri cultivar (evergreen, prefers shade); h32 in (80 cm) s3 ft (1 m) 4 Viburnum sieboldii (deciduous, prefers sun or partial shade); hs12 ft (4 m) PLANT THE LAVENDER 3 Plant a line of lavender at the front, (see steps on pp.82–83), ensuring that the stems are above the soil. Spread a gravel mulch. Water the plants regularly for the first year, until they are established. Apply a granular fertilizer each spring. << BEAUTIFUL BEDS Creative cubes Originally used by the construction industry, galvanized wire mesh crates, known as “gabions,” have been adopted by designers for modern garden landscapes. This exciting show garden is easy to recreate on a smaller scale—buy the gabions at a garden center, or commission a specialist to make them for you. STACK THE CRATES WHEN TO START Autumn AT ITS BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE 3–4 days YOU WILL NEED Gabions Flagstones or stones of your choice Wooden box or foam cube Spirit level Thick nylon pantyhose Topsoil or soil-based mix Well-rotted organic matter All-purpose granular fertilizer 1. Gunnera manicata 2. Astilboides tabularis 3. Hosta undulata var. albomarginata 4. Mind-your-own-business, Soleirolia soleirolii 5. Silver birch, Betula utilis var. jacquemontii This garden is made from gabions stacked together to create the structure and surface. Simply fill them with flagstones and set them on the soil, checking that they are level with a spirit level—dig out or add soil beneath them as necessary. Leave spaces for planting. Fill more gabions and place them on the foundation level to create stepping stones and seats, and leave a few empty to produce an exciting layered effect. Crate fillers You can fill your gabions with almost anything, from used bottles to wood offcuts. If you are building a new garden, look around the site for fillers, such as bricks, pebbles, and rocks. MAKE LEAFY GABIONS To make the planted crates, place a wooden box or block of foam in the center of a gabion. Then fill up the legs of some thick nylon pantyhose with moist soil, tie the ends, and pack them around the sides and top of the gabion. Cut holes in the pantyhose, and plant small mind-your-own-business plants into the holes. Keep well watered. The plants will soon spread to fill out the crates. PLANT THE BEDS 1 5 4 3 2 o Modular garden The gabions in this modern design are simply piled on top of one another to create a textured effect, with large leafy plants filling the gaps. In the gaps between the gabions, fill the planting beds with a soil-based mix. Work in some well-rotted organic matter, such as manure or homemade garden compost, to increase water retention for these moisture-loving plants (to make a mini bog garden for the Gunnera, see pp.330–331). Plant the birch trees in late autumn (see pp.178–179) and the other plants in early spring. Keep well watered for the first year, and during dry spells thereafter. Try these crate fillers: 1 Used beer bottles; wine bottles would also work well 2 Bricks and clay garden edging 3 Layers of small logs, pebbles, and slate, which form this beautiful design. 85 86 BEAUTIFUL BEDS >> Plant dahlia tubers Once shunned by fashionable gardeners, these flashy, colorful jewels have staged something of a comeback, and are now considered an essential feature of the mid- to late-summer border, as well as injecting life into tired autumn gardens. They also provide lots of cut flowers for indoor displays. WHEN TO PLANT Late spring AT THEIR BEST Midsummer to autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 30 minutes for planting YOU WILL NEED Dahlia tubers Well-rotted organic matter, such as manure Slug rings or organic pellets Stakes and twine for staking Wooden boxes Potting mix Plant labels PLANT THE TUBERS Once the danger of frost has passed, dig a hole 12 in (30 cm) deep and add a layer of organic matter to the bottom. Place the tuber in with the buds pointing up, as well as a stake for support, and carefully refill with soil. << BEAUTIFUL BEDS Try tropical cannas Cannas bring tropical color to the late-summer garden, but they are not entirely hardy. They are tougher than dahlias, though, and can survive outside in milder areas with the right care. PINCH OUT SHOOT TIPS Provide slug protection as young growth appears. When stems are 12 in (30 cm) high, pinch out the top bud to encourage bushiness and lots of flowers. SITING CANNAS These plants need a hot and sunny spot to flower well; a south-facing, sheltered area is ideal. Also, make sure that your cannas are not shaded by neighboring plants, or competing with them for moisture, which can affect flowering. IMPROVE THE SOIL Cannas are thirsty plants, so improve the soil with organic matter to help retain moisture. To plant, dig a hole about 8 in (20 cm) deep and lay a rhizome in it horizontally. Refill the hole with soil, water well, and apply a layer of mulch. FROST PROTECTION As soon as the first light frost has blackened the leaves, cut off the foliage and dig up the tubers. Place them somewhere airy and frost free, so that the stems can dry out fully. OVERWINTERING WHEN TO PLANT Late spring AT THEIR BEST Midsummer to autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 30 minutes for planting YOU WILL NEED STORE OVERWINTER When dry, brush the soil off the tubers, label them clearly, and plant them in wooden boxes or large pots of dry potting mix. Keep them in a cool, dry, frost-free place until you can plant them out again the following spring. Canna rhizomes Well-rotted organic matter, such as manure Mulch Straw Chicken wire or wooden box In the fall, after the frost has blackened the leaves, cut down the stems. In mild regions, cover the rhizomes with straw, pinned down with chicken wire. In colder areas, lift and store them in dry potting mix, in a cool, dry, frost-free place, such as a shed. 87 SELECTIONS >> 88 BEAUTIFUL BEDS >> Dramatic dahlias The darlings of the gardening design world, dahlias are the glamour pusses of the mid- to late-summer border, providing sparkle and drama just as other stars are starting to fade. Choose from simple singles, neat pompons, star-shaped cactus-types, and dainty collerettes in a wide range of rich colors. Use them to add color to beds and borders, or to create eye-catching displays in large containers on a patio or terrace. A full sun B partial sun C full shade D well-drained soil E moist soil F wet soil 1 ‘Gay Princess’; h5 ft (1.5 m) s30 in (75 cm) Ad 2 ‘Arabian Night’; h4 ft (1.2 m) s24 in (60 cm) Ad 3 ‘Easter Sunday’; h3 ft (1 m) s24 in (60 cm) Ad 4 ‘Kathryn’s Cupid’; h4 ft (1.2 m) s24 in (60 cm) Ad 5 ‘Ragged Robin’; h3 ft (1 m) s18 in (45 cm) Ad 6 ‘Yellow Hammer’; h24 in (60 cm) s18 in (45 cm) Ad 7 ‘Preston Park’; hs18 in (45 cm) Ad 8 ‘Moonfire’; h3 ft (1 m) s24 in (60 cm) Ad 9 ‘Pink Giraffe’; h30 in (75 cm) s24 in (60 cm) Ad 0 ‘Polar Sight’; h4 ft (1.2 m) s24 in (60 cm) Ad q ‘Zorro’; h4 ft (1.2 m) s24 in (60 cm) Ad BEAUTIFUL BEDS 89 SELECTIONS >> << << BEAUTIFUL BEDS Contemporary urban mix You don’t need to rule out vegetables and herbs just because you live in the city. Here, the designer has created a stylish modern look with a mix of edibles and ornamental flowers in this chic urban garden. The boxwood and cherry tree provide permanent structure to the ever-changing crops and flowers. PREPARE TO PLANT WHEN TO PLANT Autumn to early spring 1. Fig, Ficus carica AT ITS BEST Summer 2. Boxwood, Buxus sempervirens 3. Sweet basil, chili peppers, and lettuces TIME TO COMPLETE 4. Pot marjoram 2–3 days 5. Parsley YOU WILL NEED 6. Daylily, Hemerocallis Topsoil or soil-based potting mix Well-rotted organic matter All-purpose granular fertilizer 7. Rosa ‘Rose of Picardy’ 8. Wild cherry, Prunus avium 9. Outdoor tomatoes 8 1 7 9 2 4 6 5 You can adapt this design to suit your own garden by creating four rectangular beds that fit your plot. The herbs, fig, vegetables, and rose prefer an open, sunny site, while the parsley and daylilies will be happy in the dappled shade beneath the tree. Enrich the soil with well-rotted organic matter, and on clay soils dig in grit too (see pp.14–15) because all the plants used here like moist but well-drained conditions. 3 PLANT THE BED First, in early autumn, plant the boxwood, rose, and tree, which form the structural backbone of the design (see pp.178–179 for tree planting; p.93 for roses; p.36 for planting a shrub). Also plant the fig close to the house wall in early spring (see p.316). Clip the boxwood into cube shapes. In late spring, plant the herbs, lettuces, and tomatoes in neat rows in the sunny areas, and the parsley and daylilies just beyond the tree canopy. They have been planted closer to the tree here than is recommended because this is a show garden. AFTERCARE Water the tree regularly for the first two years after planting, and keep the area directly beneath it free from weeds. The tomatoes require staking and tying in (see pp.272– 273). Water all the plants frequently in dry spells and throughout the summer. In autumn, buy plug plants of winter and early spring-cropping cabbages, kale, broccoli, and leeks, to replace the summer tomatoes, chilies, peppers, and sweet basil. 91 92 BEAUTIFUL BEDS >> Plant a modern rose garden Create a contemporary display using disease-resistant roses, such as ‘Winchester Cathedral’ (below), and pretty perennials for a modern mix of flowers and foliage. This classic white design is easy to plant and maintain; just follow the steps here for the rose, and on pages 30–31 for the other plants. << 7 BEAUTIFUL BEDS 1 6 2 5 3 4 WHEN TO PLANT Autumn or early spring AT ITS BEST Early to midsummer All-purpose granular fertilizer Mycorrhizal fungi 1. Veronica spicata alba TIME TO COMPLETE 2. Rosa Winchester Cathedral (‘Auscat’) 3 hours 3. White violas YOU WILL NEED 4. Trifolium repens ‘Purpurascens Quadrifolium’ Spade Heavy-duty gloves Bamboo stake Well-rotted organic matter CHECK PLANTING DEPTH Place the rose in its container into the hole and, using a bamboo stake, check that the graft union (the swelling at the base of the stems) will be below the soil surface when the rose is planted. Remove the rose and apply some general-purpose fertilizer to the base of the hole. PREPARE TO PLANT Dig a bucketful of organic matter into the planting area, and mix it evenly with the soil. Then dig a hole a little deeper and twice as wide as the pot that contains the rose. 5. Hardy white geranium 6. Alchemilla mollis 7. Actaea simplex ‘Brunette’ APPLY MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI Water the rose and leave to drain. Apply mycorrhizal fungi to the base of the hole, following the directions on the package. The roots must come into contact with the fungi granules after planting as these help the rose’s root system to establish. Wearing gloves, tip the rose from its container and plant in the hole. FIRM IN SOIL Backfill around the root ball with excavated soil. Firm the soil to remove air pockets with your hands. Water the rose well, then apply a 2 in (5 cm) layer of well-rotted organic matter, making sure that it does not touch the stems. Water the rose regularly during its first year, and apply a rose fertilizer each spring. 93 << BEAUTIFUL BEDS Autumn impressions Many borders fade as temperatures dip, but one packed with grasses, late flowers, and plants with strong, distinctive skeletons will solve the problem. It will look good through winter too. PREPARE THE SITE WHEN TO START Autumn The autumn, before you plan to start planting, carefully clear the border of all weeds, and then dig it over thoroughly. Incorporate plenty of organic matter as you dig (see p.21). AT ITS BEST Autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 3 hours to prepare; 3 hours to plant YOU WILL NEED Organic matter, such as well-rotted manure Spade Watering can 1. Aster x frikartii PLANT UP In spring, buy plants and plant them in the border (see pp.28–29). Taller grasses, such as Miscanthus, can go toward the back, with sedums and asters at the front, and loose drifts of Achillea threaded throughout the middle. 2. Sedum ’Herbstrfuede’ 3. Achillea ‘Walther Funcke’ 4. Miscanthus sinensis 5. Feather grass, Stipa tenuissima AFTERCARE Water the plants in thoroughly and apply a mulch of well-rotted organic matter. In spring, the asters and Achillea may require staking (see p.67). Leave the border to stand as it is over winter, then cut it to the ground in spring. 1 5 2 4 3 95 SELECTIONS >> 96 BEAUTIFUL BEDS >> Jewel-like berries Plants with fabulous autumn foliage tend to be on the large side, but there are many shrubs and perennials with colorful, glossy autumn berries that will fit into even the smallest of gardens. Plant a selection of these beauties and you will have plenty to look at once the glories of summer have faded. Many hang on to their fruits well into winter, providing birds and other wildlife with a ready supply of food at a lean time of the year. A full sun B partial sun C full shade D well-drained soil E moist soil F wet soil HARDINESS ZONES (H): coldest zone needed to flourish and warmest zone in which plant’s cold requirements are met 1 Spindle tree, Euonymus planipes; hs6 ft (2 m) ABE H9–5 2 Clerodendrum trichotomum var. fargesii; hs15 ft (5 m) AbE H9–7 3 Gaultheria mucronata ‘Wintertime’; h32 in (80 cm) s4 ft (1.2 m) BE H9–8 4 Viburnum tinus; hs6 ft (2 m) ACe H10–8 h3 in (7 cm) s10 in (25 cm) Be H9–8 5 Gaultheria tasmanica; 6 Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’; h8 in (20 cm) s12 in (30 cm) Ad H12–1 7 Silky dogwood, Cornus amomum ‘Blue Cloud’; h10 ft (3 m) s12 ft (4 m) ABE H8–5 8 Beauty berry, Callicarpa dichotoma; hs4 ft (1.2 m) ABe H8–7 9 Majorcan peony, Paeonia cambessedesii; hs18 in (45 cm) ABe H8–1 0 Leycesteria formosa; hs6 ft (1.8 m)ABE H9–6 BEAUTIFUL BEDS 97 SELECTIONS >> << 98 BEAUTIFUL BEDS >> Trim a simple topiary Topiary lends structure and formality to any planting design and makes a useful focal point, whether grown in a container or planted directly into the border. All you need to bring an overgrown specimen back into shape, or to make a cone from scratch, are some basic tools, patience, and a good eye. WHEN TO START Early summer AT ITS BEST All year round TIME TO COMPLETE 1 hour YOU WILL NEED One boxwood plant, Buxus sempervirens Household disinfectant Sharp long-handled shears SELECT A HEALTHY PLANT When choosing a specimen to clip into topiary, look for one with dense, healthy growth, unblemished foliage, and a strong leading stem in the center. KEEP MOVING AROUND THE PLANT Don’t trim the topiary in “sides”— you risk overclipping one area. Continually move around the plant, regularly taking a step back to look at the overall shape. ASSESS SHAPE FROM TOP When you have nearly finished, look down at the central stem to check that the outline of the cone is straight and even. Assess the shape all the way around, and trim accordingly. START TO TRIM BY EYE Looking down on the plant, locate the central stem, which will form the top of the cone. With shears, trim around the stem to create the outline. ROUTINE CARE Established topiary should be pruned once or twice a year in midsummer and early autumn. Never clip on hot, sunny days to prevent the newly exposed foliage from being scorched. << BEAUTIFUL BEDS Tool choices Creating topiary shapes is much easier if you have the right tools and always keep the blades sharp and clean. Although you can use garden shears to trim cones and simple shapes, long-handled shears (far left) are a better choice because they offer greater control. For more intricate designs, use topiary shears (below). TOP TIP: CLEAN CUTS Boxwood blight is a major disease of boxwood (Buxus sempervirens), commonly used for topiary. Protect your specimens by cleaning your pruning shears between plants with a spray of household disinfectant. o Points of view Slim topiary cones provide structure in this small mixed border, as well some vertical emphasis. 99 100 BEAUTIFUL BEDS >> Vibrant winter border Flowers are few and far between in the winter garden, but devote an area to winter performers, such as bare-stemmed beauties and bright evergreens, and this season can be as colorful as any other. START WITH STRUCTURE WHEN TO PLANT Spring and late autumn (for trees) Cornus and Salix grown for colored bark can be pollarded, so their stems grow at head–height on a single trunk, or coppiced, where they grow up from the ground (see pp.230–31). Plant the pollarded shrubs at the back of the border, and the coppiced shrubs at the front. AT ITS BEST Winter TIME TO COMPLETE 6 hours YOU WILL NEED PLANT AROUND SHRUBS Spade Well-rotted organic matter All-purpose granular fertilizer Fill in the border around the structural plants with low–growing heathers in contrasting colors, dwarf conifers, and ivies. Position these plants so they help enhance the color of the naked stems. 1. Salix alba var. vitellina 'Britzensis' 2. Cornus sericea ‘Flaviramea’ 3. Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ AFTERCARE 4. Dwarf conifers Water plants regularly throughout the first year. Trim off dead growth from all plants so that the area looks good for winter. Coppice or pollard Cornus and Salix every few years in spring and feed with all-purpose fertilizer. 5. Erica carnea 6. Variegated ivies 1 6 5 4 3 2 Creative Containers When choosing a container, check out the pros and cons of different materials and designs to find one that suits both your style and the plants you plan to pot up. You can then create exciting displays with easy-to-grow summer flower seeds, inexpensive plug plants, or mature shrubs and trees that will add height to your patio. Just remember that all plants in containers require regular watering and feeding to keep them in peak condition, especially during summer. 104 CREATIVE CONTAINERS >> Choosing containers Almost any vessel can be used as a planter, as long as it has holes for drainage, and will last one growing season, but take time to decide what type would best suit your design, and your plants. SIZE MATTERS When choosing a pot, remember that large containers hold more soil and water, and therefore dry out more slowly than small planters. So, if you can tend to your pots only a couple of times a week, avoid tiny terracotta pots that will need watering up to twice a day in summer. Also think about the shape of the pot. If you plant a shrub in an urnlike container with a slim neck, as the roots spread within the pot, the plant effectively becomes locked in. When the shrub needs repotting, you will almost certainly have to break the pot. i Vintage herb display A rustic set of metal pots of various sizes and shapes suit cottage garden designs. i p Chic combinations These spiky succulents in galvanized metal containers of different sizes are real show stoppers, while three simple terracotta pots make an elegant group when filled with architectural palms. GROUPING To create a pleasing display using a selection of pots, consider each for its size, shape, and the material it is made from. An easy rule of thumb is to opt for pots made from the same material. You can then either choose a number of identical planters for an elegant, modern display, or group a collection of pots of different shapes and sizes to create an informal but harmonious arrangement. Selecting materials From bright plastics to traditional clay and wood, containers come in a vast choice of colors and materials. Some may obviously suit your garden style and budget, but also be aware that the material a pot is made from affects its durability, and the maintenance it requires. TERRACOTTA Versatile and relatively inexpensive, terracotta pots come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and even colors, if you choose glazed containers. Terracotta is porous and allows air to pass through to plant roots, but this is also a disadvantage, since it absorbs water from the soil, drying it out. It is also prone to frost damage, unless fired to very high temperatures, which makes it much more expensive. WOOD AND BASKETS METAL When buying wooden containers, check that the label carries the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) logo, indicating that the timber has come from a sustainable forest. Although frost-proof, porous, and a good insulator for plant roots, wood decays, and must be painted or treated with a preservative to prolong its life. Baskets offer a similarly natural look, but are less durable, lasting just a few years before deteriorating. This is a popular choice of material because it’s so versatile. Metal containers come in a wide array of shapes and styles; choose from rustic utilitarian planters for a cottage-style garden, or try modern galvanized, or powder-coated metal containers in an urban, minimalist scheme. Beware that thin metal containers afford plant roots little insulation, making them prone to overheating and frost damage. Steel containers also corrode, and can leave rusty stains on light-colored paving. Even galvanized and powdercoated metal containers will rust if their surfaces are damaged. STONE AND CONCRETE SYNTHETICS Strong, frost-proof, insulating and extremely durable, stone and concrete pots make perfect partners for plants. Both materials are less porous than terracotta, so will not dry out potting compost too quickly, but they are extremely heavy. While this makes them very stable, and suitable for growing tall, top-heavy plants like trees, they cannot be moved easily once planted up. While concrete pots tend to be inexpensive, you will pay a high price for stone. If you want the look of stone for a lower price, buy containers made from synthetic stone compounds. Plastics, polymers, fiberglass, and resins all fall under the umbrella of synthetics. These man-made materials are used to produce pots large and small, plain and decorative, and they come in the widest range of colours, from natural shades to vibrant neon pinks and blues. Synthetic pots are frost-proof and not easily broken, so they are ideal if you have children or pets who may knock them over. 106 CREATIVE CONTAINERS >> Create a spring medley Pots brimming with spring bulbs lift the spirits after a long dark winter, but you need to plan ahead to create the most spectacular displays. As soon as temperatures dip in the autumn, look out for bulbs at garden centers or in mail order catalogs, and check flowering times for a synchronized display. WHEN TO START Mid-autumn AT ITS BEST Early to late spring TIME TO COMPLETE 1½ hours YOU WILL NEED Large frost-proof container Broken clay pot pieces All-purpose potting soil Gravel Selection of bulbs: Tulips Daffodils Grape hyacinth, Muscari PREPARE TO PLANT Add pieces of clay pot or plastic to the base of the container to cover the drainage holes. Then add a 2 in (5 cm) layer of gravel. << PLANT IN LAYERS Cover the gravel with good-quality potting soil, but leave sufficient space to cover your bulbs to the right depth (see p.41). Space the daffodil bulbs on the soil, ensuring that the pointed ends are at the top, and cover with more soil so that the tips of the bulbs are just visible. CREATIVE CONTAINERS Synchronize flowering To create a display like this one, choose bulbs that flower at the same time to produce a dramatic show lasting a few weeks in mid-spring. Alternatively, in larger containers, you could opt for bulbs that flower in succession over some months, from early spring to early summer, dead-heading blooms as they fade. Check labels for flowering periods. TIMING TULIPS AND DAFFODILS Different types of tulip and daffodil flower at different times; early daffodils can appear in late winter, while late tulips may still be in bloom at the beginning of summer. To help you synchronize flowering, choose from the following bulbs, which all bloom at about the same time in mid-spring and last for several weeks. COVER BULBS Now place the tulip bulbs between the daffodils and cover them with more soil. Finally, scatter the small Muscari bulbs on the top layer of soil and cover these, leaving a gap of about 2 in (5 cm) between the soil and rim of the pot to allow space for watering. Firm lightly. TULIPS ‘Abba’ (tomato red) ‘Abu Hassan’ (mahogany) ‘Apricot Beauty’ (salmon rose) Emperor series (various colours) ‘Mistress’ (deep pink) ‘Monte Carlo’ (sulphur yellow) ‘Negrita’ (purple) ‘Prinses Irene’ (orange) ‘Ruby Red’ (scarlet) DAFFODILS ‘Geranium’ (white and orange) ‘Lemon Beauty’ (lemon and white) ‘Lemon Drops’ (white; lemon cup) ‘Mount Hood’ (white) ‘Red Devon’ (yellow; red cup) ‘Salome’ (white; pink cup) ‘St Patrick’s Day’ (lemon) ‘Sweetness’ (golden yellow) ‘Thalia’ (white) FINISHING TOUCHES Spread gravel on top of the soil and water well. To aid drainage and prevent the bulbs from rotting, raise the pot off the ground on “feet” (below), and place it in a sheltered spot. Move the pot into the sun when the bulbs emerge. 1 Tulipa ‘Madame Lefeber’; h12 in (30 cm) 2 Tulipa ‘Diana’; h14 in (35 cm) 3 Tulipa ‘Oriental Splendour’; h12 in (30 cm) 4 Narcissus ‘Tahiti’; h18 in (45 cm) 5 Narcissus ‘Dove Wings’; h12 in (30 cm) 6 Narcissus ‘Bartley’; h16 in (40 cm) 107 108 CREATIVE CONTAINERS >> Sow easy summer seeds Growing summer bedding plants from seed is both fun and cost-effective, especially if you have several pots to fill. The seeds used in this design are French marigolds (Tagetes), Bidens, nasturtiums, and annual dahlias, all of which germinate quickly and make a colorful display from summer until the first frosts. Sow seed Large seeds Sow seeds indoors in seed trays, but check the packets first for any specific instructions. Large seeds, such as nasturtiums (Tropaeolum), can be planted in small 3 in (8 cm) pots, and will not need to be potted on (see right). WHEN TO START Early spring AT THEIR BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE A few hours over several weeks YOU WILL NEED Packets of seeds Seed soil Clean seed trays Modular seed trays Selection of pots Broken clay pot pieces Slow-release fertilizer All-purpose soil Watering can with rose SOW SEEDS Water the soil with a can fitted with a fine rose and allow to drain. Pour some seeds into your hand and carefully space them out on the soil surface. Sprinkle some sieved soil over the seeds, but check the packet first to see what depth the seeds require. FILL POTS WITH SOIL Fill pots with seed soil and press it down gently with your fingers, or the bottom of another clean pot. Use a blunt pencil or dibber to make three holes, 1 in (2 cm) deep. COVER AND KEEP MOIST FILL SEED TRAYS Using seed soil, fill some clean seed trays to within 1 in (2 cm) of the top. Gently press another seed tray on top to level out and firm the surface. Label the seed tray, and put the lid, or a clear plastic bag, over the top. Place in a light spot, and check the packet to see what temperature the seeds need. Keep moist, and remove the lid or plastic bag as soon as seedlings emerge. PLANT SEEDS Drop one seed into each hole and press the soil down lightly. Label and water the pots, then place in a clear plastic bag until the seedlings start to emerge. REMOVE SEEDLINGS FROM TRAY Half-fill modular trays with good quality all-purpose soil. Holding the seedlings gently by their first leaves, use a pencil or dibber to gently tease their roots from the seed soil. PLANT IN MODULES Place a seedling in the middle of each cell of the modular tray, and fill around the roots and lower stems with more soil. Firm the soil using your fingertips to secure the seedlings. Pot on seedlings Check your seedlings daily and keep them well watered. The most effective way to do this is to place the seed trays in a larger container (with no drainage holes), half-filled with water. Leave them until the water has seeped into the soil and the surface is damp, then remove the seed trays. When the seedlings have a few leaves, pot them on as shown here. WATER IN Repeat Steps 1 and 2 for each seedling, and water carefully. Keep the seedlings in a bright place and at the right temperature. A few weeks before the last frost is forecast, set them outside during the day, bringing them in at night, to harden them off. continued... 110 CREATIVE CONTAINERS >> Plant up the pots In late spring when all frosts have finally finished, plant your bedding outside in pots, window boxes, or hanging baskets (see pp.130–131). The plants raised here from six packets of seeds filled five pots, three window boxes, and a hanging basket. Choose containers that suit your garden design. SATURATE CLAY POTS Before planting up terracotta pots, soak them with water. Terracotta is porous, and saturating it first helps prevent the clay from drawing moisture out of the soil when the pot is planted up. ADD DRAINAGE MATERIAL Place a layer of broken clay pot pieces in the base of each pot to ensure good drainage. To reduce the amount of soil needed for larger pots, fill the bottom third of the container with pieces of plastic or broken pot instead. APPLY FERTILIZER Fill each container to about 2 in (5 cm) from the rim with all-purpose soil. Mix slow-release fertilizer designed for container plants into the soil. You can also add water-retaining gel crystals, which help keep the soil moist, reducing the need to water as frequently. TOP TIP: AFTERCARE PLANT UP In this scheme the dahlias are the tallest, and should be planted at the back, while the dwarf French marigolds need to be at the front, with the other plants dotted in–between. Plant up, firm the plants in gently, and water them well. LIFT THE PLANTS Water the young plants in their modules and leave to drain. Then gently squeeze the bottom and sides of each cell to loosen the rootballs, and remove the plants. Place them on the soil about 4 in (10 cm) apart. Place the pots in a sunny position and water the plants regularly. Deadhead frequently to keep them in bloom for longer, removing faded flowers with clippers. Young plants are prone to attacks by snails and slugs, so apply a few slug pellets, use nematodes or fix a copper band around the pots to keep them at bay (see pp.426–427). A gritty mulch may also help to deter pests. To retain moisture in the soil, you can add a decorative mulch (see p.405), which will also help to set off the planting. Pots of plenty p Growing your own plants from seed is ideal if you have lots of pots to fill. The choice of varieties is also greater than the selection available as mature plants. SELECTIONS >> 112 CREATIVE CONTAINERS >> Foolproof seeds Some annual seeds are almost infallible, and guaranteed to provide you with a garden full of bright, summer flowers. Protect half-hardy types from frost by planting them indoors in spring; others, such as pot marigolds, cornflowers, and love-in-a-mist, can be sown directly into the soil or a container where they are to flower. That said, results are usually better if you start them off in pots indoors, and plant them out a little later. A full sun B partial sun C full shade D well-drained soil E moist soil CREATIVE CONTAINERS F wet soil HARDINESS ZONES (H): coldest zone needed to flourish and warmest zone in which plant’s cold requirements are met 1 Pot marigold, Calendula officinalis; h20 in (50 cm) s18 in (45 cm) ABd H6–1 2 Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Sonata White’; h5 ft (1.5 m) s18 in (45 cm) AdE H12–1 3 Cornflower, Centaurea cyanus; h20 in (50 cm) s6 in (15 cm) Ad H7–1 4 Tobacco plant, Nicotiana ‘Lime Green’; h20 in (50 cm) s8 in (20 cm) BCE H12–1 5 Zinnia elegans ‘Peppermint Stick‘; h24 in (60 cm) s16 in (40 cm) AD H12–1 6 Corn poppy, Papaver rhoeas Shirley Group; h36 in (90 cm) s12 in (30 cm) Ad H12–1 7 Love-in-a mist, Nigella damascena Persian Jewel Series; h16 in (40 cm) s8 in (20 cm) Ad H12–1 s24 in (60 cm) Ae H12–1 8 Love-lies-bleeding, Amaranthus caudatus; h4 ft (1.2 m) 9 Callistephus chinensis ‘Pompon’; h24 in (60 cm) s18 in (45 cm) ADe H9–1 0 California poppy, Eschscholzia californica; h12 in (30 cm) s6 in (15 cm) Ad 113 SELECTIONS >> << 114 CREATIVE CONTAINERS >> Plant a pot of wallflowers Wallflowers are biennial plants, which means they live for two years, producing leaves in the first, and flowers in the second. Buy them with bare roots and plant up in autumn, ready to bloom the following spring. These fragrant flowers come in many hot shades, and look stunning with violas and grasses. WHEN TO START Autumn AT ITS BEST Spring TIME TO COMPLETE 30 minutes YOU WILL NEED Wallflowers, Erysimum cheiri Winter-flowering violas Feather Grass, Stipa tenuissima Frost-resistant container Broken clay pot pieces Multi-purpose soil Bucket Gravel ADD THE PLANTS Place clay pieces at the bottom of the pot and fill to within 2 in (5 cm) of the rim with soil. Plant the Stipa at the back and violas around the front. Gently unwrap and separate the wallflowers. PREPARE WALLFLOWERS Try to plant your bare-root wallflowers as soon as you get them home. If you have to store them for a few days, wrap the roots in damp newspaper and keep the plants in a cool garage or unheated greenhouse. Then, just before planting, plunge the roots in a bucket of water for about 15 minutes. FIRM IN AND WATER Plant the wallflowers between the Stipa and violas, making sure that they are upright. Firm in and water well. Place the container in a sunny position. Water during dry spells and remove faded flowers. << CREATIVE CONTAINERS Sow grasses from seed Very fashionable and extremely versatile, annual grasses are easy to grow from seed, and can be used in wild, meadow-style plantings, as well as container designs. If you have light, well-drained soil and a sunny site, they may self-seed and recreate their beautiful, natural effect for free. FILL MODULES AND SOW SEEDS Fill a modular seed tray with seed soil to within ¼ in (5 mm) of the top. Tap the tray to settle the soil, top up if necessary, and sow about three or four seeds per cell on the surface. Each module will then produce a small clump of grass. COVER SEEDLINGS Sprinkle a thin layer of vermiculite over the seeds to keep the surface moist, while also allowing light through to aid germination. Water the tray, using a can fitted with a fine rose. The seeds will take up to three weeks to germinate, depending on the type of grass. WHEN TO START Early spring AT THEIR BEST Summer to autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 30 minutes to sow; 1 hour to plant YOU WILL NEED Modular seed trays Seed soil Vermiculite Watering can Small plastic pots Multi-purpose soil Seed suggestions: Foxtail millet, Setaria italica Hare’s tail, Lagurus ovatus Quaking grass, Briza maxima (see above) Sorghum nigrum KEEP SEED TRAYS SHADED Keep the newly sown seed trays in a semi-shaded spot and do not allow them to dry out. When the seedlings appear, move the trays out into the sun. Once they have several strong leaves, pot them up (see p.110) and set them outside. You can collect seed from your own ornamental grasses in late summer to sow the following spring. 115 116 CREATIVE CONTAINERS >> Sculptural spikes Plants with swordlike, spiky leaves have a natural drama and exuberance. If you want to create a subtropical look in your garden, or even just a bit of theater, use these surprisingly easy foliage plants in large containers to form the architectural features within your planting design. Cordyline Cordyline is commonly known as the cabbage palm. The colored-leaved cultivars are great in pots, but if you want yours to grow into a large specimen, choose the hardiest, plain green Cordyline australis. PLANTING AND AFTERCARE o a Colorful cordylines Variegated and purple cordylines add drama to container plantings, but they are not quite as tough as those with simple, plain green leaves. Yuccas The best yuccas have striped, variegated foliage but also vicious spikes, so don’t plant them where young children could be hurt. PLANTING AND AFTERCARE Yuccas will survive winter outdoors in all but the most exposed areas, but they do best in sheltered gardens in well-drained soil and full sun. Extremely drought tolerant, they thrive in containers, and are well suited to coastal gardens. They need little care, which is lucky, because their spikes make them difficult. Make an architectural statement p Yucca’s arching shape suits a pot, but it will also grow well in the ground as long as there is sufficient drainage and sunshine. Grow cordylines in sun or partial shade in a well-drained soil, or multi-purpose compost if planting in a container. Feed them annually in spring with a granular slow-release fertilizer. Lower leaves turn yellow as the plant ages; cut these back to the trunk or leave them to fall off. In colder areas; leaves may suffer damage from winter winds and snow. Protect them by tying the foliage together loosely around the central leaves. Phormiums Commonly known as New Zealand flax, these striking plants come in many colors and sizes, from dainty, container-sized cultivars to vast, shrub-like specimens. PLANTING AND AFTERCARE Phormiums are easy and will grow well in all types of soil. They prefer full sun but will tolerate some shade. Although they are hardy, individual leaves may suffer frost damage, but these can be removed, and the plant will quickly recover in spring. 1 P. tenax ‘Variegatum’; E5 ft (1.5 m) 2 P. cookianum subsp. hookeri ‘Tricolor’; E15 ft (1.5 m) 3 P. ‘Sundowner’; E6 ft (2 m) 4 P. ‘Bronze Baby’; E32 in (80 cm) o Flexible flax This dwarf Phormium, ‘Jester’, only reaches 36 in in height and spread, and is ideal for pots. 118 CREATIVE CONTAINERS >> Pot up climbers in containers Many of the more compact climbers, such as jasmine and some clematis cultivars, are well suited to being grown in pots, and add another layer of interest to areas such as patios or pathways where there is no soil. All they need is a good-sized container, suitable support, and regular watering and feeding. << CREATIVE CONTAINERS WHEN TO START Spring AT THEIR BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE 1½ hours YOU WILL NEED Jasmine or other climber A large frost-proof pot Broken clay pot pieces Soil-based mix Trellis Twine Gravel or pebbles to mulch Watering can BEFORE YOU PLANT Put pieces of broken clay pot into the base of the container to aid drainage, and then cover with a layer of soil. Position the support at the back of the container and then pack some soil around it to help hold it firmly in place. Make sure that there is enough room for the plant roots to spread out. TIE IN MAIN STEMS Remove any supports the plant has been grown on. Tie the main stems loosely to the trellis with twine. When the stems have hardened, remove the ties and tie in new growth higher up the trellis. ANGLE PLANT TOWARD TRELLIS Part-fill the container with more soil. Set the climber on top to check that it will be at the same depth as it was in its pot when planted (see p.219 for clematis). Plant it with the stems angled toward the trellis. There should be a gap of 2 in (5 cm) between the compost surface and the rim of the pot. WATER IN WELL Water in well and place a layer of gravel or pebbles on top of the compost to minimize evaporation from the surface. This will also keep the roots cool, and improve the appearance of the pot. TOP TIP: CHOOSING CLEMATIS FOR POTS Many clematis are naturally compact and flower when still small, but take care to choose the right type. To keep clematis compact, cut back the stems of summer-flowering plants, such as Clematis florida, in late winter. Leave unpruned those that flower before late spring, such as C. alpina and C. macropetala, because they bloom on the previous year’s growth (see pp.218–219). COMPACT CULTIVARS g Spoiled for choice You can combine complementary colored cultivars in the same pot (above), or opt for just one flower-smothered plant (right). ‘Arabella’ ‘Barbara Jackman’ ‘Bees’ Jubilee’ ‘Comtesse de Bouchaud’ ‘Daniel Deronda’ florida var. flore-pleno florida var. sieboldiana ‘H.F. Young’ ‘Ice Blue’ (far left, white) ‘Kingfisher’ (far left, mauve) ‘Miss Bateman’ ‘Niobe’ ‘Ooh La La’ (left) ‘Perle d’Azur’ ‘Prince Charles’ ‘Royalty’ 119 120 CREATIVE CONTAINERS >> Grow plants from plugs Quick, easy and cheap, “plugs” are basically well-developed seedlings that you pot on once before planting out. They are ideal if you do not have the space or time to sow seeds yourself, and they are the simplest option for plants that are difficult to germinate. Mail-order companies tend to offer the largest selection of bedding and tender perennial plugs, and they usually cost a fraction of the price of fully-grown plants. WHEN TO START Spring AT THEIR BEST Late spring to autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 1½ hours YOU WILL NEED Plug plants—begonias have been used here Dibber or pencil Potting soil Large modular trays or small 3 in (8 cm) plastic pots Watering can ORDER YOUR PLUGS When ordering plugs, make sure you will have time to pot them up soon after they arrive—most companies specify when they will be delivered. Plugs are also known as “miniplants” or “easyplants,” and companies may offer them at different stages of development. The youngest plugs will be cheapest. PLANT UP IN MODULES Make a hole with your finger or a pencil in the compost in the modules, and insert a plug plant in each. Firm the soil around the plug lightly with your fingers, taking care not to compact it or to damage the roots. REMOVE PLUGS FROM CONTAINER When the plugs arrive, water well and store them in a cool, frost-free place. Fill large modular trays, or small 3 in (8 cm) pots, with good-quality potting soil, designed for seedlings and young plants. Using the blunt end of a pencil or a dibber, gently push the plug plants out of their original containers. KEEP PLANTS WATERED Water the plugs using a can fitted with a fine rose, and keep them in a cool, light, frost-free place. Water regularly, harden off (see p.109), and plant out in pots, or in the ground, when all risk of frost has passed. << CREATIVE CONTAINERS Planting options Most popular bedding plants, including pelargoniums, busy Lizzies, begonias, lobelia, snapdragons, dahlias, and fuchsias are available as plug plants, although many companies also offer a selection of newer and more unusual varieties. Order in early spring for a late spring delivery. 1 Nicotiana ‘Nicki'; h18 in (45 cm) 2 Nemesia strumosa ‘KLM’; h10 in (25 cm) 3 Gazania Chansonette Series; h12 in (30 cm) 4 Pelargonium Horizon Series; h16 in (40 cm) o Shady treat This beautiful container, ideal for a partly shaded spot, is filled with Begonia ‘Illumination Rose’ and fragrant blue heliotropes, all grown from plugs, together with Fuchsia ‘Genii’ and trailing Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’ (golden creeping Jenny). 121 SELECTIONS >> 122 CREATIVE CONTAINERS >> Shade-loving container plants Summer flower displays need not be limited by a shady garden because many pretty container plants prefer cooler conditions. A pot full of flowering begonias, fuchsias, violas, or busy Lizzies will transform a sheltered patio, while plants grown for their foliage look particularly attractive in shade, where the sun will not bleach out their subtle colors. Leafy hostas, ferns, lamiums, and heucheras also offer a wonderful variety of textures. A full sun B partial sun C full shade D well-drained soil E moist soil CREATIVE CONTAINERS F wet soil HARDINESS ZONES (H): coldest zone needed to flourish and warmest zone in which plant’s cold requirements are met 1 Fuchsia ‘Autumnale’; h12 in (30 cm) s16 in (40 cm) ABdE H12–9 hs16 in (40 cm) ACdE H0–0 2 Heuchera ‘Plum Pudding’; 3 Flowering begonia; to hs16 in (40 cm) BCdE H12–1 4 Deadnettle, Lamium galeobdolon; h24 in (60 cm) s36 in (90 cm) BCdE H8–1 5 Viola Princess Series; h6 in (15 cm) s8 in (20 cm)ABe H9–1 6 Ivy, Hedera helix ‘Little Diamond’; hs12 in (30 cm)BdE H12–6 7 Hosta sieboldiana; h36 in (90 cm) s4 ft (1.2 m) BdE H9–2 Impatiens walleriana; hsto 14 in (35 cm) ABe H12–1 (30 cm) s14 in (35 cm)ABDe H9–6 8 Busy Lizzie, 9 Carex hachijoensis ’Evergold’; h12 in 0 Primula Gold-laced Group; h10 in (25 cm) s12 in (30 cm) BE H8–4 q Male fern, Dryopteris filix-mas; hs36 in (90 cm) BE H8–1 123 SELECTIONS >> << 124 CREATIVE CONTAINERS >> Plant pots of perfume The epitome of high summer, sweetly scented lilies set by a front or back door will greet you with their perfume as you come and go, but keep your distance because their pollen stains clothing. The most cost-effective way to grow them is to plant fresh bulbs in early spring. WHEN TO PLANT Spring TOP TIP: LILY OPTIONS AT THEIR BEST Summer Choose the following species for scent: L. auratum L. candidum L. hansonii (below right) L. regale, white L. speciosum var. rubrum (below left) Oriental hybrids, such as ‘Star Gazer’ (left), ‘Tiger Woods’, and ‘Arabian Red’ TIME TO COMPLETE 30 minutes YOU WILL NEED Lily bulbs (see Top Tip, right, for scented types) Deep container Broken clay pot pieces Multipurpose potting mix Horticultural grit TOP UP THE CONTAINER Cover the bulbs and top up the container to about 2 in (5 cm) below the rim with a 50:50 mix of soil and horticultural grit. Place your pots on “feet” in a sheltered spot and move them into the sun as soon as the shoots appear. AFTERCARE PREPARE THE POT In spring, buy fresh lily bulbs and choose a deep container; most lilies are planted at a depth of 6 to 8 in (15–20 cm). Cover the drainage hole with broken pot pieces and then add a layer of multipurpose potting mix. PLANT THE BULBS Add a 1½ in (3 cm) thick layer of horticultural grit over the potting mix and lay the bulbs on their sides on top. Positioning the bulbs like this allows water to drain out of the bulb scales, rather than collecting and rotting the bulbs. Water every couple of days, and apply a tomato feed to your lily pots every fortnight during the summer. Keep in a sheltered position over winter, and in spring, renew the top 2 in (5 cm) of compost. Lily beetle (see pp.428–429) is their main pest. Look out for these bright red beetles and pick them off as soon as you see them. << Elegant arrangement CREATIVE CONTAINERS TIME TO COMPLETE 1 hour YOU WILL NEED Clear white lilies with a frilly skirt of Diascia and dramatic striped grasses make a chic windowbox display for the front of the house. The lily used here is Lilium ‘Reinesse’, and like all Asiatic lilies it is unscented, but you could easily substitute a perfumed-type, such as ‘Muscadet’, to produce a fragrant combination. PREPARE THE BOX If your windowbox has no drainage holes, make a few with an electric drill. In early spring, add a layer of broken clay pot pieces to the bottom of the box, and cover them with potting mix. Plant up bulbs as shown opposite. Plant the delicate Diascia at the front of the box and the stripy Carex at each end. Or, for an instant effect in summer, buy the lilies in flower and pot them up with mature Diascia and Carex plants. CARING FOR THE DISPLAY Feed your windowbox every two weeks with a tomato fertilizer, and keep it well watered from late spring and throughout the summer. The lilies will flower for a few weeks in summer, and can then be planted out in the garden in free-draining soil. The Diascia will bloom continuously all summer and can survive the winter outside in mild areas; the Carex is quite hardy too, and is effective in winter displays. Lilium ‘Reinesse’ Diascia, white Carex morrowii cultivar Deep white windowbox Broken clay pot pieces Multipurpose potting mix Horticultural grit TOP TIP: DEADHEADING DIASCIA To help prolong the display, regularly remove fading flowers on your Diascia. This stops the plants from producing seeds and focuses their energy on making more flowers instead. 125 126 CREATIVE CONTAINERS >> Make cottage-style containers Even if you don’t own a traditional garden with deep borders, you can still pull off the cottage garden look by planting in containers. Herbaceous perennials and annual climbers grow well in pots, which you can slot into existing planting schemes to add extra height and color, wherever you want it. Morning glory tower This annual climber, Ipomoea, can be easily grown from seed in spring, and will quickly romp over a container support, smothering it in trumpetlike flowers. WHEN TO START Spring AT ITS BEST Mid- to late summer TIME TO COMPLETE 2 hours YOU WILL NEED Morning glory, Ipomoea, seedlings Large container Multi-purpose soil and slowrelease fertilizer Broken clay pot pieces Tall bamboo stakes Raffia or string TIE STAKES TOGETHER Arrange stakes around the edge of the pot and tie the tops together. Then stabilize the obelisk by tying each stake to the next with raffia to form a ring. Repeat this a few times up the stakes. BEFORE YOU PLANT Place broken clay pot pieces in the base of the pot, fill with soil, and mix in slow-release fertilizer granules. PLANT SEEDLINGS Take a pot or two of seedlings that you sowed indoors (see pp.108–109) in early spring. Carefully separate them out and plant one at the base of each stake. Firm in, and water the plants well. AFTERCARE The small plants will quickly start to climb of their own accord but may benefit from being tied in at first. Water the plants well all summer, and remove any faded flowers to keep them in bloom. Pastel pot Compact versions of cottage garden perennials grow well in pots, where they make a looser and more natural alternative to tender bedding plants. WHEN TO START Spring AT ITS BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE 1 hour YOU WILL NEED Wide pot Broken clay pot pieces Soil-based potting mix Slow-release fertilizer granules Carex ‘Ice Dance’ Delphinium grandiflorum Stachys officinalis ‘Hummelo’ Veronica spicata ‘Rosenrot’ PREPARE AND PLANT Place broken clay pot pieces over the holes in the base of the container, then half-fill it with soil. Plant the delphinium toward the back and arrange the other, lower-growing plants, in front. Fill around them with more soil, and mix in slow-release fertilizer granules. Water the plants well. AFTERCARE With the correct care, this can be a long-lasting container that flowers year after year. In early spring, remove all dead growth to make way for the new spring shoots. At the same time, remove the top layer of soil, and replace with fresh soil mixed with fertilizer granules. The plants will also require regular division (see right). TOP TIP: REPOTTING AND DIVIDING PERENNIALS In the garden, herbaceous perennials need lifting, dividing, and replanting every few years to keep them healthy. In a pot, this should be done more often, at least every two years. Lift the plants out of the pot and use your hands to tease sections apart. Discard any old or weak clumps, then replant the healthiest offsets into fresh soil with some fertilizer. 128 CREATIVE CONTAINERS >> Inside out Show-stopping plants with “wow” factor, tender Abyssinian bananas are ideal for terraces and patios, where they give welcome shade, and form a structural backdrop to other exotics. They must be kept in a warm area during winter, so bear this in mind before you buy. WHEN TO START Late spring AT ITS BEST Early summer to early autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 1 hour YOU WILL NEED Large pot Broken clay pot pieces Multi-purpose potting mix 1. Abyssinian banana, Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’ 2. Asparagus densiflorus ‘Myersii’ 3. Clerodendrum thomsoniae 4. Medinilla magnifica PLANT YOUR BANANAS Widely available, Ensete are large perennials that grow very quickly in summer. They like a sunny spot, sheltered from strong winds that could tear their leaves. Line the base of a pot with broken clay pot pieces, and plant the Ensete in multi-purpose potting mix. FEEDING AND CARE To encourage the strongest, most luscious growth, water the plants regularly and feed every week using a liquid fertilizer. You can add to the display by underplanting your Ensete with ferns, trailing bedding plants, or other exotics with attractive foliage. OVERWINTERING BANANAS To make sure your Ensete survives the winter, bring the pots indoors before the first frosts. A plant mover (right) will make the task easier. Remove older leaves and keep the plant in a room, or heated greenhouse, at a minimum temperature of 45°F (7°C). Don’t water in the colder months but start again in spring. << CREATIVE CONTAINERS Exotic options To complement your bananas, plant up pots of flowering exotics to inject spicy colors and scents into the mix. These summer-flowering plants enjoy a sunny site outside and can be brought into a heated conservatory for winter. Grow these colorful exotic plants in large containers on a warm patio, and they will provide a beautiful, summer-long display. Plants will reach these dimensions when grown in a pot or container. 1 Glory lily, Gloriosa superba (climber); h6 ft (2 m) 2 Brugmansia aurea; h6 ft (2 m) s3 ft (1 m) 3 Lantana camara; E3 ft (1 m) 4 Hibiscus rosa-sinensis; E3 ft (1 m) 129 130 CREATIVE CONTAINERS >> Plant a summer basket Floating globes of flowers and foliage lend an exotic touch to patios and balconies throughout the summer. Plant up a large basket and hang it at head height, so you can focus on the colors, shapes, and textures. To prolong your flowery display, water and deadhead daily. POSITION WALL BRACKET WHEN TO START Late spring The most successful hanging baskets are the largest, because they hold greater quantities of soil and water and are less prone to drying out. However, big baskets require strong brackets fixed securely to the wall. Place the bracket on the wall and check it is vertical with a spirit level. Use a pencil to mark the positions of the screw holes. AT ITS BEST Early to late summer TIME TO COMPLETE 2 hours YOU WILL NEED Sturdy wall bracket Pencil Electric drill with masonry bit Spirit level Rawlplugs and coach bolts Spanner Large hanging basket and liner Scissors Multipurpose compost Slow-release granular fertilizer Plants in this basket: Trailing blue lobelia Dichondra argentea ‘Silver Falls’ Lotus berthelotii Diascia ‘Flying Colors Coral’ Verbena ‘Peaches ‘n’ Cream’ Verbena ‘Derby’ ATTACH BRACKET Place the bracket back on the wall and line up the holes. Insert a washer and coach bolt and screw it into the wall using a spanner, as shown. A ratchet-style spanner makes this job easier. Repeat for the second hole. Tighten both bolts fully to secure the bracket to the wall. DRILL HOLES Remove the bracket, and using an electric drill with a masonry bit, drill holes through the pencil marks. You will find this easier if you drill the holes into the mortar rather than the bricks. Push a Rawlplug into each hole. LINE BASKET Line the basket with a suitable liner and trim to fit. Over the bottom third of the basket, lay a sheet of plastic punched with a few small drainage holes—a piece of trash can liner is perfect. Add a layer of gravel and cover this with soil. Then, cut crosses at regular intervals around the sides just above the plastic. THREAD PLANTS THROUGH HOLES Water all the plants thoroughly and remove the lobelia plants from their cell pack. Wrap a little plastic around the leaves to protect them, and thread each plant through the crosses from the inside. PLANT THE BASKET Cover the lobelia with more soil and then start planting up the rest of the basket. Work from the center out, with the tallest Verbena in the middle and the trailing Dichondra and Lotus around the edges. FINISHING TOUCHES Fill in around the plants with soil and some fertilizer. Water in well, and add a layer of gravel over the soil to help retain moisture. Water daily, even if it has rained, and deadhead regularly for a longer show of blooms. SELECTIONS >> 132 CREATIVE CONTAINERS >> Summer basket choices In spring, garden centers are packed with plants for windowboxes and hanging baskets that will provide you with color all summer long. Baskets crammed with flowers alone can look a little overwhelming, so choose a few foliage plants, such as red-leaved coleus, or silvery Glechoma and Festuca, to act as foils. Trailing plants, including lobelia and Lotus (see pp.130–131), soften lines and continue the display below the main plants. A full sun B partial sun C full shade D well-drained soil E moist soil CREATIVE CONTAINERS F wet soil HARDINESS ZONES (H): coldest zone needed to flourish and warmest zone in which plant’s cold requirements are met 1 Osteospermum cultivar; h16 in (40 cm) S24 in (60 cm) Ad H6–1 ‘Hawaii White’; hS6 in (15 cm) AdE H12–1 (20 cm) Abde H12–1 2 Ageratum houstonianum 3 Coleus, Solenostemon scutellarioides; hS8 in 4 Fescue, Festuca glauca; h12 in (30 cm) S10 in (25 cm) Ad H8–1 5 Busy Lizzie, Impatiens walleriana Super Elfin Series; hS24 in (60 cm) Abde H12–1 ivy, Glechoma hederacea ‘Variegata’; h6 in (15 cm) S6 ft (2 m) Abde H9–5 Brachyscome ‘Blue Mist’; h14 in (35 cm) S18 in (45 cm) Ad H12–1 Pink; h10 in (25 cm) S24 in (60 cm) Ad H12–1 (90 cm) Ad H12–8 6 Ground 7 Swan River daisy, 8 Petunia Shockwave Series 9 Convolvulus cneorum; h24 in (60 cm) S36 in 0 Nemesia strumosa ‘KLM’; h12 in (30 cm) S6 in (15 cm) Ade H10–9 133 SELECTIONS >> << 134 CREATIVE CONTAINERS >> Make containers from cast-offs It’s easy to create plant pots for free from old household objects, such as pans, kettles, and colanders. Here, tin cans have been transformed into stylish containers for grasses and summer flowers. If you want larger displays, ask at local restaurants for their empty extra-large sized cans. WHEN TO START Spring AT THEIR BEST Summer to early autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 30 minutes YOU WILL NEED Old tin cans Gloves Screwdriver with metal drill bit Broken clay pot or plastic pieces Multi-purpose soil Brachyscome, lilac Calibrachoa ‘Million Bells Purple’ Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’ Festuca glauca ‘Golden Toupee’ Recycling ideas DRILL DRAINAGE HOLES You will find more ideas for containers made from recycled materials at national flower shows and open gardens in your area, while thriftshops and tag sales offer good sources of planters, such as old handbags and bread bins. FUNKY JUNK Soak off the labels from the cans in hot soapy water. Wearing heavy gloves, drill a few drainage holes in the bottom of each can. Large plant pots can be expensive but you can get one for nothing at your local recycling center. Old oil drums are perfect for trees or large shrubs (above), while worn tires can be used singly and filled with turf to make stepping stones (below) or piled on top of each other to create taller containers. FIRM PLANTS IN WELL Add pieces of clay pot to the bottom of the cans and plant up the grasses and flowers, leaving a 1 in (2 cm) gap between the surface of the soil and the rim. Water well. a Creative containers Old wheelbarrows make excellent containers for summer bedding, such as marigolds. Drill holes in the bottom of the barrow to provide drainage. 136 CREATIVE CONTAINERS >> Use tiny but tough succulents Alpines are a group of plants that really allow you to be creative. Tolerant of drought and low winter temperatures, they flourish in thin, poor soils, and will grow in nooks and crannies that are too small for other plants. All they need is a free-draining soil and shelter from heavy winter rain. Alpine shells Little shells planted with houseleeks make an interesting garden feature. The fleshy rosettes have a wonderful, textured appearance; some types are covered with a gossamer webbing too. WHEN TO PLANT Spring AT THEIR BEST Spring to autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 30 minutes YOU WILL NEED Houseleeks, Sempervivum species Soil-based potting mix Horticultural sand Spoon Bowl for mixing soil Large seashells MIX SOIL AND SAND Wash the shells you plan to use with hot soapy water, or soak them for an hour in baby-bottle sterilizing solution. In the bowl, mix equal parts of soil-based potting mix and horticultural sand. PACK SHELLS WITH SOIL Using a spoon, fill the shells with the soil mix and tap it down. Water the houseleeks well before planting them. To do this, stand them in their pots in a bowl of water for 15 minutes, take them out, then allow them to drain. PLANT THE HOUSELEEKS Remove the houseleeks from their pots and plant them carefully in the shells. Use the spoon handle to push more soil between the plants, and to cover the roots. Water well, and set the shells on their sides so that rain will drain away freely. << CREATIVE CONTAINERS DRILL DRAINAGE HOLES Clever idea Using an electric drill and metal bit, make several drainage holes in the base of each watering can. Cover the holes with gravel, add a mix of soil and sand, and water the sedums before planting (see Steps 1 and 2 opposite). Decorate a tree or shrub with little watering cans brimming with sedums. Given a sunny position, the plants will become covered with tiny, starry yellow flowers in summer. TIME TO COMPLETE FIRM PLANTS IN WELL 30 minutes Remove the sedums from their pots and plant them in the watering cans, filling in around them with more soil and sand mix. Water the plants well and tie the watering cans, via their handles, to a tree or shrub using raffia or string. YOU WILL NEED Sedum spathulifolium ‘Purpureum’ Electric drill and metal bit Soil-based potting mix Small watering cans Gravel Horticultural sand Strong raffia or garden twine Slate trough Topped with slate chips, this trough mirrors a mountain scree. Plant in situ in a sunny site because it will be heavy when filled. Use specialist nurseries (see pp.446–447) for a wide plant choice. TIME TO COMPLETE 1½ hours YOU WILL NEED Trough Broken clay pot pieces Gravel Soil-based potting mix Horticultural sand Slate chips Delosperma harazianum Draba hispanica Erigeron compositus var. discoideus Limonium bellidifolium Polemonium viscosum Saxifraga juniperifolia Silene acaulis Townsendia jonesii PREPARE THE TROUGH Cover the drainage holes at the bottom of the trough with clay pieces, then add a 2 in (5 cm) layer of gravel. Top up the trough, using a free-draining mixture of soil and sand (see Step 1, opposite). Leave 2 in (5 cm) between the rim and the surface of the soil. ADD SLATE AND PLANTS Top off the trough with slate chips, pushing them into the soil for stability, and leave spaces for the plants. Water the plants (see Step 2, opposite) and plant them in the gaps, making sure that their roots are covered with sand and soil mix. Water the plants thoroughly. 137 138 CREATIVE CONTAINERS >> Plant up patio roses Modern patio roses bloom for many months, and offer those with limited space the chance to enjoy their color and fragrance. Not all roses thrive in cramped conditions, so look out for plants labeled “patio” or “miniature,” and place your containers in a sunny position for the best blooms. WHEN TO PLANT Autumn or early spring AT THEIR BEST Early to midsummer TIME TO COMPLETE 30 minutes YOU WILL NEED Large container, at least 18 in (45 cm) deep Broken clay pot pieces Gravel Soil-based potting mix Well-rotted manure Slow-release fertilizer Mycorrhizal fungi, such as Rootgrow Patio rose, such as Rosa ‘Regensberg’ Bedding plants, such as Sutera cordata (syn. Bacopa) PREPARE THE CONTAINER Plant your pot in situ, since it will be heavy and difficult to move once planted. Place a layer of broken pots or plastic pieces at the bottom of the container. Add a layer of gravel to aid drainage, and then some potting mix with well-rotted manure (one part manure to ten parts soil). CHECK PLANTING DEPTH Place the rose, in its pot, on the soil and check that the graft union (swelling at base of stems) will be below the soil after planting. Remove or add soil to adjust the planting level, and mix in slow-release fertilizer and mycorrhizal fungi. Then remove the rose from its container and set it in the pot. TOP TIP: FEEDING YOUR ROSES PLANT UP ANNUALS Fill around the root ball with the soil and manure mixture. Wearing gloves, firm it in gently with your hands. Leave a gap of 2 in (5 cm) between the soil and the rim of the pot to allow space for watering. For added summer color, after the frosts in late spring, plant trailing bedding plants, such as Sutera, around the edge. FINISHING TOUCHES Water the plants well after planting; you may have to add a little more soil after watering if it exposes the roots. A mulch of well-rotted manure over the top of the soil will help retain moisture. Keep the container moist during the growing season, and stand it on “feet” during winter to make sure excess water drains away easily. In spring, remove the top layer of soil and add some fresh soil mixed with a granular rose fertilizer, applying it according to the manufacturers’ instructions. You may need to top up with a liquid feed in the summer, but avoid doing so in late summer because this will encourage soft growth that is vulnerable to frost. 140 CREATIVE CONTAINERS >> Create a modern patio mix Green is the only color used in this contemporary display, the subtle hues helping to emphasize the wonderful forms and textures of the plants. A slim vase-shaped container balances the tall spiky cabbage palm and pendent ferny foliage, while pineapple-like flowers lend an exotic touch. PREPARE TO PLANT WHEN TO START Late spring AT ITS BEST Early summer to early autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 1½ hours YOU WILL NEED Large pot; at least 18 in (45 cm) deep Broken clay pot pieces Multi-purpose soil Slow-release fertilizer 1. Cabbage palm, Cordyline australis 2. Tobacco plant, Nicotiana ‘Lime Green’ 3. Maidenhair fern, Adiantum capillus-veneris 4. Pineapple lily, Eucomis bicolor Prepare the pot as described in Steps 1 and 2 on page 110, but use only a thin layer of crocks at the base, because this display requires more soii to sustain it. Half-fill the container with soil, and then add some slow-release fertilizer. Water the plants well, and slip them out of their pots. Cool greens The following plants would work equally well planted together in a container. All but the Aeonium are hardy enough to overwinter outside. PLANT UP Plant the palm at the back, and the pineapple lilies at intervals in front. Set the tobacco plants between the lilies, and squeeze in the ferns around the edge. Leave about a 2 in (5 cm) gap between the surface of the soil and rim of the pot, to make watering the container easier. SUMMER CARE Position your container in a sunny site but make sure it is shaded from the midday sun, which will scorch the fern. Water every other day in summer. Deadhead the tobacco plant regularly, and occasionally trim off leaves that look messy. 1 WINTER CARE 4 2 3 These plants are borderline hardy, and will need some protection from very hard frosts; cover them with fleece or bring them indoors when bad weather is forecast. The pineapple lily will die back in the autumn, then re-emerge in spring. Only the tobacco plant is an annual, and will therefore need to be replaced each year. 1 Phormium tenax ‘Variegatum’; h36 in (90 cm) s24 in (60 cm) in a pot 2 Heuchera variegated cultivar; h 16 in (40 cm) s12 in (30 cm) 3 Aeonium arboreum; hs24 in (60 cm) in a pot SELECTIONS >> 142 CREATIVE CONTAINERS >> Contemporary containers Glamorous and chic, contemporary containers transform a terrace into a catwalk for stylish plants. Seek out those with bold shapes and made from modern materials for a fashionable look, but don’t be tempted to mix colors and styles or the effect will be lost. Give your patio a stunning makeover by employing tricks used by top landscape designers, such as lining up identical containers or grouping them in threes. 1 These simple aluminum pots of different sizes are filled with clipped Cryptomeria and a golden dwarf juniper. 2 Rusted metal is at the height of fashion, and carries off this mop-head of love grass, Eragrostis curvula ‘Totnes Burgundy’, to perfection. 3 A black stainless steel container provides a great contrast to pastel summer bedding. 4 Modular square pots, handmade from cement boards bracketed together, sprayed with metallic bronze Plasti-Kote and sealed with a waterproof sealant, create a funky group of boxwood balls and bright marigolds. 5 This trio of glazed earthenware containers provides a chic, understated home for the bold, green, textured foliage plants. 6 This metal pot is set on a stabilizing plate, which can be camouflaged with gravel to give the illusion of a gravity-defying cone. 7 Perfect for a deck or natural stone patio, these tall clay pots have been fired to a high temperature to make them frostproof. 8 Coated copper retains its subtle color and this elegant bowl mirrors the metallic shades of the cannas, while creating a foil for the ferns. CREATIVE CONTAINERS 143 SELECTIONS >> << 144 CREATIVE CONTAINERS >> Eastern promise Graceful clumps of bamboos and grasses, carefully placed pebbles, and wooden railings combine to give this garden an Oriental look. Add dwarf bamboos in attractive pots, and bring a hint of Asia to your patio. SELECT YOUR PLANTS WHEN TO PLANT Autumn or spring Low-growing bamboos are the best choice for pots, and there is a wide variety with colored stakes and brightly striped leaves. Arrange several close together to create a small, dense jungle. AT THEIR BEST All year round TIME TO COMPLETE 3 hours PLANT THE BAMBOOS YOU WILL NEED Place broken clay pot pieces in the base of a pot and add a layer of soil. Water the bamboo, remove it from its pot, and set in the center of the container. Fill in around it with soil and some fertilizer. Firm in and water. Bamboos are thirsty, so water often. Since they grow strongly, lift, divide, and repot them in new soil every three or four years (see p.416). Matching containers Soil-based potting mix Slow-release fertilizer granules Broken clay pot pieces 1. Phyllostachys bambusoides ‘Holochrysa’ 2. Pleioblastus variegatus 3. Indocalamus tessellatus 4. Pleioblastus variegatus ‘Tsuboii’ 5. Fargesia murielae 1 5 2 4 3 146 CREATIVE CONTAINERS >> Style emerald topiary Topiary adds real style to a patio or terrace, and although you can buy expensive preshaped shrubs, making your own is quite easy and very rewarding. Pot up your boxwood plant first in a large container, and then choose between an elegant spiral (below) or go a step further and add a finial on top (right). WHEN TO START Early summer AT ITS BEST All year round TIME TO COMPLETE 3 hours YOU WILL NEED Large boxwood, Buxus sempervirens Topiary shears Clippers Wire Large container Soil-based potting mix o Get into shape Topiary shapes, such as pyramids and spirals, are easy to make. Once you have mastered the basics, try developing your own designs. CLIP INTO ROUGH OUTLINE Plant up your boxwood into a large container filled with soil-based potting mix (see p.151). To create a spiral shape with a ball on top, start off by roughly trimming your plant into a cone (see pp.98–99 for method). If you want to create a ball finial on top, leave the upper portion unclipped at this stage. SHAPE WITH TOPIARY SHEARS You may be able to create the outline by eye, but if you want a guide, place a loose spiral of wire around the cone, and use shears to clip in between, cutting back to the central stem. Use clippers for woodier stems. Do not rush, and stand back regularly to check how the shape is developing. TOP TIP: CIRCULAR TEMPLATE To make a circular template, wrap a piece of thick wire around something round and solid, and about the same size as the ball you wish to create; a paint can would be ideal. Then twist the ends together to keep the shape. ROUND OFF THE EDGES Once you have a rough spiral, start creating the final shape. Use your shears to gradually round off the edges to give the appearance of a tube winding around the central stem. To keep the shape in proportion, and to make it look solid and stable, taper the spiral so that it is thinner at the top and thicker at the base. Regularly inspect your work as you go, tweaking as necessary. SHAPE THE LOLLIPOP TOP Either leave the spiral as it is, or trim a ball on top. When clipping a ball, try using a wire template (see Top Tip, right) to create a regular shape. Move the template around the ball to check that it is spherical. If you make a mistake, leave the area to regrow then try again. << CREATIVE CONTAINERS Autumn stars Patio planters need not fade away as summer comes to a close. There are lots of plants that will leap into action as the days shorten, filling your patio with colorful foliage and plenty of flowers. PREPARE THE POTS WHEN TO PLANT Late summer or autumn Add clay pieces to the base of each pot. If you are using tall planters such as these, half-fill with clay or plastic pieces (see p.110), then fill with soil to within 4 in (10 cm) of the rim. AT THEIR BEST Autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 4 hours POSITION THE PLANTS YOU WILL NEED Planters Broken clay pot or plastic pieces All-purpose potting soil 1. Salvia officinalis ‘Tricolor’ In autumn, plants don’t grow very much, so avoid leaving gaps as you would when planting summer bedding. Pack your plants in closely to make the planters look “finished.” 2. Lamium galeobdolon AFTERCARE 3. Carex conica ‘Snowline’ 4. Sedum ‘Lemon Coral’ 5. Aster dumosus, purple hybrid 6. Heuchera ‘Amber Waves’ Densely planted containers can get very dry, even in wet weather, so water them regularly. These plants do not need feeding since they will soon become dormant and growth will halt over winter. 1 6 2 5 4 3 149 Create a year-round shrub display Containers are not just for summer flowers; displays for autumn and winter often last longer and help brighten up these cold, dark months when viewed from the warmth of your kitchen or living room. Make sure that the pot you buy can withstand low winter temperatures—frostproof clay pots tend to be more expensive but should come with a guarantee and last for many years. << CREATIVE CONTAINERS WHEN TO START Early autumn AT ITS BEST All year round TIME TO COMPLETE 1½ hours YOU WILL NEED Large frostproof container, at least 18 in (45 cm) deep and wide Broken clay pot or plastic pieces Soil-based potting mix Mulching material All-purpose granular fertilizer Plants used in shrub display (left): Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’ Juniperus ‘Grey Owl’ Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Goshiki’ Erica arborea var. alpina ‘Albert’s Gold’ PREPARE THE POT Add some broken clay pot or plastic pieces to the bottom of the container, and cover them with a layer of soil-based potting mix. Set the plants, still in their original pots, on the potting mix and check that they will sit about 2 in (5 cm) below the rim when planted. Keep them in the container, and start to fill in around them with potting mix. SLIDE THE PLANTS OUT Pack damp potting mix around all the pots up to their rims—only one is shown here, but the method works equally well with a few plants. Carefully slide out the plants in their pots, to leave spaces for planting. TOP TIP: ANNUAL CARE The container will need watering frequently in the spring and summer. Each year in early spring, remove the mulch and top few inches of potting mix and replace it with fresh compost mixed with some all-purpose granular fertilizer. Water immediately after this, and then renew the mulch. When the plants become congested, plant them out in the garden or move to larger containers. TIP PLANTS OUT OF THEIR POTS Water all the plants well before tipping them out of their plastic pots. If the roots are congested, gently tease them out (see p.31). Carefully replace them in their positions in the container, and then firm more compost into any remaining gaps. ADD A MULCH Add a layer of gravel, slate chips, or other decorative mulch over the soil. Water the container well and set it on “feet” to allow the winter rains to drain through easily. Place it where you can see it easily from the house, and continue to water it during the autumn and winter if the soil under the mulch feels dry. 151 SELECTIONS >> 152 CREATIVE CONTAINERS >> Shrubs for pots Offering great value with their decorative foliage, sculptural forms, and seasonal flowers, shrubs in containers are also fairly easy to look after, if you choose both container and plant carefully—a large pot will grant a greater choice of shrub and require less frequent watering than a small one. The plants here will all be happy in a container for a few years if you replace the top layer of soil and feed them annually each spring. A full sun B partial sun C full shade D well-drained soil E moist soil CREATIVE CONTAINERS F wet soil HARDINESS ZONES (H): coldest zone needed to flourish and warmest zone in which plant’s cold requirements are met 1 Rhododendron ‘Hydon Dawn’; hs3 ft (1 m) Ab(acid soil)E H9–7 2 Rock rose, Helianthemum apenninum; h16 in (40 cm) s24 in (60 cm) Ad H8–5 if clipped Ab(acid soil)E H12–1 3 Pieris japonica ‘Flamingo’; h4 ft (1.2 m) 4 Bay, Laurus nobilis; h4 ft (1.2 m) s18 in (45 cm) s3 ft (1 m) Ab(acid soil)E H8–6 5 Hebe ‘Silver Queen’; HS24 in (60 cm) ABd H10–9 6 Fatsia japonica; h4 ft (1.2 m) s3 ft (1 m) BCe H10–8 HS3 ft (1 m) Ab(acid soil)E H9–6 7 Hydrangea serrata ‘Bluebird’; 8 Mock orange, Philadelphus microphyllus; Hs32 in (80 cm) Bd H9–7 9 Viburnum tinus ‘Variegatum’; HS3 ft (1 m) ABE H10–8 Vale’; HS24 in (60 cm) AD H9–8 0 Lavandula ‘Willow 153 SELECTIONS >> << << CREATIVE CONTAINERS Tiered courtyard The perfect solution for a plant-lover with a tiny plot, this dramatic show garden features tiered raised beds that are bursting with color to make the most of a small patio. FILL THE BEDS WHEN TO PLANT Early spring Unless you have experience in this type of work, a professional should build these beds, made from mediumdensity blocks, because they must be safe and drain freely. Once built, line them with 4 in (10 cm) of gravel and fill with soil. AT ITS BEST All year round TIME TO COMPLETE 1 day to plant PLANT UP YOU WILL NEED Soil-based potting mix Well-rotted organic matter All-purpose granular fertilizer Gravel to aid drainage 1. Rudbeckia hirta ‘Prairie Sun’ Set out the plants in their pots to check that you are happy with the display. They have been packed tightly here to give an instant effect, but in reality, they will need more space to grow. 2. Fatsia japonica 3. Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’ 4. Euphorbia characias Silver Swan 5. Agapathus, white form 6. Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’ 7. Coreopsis verticillata ‘Moonbeam’ AFTERCARE Plant them up at the same depth as they were in their original pots, adding some granular fertilizer to the planting holes as you go. Water well, and feed the beds annually in spring. The shrubs here are evergreens, but the flowers will die down in winter. 7 5 6 1 4 2 3 155 156 CREATIVE CONTAINERS >> Plant a winter hanging basket Seasonal hanging baskets add a splash of color to the garden throughout the coldest months. This one includes a few cyclamens, winter-flowering violas, and a range of evergreens. In colder climates, evergreen boughs and branches with berries can be combined for winter color. WHEN TO PLANT Early autumn AT ITS BEST Autumn to early spring TIME TO COMPLETE 1½ hours YOU WILL NEED Hanging basket Liner Plastic bag Wide low pot Scissors Container potting soil Newspaper Small plastic pot Watering can Skimmia japonica ‘Rubella’ Heathers, Erica Cyclamen Winter-flowering violas Small ivies, Hedera helix BEFORE YOU PLANT Stand the basket on a wide pot to keep it stable during preparation. Then add a specially made basket liner. << CREATIVE CONTAINERS Woven basket mix CUT OUT PLANTING HOLES Lay a circle of plastic bag over the bottom of the liner to act as a reservoir. Cut out a few evenly spaced crosses around the sides of the liner. This basket is easier to plant up than an open-sided one because it already has a liner inside, but remember to make a few drainage holes in the plastic before planting. You can use a range of foliage plants, including ones like this yellowleaved Choisya that can grow quite large, since plants put on little growth in winter. Violas also flower reliably in cooler months, if kept in a sheltered spot. WHEN TO PLANT Early autumn AT ITS BEST Autumn to early spring TIME TO COMPLETE 1 hour YOU WILL NEED ADD IVY AROUND THE EDGE Add a layer of potting soil to the bottom. Wrap paper around the root ball of each ivy and push them through the holes in the sides. Woven hanging basket Scissors Wide low pot Container potting soil Watering can Choisya ternata Sundance Deadnettle, Lamium maculatum ‘Aureum’ Small ivies, Hedera helix Winter-flowering violas Gaultheria procumbens PREPARE THE BASKET FINISHING TOUCHES Place the basket on a low pot to stabilize it and punch a few drainage holes in the plastic liner. Half fill the basket with potting soil, then arrange your plants on top. Remove the plants from their pots, place them in the basket and then firm them in with soil, as described in step 4 (left), and water well. Water baskets during dry spells. TOP TIP: ORGANIC BASKET LINER PLANT THE TOP AND WATER Add the plants and fill in around them with more soil. Firm them in. Place a small plastic pot near the center to act as a watering reservoir. Water into this pot to make sure it reaches the plants’ roots. For a natural, organic alternative to a plastic liner, use conifer clippings from a hedge or tree. These also help insulate the plants and will decompose over time and create an acidic soil environment, ideal for Gaultheria to thrive. 157 158 CREATIVE CONTAINERS >> Keep a tree for life Recycle your Christmas tree by potting it on and enjoying it on your patio throughout summer. Then bring it back inside for a second or even third season before planting it outside in the ground. Tree choices If you want to keep your tree after Christmas, it is important to buy one that has been grown in a container. To check that a tree is suitable for growing on, carefully slide it out of its pot and check that it has lots of small feeder roots, just like any other containergrown plant you would buy. These are the most commonly available container-grown trees: 1 Norway spruce, Picea abies (also main picture) 2 Fraser fir, Abies fraseri 3 Nordmann fir, Abies nordmanniana << CREATIVE CONTAINERS Caring for your tree To ensure a wide choice, buy your tree early in the season. Water it every day, and prevent needle loss by storing it in a shed, garage, or greenhouse with good natural light for a few weeks before bringing it inside. Display your tree in a cool place indoors, keeping it well watered, and repot it in the New Year. WATER WELL WHEN TO START Late winter to early spring When the festive season is over, store your tree for a few weeks in a shed, as you did before bringing it into the house for Christmas. Water it frequently, and don’t allow the soil to dry out. AT ITS BEST All year round TIME TO COMPLETE 1 hour YOU WILL NEED PREPARE A NEW CONTAINER Large plastic pot Broken clay pot pieces Soil-based ericaceous potting mix Sturdy gloves Well-rotted organic matter, such as manure All-purpose granular fertilizer (eg, Growmore) Clippers Buy a plastic pot, which will be light and easy to move around, one size larger than the original container. Put some broken clay pot pieces over the drainage holes at the bottom and add a layer of soil on top. ADD FERTILIZER REMOVE THE TREE Check that there is 2 in (5 cm) between the top of the root ball and the pot rim. Fill in around the roots with soil mixed with some fertilizer. Wearing heavy-duty gloves, squeeze the tree’s pot around the sides to dislodge the root ball, and then slide it out. Place the tree in its new pot. SHAPE UP Water the tree well. Trim back the stems lightly with clippers to create a cone shape. If there are two stems at the top, cut one back to a bud to leave a single “leader.” TOP TIP: TRIMMING FIRS Fir stems end with a three-pronged fork; to trim them, cut out the middle prong, which will stimulate bushy growth along the stem. Do not cut the single, main “leader” stem at the top. 159 << CREATIVE CONTAINERS Luscious leaves With their bold foliage and wide color range, hostas are the darlings of the designer world. Grow a few in pots on a shady patio for a lush, sophisticated display that will last from early summer until the autumn. CHOOSING POTS WHEN TO START Spring First choose suitable containers. Hosta ‘Francee’ and H. ‘August Moon’ have spreading habits and suit wide pots, while H. ‘Krossa Regal’ is more upright and looks best in a taller container. H. fortunei f. aurea is small in stature, so select a little pot for this diminutive plant. Buy frostproof containers for your hostas; they are perennial plants and will pop up year after year. AT THEIR BEST Early summer to early autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 2 hours YOU WILL NEED 4 pots of different sizes Soil-based potting mix Broken clay pot pieces Slow-release fertilizer Horticultural grit PLANTING UP Prepare your pots according to the instructions on page 111, and water the hostas well before planting. Add slow-release fertilizer to the compost and plant the hostas slightly deeper than they were in their original pots. Water them and apply a gritty mulch to deter slugs and snails (see Top Tip, below). 1. Hosta ‘Francee’ 2. Hosta ‘Krossa Regal’ 3. Hosta fortunei var. albopicta f. aurea 4. Hosta ‘August Moon’ AFTERCARE 1 2 4 3 Hostas like damp conditions and need frequent watering, especially in summer. Use about half a full watering can on each plant, so that the moisture reaches the bottom of the pot. Take precautions against slugs and snails, and feed annually. TOP TIP: SLUG AND SNAIL REPELLENTS To keep your hostas free from slug and snail damage, sprinkle a few slug pellets sparingly around young plants after planting. Organic controls include pouring used coffee grounds around the plants, applying a mulch of eggshells or grit, or fixing a copper strip around each pot (right). Alternatively, see pages 426–427 for biological controls. 161 162 CREATIVE CONTAINERS >> Create a winter windowbox When your summer flowers are spent, and window displays are looking bedraggled and dull, give them a quick makeover with colorful evergreens that will last the course through the coldest winter. This combination of conifers, shrubs, grasses, and herbs is guaranteed to perform for many months. WHEN TO START Early autumn AT ITS BEST Early autumn to spring TIME TO COMPLETE 1½ hours YOU WILL NEED Large windowbox Ericaceous potting mix Broken plastic pieces Bucket Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’ Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Goldcrest’ Golden thyme, Thymus pulegioides ‘Archer’s Gold’ Leucothoe Scarletta BEFORE PLANTING Buy a frost-resistant windowbox— this one is made from terracotta, but a plastic imitation would be best if you live in a cold, exposed area that is prone to frosts. Check that your plants fit comfortably in the container. SOAK THE PLANTS Water each plant well, either with a watering can without a rose, or by dunking the plants in a bucket of water. Allow the bubbles to dissipate, then remove the pots and allow them to drain. PROVIDE GOOD DRAINAGE Break up a plastic plant tray and add the pieces to the bottom of the windowbox. Then add a layer of ericaceous potting mix—the Leucothoe and Gaultheria are both acid-loving plants and do best in this type of soil. << CREATIVE CONTAINERS Extend the season This colorful windowbox makes a bright winter display with a mixture of pansies and textured evergreens. Then, as the weather starts to warm up, blue grape hyacinths and dainty daffodils (not in flower here) appear in succession to keep the interest going throughout spring. PLACE PLANTS IN POSITION Place the plants in their original pots in the windowbox and make sure that they will sit about 1 in (2 cm) below the rim when planted to allow sufficient space for watering. YOU WILL NEED Large windowbox Multipurpose potting mix Broken plastic pieces Bucket Stipa tenuissima Japanese tassel fern, Polystichum polyblepharum Winter-flowering pansies, Imperial Antique Shades Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Goldcrest’ Grape hyacinth, Muscari Narcissus ‘Topolino’ TOP TIP: CARING FOR PANSIES PLANT UP AND FIRM IN Plant up and fill in around each plant with soil, firming it in with your fingers as you go. Water well. Water your box once or twice a week in winter, and more frequently in spring. Winter-flowering pansies will bloom throughout the cold winter months, although they put on their best performance in spring. Remove the dying flowers as you see them, and if plants become straggly in spring, renovate them by cutting the stems back to 3 in (8 cm). Then apply an all-purpose fertilizer and water in well. PLANT UP BULBS Follow Steps 1 to 3 opposite. Evenly space the narcissi bulbs on the layer of soil, and plant the rest of the plants carefully between them. FINISHING TOUCHES Fill in around the plants and cover the bulbs with soil, up to about 3 in (8 cm) from the rim. Add a few grape hyacinth bulbs between the plants and then cover with soil to about 1 in (2 cm) from the rim. Firm gently and water. 163 SELECTIONS >> 164 CREATIVE CONTAINERS >> Plants for winter patios There are many bedding plants that provide welcome color throughout the winter months in frost-proof containers on a patio or terrace. Pansies and primulas will flower during all but the coldest spells, and the foliage of ornamental cabbage intensifies as the weather cools. You can also use small specimens of evergreen shrubs, such as Euonymus, Skimmia, and Choisya, and plants with bright berries, including Gaultheria. A full sun B partial sun C full shade D well-drained soil E moist soil CREATIVE CONTAINERS F wet soil HARDINESS ZONES (H): coldest zone needed to flourish and warmest zone in which plant’s cold requirements are met 1 Ornamental cabbage, Brassica oleracea; hs18 in (45 cm) Ad H6–1 purple cultivar; h8 in (20 cm) s10 in (25 cm) ABdE H9–1 h24 in (60 cm) s36 in (90 cm) Ade H7–1 (60 cm)Bde H8–6 2 Viola x wittrockiana 3 Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald ‘n’ Gold’; 4 Asplenium scolopendrium; h20 in (50 cm) s24 in 5 Checkerberry, Gaultheria procumbens; h6 in (15 cm) s3 ft (1 m) Be H8–1 6 Helictotrichon sempervirens; h4½ ft (1.4 m) s24 in (60 cm)Ad H9–1 japonica ‘Rubella’; hs30 in (75 cm) ABdE H9–7 (30 cm)ABDe H12–6 AD H10–8 H7–5 7 Skimmia 8 Ivy, Hedera helix ‘Eva’; h4 ft (1.2 m) s12 in 9 Mexican orange blossom, Choisya ternata Sundance; hs8 ft (2.5 m) 0 Primula Polyanthus Group, Crescendo Series; h6 in (15 cm) s8 in (20 cm) ABde q Senecio cineraria ‘Silver Dust’; hs12 in (30 cm)Ad H12–1 165 SELECTIONS >> << << CREATIVE CONTAINERS Cool combinations Summer patio displays often lack height and structure, but this simple idea solves both problems. Stack pots of annuals on the steps of an old wooden ladder and use tall cosmos in containers on the ground to create a tower of flowers and foliage. Choose bright sunny colors or select elegant cool notes, like the blues and whites used here. Remember that the tiny pots will need watering every day in summer. PREPARE THE LADDER WHEN TO START Spring AT THEIR BEST Summer to early autumn Rub down the ladder with sandpaper to remove dirt and grease, and either paint it with a clear preservative or a wood stain. Collect your plants and pots, and decide how you would like to pair them up. Make sure all the pots have drainage holes in the bottom—drill some if they don’t—and put a few pieces of broken clay pot or plastic plant trays over the holes. 1 2 TIME TO COMPLETE 3–4 hours YOU WILL NEED 3 Blue and white containers Broken clay pot pieces Multipurpose potting mix Slow-release granular fertilizer Gray slate pebbles 4 PLANT THE CONTAINERS 5 1. Salvia farinacea, blue 2. Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Purity’ 3. Chives 4. Antirrhinum majus, white 6 5. Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ 6. Lobelia erinus, white . Cover the clay or plastic pieces with a layer of multipurpose potting mix. Then arrange the plants, still in their pots, in the containers and check that you are happy with your collective display. Also make sure that the plants will be about 1¼–1½ in (3–4 cm) below the rims when planted. Water the plants well, remove them from their pots, and plant them up, firming in soil around them. AFTERCARE TOP TIP: SOW COSMOS SEEDS Cosmos are tall airy plants with feathery foliage and a continuous display of white or pink summer flowers. Despite their delicate appearance, they are very easy to grow from seed, and one packet will give you sufficient plants to fill five or six containers. Simply follow the instructions for sowing large seeds (see p.108), and the seedlings should appear within a few days. Cosmos are not hardy, and must be kept inside until the risk of frost has passed. Deadhead faded flowers regularly. Add some fertilizer to the soil, and water the plants in well. Scatter decorative pebbles over the surface to finish the pots off and to help minimize moisture loss. Then arrange the pots on the ladder, wedging the smaller ones between the steps, if necessary, to keep them in place. Water the containers every day, and remove the fading blooms regularly. If plants start to flag later in the season, apply a dose of tomato fertilizer. 167 Create a table-top display Just as you might place a vase of flowers on a dining-room table, why not decorate your garden furniture as well? This pot, planted with scented alpine pinks and pretty sea heath, Frankenia, makes a droughttolerant table centrepiece that will provide color and interest throughout the summer months. WHEN TO PLANT Early spring AT ITS BEST Spring to autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 1 hour YOU WILL NEED Shallow bowl Broken clay pot pieces Soil-based potting mix and grit Pink, Dianthus ‘Devon Flores’ Sea heath, Frankenia thymifolia << CREATIVE CONTAINERS Decorative and fun ideas Evergreen alpines and other drought-tolerant plants are ideal for table displays. You can also try low-growing herbs, such as thyme, or for a more seasonal design, plant bulbs and spring flowers. For the best overall effect, use containers that complement your garden furniture and tableware. PREPARE THE POT Choose a pot that is slightly deeper than the plants’ root balls. Place a piece of broken pot over the drainage hole, and add a layer of gravel. Mix two parts of soil-based potting mix to one part of horticultural grit in a bowl. PLANT UP Water the plants well. Add a thin layer of soil over the gravel and position the plants on top, with the pinks in the middle. Use the soil and grit mixture to fill in around the plants. CARING FOR YOUR DISPLAY Place your display on a table that is in full sun for at least half the day. Water and feed it regularly, and the plants will perform well in the same pot for a number of years after planting. 1 Use a cup and saucer, and a milk pitcher, topped with pots of mind-your-own-business (Soleirolia soleirolii) to make this fun centerpiece. 2 Garden succulents, including houseleeks, need little soil and water to thrive, and come in a range of colors and forms. Plant them in a shallow tray for a textured design. 3 Fresh herbs are a must for any garden, and this line of thymes in tiny terracotta pots is a fresh way to grow and display them. 4 Lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis) is unmatched for spring scent. Line a basket with perforated plastic, and plant up a number to welcome in the season. 169 << CREATIVE CONTAINERS Up on the roof Perfect for a modern patio or roof terrace, this contemporary design combines drought-tolerant grasses and spiky irises to enclose a stylish dining area. The smooth lightweight metal containers complement the textured foliage plants and gravel floor, and create a barrier that shields diners from wind and prying eyes. SITE YOUR CONTAINERS WHEN TO START Spring Select large zinc, galvanized, or powder-coated metal containers that will not rust. Position rectangular pots close together to form a wall around your seating area, and use round ones to create focal points. Apply a thin coat of baby oil to zinc pots to clean off any marks and maintain their finish. AT ITS BEST Late spring to early autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 1 day YOU WILL NEED Large lightweight containers Gravel Broken clay pot pieces Multi-purpose potting mix Slow-release granular fertilizer 1. Calamagrostis x acutiflora 2. Bearded iris (not in flower) 3. Boxwood, Buxus sempervirens 4. Panicum virgatum 5. Stipa tenuissima ADD PLANTING All plants here enjoy full sun and free-draining soil, conditions that suit containers on a roof terrace. Make sure pots have drainage holes, or drill some, and cover these with clay pieces. Then add potting mix, half-filling the containers. Apply fertilizer, and plant the grasses and boxwood (see p.151). Add more soil to the iris containers and plant them so that the rhizomes (bulblike structures) lie on top of the soil (see p.31). LONG-TERM CARE 5 1 4 2 3 Water in the plants well, and lay 2 in (5 cm) of gravel on the floor. Water the containers regularly during spring and summer. The following spring, remove the top layer of potting mix and replace it with fresh potting mix, with some slow-release fertilizer. The Calamagrostis and Panicum are deciduous but their dried stems add interest in winter; the iris dies down completely, but reappears in spring. 171 172 CREATIVE CONTAINERS >> Braid a bay tree Bay trees can be kept trimmed to make classic evergreen lollipop-shaped topiary. Straight stems look handsome, but for extra texture you can braid or twist several stems around each other. It is an expensive look that you can achieve yourself; all you need are young plants and time for them to grow. WHEN TO PLANT Late spring or early summer AT ITS BEST All year round TIME TO COMPLETE 4 hours YOU WILL NEED Two or three young bay plants, or a plant with suckering stems Sharp spade Clippers Large container Broken clay pot pieces Soil-based potting mix Slow-release granular fertilizer REMOVE LEAVES Make sure that the bay stems are planted at the same depth as they were in the ground or pot. Use clippers to remove the leaves from the lower two–thirds of the stems. Rub off any new leaf buds with your fingers. SELECT STRAIGHT STEMS If you have a multistemmed bay, dig it up and select the longest and straightest stems. Alternatively, buy a plant with lots of stems. Sever the root ball between the stems with a sharp spade. BRAID STEMS In spring and summer, when the wood is sappy, the stems should be pliable enough to be loosely braided, repeatedly passing the stems left over right, right over left. It may look forced at first, but will even out as the stems grow. PLANT STEMS TOGETHER Place some clay pot pieces in the base of a large container, at least 12 in (30 cm) wide. Add soil-based potting mix and some fertilizer, and plant two or three stems as close together as possible. TRIM OFF UNEVEN GROWTH Once you have finished braided, secure the stems temporarily with strong garden twine, then trim off any uneven growth to leave a compact head (see right). As the tree grows, prune lightly to encourage bushier growth. Structural Features Trees are wonderful features, adding height, color, and shade to beds and borders. They also provide striking focal points in lawns. Follow the advice in this chapter to ensure that you plant correctly, and remember to water your trees regularly for the first two years. Hedges and climbers also make beautiful vertical features; include a selection of different types for flowers and foliage throughout the year, and lay a carpet of lawn to create a natural green foil for your plants. 176 STRUCTURAL FEATURES >> Choosing a tree Every tree brings a range of benefits to the garden. In addition to flowers and fruit, some offer sculptural shapes, colored bark, vibrant autumn color, and differing degrees of shade, or a combination of these qualities. The choice is wide, so decide what you want most from a tree before you buy one. ASSESS YOUR NEEDS Trees are an investment in time, money, and space, so it is important to pick one that suits your garden. Soil type and aspect are important considerations, but so too is the amount of space you have available, bearing in mind how large the tree will grow. Also remember that trees cast shade, and draw large quantities of moisture and nutrients from the soil, affecting other plants growing nearby. They can also undermine foundations with their roots, so be careful to site your tree at a distance from buildings. You should also prioritize the qualities you want from your tree, whether it’s esthetic beauty, structure, privacy, or wildlife habitat. Silver stemsp Grouping several trees of the same species, such as the Himalayan birch Betula utilis var. jacquemontii, makes a strong visual impact. SEASONAL INTEREST Some trees have several seasons of interest, and offer great garden value. Prunus serrula has spring blossoms and copper bark for winter appeal. Both Malus x moerlandsii ‘Liset’ and Sorbus vilmorinii have spring flowers and autumn fruits; the Sorbus also has attractive foliage. With spring flowers, summer berries, and rich autumnal tints, Amelanchier lamarkii has a lot to offer and is ideal for smaller plots. 1 Prunus serrula; E30 ft (10 m) 2 Malus x moerlandsii ‘Liset’; E20 ft (6 m) 3 Sorbus vilmorinii; E15 ft (5 m) 4 Amelanchier lamarckii; E30 ft (10 m) << DESIGN EFFECTS Trees play a number of useful and decorative roles in the garden. Where there is space and a clear line of sight, consider a tree with a strong structure, such as a birch or decorative cherry, to act as a stand-alone focal point. A tree with a good canopy, such as the Indian bean tree, Catalpa bignonioides, provides shade from hot summer sun when planted close to a south-facing seating area. Large-leaved trees can also help create a tropical effect in the garden. Try the fragrant snowbell, Styrax obassia, with its scented white flowers, or the evergreen loquat, Eriobotrya japonica, an ideal choice for year-round privacy. STRUCTURAL FEATURES a Welcome shade With its broad leaves, the Indian bean tree, Catalpa bignonioides, acts like a living parasol, providing relief from the sun. 1 Yellow birch, Betula alleghaniensis; h80 ft (25 m) s30 ft (10 m) 2 Crab apple, Malus x magdeburgensis; E20 ft (6 m) 3 Loquat, Eriobotrya japonica; E25 ft (8 m) 177 178 STRUCTURAL FEATURES >> How to plant a tree An investment in time and money, a tree will eventually become a striking presence in your garden and make a beautiful year-round feature. Plant it well and take care of it afterward, and your tree will soon pay dividends, providing you with color, shade, and structure for many years to come. WHEN TO START Late autumn AT ITS BEST All year round TIME TO COMPLETE 2 hours YOU WILL NEED Tree Spade Fork Cane Stake Tree tie Mulch Gardening gloves TEASE OUT ROOTS Lift the tree from the hole and use your fingers to gently tease the outer roots away from the root ball. This will encourage them to root into the surrounding soil, helping the tree establish, and is particularly important if the tree is “root-bound” (see p.20). PREPARE THE GROUND Dig a circular hole twice the width and the same depth as the root ball. Do not dig over the base, because this may cause the tree to sink once planted. Instead, puncture the base and sides with a garden fork to encourage the roots to penetrate. PLANT THE TREE Hold the tree in the hole and turn it round until its best side is facing in the right direction. Then fill around the root ball with the excavated soil. Do this in three stages; adding soil and gently firming it down with your foot each time. Make sure there are no air pockets between the roots. CHECK PLANTING DEPTH Most trees are planted with their root ball slightly above the soil surface, which helps them to establish a strong root system. Place the tree in the hole, lay a cane across the top to check the level, and add or remove soil as required. GENTLY FIRM IN Make sure the root ball is just above the soil surface. As a guide, look for the “nursery line”, where the trunk darkens at the base, showing the level the tree was grown at in the nursery. This must not be buried. Then add a thin layer of soil over the root ball so that no roots are exposed. << STRUCTURAL FEATURES ATTACH TREE TO WOODEN STAKE Choose a stake that will reach a third of the way up the trunk. Use a mallet to hammer it into the ground at an angle of about 45 degrees with the top facing the prevailing wind. Attach a tree tie at the point where tree and stake meet, using a spacer to prevent them rubbing together. AFTERCARE Water the tree well, and then apply a thick mulch, such as composted bark chippings, to suppress competing weeds and seal in moisture. Keep it clear of the stem. Water the tree regularly for two years, and check and loosen ties frequently. The ties can be removed after two or three years when the tree has fully established. o Woodland scene The delicate pink blossom of this hawthorn, Crataegus, is followed in autumn by masses of scarlet berries, which make a tempting feast for birds. Ferns, hazel, and bleeding hearts (Dicentra), enhance the texture and color of the border. 179 180 STRUCTURAL FEATURES >> Grow a sculptural fern Tree ferns have huge, arching fronds, a unique trunk, and a shape reminiscent of their tropical rain forest origins. Although expensive, they pay their way by adding drama and an exotic element to a garden, and they flourish in awkward, damp, dark corners where most other plants struggle to grow. << STRUCTURAL FEATURES WHEN TO PLANT Spring AT THEIR BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE 1½ hours YOU WILL NEED Pot-grown tree fern, Dicksonia antarctica Spade All-purpose granular fertilizer Garden stake Watering can CHECK PLANTING DEPTH Dig a hole twice as wide as the trunk and as deep as the height of the container, then loosen the earth at the base. Position the fern in the hole and, with a stake, check that the final soil level will be the same as it is in the pot. Add or remove soil as necessary. ADD FERTILIZER Lift the tree fern from its hole and add a small amount of a general fertilizer, such as blood, fish, and bone meal, to the base. Mix this into the soil so that it does not touch the roots directly. Tree ferns rarely need feeding after this initial application. TOP TIP: OVERWINTERING The crowns of tree ferns need protecting from the wet and cold during winter. Make a chicken wire frame around the plant and pack it loosely with straw. Then cover with a waterproof hat made from plastic sheeting and tie it on securely. This will insulate the plant and keep it dry, but still allow essential ventilation. FIRM IN AROUND BASE Remove the tree fern from its pot and place it in the hole. Check that it is upright, then backfill with soil, using your foot to carefully press all around the edge of the plant to make sure it is held firmly in place. Take care not to compact the soil, because this may hinder drainage. o Fern friends Tree ferns make textural focal points in shady corners, where they can be underplanted with other low-growing plants, such as ferns and hostas that enjoy similar conditions. WATER THOROUGHLY Tree ferns are unusual because, rather than their roots, it is their leafy crowns that need to be kept moist. However, you should water them at the base as well when first planting them, because it helps settle the soil and hold the trunk upright. 181 182 STRUCTURAL FEATURES >> Multi-stemmed trees Some trees have particularly beautiful bark, and you can create a dazzling effect by encouraging them to develop multiple stems. This involves some drastic pruning, but the end result is well worth it. WHEN TO PLANT Late autumn TOP TIP: PLANTING OPTIONS AT THEIR BEST Winter Some trees are better suited than others to growing as multi-stemmed specimens, so if you are unsure, ask before you buy. The following species can all be grown in this way: TIME TO COMPLETE 3 hours YOU WILL NEED One tree (see options) Spade Fork Organic matter Pruning saw Stake Tree tie Eucalyptus Himalayan birch, Betula utilis var. jacquemontii Snake bark maple, Acer davidii Tibetan cherry, Prunus serrula Hazel, Corylus Willow, Salix PREPARE THE GROUND Dig out a planting hole, as deep as the root ball, and at least twice as wide. Puncture the base and sides of the hole with a fork. Mix a little organic matter into the excavated soil. Plant your tree so that the rootball is slightly proud of the surrounding soil surface, using a stake to check the planting level. Backfill with soil, stake, then secure firmly with a tree tie (see pp.178–179). Water well. PLANTING AND STAKING You can buy multi-stemmed trees, which require no further pruning, but it is cheaper to buy a single-stemmed tree and prune it yourself. Ideally you should give it a full growing season first, then the following winter, cut the trunk to the ground, and remove the stake. AFTERCARE New stems will appear from the base in spring, and become the new framework of branches. If there are many, prune them selectively to promote a good shape. Water the tree freely the first year after planting, and the year after pruning to help it recover. Feed with a tree and shrub fertilizer in early spring. Snowy structure p The peeling white bark of these Himalayan birches provide a beautiful contrast to the understory of ferns and astilbes. SELECTIONS >> 184 STRUCTURAL FEATURES >> Trees for small spaces Many gardeners are wary of planting trees in confined areas, but because they take up very little space on the ground, it’s possible to squeeze a tree into the smallest of gardens. All growth is at canopy level, providing privacy and structure but leaving plenty of space for planting underneath. Choose compact, more manageable trees; there are many available, whether you are looking for spring flowers, autumn berries, or simply beautiful foliage. A full sun B partial sun C full shade D well-drained soil STRUCTURAL FEATURES E moist soil F wet soil HARDINESS ZONES (H): coldest zone needed to flourish and warmest zone in which plant’s cold requirements are met 1 Crab apple, Malus ‘John Downie’; h20 ft (6 m) s14 ft (4.5 m) ABE H8–5 Prunus x subhirtella ‘Autumnalis Rosea’; hs25 ft (8 m) ABE H8–6 palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’; h20 ft (6 m) s15 ft (5 m) ABe H8–2 h10 ft (3 m) s8 ft (2.5 m) Abe H9–1 H8–5 3 Japanese maple, Acer 4 Magnolia liliiflora ‘Nigra’; 5 Cornelian cherry, Cornus mas; hs15 ft (5 m) ABd 6 Dogwood, Cornus kousa ‘Miss Satomi’; hs15 ft (5 m) AE H8–5 hs25 ft (8 m) AE H8–3 ABe H8–3 2 Winter cherry, 7 Laburnum x watereri; 8 Hawthorn, Crataegus laevigata ‘Rosea’; h14 ft (4.5 m) s15 ft (5 m) 9 Strawberry tree, Arbutus unedo; hs20 ft (6 m) Ad H9–6 siliquastrum; hs30 ft (10 m) Ad H9–3 0 Judas tree, Cercis 185 SELECTIONS >> << << STRUCTURAL FEATURES Golden arch A traditional laburnum walkway makes a spectacular feature in early summer, and can be created in most gardens. Enjoy its blast of seasonal color, and plant around it to double the display. WHEN TO PLANT Late autumn AT ITS BEST Early summer TIME TO COMPLETE 4 days YOU WILL NEED 4 laburnum trees (or more for a longer walk) Metal-framed fruit tree arch Spade Fork Tree ties Wire INSTALL THE ARCH SUPPORTS You can buy sturdy fruit tree or vine arches in a variety of sizes to suit your needs. Select two that will span your walkway, or ask a blacksmith to make a set to fit your design. Most metal arches are simply set into the soil. PLANT AND TRAIN Plant one tree next to each arch upright, water well, and secure with a tree tie (see pp.178–179 for more planting instructions). Train the branches over the arch as they grow, tying them in with tree or tube ties. Over time, you may find it necessary to link the arches with coated wires to support new stems. TOP TIP: UNDERPLANTING AFTERCARE Water the trees regularly for the first two years until they are established, and check and loosen tree ties every few months. Feed each spring with a shrub and tree fertilizer to promote the best possible display. Prune any wayward branches in winter, and regularly remove thicker, woodier growth to make space for young flowering stems. Plant other shrubs and climbers below and nearby for additional color. All parts of a laburnum are poisonous if ingested, so do not plant where children or pets play. o Golden veil You need just four trees to create this spectacular spring display. Underplant with Alchemilla mollis to complete the effect. Bulbs are ideal for planting beneath your arch. Early bulbs, such as daffodils, will flower before the trees, while tulips and alliums (below) bloom at the same time. Shade-loving ferns will provide long-lasting interest. 187 188 STRUCTURAL FEATURES >> Grow trees from seeds Even large trees can be kept to a manageable size when planted in a container, and they are easy to grow from seeds you can find for free when walking in the park. In autumn, look out for conkers from horse chestnuts, acorns from oaks, and sycamore seeds, all of which will germinate in a few months. YOU WILL NEED WHEN TO PLANT Autumn Tree seeds (here, we used a conker from a horse chestnut tree) Plant pot Broken clay pot pieces Soil-based potting mix Trowel AT THEIR BEST Spring to autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 30 minutes PREPARE TO PLANT Check that your seeds are firm and have no holes or other signs of insect larvae inside. Place some clay pieces at the bottom of the pot, and nearly fill it with soil. PLANT YOUR SEEDS Plant the conker about 1 in (2 cm) deep, and cover with soil. Water, and place in a shady spot outside. Check that the soil doesn’t dry out. Your seed will sprout in spring. Other seeds to try It’s worth planting a range of tree seeds, just in case some do not germinate. Collect seeds when they are ripe—undamaged seeds that have fallen to the ground will be at the right stage—and plant them immediately, since they dehydrate quickly if they are stored. a Diminutive chestnut If grown in the ground this chestnut would be a large tree, but after ten years in a container, it is still a small specimen, ideal for an urban garden or patio. EASY TO GROW Collect ripe acorns, hazelnuts, crab apples, eating apples, and cherries, either from the park or from your own or a friend’s garden. Remove the flesh from the fruits and wash the seeds first before sowing. Many tree seeds require a period of cold, or even frost, before they will germinate, so leave your pots outside where they won’t get blown over. Miniature woodland Trees such as oaks, hollies, and rowans will grow large with time, but you can restrict their size by planting them in containers or raised beds, as shown here. Surround them with shade-loving plants to create a tiny woodland. WHEN TO START Autumn AT ITS BEST Spring to autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 3 hours to plant YOU WILL NEED Well-rotted organic matter Drainage material Soil-based potting mix Young trees grown from seed Male ferns, Dryopteris filix-mas Woodruff, Asperula Ivy, Hedera helix PREPARE THE BED Buy or build a raised bed (see pp.254–255), or hire a landscaper to construct a brick bed like this one. Add drainage materials, such as broken bricks, rocks, etc, to the base and fill the bed with garden soil and some well-rotted organic matter. PLANT UP First plant your young trees, staking them if required (see Top Tip, right). Position the woodland plants about 18 in (45 cm) from the trees. Water well and mulch. Keep the bed watered, even after the plants have established. TOP TIP: STAKING AND FEEDING When your seedlings have grown, you can either plant them in large pots (see opposite), in raised beds (above), or in the ground. In windy sites, those planted in beds or the soil may require staking (see p.179). Check your trees regularly and loosen the ties as the trunks expand. Remove the stakes after a couple of years. In spring, apply a shrub and tree fertilizer to the soil. For those in pots, replace the top 2in (5cm) of soil with new soil mixed with some fertilizer. << STRUCTURAL FEATURES Blossoming beauties There is no more spectacular harbinger of spring than an ornamental cherry tree bursting into bloom. After a winter of bare branches come clouds of fluffy, pastel blossoms. Some produce fruits that attract birds to the garden, and many also have good autumn color to end the year with a bang. WHEN TO PLANT Late autumn AT ITS BEST Spring TIME TO COMPLETE 2 hours YOU WILL NEED Cherry tree Stake Tree tie Spade o Color match Ornamental cherries flower before they are in full leaf, which gives enough time and sunlight for spring-flowering bulbs to add their own splash of color beneath. CHOOSE A SITE Ornamental cherries grow best in fertile, moist but well-drained soil, in full sun, although they tolerate partial shade and a drier soil once they are established. Make sure there is ample room for the tree to grow because some mature into large trees. PLANTING AND STAKING Dig a hole the same depth as the rootball and twice as wide. Plant the tree so that its rootball is slightly proud of the surrounding soil surface. Hammer in a stake angled into the prevailing wind. Attach it to the tree using a flexible, adjustable tree tie (see pp.178–179 for more detailed planting advice). Planting choices Cherry trees come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors to suit all gardens. Prunus ‘Spire’ has a slender, upright habit, ideal for smaller gardens. P. x subhirtella and P. incisa are both compact trees with pale pink flowers and attractive autumnal color. P. ‘Shizuka’ is medium-sized, and has large, scented, white semi-double flowers. 1 P. ‘Spire’; h30 ft (10 m) S 20 ft (6 m) 2 P. x subhirtella; E25 ft (8 m) 3 P. incisa; E25 ft (8 m) 4 P. ‘Shizuka’; E12 ft (4 m) AFTERCARE Water the tree thoroughly after planting, and apply a mulch, keeping it away from the trunk. Water for the first two years. Check the tie often, and loosen it if need be. In a couple of years, you can remove the stake because the tree will be fully established. TOP TIP: PRUNING If you choose the right-sized cherry for your garden, the only pruning required will be to remove dead, diseased, or damaged growth. If you need to shape your tree, do so after flowering in early summer, because there are fewer diseases then, and you will not remove the flower buds. 191 192 STRUCTURAL FEATURES >> Plant an informal hedge If you prefer a relaxed, rustic style of garden, avoid formal hedges, and opt instead for one that contains a mix of species. This style of hedge is good for wildlife, as it provides food and somewhere to live. It is also relatively easy to look after, needing just one trim per year in late autumn. WHEN TO START Autumn AT ITS BEST All year round TIME TO COMPLETE 3 hours, or more for long hedges YOU WILL NEED Wildlife hedging plants (blackthorn, dog rose, hawthorn, hazel, holly) Spade Fork String and pegs Well-rotted organic matter, such as manure PREPARE THE SITE Hedges are permanent structures, and fare best in well-prepared soil. Dig over the area, removing all weeds, especially the roots of perennials. Fork in some organic matter deep into the soil to improve its structure. COMPRESS SOIL Use your weight to compress the soil, shuffling slowly over the entire area. Then repeat this at right angles. If planted immediately after it has been dug over, the soil will settle, and plants will not be anchored properly. MARK GUIDE LINES For a deep hedge, set out two lines of string, held taut by pegs, 14–16 in (35–40cm) apart. These form the planting guides for your two rows of plants. For a narrower hedge, you will need just one line of plants. << STRUCTURAL FEATURES Thorny barriers PLANT IN TRENCHES To ensure a really straight hedge, dig out a long trench, rather than individual holes. Plant one line at a time and position the plants along its length, about 14 in (35 cm) apart. Alternate the different plant species for a mosaic effect. An informal wildlife hedge can also double as a barrier to deter intruders because many wildlife-friendly plants are covered in vicious spikes and thorns. Deer will avoid barriers that look tricky or painful to negotiate, and are more likely to go elsewhere for easier pickings. Alongside the classic native plants, there are also many roses that make beautiful but fearsome hedges. CHECK PLANTING DEPTHS Hedging plants suffer when planted too deeply or shallowly, so take care to ensure that they are at the same depth as they were in the nursery, or in their pots. The stems will be darker where they previously touched the soil. SITE AND SOIL Ideally most hedging plants, including roses and the other plants used here, prefer a sunny site, with well-drained and fertile soil. If your soil is not perfect, spend some time preparing the ground by digging in plenty of organic matter down to a spade’s depth. PLANT OPTIONS STAGGER PLANTING If planting a double row, stagger the second line, so that the plants grow in the gaps between those in the first row. Water in all plants well, and mulch with organic matter, keeping it clear of the stems. Water the hedge regularly throughout the first year. Berberis darwinii Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa Dog rose, Rosa canina Field maple, Acer campestre Guelder rose, Viburnum opulus Hawthorn, Crataegus Hazel, Corylus avellana Holly, Ilex aquifolium Rosa glauca PLANT SPECIES ROSES Follow the advice for planting roses (see p.93). However, species roses, which are ideal for hedges, do not have a graft union, and are planted at the same depth they were growing at in their pots, or in the field (see Step 5, left). AFTERCARE Once plants have started growing in spring, cut them back by about a third to encourage bushy growth from the base. Keep them watered throughout their first year and regularly remove any weeds around their base. This will prevent your roses from having to compete for nutrients and water while they are in the process of becoming established. 193 SELECTIONS >> 194 STRUCTURAL FEATURES >> Hedging plants Tiny or tall, hedges make beautiful natural screens and borders, providing color and texture throughout the year. Choose an evergreen plant, such as yew, boxwood, or lavender, and clip it closely for a smooth barrier, or try a deciduous type with flowers and berries for a more seasonal effect. If you want to create a home for wildlife, mix a few of each and trim just once a year in late summer, after the birds have flown their nests. A full sun B partial sun C full shade D well-drained soil E moist soil STRUCTURAL FEATURES F wet soil HARDINESS ZONES (H): coldest zone needed to flourish and warmest zone in which plant’s cold requirements are met 1 Berberis thunbergii ‘Golden Ring’; h3 ft (1 m) s8 ft (2.5 m) ABd H8–5 sempervirens ‘Elegantissima’; E5 ft (1.5 m) ABd H8–6 ABe H9–6 2 Boxwood, Buxus 3 Forsythia x intermedia; E5 ft (1.5 m) 4 Lavandula angustifolia ‘Twickel Purple’; h24 in (60 cm) s3 ft (1 m) Ad H8–5 5 Yew, Taxus baccata; h30 ft (10 m) s25 ft (8 m) AcD H8–7 6 Privet, Ligustrum obtusifolium; h10 ft (3 m) s12 ft (4 m) ABd H7–1 7 Potentilla fruticosa ‘Goldfinger’; h3 ft (1 m) s 5 ft (1.5 m) Ad H7–1 8 Holly, Ilex aquifolium ‘Madame Briot’; h30 ft (10 m) s15 ft (5 m) Ae H9–7 9 Garrya elliptica; E 12 ft (4 m) ABD H12–8 s15 ft (5 m) ABd H9–6 0 Firethorn, Pyracantha ‘Mohave’; h12 ft (4 m) q Hornbeam, Carpinus betulus; h50 ft (15 m) s40 ft (12 m) ABd H8–1 195 SELECTIONS >> << 196 STRUCTURAL FEATURES >> Plant a formal hedge Yew, hornbeam, and beech make excellent closely clipped hedges, and you can reduce the cost by buying young bare-rooted plants from late winter to early spring from specialist nurseries and growing them on yourself. Prepare your soil in advance and plant immediately, unless the soil is frozen or waterlogged. PREPARE THE SITE WHEN TO PLANT Late autumn to early spring Six weeks before planting, remove all weeds from the site and dig a trench the length of the hedge and 3 ft (1 m) wide. Fork in organic matter, and refill the trench. Set out a line to mark the edge of the hedge. AT ITS BEST All year round TIME TO COMPLETE 4 hours or more depending on hedge size YOU WILL NEED Young bare-rooted hedging plants (yew, Taxus baccata, shown here) Well-rotted organic matter, such as manure Spade Fork Stakes Garden string Watering can or hose All-purpose granular fertilizer MARK PLANTING INTERVALS Dig a trench twice as wide and as deep as the plants’ root balls. Using a ruler or guide, lay stakes at 18–24 in (45–60 cm) intervals along the string line to mark the planting distances. CHECK PLANTING DEPTHS Check that the plants will be at the same depth as they were in the field when planted—you will see the soil line just above the roots. Place one plant by each stake, and backfill around the roots with soil, removing any air gaps with your fingers. FIRM IN WELL When in place, check that the plants are upright and then firm in around them with your foot. Create a slight dip around each plant to act as a reservoir, and water well. Add a thick mulch of compost or manure, keeping it clear of the plant stems. Water for the first year and feed plants annually in spring. Using pot-grown plants Some plants, such as lavender, boxwood, holly, and privet, are not generally available in bare-root form and are grown and sold in pots. The planting technique is similar to that for bare-root types but pot-grown hedging can be planted at any time of year, as long as the soil is not frozen or very dry. YOU WILL NEED WHEN TO START Any time; early autumn or spring is best AT ITS BEST All year (evergreen) Spring to autumn (deciduous) TIME TO COMPLETE 3 hours or longer depending on hedge size Pot-grown holly plants, Ilex aquifolium Well-rotted organic matter, such as manure All-purpose granular fertilizer Spade Fork Stakes Garden string Watering can or hose DIG PLANTING HOLES Prepare the soil and mark out the area as in Steps 1 and 2 opposite. Either dig a long trench or individual holes for each plant—holes need to be as deep as the root ball and twice as wide. TEASE OUT ROOTS If planting in spring, add some fertilizer to the excavated soil. Tease out any congested roots before planting at the same depth as the plant was in its original pot. Firm in with your foot and water well. (See Step 4 opposite for aftercare.) 198 STRUCTURAL FEATURES >> Create a lavender hedge The perfume from a lavender hedge is without equal, while the beautiful purple flowers attract scores of bees and butterflies in summer. The strongest scent is released when the flowers are brushed, so plant your hedge where you can run your fingers through the stems as you pass. WHEN TO PLANT Spring AT ITS BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE 2 hours YOU WILL NEED Small lavender plants Well-rotted organic matter, such as manure Horticultural grit Trowel or small spade All-purpose liquid fertilizer PREPARE THE GROUND A month or two before planting your hedge, dig plenty of wellrotted organic matter into the soil to improve drainage. Also dig horticultural grit into heavy, clay soils, as lavender will rot in wet conditions. << STRUCTURAL FEATURES Shear your lavender SPACE PLANTS EVENLY In spring, buy small plants and make holes at 12in (30cm) intervals, or dig out a long trench. The plants will not require additional fertilizer at this stage. Plant so they are at the same level as they were in their pots. Although lavenders are generally easy plants, requiring little or no additional watering once established, they do need annual care. Leave small, young plants unpruned for the first 12 months after planting to allow them to put on some growth, but in subsequent years cut your hedge twice a year to prevent it becoming leggy. YOU WILL NEED WHEN TO START Late summer, after flowering, and early spring Garden shears Household disinfectant Clippers All-purpose liquid fertilizer TIME TO COMPLETE 1 hour or longer depending on hedge size PRUNE INTO SHAPE To keep your lavender plants young, bushy and healthy, cut them back in late winter or early spring. Clean your tools thoroughly and spray them with a household disinfectant before you begin work. Then, using sharp shears, cut the stems back as close as possible to the old wood. FIRM IN SOIL In heavier, clay-rich soil, plant the lavenders slightly above the soil surface, and draw up soil around the root ball, to encourage water to drain away from the base of the plant. Firm in around all the plants with your fingers. THE CORRECT CUT Take care not to cut into old brown wood, since the plants will not reshoot from this. Shear to a few healthy leaves above the brown stems (right), and work systematically along the hedge, keeping it as level as possible. WATER IN Water the plants well. Although lavenders are very drought-tolerant, they will need to be watered for the first growing season until they are fully established. In spring, apply an all-purpose liquid fertilizer to the plants and cut them back twice a year (see right). AFTER FLOWERING In late spring or early summer, the sheared plants will grow an abundance of side shoots to create a compact, bushy hedge. To keep it neat, cut it back again after flowering in late summer: remove all the old flowerheads to prevent the plants from putting their energy into making unwanted seed. 199 200 STRUCTURAL FEATURES >> Make a wall of fiery geraniums Wander down any residential street in the Mediterranean region and you will find houses ablaze with fiery geraniums. These drought-loving plants bask happily in the burning sun in their tiny terracotta pots, creating a dazzling display that requires very little care. If you have a sunny wall, buy young plants in late spring to create your own summer holiday effect at home. << STRUCTURAL FEATURES YOU WILL NEED WHEN TO PLANT Late spring AT THEIR BEST Early summer to early autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 2 hours Bedding geraniums, Pelargonium Small terracotta wall pots Broken clay pot pieces and gravel Multi-purpose soil Slow-release all-purpose fertilizer Masonry nails or Rawlplugs and coach bolts Hammer or electric drill PREPARE THE WALL POTS Buy at least five wall pots and make sure that each has a drainage hole— if not, make one with an electric drill. Cover the hole with a piece of clay pot. Add 1 in (2 cm) of gravel and then a layer of soil to the base of each container. PLANT THE GERANIUMS Water the plants. Put one geranium (Pelargonium), still in its original container, into the wall pot and check that it will sit at least 1 in (2 cm) below the rim when planted. Remove it from its pot and plant up, firming in around it with multi-purpose soil mixed with a little slow-release fertilizer. Water well. FIX POTS TO WALL For a more dramatic effect, paint the wall white or a pale color. Hammer in a masonry nail at a slight angle; alternatively, if you can’t drive in a nail, drill a hole with an electric drill, push in a Rawlplug, and screw in a coach bolt. Fit the pots onto the wall. o Colorful combinations Choose either a single color theme, or try geraniums in a combination of matching shades, as shown here. TOP TIP: WATERING YOUR POTS Geraniums require watering every few days in summer, so make sure you can reach them easily or use a long-handled hose. As the plants grow and their roots develop, it is best to water them from below by placing the wall pots in a bowl of water for 30 minutes. 201 202 STRUCTURAL FEATURES >> Create a checkerboard This simple design of square paving stones and plants could be used to create a dramatic courtyard or a fun space for children’s playground games. Plant it up with turf, chamomile, mind-your-own-business (Soleirolia soleirolii) or low-growing herbs, such as thyme or Corsican mint (Mentha requienii). WHEN TO START Spring AT ITS BEST All year round TIME TO COMPLETE 1 day YOU WILL NEED Turf or low-growing plants Rake Wooden boards Tape measure String and sticks Sand and mortar mix Mallet Spirit level Square paving stones COMPACT THE SOIL Clear the area of stones, weeds, and grass, and rake it to create a flat surface. Lay down a wooden board and walk across it, moving it along systematically to level the whole area. MARK OUT THE SQUARES Measure the paving stones, and using string and some sticks mark out the area into squares of equal size. Cover squares that will be used for paving stones with a 2 in (5 cm) layer of sand. LEVEL THE SAND Using the back of a rake, tamp down the sand to compact and level it. Don’t worry if some sand spills out into the surrounding squares; any surplus can be mixed with the soil for the plants or turf. APPLY MORTAR Mix up a wet mortar mix of four parts sand (half-and-half sharp sand and builder’s sand) to one part cement, or use a prepared mix. Place a trowel-full in the corners and in the center of a paving stone square. Plant a rockery wall Dry stone walls make perfect homes for alpines, such as this aubretia, which creates a mass of evergreen foliage and cascades of pretty flowers in spring. Choose small plants and use this planting method to secure them in the wall. YOU WILL NEED BED IN PAVING STONES Position the paving stone on the mortar and use the wooden end of a mallet to gently tap it into place. Use a spirit level to check that it is level. Mortar in each one in the same way and leave them to set for a day or two. WHEN TO START Early autumn AT ITS BEST Spring TIME TO COMPLETE 30 minutes Bucket Piece of dried turf Alpines, such as: Aubrieta Campanula poscharskyana Houseleek, Sempervivum Gold dust, Aurinia saxatilis Saxifrage, Saxifraga PLANT UP Fill between the paving stone with topsoil and plant up the herbs or turf. If using turf, lay it slightly above the paving stones so you can run a mower over the whole area. Water in. Keep plants watered until they are established. PREPARE TO PLANT Take the dried turf and dunk it in a bucket of water to drench it. Remove and allow to drain. Water the plant and remove it from its pot. Wrap the damp turf around the plant roots. EASE PLANTS INTO CREVICES Carefully wedge the turf-wrapped plant into a crevice. Fill around it with a half-and-half mix of horticultural sand and soil-based potting mix. Mist the plant regularly. SELECTIONS >> 204 STRUCTURAL FEATURES >> Plants for crevices These little gems are never happier than when squeezed into tight spaces between paving, or in a dry-stone wall, softening the hard edges with their delicate blooms. Most are evergreen, with the exception of the Alchemilla, Campanula, and Erigeron, and all are hardy, withstanding both hot sun and low temperatures. Also ideal for tiny containers, you can use them to dress up a dining table, or to grow in a line of small pots along a wall. A full sun B partial sun C full shade D well-drained soil E moist soil STRUCTURAL FEATURES F wet soil HARDINESS ZONES (H): coldest zone needed to flourish and warmest zone in which plant’s cold requirements are met 1 Sedum spathulifolium ’Cape Blanco’; h4 in (10 cm) s24 in (60 cm) Ad H9–5 ‘Argenteovariegata’; h2 in (5 cm) s24 in (60 cm) Ad H7–5 2 Aubrieta 3 Arabis subsp. caucasica ‘Variegata’; h6 in (15 cm) s20 in (50 cm)Ad H8–1 4 Phlox nana; h8 in (20 cm) s12 in (30 cm) Ad H8–7 5 Celmisia walkeri; hs12 in (30 cm) ABde H10–9 6 Alchemilla alpina; h3 in (8 cm) s20 in (50 cm)ABE H8–1 7 Androsace sarmentosa; h3 in (8 cm) s12 in (30 cm) Ad H7–5 8 Erigeron karvinskianus; h6 in (15 cm) s3 ft (1 m) AD H7–5 (10 cm) s8 in (20 cm) Ad H9–5 H9–6 9 Dianthus ‘Little Jock’; h4 in 0 Alyssum wulfenianum; h4 in (10 cm) s20 in (50 cm) ABd q Campanula var. turbinata carpatica ‘Jewel’; h4 in (10 cm) s24 in (60 cm) ABd H7–1 205 SELECTIONS >> << 206 STRUCTURAL FEATURES >> Turf a lawn The quickest, if not cheapest, way to achieve a beautiful lawn is to lay turf, but if your money is to be well spent, take time to prepare your site a month or two beforehand. TURF OPTIONS Buy your turf from a specialist supplier and, if possible, inspect it before purchasing to ensure that it is weed- and disease-free. Reject turf with patches of yellow or dying grass. Your choice of turf will generally be limited to high-quality ornamental grass for formal lawns, and hardwearing utility turf for walkways and play areas. Grass choices p Price may be an issue, but good-quality turf from a reputable supplier may prove the best value for money in the long term. Lay turf Turf should not be stored for long, so agree a delivery date with your supplier that allows you to lay it immediately. WHEN TO START Early autumn or early spring AT ITS BEST All year round TIME TO COMPLETE 1 day to prepare; 1 day to lay turf YOU WILL NEED Turf Well-rotted organic matter, such as manure Horticultural grit All-purpose granular fertilizer Rake and broom Sharp knife Topsoil and horticultural sand PREPARE THE SITE Two months before the turf arrives, weed the site thoroughly (see pp.402–403). Dig 4 in (10 cm) of organic matter into the soil, and plenty of grit into heavy clay to increase drainage. Level with a rake. Tread over the soil on your heels in one direction, and repeat at right angles in the other direction. LAY THE FIRST ROW Remove stones and debris from the site, and leave for five weeks for the soil to settle. Weed the site again and apply an all-purpose granular fertilizer at the recommended rate. Make sure the soil is moist, not wet, before laying. Place the first piece of turf at one edge, and tamp it down with the back of a rake. TOP TIP: SHAPING A LAWN Use a hose or rope to create a guide for a curved lawn, and with a half-moon grass cutter or sharp spade cut around your template. For a straight edge, stretch some string between two pegs pushed into the soil at each end. STAGGER THE JOINTS Create a tight seam between turves by butting them together so they almost overlap and then pressing the crease down firmly with your thumbs. Continue to lay the turves in rows, and stagger the joints, like a brick wall. Stand on a plank of wood to protect the turf you have already laid. APPLY A TOP DRESSING Do not use small pieces at the edge of the lawn because they will dry out quickly and shrink—instead, lay them in the middle of the site. Scatter sandy loam, made from topsoil mixed with horticultural sand, into the joins and brush it into the turf to fill any gaps. Water well, and water the lawn in dry spells during the first growing season. 208 STRUCTURAL FEATURES >> Seed a lawn Sowing lawn seed is much cheaper than turfing, but you will have to wait a few months before it is ready for use. The best time to seed a lawn is in early autumn when the soil is warm and germination quick; sowing in early spring is an option but the colder soil conditions may prolong germination. WHEN TO START Early autumn or early spring AT ITS BEST All year round TIME TO COMPLETE 3 hours or more for larger lawns YOU WILL NEED Lawn seed Well-rotted organic matter Horticultural grit All-purpose granular fertilizer Stakes or string Pen and plastic cup Bird-proof netting CHOOSE YOUR SEED Unlike turf, where you have a choice of just two or three types, lawn seed is available in many forms, including seed for shady spots or dry areas and clover lawns. Prepare the soil as for turf (see p.206). Mark out a square yard (meter) with stakes or string, and weigh the right quantity of seed for that area. Pour the seed into a plastic cup and mark the top level with a pen. You can then use it as a measuring cup. SOW SYSTEMATICALLY Cover the soil evenly by scattering half the seed in the cup over the square yard (meter) in one direction, and then the other half at right angles. Set out the next square and fill the cup to the marked level; repeat the sowing process. Continue in this way until you have sown the whole area. If you have to walk over soil you have already seeded, stand on planks of wood to prevent your feet from creating hollows in your new lawn. PROTECT FROM BIRDS Rake the seed into the soil to just cover it. Water with a can fitted with a rose, or spray lightly with a hose. Cover the seed with bird-proof netting, raised off the ground about 12 in (30 cm). The seedlings should appear in 14 days; continue to water regularly. When the grass reaches 2 in (5 cm), make the first cut with your mower on a high setting. For autumn-sown lawns, maintain this height until spring, then lower the blades. Lay a chamomile lawn Sweet, soothing, scented chamomile has long been a desirable alternative to grass, and with the availability of turf, it is quick and easy to lay. Chamomile likes free-draining soil and, because it will not tolerate heavy wear and tear, is most suitable for decorative lawns or fragrant seats. WHEN TO START Early autumn or early spring AT ITS BEST All year round TIME TO COMPLETE 2 hours or more for larger lawns YOU WILL NEED Chamomile turf Well-rotted organic matter, such as manure Horticultural grit All-purpose granular fertilizer Topsoil and horticultural sand LAY THE TURF Prepare your site as for turf (see p.206), and if you have heavy clay, dig in lots of grit to ensure that your soil drains freely; waterlogged soil will kill chamomile. Turf will consist of Chamaemelum nobile ‘Treneague’, a nonflowering, compact plant that spreads to form a dense mat. Lay the turf in the same way as grass (see pp.206–207). CARING FOR CHAMOMILE There’s no need to mow chamomile because it naturally grows to just 2½ in (6 cm) in height. Trim it occasionally during summer, using garden shears to remove straggly growth and sideways spread. Pull out any weeds by hand before they have time to establish—do not use lawn weedkiller, which will kill the chamomile. Each spring, apply a slowrelease granular fertilizer and sprinkle a top dressing of sieved soil and horticultural sand over the lawn. Tread in the dressing to crush the stems, which promotes strong root growth. << STRUCTURAL FEATURES Carpets of color Create spectacular effects, even on a small scale, by naturalizing bulbs in a lawn or under trees. Choose robust plants able to compete with roots and grass: snowdrops, daffodils, or crocuses (shown here) are ideal. Leave them to their own devices and they will gradually spread, year after year, to form a beautiful flowering carpet. WHEN TO PLANT Autumn AT ITS BEST Early spring TIME TO COMPLETE 1–2 hours YOU WILL NEED Spring bulbs – between 15 and 25 bulbs per 1 square ft (90 cm²) Slim trowel or bulb planter Spade All-purpose granular fertilizer PREPARE THE GROUND In autumn, remove any perennial weeds, such as dandelions and daisies, and mow the grass. Since bulbs dry out very quickly, try to plant them as soon as possible after buying them. When planting, choose a nice day when the soil is not waterlogged or frozen. PLANTING RANDOM GROUPS To achieve a random, natural effect, toss the bulbs into the air and plant them individually where they fall. For each bulb, dig out a small plug of soil and turf, 2–3 times the depth of the bulb with a slim trowel or bulb planter. Add a little fertilizer, plant the bulb, and replace the soil plug. PLANTING IN SMALLER GROUPS For smaller groups of bulbs, cut an H-shape into the grass with a sharp spade. Holding the spade horizontally, slice under the turf and fold it back to reveal the soil. Remove more soil for larger bulbs, such as daffodils (see p.41). Add a little fertilizer and plant the bulbs. Cover with excavated soil and gently fold back the flaps. Water well. 211 212 STRUCTURAL FEATURES >> Plant a climber Create a wall of flowers and foliage by clothing your boundaries and other vertical surfaces with beautiful climbers. The planting method shown here is ideal for twining climbers (see opposite) and roses that need some support; ivy and other self-clinging plants will not require wires. WHEN TO START Autumn or early spring AT ITS BEST Summer, for honeysuckle shown TIME TO COMPLETE 2 hours YOU WILL NEED Climber—honeysuckle, Lonicera periclymenum, used here Screwdriver Plastic-coated wire Vine eyes Well-rotted organic matter All-purpose granular fertilizer Bamboo canes Garden twine Bark chipping mulch Spade and trowel INSERT CANES WIRE UP YOUR SURFACE Screw parallel rows of vine eyes, 18in (45cm) apart, into wooden fence posts (use a drill and Rawlplugs in concrete posts). Fix horizontal wires between each row, and turn the vine eyes a few more times to tighten the wires. DIG A PLANTING HOLE Prepare the soil (see pp.14–15). Dig a hole twice as wide and a little deeper than the plant pot, about 18in (45cm) from the fence or screen. Place the plant in its pot into the hole to check the planting depth. Place the bamboo canes in the hole at the edge closest to the fence or screen. Arrange the canes in a fan shape and attach them to the horizontal wires. These will provide the climbing plant with a temporary support until it reaches the wires. << STRUCTURAL FEATURES Choosing climbers Climbers have developed a variety of means to adhere to vertical surfaces, and knowing what method your chosen plant uses will help you provide the right support. Use the examples below as a guide. POSITION THE PLANT Water the plant, then remove it from its pot. Place it in the hole and lean it toward the fence; make sure the root ball is not above the soil surface. Add fertilizer to the excavated soil and backfill. HOW CLIMBERS CLIMB Some climbers attach themselves to surfaces without requiring additional support. These include ivy (Hedera), which clings using aerial roots, and Virginia creeper and Boston ivy (Parthenocissus species), which use adhesive pads. Plant self-clingers with caution because they can damage old or weak brickwork. Roses climb using their thorns to hook onto taller plants; unless you grow them through a host plant, they need support from horizontal wires or a trellis. Clematis, sweet peas, passion flower (Passiflora), and honeysuckle (Lonicera), among others, use twining stems or tendrils to climb, and are best supported by stakes or wires thin enough for them to wrap around, or by growing them through a host plant. CREATE A RESERVOIR Using some of the surrounding soil, form a circular ridge around the base of the climber to create a saucershaped depression. This acts as a water reservoir, and guides moisture to the roots. 1 Ivy climbs via aerial roots 2 Virginia creeper grips with adhesive pads 3 Roses hook their thorns onto supports 4 Passion flower tendrils grasp whatever is in reach. SELECT THE RIGHT SUPPORT FINAL TOUCHES Tie the stems loosely to the bamboo canes with garden twine. Water the plant and mulch with organic matter or chipped bark, keeping it clear of the stems. Water regularly throughout the first year, especially during dry spells. Check the final height of your chosen climber, and select a support that will be large and strong enough for a mature plant. As an alternative to wires (see left), you can tie smaller climbers directly to a trellis, or a bought or home-made obelisk (see pp.216–218). Threading climbers through shrubs or trees takes up no extra space and offers a dual effect—perfect for small plots. 213 SELECTIONS >> 214 STRUCTURAL FEATURES >> Clematis for all seasons Thread these climbers through trees and shrubs or grow them over arches and pergolas for color from spring to autumn. Their fluffy seedheads then steal the show in winter, making clematis a must for any garden. Choose a selection, starting with spring-flowering, scented armandii and montana, followed by ‘Vyvyan Pennell’ and ‘Bees’ Jubilee’ in early summer, with the remainder providing dazzling color from midsummer to autumn. A full sun B partial sun C full shade D well-drained soil E moist soil STRUCTURAL FEATURES F wet soil HARDINESS ZONES (H): coldest zone needed to flourish and warmest zone in which plant’s cold requirements are met 1 Clematis ‘Ville de Lyon’; h6–10 ft (2–3 m) ABE H9–1 ABE H9–1 3 Clematis ‘Vyvyan Pennell’; h6–10 ft (2–3 m) ABE H9–1 MacKenzie’; h22 ft (7 m) ABE H9–6 6 Clematis 7 Clematis ‘Bees’ Jubilee’; h8 ft (2.5 m) 8 Clematis x diversifolia; h6–10 ft (2–3 m) ABE H9–1 h10–15 ft (3–5 m) ABE H9–7 4 Clematis ‘Bill 5 Clematis henryi; h10 ft (3 m) ABE H9–1 montana var. rubens ‘Tetrarose’; h15 ft (5 m) ABE H9–6 ABE H9–1 2 Clematis ‘Etoile Rose’; h8 ft (2.5 m) 9 Clematis armandii; 0 Clematis viticella ‘Purpurea Plena Elegans’; h10 ft (3 m) ABE H9–1 q Clematis ‘Ascotiensis’; h10 ft (3 m) ABe H9–1 215 SELECTIONS >> << 216 STRUCTURAL FEATURES >> Make an obelisk for climbers Wooden obelisks suit almost any garden design, be it formal or a relaxed country-cottage style. Use them draped with clematis or other flowering climbers to add height to a border, as a feature to flank an entrance, or to create a focal point at the end of a walkway. Top-quality wooden types are expensive to buy but you can make one yourself for a fraction of the cost. WHEN TO START Any time AT ITS BEST Depends according to planting TIME TO COMPLETE 1½ hours YOU WILL NEED 4 x 8 ft (2.5m) pieces of 1½ in x 1½ in (34mm x 34mm) timber for uprights 2 small remnants for template 80 ft (25 m) of 1½ in x ½ in (34mm x 9mm) batten, cut into short lengths for horizontal struts Remnants of 1 in x 3 in (25 mm x 75 mm) timber for top plinth 1 decorative finial Galvanized 1½ in (34 mm) screws Drill with countersinking bit Screwdriver Saw Nontoxic wood stain or wood preservative SCREW IN A BATTEN The uprights now form a fat triangular shape. Lay a piece of batten across the uprights, 12 in (30 cm) from the bottom ends. Using the drill with the countersinking bit, make holes in the batten and uprights, and screw them together. MAKE A TEMPLATE First, make templates for the sides. Drive two screws halfway into a remnant, 5 in (12 cm) apart, for the top of the obelisk. Drive two screws halfway into a second remnant, 20 in (50 cm) apart, for the bottom. Lay remnants parallel to one another, 8 ft (2.4 m) apart. Place two upright timbers between them to create a quadrangle shape. CREATE THE SHAPE Bring the top ends of the upright timbers up against the screws in the top remnant template, as shown. Repeat at the other end of the timbers, butting these up against the screws in the bottom remnant template. ATTACH A PLINTH In the same way, place a small remnant for the plinth at the top of the two uprights (narrow end). Make four holes, two in each upright, and screw the plinth into place to secure the top. Clematis cladding p To help clematis climb this obelisk, tie garden twine between the struts for the tendrils to cling to. continued... 218 STRUCTURAL FEATURES >> FINISH THE BATTENS TRIM THE ENDS Using a saw, trim the battens flush with the sides of the uprights. Repeat Steps 2 to 5 to create a second ladderlike structure and trim the battens. Treat both with a wood stain or preservative. Following the instructions in step 3, screw more battens in place at 6 in (15 cm) intervals, from the base to the plinth, to create a triangular, ladderlike structure. FINISH THE SIDES FIX SIDES TOGETHER Work your way up the third side, screwing the battens carefully into place, and then repeat the steps for the fourth and final side. Trim all the battens as described in Step 6. Fit the two sides of the obelisk into the two templates, as shown here. Then, screw in a piece of batten between the two sides to start forming the third side, lining it up with the existing battens. You may find this easier if someone holds the structure to keep it stable. CUT THE CAP FINISHING TOUCHES Screw in remnants to complete all four sides of the plinth. Measure the top and cut a square to fit. Stain it and, when dry, screw it into place in each corner to form a cap ATTACH FINIAL Wooden finials are available in various styles. Here, we have used an acorn. Stain the finial and screw it into the center of the cap. To complete the project, stain the remaining battens and touch up any missed areas. The stain or wood preservative will prevent decay and prolong the life of the obelisk. Reapply it every couple of years in early spring before clematis and other deciduous climbers start growing. Secure the obelisk in place either, by burying the bottom 4 in (10 cm) of the structure in soil, or by using custom fence post supports. << STRUCTURAL FEATURES Plant a clematis Their elegance, color, variety, and exquisite flower shapes have catapulted clematis to the top of the climbers’ charts. Plant them with care and you will enjoy these superstars for many years to come. PREPARE THE GROUND First, dig plenty of organic matter into the soil. If growing clematis up a wall or fence, position the plant 18in (45 cm) away from it. Dig a hole about 12in (30 cm) deep, fork over the base, and add some fertilizer to the excavated soil. CHECK THE DEPTH Clematis are best planted deeply, so that if clematis wilt strikes, the plant will survive (see p.432). Place the clematis in its pot in the hole, and lay a stake or string over it to check that the lower stems will be 2 in (5 cm) beneath the soil surface when it is planted. a Shade the roots Choose a site where the clematis roots will be shaded, and the flowers can reach the sun. WHEN TO START Early autumn AT ITS BEST Depends on variety, see pp.214–215 TIME TO COMPLETE 1½ hours YOU WILL NEED Clematis plant Well-rotted organic matter, such as manure. Spade and fork All-purpose granular fertilizer Bamboo cane Wires and vine eyes (if planting next to a wall or fence) Garden twine PLANT AND BACKFILL After watering thoroughly, remove the clematis from its pot and plant it in the hole. Carefully backfill with the fertilized soil, pushing it gently between the brittle stems with your fingers and making sure there are no air pockets as you go. AFTERCARE Gently firm the soil with your foot, and tie stems to an obelisk or other support (see pp.212–213). Water in well. Add a thick mulch of well-rotted organic matter, keeping it clear of the stems. Continue to water regularly until the plant is established. 219 220 STRUCTURAL FEATURES >> Decorative vines Vigorous climbing vines, such as grapes and Boston ivy, excel at clambering up and over solid structures, blurring their lines with soft, leafy growth. The best have attractively shaped foliage that displays vibrant shades in autumn, adding an extra dimension to the garden. WHEN TO START Autumn AT ITS BEST Autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 1 hour YOU WILL NEED Vine, such as Vitis vinifera 'Purpurea' or V. coignetiae Spade Well-rotted organic matter Twine SELECT A SUPPORT Vines are commonly grown over pergolas and up walls, but they look equally good when allowed to scramble through large shrubs, trees, and conifers. Look around your garden for structures that require softening, or for large plants that need brightening up. Vine stems twine around their supports, and will require wire or trellis attached to pergolas or walls (see pp.212–213). PLANT YOUR VINE Large solid structures cast rain shadows, and mature shrubs suck lots of moisture from the soil. To ensure your vine gets plenty of water, plant about 18 in (45 cm) away from your chosen support, and lean the climber towards it. Dig a large hole, incorporate well-rotted organic matter, plant, and water the vine in well (see also pp.212–213). AFTERCARE Regularly tie in new growth to the wires or trellis to help secure the stems to the support. Water the vine well throughout the first year, and feed in spring with a tree and shrub fertilizer. o Colorful coat While vines are useful for solid structures, they can add extra interest to any large, well-established shrub or tree that is strong enough to support them. << STRUCTURAL FEATURES Cling-ons Self-clinging climbers have no need for wires or a trellis. Once attached, they will clamber up your chosen structure without any need for tying in, and are great for time-poor gardeners. The following are all self-clinging, and develop bright red foliage in autumn: 1 Boston ivy, Parthenocissus tricuspidata; h70 ft (20 m) 2 Virginia creeper, Parthenocissus henryana; h30 ft (10 m) 3 Parthenocissus tricuspidata ‘Lowii’; h70 ft (20 m) o Vine-draped pergola Decorative vines are vigorous and attractive climbers that can produce large amounts of tasty fruit for birds to enjoy. They also develop fiery autumnal shades of red, purple, or orange. 221 222 STRUCTURAL FEATURES >> Make a rose arch Add height and color to your garden with a classic timber arch, framed with climbing roses and clematis. Available in kit form, arches are very easy to assemble and the steps outlined here show the basic method, although some types may differ slightly in design. WHEN TO START Any time AT ITS BEST Spring to summer TIME TO COMPLETE 1 day YOU WILL NEED Rose arch kit Tape measure Galvanized screws Electric screwdriver Spade Hard core (broken bricks, stones, etc.) Spirit level Ready-mixed post-mix concrete LAY OUT THE PIECES Lay out all the pieces in the kit on the ground. Starting with the roof of the arch, align the short horizontal pieces so that they slot into the two long crossbeams that make up the roof. Use a tape measure to check that they are evenly spaced. JOIN THE SECTIONS Using galvanized screws and an electric screwdriver, join the horizontal pieces to the beams. Then, attach the two vertical sides of the arch onto the roof, as directed by the kit instructions. The trellis sides in this arch came in two complete sections that are slotted into the roof. Summer p sparkles This arch is planted with Rosa ‘Seagull’, Clematis armandii, and golden hop, Humulus lupulus ‘Aureus’. DIG OUT FOOTINGS To secure the arch in the ground, stand it in its final site, and mark out the positions of the four vertical legs. Dig holes for the legs, 45 cm (18 in) deep and 30 cm (12 in) wide. Add a 5 cm (2 in) layer of hard core to the base of each hole. POSITION THE ARCH Tamp down the hard core with a pole. With help, lift the arch and lower its legs into the holes. Make sure each leg is standing on the hard core base, and add or remove material until all four are solidly supported. CHECK THE UPRIGHTS Use a spirit level to make sure that all the verticals are correctly aligned, and that the horizontal pieces are level. If necessary, manoeuvre the arch until it is perfectly upright; when you are satisfied that it is, pack more hard core around the legs. MORTAR IN THE LEGS Pour the ready-mixed concrete into each hole, up to ground level, ensuring that it completely surrounds the legs. Slowly add water to the holes to soak the concrete, and allow it to dry and harden for a day or two. Now stain the arch in your chosen color, and plant around it. SELECTIONS >> 224 STRUCTURAL FEATURES >> Climbers for arches There are climbing plants to suit every taste. For a showy display, go for the weird and wonderful Eccremocarpus or the vivid flame nasturtium, and for simple but colorful foliage try golden hop. Climbing roses lend a more traditional look, and for delicious fragrance try the scented chocolate vine, honeysuckle, or star jasmine. Many of these plants mingle together beautifully; there is no need to confine yourself to just one. A full sun B partial sun C full shade D well-drained soil E moist soil STRUCTURAL FEATURES F wet soil HARDINESS ZONES (H): coldest zone needed to flourish and warmest zone in which plant’s cold requirements are met 1 Late Dutch Honeysuckle, Lonicera periclymenum ‘Serotina’; h22 ft (7 m) BE H9–5 2 Chilean glory flower, Eccremocarpus scaber; h10 ft (3 m) Ad H12–10 3 Chocolate vine, Akebia quinata; h30 ft (10 m) ABE H9–5 4 Golden hop, Humulus lupulus ‘Aureus’; h20 ft (6 m) Ae H8–1 5 Morning glory, Ipomoea purpurea; h10 ft (3 m) AD H12–1 6 Rhodochiton atrosanguineus; h10 ft (3 m) AE H8–2 7 Flame nasturtium, Tropaeolum speciosum; h10 ft (3 m) AE H12–8 8 Star jasmine, Trachelospermum jasminoides; h20 ft (6 m) ABD H10–9 9 Chilean potato tree, Solanum crispum ‘Glasnevin’; h20 ft (6 m) AdE H12–1 0 Rosa ‘Compassion’; h10 ft (3 m) Ae H9–5 225 SELECTIONS >> << 226 STRUCTURAL FEATURES >> Perfumed pendants Big and beautiful, wisteria is the queen of climbers. Some would consider growing it for its gnarled, twining growth and graceful, green foliage alone, but then in early summer, it tops all this by producing a truly breathtaking display of long, pendant, scented flowers. All it needs is a little annual care. CHOOSING PLANTS Wisteria is notorious for being slow to flower, but this is only if it is grown on its own roots. Whereas plants grown from seed may take over ten years to start flowering, grafted ones can bloom within three or four years. The nursery or garden center should be able to reassure you about this, and you can see the graft yourself at the base of the stem, but the best way to be sure is to buy a plant in flower. The open flowers also give you the chance to decide which color you prefer. PLANTING AND SUPPORT Wisterias are big, heavy climbers, so plant them only where you have a large, sturdy support in place such as heavy-duty wires or a pergola. Prepare the soil well before planting, digging it over and mixing in plenty of organic matter (see pp.212–213 for planting advice). At first you may need to tie the stems loosely to their supports, but this task won’t be necessary for long because they begin to twine (see right). Pruning care Wisterias should be pruned twice a year to encourage them to flower well. WHEN TO PRUNE Winter and summer TIME TO COMPLETE 3 hours YOU WILL NEED Clippers Ladder Organic matter Twine SUMMER PRUNING The best time to assess the overall shape of your plant is after flowering. If there are any gaps, fill these by training new stems along the support in that direction. Tie this new growth in loosely to the framework using twine. REDUCE NEW SHOOTS Once stems are tied in, cut back all other growth to about 12 in (30 cm) from where it sprouts. Restricting growth and allowing sunlight and air to ripen the young stems helps promote flowering the following year. WINTER PRUNING For best results, prune again in late winter. First identify any long, sappy stems that sprouted after pruning in summer, and prune them back to about five buds away from the main branch, cutting just above a bud. SPUR PRUNE Then, shorten the shoots that were pruned in the summer even farther, back to two or three buds. Look carefully for the fat, round flower buds, and avoid cutting these off. Foliage buds, which can be removed, are slimmer and pointed. KEEP PLANTS IN CHECK Wisteria is a vigorous plant, and its stems can become thick and woody with age. These can cause problems if they grow where they are not wanted, so cut stems away from gutters, windows, and behind pipes when you are pruning. 228 STRUCTURAL FEATURES >> Grow scented sweet peas The scent of sweet peas is like no other, and a vase of cut blooms filling a room with fragrance is reason enough to grow these cottage-garden favorites. In warm areas, sow seeds in the autumn; in colder parts sow in spring in a warm greenhouse or on a windowsill. Grow them on in an open, sunny area. CHIP THE SEED Sweet pea seeds have a hard shell, and unless water can penetrate it, the seeds will not germinate. To ensure the seed absorbs water, use a sharp penknife or nail clippers to carefully nick it opposite the “eye” (small, round scar) and remove a small piece of the seed coat. SOW SEED In autumn, fill trays or pots with seed soil and sow the seeds ½ in (1 cm) deep. Keep the seedlings in a cool greenhouse or cold frame until the following spring, only providing extra heat during severe frosts. In mid-spring, remove the tip of the main shoot from each seedling. YOU WILL NEED WHEN TO PLANT Autumn or early spring AT THEIR BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE 2–3 hours over several months Sweet pea seeds Sharp penknife or nail clippers Deep seed trays or root trainers Seed soil Well-rotted organic matter Obelisk or bamboo canes Garden twine All-purpose liquid feed SEEDLING CARE If you sow sweet peas in early spring, grow the seedlings indoors, or in a warm greenhouse, at 58–62°F (14–17°C). When they reach 4–6in (10–15cm) high, remove the tips down to the first set of leaves. Pinching out the tips like this encourages side shoots to form. << STRUCTURAL FEATURES Sweet pea supports Sweet peas climb using their twining tendrils, which cling to slim supports, such as sticks or bamboo canes. These bushy plants reach up to 6 ft (1.8 m) high, so make sure your support is tall enough to accommodate them. BUYING SUPPORTS HARDEN OFF AND PLANT OUT Autumn-sown seedlings can be planted out directly into the ground in mid-spring. Spring-sown seedlings will have tender shoots that need to be hardened off for a few weeks by bringing them outside by day, and inside at night. Plant hardened seedlings out in late spring. PLANT CARE Enrich the soil with well-rotted organic matter and plant one or two seedlings close to the base of a suitable support (see right) and tie them in loosely. The tendrils will soon take hold of the supports as the plants grow. Water during dry spells, and apply a liquid feed every two weeks from midsummer. Pick the flowers regularly to encourage more. TOP TIP: HOME-MADE SEED POTS Roll folded newspaper around a glass and tuck the top ends into it. Remove, then flatten the tucked-in ends to form the base. Plant seedlings and their pots into the soil—the pots will just rot away. Wooden or metal obelisks and tripods are ideal for sweet peas, and make decorative additions to flower borders or to vegetable beds, where you can plant them alongside runner or French beans. (Do not confuse the pods when harvesting because sweet peas are poisonous). You may find that young plants struggle to take hold of smooth materials, such as metal, or do not cover the whole support evenly. To remedy this problem, wind some string around the poles and tie it horizontally across the legs of the support to provide the plants with more grip. Elegant additions p Stylish pyramids look stunning when dressed with a mix of sweet peas and runner beans. MAKE YOUR OWN It’s easy to make your own sweet pea supports by setting out bamboo canes to form a wigwam and tying them securely at the top. Alternatively, grow them up pea sticks (see p.307), or create a support with plastic mesh wrapped around a circle of sturdy stakes driven into the ground, securing the trellis with garden twine or wire. As the plants grow, these supports quickly disappear beneath the flowers and foliage. o Tunnel vision This fragrant garden arch is made from metal poles and wire mesh, available from hardware stores, fixed at the top with wire. The sweet peas are scrambling over it to create a tunnel of flowers. 229 230 STRUCTURAL FEATURES >> Striking stems Many dogwood and willow varieties have brightly colored stems that are a boon in the winter garden. The young growth is the most impressive, so prune hard to encourage bright new shoots. Willow wands Willows (Salix) look great grown as pollards. Let a single stem grow to about 5 ft (1.5 m) tall, and prune so that new growth develops at the top, creating a head of colorful young stems. WHEN TO START Late winter or early spring AT ITS BEST Winter TIME TO COMPLETE 1 hour YOU WILL NEED PRUNE TO ONE OR TWO BUDS Before new growth appears in spring, use clippers to cut back every stem to one or two buds. Use a pruning saw to remove larger material. Willow plant Clippers Pruning shears or saw All-purpose granular fertilizer AFTER PRUNING REMOVE WEAK GROWTH When the leaves fall in autumn, neaten the plant by pruning out weak and damaged stems, and remove any shoots from the main trunk. The shrub will look strange after pruning but don’t panic; it will quickly regrow. Give it an annual feed of all-purpose granular fertilizer, worked into the soil around the base of the plant. Use the cut stems to support perennials in spring and summer. << STRUCTURAL FEATURES Dramatic dogwoods Dogwoods (Cornus species) are grown for their bare winter stems, which can be green, red, orange, or bright yellow. The youngest growth is the most vibrant, so prune them almost to the ground every year to encourage new stems. ANNUAL PRUNING In late winter or early spring, prune dogwoods back by cutting all stems to one or two buds above the ground. Use clippers for the thinner stems, and shears or a pruning saw for larger ones. LEAVE AN OPEN STRUCTURE New stems will grow from the top buds left behind. If there are several buds, remove those facing into the center of the plant by rubbing them off with your fingers. This prevents the new stems from becoming too congested, which will weaken their winter display. ALTERNATIVE APPROACH o Bare essentials Plant spring-flowering bulbs beneath your dogwoods and willows to give an extra splash of color. Instead of pruning your dogwoods entirely to the ground, you can prune out every third stem. The plant will look less scalped through the summer, although the winter show will not be as dramatic as a result. 231 232 STRUCTURAL FEATURES >> Weave a living willow screen Slimmer than a hedge and just as easy to create, willow screens are ideal for partitioning small gardens or as boundaries in rural settings where you want a barrier that mirrors the natural landscape beyond. Once established, they also make good windbreaks for a vegetable plot or flower garden. WHEN TO START Winter, when willow is dormant AT ITS BEST All year round TIME TO COMPLETE 4–5 hours over a few months YOU WILL NEED Willow setts Well-rotted organic matter, such as manure Spade Garden tarred twine Rubber plant ties TOP TIP: BUYING AND CARING FOR WILLOW GROW OR BUY WILLOW The most common willow for weaving is Salix alba, which has colorful stems in winter. Buy your cuttings or “setts” in winter and plant as soon as possible. Do not plant near buildings or drainage pipes, because the roots are invasive. PLANT SETTS Dig plenty of organic matter into the soil and remove weeds. Push a spade into the soil 8 in (20 cm) deep, insert a willow sett into the slit and firm in. Space setts 8 in (20 cm) apart. Water well. Wait until new growth appears before weaving. WEAVE THE WILLOW Crisscross the stems over and under one another to form a rigid diamond-shaped structure. Tie stems where they cross with twine, and use rubber plant ties to secure the top of the screen. This allows some movement and prevents stems from snapping in the wind. The easiest way to buy willow cuttings is from a specialist willow nursery— most now have online and mail-order shops. The cuttings are harvested when dormant in winter, and will only be available at this time. They are normally 10–12 in (20–30 cm) long and take a season to grow to a suitable length for weaving. Rods for tunnels are longer. Keep the growing area free of weeds (see p.76 to lay a weedsuppressing membrane) and water the cuttings well after planting, and until they are fully established. Make a tunnel Natural and inexpensive, this willow tunnel takes no longer to make than a screen, and can be used for children’s play areas or in a cottage or informal design. To create a living tunnel, buy longer “rods” instead of setts or cuttings. MARK OUT THE SITE Prepare the site and soil as for screens (see opposite). Measure the length of the tunnel and calculate the number of rods you will need: they are planted in pairs 12 in (30 cm) apart, or closer if you want a dense effect. You will also need a few spares. When the rods arrive, plant as for setts (see opposite), but in slits that are 12 in (30 cm) deep. FORM THE ARCH Plant rods in matching pairs on either side of your marked-out tunnel. Bend each pair over to form an arch and twist them together. Secure with rubber plant ties. Plant some rods between the other stems and weave them across the structure to help strengthen it. Tie these rods on either side of the arch stems, as shown above. FINAL TOUCHES Water well and apply a mulch each spring. Keep the arch well watered for the first year and weed regularly. TOP TIP: PRUNING AND AFTERCARE To top up moisture levels, consider installing a leaky hose beside the arch (see pp.406–407), which can be attached to an automatic timer. Remove any dead plants as you see them and replant with fresh ones. Do not trim your hedge or arch until the end of the first year when the leaves have dropped. Once well established, willow structures will produce long shoots, which you can cut back and chip for use as a mulch or as fuel for a wood burner. Alternatively, you can plant these “cuttings” to make more willow structures. 234 STRUCTURAL FEATURES >> Plant a wall of berries Wall shrubs, such as firethorn, are easy to grow and provide a rich tapestry of evergreen foliage, spring flowers, and vibrant autumn berries that add texture and color to the garden. On a boundary, their sharp thorns also deter intruders, and the fruits provide a feast for hungry birds. WHEN TO START Autumn AT ITS BEST All year round TIME TO COMPLETE 2 hours YOU WILL NEED Firethorn, Pyracantha Well-rotted organic matter, such as manure Granular shrub fertilizer Coated wire and vine eyes Garden twine Clippers PLANT AND TIE STEMS IN PREPARE THE GROUND Plant your firethorn about 20 in (50 cm) from the wall or fence, and dig a bucketful of organic matter and some general-purpose fertilizer into the soil within the planting area. Do not add extra organic matter to the planting hole. Fix horizontal wires across the wall or fence (see pp.212–213). Dig a planting hole twice the width and as deep as the plant pot. Place the firethorn in the hole and lay a stake across the top to check that the plant will be at the same depth as it is in its pot once planted. Remove from its pot, and plant. Backfill with excavated soil and firm in with the ball of your foot. Remove stems from the supporting canes supplied with the plant, and tie to the wires with twine. << STRUCTURAL FEATURES Wall shrub options For flower rather than berries, try one of these beautiful wall shrubs. Each has its individual charms: both the Californian lilac and the silk-tassel bush are evergreen, while the flowering quince and flannel bush have bright, colorful blooms. MAKING A CHOICE TRIM STEMS With clean, sharp clippers, prune wayward stems that are growing away from the wall or fence. Cut them back to the main stem or a bud close to a stem that is growing along the fence. Shorten other side shoots to encourage bushier growth. Heralding spring, the bare branches of the flowering quince, Chaenomeles, are laced with bright pink or red flowers, and are followed by the blue pompoms of Californian lilacs, Ceanothus, which open at the end of the season. The flannel bush, Fremontodendron, has large waxy yellow flowers that appear from late spring to early autumn, and to close the year, the silk-tassel bush, Garrya, displays its long cream catkins while the rest of the garden sleeps. PLANTING SHRUBS WATER AND MULCH Water the plant well, and apply a thick mulch of well-rotted organic matter, keeping it clear of the stems. Water regularly for a year or two, until the plant is well established. Only water during prolonged dry spells thereafter. PRUNING PYRACANTHA In spring, when flower buds appear, cut back outward-growing stems, or those growing towards the fence, and shorten others to keep the plant compact, making sure that you retain as many buds as possible. Wear heavy-duty gardening gloves to protect yourself from the thorns. In late summer, cut the stems back to within a few buds of the berries so that the fruits are more visible. Plant the Californian lilac and flannel bush in a sunny spot. The silk-tassel bush and quince will grow well in partial shade or full sun. None of these plants, apart from the quince, tolerate hard frosts so select a sheltered area, and follow the same planting method as for firethorn (see left). You can train the plants onto a trellis instead of wires, if you prefer, but make sure that it is fixed securely to the wall or fence. AFTERCARE Although these shrubs tolerate very dry conditions, water them frequently for the first year until they are established. Trim back the quince and lilac annually after flowering in early summer. Prune the silk-tassel and flannel bushes in mid-spring. Prune out wayward stems that are growing away from their supports, and trim other stems to create a neat framework. Tie in long stems to the wires or trellis. The plants will also benefit from an application of granular shrub fertilizer in early spring. 1 Flowering quince, Chaenomeles x superba; H5 ft (1.5 m) s6 ft (1.8 m) 2 Californian lilac, Ceanothus ‘Concha’; E5–10 ft (1.5–3 m) 3 Silk-tassel bush, Garrya elliptica; E12 ft (4 m) 4 Flannel bush, Fremontodendron californicum; H20 ft (6 m) s12 ft (4 m) 235 SELECTIONS >> 236 STRUCTURAL FEATURES >> Decorative catkins Whether soft and furry or long and dangling, catkins never fail to delight. Those of the silver birch are perhaps the most familiar, and add a strong, vertical accent hanging from the bare, twiggy branches. But there are also many other types of catkins, equally attractive, that are often overlooked. They add a tactile and surprising dimension to the spring garden, at a time of year when positive change is most welcome. A full sun B partial sun C full shade D well-drained soil E moist soil STRUCTURAL FEATURES F wet soil HARDINESS ZONES (H): coldest zone needed to flourish and warmest zone in which plant’s cold requirements are met 1 Pussy willow, Salix hastata ‘Wehrhahnii’; E4 ft (1.2 m) Ae H8–5 2 Alnus incana; h70 ft (20 m) s30 ft (10 m) Ae H6–1 3 Betula nana; h24 in (60 cm) s4 ft (1.2 m) ABdE H5–1 4 Itea ilicifolia; E10 ft (3 m) AdE H9–7 5 Salix lanata; h3 ft (1 m) s5 ft (1.5 m) Ae H5–1 6 Itea virginica; h6 ft (2 m) s5 ft (1.5 m) AdE H10–7 7 Betula papyrifera; h70 ft (20 m) s30 ft (10 m) ABdE H7–1 8 Salix caprea ‘Kilmarnock’; h5 ft (1.5 m) s6 ft (2 m) Ae H8–6 9 Salix reticulata; h3 in (8 cm) s12 in (30 cm) Ae H6–1 0 Salix hastata; E3 ft (1 m) Ae H8–5 237 SELECTIONS >> << 238 STRUCTURAL FEATURES >> Cover up for winter Cold, dark winter days can be depressing, but with a few well-chosen climbers to dress up your screens, boundaries, and bare-stemmed trees, this can be an exciting and beautiful season. Bright, variegated foliage, sunny yellow flowers, and sweetly scented blooms are among the delights in store. Ivy arch Often overlooked or dismissed as too common, ivy comes into its own in winter, with beautiful leaf shapes and bright colors. Grow it over an arch for a spectacular foliage effect. WHEN TO START Autumn AT ITS BEST All year, especially winter TIME TO COMPLETE 1 day to make arch; 1 day to plant YOU WILL NEED Garden arch (kits are available) Well-rotted organic matter, such as manure Garden twine Clippers Ivy plants, good choices include: Hedera helix ‘Cavendishii’, ‘Glacier’, ‘Oro di Bogliasco’, and Hedera colchica ERECT AN ARCH When bold foliage is at a premium, ivy has plenty to offer, with plain or variegated, and large or small leaves. Select a tall cultivar of Hedera helix or the large-leaved Hedera colchica for an arch. Either buy a preassembled arch, or make one from a kit (see pp.222–223 for instructions) and erect it close to a screen, over a bench seat, or to frame a view. PLANT THE IVY Select an ivy with long stems, and check the label to make sure that it will grow large enough to cover the arch. Enrich the soil around the arch with organic matter, and plant an ivy about 12 in (30 cm) away from each side. You can also plant a few 12 in (30 cm) from the fence or wall. Plant the ivies at the same depth they were in their original pots. a Winter greens This beautiful arch, covered with variegated ivy and flanked by evergreen Euonymus and bay laurel, is a show-stopping winter focal point. AFTERCARE Use garden twine to tie the stems to the arch; they can be removed once the stems have taken hold. Water the plants frequently and trim any wayward stems in spring and summer. << STRUCTURAL FEATURES Seasonal gold The winter jasmine, Jasminum nudiflorum, is really a wall shrub, but its long, lax stems are easily trained over trellis or on wires to cover screens and fences. Masses of starry golden yellow flowers appear on bare stems in late winter and early spring, but unlike summer jasmine, they are unscented. PLANTING JASMINE Choose a spot that will be in full sun or partial shade in the winter to encourage the best blooms. Note that areas that are in sun in summer may be shaded later in the year, so check your aspect carefully (see p.15). In autumn, dig well-rotted organic matter, such as manure or homemade garden compost, into the soil before you start, and plant the jasmine as for wall shrubs (see pp.234–235). a p Frosted flowers Winter jasmine’s tough little flowers continue to bloom even when dusted with frost. During dry spells, keep the plant well watered until established, and feed with a shrub fertilizer each spring. Evergreen clematis Exquisite blooms set amid evergreen foliage are the star qualities of winter-flowering clematis. Plant them in a sheltered site because they don’t tolerate low temperatures. PLANTING TIPS a Freckled friends The flowers of Clematis cirrhosa var. purpurascens ‘Freckles’ appear throughout the winter. Winter delights p Stunningly beautiful, the flowers of Clematis armandii emit a delicious scent, and appear for many weeks from late winter to early spring. Clematis armandii has sweetly scented white or pink flowers and long, slim, dark green leaves. In some areas it may stay quite compact, but when fully established and in a suitable location, it can grow through a large tree. Clematis cirrhosa, with its freckled, cup-shaped flowers, can be equally vigorous in ideal conditions. Although these clematis are less likely to fall prey to clematis wilt, it is still worth planting them deeply in well-drained soil, just in case the disease strikes (see p.217). AFTERCARE Water well during dry spells for the first year until the plants are established, and clip untidy growth lightly after flowering. The lower leaves of Clematis armandii may turn brown and fall, which is a characteristic of this plant; use another climber or shrub to disguise the stems. 239 240 STRUCTURAL FEATURES >> Elegant standards Standard trees make a bold statement in the garden but can be expensive to buy, but with a little patience and the right care you can create your own, as long as the plant has a strong lead shoot. YOU WILL NEED WHEN TO START Anytime AT ITS BEST All year round TIME TO COMPLETE Initial pruning, 30 minutes A variegated holly, such as Ilex x altaclerensis ‘Golden King’ used here Large container A stake Twine Clippers ASSESS THE PLANT Look at the plant from all angles before pruning. Decide how long you want the clean stem to be and what growth you are going to leave to make up the lollipop top. TIE IN AND SHAPE Shorten the growth left at the top of the plant slightly to encourage it to bush out and form a rounded head. Push a stake into the soil to support the main stem, which will be quite weak at this early stage; tie securely in several places. Trim the head to shape each year. REMOVE SIDE SHOOTS Prune the lowest side shoots from the main stem, but don’t remove all of them at once because they help pull sap up the plant. Once the plant has a round head, you can cut them all off. << STRUCTURAL FEATURES Planting options Almost any plant can be grown as a standard, and if you have the time it is worth experimenting to see which work best. GLOBES OF FLOWERS AND FOLIAGE Roses are traditionally trained as standards, and are particularly effective grown in this formal way with less traditional mixed cottage-style planting beneath them. The same is true of wisterias. Other commonly grown standard lollipop trees include boxwood and bay, often used for topiary, and decorative evergreens, such as rosemary, Euonymus fortunei, and Photinia. You can also create interesting foliage and structural effects with large deciduous trees, such as acers and oaks, trimmed into standards, as long as you prune them regularly. 1 Rosmarinus officinalis has silvery growth and looks good rising above a planting of cool whites and purples. 2 Euonymus fortunei provides brightly colored variegated foliage all year round, even in shady corners. 3 Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’ is green all year but produces a flush of bronze-red new foliage every spring. o Holly head Variegated holly, shaped into a standard tree, brings strong color, structure and style to any mixed planting or group of containers. 241 242 STRUCTURAL FEATURES >> Choosing conifers Conifers comprise a wide group of mostly evergreen trees and shrubs that provide welcome color and structure all year round. Although some have a bad name, growing into ungainly monsters, many make elegant additions to small gardens, especially when combined with other woody plants and perennials. SIZE MATTERS The following plants are examples of the different types of conifer you may see in garden centers and catalogs. Check their labels carefully to make sure you buy a conifer that will suit your plot. “Slowgrowing” conifers are not necessarily small, they simply grow slowly, putting on 6–12 in (15–30 cm) of growth per year. “Dwarf” types remain compact, and grow between 1–6 in (2–15 cm) per year, while “Miniatures” are tiny and will only grow to about 10 in (25 cm) after ten years and, ultimately, no more than 3 ft (90 cm). 1 The blue Colorado spruce, Picea pungens ‘Koster’, is a slow-growing conifer that reaches a height of 8 ft (2 m) and width of 4 ft (1.2 m) but may, after many years, grow even larger. 2 This Hinoki cypress, Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Opaal’, is a dwarf conifer reaching 3 ft (1 m) high and 30 in (75 cm) wide when mature. 3 The dwarf mountain pine, Pinus aristata ‘Sherwood Compact’, with its decorative candlelike cones, is tiny and reaches just 24 in (60 cm) when mature. Contemporary conifers p This elegant small garden mixes wellbehaved conifers, including a blue-leaved weeping Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca Pendula’ (left), Chamaecyparis obtusa trained into a tiny lollipop (bottom left), and a pretty pine (right), together with grasses and bamboos to create a stylish modern design. Creative effects Conifers are excellent design tools, offering a wealth of colors and shapes. You can use them en masse for a mosaic effect, choose just one striking example for a focal point in a border or lawn, or plant tiny types in pots and containers. DESIGN OPTIONS For year-round color, you can’t do much better than the blue spruce, Picea pungens, which comes in all shapes and sizes and makes a great companion for purple-leaved shrubs, such as the smoke bush, Cotinus ‘Grace’. Alternatively, match them up with contrasting golden conifers, such as the spreading Juniperus x pfitzeriana Gold Sovereign or the rounded Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Golden Pot’. To strike a pose, look for pencil-thin plants that provide accents and can be used as focal points, or to line a path. The Italian cypress, Cupressus sempervirens, is a classic example, but junipers are easier plants for cooler climates. Try J. communis ‘Compressa’ or ‘Sentinel’, which have a similar rocketlike form. a Textured gold The vivid golden foliage of Abies nordmanniana ‘Golden Spreader’ makes a striking statement plant; the foliage is even brighter in winter. a On parade Use cone-shaped conifers, such as Thuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’ to form a screen of sentrylike specimens. Purple candles p The unusual purple cones of the slow-growing Korean fir, Abies koreana, are spectacular; buy one with cones to ensure that it will perform. Options for small gardens Conifers are quite easy-going and adapt to a range of conditions, but most thrive in a sunny site in moist soil that drains freely, although junipers will cope with drier conditions. Check labels for width as well as height, as some need space to spread. These conifers are perfect for small areas: Abies balsamea ‘Nana’ Cephalotaxus harringtonii ‘Fastigiata’ Juniperus communis ‘Compressa’ Juniperus scopulorum ‘Blue Arrow’ Pinus heldreichii ‘Smidtii’ Tsuga canadensis ‘Cole’s Prostrate’ 1 Lawson cypress, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Minima Aurea’; H18 in (45 cm) s12 in (30 cm) 2 Juniper, Juniperus procumbens ‘Nana’; H12 in (30 cm) s4 ft (1.2 m) 3 Japanese cedar, Cryptomeria japonica ‘Nana’; E2ft (60 cm) 4 White cedar, Thuja occidentalis ‘Caespitosa’; H12 in (30 cm) s16 in (40 cm) << STRUCTURAL FEATURES All-season color By planting evergreen conifers with long-lasting grasses, and then throwing in a smattering of perennials, you can have a garden that looks good all year round, with a few highlights in summer. PREPARE THE SITE WHEN TO START Autumn In the autumn before planting, thoroughly remove all weeds from the border. Dig it over deeply and then incorporate plenty of organic matter, such as well-rotted manure or garden compost. AT ITS BEST All year round TIME TO COMPLETE 1–2 days SET OUT THE PLANTING PATTERN YOU WILL NEED Spade and fork Well-rotted organic matter 1. Abies concolor ‘Wintergold’ 2. Pinus heldreichii ‘Smidtii’ 3. Erica carnea f. aureifolia ‘Foxhollow’ 4. Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Little Bunny’ 5. Imperata cylindrica ‘Rubra’ 6. Pinus mugo ‘Ophir’ 7. Stipa gigantea 8. Kniphofia ‘Percy’s Pride’ Buy the plants in spring and set them out before planting them. The dwarf conifers provide the backbone, with a ribbon of Imperata and Erica running between them. Use the Stipa as an accent plant, and fill gaps with the Pennisetum. PLANT AND FEED Plant the conifers and Erica first, then add the grasses and Kniphofia. Water the plants in well. Keep them watered throughout their first full growing season, and feed them each spring with an all-purpose granular fertilizer. 7 8 6 1 5 2 4 3 245 Fruit and Vegetables Whether you have a large kitchen garden or a tiny courtyard, you can grow a range of crops for the kitchen. The step-bystep projects in this chapter are both easy and fun, and include leafy herbs in hanging baskets, raised beds filled with root vegetables, and pots of delicious strawberries and other fruits. Sow and plant regularly, and you will have home-grown crops to eat throughout the year. Keep your plants well watered and fed to fend off pests and diseases. << FRUIT AND VEGETABLES Grow a row of beans Climbing French and runner beans are among the most productive vegetable plants in the garden, but you do have to treat them well to get the best crops. They are easy to care for once planted out and established, but the key to success is to nourish the soil well before planting time. WHEN TO START Spring AT THEIR BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE 3 hours over a few months YOU WILL NEED Bean seeds Coir pots Seed soil Garden stakes String Well-rotted garden compost or manure SOW SEEDS IN POTS French and runner beans are sensitive to frost, so sow them inside, one to each pot. Set the pots on a tray in a warm, sunny spot, and water the seedlings regularly; do not let them dry out. Plant them outdoors once all risk of frost has passed. PREPARE YOUR TRENCH Dig out a trench to at least one spade’s depth and fill the base with a deep layer of compost or manure. This will give your beans the energy they need. Then, use long garden stakes to create a sturdy climbing frame to support them all summer. TOP TIP: BLAST OFF APHIDS Sap-sucking aphids cause a lot of damage to plants, and they love tender bean tips. A good way to tackle them that doesn’t require chemicals is to blast them off with a jet of water. A hand mister is also useful during hot weather because a fine spray on the flowers can improve pollination. TIE IN STEMS Plant one seedling at the base of each stake and tie the stem to it, until it takes hold by itself. You can also sow bean seeds directly into the soil in late spring, after the frosts. If you do, plant two seeds per stake in case one fails to grow. If both come up, weed out the weaker one. WATER AND WAIT Beans are thirsty, so you need to water them often, especially when they start flowering. If the plants are too dry, the blooms will drop off and you will lose the crop. Harvest the pods when they are young and tender, before you can see the beans swelling inside. 249 << FRUIT AND VEGETABLES Pot up a productive patio Awash with colorful blooms and brimming with delicious crops, this tiny patio is both pretty and productive. You can either grow vegetables and flowers from seed, or buy a range of young plug plants from the garden center if space and time is limited. SOW SEEDS WHEN TO START Early spring AT ITS BEST Summer to early autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 3 hours to sow; 1 day to plant up YOU WILL NEED Selection of large pots and hanging baskets Broken clay pot pieces Soil-based potting mix Slow-release fertilizer granules Tomato fertilizer 1. Tomato ‘Tumbling Tom’ 2. Tomato ‘Gardener’s Delight’ and ‘Costoluto Fiorentino’ 3. Asparagus pea 4. Herbs 5. Pot marigolds, Calendula 6. Summer squash ‘Sunburst’ hybrid 1 6 Either buy plants in late spring or sow seed earlier. If you only need one or two tomato plants, it may be easier to buy young plants. Sow chard seed directly into pots in late spring (see p.260). The asparagus pea is a gourmet vegetable that’s easy to grow—simply sow the seed indoors in late spring and, as the weather warms up, harden off the seedlings by placing them outside during the day. To grow the squash, follow the sowing and planting methods for zucchinis (see p.276), and sow some marigolds to brighten up the display (see pp.108–111). TOP TIP: BAGS OF FUN Growing crops in large bags is a popular idea for small patio gardens. You can either buy specialized products in an assortment of colors, or use strong recycling bags. Large plants, such as potatoes and zucchinis, that require lots of space and soil, are ideal for bags, which are generally cheaper than containers of the same size. PLANT AFTER FROSTS When all danger of frost has passed, plant up the seedlings and young plants in large containers of soil-based potting mix (see pp.272–273 for tomatoes in growbags). Tumbling tomatoes are best planted in large baskets (see pp.312); partner them up with herbs or trailing bedding plants, such as ground ivy. Also consider buying or making small raised beds (see pp.254–255), which are perfect for packing lots of vegetables into tight spaces. When planting the peas, add twiggy sticks to support them (see p.275). 2 WATER DAILY 5 3 4 Crops in pots must be watered every day in summer, and the fruiting and podded vegetables benefit from a weekly feed with tomato fertilizer to encourage a bumper harvest. Pick the crops as soon as they ripen. a Climbing crops Trailing zucchinis, such as ‘Tromboncino’, are decorative plants with large leaves, sunny yellow flowers, and cream-colored fruits. Use vine eyes to fix coated wires up your wall or fence, and tie in the stems to make a screen of delicious vegetables. 251 252 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Grow a crop of potatoes Potatoes are a staple of kitchen gardens and taste delicious when freshly dug up from the soil. Grow your crops in an open, sunny site in well-drained soil, and plant “earlies” one month before the last frosts are predicted, and “second earlies” and “maincrops” slightly later at the end of spring. WHEN TO START Late winter AT THEIR BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE 3 hours over a few months YOU WILL NEED Seed potatoes Egg crates Well-rotted organic matter, such as compost or manure String Spade Straw or other dry mulch ADD MORE SOIL CHIT SEED POTATOES In late winter, buy your seed potatoes and place them in egg crates in a cool, light, frost-free place to “chit” or sprout. They will start growing while it is still too cold to plant them out. PLANTING DEPTH AND DISTANCE Dig a trench to a spade’s depth, and fill the bottom with loose soil or compost. Plant “first earlies” and “second earlies” 12 in (30 cm) apart, in rows 20 in (50 cm) apart, and “maincrops” 16 in (40 cm) apart, in rows 30 in (75 cm) apart. Cover them with soil. As potato plants grow, their stems should be regularly covered with soil or “earthed up.” In the early days, this protects the tubers from frost. Later on, it encourages the growth of extra tubers, leading to a larger crop. Earthing up also prevents the tubers from being exposed to light, which makes them turn green and inedible. << FRUIT AND VEGETABLES Bags of spuds If you don’t have an allotment or space in your garden for a vegetable patch, you can grow potatoes in containers on your patio. Large pots work well, but sacks are particularly good, as you can start with them rolled down, and unroll the sides as you earth the potatoes up. You can enjoy a surprisingly good crop by growing in this way, as long as you remember to water regularly. PROTECT PLANTS When seed potatoes are first planted out, earthing up may not provide enough protection from frost. In colder regions, add a layer of straw to prevent tubers from freezing. WHEN TO START Late winter AT THEIR BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE 1 hour YOU WILL NEED Seed potatoes Several sacks or large pots Soil-based compost Watering can HARVESTING When the flowers begin to open, your potatoes are ready to harvest. Use a fork to dig them up from below, accessing them from the side of the mound, to avoid damaging them. TOP TIP: STORING POTATOES PLANT POTATOES Maincrop potatoes can be stored in paper or hessian sacks. After harvesting, brush off the soil and dry in the sun for a few hours. Pack away only the perfect tubers and check them regularly. Make sure your container has adequate drainage holes, then put 20cm (8 in) of compost in the base. Place one or two “chitted” seed potatoes (see Step 1, left) per pot or sack on top of the compost. Cover them with about 10cm (4 in) of compost, and water in well. KEEP EARTHING UP As the potatoes grow, unroll your sack to make the sides higher. Keep covering the new growth with compost; don’t worry, the shoots will soon find their way through the soil. When you reach the top, and can earth up no more, just let the plants grow. Water regularly. New potatoes can be harvested any time after flowering. 253 254 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Build a timber raised bed If you have a heavy clay soil, you may find it easier to grow your vegetables in raised beds, which offer many advantages. Not only does the soil drain freely, making them ideal for root crops, but it also warms up more quickly in spring, allowing you to sow and plant sooner, and enjoy earlier harvests. << WHEN TO START Winter AT ITS BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE 1 day YOU WILL NEED Spade Heavy-duty gloves 8 lumber cut to size required – lumber used here are: 2 x 8ft (2m) and 2 x 4ft (1.2m) Builder’s spirit level Tape measure Rubber mallet Screwdriver Long heavy-duty coach screws Broken pots Topsoil or soil-based compost SECURE BASE TIMBERS Use a rubber mallet to adjust the position of the lumbers so they butt up and align neatly at the corners. Drill two holes on one side of each corner, and secure the joint using long, heavy-duty coach screws. Check that all lumbers are firmly joined together. SOW SEEDS OR PLANT PLUGS For added drainage, put a layer of broken pots or builder’s rubble in the base, then fill with garden topsoil or soil-based compost. Water it well and leave to settle for a few days, after which you can sow seeds or plant directly. FRUIT AND VEGETABLES DIG OUT STRIPS OF TURF Mark out lines on the ground where the lumber will rest, then use a sharp spade to cut out the outline of your bed, all the way around. If positioning the bed on an area of lawn, ease the spade between turf and soil, and lift off the grass, which you can then use elsewhere in the garden (see p.29). LAY LUMBER IN POSITION Set the first layer of lumber in position. Remove or add soil until they are level. Check the levels along and diagonally across the lumber with a builder’s spirit level. Ensure that the base is square by checking that the diagonals are equal in length. For a perfect square or rectangle, have the lumber pre-cut at a timber yard. ARRANGE SECOND LAYER The next layer of timbers simply sit on top of the first. Arrange the pieces so that the joints at the four corners are staggered, as shown, to give the structure extra strength and stability. Check all levels before screwing the lumber in place, as shown in Step 3. o Convenience food Position a raised bed near your patio and you can have fresh lettuce leaves and herbs close to the kitchen and barbecue area. 255 256 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Roots for raised beds Root vegetables, such as carrots and beets, commonly produce misshapen roots if they are grown in stony garden soil. Since these, and most other root crops, also prefer a free-draining soil, they are ideal for growing in raised beds, where their tasty, succulent roots can develop straight and true. WHEN TO START Spring AT THEIR BEST Summer, autumn, and winter TIME TO COMPLETE 1½ hours YOU WILL NEED Seed for root vegetables, such as carrots, radishes, beets, and celeriac. Beets Reliable and easy to grow, beets come in yellow, white, and striped varieties, as well as the traditional blood-red. Sow a new batch every few weeks and harvest the plump, sweet, earthy roots as you need them. HARVESTING SOWING Sow seeds 3⁄4 in (1.5 cm) deep in rows, directly in the soil, every two weeks from late spring. Thin the seedlings shortly after germination so plants are 6 in (15 cm) apart. Beets are sweetest and most succulent when young, and can be harvested when they reach the size of a golf ball. Leave some in the ground to grow larger, where they will last into winter. Pull them as required, although they will eventually become tougher and less tasty. When you harvest beets, cut leaves bleed and stain; instead, simply twist off the leafy tops. << FRUIT AND VEGETABLES Celeriac The edible part of celeriac is actually the swollen base of the stem, not the root. Since this develops below soil level, it is commonly regarded as a root vegetable. Carrots Carrots are the mainstay of the kitchen garden, but these root crops need free-draining soil to do well. They are also prone to a troublesome pest, carrot fly larvae, which you need to guard against. SOWING IN DRILLS Sow seeds 3⁄4 in (1.5 cm) deep directly into the soil from mid-spring. As they grow you can thin them out and eat as baby carrots, leaving the others in the ground to mature. Try not to bruise their leaves when pulling them out because the smell attracts carrot fly (see Top Tip, below). HARVESTING Carrots are ready to harvest from midsummer. On sandy soils, you can simply pull them out of the ground, but on heavier soils use a fork, taking care not to damage the roots. Harvest young carrots to use immediately. Older ones can be stored in a cool place over winter. TOP TIP: PROTECTIVE COVERING The carrot fly locates carrots by scent, and then lays eggs nearby. As these hatch, the larvae burrow into the necks of the roots, at the base of the foliage, often making the carrots inedible. To prevent this, cover the crop with a light, transparent mesh, such as garden fleece, dug into the soil at the bottom, or surround your crop with a solid barrier 30 in (75 cm) high, because the adults can only fly close to the ground. SOWING AND PLANTING In early spring, sow seed in modules in a greenhouse or cold frame. Germination can be slow, and the plants need a long season to mature fully. Pot them on as they grow. When they are about 3 in (7 cm) tall, harden them off outside (see p.109). Then plant them out into well-drained soil, at a distance of about 6 in (15 cm) apart. HARVESTING Celeriac can be harvested from late summer and throughout winter. As they do not store well once dug up, leave them in the soil until you need them. Cold weather improves the flavor of celeriac but can damage the plants. A mulch of straw applied before the first frosts will prevent this and keep your crop in good condition until you harvest it. 257 SELECTIONS >> 258 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Raised bed options Elevating your crops in raised beds solves many problems. You can fill them with good-quality topsoil, free from weeds and stones, or use them for crops such as blueberries that like specific conditions—in this case, acid soil. They are also easier to tend, and can save your back from damage. Make your own or buy a kit, and choose beds made from natural lumber or woven willow, or lightweight man-made materials that last for many years. 1 Use treated wooden planks, pushed halfway into the soil, for quick and effective temporary beds. 2 Low beds are easy to make and ideal for leafy crops (see pp.254–255). 3 For permanent raised beds, build them from bricks, leaving small gaps in the bottom two courses to provide good drainage. 4 Raised bed kits are easy to assemble, and some have integral mesh-covered canopies to deter pests. 5 Raised beds made from woven willow hurdles look great in cottage gardens, but are not very durable and need to be replaced every few years. 6 If you buy a wooden raised bed kit, make sure it has the FSC logo, indicating that the lumber is from a renewable source. 7 When making tall beds, screw the layers together, rather than resting them on top of one another (see pp.254–255). 8 Dual-purpose beds-cum-seats allow you to tend your crops wiwthout bending or kneeling. Use thick lumber for the bed, and attach the wider seating edge along the top with long coach bolts. FRUIT AND VEGETABLES 259 SELECTIONS >> << 260 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Plant up productive pots Although many vegetables need space to produce a worthwhile crop in a pot, there are plenty that can be grown successfully in more cramped conditions. Grow a container planted with vegetables outside your back door, and you can grab a handful whenever you need them. Rainbow chard Harvest these as colorful baby leaves, little and often, and use them in summer salads or stir–fries. WHEN TO PLANT Spring to early summer AT ITS BEST Summer to autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 30 minutes YOU WILL NEED Small chard plants Large, wide container Broken clay pot pieces Soil-based potting mix Watering can PREPARE CONTAINER Make sure the container has adequate drainage holes and then cover the base with clay pot pieces. Top up the container with soil. TEASE OUT ROOTS Water small plants of rainbow or ruby chard. Tip them from their pots, and carefully tease out the roots. This helps them establish quickly. PLANT AND FIRM IN Plant the chard fairly close together for a good display. Firm in and water well. Keep well watered and cut back flowering stems to prolong the crop. << FRUIT AND VEGETABLES Radishes Radishes are great crops for containers. They are the fastest germinating and maturing vegetable of all, grow almost anywhere, and their peppery taste gives salads a real kick. WHEN TO PLANT Spring to summer AT ITS BEST Late spring to early autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 30 minutes YOU WILL NEED Radish seed Low, wide pot Broken clay pot pieces Soil-based potting mix Watering can with fine rose PREPARE AND SOW TOP TIP: BABY BEANS FOR CONTAINERS Cover the base of the pot with broken pot pieces. Fill the container with soil and firm the top lightly. Sow seed on the surface and cover with ½ in (1 cm) of soil. Water with a fine rose. ‘Hestia’ is one of the smallest runner beans. Being compact and with beautiful flowers, it is well suited to growing in pots. Dwarf runner beans do not climb and need minimal support — just a few short stakes to hold them up in windy weather. Prepare the pot as for radishes. Grow one plant per pot, and water them frequently. Pick regularly once the beans start appearing to prolong the harvest. THIN OUT As seedlings germinate and grow, thin them out, leaving the others to mature fully. You can eat the removed seedlings as an extra early salad crop. HARVEST Water your pot regularly. Radishes are usually ready about five weeks after sowing. Do not allow them to grow for longer than this because their taste becomes hotter and unpleasant, and they lose their crunch. To harvest, simply pull them up when ready. They store well in the refrigerator for a few days. 261 262 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Enjoy some easy greens There are fresh greens to be enjoyed from the garden all year round, providing a wonderful source of vitamins when there is not much else available. These are useful crops for filling gaps in the vegetable year because they mature when others are either just starting to grow, or have finished for the season. Spring cabbage TOP TIP: REPEAT CROPPING Spring cabbage is ready in late spring, earlier if grown as spring greens, when other crops are just getting going. Give it a sheltered position to help it survive the winter. To harvest a succession of spring greens, start cutting in early spring, before the plants form hearts, cutting away the entire leafy part but leaving the stalk. Cut a cross in the top of the leftover stalks. This encourages the plant to sprout again, and produce a second flush of leaves, which you can then harvest. Do this to alternate plants in the row, leaving the others to form cabbages with rounded hearts. WHEN TO START Late summer AT ITS BEST Spring PLANT OUT TIME TO COMPLETE 30 minutes sowing; 1 hour planting YOU WILL NEED Spring cabbage seed Seed soil Pot Modular seed trays Dibber or garden trowel SOW IN MODULAR TRAY You can either sow seed directly in the soil and thin the plants later, or sow in pots and transplant into modules, planting the seedlings out once they have five leaves each. Water the soil well first. Position plants 12 in (30 cm) apart for smaller spring greens; 18 in (45 cm) apart if you want fully-hearted cabbages. Do not add fertilizer—it encourages soft leafy growth, and your cabbages need to be tough to withstand the winter. In late autumn, mound up the soil around the stems to protect the plants during bad weather. Spring greens can be harvested as soon as they are big enough to eat, while fully-hearted cabbages will be ready during the last month of spring. << Spinach If you sow spinach every few weeks in spring and early autumn, and protect it over winter, you can harvest the tender leaves all year. WHEN TO START Spring or early autumn AT ITS BEST Summer FRUIT AND VEGETABLES SOW IN DRILLS Stretch out your string and use a trowel to make a shallow drill. Sow the seeds into it at 1 in (2.5 cm) intervals. Thin the seedlings to about 3 in (7 cm) apart for baby salad leaves, or 6 in (15 cm) apart for larger leaves to use for cooking. Protect seedlings in winter with a cloche (see p.409). HARVESTING TIME TO COMPLETE 1 hour YOU WILL NEED Spinach seed A line of string Trowel Watering can You can cut the leaves when they are large enough to eat. Whether you remove individual leaves or cut off the entire plant, new leaves will emerge for a second crop. Regular watering can help prevent plants from running to seed in warm weather. Oriental greens SOW SEED These are some of the most useful autumn vegetables, providing a hint of the exotic, just as the weather is cooling. They provide a great range of colors, textures, and flavors, and can bring real variety to your salads and cooking. WHEN TO START Midsummer to early autumn AT ITS BEST Autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 1 hour YOU WILL NEED Seed A line of string Trowel Watering can Komatsuna, bok choy (pak choi), mizuna, mibuna, and other Oriental greens are best sown in late summer, or they will quickly run to seed. They need a rich, fertile, moist soil. Sow in situ or in modules, thinning or planting to eventual spacings of around 6 in (15 cm). PICKING THE CROP Pick the leaves when young as a cut-and-come-again crop for salads and stir fries, or leave them to mature fully and harvest the entire plant. If you cut the plant 1 in (2.5 cm) above the ground, it will produce a second crop of leaves. 263 264 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Winter pickings Winter can be a surprisingly bountiful time on the vegetable plot, but you need to plan ahead carefully for a good crop of vegetables. Start sowing the previous spring, giving your plants all summer and autumn to bulk up, and you should have plenty of fresh produce for winter dishes. Leeks Grow leeks as part of a crop rotation because they will quickly succumb to diseases if replanted in the same spot year after year. Planting them deep produces white and tender stems. WHEN TO START Spring AT THEIR BEST Winter TIME TO COMPLETE 30 minutes for sowing 1½ hours for planting out YOU WILL NEED Leek seed Seed tray Seed compost Dibber or slim trowel PLANT OUT SOW IN TRAYS In spring, sow seed thinly across a seed tray and keep in a cold frame or cool, sheltered spot while they germinate. When the seedlings are about 8in (20cm) tall, they are ready for planting out. In a wellprepared bed, mark out a line and use your dibber to make holes 8in (20cm) deep and 6in (15cm) apart. Drop a leek into each hole, making sure the roots reach the bottom, and then water them in. There is no need to backfill with soil; this will happen slowly, of its own accord, allowing some light to reach the small leek plants. CROP CARE AND HARVEST Leeks require very little attention after planting. You only need to water during prolonged dry spells. The crop will sit happily in the ground until you want to harvest, but the stems are prone to snapping when extracted from frozen soil. If freezing conditions are forecast, lift the leeks beforehand, trim the leaves, wrap them in newspaper, and store in a cool place. << Parsnips SOW IN DRILLS Always sow fresh seed. On well-drained soil, mark out a line with string and make a shallow drill, then sow seed thinly along it. Once germinated, thin to 3in (7cm) apart for small, sweet roots, or slightly farther apart for larger ones. For the best winter parsnips, sow as soon as the soil has warmed up in spring. They will grow all summer, forming sweet and starchy winter roots. WHEN TO START Early spring AT THEIR BEST Winter FRUIT AND VEGETABLES FROST PROTECTION In cold weather you may need to apply a straw mulch (pinned down with hoops of wire) to prevent the soil and the parsnips from freezing. TIME TO COMPLETE 30 minutes for sowing 3 hours for planting out HARVEST CROPS Parsnips taste sweetest after a light frost, so don’t harvest too early. The leaves die down in winter, so you will need to mark the rows well so that roots are easily found. Dig up and eat as required; their taste will improve as the winter wears on. YOU WILL NEED Parsnip seed String Straw Wire Plant markers Brussels sprouts Love them or hate them, no winter vegetable patch is complete without brussels sprouts. They are big plants that need lots of attention, but they will reward you well. WHEN TO START Spring AT THEIR BEST Winter TIME TO COMPLETE 30 minutes for sowing 3 hours for planting out YOU WILL NEED Brussels sprout seed Seed trays Soil mix Cage Mesh COVER PLANTS Sow in seed trays and add manure to your beds at the same time. Plant out the seedlings about four weeks later, at least 3ft (1m) apart. Cover plants with a fine mesh to keep out cabbage white butterflies, which lay their eggs on the foliage, as well as pigeons. CROP CARE AND HARVEST Keep plants well watered until established, and remove withered leaves, which may carry diseases. As they grow, draw up soil around the stems to give them extra stability. Flavor is at its best after a good, hard frost. Harvest sprouts as you need them, picking from the base of the stalk and moving up. After picking all of the sprouts, chop off the top leaves and cook as you would greens. 265 266 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Grow year-round salads Growing cress and sprouting seeds indoors provides a constant supply of fresh ingredients for salads and sandwiches all year round. Sow cress every couple of weeks, and prepare jars of sprouts on a daily basis. These easy projects are ideal for children, who love to watch the plants develop. WATER THE POTS Repeat for several pots—you will need a few if growing for salads. Set the pots on a plant tray or saucers, and water them to dampen the towels. Easy cress One packet of seeds will be enough for a few sowings. Reseal the packet and store in a container in the refrigerator. TIME TO COMPLETE 30 minutes YOU WILL NEED Cress seed Small pots Paper towels Nontoxic felt-tip pen All-purpose potting mix Plastic bags FOLD KITCHEN TOWEL Fold a sheet of kitchen towel in quarters. Invert a pot over it and draw around the rim with a pen. Cut out the circles of paper. Fill the pot with potting mix to just below the rim and place the four paper circles on top. SOW THE SEEDS Sprinkle some seeds onto the paper. Place each pot in a plastic bag, seal loosely and store in a cool dark place. When the seedlings are ½ in (1 cm), remove the bag. Set pots on a windowsill out of direct sun, and keep moist until the cress is ready. Crunchy sprouts Delicious and packed with nutrients, sprouting beans add crunchy texture to salads, and you can choose from many different varieties. From spicy onion to mild broccoli, you will find a taste to suit, or try a few and mix them together. TIME TO COMPLETE VARIETIES TO TRY 5 minutes each day Adzuki Alfalfa Beet Broccoli Chickpea Fenugreek Lentil Mung Onion Red cabbage Rocket Snow peas Wheatgrass YOU WILL NEED Packets of beans or seeds Sprouting jars with lids or tiered sprouters Storage containers CLEAN THE CONTAINER RINSE AND DRAIN Proprietary sprouting jars with meshed lids and tiered sprouters are widely available from garden centers. Make sure you clean them thoroughly before each use. Then pour seeds into your jar (or sprouter), fill it with water, and leave the seeds to soak for 8–10 hours. After soaking, invert the jar over the sink and allow the water to drain out. Rinse the seeds again in fresh cold water and drain again. Make sure there is no water left in the bottom of the jar, and place it in a light area out of direct sun. KEEP RINSING STORE AND USE Rinse and drain the seeds with cold water twice a day to keep them clean and moist. Many seeds sprout and are ready to eat in four or five days. When they are ready, give the sprouts a final rinse, drain, and leave for eight hours to allow excess water to evaporate. When the sprouts are dry, use them immediately, or store them in the refrigerator for up to five days. If any go moldy, discard them. You can also store the beans in a dark cabinet which will produce white sprouts that have a slightly different flavor to the green ones grown in light. SELECTIONS >> 268 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Edible flowers Some flowers can be eaten as well as admired: lavender and roses have a light, perfumed flavor; French marigolds taste spicy; nasturtium peppery; mallow is sweet; and tangy pot marigold petals add a golden hue to food. Most flavors are delicate, and while they may add a subtle taste, edible flowers are most often used as adornments—sweet ones to decorate cakes and puddings, and savoury types sprinkled over salads. A full sun B partial sun C full shade D well-drained soil E moist soil FRUIT AND VEGETABLES F wet soil HARDINESS ZONES (H): coldest zone needed to flourish and warmest zone in which plant’s cold requirements are met 1 Wild pansy, Viola tricolor; h5 in (12 cm) s6 in (15 cm) ABe H12–1 2 Pot marigold, Calendula officinalis; h20 in (50 cm) s16 in (40 cm) ABd H6–1 3 Bergamot, Monarda didyma; h3 ft (1 m) s18 in (45 cm) ABe H9–1 4 Rose (scented species), eg Rosa ‘Summer Wine’; h10 ft (3 m) s7 ft (2.2 m) AE H9–5 5 Lavender, Lavandula angustifolia; h3 ft (1 m) s 4 ft (1.2 m) Ad H8–5 6 Zucchini; h18 in (45 cm) s3 ft (1 m) Ade 7 Nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus Alaska Series; h12 in (30 cm) s18 in (45 cm) Ae H9–1 8 Anchusa azurea ‘Loddon Royalist’; h3 ft (1 m) s 24 in (60 cm) Ae H8–1 9 Annual mallow, Malope trifida; h3 ft (1 m) s10 in (24 cm) Ae H8–1 0 French marigold, Tagetes Gem Series ‘Tangerine Gem’; h9 in (23 cm) s12 in (30 cm) AD Warning: the pollen of some flowers may cause a reaction in those who suffer from asthma or hayfever. 269 SELECTIONS >> << 270 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Grow tasty bulbs Onions, shallots, and garlic are among the most essential of all vegetables, adding strong, savory flavors to a vast number of traditional and exotic dishes. Try out a range of cultivars for different tastes. Dry them well, and you can store the bulbs for use throughout winter. Onions Onions can be grown from seed or sets (small bulbs). Sets are more costly, and there is a smaller range of cultivars available, but they are quick, reliable, and a good choice for beginners. WHEN TO START Early spring AT THEIR BEST Midsummer TIME TO COMPLETE 1 hour YOU WILL NEED Onion sets Spade Horticultural grit for heavy soils Rake String line PLANT SETS Onions need good drainage, so add horticultural grit to heavier soils. Stretch a line of string between two pegs to make a straight row. Use a rake to form a shallow furrow, and plant the sets 6 in (15 cm) apart, with the tips protruding. Weed regularly, and water during dry spells. LIFT AND DRY Onions are ready for harvesting in midsummer, when the leaves turn yellow and fold over. Lift them and leave them in a cool, airy place to dry out for a couple of weeks. Use any with thick necks right away, and store the others for later. Shallots Many people prefer the sweet, milder flavor of shallots as an alternative to onions. They can be harvested earlier and stored longer than onions. WHEN TO START Early spring AT THEIR BEST Mid-autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 1 hour YOU WILL NEED Shallot sets Horticultural grit for heavy soil String line Rake Garlic Despite its reputation as an ingredient used in warmer countries, garlic is surprisingly easy to grow in cooler climates, although it needs a long growing season. Always use bulbs from a reputable supplier. WHEN TO START Autumn AT THEIR BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE 1 hour YOU WILL NEED WHEN TO PLANT In late winter or early spring, prepare the bed as for onions (see left). Plant shallots into well-drained soil, spacing them 6–8 in (15–20 cm) apart. Make a small hole, then push the shallot into the ground so the top is just showing. LIFT BULBS Shallots form small clumps of bulbs, which you should lift intact. Dry and store them whole, somewhere dry and well ventilated, and break off individual bulbs as you need them. They will store well for up to 12 months. Garlic bulbs Dibber String line Rake Horticultural grit for heavy soils HARVEST AND DRY HOW TO PLANT Plant into well-drained soil; add horticultural grit to heavy soils, or plant into a low ridge of soil. Split the bulb into individual cloves, plant with the point facing up, 4 in (10 cm) deep, 8 in (20 cm) apart, and cover with soil. Garlic is ripe when the leaves turn yellow in summer. Lift the bulbs and hang them to dry. Store individually or braid them together while the stems are dry but flexible. Starting with three bulbs, braid the stems until there is room to add more, then join the new stems to the other strings of the braid. Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place. 272 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Bag up some tomatoes Tomatoes grow very successfully in grow bags in a greenhouse or outdoors. Crops can be improved by inserting bottomless pots full of soil into the grow bag to increase the volume for better root growth. Buy young plants in late spring, or sow seed indoors earlier in the season. WHEN TO START Mid-spring AT THEIR BEST Early autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 2 hours over a few months YOU WILL NEED Two tomato plants Grow bag Two plastic pots Stanley knife Some extra soil Stake (bamboo cane or chestnut stake) Garden twine VARIETIES TO TRY ‘Black Russian’ ‘Gardener’s Delight’ ‘Marmande’ ‘Shirley’ ‘Summer Sweet’ F1 ‘Sungold’ F1 CUT OUT HOLES Cut the bottom off the pots, then place them on the grow bag and cut around them. Push the pots into the bag and fill them up with the spare soil. << PLANT INTO THE POTS PINCH OUT SIDESHOOTS Plant one tomato per pot at the same level as it was growing in its container. Plant straggly plants a little deeper. This encourages new roots to form along the buried stem, helping stabilize the plants. As the plants grow, small sideshoots appear off the main stem. These should be removed as soon as possible because they will take energy away from the ripening fruits. When they are small, simply pinch them out with your fingers. TIE IN MAIN STEMS NIP OUT THE TOP You can help the plant put all its energy into ripening the fruits by preventing it from putting on too much growth. After outdoor plants have set four trusses of fruits, and greenhouse plants six, nip out the top shoot with your fingers. Tomato plants need to be regularly tied in to a sturdy support. Make a figure-eight knot using twine, tying tightly around the support, and loosely around the plant stem, to allow room for growth. FRUITING AND HARVESTING Tomatoes are best when picked fully ripe, but you are likely to have some green tomatoes at the end of the season. Cutting back on watering can help shock the plant into ripening the fruits. If it is getting cold and your tomatoes must be harvested, pull up the whole plant and hang it by its roots somewhere cool and dark to finish ripening. FRUIT AND VEGETABLES TOP TIP: CAREFUL WATERING Cracks can appear in the skin just as fruits are ripening. The problem is due to changes in growth rate, caused by fluctuating temperatures and erratic watering; as growth slows during a cool, dry period, skins harden and do not have the elasticity to cope if growth later picks up and fruits swell. It is a particular problem in soft-grown plants: those that have been fed too much nitrogen. While you cannot control temperatures, you can make sure watering is regular, and that you provide the correct feeding regime. Make provisions for watering if you go away, even for a few days, and feed weekly with a specially formulated tomato feed, one rich in flower-and fruit-promoting potassium. 273 274 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Sow peas and pods Sweet and crunchy, peas of every kind are delicious vegetables, and especially loved by children who can pop them in their mouths the moment they are picked. Sugarsnaps and snow peas are expensive to buy in the stores, too, but are both surprisingly easy to grow and very productive. Peas Peas are at their finest the moment they are picked. Grow your own and you will never eat store-bought ones again. WHEN TO START Winter AT THEIR BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE 1½ hours YOU WILL NEED Pea seed Fork Spade String line Pea sticks or pea netting SOW SEED Dig the area in winter and leave it until early spring. Remove any weeds, and create a trench 1¼ in (3 cm) deep along a string line. Plant the seeds 2 in (5 cm) apart, in two rows 8 in (20 cm) apart, and cover with soil. Water well. Keep soil moist for bumper crops and to prevent powdery mildew. << FRUIT AND VEGETABLES Snow peas These are also known as “mangetout”—“eat all” in French—and that is exactly what you do with these tender, crunchy pods. The young pods of any peas can be eaten whole, but these have soft inner walls, are flat, and the peas inside do not swell. Add them to stir fries, lightly steam, or eat them raw in salads. SUPPORT YOUR PEAS Peas are short, climbing plants and need support as they grow. Insert short twiggy pea sticks (see p.307) next to each plant, or stretch closely woven pea netting along the row between two upright supports. WHEN TO HARVEST Peas are ready about three weeks after flowering. The pods at the base of the plant mature first. Pick them when they are young for the sweetest taste. Keep picking, and the plant will keep producing. After harvesting, cut the plant off and leave the roots in the ground to release nitrogen—a natural fertilizer. WHEN TO START Spring AT THEIR BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE 1 hour YOU WILL NEED Snow pea seed Spade Rake Pea sticks or pea netting BEFORE YOU PLANT Choose a sunny, open spot, and dig the soil over about a month before sowing time. Use a rake to make a trench deep 1¼ in (3 cm) deep, and sow the seed 2 in (5 cm) apart. Cover the seed with soil and water in well. Sugarsnap peas This is another pea relative that is eaten whole, pod and all. The difference between these and snow peas is that sugarsnaps have a firm inner pod that gives them more of a crunch. They also swell up like normal pea pods. PLANTING AND CARE Sugarsnap peas grow well in cool conditions, and can be sown directly into the soil from early spring for a summer crop; sow in midsummer for an autumn crop. Sow a small amount of seed every couple of weeks, using the same method as peas, to give a succession of crops. Since some sugarsnap peas grow tall, provide a sturdy frame 6 ft (2 m) high with long pea sticks, or pea netting stretched between upright poles. Keep the peas well watered. Harvest the pods while young and tender, which will encourage the plants to produce more. SUPPORT AND CARE Push pea sticks into the ground close to the seed. Keep the plants well watered, especially when they are flowering, and during warm weather. Harvest frequently, as soon as the pods reach 2–2½ in (5–6 cm) long. 275 276 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Grow sweet squash Summer and winter squashes, which include zucchinis and pumpkins, as well as butternut varieties, are satisfying and fun plants to grow. They are tender and need protection at the beginning of the year, but once the danger of frost has passed, they will grow quickly, forming strong, bountiful plants. PLANT SEEDS Fill small pots with seed soil mix. Zucchini seedlings are large, so plant just one seed in each pot. Water them in and cover the pots with clear plastic bags to encourage germination. Bags of zucchinis Zucchinis are so easy to grow that you don’t even need a pot, let alone space in the border. A large, well-made plastic bag can contain enough soil to keep a single zucchini plant happy and productive. YOU WILL NEED WHEN TO START Spring AT THEIR BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE 30 minutes to sow; 30 minutes to plant Zucchini seeds Seed soil mix Multi-purpose soil mix Large, sturdy plastic bags Scissors Small pots Mulch, such as bark chips CHOOSE A SUNNY SITE Once the seedlings have germinated, remove the bags and place the pots in a warm, sunny spot. Keep them indoors, or in a warm greenhouse, until all danger of frost has passed in late spring or early summer. << FRUIT AND VEGETABLES Plump pumpkins Pumpkins and winter squash are left to mature all summer, and can then be stored, ready for use in the kitchen throughout autumn and winter. WHEN TO START Spring AT THEIR BEST Autumn and winter TIME TO COMPLETE 30 minutes to sow; 1 hour to plant YOU WILL NEED PLANT INTO A LARGE BAG Once the weather has warmed, harden off your plants by standing them outside during the day, and bringing them inside at night, for a couple of weeks. Set your plastic bag in a sheltered sunny spot outside. Make drainage holes with scissors in the bottom of the bag, fill with soil, and plant the zucchinis. Pumpkin and squash seeds Seed soil mix and small pots Well-rotted organic matter Straw SOW AND PLANT OUT Sow the seeds indoors in spring and keep frost-free until the weather warms (see Steps 1 and 2 opposite). Choose a sunny spot, and enrich the soil with plenty of organic matter before planting. Mulch with straw to seal in moisture, and to prevent the fruits lying on wet soil and rotting. HARVEST AND STORE Cool weather can lead to the formation of male, nonfruiting flowers at first, but later female flowers (right) will come. Pumpkins need a long summer to grow and ripen. They are ready to harvest when the stalk starts to crack. Cut with stalk intact, keep the large orange fruits dry for at least 10 days, then store in a cool, dry place. ADD LAYER OF MULCH Firm the plants in and water them well. To help retain moisture, cover the soil with a thick mulch of chipped bark or organic matter. Water every day during summer, and feed weekly with a tomato fertilizer. The plants grow rapidly, and will soon form large golden flowers that develop into tasty zucchinis. TOP TIP: MAKE A RESERVOIR FOR WATERING Pumpkins, squash, and zucchinis are thirsty plants that hate dry soil. Plant into a depression in the soil or make a ridge of soil up around them to create a well. Water will then pool around the plant roots and seep into the soil, rather than flowing away. 277 SELECTIONS >> 278 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Squash and pumpkins Winter squash and pumpkins are as beautiful as they are tasty. They come in a variety of vibrant and bizarre colors and shapes, and many, such as ‘Turk’s Turban’ (below) are prized as much for their ornamental value as for their flesh. They love plenty of sun and moisture and, once fully grown and mature, the fruit can be stored well into winter. Delicious roasted, they are the quintessential autumn vegetable: comfort food at its best. A full sun B partial sun C full shade D well-drained soil E moist soil FRUIT AND VEGETABLES F wet soil HARDINESS ZONES (H): coldest zone needed to flourish and warmest zone in which plant’s cold requirements are met Individual fruits vary in size and weight according to variety, from tennis- to beach ball-sized, so check the packet first. Grow varieties with large fruit, such as pumpkins and butternut squash, as groundcover, where they will spread 15 ft (4 m). Smaller-fruited varieties can be grown up sturdy supports. Reaching 3–6 ft (1–2 m) high, and taking up little ground space, they are ideal for smaller gardens. 1 Squash ‘Turk’s Turban’ 2 Squash ‘Hasta La Pasta’ 3 Squash ‘Red Kuri’ Dumpling’ 5 Pumpkin, Cucurbita maxima cultivars marrow ‘Badger Cross’ F1 4 Squash ‘Sweet 6 Squash ‘Little Gem Rollet’ 7 Bush 8 Squash ‘Hooligan’ F1 hybrid 9 Butternut squash ‘Pilgrim’ ‘Tromboncino’. Conditions required by all cultivars: AdE H12–1. 0 Squash 279 SELECTIONS >> << 280 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Heat up your windowsill Chilies are easy to grow if you have a warm windowsill or a hot, sunny patio. Sow seeds in spring and you can look forward to fresh chilies from summer to the autumn, or all year round if you dry them. Experiment with different colored varieties and levels of heat. WHEN TO START Mid-spring AT THEIR BEST Summer to autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 1 hour YOU WILL NEED Chili seeds 3½ in (8 cm) pots Seed soil Clear plastic bag Larger pots Multi-purpose soil Small stakes Tomato fertilizer SOW SEED Select seed to suit your taste— some are much hotter than others. You can also sow seed from dried chilies grown the previous year, but they may revert to a common type if you planted a named hybrid. In spring, fill small pots with moist seed soil. Place about two or three seeds on the surface and cover lightly with more soil. Water, label, and place pots in a plastic bag. As soon as the seedlings appear, remove the bag. SEEDLING CARE When 1 in (2 cm) tall, separate seedlings into their own small pots and set on a sunny windowsill. Keep well watered. When they are about 8 in (20 cm) tall, pot them on into larger containers. GROW THEM ON Pinch the growing tips out when the plants are 12 in (30 cm) to encourage more shoots, and stake as necessary. Harden plants off if you plan to keep them outside (see p.109). Feed weekly with tomato fertilizer when buds appear, and pick the fruit when green for a milder taste, or leave until they are red hot. << FRUIT AND VEGETABLES Grow fabulous mushrooms Mushroom-picking in the wild is only for the experts, but you can grow your own at home with a specialist kit. Some come in the form of dowels impregnated with mycelium that you plant into logs; others, like the one used here, are simple kits in boxes, ideal for beginners. WHEN TO START Early spring AT THEIR BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE 1 hour YOU WILL NEED Mushroom kit Measuring cup FILL BOX WITH SOIL ADD WATER TO THE CASING Box kits come with mushroom soil that has been injected with mycelium, and a “casing layer” that holds water and protects the developing mushrooms. First, line the box with a plastic bag (most kits come with this too) and add the mushroom soil. RUFFLE THE SURFACE Empty the contents of the bag onto the soil in the box. Spread the casing evenly over the soil and ruffle the surface with a small fork. This creates a microclimate where the young mushrooms can form. Rest the lid at an angle on the box so that air can circulate. Open the bag of casing and slowly add 1 pint (0.5 liters) of water. Leave for about an hour to allow the moisture to soak in. Take a small handful of the mushroom soil and mix it into the casing layer in the bag. CHECK DAILY Place the box in a warm spot at 68–75°F (20–24°C), but not in an airing cabinet or by a radiator. After a few days, white mycelium will form on the surface. Remove the lid and place in a dark spot at 61–68°F (16–20°C). Mist to keep the soil moist. Mushrooms should appear after six days. 281 282 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Unwrap tender treats Among the greatest delights of the vegetable patch are those crops that hide their bounty beneath tactile wrappers. Corn, with its squeaky skin that peels back to reveal the cob, and broad beans, with soft, fur-lined pods, are particularly pleasing for children, who love discovering the treats within. Corn Corn is a tender plant that is easily damaged by cold weather. Sow it indoors in mid-spring, and only plant it out after the danger of frost has passed—late spring at the earliest, depending on where you live. WHEN TO START Mid- to late spring AT THEIR BEST Late summer TIME TO COMPLETE A few hours over several weeks YOU WILL NEED Corn seeds Compost Small pots for sowing Seed labels String Ruler HOW TO SOW Corn will be ready for planting out about six weeks after sowing indoors in pots. Clear all weeds from the soil and dig it over thoroughly. Plant out in square blocks— which aids pollination—spacing plants 14 in (35 cm) apart. You can also sow direct from late spring onward, but sow two seeds per station in case one of them fails to grow. << FRUIT AND VEGETABLES Broad beans This is a gourmet crop that matures in early summer, when most other vegetables are still getting started. The beans are easy to grow and very hardy. In well-drained soils, sow them in autumn for an early crop; in heavier soils, you may have to wait a until spring. Give them a sunny, sheltered site. TEST FOR RIPENESS Once the tassels turn brown, test regularly for ripeness. Press a nail into a kernel—if a milky liquid comes out, it is ready; if watery, it is under-ripe; but if doughy, the corn has passed its best. HARVESTING THE COBS Pick the cobs by twisting them off, only when you are ready to eat them; their natural sugars quickly turn starchy once picked. Corn is delicious wrapped in foil and grilled on a barbecue. WHEN TO START Early autumn or spring AT THEIR BEST Early summer TIME TO COMPLETE 30 minutes for sowing YOU WILL NEED Bean seeds Dibber Wooden pegs String Garden stakes TOP TIP: INTERCROPPING Try growing other crops among your corn, because its foliage lets lots of light through to the ground. Use quick maturing crops such as lettuces, or corn’s traditional intercropping partners, winter squash and pumpkin. SOW SEED Peg out a length of string and make holes along its length, 3 in (6 cm) deep, 10 in (25 cm) apart, and drop a single seed into the base of each one. Mark out and sow successive rows at 8 in (20 cm) intervals. Refill the holes with soil, and water the seeds in well. PINCH OUT GROWING TIPS To reduce the risk of aphid damage, snap off the soft tips of the bean plants once they have started to produce pods. SUPPORT PLANTS Broad beans can grow up to 4 ft (1.2 m) tall and become heavily laden with pods, which can cause the plants to collapse. To prevent this, support the plants by using garden stakes and string to make an open frame around them, particularly in windy areas. HARVEST Broad beans are usually ready to harvest four to five months after planting. Check the pods regularly, and pick them once they are clearly swollen with beans but still look glossy. Once the pods turn leathery, although the beans inside are still edible, they will be tough. 283 284 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Make a box of herbs and leaves Growing herbs and salads in a windowbox provides a fresh supply close to the kitchen, and by making a box to your own specifications, you can ensure it fits your space perfectly. All you need are some simple tools and a few basic carpentry skills to create this design. CUT INTO LENGTHS WHEN TO START Any time Double-check the measurements and cut out the pieces. To create straight cuts and a neater finish, support both ends of the lumber as you saw. AT ITS BEST Spring and summer TIME TO COMPLETE 4 hours YOU WILL NEED Herbs and small lettuce plants Drill, saw, and tape measure 2 in (5 cm) self-tapping screws Treated lumber Battens (about 1⁄2 in thick) Copper antislug tape 1 ⁄2 in (12mm) roofing tacks Multipurpose compost MEASURE WOOD Decide on the length of your windowbox and buy pieces of wood long enough to make two sides, two ends, and a base, and mark them out. << SCREW SIDES TOGETHER ATTACH BATTENS TO BASE Attach the base by screwing it to both side and end pieces. Cut two battens to size, to fit the underside of the box. These will lift the base off the windowsill, allowing space for drainage. Turn the box upside down and attach the battens with short screws. Use self-tapping screws to attach one side piece to an end piece; two screws should be enough. If the wood is hard, drill small pilot holes first. Repeat with the other side and end pieces. Screw the two sections together. DRILL DRAINAGE HOLES Good drainage is essential for healthy plants. With the box still upside down, use a drill to make a ½ in (1 cm) hole every 4 in (10 cm) along the base of the trough. Take care not to damage the surface below. FRUIT AND VEGETABLES FIX COPPER TAPE Attach a band of copper tape around the trough to deter snails and slugs, and to provide a decorative finish. Check that you have sufficient tape to wrap all the way around without leaving any gaps. PLANT WITH HERBS AND SALAD LEAVES Fill the trough with compost and plant up with a range of herbs, and a few young lettuce plants. Make sure none of them forms a bridge over the copper tape as they grow, which would enable snails to bypass the tape and climb in. NAIL TAPE SECURELY To keep the tape in place, hammer small tacks along it, at 4–6 in (10–15 cm) intervals. Add more to make a feature of them, if desired. Make sure the tape seam is secure. 285 286 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Sow a bowl of salad Salads are “must-grow” vegetables, and taste so much better when picked fresh rather than bought. They are among the easiest of vegetables to grow, require little space, and mature in a few weeks. Sowing in pots Grow salad leaves in containers, and you can just step outside and cut them when you need them. Cut-and-comeagain leaf crops make the most of limited space and give a ready supply. WHEN TO START Spring and throughout summer AT ITS BEST Summer into autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 30 minutes YOU WILL NEED Mixed salad leaf seed Containers Soil Scissors a p Cut and come again While it is possible to grow traditional “headed” lettuce in containers, you will get more salad from the space, and a more attractive effect, if you choose leaves that grow back after cutting. CHOOSE A VARIETY For an attractive and colorful display, and an interesting bowl of salad, look for seed mixes containing a variety of different colors and textures. Lettuce mixes are a good choice early in the season because they germinate well and grow abundantly in cooler conditions. The cooler nightime temperatures in spring, and lengthening days, can make baby Oriental leaf mixtures flower and go to seed all too quickly; sow these after midsummer. Ensure your containers have drainage holes at the bottom, and cover them with broken pot pieces. Then fill with compost and firm down. SOW ON SOIL SURFACE Sow thinly across the surface, cover lightly with soil and water well. Cut-and-come-again crops can be sown thickly, but thin the seedlings to a spacing of about 2 in (5 cm) when they are large enough to handle. HARVEST THE LEAVES When the leaves reach about 6 in (15 cm) high, cut them with a pair of scissors. Keep them fresh until needed in a moistened, sealed plastic bag. The plants will regrow several times before they are exhausted and need replacing. Growing in beds Beds provide more space than pots, so use them for larger, traditional, headed lettuces, although cut-and-come-again crops will flourish here too. Green onions SOW IN DRILLS Both types of lettuce should be sown in shallow drills. The only difference is that headed lettuce should be sown much more thinly. Once seeds have germinated, thin them out to 6–12 in (15–30 cm) apart, depending on their final size. TAKE CARE Protect your plants from slugs using mini cloches made from clear plastic bottles (see p.426). You may also need to net them to keep birds from eating your crops. Water them regularly during summer. They are prone to bolting in hot weather, so plant them close to taller crops, such as beans, that will provide shade. Leafy options Arugula has a strong, piquant taste that gives a kick to milder lettuce-based salads. Lamb’s lettuce (corn salad) is a winter crop with a nuttier flavor. GROWING AND HARVESTING Green onions are an ideal crop for pots and containers. Sprinkle a small amount of seed on the surface of the soil once every two weeks throughout spring and summer, to ensure a constant supply. Green onions sown in late summer can be left in the soil during winter, to harvest the following spring. i Pack a punch Simply lift the tangy bulbs from the soil as you need them and use in salads or stir-fries. PLANTING AND AFTERCARE Arugula is best sown in spring and early autumn, when the cooler temperatures make it less likely to bolt. Sow thinly and protect the plants from flea beetles, which nibble the leaves, by covering them with a fine mesh or garden fleece. Lamb’s lettuce can be sown at any time in spring and summer. It is a useful crop to sow late in the season to provide a tasty winter substitute for lettuce. For the best quality leaves, grow lamb’s lettuce under cloches, or in a greenhouse or polytunnel. Green onions fit in almost anywhere, and will germinate quickly and mature between other crops. These shallowrooted plants will even grow and produce a crop in a seed tray or container. a Tasty leaves Lamb’s lettuce (top) and arugula will make a tasty addition to your lunchtime sandwiches. SELECTIONS >> 288 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Salad leaves With such a wide variety of salads on offer, you can grow leaves for your salad bowl all year round, if you can provide some frost protection in winter. From mild, buttery lettuce to spicy mizuna, oriental mustard and arugula, and bitter chicory and endive, salads will never be boring again. You can even snip in a few chives for a hint of onion. Grow a range with different tastes and colors, and provide shelter from hot sun for the best leaves. A full sun B partial sun C full shade D well-drained soil E moist soil FRUIT AND VEGETABLES F wet soil HARDINESS ZONES (H): coldest zone needed to flourish and warmest zone in which plant’s cold requirements are met 1 Endive ‘Pancalieri’; h4 in (10 cm) s12 in (30 cm) BE H9–1 2 Lettuce ‘Red Oakleaf’; h8 in (20 cm) s12 in (30 cm) BE H12–1 H12–1 3 Lettuce ‘Tin Tin’; h12 in (30 cm) s8 in (20 cm)BE 4 Lettuce ‘Lollo Rosso’; hs8 in (20 cm) BE H12–1 6 Lettuce ‘Rosemoor’; hs12 in (30 cm) BE H12–1 8 Arugula; h12 in (30 cm) s4 in (10 cm) BE H12–1 BE H8–1 0 Chives; hs12 in (30 cm) BE H12–1 (30 cm) BE H9–7 5 Mizuna; hs12 in (30 cm) BE 7 Radicchio; hs12 in (30 cm) BE H8–1 9 Oriental mustard; hs12 in (30 cm) q Red-veined sorrel; h8 in (20 cm) s12 in 289 SELECTIONS >> << 290 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Pot up delicious strawberries Growing strawberries in containers suits them perfectly because it lifts the fruits off the ground, keeping them away from slugs, mice, and other pests, as well as wet soil that can cause the berries to rot. Replace your strawberries with fresh, young plants every few years. WHEN TO PLANT Early spring AT THEIR BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE 1½ hours YOU WILL NEED Three strawberry plants Large pot Broken clay pot pieces Multipurpose potting mix Slow-release granular fertilizer Bark chips Straw PREPARE TO PLANT Take three young, healthy plants and water them thoroughly, an hour before planting. Cover the holes in the base of the large pot with broken clay pieces to prevent soil from blocking them, and then add soil until the pot is twothirds full. Firm down lightly. << FRUIT AND VEGETABLES PLANT AROUND EDGE OF POT EASE PLANTS FROM SMALL CONTAINERS Place the three plants around the edges of the pot so that the fruits will dangle over. Fill all around them with soil, add some fertilizer granules and then firm down. Water well, and daily thereafter. Take the plants out of their pots and check the roots. If they are root bound, and running in tight circles inside the pot, tease them out carefully to help the plants establish quicker. REMOVE FLOWERS You will have healthier plants in the long run if you sacrifice the first year’s fruits, allowing them to concentrate on root growth. Nip the flowers out as they appear. The following year, apply a tomato fertilizer every week after the flower buds form. TOP TIP: PROTECTING THE FRUITS Strawberry fruits can rot if they come into contact with wet soil. While most grown in a pot will hang over the sides, avoid any problems by placing a straw mulch around the top of the pot to lift fruits away from the soil. Tip-top berries Strawberries can also be grown in hanging baskets or windowboxes. Dainty, tasty alpines are the best choice for this type of container. WHEN TO PLANT Early spring AT THEIR BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE 1½ hours YOU WILL NEED Alpine strawberry plants Hanging basket or windowbox Multipurpose potting mix Slow-release granular fertilizer PLANT THE WINDOWBOX Plant small plants fairly close together to give an impressive show and a good harvest. Add some slow-release fertilizer granules to the soil as you plant, and keep the plants well watered throughout the year. HARVESTING AND CARE Harvest and eat the berries as they ripen throughout summer. Check the plants frequently and pick regularly to encourage later fruits to ripen. The plants will need lifting out of the pot and dividing every three or four years. 291 292 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Make space for autumn berries The sweet, refreshing taste of raspberries and the mellow, hedgerow flavor of blackberries make them great additions to the productive garden. They can be eaten fresh, cooked and made into delicious desserts, or preserved as tasty jams or jellies to eat throughout the year. Raspberries Vigorous and easy to grow, autumnfruiting raspberries look after themselves once established, and just need regular pruning to stop them from spreading. WHEN TO PLANT Autumn AT THEIR BEST Early to mid-autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 2 hours YOU WILL NEED Raspberry canes Well-rotted organic matter, such as manure Spade Mulch Stakes and thick wire SUPPORT AND TRAIN SELECT SITE AND PLANT Raspberries prefer a moist soil and grow in sun or partial shade. Dig in plenty of organic matter and plant canes in a row. Water well and apply a mulch. Cut the canes to the ground after planting. They can grow quite unwieldy in summer and it is important to provide a strong support. Hammer two sturdy wooden stakes into the ground and string thick wires between them at 24 in (60 cm) intervals. Tie in the stems. ROUTINE CARE During the first year after planting, pinch off any fruits that form, to allow the plant to concentrate its energies on root growth. Then, each year after fruiting, cut the fruited canes to the ground. Tie new canes to the support—these will produce fruit the following year. Blackberry pot Blackberries are usually big plants and unsuitable for pots, but the thornless varieties are less vigorous and can be successfully grown in a large container. They are amenable plants and can grow well in sun or in partial shade. WHEN TO PLANT Autumn AT ITS BEST Late summer to early autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 1 hour YOU WILL NEED Blackberry plant, ‘Loch Maree’ used here Large pot Soil-based potting mix Broken clay pot pieces Stakes or trellis for support PLANT UP AND FEED Place the clay pieces in the bottom of the container to aid drainage and to prevent the holes from blocking up. Fill with soil and plant. Most soil contains enough nutrients for the first few months, but in summer in subsequent years apply a tomato feed every week to promote flowering and fruiting. TIE IN STEMS Blackberries produce long growths that need tying in. Insert a few strong stakes into the soil, or place the container up against a sturdy trellis. When tying, create a “figure-eight” so that the stem does not make direct contact with the support, which could lead to rubbing and the creation of wounds. PRUNING AND CARE Blackberries always fruit on the previous year’s stems. Therefore, just after you have harvested your crop, remove any stems that have fruited by cutting them at their base. Tie any new stems into the supports; these should fruit the following year. Replace the top layer of potting mix every spring. 294 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Grow super fruit Every few years another food is labeled a “super food” because of its high levels of antioxidants, vitamins, and nutrients. Many of these berries are easy to grow in your own garden, or on a patio in a large container, giving you instant access to some of the healthiest foods available. Aronia berries Commonly known as chokeberry, Aronia has the highest level of cancer- and age-fighting antioxidant, anthocyanin, of any fruit. The berries are tart when eaten raw, and are best combined with other ingredients or sweetened. GROWING TIPS AFTERCARE Aronia grows well in a range of conditions, but is best in a moist, acidic soil, in partial shade or full sun. Incorporate plenty of organic matter before planting. It is a large, shubby plant, reaching 6 ft (2 m) tall, with a 10 ft (3 m) spread. As attractive as it is productive, Aronia flowers in late spring, and has superb autumn color that complements the dark berries, so plant this bush where it will be seen. This plant should be kept moist at all times, especially during the first year. Apply a thick mulch of chipped bark after planting to help retain moisture and suppress weeds. Aronia takes a few years to establish and reach full productivity, so be patient. You may need to protect plants from birds when the berries are ripe; they develop their best flavor after hard frosts. a Nutritious berries Dark purple Aronia berries have even higher levels of health-promoting antioxidants than the celebrated blueberry. i Autumn blaze The foliage turns beautiful shades of red and orange in autumn, just as the berries ripen. Goji berries These berries contain large amounts of vitamin C and iron. In China they are most often used in savory dishes, such as soups—a handful is thrown in toward the end of cooking—or they are stewed to make tea. GROWING TIPS Goji plants are fully hardy shrubs, and prefer fertile, well-drained soil in a sunny spot. When planting, incorporate lots of well-rotted organic matter, such as manure, and keep them well watered for the first year. They flower in late spring and summer, but are unlikely to produce a worthwhile crop until the third year after planting. DRYING BERRIES Use the berries when fresh, or dry them for storing. Place them in the oven on its lowest temperature, with the door open, for a few hours, then store the berries in clean, dry, airtight jars. Honeyberries Honeyberries have a blueberry-like appearance and taste, although they are not generally thought as sweet and flavorsome. However, they will grow in any soil, unlike the blueberry, which requires acidic conditions. GROWING TIPS You need two plants of different cultivars for one to pollinate the other; otherwise they will not fruit. It can be tricky finding cultivars that flower at the same time, so ask suppliers when purchasing. This is a hardy shrub that prefers semi-shade, and moist, well-drained soil. Plants can have a wayward habit, so prune after fruiting. Pick when the fruit is soft but leave them for two days before using to allow the flavors to develop. Honeyberry fruits the second year after planting. Jostaberries This is a cross between a black currant and a gooseberry and is extremely vigorous, so only plant it where you have plenty of space. The fruit makes particularly good jam. GROWING TIPS Jostaberries are not fussy about soil, but will benefit from plenty of organic matter. Choose a sheltered spot in full sun. They are self-fertile and resistant to many of the pests and diseases that affect gooseberries and black currants. Their vigor makes them useful as informal hedging. Birds love the fruit, so net the plant well at ripening time, or plant in a fruit cage. 296 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Plant fruit in a small space Even if you have no garden soil in which to plant, you can still grow a fruit tree if you make your choice carefully. Almost all fruit trees can be bought grown on dwarfing rootstocks, and grow well in large containers as long as they’re well watered and fed. Such small trees can be surprisingly bountiful. WHEN TO START Late winter AT ITS BEST Autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 1 hour YOU WILL NEED A large pot Broken clay pot pieces Potting soil Slow-release granular fertilizer A dwarf fruit tree Pebbles or chips for mulch PREPARE TO PLANT Choose a large pot with a wide base so that the tree is not easily blown over, and stand it in a sunny, sheltered spot. Make sure it has plenty of drainage holes, or drill your own, and cover them with a layer of broken clay pot pieces to prevent soil from blocking them. Fill the base with compost, and add a sprinkling of slow-release fertilizer. BEFORE PLANTNG Fruit trees grown in containers are almost totally dependent on the fertilizer and water you give them. So, to give your tree the best start and to help it establish, soak the root ball before planting because it is hard to wet dry roots thoroughly afterward. The best way to do this is to immerse the pot in a large bucket of water and leave it to soak for about an hour, or until the water stops bubbling. Then, lift the tree from the bucket and allow it to drain. TEASE OUT ROOTS Place the tree in the pot, adding or removing compost, until the top of the root ball is about 2in (5cm) below the rim. Then lift the plant, remove it from its original pot, and tease out the roots from the root ball. This encourages the roots to grow out into the soil, stabilizing the tree, and helping it to establish quickly. Place the tree in the container. BACKFILL, STAKE, AND MULCH Fill the gaps around the root ball with more soil and water well. Unless the tree already has a stake, insert one now to hold the tree upright and to help anchor it in the pot. If it has a stake, carefully push it down into the new soil below. To conserve moisture and suppress weeds, apply a mulch of small pebbles or chipped bark. TOP TIP: SIZE MATTERS Fruit trees are commonly grown on dwarf rootstocks, which limit the size of the tree. To grow fruit in containers, choose apples grown on M26, M9 or, for really small containers, M27. Look for pears grown on Quince C, cherries on Gisela 5, and for plums and damsons, choose those grown on Pixy. WATERING AND FEEDING It is essential to keep the fruit tree well watered, filling the pot to the brim each time. To encourage the best crop, don’t allow it to dry out when in flower or fruit, and feed using a tomato fertilizer every two weeks during spring and summer. Water the tree during mild dry spells in late autumn and winter, even though it is dormant at those times of year. 298 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Fruit for large containers You can grow a mini-orchard of fruit in patio containers if you’re willing to water and feed regularly. Choose from soft fruits, such as currants and gooseberries, or tree fruits like apples, pears, and cherries, grown on dwarfing rootstocks. Renew the top layer of soil every year for the best crop. RED, WHITE, AND BLACK CURRANTS These delicious fruits need moisture-retentive soil, and those in pots must be watered regularly during the growing season. Plant them in large containers filled with soil-based potting mix, combined with well-rotted organic matter—garden compost or manure is ideal. You can either grow them as bushes or train them on a trellis like a climber (see pp.118–119). Apply a general fertilizer for fruit crops in spring, and top up with tomato fertilizer every week from late spring until the fruits ripen. Cover the blooms with plastic sheeting if frosts are forecast. Site in a cool, partly shaded spot. For pruning, see gooseberries (below). GOOSEBERRIES The sharp sweetness of gooseberries is perfect for summer desserts and pies. Planting and feeding requirements are the same as for currants (see above), and if the crop is heavy, thin the fruits in late spring. Every winter, cut back the main stems by half to an outward-facing bud, and prune the sideshoots to one bud from the main stems (beware of the spines). Keep the plants well watered and harvest ripe fruit in summer. PEACHES AND CHERRIES The best fruit trees for pots are those grown on dwarfing rootstocks that still produce full-sized fruit. Cherries are grafted onto Colt or Gisela 5 rootstocks, and peaches on Pixy or St. Julien A. Good cherries include ‘Compact Stella’ and ‘Maynard Mini Stem’; for peaches try, ‘Bonanza’ and ‘Garden Lady’. Plant in large pots of soil-based potting mix, keep in a sheltered, sunny spot, and protect the blossom with plastic sheeting. Feed in spring with allpurpose fertilizer, and apply tomato food every fortnight after flowering. No pruning is needed. << FRUIT AND VEGETABLES APPLES AND PEARS Popular for pots, apples grown on the dwarf rootstocks M27, M9, or M26, which should be stated on the label, are widely available. The choice of pears is smaller, but look for those grown on Quince C or Quince A. All of these compact trees produce full-sized fruit. If you have space, grow several and enjoy a variety of different flavors from late summer and throughout the autumn. Popular apple varieties include ‘Egremont Russet’, ‘Cox’s Orange Pippin’, ‘Discovery’, golden yellow ‘Elstar’, and ‘Blenheim Orange’, with its crisp, nutty flavor. The pear varieties ‘Williams’ Bon Chrétien’, ‘Doyenné du Comice’, and ‘Dwarf Lilliput’ are ideal for containers. If space is really limited, you can buy two different fruits grafted on to one rootstock, offering two flavors for the price of one. Planting and care is the same for apples and pears (see pp.296–297). Keep pots well watered throughout the spring and summer. 1 ‘Fiesta’ apples are widely available on dwarf rootstocks, and are sometimes sold as ‘Red Pippin’. The red fruit has a flavor very similar to English ‘Cox’s Orange Pippin’, and is ready to pick in mid-autumn. 2 Disease- and frost-resistant, ‘Red Falstaff’ has a sweet, mellow flavor. It is ready to harvest in mid-autumn and stores well. 3 ‘Pixie’ is a small, sweet apple that is produced in abundance even on small trees. To avoid too many tiny fruits, thin them in early summer. Pick your crop in mid-autumn. 4 Commonly referred to as the Williams pear, ‘Williams’ Bon Chrétien’ is the most widely grown, and should be harvested while the fruit is still hard. 5 Harvest the nutty-flavored ‘Egremont Russet’ in early autumn and the fruit will store till spring. Heavy cropping and resistant to disease, it is a great apple for those who enjoy something a bit different. 299 300 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Plant tasty tart fruit Some fruits lend themselves to cooking. With the addition of a little sugar or honey, cooked rhubarb is transformed from super-sharp to pure nectar. Blueberries can be delicious raw, depending on how ripe they are, but their flavor really comes to life when they are baked in muffins or cakes. TOP TIP: FORCING RHUBARB CHOOSE AN OPEN SUNNY SITE Dig in organic matter, plant, and water in well. Protect your plant from slugs, either by using a copper slug ring or with a few slug pellets (see p.426). Rhubarb Once established, rhubarb looks after itself year after year. All you need do is pull as many stalks as you can eat. WHEN TO PLANT Late autumn AT ITS BEST Early summer TIME TO COMPLETE 1 hour YOU WILL NEED Rhubarb plant Well-rotted organic matter, such as manure Spade Slug pellets or a slug ring HARVEST STALKS Water during dry spells. Feed every spring with an organic liquid fertilizer, and mulch with well-rotted manure. Do not pull any stalks the first year and only one or two in the second year. After that you can harvest more. To harvest, pull and slightly twist the stems. Forcing rhubarb, by excluding all light when it first sprouts, results in sweeter, more tender stalks. As soon as you notice new shoots starting to appear in spring, cover the plant with a light-excluding barrier, such as a metal bucket, a box, or a rhubarb forcer, which will draw up the sweet stalks. The tender stems will be ready to pick about four weeks later—a month or so earlier than other rhubarb. Pick this crop, then leave the plant to recover for the rest of the year, and the following year. Blueberry pots These small, delicious berries are regarded as “superfoods” because they are particularly high in vitamins and antioxidants. They need an acidic soil, and to guarantee fruit you should grow two different cultivars together. WHEN TO PLANT Mid-autumn AT THEIR BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE 1½ hours YOU WILL NEED Two blueberry plants Two large pots Broken clay pot pieces Ericaceous soil mix and fertilizer Mulch, such as bark chippings Rainwater PLANT IN LARGE POTS Place broken clay pieces in the base of each large pot and partfill with ericaceous soil mix. Plant the blueberry plants at the same depth as they were in their original pots, and fill in around the root balls with more soil, to within 2in (5cm) of the rim. ADD FERTILIZER To ensure a good crop, add a slow-release ericaceous fertilizer to the soil, following the instructions on the package. Most slow-release fertilizers last for a limited period, so reapply as specified. Don’t use non-ericaceous fertilizers, as these could harm your plants. WATER AND MULCH Because tap water often tends to be alkaline, use rainwater to water the plant thoroughly. Then place a mulch of bark chippings over the soil to help retain moisture. Water daily with rainwater. The berries will ripen over a few weeks; pick as required. 302 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Grow Thai herbs and spices Deliciously spicy, Thai and other Asian cooking relies on three key ingredients: the seeds and leaves of cilantro, lemon grass, with its citrus-flavored stalks, and hot ginger roots. Instead of buying them at the supermarket, grow these easy, tender plants at home on a windowsill, or in the garden in summer. Cilantro Grow this annual herb in a sunny spot for its lemony seeds and spicy leaves, which add a fresh taste to dishes. WHEN TO PLANT Spring AT ITS BEST Spring to autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 30 minutes YOU WILL NEED Cilantro seeds or plug plants Modular seed tray Seed soil Deep container Broken clay pot pieces Soil-based potting mix Watering can with fine rose SOW AND PLANT UP Fill a modular seed tray with seed soil. Scatter seed on the surface, cover with a little soil, and water. Keep in a sunny spot and water frequently. Thin congested seedlings once they have a few leaves. Cilantro plants have long roots, so when the seedlings are growing well, line the base of a deep container with clay pieces, and fill it with soil-based potting mix. CARE FOR YOUR PLANTS Plant up the cilantro, and keep it well watered; drought stress will cause plants to go to seed. Remove any flower stems immediately. Cut the stems and leaves when mature; a new set may then grow, giving a second crop. Alternatively, allow plants to go to seed, put the cut seedheads in a paper bag, and hang them upside down until the seeds drop. Lemon grass The stems of this tender aromatic herb have a tangy lemon taste. Fresh stems, bought from specialist Asian grocery stores and supermarkets, root easily to create new plants. Select firm stems that have a woody, light brown base. YOU WILL NEED WHEN TO PLANT Spring AT ITS BEST All year round TIME TO COMPLETE 30 minutes ROOT THE STEMS Buy fresh lemon grass stems and put the bulbous ends in a jar of water. Stand them on a bright windowsill for a few weeks until a good root system has developed. Change the water weekly. Fresh lemon grass stems Glass or jar of water Sharp knife 3½in (8cm) plastic pots Soil-based potting mix Liquid houseplant fertilizer Decorative indoor planter TRIM AND PLANT Fill small pots with soil-based potting mix. Trim off the top of each stem and pot the young plants up. Water well, and keep on a warm, sunny windowsill, or in a greenhouse. a Leafy house plant As well as spicing up Asian dishes, lemon grass makes a beautiful house plant. The stems bulk up quickly, ready for harvest. AFTERCARE Water well during summer, and apply a liquid fertilizer every two weeks. Pot them on into larger pots as they grow. In winter, keep the soil just moist. To harvest, cut the stems close to the roots. Ginger Ginger plants grow up to 3 ft (1 m) tall and make stunning house plants, as well as providing tasty edible roots that you can use fresh or freeze. It is not hardy so grow it indoors, except in summer. PLANT ON YOU WILL NEED Ginger roots 3½in (8cm) plastic pots Soil-based potting mix Large pot Liquid fertilizer PREPARE THE POT Choose a ginger root with some pale knobbly eyes, which will grow into shoots. Fill a pot with potting mix and plant the ginger, just covering the eyes. Water well, and keep in a light spot. When shoots appear, move it out of direct sunlight, and repot the plant as it grows. In summer, stand it outside and feed fortnightly with liquid fertilizer. In autumn, allow it to dry out and the foliage to die back. Harvest the roots but keep a piece to grow again next spring. 304 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Grow citrus fruit Citrus prefer to grow outdoors in the summer, and only need frostfree conditions to see them through the winter. With a little care, they flower and fruit well, and make beautiful patio plants. Lemon tree from a pip Growing lemon trees from pips is fun, especially for children, and although they flower as quite young plants, it takes a number of years before they fruit. In the meantime, they make attractive, highly fragrant, house and patio plants. WHEN TO START Spring AT ITS BEST All year round TIME TO COMPLETE 30 minutes YOU WILL NEED Lemon pips Pots Seed potting mix Soil-based potting mix POT ON Once the young seedlings are growing well, remove them from their pots and carefully tease their roots apart. Pot them on individually into their own small pots in soil-based potting mix, and water them in well. PREPARE TO PLANT Cut open a lemon, remove the pips, and dry them. Plant several pips per pot, ½ in (1 cm) deep in seed potting mix. Water them in and put the pots in a warm spot. Keep them well watered. AFTERCARE Place pots in a sunny spot outside and keep well watered. Grow in a cool room indoors, or in a greenhouse, over winter; place outside in summer and early fall until the first frosts are forecast. Water with rainwater, if possible, and watch out for aphids, scale insects, and mealy bugs. << FRUIT AND VEGETABLES Citrus options Citrus have a fabulous variety of fruit color and texture, and many of these beautiful plants can be grown fairly easily. Some may survive the winter outdoors in milder areas, but they grow best with a little protection. GROWING AND CARE Citrus plants need plenty of water during spring and summer, less during winter. Use rainwater where possible, particularly in hard water areas. Feed with a specially formulated citrus fertilizer throughout the growing season. Indoors, mist daily with rainwater to keep humidity high and to help ward off red spider mite. A little warmth in late winter and spring will encourage the citrus to flower, and then, hopefully, fruit. 1 Calamondin orange, x Citrofortunella microcarpa, is a kumquat–orange hybrid, and is one of the easiest citrus to grow indoors. It produces scented flowers all year round and has sour fruit. 2 Kaffir lime, Citrus hystrix, is most often grown for its fragrant leaves, an essential ingredient in Thai cooking, but it also bears knobbly, very sour fruit. 3 Key lime, Citrus aurantifolia, with its thin skin and delicious flavor, is the lime commonly used to make daiquiris and margaritas. 4 Kumquat, Fortunella japonica, is one of the most attractive and easiest of all citrus to grow. It is hardy in most areas and flowers in summer. o Perfect for patios This pretty lemon tree, like other citrus fruits, is happiest outside in summer, and makes a great patio feature. Just bring it indoors for the winter. 305 306 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Grow nuts Nuts are attractive trees, and produce tasty autumn treats that are expensive to buy in the stores. They grow well in cool climates, and require just a little attention once planted. Almonds and hazels are the smallest of the nut trees, and both are very easy to grow in the garden. Almonds In addition to producing nuts in autumn, almonds show a beautiful display of pale pink blossom in spring. WHEN TO PLANT Late autumn AT THEIR BEST Spring and late summer TIME TO COMPLETE 3 hours YOU WILL NEED Almond tree Spade Stake Tree tie Clippers Pruning saw SITE AND PLANTING Choose an open, sunny spot with deep, fertile, well-drained soil. Avoid frost pockets because almonds flower in spring and their blooms are easily damaged. Plant and stake the tree (see pp.178–179 for planting instructions). If your tree is not self-pollinating, you will need to plant two. PRUNE AND HARVEST Prune your almond trees to keep a good, open shape, but only in summer, because they are susceptible to silver leaf disease (see p.432). Once the hulls have cracked open, harvest the nuts by knocking them from the tree. Slit the hulls, remove the nuts, and dry them. << FRUIT AND VEGETABLES Hazel and cobnuts Hazels are round, hard, chewy nuts that commonly grow in hedgerows. Cobnuts are a slightly elongated, cultivated form of hazel, and are particularly good for eating. Both grow well in a range of conditions, and produce nuts from a young age. WHEN TO PLANT Late autumn or spring AT THEIR BEST Late summer TIME TO COMPLETE 2 hours YOU WILL NEED Hazelnut plant Spade Stake Tree tie Organic matter for mulch SITE AND PLANTING Hazels prefer well-drained soil and a position in full sun or partial shade. Plant two hazel trees in your garden to guarantee cross-pollination and a good crop of nuts. Plant bare-root plants in late autumn; pot-grown ones in spring. Plant and stake the tree (see pp.178– 179 for planting instructions). After planting, water well, and apply a layer of mulch. PRUNE AND HARVEST Water the tree regularly for the first year. Once the plant is established and has been growing for at least two years, prune the strongest, upright stems to the ground to encourage flowering side shoots. Hazelnuts can be harvested young and eaten fresh and green, or left to turn brown on the plant, and then harvested and stored. Home-grown hazel pea sticks In addition to nuts, hazel produces woody stems that are particularly useful in the garden. Pea sticks (as they are known) make great supports for peas, which is how they got their name, as well as for annual climbing flowers and a range of other tall vegetables. Longer hazel poles can be made into rustic obelisks and sturdy frames for runner beans. WHEN TO START Winter AT THEIR BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE 2 hours YOU WILL NEED A mature hazel plant Pruning tool, such as loppers or a pruning saw GROW PEA STICKS Allow your hazel tree to grow unpruned for three or four years. The most useful pea sticks are those stems with shrubby, branching growth, which will be well developed on a mature plant. Then, in winter, simply thin out your hazel plant, take the stems you need, and leave the rest to grow and produce nuts. Store the stems in a cool, airy place until you need them in late spring or summer. GROW HAZEL POLES For long, straight poles cut all the stems of an established hazel plant to the ground in winter (see also p.230). New growth forms poles, which will be ready to harvest in five years. Grow several plants to get a regular harvest. 307 Create a parterre A parterre is a pattern of box or other evergreen hedging, with the areas in between filled with other plants. Traditionally, the hedging would be the permanent structure, and the infill made up of temporary plants, such as bedding or vegetables. However, they also make beautiful herb beds, as shown here. WHEN TO START Spring AT ITS BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE 4 hours for the small parterre, measuring 3ft (1m) x 4ft (1.2m), above. YOU WILL NEED Small box plants, Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’ 1 bay tree, Laurus nobilis PREPARE THE SOIL Shrubby herbs, such as rosemary, lavender, curry plant, cotton lavender, and thyme —3 plants per segment Spade Grit Organic matter Rake Landscape fabric Measuring tape Chalk Short stakes or pegs Sharp knife Slate chippings First, decide on the design you want and sketch it on paper—this parterre is a simple cross pattern. Then clear the area of grass and weeds, and add organic matter, such as well-rotted manure or garden compost, to improve the soil’s structure. Silver-leaved herbs like well-drained soil, so if yours is heavy, add plenty of grit to help water drain away. Level the area carefully with a rake. << FRUIT AND VEGETABLES MARK OUT A HEDGING PLAN LAY AND SECURE LANDSCAPE FABRIC Use a tape measure and chalk to mark out your pattern. Space the hedging plants at 8in (20cm) intervals; insert short stakes to mark their positions. The plants will quickly spread to form a dense hedge. The entire area should be covered in a good quality landscape fabric to suppress weeds and keep moisture in. Pin down the edges securely or slide them under the existing turf. PLANT UP With a sharp knife, cut a cross in the landscape fabric at each planting point. Make small planting holes. Insert the box plants and firm them in. Then fold the landscape fabric back around the stem of the plants. ARRANGE HERBS FOR THE FINAL DESIGN Place your selected herbs, while still in their pots, in the gaps between the hedging plants, and arrange them until they look right. Put the bay tree in its terracotta pot at the center of your parterre to create a focal point. APPLY A LAYER OF SLATE CHIPPINGS Plant the herbs, water them, and then cover the whole parterre in a layer of slate chippings. This will hide the landscape fabric and further help seal in moisture. Other mulching materials can be used, such as gravel. TOP TIP: ENCOURAGE BUSHY GROWTH Allow the box plants to grow a little taller than their required height, but nip off the tips of the side shoots to encourage bushy growth. When the plants are tall enough, set a line of string at the right height and clip along the hedge with shears. 309 SELECTIONS >> 310 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Essential kitchen herbs Herbs are easy to grow, look good, taste and smell amazing, and many of them are magnets for bees and butterflies. Most take up little space— a trough or a sink will fit a selection of the most useful—and planted up in this way, you can keep them within arms’ reach of the kitchen door. You can freeze or dry them, and even grow them on a windowsill indoors during winter. Just keep picking the leaves to keep your plants compact and bushy. A full sun B partial sun C full shade D well-drained soil E moist soil FRUIT AND VEGETABLES F wet soil HARDINESS ZONES (H): coldest zone needed to flourish and warmest zone in which plant’s cold requirements are met 1 Basil; hs18 in (45 cm) AEH11–01 2 Apple mint; hs28 in (70 cm) Be H9–5 3 Thyme; h5 in (12 cm) s30 in (75 cm) Ad H9–1 4 Flat-leaved parsley; hs12 in (30 cm) BE H9–1 5 Golden oregano; hs12 in (30 cm) Ad H10–2 (40 cm) BE H12–1 cm) Ad H10–1 6 Variegated lemon balm; h24 in (60 cm) s16 in 7 Chives; hs12 in (30 cm) Be H12–1 9 Rosemary; hs4 ft (1.2 m) Ad H12–8 H8–1 q Fennel; h6 ft (2 m) s18 in (45 cm) Ae H9–6 8 Cilantro; h16 in (40 cm) s12 in (30 0 Variegated sage; hs3 ft (1 m) Ad 311 SELECTIONS >> << 312 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Grow a basket of crops Hang a basket brimming with leafy herbs and succulent tomatoes close to your kitchen door for easy access to fresh ingredients. With a sprinkling of annual flowers, this pretty mix is a match for any bedding design, and the herbs emit a wonderful scent at just the right height for you to enjoy. WHEN TO START Mid- to late spring AT ITS BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE 2 hours YOU WILL NEED Large hanging basket with liner Soil-based potting mix, combined 50:50 with multi-purpose potting mix PREPARE THE BASKET Buy the largest basket you can find, ideally with an integrated liner—because tomatoes are greedy feeders and need lots of water, they may not be as successful in a small basket that holds a limited amount of soil, water, and food. Line the base of the basket with a sheet of plastic to create a reservoir at the bottom. Stand the plants in a tray of water for 30 minutes until the top of the soil is moist. Remove, and leave them to drain. Slow-release granular fertilizer Plastic bags Gravel mulch Liquid tomato fertilizer Tomato plants Violas and nasturtiums Herbs; those used here are: Basil ‘Magic Mountain’ Chives Flat-leaved parsley Thyme PLANT THE SIDES Half-fill the basket with potting mix. Cut two or three crosses in the liner above the soil. Tip a thyme plant from its pot and wrap the leaves in a plastic bag. Carefully push the bag from the inside out through a slit, so the root ball is resting on the soil. Repeat with the other thymes. Basket care p Never allow your basket of tomatoes to dry out or the fruits may split (see p.273). Remove faded flowers to encourage more to form. MIX IN FERTILIZER Fill in around the thyme root balls with soil mixed with slow-release fertilizer. Top up the basket with more soil to 4 in (10 cm) from the rim. ADD THE PLANTS Set out your plants in their pots to check that they fit. Then plant them up at the same level they were at in their pots, with the tomato plants at the edge and the basil in the middle of the basket. WATER DAILY Add a gravel mulch. Hang the basket on a strong bracket (see p.130) in a sunny spot. Water daily and feed every week with a tomato fertilizer. Harvest leaves from the herbs as you need them, and pick the tomatoes when they are ripe. << FRUIT AND VEGETABLES Herb circle Herbs make an inspiring feature when grown together, and tend to like similar conditions. Soften an area of hard landscaping by allowing space for a circle of these colorful, low-growing, culinary plants. LIGHTEN THE SOIL Most herbs prefer to grow in well-drained soil, so in all but the lightest soils it is important to dig in plenty of horticultural grit before planting. Do not add to individual planting holes, but dig it in thoroughly over the whole area. 1 6 5 7 2 4 3 WHEN TO PLANT Spring AT ITS BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE 4 hours YOU WILL NEED Horticultural grit Spade Trowel 3 small terracotta pots A selection of herbs, for example: ADD PLANTS Lay out the herbs before planting. Place three of each plant in a triangle so that they will form the “wedges” of the circle once they have grown together. Plant the mint in individual terracotta or plastic pots to contain the roots, and sink these into the soil. AFTERCARE Water the herbs in well after planting and keep them watered while they settle in. All plants are hardy and can be left in the bed, but the parsley and violas will need refreshing with new plants every year or two. TOP TIP: PROMOTE NEW GROWTH 1. Chives and fennel (here planted in a central pot) 2. Oregano 3. Parsley 4. Violas (as a decorative filler) 5. Lemon balm 6. Mint 7. Thyme (also in pot) Harvesting and pruning are the same job when you are growing herbs. Nip out the tips of the plants regularly to use in the kitchen, and to help keep the plants bushy and compact. 315 316 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Enjoy southern fruits Juicy peaches and fresh figs in cream are irresistible, and you can grow these delicious fruits at home. Just plant them against a sheltered, south-facing wall and they should produce plenty of fruit. Figs for a wall Figs are handsome plants but their roots must be restricted if they are to fruit well. Plant them in a sheltered spot, protect the young figs over winter, and feed in spring with a granular fertilizer and a dose of high-potash fertilizer in late summer. YOU WILL NEED WHEN TO PLANT Winter AT THEIR BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE 2 hours to plant; 1 hour to prune DIG A PIT To restrict the fig’s roots, dig a pit 2 ft (60 cm) square and deep, next to the wall. Line the sides with paving stones, but not the base. Add a 10 in (25 cm) layer of rubble to the base for drainage, and top up with garden soil. Two-year-old pot-grown fig tree Paving stones Rubble, e.g, broken bricks Wires, vine eyes, and twine Well-rotted organic matter, such as manure Granular tree and high-potash fertilizers Clippers PLANT THE FIG Fix horizontal wires to the wall (see p.212). Water the tree, then plant it in the center of the pit at the same depth it was in its pot. Firm in and water well. Apply a mulch of organic matter, keeping it clear of the stem. Tie the side stems to the wires, and remove any that grow toward or away from the wall. Water regularly for the first year, and in dry periods thereafter. AFTERCARE AND HARVEST In late spring the tree will produce some figs; then, in late summer, you will see a second crop of embryo fruits. In late autumn remove fruits larger than a pea because they tend to rot over winter, and protect the embryos against frost with fleece; these will ripen the next summer. Trim the tree in summer to encourage more fruit (see Top Tip, right). TOP TIP: PRUNING FIGS In the spring after planting, cut back the main stem to encourage side shoots. The following spring, cut back these new stems by half, and remove weak growth. Cut over-long branches to 2 in (5 cm) to promote fresh growth. o i Cutting back Prune out stems that block light from fruits (left). In summer, pinch out new shoots so five leaves remain on each stem (below). << FRUIT AND VEGETABLES Peach fan For a good crop of peaches, grow a fan-shaped tree against a warm wall, and protect the flowers from spring frosts. Mulch around the base of the tree in early spring with well-rotted organic matter, and feed with granular fertilizer. Enrich sandy soil with plenty of organic matter to help retain moisture and nutrients. YOU WILL NEED WHEN TO PLANT Late autumn AT ITS BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE 2 hours to plant; 1 hour to prune Fan-trained peach tree Wires and vine eyes Well-rotted organic matter, such as manure Bamboo canes Granular shrub and tree fertilizer Garden twine Clippers BUY AND PLANT TOP TIP: THIN OUT FRUIT Buy a partially trained two- or three-year-old fan, and check that it has eight branches. Fix wires to the wall (see p.212) and tie canes in a fan shape to the wires. Plant the peach 18 in (45 cm) from the wall and lean it toward the cane fan. Tie the stems, with four on each side, to the canes with twine. Peaches form in clusters and should be thinned to allow large fruit to form. When hazelnut-sized, remove fruit growing toward the wall, and thin to one per cluster. A few weeks later, thin to one fruit every 6 in (15 cm). PROTECT FROM FROST Water the tree regularly for the first year, and during dry spells thereafter. Blossoms appear in early spring and must be protected from frost. Attach a roll of fleece to the top of the wall. Secure a few long canes just in front of the tree, and roll the fleece down over the canes to cover the blossoms. Lift the screen after each frost to allow insects in to pollinate the flowers. PRUNE FOR FRUIT In early spring, remove stems that grow toward or away from the wall. Then look for flowering stems, and select one strong side shoot at the base and another farther up the same stem. Tie in these two new shoots to a cane or wire, and cut back all other side shoots along the stem to one leaf. PRUNE AFTER FRUITING After the flowering stem has produced fruit in summer, cut it back to the new shoot at its base, or if this failed, to the shoot farther up. Also shorten overlapping stems and remove congested or dead wood. Ripe fruit is soft and gives slightly when pressed gently near the stalk. Eat as soon as possible. 317 318 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Train fruit trees If you think your garden is too small for a fruit tree, you may be wrong. Fruit trees are some of the most amenable plants; they can be trained along walls and fences, taking up very little space, and look beautiful and even fruit better when grown in this way. YOU WILL NEED WHEN TO START Winter AT ITS BEST Spring and autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 5 hours Several bare-root cordon apple or pear trees Bamboo canes Well-rotted organic matter, such as manure Spade Wire, vine eyes, and twine Mulch MEASURE PLANTING DISTANCES Fix horizontal wires to the fence or wall at 24 in (60 cm) intervals (see pp.212–213). Cordons can be planted as close together as 12 in (30 cm), depending on the effect you wish to create. Decide on your spacing, and measure along the wall or fence, marking each planting spot with a cane. Dig holes large enough to accommodate the root balls easily. PLANT AND TRIM ROOTS ATTACH TREES TO CANES Plant the cordon at an angle of about 45° degrees. Examine the roots of each plant and cut off any that are large or woody, to encourage new feeding roots, and thin those above the soil. Make sure the graft union (scar on the stem) is above the surface. Firm in the soil around the roots with your foot. Push the canes into the soil at the same angle as the trees. Tie the cordons to the canes, and tie the canes to the horizontal wires. Make sure all of your plants are securely fastened and aligned. APPLY MULCH Water the trees well after planting and apply a mulch of chipped bark, keeping it clear of the stems, to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Water the trees regularly during their first year. Apply a tree and shrub granular fertilizer around the trees every spring, and replenish the mulch afterward. TOP TIP: ROUTINE PRUNING Remove the flowers the first year after planting to encourage strong roots. Prune cordons each year in late summer. Shorten all woody sideshoots to within a few leaves of the stem to help promote fruiting spurs. 320 FRUIT AND VEGETABLES >> Plant a tiny orchard Fruit trees work hard for their keep, providing a strong winter outline, a spring show of beautiful blossoms, and a bountiful harvest in summer and autumn. They need little care once established and are well suited to small- and medium-sized gardens, especially when they are grown on dwarfing rootstocks. YOU WILL NEED WHEN TO START Late autumn AT THEIR BEST Summer to autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 2 hours Fruit tree or trees Spade Well-rotted organic matter, such as manure Mulch Stake Tree tie Apples and pears These fruit bowl regulars make characterful garden trees and their crop is unlikely to go to waste in most households. As they age, the trees take on a wonderfully gnarled appearance, which sets off their spring blossoms perfectly. CHOOSING VARIETIES Depending on the variety you choose, apples and pears ripen from late July to late autumn. You can choose pears with a soft, buttery flesh or a more solid texture. The taste of apples varies enormously between varieties, so read descriptions before buying. If you want a tiny apple tree go for one on M27 rootstock. For a tree about 10 ft (3 m) high, choose MM106. Pears grown on Quince A rootstock will reach 10–20 ft (3–6 m). Beauty in age p Apple trees become twisted and more distinctive over the years. Keep within bounds p Choose a pear tree that has been grafted onto a dwarfing rootstock. PLANTING AND CARE Autumn and winter are the best times to plant apples and pears. Bare-root trees become available at this time of the year, and they are less expensive and establish just as quickly as pot-grown trees. Plant bare-root types as soon as you can after receiving them. Dig over the area around the planting hole and add some organic matter. Plant at the same level as the trees were in the field (look for the dark stain on the stem). Firm in well. Water in, then insert a stake (see p.179) and tie the tree to it. Mulch with bark chippings or compost and keep well watered for the first two years. Cherries and plums Luscious and juicy, cherries and plums taste of summer. Both are grown as standard trees, but cherries can also be trained along a warm, sheltered wall. CHOOSING VARIETIES You can grow sweet or sour cherries. Sweet are the best for eating from the tree and sour are ideal for cooking and jam-making. Cherries can grow into large trees, so select one grown on dwarfing rootstocks—Colt or Giselle 5—and a self-fertile cultivar if you want only one tree. Some varieties of plum are particularly good for eating, some are better for cooking, and others are dual purpose. Simply the best p Plums can be enjoyed straight from the tree or cooked in delicious pies, jams, and puddings. PLANTING AND CARE Plums and cherries should be planted in autumn or winter, much like apples and pears. Once they are established and fruiting, it is important to protect cherries from birds, or they will quickly finish off the crop. A net thrown over the tree will provide some protection, but for best results, grow them in a specially constructed fruit cage. Plums and cherries should always be pruned in summer, not winter, because they are susceptible to silver leaf disease (see p.432), which is more prevalent in winter. o Cherry ripe Grow cherries for their eye-catching, sweet, and juicy summer fruit, as well as their attractive spring blossoms. Pruning tips All fruit trees fare better if they are regularly pruned. Pruning encourages the tree to produce the best fruiting wood, and removes any growth that may lead to problems. WHEN TO PRUNE Prune apple and pear trees in winter, and cherry and plum trees in summer. Start by removing any growth that is dead or diseased, or that is crossing the center of the tree: you want an open center to increase air flow and to allow sunlight in. It is important to create a main framework in the first few years, and to prune back to that. You can then shorten new stems by about one third to an outward-facing bud, and shorten the side-growths that grow from them to about five buds. a Remove branches Cut back branches that are growing in toward the center of the tree as these will reduce airflow and light, and may lead to disease problems. a Spur pruning Shortening the side shoots creates “spurs,” which are lengths of thickened wood that are more likely to produce flower buds and fruit. Wildlife Gardening Birds, small creatures, and insects not only bring your garden to life, many are beneficial to plants too. Insects help pollinate flowers, while frogs and toads eat slugs, and thrushes love to feast on snails and worms. To lure these allies into your garden, provide food—berries and fruit for birds and nectar-rich flowers for insects—and plenty of fresh water to drink. In addition to wildlife-friendly planting ideas for ponds and gardens, this chapter also includes lots of advice on composting. 324 WILDLIFE GARDENING >> Make a wildlife pond Providing the perfect home for some of the most decorative foliage and flowering plants, a pond also mirrors the sky, reflecting light into the garden. A wildlife pond is especially beautiful, and will also attract a whole host of beneficial animals, birds, and insects. Make one with sloping sides, to allow easy access for creatures to come and go, and leafy edges that offer habitats and cover. Site your pond in an open area, not too near overhanging trees because decaying autumn leaves sully the water. WHEN TO START Late winter or early spring AT ITS BEST Spring to early autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 2–3 days YOU WILL NEED Hose Spade Long length of wood Spirit level Old carpet or pond underlay Butyl pond liner (see Step 1 for quantities) Sharp knife Large stones Mortar Trowel Pond plants Aquatic soil Pond baskets Gravel LEVEL It is essential that the top edges of the pond are level all the way round, or water will drain out unevenly. Place a spirit level on a straight plank of wood and test the level in six or seven different places, building up or removing soil as necessary. MARK OUT THE POND Using a hose, mark out the pond with sweeping curves for a natural effect. Calculate the area of liner you will need by adding twice the total depth (D), plus 18 in (45 cm) extra, to the length (L). Then add twice the depth (D), plus 18 in (45 cm) extra, to the width (W), and multiply the two answers (see also Step 2 below): (2xD+18 in+L) x (2xD+18 in+W). DIG DOWN Dig out the whole area of the pond to a depth of 18 in (45 cm), and angle the sides so that they slope slightly. Leave a 12–18 in (30–45 cm) wide shelf around the sides at this depth. Then dig out a central area 3 ft (1 m) deep, and an adjacent area, about 30 in (75 cm) deep, creating two deeper areas to keep plants and wildlife frost-free in winter. LINE THE BASE Smooth the edges, and remove large or sharp stones from the sides and base. Line the pond with old carpet or a special pond underlay. Do not use sand because it falls away from the sides and will fill up the hole. 326 WILDLIFE GARDENING >> FILL WITH WATER LINE WITH BUTYL Fold the liner in neat pleats over the shelf and top edges, and check that it is bedded into the bottom of the pond. Top up with more water, which will force the liner against the shelf and sides. Center the liner over the hole and push it down in the middle, allowing pleats to form against the sides and base. Fill the deepest part with water; the weight will pull the liner into place. EDGE WITH TURF OR STONES TRIM TO FIT As you fill the pond, move around so that the liner is pulled evenly into the hole. When the pond is full, trim the liner with a sharp knife, leaving up to 18 in (45 cm) excess around the edges. PLACE THE STONES When positioning the stones, make sure that they do not overhang the edge by more than 2 in (5 cm). This will prevent them from tipping up and both you and the stones falling into the water when you walk on the edge. FINISH OFF Place rocks in the water but protect the liner from damage by placing them on cushions of folded plastic sacks or spare rolled-up liner. Ensure the rocks are stable, but do not mortar them in. The pond is now ready to plant. Use the shelves around the sides for marginal plants, and the deeper areas for submerged aquatics, such as water lilies (see Top Tip, right). To turf up to the edges, leave 10 in (25 cm) of excess liner and butt the turves up to it. Or add stones by mortaring them onto the liner, making sure no cement falls in the water in the process. TOP TIP: CHOOSING POND PLANTS There are four main types of pond plant; deep-water aquatics, oxygenators, marginals, and bog plants. Water lilies are deep-water aquatics and sit on the bottom of the pond, although some will grow in shallow water. Check the depth required on the label (measured from the pot surface) and raise them up on bricks as required. Oxygenators are essential plants that help keep the water clear (see Top Tip, opposite). Marginals, such as the marsh marigold, Caltha palustris (right), prefer the shallows around the edge of the pond, and will be happiest on the shelf (see Step 2, p.324). Site bog plants in the damp area around the pond—not in the water (see pp.330–331). << WILDLIFE GARDENING Plant up your water feature Choose a variety of different plants for your pond to establish a natural balance that will help keep the water clear, and provide the best habitat for plants and wildlife. All submerged pond plants can be planted up in the same way, and should be divided and repotted every two or three years. WHEN TO PLANT Mid- to late spring TOP TIP: PLANTING OXYGENATORS AT THEIR BEST Summer These vital plants release oxygen, absorb nutrients, and obscure light, helping to keep the water clean and clear of green algae. Establish them in baskets on the pond shelves, before sinking them to the bottom. Avoid invasive types, like parrot’s feather, Myriophyllum aquaticum, and curly waterweed, Lagarosiphon major. Good oxygenators to choose include: TIME TO COMPLETE 30 minutes per plant YOU WILL NEED Aquatic plant basket or finenetted pond bag Aquatic soil Trowel Water lily or pond plant Pea gravel FILL A BASKET Choose an aquatic pond basket that has small holes in the sides to stop the soil from leaking out into the water. Place a layer of aquatic soil in the bottom. Do not use garden soil because it may contain nutrients that encourage algae. ADD THE PLANT Carefully remove the water lily or pond plant from its original pot and place it in the center of the basket at the same level. Fill in around the plant with more aquatic soil, firming it down with your fingertips as you go. Water moss, Fontinalis antipyretica Hornwort, Ceratophyllum demersum Curled pondweed, Potamogeton crispus Hart’s pennyroyal, Mentha cervina MULCH WITH GRAVEL Check the plant carefully, and clean off any duckweed (small round leaves) or algae from the stems and leaves. To stabilize the soil surface, add a layer of pea gravel; rinse it first several times to remove any impurities or dirt. 327 328 WILDLIFE GARDENING >> Design a fishpond Fish bring a pond to life (right), complementing the planting with color and movement, but before buying, check that your feature is wide and deep enough to create a happy home for them. A small waterfall increases oxygen levels, but site it away from water lilies. 7 1 6 4 5 3 2 WHEN TO PLANT Mid- to late spring AT ITS BEST Early summer to early autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 1 day YOU WILL NEED Aquatic soil Aquatic planting baskets 1. Lobelia ‘Hadspen Purple’ 2. Pickerel weed, Pontederia cordata 3. Golden club, Orontium aquaticum 4. Water lily, Nymphaea ‘Albida’ 5. Reed sweet-grass, Glyceria maxima var. variegata 6. Arum lily, Zantedeschia aethiopica 7. Variegated hosta SIZE MATTERS Make sure that your pond has a water surface area of 3 square feet (1 meter) for each small fish you plan to keep, and a depth of at least 30 in (75 cm), which will provide an ice-free place for them in winter. CHOOSE PLANTS Include mixed plantings in your pond to create a beautiful and healthy environment for both fish and plants. Choose water lilies to partially cover the surface, and leafy marginals that sit just below the water at the pond edges. Also add some oxygenators (see p.327), which help keep the water clear. Together, these regulate the water temperature on hot days and their roots take up fish waste matter, helping maintain the biological balance. In addition to those featured in this pond, try the tough plants opposite in your pool. PLANT YOUR POND Fish root around plants for food, and dig them up if they are not planted carefully. Plant in aquatic baskets (see p.327) and cover the soil surface with small pebbles to keep the fish at bay. Water lilies and other floating foliage plants are essential, providing the fish with shade and hiding them from predators, such as herons. Fish-friendly planting The best fish for small ponds are common goldfish and shubunkins, while koi carp require larger pools and special filters. All fish feed on pond plants, so choose tough types that will regenerate easily when munched. INTRODUCE FISH Fish are sensitive to changes in temperature, so acclimatize them to their new pond. Float the bag in which you bought them on the water and open the top to allow more air inside. After about 20 minutes, gently release the fish into the pond. Don’t worry if fish hide for a few days, they will soon appear when they have adjusted to their new home. 1 Spring-flowering marsh marigold, Caltha palustris; plant at water level, H24 in (60 cm) s18 in (45 cm) 2 Sweet flag, Acorus calamus ‘Argenteostriatus’; forms a grassy foliage effect; plant 8 in (20 cm) below water level, h30 in (75 cm) s24 in (60 cm) 3 Flowering rush, Butomus umbellatus, has delicate flowers on long stems; plant 2–6 in (5–15 cm) below water level, H3ft (1m) sunlimited 4 Japanese iris, Iris laevigata; plant at 4–6 in (10–15 cm) below water level, H30 in (75 cm) s3ft (1m) 330 WILDLIFE GARDENING >> Create a beautiful bog garden Some of the most fabulous plants will only grow in soil that is permanently moist, and even if you don’t have a boggy area in your garden, it is quite easy to create one. This type of planting looks particularly natural next to ponds or among trees, but can be equally effective in any part of the garden. WHEN TO START Anytime AT ITS BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE 2 days YOU WILL NEED Garden hose Pond liner Bricks Gravel Well-rotted organic matter, such as manure or garden compost Topsoil Perforated hose Scissors Rake Fork Spade Bog plants DIG OUT BORDER Next to your pond or other suitable area, use a garden hose to make a curved and natural outline for your bog garden. Dig it out to a depth of about 24in (60cm) and keep the soil. << WILDLIFE GARDENING PERFORATE LINER WITH FORK PLACE LINER AND STABILIZE Although you want the soil in your bog garden to be moist, it should not be completely saturated or it will lack oxygen, which is vital for healthy plant roots. To provide some drainage, pierce the liner with a garden fork at 3 ft (1 m) intervals. Lay the liner in the hole and push it into the corners. To hold it in place, overlap the edges of the hole with at least 12 in (30 cm) of liner, and weigh it down with bricks. Make sure the liner is not pulled tight or else it could rip when filled. TRIM EDGE OF LINER COVER BASE WITH GRAVEL Fill the bog garden with the soil you excavated when digging the hole, together with some well-rotted organic matter, and press it down. This will settle the liner into its final position. Use sharp scissors to cut any visible excess liner from around the edges. To ensure that the drainage holes do not become blocked over time, causing the soil in your bog garden to stagnate, cover the liner with a layer of gravel or coarse grit. A depth of about 3 in (8 cm) thick should be sufficient. PLACE PERFORATED HOSE AROUND PERIMETER A perforated hose, which allows water to seep out slowly, will make it easier to keep your bog garden wet during dry periods. Sink it into the soil all the way around the inside edge of the bog garden, leaving just the hose attachment above ground. You can then simply attach a garden hose to it when necessary. Since the hose attachment will eventually be hidden by plants, remember to mark its position in the garden. PLANT UP Lay your bog plants out in their pots, and when you are happy with the design, plant them so that they are at the same level as in their pots, or slightly deeper. Mulch with organic matter. Keep well watered until the plants are fully established. 331 SELECTIONS >> 332 WILDLIFE GARDENING >> Striking bog plants The plants that thrive in boggy conditions are as varied and colorful as any other group, and there are many attractive effects you can create by choosing carefully. Several have impressive and boldly shaped foliage for maximum drama, including giant rhubarblike Gunnera, hand-shaped Rodgersia, and golden-leaved Carex. Others, such as Iris sibirica and Primula japonica, bring a more refined and delicate beauty to your bog garden. A full sun B partial sun C full shade D well-drained soil E moist soil WILDLIFE GARDENING F wet soil HARDINESS ZONES (H): coldest zone needed to flourish and warmest zone in which plant’s cold requirements are met 1 Arum lily, Zantedeschia aethiopica; hs36 in (90 cm) Ae H10–4 (2 m) s3 ft (1 m) ABe H9–5 H9–3 2 Darmera peltata; h6 ft 3 Carex elata ‘Aurea’; h28 in (70 cm) s18 in (45 cm)ABe 4 Iris sibirica ‘Shirley Pope’; h32 in (80 cm) s18 in (45 cm) ABe H9–1 sambucifolia; hs36 in (90 cm) ABe H8–5 5 Rodgersia 6 Primula japonica ‘Miller’s Crimson’; hs18 in (45 cm) ABe H8–1 7 Globeflower, Trollius europaeus; h32 in (80 cm) s18 in (45 cm)ABe H8–5 8 Filipendula purpurea; h4 ft (1.2 m) s24 in (60 cm)ABe H9–1 9 Gunnera manicata; h8 ft (2.5 m) s10 ft (3 m)ABe H12–7 0 Eupatorium purpureum; h6 ft (2 m) s3 ft (1 m)ABe H9–1 q Ligularia stenocephala ‘The Rocket’; h5 ft (1.5 m) s3 ft (1 m) ABe H8–1 333 SELECTIONS >> << Plant up boggy pots If you have no space for a bog garden but would like to grow some of the plants that prefer damp soil, create a container display. Simply plant up a large, nonporous pot—made from glazed earthenware, synthetics, or galvanized steel—with your favorite plants to perk up a shady patio or poolside. << Planting ideas WHEN TO PLANT Late spring AT ITS BEST Early to late summer Large containers are ideal for bog plants because they hold more soil and water, and provide the best conditions for good growth. TIME TO COMPLETE 2 hours YOU WILL NEED Large, nonporous container Plastic sack Gravel Soil-based potting mix Well-rotted organic matter Bog plants; those used here are: Astilbe ‘Fanal’ Carex ‘Silver Sceptre’ Persicaria microcephala ‘Red Dragon’ PREPARE TO PLANT Fill the base with 3 in (8 cm) of gravel, which will prevent soil from clogging the drainage holes around the sides and create a water reservoir at the bottom of the pot. Then add a layer of soil-based potting mix with some well-rotted organic matter. WILDLIFE GARDENING PLANT CHOICES LINE THE CONTAINER Select a large nonporous container and make sure it has a drainage hole; drill one if it doesn’t. Line the container with a thick plastic sack, such as an old compost bag. With a kitchen fork, pierce a few small holes around the sides of the sack, about 2 in (5 cm) from the bottom. Any plants that like boggy soil can be added to a container display, as long as you match the size of the pot to your plants. Check plant labels carefully for heights and spreads. For example, the gigantic leaves and stems of an imposing Gunnera manicata will need a large pot to support them, while a group of primulas will be happy in a smaller container. Most bog plants are fully hardy and can spend the winter outside, but choose a pot made from thick material to insulate the roots. ADD THE PLANTS With the plants still in their pots, check that they will sit at least 2 in (5 cm) below the rim of the pot when planted. Then water the plants, and remove them from their pots. Place them on the layer of potting mix, and fill in around them carefully with more of the mixed soil and organic matter. MULCH AND WATER Firm in the plants, water well, and add a mulch of organic matter. Set the container in a partially shaded area, and water frequently. Reduce watering in winter to prevent the soil from freezing. In spring, replace the top 3 in (7 cm) of compost with fresh material. Add slow-release fertilizer. a Chic mix These galvanized metal containers, filled with white arum lilies, Zantedeschia aethiopica ‘Crowborough’, and variegated hostas, H. ‘Great Expectations’, make a sophisticated duo on a contemporary terrace. Line the pots with bubble wrap to insulate the roots in winter. 335 << WILDLIFE GARDENING Create a lush stream-side Take advantage of permanently moist soil, or areas near streams, to grow some of the many beautiful plants that associate well with water. Primulas, sedges, and horsetails all look at home in this environment, and thrive in the damp, humid conditions found there. WHEN TO START Spring AT ITS BEST Spring to summer 1 TIME TO COMPLETE 6 2 3 hours 5 4 YOU WILL NEED 3 Well-rotted organic matter, such as manure Spade and pond liner 1. Canna indica 2. Sedge, Carex comans 3. Primula pulverulenta Bartley hybrids 4. Horsetail, Equisetum hyemale o Final touches To make your stream look realistic, disguise the pond liner and pump tubing with flat stones or pebbles. These will also create small eddies and cascades, providing a mellifluous tune to accompany the colorful planting. TOP TIP: MAKING THE WATER FLOW Buy a pump powerful enough to push the water along the length of your trench. You will also need a power source (see p.345). Place a bucket in the hole at the lower end (top right). Cover the trench and bucket with pond liner, and cut a hole where it covers the bucket. Place the pump in the bucket, and raise it up on bricks so the nozzle is above the liner (bottom right). Cover with galvanized wire mesh, and cut a hole for the water outlet (far right). Attach a long tube to the outlet and run it along the trench—water will then trickle from the top to the bottom of the trench when you turn on the pump. 5. Persicaria microcephala 'Red Dragon' 6. Dryopteris filix-mas CREATE A STREAM To make a stream, dig a shallow, sloping trench with a large hole at the lower end. Then add a pump (see Top Tip, below) to move the water. PREPARE TO PLANT If the soil is dry, consider creating a bog garden (see pp.330–331). Even if your soil is damp, add some well-rotted organic matter to further increase its moisture-holding capacity. PLANTING AND AFTERCARE Arrange the plants in naturalistic drifts along the banks in groups of threes and fives, where possible. Plant at the same depth as they were in their original pots. Water in the plants and mulch with chipped bark to help retain moisture and suppress weeds. Water the plants frequently during their first year. 337 Make a home for frogs Add a new dimension to a small garden or patio with a tiny pool made from a wooden barrel. Fill it with compact pond plants and soon you will find frogs, toads, water skaters, and other wildlife making their homes there too. The pool is best placed in a sunny spot that is in shade for part of the day. << WHEN TO START Early spring AT ITS BEST Spring to late summer TIME TO COMPLETE 3 hours YOU WILL NEED Wooden half barrel Strong plastic or butyl pond liner Sharp knife or scissors Galvanized nails and hammer Aquatic pond baskets Aquatic soil Gravel and bricks WILDLIFE GARDENING LINE THE CONTAINER Set the barrel where you intend to keep it because it will be very difficult to move once it is full of water. Place the pond liner over the top of the barrel, and push it down in the center. Smooth it over the bottom and around the edges, folding it neatly so that it lines the barrel evenly. The liner should reach about 4 in (10 cm) above the rim at this stage. ATTACH THE LINER Fill the barrel with about 8 in (20 cm) of water and trim off excess liner just above the rim. With galvanized nails, shorter than the width of the wood, tack the liner to the barrel, then trim it above the nails. Marginal plants; those used here are: Iris laevigata Water forget-me-not, Myosotis scorpioides ‘Alba’ Ragged robin, Lychnis flos-cuculi Marsh marigold, Caltha palustris ADD THE PLANTS FILL THE POOL Fill the pool to about 4 in (10 cm) below the galvanized nails. Then plant up your pond plants (see p.327). Add gravel to the top of each basket to prevent the soil from floating out. Check the label of each plant to see what depths it prefers. Most marginals like to grow with the tops of their baskets between 1–12 in (2–30 cm) below the water surface. To provide the correct depth, stand the plants on bricks in the barrel. The raised baskets also act like stepping stones, providing small creatures, such as frogs and toads, with easy access to and from the pool. To keep the water clear, include one or two oxygenating plants (see p.327). CREATE A WILDLIFE SANCTUARY In spring, ask friends or neighbors with a pond for some frog or toad spawn, or tadpoles, to add to your barrel. Position other potted plants around the pool, so that the amphibians have landing places to hop in and out of the water. Snails and water insects will soon find their way to your pool too. From time to time, remove excess duckweed (small round leaves that float on the surface) with a net or old kitchen strainer, and take out algae using a stick. 339 << WILDLIFE GARDENING Miniature Monet If Monet’s lilies have inspired you but your garden is too tiny for a large, naturalistic feature, make a small formal pool like this one. Place a seating area close by from which to enjoy the flowers and the cloud patterns reflected in the water. DIG THE POND WHEN TO PLANT Early spring Follow the steps for a wildlife pond (see pp.324–326) but use strings and pegs to mark out straight edges, rather than curved sides. Like the wildlife pond, this one needs a shelf for the marginals and a deeper area for the lilies. AT ITS BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE 3 days to dig out and plant CALL IN THE EXPERTS YOU WILL NEED Aquatic plant baskets Aquatic soil Gravel Well-rotted organic matter Oxygenating plants The raised brick edging and patio around the pond are best built by a professional landscaper, unless your skills are up to the job. Make a bog garden around the pond (see p.330–331), enrich the soil with organic matter, and plant up. 1. Arum lily, Zantedeschia aethiopica 2. Bergenia PLANT THE POOL 3. Nymphaea ‘Pygmaea Rubra’ Plant the lilies and set them on the bottom of the pool, and place the irises and arum lily on the shelf (see p.327). Include a few oxygenating plants (see p.327) to keep the water clear. 4. Nymphaea alba 5. Iris laevigata ‘Variegata’ 6. Iris laevigata var. alba 7. Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’ 2 1 7 3 6 5 4 o Small yet stylish Perfect for a small plot, this pretty pool packs in all the elements of a large feature, with a mix of water lilies, irises, and elegant arum lilies. 341 SELECTIONS >> 342 WILDLIFE GARDENING >> Lilies for a small pond You don’t need a large pond to enjoy the stately beauty of water lilies; many smaller species and cultivars are perfectly suited to small pools or well-sealed containers. Choose from shades of red, pink, white, and yellow, and look out for those with unusual foliage markings too. The flowers only open fully when in sun, so plant them in a brightly lit position. They also need still water, and will not thrive in a pond with a fountain or waterfall. WILDLIFE GARDENING A full sun B partial sun C full shade r planting depth HARDINESS ZONES (H): coldest zone needed to flourish and warmest zone in which plant’s cold requirements are met 1 Nymphaea tetragona; s16 in (40 cm) r 12 in (30 cm) A H12–1 s3 ft (1 m) r 12–30 in (30–75 cm) A H12–1 4 N. ‘Escarboucle’; s3 ft (1 m) r 30 in (75 cm) A H12–1 r 12–24 in (30–60 cm) A H12–1 5 N. ‘Lemon Chiffon’; s30 in (75 cm) 6 N. ‘Rose Arey’; s3 ft (1 m) r 20 in (50 cm) A H12–1 7 N. ‘Froebelii’; s3 ft (1 m) r 30 in (75 cm) A H12–1 r 30 in (75 cm) A H12–1 2 N. ‘René Gérard’; 3 N. ‘Gonnère’; s4 ft (1.2 m) r 3 ft (1 m) A H12–1 8 N. ‘Marliacea Chromatella’; s4 ft (1.2 m) 9 N. ‘Virginalis’; s4 ft (1.2 m) r 3 ft (1 m) A H12–1 ‘Sulphurea’; s4 ft (1.2 m) r 30 in (75 cm)A H12–1 0 N. odorata 343 SELECTIONS >> << Make a bubble fountain Easy to install, this beautiful bubble fountain makes a wonderful feature in a small gravel garden, or it can be used as a focal point in a formal setting. You can buy kits that come complete with a water reservoir and lid, so you then just need a small water pump and a decorative pot to stand on the top. WHEN TO START Spring AT ITS BEST Spring to autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 6 hours YOU WILL NEED Spade Sand Bubble fountain kit and piping Small pump with flow adjuster Electrical tubing Frost-proof pot with drainage hole Pebbles and gravel PREPARE THE SITE First ask a qualified electrician to install an electricity supply and an outdoor outlet to an easily concealed location close to the fountain. Then dig a hole larger than the reservoir. LAY A SANDY FOUNDATION Remove any sharp stones from the hole and pack damp sand around the edges, sides, and base. Place the reservoir in the hole, and use a spirit level to check that it is level in all directions. << WILDLIFE GARDENING PLACE THE PUMP CHECK LEVELS When level, place the pump in the reservoir. You may need to fit an extension pipe onto the pump to reach through the hole in the base of the decorative pot. Put the lid on the reservoir, and over the pipe from the pump. Pack more sand around the reservoir, as necessary, and check that it is level again. It is essential that your fountain is horizontal to prevent water from draining out, and to ensure that the pot on top will be stable. ATTACH THE FLOW ADJUSTER ADD THE POT Place the decorative pot on the reservoir lid, making sure that the pump pipe passes through the drainage hole in the bottom. Seal the pump pipe in place with silicone sealant, and leave to dry and harden for 24 hours. Attach a long section of pipe to the water flow adjuster. Then attach this to the pump pipe in the base of the pot. Trim the water delivery pipe so it reaches just below the rim of the decorative pot. PROTECT THE CORD FILL WITH WATER The electrical cord must be protected by special tubing, which an electrician can advise you about. Make sure that all electrical connections in the garden are fitted with a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). Use a watering can or hose to fill the reservoir through the holes in the lid, and fill up the decorative pot to just below the delivery pipe. DISGUISE THE RESERVOIR Plug in the pump and check that it pushes the water over the top of the pot, and adjust the flow as necessary. Disguise the reservoir with pebbles and gravel, leaving a gap to allow you to fill it up— you need to do this once a week in summer. TOP TIP: SOFTEN WITH PLANTING Plant up around your pool, leaving a margin between your planting and the reservoir, to avoid dislodging it. Plants from the Mediterranean, such as euphorbias (right), lavender, and rock roses (Cistus) make great companions for an urn. If you prefer a more traditional look, try roses, honeysuckle, and daisies. 345 346 WILDLIFE GARDENING >> Plant trees for wildlife Trees are among the best features for wildlife. In urban areas, in particular, they act as beacons in a sea of streets and housing, signaling to birds that rest and shelter are available. They provide nesting and roosting sites, a home for insects and other wildlife, and many are a great source of food. Every garden should have one; there are trees to suit any site, no matter how small. INSECT FEASTS Fruit trees, such as apples and pears, provide a sweet feast late in the year, but they are also rich sources of nectar when they blossom in spring. As soon as their first flowers open, these trees are alive with hungry bees, pollinating the flowers as they feed and ensuring a bountiful harvest later in the year. Native trees such as hawthorn (Crataegus) and elder, (Sambucus), are particularly good for wildlife, producing an abundance of nectar. o a Unlimited options Even cultivars of native trees, such as ‘Paul’s Scarlet’ hawthorn (left) and elder flowers (above), provide spring nectar for insects. << WILDLIFE GARDENING FOOD SOURCES FOR BIRDS Berries are an attractive feature in a garden, glowing in the low autumn sun, and they also provide a sustained food source for birds and other animals that can last well into the winter months. If you have space, plant several fruiting trees that ripen at different times to ensure an long-lasting supply. Good choices for an abundance of berries are whitebeam (Sorbus aria), rowans (Sorbus), mulberries (Morus nigra), elderberry (Sambucus) and cherries (Prunus). No berries will go to waste—any windfalls are readily eaten by birds, small mammals, and even butterflies. If you have a bumper crop of fruit and berries, consider freezing some to put out in late winter when food is scarce. Food for all p Mulberries are loved by people and birds alike (top left), and rowan berries (far right) are a food source that can last for many months. Windfalls benefit birds, ground-dwelling animals, and insects (right). NESTING SITES Trees become more valuable to wildlife as they get older; a mature tree will become home to birds that return, year after year. Trees with dense crowns and bare trunks are particularly prized by birds because they provide sheltered nesting sites and keep predators at bay. Once mature, a holly tree (Ilex) has everything: berries, dense growth, and thorns that keep out all but the most determined intruders. Other excellent prickly trees are hawthorn (Crataegus), and blackthorn (Prunus spinosa). If you don’t have space for mature trees, all three make great wildlife hedges that offer similar protection for nesting birds (see pp.192–193). Older trees require maintenance, and it is essential that you carry out any pruning and routine care outside of nesting time; otherwise, you risk upsetting nesting birds or fledglings, which is against the law. o Best for nests Birds feel safe nesting in the thick, dense, impenetrable growth of holly (left), and can hide in the dark foliage of the purple-leaved plum (Prunus cerasifera ‘Pissardii’, far left). 347 Sow a flower meadow Romantic, colorful, and easy to maintain, meadows are also perfect habitats for wildlife. The flowers and grasses will thrive on infertile soil in a sunny site, and they need just one cut each year after the plants have set seed. Meadows look best on a large scale and are ideal if you have lots of space to fill. << WHEN TO START Early autumn AT ITS BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE 8 hours YOU WILL NEED Wildflower seed Horticultural sand Spade Wheelbarrow Bamboo canes Spring-tined rake Garden rake String and bird-scarer, such as ribbons or old CDs MIX SEED WITH SAND To sow seed over a large area, first mix it with clean, dry horticultural sand. This helps spread the seed more evenly, and makes it obvious which areas you have already sown. Wildflower mixes should be sown at 3 grams per square yard, so weigh out this amount of seed and mix it up with the sand in batches in a clean container. REMOVE A LAYER OF TOPSOIL Topsoil is full of nutrients that encourage strong grasses to grow at the expense of delicate wildflowers. Use a spade and wheelbarrow to remove the top few inches, and recycle it elsewhere in the garden. Also remove any weeds and roots you find that could regrow and compete with the flowers. o Mellow meadow This cool collection blends annual grasses with blue cornflowers, purple corn cockles, pink cosmos, white daisies, and cow parsley. PREPARE THE SEEDBED Remove stones from the area and rake over the soil to break up the surface. Leave the site for two or three weeks, and then weed it again. To prevent the seeds from washing away, water the area before sowing, not afterward. Use canes to mark out the area into square yards, and sow each square with your batches of seed and sand mixture. FIRM SOIL GENTLY Use the back of a garden rake to gently compact the soil, ensuring good contact between seed and soil, which helps germination. It also makes the seed less visible to birds, who will happily eat their way through the lot if given the chance. WILDLIFE GARDENING AFTER SOWING Use a spring-tined rake (see right) to lightly cover the seeds with soil after sowing. To avoid walking over sown areas, sow a small area at a time and then rake over it, before moving on to the next. TOP TIP: KEEP BIRDS AT BAY To prevent hungry birds from eating the wildflower seed, set up a series of strings with old CDs threaded onto them across the sown area. The CDs reflect light as they move in the wind, which frightens off the birds. 349 << WILDLIFE GARDENING A feast for bees Bees are suffering an alarming decline in numbers, so plant a border of nectar-rich flowers to keep these essential insects well fed. Prolong the food supply by growing early- and late-flowering plants. PREPARE TO PLANT WHEN TO PLANT Autumn and spring AT ITS BEST Summer TIME TO COMPLETE 3 hours to prepare; 4 hours to plant In autumn, weed the border carefully. Then dig it thoroughly, incorporating plenty of organic matter. Plant the Pittosporum and roses in autumn (see p.36 and p.93) so that they can become established the following spring. PLANT THE PERENNIALS YOU WILL NEED Spade Fork Well-rotted organic matter, such as manure 1. Lupinus ‘The Governor’ 2. Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Silver Queen’ In spring, buy the perennials (Achillea, Anchusa, lupins, and Verbascum). Position them in swathes of color running between the shrubs, then plant (see pp.30–31). AFTERCARE Water well after planting, and regularly for the first year. In spring, prune the roses (see pp.414–415) and support taller–growing plants (see p.67). In late winter, cut back the old perennial stems to be ready for new spring growth. 3. Anchusa azurea ‘Loddon Royalist’ 4. Achillea ‘Moonshine’ 5. Rosa ‘Rose of Picardy’ 6. Verbascum ‘Gainsborough’ 1 2 6 3 4 5 351 SELECTIONS >> 352 WILDLIFE GARDENING >> Plants to attract insects Bugs may not all be beautiful but the beneficial kinds are essential to the environment. They not only pollinate flowers, ensuring good crops, but some, such as ladybugs and hoverfly larvae, also help keep pests at bay. Plant annuals, like sweet alyssum and viper's bugloss, or perennial Shasta daisies, asters, bee balm, and ice plants to welcome these insect allies. Shrubs, such as hebe, roses, lavender, and honeysuckle, will also help lure them in. A full sun B partial sun C full shade D well-drained soil E moist soil WILDLIFE GARDENING F wet soil HARDINESS ZONES (H): coldest zone needed to flourish and warmest zone in which plant’s cold requirements are met 1 Shasta daisy, Leucanthemum x superbum; h36 in (90 cm) s24 in (60 cm) ABd H8–1 2 Viper’s bugloss, Echium vulgare ‘Blue Bedder’; h24–36 in (60–90 cm) s12 in (30 cm) Ad H8–1 3 Hebe ‘Great Orme’; hs4 ft (1.2 m) ABd H12–1 Crystals’; hs10 in (25 cm) Ad H12–1 4 Sweet alyssum, Lobularia maritima ‘Snow 5 Dog rose, Rosa canina; h12 ft (4 m) s10 ft (3 m) ABe H9–4 6 Lavender, Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’; h24 in (60 cm) s30 in (75 cm) Ad H8–5 7 Aster amellus cultivars; h16 in (40 cm) s18 in (45 cm) Ad H8–1 8 Honeysuckle, Lonicera periclymenum; h22 ft (7 m) ABe H9–5 9 Bee balm, Monarda ‘Mahogany’; h36 in (90 cm) s18 in (45 cm) ABe H9–1 0 Ice plant, Sedum spectabile; hs18 in (45 cm) Ad H9–1 353 SELECTIONS >> << << WILDLIFE GARDENING Wildlife wall Many beneficial garden insects, such as ladybugs and ground beetles, struggle to find habitats in our neat gardens. Consider creating a wildlife wall to lure them in and keep them happy. It creates perfect homes for many different species, and its textures and patterns make it an attractive garden feature. WHEN TO MAKE Spring or summer AT ITS BEST Winter TIME TO COMPLETE 4 hours YOU WILL NEED Sedum or Sempervivum plants Bricks (with holes in them) Small blocks of wood, drilled with different sized holes Roof tiles Sheets of plywood or planks of wood Straw, corrugated cardboard, slate chippings, bamboo canes, clumps of moss, twigs Soil CONSTRUCT THE WALL In a quiet area of the garden, make a layer of bricks and tiles, leaving plenty of gaps. Place plywood or planks of wood on top and then add another layer of bricks and tiles. Top the structure off with the roof tiles, to keep excess moisture out. STUFF THE GAPS Cut the bamboo canes into short lengths and pack them into gaps to make homes for solitary bees. Roll up corrugated cardboard to create laying sites for ladybirds. Moss, slate chippings, straw and twigs pushed into the other holes will be colonized by many different garden insects. Plant the top with Sedum or Sempervivum to create a living roof. Make a dead hedge This is a simple way to make a wildlife-friendly corner from vines and twigs that cannot be composted. Small birds and insects will love it for shelter and food. CONSTRUCTION TIPS Use strong, long-lasting chestnut poles for the uprights, hammering them securely into the ground. For a neater look, use lengths of willow to weave loose sides. Then simply pile in shrub trimmings, lengths of ivy and bramble, and any other twigs the garden produces. Eventually, they will rot or compact down, and you can then add more to the top. AFTERCARE Your wildlife wall, once built, should be left alone; the more established (and decrepit) it becomes, the better it will be for wildlife, so don’t be tempted to disturb it. However, you may need to occasionally restore some of the materials, particularly those such as straw that may be taken away as nest-building materials by birds. TOP TIP: CREATE A LOG HOME A pile of old logs in the garden will attract beetles, frogs, toads, and other wildlife. Make a well-constructed pile, supported by a few posts hammered into the ground to prevent rolling. Leave the logs to rot down. 355 356 WILDLIFE GARDENING >> Install a green roof Environmentally-friendly green roofs attract wildlife and help insulate buildings in winter and keep them cool in summer. The easiest way to install one is with sedum matting, which you can buy by the yard. WHEN TO START Spring AT ITS BEST All year round TIME TO COMPLETE 2–3 hours, or longer, depending on roof size YOU WILL NEED Heavy-duty plastic sheet, such as butyl pond-liner Sand or gravel, or custom-made underlay Sedum matting Sharp knife Slow-release granular fertilizer ASSESS YOUR ROOF If you want to cover a roof on your house, it is best to consult an expert first to ensure that the proposed area can take the weight of the planting and growing medium, and that it has sufficient drainage. Green roof specialists can be found on the internet or in local directories. FIRST STEPS For flat or gently sloping shed roofs or similar garden structures, sedum matting is the best option for because it is easy to lay and maintain. Sedum mats come complete with mature plants already established on a special material and in growing medium, and should be laid soon after delivery. The matting is heavy, especially when wet, and will require two people to lift it onto the roof. INSTALL AN UNDERLAY First, lay a heavy-duty plastic sheet, such as a pond-liner, over the roof to create a waterproof root barrier, then add a layer of sand or gravel, or a custom-made underlay sold by the suppliers. Ensure that the surface is even to prevent puddling when it rains since the plants do not tolerate waterlogging. LAY YOUR SEDUM MATTING Place your sedum matting on the roof and trim with a sharp knife. The matting has an extra flap of material at each side. To butt up two sections of matting, unfold this flap on the first piece, and lay the second on top of it. This creates a perfect seam and anchors the matting. Don’t use small pieces of matting at the edge of the roof because they will dry out quickly and the plants may die. MAINTENANCE To ensure that the plants thrive, don’t walk or kneel on them when installing the matting. Water plants during dry spells until they are fully established. After the first year they will require extra irrigation only during severe droughts. Apply a slow-release granular fertilizer each spring, and replant any bald patches with young plants. Some green roof suppliers offer specialist fertilizers, but one formulated for succulents and drought-tolerant plants will also do the job. Most weeds find it difficult to survive in the thin, dry soil, but remove any that do appear as soon as you see them. << WILDLIFE GARDENING Roof plants Although sedum mats come already planted up, you can add plants of your own as bald patches appear. Choose from the following to create a sea of color throughout the year. 1 Thymus ‘Doone Valley’; H5 in (12 cm) s14 in (35 cm) 2 Sedum acre H2 in (5 cm) s24 in (60 cm) 3 Scabiosa lucida; H8 in (20 cm) s12 in (30 cm) o Rustic roof This sedum-covered roof has been installed in a wildlife garden on a small wood store made from logs—an idea that could be adapted to make a bike shelter. Smothered with flowers, the roof attracts a wealth of butterflies and beneficial insects into the garden. 357 358 WILDLIFE GARDENING >> Composting essentials Composting conveniently disposes of your garden cuttings and trimmings, while at the same time creating a free, and wonderful, soil improver. It can be as simple as throwing all your waste into a pile and forgetting about it, but you will get better results if you follow a few simple guidelines. CHOOSING A BIN Standard plastic compost bins are functional rather than attractive, but they do hold lots of garden and kitchen waste. They are also the most inexpensive, and can often be bought at a discounted price through your local supplier. If you are concerned about how your compost bin fits in with the rest of your garden, there are more attractive options, including wooden bins designed to look like beehives that can be stained to suit your garden design. These are a good choice for smaller gardens where the bin would be on view. Impatient gardeners may prefer “tumbler” bins. These allow you to make small batches of compost in weeks, not months, by turning the bin to increase airflow, which naturally speeds up the composting process. a Types of compost bin (clockwise from top left) A standard plastic compost bin, the sort available from local suppliers; an attractive, wooden bin, designed to look like a beehive; a vertical “tumbler” type, suitable for smaller amounts of compost; a horizontal “tumbler” bin, designed for easy turning. << FILLING YOUR BIN To produce good compost it is important to have the right mix of ingredients. If you add too much soft, green material, such as grass clippings, the heap may turn into a slimy, smelly sludge. Put in too much dry, woody material, and it will rot down slowly, if at all. Ideally, aim for a ratio of about 50:50. During most of the year, it is likely that you will be producing more green than dry material, so you will need to look around for dry waste to add. Woody prunings are best, but brown cardboard, crumpled newspaper, and even the insides of used toilet paper rolls all make suitable alternatives. WILDLIFE GARDENING Make a bin A homemade bin is just as good as a bought one, and you can make it whatever size and shape best suits your garden and the quantity of material you want to compost. TIME TO COMPLETE 1 day YOU WILL NEED 4 posts about 5 ft (1.5 m) long Hammer Chicken wire Fencing staples Cardboard boxes Old carpet QUICKENING THE PACE Air is essential to the composting process, so the contents must be turned regularly to ensure good airflow throughout your bin or heap. Turning also allows you to check how things are going, to wet the mix if it is too dry, or to add dry material if it is too wet. This task is easier if you have two bins, but if you only have one, simply empty it out onto a tarpaulin, mix the contents well, then refill the bin. TOP TIP: BOKASHI COMPOSTING Cooked foods, meat, and fish should never be composted in an ordinary bin because they attract rats and harmful bacteria. Instead, compost this type of waste using the Japanese bokashi system. This involves using a special sealed bin that you fill in layers, each one sprinkled with bran dust, inoculated with microorganisms. The content of the bin then effectively pickles, and after about two weeks, it can be emptied out and buried in the garden or added to the compost heap. This method also produces a liquor that can be diluted and used as a liquid feed. The bokashi bin p Food scraps pickle in the sealed bin for two weeks and give off very little smell. The bin can be kept indoors or outside. ATTACH WIRE TO POSTS Set the posts 30 in (75 cm) apart in a square and drive them 12 in (30 cm) into the ground, using a hammer. Wrap the chicken wire around the posts and attach it with fencing staples. Snip off excess wire; make sure no sharp strands are left sticking out. ADD CARDBOARD SIDES Flatten the cardboard boxes and put several layers on each side, slotting them between the posts and the netting. Put a layer on the base then start filling your bin. Place a piece of old carpet on top of the waste; replace it each time you add more. This helps keep out the rain and insulates the bin, speeding up the composting process. 359 360 WILDLIFE GARDENING >> Rake up a leafy conditioner Leafmold is one of the finest soil conditioners, and makes excellent use of a resource that is free and abundant in autumn—fallen leaves. All you need to make rich, crumbly leafmold is a plastic bin liner, some leaves from deciduous trees and a lot of patience. WHEN TO START Autumn AT ITS BEST The following autumn TIME TO COMPLETE 1 hour YOU WILL NEED A rake Leaves Plastic bag Hand fork Watering can RAKE UP FALLEN LEAVES When leaves start to fall in autumn, rake them up. For larger supplies, collect leaves from local parks or woods, but do not use those close to main roads. PLACE IN A PLASTIC LINER You can make a leafmold bin, but a plastic trash can liner works just as well, and has an added advantage, which is that it can be kept in a small space, such as behind a shed. Put leaves into the liner, pushing them down as you go. SPRINKLE WITH WATER As you pack the leaves in, occasionally stop and sprinkle them with water. Wet leaves will rot down much quicker than dry ones. Keep filling and wetting until the bag is full. One bag of leafmold won’t go very far, so try to collect enough leaves to fill a few bags. << WILDLIFE GARDENING Nature’s helpers Inside a wormery, worms break down kitchen waste and turn it into rich compost. They can even cope with scraps, such as cooked food. Wormeries are available from specialist suppliers. TIE BAG SECURELY Your bag is going to be left for a long time, so make sure you tie it well. This will prevent small creatures from making a home in the leaves. TIME TO COMPLETE 1½ hours YOU WILL NEED A wormery, with tigerworms included Food waste Soft “bedding” such as coir or shredded newspaper FEED YOUR WORMS PUNCH A FEW AIR HOLES Leaves also need air to rot down efficiently, so punch some holes in the sides with a fork. Put the bag away and forget about it for at least a year. TOP TIP: USING LEAFMOLD After a year or two, your leafmold will be ready to use. It works particularly well as a mulch, and is especially loved by woodland plants. Alternatively, it can be sieved and used as an ingredient in potting soil. ADD THE WORMS Place the tigerworms on the bedding, then start by adding a small amount of food waste (referring to the instructions). Worms take a week to settle in and get up to full speed. Do not add any more food during this time. After the settling in period, you should be able to use most of your food scraps, making sure you add some every day. It is best to use a variety of food and other ingredients, such as leaves and moist newspaper, to keep the texture from becoming too dense. Worms can cope with most foods, but they struggle with citrus fruits and meat. FINAL COMPOST Wormeries can become acidic, so occasionally add lime, such as calcified seaweed. When the compost is ready it will be dark, fairly soggy, and slightly spongy. The worms are just below the surface and can be easily removed. You can then use it on garden borders or mix it in with your other compost. 361 362 WILDLIFE GARDENING >> Homes for birds and bees Birds and beneficial insects not only make a garden a more interesting place, they also help control pests and improve flower pollination. Gardening organically helps make them feel welcome, but providing a specially made home really rolls out the red carpet and encourages them to stay. Bee hotel Solitary bees are excellent pollinators, but they can struggle to find nesting sites. A home-made nest looks attractive and provides them with a home, as well as ensuring bumper harvests. WHEN TO START Summer AT ITS BEST Autumn to winter TIME TO COMPLETE 30 minutes YOU WILL NEED Clippers Bamboo canes Modeling clay Raffia or string Small terracotta or plastic pot CUT LENGTHS OF BAMBOO TOP TIP: FLOWER FOOD Use sharp clippers to cut short lengths of bamboo canes that will fit into your pot. The natural variation in diameter will attract different bee species. HANG YOUR HOTEL PUSH THEM INTO A POT Fill the base of a terracotta pot with modeling clay and push the cut bamboo canes firmly into it. Continue doing this until the pot is packed tightly. Tie raffia or string firmly around the pot and suspend it from a hook or attach it to a wall. Choose a sheltered, sunny site, and angle the open end of the pot downward so that the bamboo canes do not fill up with water when it rains. To make life even better for your resident bees, position the nest close to a border planted with nectar-rich flowers. They will then have only a short distance to travel for food, which will be a great help to them in spring. << WILDLIFE GARDENING Choosing and siting a nest Encourage birds to visit your garden and you will have a ready army of pest-eaters on your side. If you can persuade them to make their nests and rear their young there too, they will make a fascinating animated addition to the flowers and foliage. Put up one or two nest boxes, and see who moves in. CHOOSING THE RIGHT BOX Birds are picky about where they live, so it is important to choose the right type of box. Select one that is made from an insulating material, such as wood to prevent them from becoming too hot or cold, and avoid any made from ceramic or those with metal roofs. Correct hole size is also important: too small, and the birds you want to attract may not fit; too large, and wind, rain, and even predators may get in. The box should be robust, waterproof, safe, and comfortable. Different bird species have different needs, so if you want to make a home for a particular species, do some research and first find out what suits it. SITING YOUR BOX Nest boxes should be sited in a sheltered place, away from strong sunlight, wind, and rain. Position them in the quietest area of the garden, away from feeding areas, and at least 5 ft (1.5 m) above the ground. This mimics the nesting places birds naturally prefer, and keeps them safe from predators. Choose a position away from large branches where cats can lurk, but where there are flimsy twigs nearby to give fledglings somewhere to perch when they first leave the nest. The best time to put up nest boxes is outside the breeding season, between midsummer and late winter. TOP TIP: HOME-MADE BOX 1 Birds use roosting pockets to hide from predators during the day. Smaller species, such as wrens, may even nest in them. 2 Boxes with a smaller 1 in (25 mm) hole are attractive to a wide range of garden birds, including chickadees and bluebirds. 3 Open-fronted nest boxes appeal to robins and wrens, which prefer to see out of their home. If you want to make your own bird box, wood is probably the easiest and best material to use. There are plenty of plans and designs available that only require simple tools and basic carpentry skills. Wood needs to be treated to prevent it from decaying, and you may also decide to stain or paint it. In all cases, choose products that are nontoxic and wildlifefriendly to help keep your birds healthy. 363 Plants for your Home Bring the essence of your garden inside with some beautiful house plants. Grow bold sculptural foliage types to make a statement in a modern home, or brighten up a windowsill with flowering plants, such as exotic orchids and the delicate blooms of Cape primroses, Streptocarpus (left). You will also find great ideas in this chapter for displaying and grouping plants to create elegant arrangements, and learn how to bring your beauties back into flower year after year. Dramatic amaryllis Hippeastrum (commonly known as amaryllis) provide the biggest, boldest flowers of winter, and can even be bought preforced so that they bloom in time for the Christmas holidays. For such exoticlooking blooms, their needs are simple: a nice tight pot, water, light, and a short rest in late summer is all they require. WHEN TO PLANT Autumn AT ITS BEST Winter TIME TO COMPLETE A few hours during the year YOU WILL NEED 1 Hippeastrum bulb Basin Multi-purpose soil Container Balanced liquid fertilizer PLANT IN CONTAINER Choose a pot, just larger than the bulb itself, that has a drainage hole. Fill the base with soil, place the bulb on top, and add more soil. Leave the top third of the bulb protruding. SOAK BULB Soak the bulb roots in a basin of lukewarm water for a few hours. This will soften them and encourage the bulb to come into growth again. LEAVE TO SHOOT Water the bulb well to help settle the soil, then place the pot in a bright, warm spot at about 70°F (21°C). Water sparingly until new leaves develop; then water regularly, keeping it moist. << TOP TIP: REPOTTING BULBS Hippeastrum go into dormancy at the end of summer. If yours doesn’t, stop watering and feeding it, and cut back the leaves to encourage it to do so. Repot into a slightly larger pot. After several weeks, when new growth appears, resume watering. PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME Flower choices Hippeastrum are excellent festive plants, and offer an equally vibrant alternative to the traditional poinsettias. They usually flower in shades of red and white, but some have orange, salmon, and even green-tinted blooms. Their large trumpetshaped flowers are often heavily patterned, and vary greatly in shape; some are broad and round, while others are slender and elegant. a A firm hand Ensure that the bulb is firmly planted so it does not topple over when in flower. AFTERCARE Turn the pot frequently to prevent the flower stalk growing to one side. Move the plant to a cool spot when it starts flowering, to prolong the display. Feed weekly after flowering. 1 ‘Lucky Strike’ is an early-flowering cultivar with deep red, rounded flowers that make a particularly festive choice for a Christmas windowsill. 2 ‘Apple Blossom’ is scented, with pink-blushed, white flowers. Each bulb produces several spikes, with around four flowers apiece. 3 ‘Giraffe’ has slender cream petals, decorated with vivid red stripes and splashes. It usually flowers about ten weeks after planting. 4 ‘Prelude’ is possibly the most spectacular of all the Hippeastrum, producing an abundance of huge red and white flowers on tall, upright stems. It usually flowers in as little as five weeks after planting. 367 368 PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME >> Mix and match a display Solitary small and medium-sized house plants can look lost on a shelf or windowsill, but when grouped together on a tray, they form a lively display of contrasting colors, shapes, and textures. A layer of pretty pebbles sets off the flowers and foliage, and when the tray is filled with water, they help provide the humid atmosphere that these plants enjoy. POT UP THE PLANTS TIME TO COMPLETE 2 hours YOU WILL NEED 1 Tray Plastic sheet Pebbles House plant containers 1. Fatsia japonica 5 Experiment with different-sized containers that fit into the tray, mixing tall and short ones, or even cups and saucers. For a sophisticated display, select pots of the same color. When you have the right grouping, buy plants that fit the pots, rather than vice versa. 2. Creeping fig, Ficus pumila 2 4 3 3. Peperomia caperata ‘Luna Red’ 4. Mind-your-own-business, Soleirolia soleirolii 5. Streptocarpus ‘Bethan’ LINE THE TRAY Line your tray with a plastic sheet (cut from an old compost bag, for example), covering the sides to create a ½–1 in (1–2 cm) deep reservoir. Arrange the pots on the tray, and fill in around them with small pebbles. Fill the tray with water to just below the top of the plastic liner. Alternative effects In addition to grouping containers, create displays by using different plants in one large pot, or repeating a single houseplant species throughout your home. MATCHING HOUSEPLANTS When using one large pot for a variety of plants, make sure that you combine those that enjoy the same conditions. Groups of ferns were very fashionable in Victorian times and are now de rigueur once more; these leafy shade-lovers look great in a large glass bowl or contrasting smooth white pots. You could also try large foliage plants, such as angel wings, Caladium, edged with delicate maidenhair ferns like Adiantum. For a hot, sunny windowsill or table, create succulent and cactus displays where natural desert conditions are easy to emulate. a Flowering desert Mix a group of cacti of contrasting shapes and sizes in one container, and pack them together to create a desert display for a warm, sunny room. a Contemporary trick Plant up identical containers with the same plant, such as this textural fern, Nephrolepis exaltata, to create a chic, contemporary look. 370 PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME >> Hang a basket indoors House plants are usually grown individually in pots, but trailing types can look great mixed together in a hanging basket. Ideal if you have limited windowsill space, colourful baskets also create an attractive “living” feature for your home. Plants will need removing and potting on every few years. WHEN TO START Spring AT ITS BEST Any time TIME TO COMPLETE 2 hours YOU WILL NEED Hanging basket Plastic bowl and plastic sheet Electric drill Multipurpose potting mix Horticultural grit Slow-release granular fertilizer Plants used here: Lipstick vine, Aeschynanthus Begonia rex Small-leaved ivy, Hedera helix TRIM LINER Use a piece of thick plastic to line the inside of the basket. Trim the edges to ensure that the base and sides are fully covered, but the liner is not visible over the edge. DRILL DRAINAGE HOLES Take a low, wide plastic bowl and drill lots of small drainage holes in the base. This will act as your pot, while the lined hanging basket acts as a saucer to catch any excess water. ADD A LAYER OF GRIT Cover the small drainage holes with a layer of horticultural grit to keep them from blocking up. Then add a layer of potting mix with slow-release fertilizer, leaving space for the plants. << Hanging basket options PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME For indoor hanging baskets choose trailing plants that will cascade over the sides in curtains of texture and color. Flowering plants, such as lipstick vine (Aeschynanthus), give seasonal color in summer, while those with brightly colored foliage provide interest all year. Although these plants are familiar and widely sold, brought together, they create a spectacular and long-lasting display. PLACE PLANTS Remove the plants from their pots and arrange them around the basket. Plants such as begonias and spider plants (see right) make good focal points, and they are best planted toward the center of the basket. FIRM IN WITH POTTING MIX Use small amounts of potting mix to fill in around the plants. Firm it down with your fingers and add more until the surface of the compost is level, leaving a 1 in (2 cm) gap below the rim. Hang it in a bright spot out of direct sunlight. TOP TIP: WATERING Water every two weeks in spring and summer. Make sure the whole surface of the potting mix is wetted. The liner will act as a saucer and catch excess moisture. After an hour, take down the basket and tip out any excess so that the potting mix doesn’t become waterlogged, which could harm your plants. Reduce watering in winter. 1 Begonia ‘Bettina Rothschild‘; E16 in (40 cm) 2 Spider plant, Chlorophytum comosum ‘Variegatum‘; h8 in (20 cm) s12 in (30 cm) 3 Polka dot plant, Hypoestes phyllostachya; h12 in (30 cm) s10 in (25 cm) 4 Thousand mothers, Tolmiea menziesii; E12 in (30 cm) 5 Wandering Jew, Tradescantia fluminensis ‘Variegata‘; h6 in (15 cm) s8 in (20 cm) 6 Purple velvet plant, Gynura aurantiaca; E12 in (30 cm) 371 SELECTIONS >> 372 PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME >> Spectacular orchids Orchids are arguably the most exquisite flowering plants you can grow indoors, their variety of color and shape unmatched by any other plant group. Once you have succeeded with one, and gotten the bug, you will be hooked. Many flower throughout the winter months, offering an extra treat for color–starved gardeners, and are well worth the effort involved in growing them. For detailed growing conditions, refer to plant labels. PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME A bright, indirect light B partial shade d allow to dry out between waterings E keep moist in summer, water sparingly in winter 1 Cymbidium lowianum; h36 in (90 cm) s24 in (60 cm) AE 2 Miltoniopsis hybrid; Hs10 in (25 cm) BE 3 Moth orchid, Phalaenopsis pink hybrid; h16 in (40 cm) s14 in (35 cm) BD 4 Coelogyne nitida; h10 in (25 cm) s12 in (30 cm) AE 5 x Doritaenopsis ‘Taida Pearl’; h28 in (70 cm) s12 in (30 cm) AE 6 Dendrobium ‘Sweet Dawn’; h24 in (60 cm) s6 in (15 cm) AE 7 Cymbidium ‘Minuet’; h12 in (30 cm) s18 in (45 cm) AE 8 Paphiopedilum callosum hybrid; h12 in (30 cm) s6 in (15 cm) BE 9 Oncidium ‘Jungle Monarch’; HS12 in (30 cm) AD 0 Epidendrum prismatocarpum; hs18 in (45 cm) AD 373 SELECTIONS >> << 374 PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME >> Grow exotic orchids Sophisticated, stylish, and highly fashionable, it’s little wonder we all fall for elegant orchids. However, many die off after flowering because they don’t receive the right care, or aren’t suited to life in a typical modern home. But choose your orchids carefully, and they can live long and happy lives. CHOOSING PLANTS AND POTS When choosing an orchid, unless you are an expert, select one that enjoys conditions that you can provide at home, such as a moth orchid, Phalaenopsis, or a Cymbidium. If you can keep your plants in a heated greenhouse, your choice is wider. Hybrids of the following orchids are generally reliable, given the right conditions (see opposite): Cattleya, Dendrobium, Epidendrum, Oncidium, and the slipper orchid, Paphiopedilum. Before buying an orchid, look over the plant for any signs of pests and diseases, and make sure it has plenty of flowers and firm buds. Check that the aerial roots are firm and pale with green tips, and that any roots visible through a clear plastic pot (in which orchids are often grown) are equally healthy, and not black. Most tropical orchids have aerial roots that absorb water and photosynthesize like leaves, taking energy from the sun and converting it into food. As a result, they can survive in very little soil, and require only small containers. Some should be grown in transparent pots to enable the roots to absorb sunlight. Shop around p Buy your orchids from a reputable source, such as a specialist nursery. Avoid those that have been sitting around in a drafty store for weeks, because they may not survive for very long. WATERING AND FEEDING The most common cause of an orchid’s early demise is over-watering. Although different orchids have different needs, most require watering once or twice a week in spring and summer, and once every two weeks in winter. In the case of Cattleya, water just enough to prevent the pseudobulb (the swelling at the base of the stems) from shriveling. Keep Dendrobium almost dry in winter. Use a can filled with tepid rain- or filtered water, and pour it into the pot until it runs from the base. For plants with congested roots, submerge the pot to just below the rim in a bowl of water, and leave until the soil surface is damp, then remove and allow to drain. Also provide some humidity by misting the leaves with rain- or filtered a Wipe away excess moisture After watering your plants, leave them to drain and wipe off any excess moisture on or between the leaves with a soft cloth to prevent rotting. a Warm mist Do not mist orchids with cold water; leave rain- or filtered water to warm up to room temperature, and spray in the morning. water, avoiding the flowers; or sit the pots on a tray of damp pebbles or gravel (see pp.368–367). Orchid soil contains no nutrients, so start feeding your plants with a proprietary orchid fertilizer as soon as you get them home, following the instructions on the package. Some, such as Phalaenopsis, should be fed weekly, while others need less frequent applications. Orchid types Before buying, make sure you can give your chosen orchid the temperature it needs. Remember that most require a 10°F (5°C) drop between day and night. WARM-GROWING Tender orchids, such as Dendrobium hybrids and Phalaenopsis, require warmth all year, with a minimum winter temperature of 61–64°F (16–18°C). They will tolerate occasional dips, and are fine in centrally heated houses, if moved away from cold windowsills at night. INTERMEDIATE Cattleya, Epidendrum, and Paphiopedilum require more warmth in winter than cool-growing orchids, but will tolerate slightly higher temperatures in summer (see below). Most grow well indoors, but should be moved away from cold windowsills at night during winter. COOL-GROWING POSITIONING YOUR ORCHIDS As with watering, the light requirements of orchids differ depending on the type. Epidendrum grow on tropical tree branches in the wild and like bright, indirect light. Cymbidium hybrids also prefer bright light, and should be set outside in a sheltered spot during the summer, then given a bright, cool position indoors out of direct sun, such as a conservatory or a frost-free porch, a Fuss-free orchid The large exotic blooms of the moth orchid belie its easy-going nature. It requires soft light and is quite happy in a warm room. This group includes Cymbidium and Oncidium, which prefer low temperatures all year. Stand them outside in summer in a sheltered spot, then bring them in to an unheated room, such as a cool conservatory or greenhouse, for winter, keeping them at around 46–50°F (8–10°C). in autumn and winter. Cattleya and Oncidium prefer a bright position that offers some shade at midday, such as an east- or west-facing windowsill, but move them to a bright spot that receives sun all day in winter when light levels are significantly lower. If you do not have a light area in which to keep an orchid, choose a Phalaenopsis or Paphiopedilum hybrid. These dislike strong sunlight, preferring a shady site from late spring to autumn. o Dainty Dendrobium Position a Dendrobium where it will receive bright filtered light and keep humidity levels high in the growing season. It will then reward you with these exquisite flowers. a Cool customer With its spidery green and maroon flowers, Cymbidium kanran is a fantastic orchid for those with a cool room to keep it in throughout winter. 376 PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME >> Display stunning orchids Stems of rich ruby-red flowers, set off by a basket-weave container, create a spectacular display for an east- or west-facing windowsill, or a bright spot out of direct sun. The orchid shown here, Colmanara ‘Massai Red’, will flower for many weeks and is very easy to look after. WHEN TO PLANT Late spring AT ITS BEST Late spring to summer TIME TO COMPLETE 30 minutes YOU WILL NEED Large plastic-lined basket Expanded clay pebbles, such as Hortag (available from garden centers and orchid nurseries) Garden moss or moss-like substitute Thin wooden stakes Colmanara ‘Massai Red’ LINE THE CONTAINER If your container does not have an integrated lining, use a sheet of plastic to line it. Then add a layer of expanded clay pebbles, which absorb water and slowly release it to increase humidity. ADD THE ORCHIDS Keeping the orchids in their pots, arrange them in the basket. Make sure that their flowering stems are well spaced out for maximum impact. Stake any wayward stems to create a fanlike shape. AFTERCARE Place the orchids in a bright room, away from full sun; keep them at 59–73°F (15–23°C) during the day, and 50–59°F (10–15°C) at night. Throughout the year, water the plants when the soil is almost dry and apply an orchid fertilizer with every other watering. Spray every few days with rainwater or filtered tap water to maintain humidity. FILL THE GAPS Hold the orchid pots upright and fill around them using more expanded clay pebbles. Firm them down gently to ensure that they hold the plants in place, which can be top-heavy when in flower. TOP WITH MOSS Finally, add a layer of garden moss, or a moss substitute, over the clay pebbles and tops of the orchid pots. Water the pots and add some water to the pebbles as well. Staying power p Each flower spike of Colmanara ‘Massai Red’ lasts up to seven weeks. Keep the plant at room temperature for most of the year, but slightly cooler when in flower to prolong the blooming period. 378 PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME >> Force bulbs for winter The winter garden may be asleep, but you can bring spring color and scent indoors by growing bulbs as house plants. Most effective are those that have been “preforced,” which simply means they have been chilled and fooled into thinking that winter has already passed, and can be grown to bloom for Christmas and New Year. YOU WILL NEED WHEN TO START Early autumn AT THEIR BEST Winter to early spring TIME TO COMPLETE 1 hour Preforced bulbs, at least three per bowl Containers (with drainage holes); use deep pots for narcissi Free-draining soil Bulb fiber Moss for decoration Hyacinths With colorful flowers and a delicious scent, hyacinths are ideal for growing indoors. Plant them in early autumn and they will flower in the coldest depths of winter. STORE IN DARK Put the bowl in a cool, dark place for eight weeks. Check regularly and keep the soil slightly moist. Pale yellow leaves will eventually appear, and you should also be able to see the flower buds poking through in the middle. PLANT IN BOWLS Put a shallow layer of soil in a bowl. Place the hyacinths on top, not touching each other, with pointed ends up. Add more soil, leaving the top third of the bulbs uncovered. Water well. AFTERCARE Bring the plants out into the light to flower. Place them in a cool, light spot, but not in bright sun. Water them enough to keep the soil just moist, and turn the bowl daily. << PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME Narcissi Treated miniature daffodils, such as ‘Tête-à-Tête’ and ‘Soleil d’Or’, are easy to force, but need lots of light. PLANT AND STAKE Plant bulbs in a pot, with the pointed tips just below the soil. Water to settle the soil. Place the pot in a sunny spot to encourage strong growth. Then wait for shoots to appear. Keep the soil moist, and support taller stems with stakes. TOP TIP: GROWING IN WATER Forced bulbs can be grown in water alone. Special hyacinth vases hold the bulbs just above the surface, or you can use pebbles in a vase of water to create the same effect. Change the water regularly, and keep it topped up, so that it always sits just below the base of the bulb. o Maximize flowering Both hyacinths and narcissi will flower for longer in cool conditions. If you use them to decorate a warm room, store in a cooler spot at night. 379 380 PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME >> Plants for focal points Tiny containers can look cute, but to create a statement, go for big, bold, sculptural plants in dramatic pots. Flowers also add punch but they are seasonal, so for year-round glamour focus on the leaves first when making your choices. Set more delicate plants in tall urns or on tables to raise their profile. CHOOSING A STATEMENT PLANT Before buying a plant, think about where you would like to position it, and how much space you can afford. Plants with large dark leaves tend to prefer shade, while those with variegated foliage and palms enjoy more light. Cacti are happy in hot spots near south-facing windows, and the large types make striking features. Beware of their spines and hairs, though, because they will irritate your skin. Also consider how quickly your plant will grow. Some, such as the bamboo palm, Dypsis lutescens, stay the same size for many years, while vigorous plants, like the sentry palm, Howea belmoreana, and Swiss cheese plant, Monstera deliciosa, can double their size in a couple of years, given the right conditions. << PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME Architectural plant options When choosing a house plant to make a bold statement in your home, either opt for one single dramatic specimen, or select a few smaller ones that combine well to create more impact. Unusual shapes and textures draw the eye, too, and can make up for size in smaller homes. If you love bright colors, select plants with blowsy blooms, such as amaryllis, or fiery bracts, like the Vriesea species. PLACING YOUR PLANT Use your plant as a focal point to draw attention to an area of the room, or to provide a leafy contrast to the hard lines of cabinets and other furniture. Also, ensure the plant won’t be an obstacle, and choose a pot that matches your decor. TOP TIP: CLEAN LEAVES Dust-covered foliage ruins the look of a plant, and restricts the light reaching the leaves, inhibiting its growth. Use a damp soft cloth to wipe away grime and dirt, or place your plant in the shower and wash off the dust. Add a shine to large-leaved plants by wiping a little milk over the surfaces. o Peaceful home The large glossy leaves and elegant white flowers of the peace lily, Spathiphyllum wallisii, are matched by this simple metal container. Choose a large variety for a big statement. 1 The shade-loving Calathea rufibarba ‘Blue Grass’, and dumb cane, Dieffenbachia seguine ‘Saturn’, make perfect partners in a large ceramic pot. 2 Vriesea species have colorful bracts that last for many weeks. 3 Japanese sago palm, Cycas revoluta, is an excellent house plant that strikes a pose but grows very slowly, so buy one to fit your space, and position it in bright light—a conservatory is ideal. 4 These two tiny plants create a talking point when combined in a bowl on a stand. However, they need different conditions and are planted in separate pots: the grassy Isolepis cernua requires lots of water to thrive, while the string of beads, Senecio rowleyanus, prefers dryer conditions. 381 SELECTIONS >> 382 PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME >> Shade-loving houseplants All homes have a shady corner that may need brightening up, and there are lots of houseplants that are happy in low light. Many foliage plants, in particular, grow on shady rain forest floors in the wild, and will cope well in a north-facing room, especially if you mist them regularly to imitate their natural environment. Others, especially those that produce beautiful flowers, grow best in lighter conditions, but will tolerate a good deal of shade. PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME A full light B partial shade C full shade E water lightly—only when the top inch of soil is dry F water frequently—once or twice a week in the growing season 1 Parlor palm, Chamaedorea elegans; h3 ft (1 m) s12 in (30 cm) Bcf 2 Peperomia caperata ‘Luna’; hs12 in (30 cm)Bcf 3 Painted net-leaf, Fittonia albivenis Verschaffeltii Group; hs12 in (30 cm) BF 4 Zebra plant, Calathea zebrina; hs3 ft (1 m) BF 5 Peace lily, Spathiphyllum ‘Mauna Loa’; h36 in (90 cm) s24 in (60 cm) BF 6 Miniature tree fern, Blechnum gibbum; h20 in (50 cm) s3 ft (1 m) BcF 7 Mother-in-law’s tongue, Sansevieria trifasciata; h4 ft (1.2 m) s16 in (40 cm) Bce 8 Philodendron bipinnatifidum; hs10 ft (3 m) BcF 9 Flamingo flower, Anthurium andraeanum; hs20 in (50 cm) BF 0 Prayer plant, Maranta leuconeura; h12 in (30 cm) s16 in (40 cm) BF 383 SELECTIONS >> << 384 PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME >> Add flower power to your home Recreate a holiday atmosphere in your home with a selection of vibrant or scented tropical flowers that hint at beach-front promenades. Flowers provide colorful contrasts to cool, contemporary interiors, and many bloom for months without too much trouble—just keep them well fed and watered. BRIGHT BRACTS Like colorful neon lights, vibrant bromeliad flowers and bracts make a bold statement that can’t be ignored. To show off these peacocks of the houseplant world to full effect, present them against a clean, simple backdrop, such as a white windowsill. The bright bracts of most bromeliads last for many months, and the flowers peep out between or above them. SURVIVAL STRATEGY Most bromeliads, including Guzmania, Tillandsia, and Vriesea, are from the tropics and love the warmth of a heated home, but suffer if the humidity is low. Plant them in free-draining soil and water them regularly when in growth, reducing the frequency in winter. Do not overwater bromeliads because soggy soil can kill them. To provide humidity, mist them once or twice a week with soft water or rainwater, applied at room temperature. TOP TIP: FEEDING TILLANDSIA a Water with care When watering Vriesea, pour into the central cup formed by the rosette of leaves. Also water the soil to keep it moist. Tillandsia has few roots and clings to trees in its natural habitat, absorbing water and nutrients through its leaves. Provide similar conditions by misting the leaves once a month with a quarter-strength balanced liquid fertilizer, ideally diluted with rainwater. a Tropical pots Hot-hued glazed pots bring out the colors of these three vivid bromeliads: Guzmania dissitiflora, Tillandsia cyanea, and a flaming red Vriesea. Although they prefer bright light, they dislike direct sun, so avoid hot, south-facing windowsills. << PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME Long-lasting blooms Vacation care Flowers in the home deserve pride of place, so if you have space for just one or two, choose plants that will sparkle for several months. Take a few precautions before you go to avoid the disappointment of returning home to find your house plants flagging, or dead. LONG-TERM COLOR For prolonged flower power, Streptocarpus (see pp.368–369), which come in many colors, can bloom almost all year. Other good choices include the orange-flowered dwarf pomegranate, Punica granatum var. nana, statuesque Lantana, and Plumbago, with its blue summer flowers. SET THEM OUTSIDE One way to keep plants happy while you are on vacation is to set them outdoors in the shade on a tray of pebbles. Many will tolerate summer night temperatures, and enjoy the fresh air and humidity outside. Check plant labels first for their minimum temperature requirements. PLANT OPTIONS WATERING TRICKS Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Kalanchoe Lantana camara Persian violet, Exacum affine Plumbago auriculata Streptocarpus hybrids a Persian queen Masses of tiny fragrant blue flowers adorn the Persian violet, Exacum affine, for many months from spring and throughout the summer. Floral scents If keeping plants in the garden is not an option, try the plastic bottle trick. Cut the bottom off a bottle and make a small hole in the lid with a skewer. Invert the bottle and push the lid into the soil. Fill the bottle, and water will slowly seep into the soil while you are away. Why buy flower-scented air fresheners when you can have the real thing, and enjoy colorful blooms into the bargain? Take care when choosing a fragrant plant because the intense perfume of some can be overpowering in a small room. PERFUMED PRIZES Choose between the compact gardenia, prized for its white, deliciously scented flowers and shiny dark foliage; an indoor jasmine, Stephanotis; and the wax plant, Hoya carnosa. The wax plant and jasmine are climbers and need space to grow, or train them around a wire hoop. All are highly fragrant and need bright light. PLANTING OPTIONS a Fragrant wax flower Hoya lanceolata subsp. bella has the same sweet scent as its climbing cousin, H. carnosa, but reaches just 18 in (45 cm). Brugmansia x candida Gardenia jasminoides Hoya carnosa and H.lanceolata subsp. bella Jasmine, Jasminum polyanthum Stephanotis floribunda a Trick number two Another option is to put your pots on a wet towel on the drainboard. Place one end of the towel in the sink. Fill the sink with water and it will seep up the towel and keep the soil in the pots damp. 385 << PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME Bathroom oasis Hot and steamy, the bathroom is an ideal environment for ferns. Their delicate fronds soften the lines of ceramic, metal, and glass, and a quick shower once a week helps keep them in excellent health. If you have no shelf space to fit a fern or two, suspend a hanging basket from the ceiling (see pp.370–371). TIME TO COMPLETE 30 minutes Fern choices YOU WILL NEED Decorative containers Plastic pots that fit inside Pieces of plastic House plant potting mix Slow-release fertilizer granules Gravel or moss Adiantum capillus-veneris Asplenium nidus Most, but not all, ferns like the moist conditions in a bathroom, so check individual plant labels before buying. Match your plants with smooth ceramic, glass, or rust-proof metal containers that contrast well with the textured fronds. FOLIAGE EFFECTS For large bathrooms, the spreading, bushy foliage of a dwarf tree fern works well, but if your space is limited, try small, slow-growing brake or button ferns (Pteris and Pellaea). Asparagus ferns, with their feathery foliage, look delicate but are deceptively easy to keep. They are not, in fact, true ferns at all, and adapt to a wide range of conditions. If you opt for a hanging basket, the tree-dwelling staghorn fern will provide a focal point. POT UP THE FERNS If you bought your ferns in pots that fit into your decorative containers, simple add slow-release fertilizer granules to the potting mix. If not, repot them. In a new plastic pot, put a few pieces of plastic in the base, then add a layer of potting mix. Tip a fern out of its old pot and place it on top. Fill in around it with more potting mix and fertilizer granules. SITING AND AFTERCARE Fit the potted ferns into your containers, add a layer of gravel or moss on top of the potting mix, and place them in a shady spot. Water the Adiantum well throughout the year—the leaves will shrivel if the potting mix dries out. The Asplenium needs plenty of water in spring and summer, but keep the potting mix just moist in the winter months. o Hungry ferns Feed the bird’s nest fern (Asplenium) and delicate maidenhair fern (Adiantum) regularly in summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer. 1 Asparagus setaceus ‘Nanus’; e12 in (30 cm) 2 Dwarf tree fern, Blechnum gibbum; h30 in (75 cm) s24 in (60 cm) 3 Pteris ensiformis ‘Evergemiensis’; e12 in (30 cm) 4 Pellaea rotundifolia; h12 in (30 cm) s24 in (60 cm) 5 Staghorn fern, Platycerium bifurcatum; h3 ft (90 cm) s4 ft (1.2 m) 6 Asparagus densiflorus ‘Myersii’; e16 in (40 cm) 387 388 PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME >> Create a desert bowl Cacti have a reputation for sitting around in corners getting dusty and barely growing, but use them in a new way and they come to life. They look great planted in small groups, and given a sand mulch such a group becomes a funky and kitsch desert scene. All it needs is a miniature cowboy. WHEN TO START Spring AT ITS BEST Early summer TIME TO COMPLETE 1½ hours YOU WILL NEED Shallow planting bowl Crocks or pebbles Cacti soil Washed sand Newspaper Spoon Heavy-duty gloves Watering can Miniature cacti This selection includes Cleistocactus strausii, Mammillaria hahniana, Opuntia tuna, and Rebutia species BEFORE YOU START Cacti famously survive on little water, but if you want them to grow and flower they should actually be watered regularly during the growing season. Giving them a thorough watering before planting will help the roots make good contact with the new soil, and they should grow very well. AID DRAINAGE All cacti hate to sit in water, so make sure it will run freely through the growing medium, and out of the bottom of the pot. The container should have lots of drainage holes, covered by a layer of pebbles or crocks, to prevent the soil from clogging up the holes. SET OUT THE PLANTS Don your protective gloves and start arranging your plants. If you have chosen the position for each of your cacti before you start, planting will be easier and you are more likely to end up with a good overall effect. It makes sense to put smaller ones at the front and larger ones at the back, but also consider planting those with different habits, textures, and flower color next to each other. FILL IN THE GAPS PLANTING TIPS Once the plants are in position, use a spoon to carefully fill the gaps between them with a cacti soil. Add small amounts of soil at a time and keep firming it down with the back of a spoon to ensure that there are no air holes left around the plant roots. Wrap a folded strip of newspaper around the top of the plant. This will help you slide it out of its pot and maneuver it into the larger planter without getting spines or fine hairs in your fingers. It also protects the plant. WATER IN BRUSH OFF SOIL Water all the plants in well. In summer, they can be watered whenever the surface of the soil dries out. In winter, they should be left dry; start watering again sparingly when you see signs of growth in spring. No matter how careful you are, some soil will inevitably get caught in the cactus spines and hairs. Use a soft brush to remove it and to keep the plants looking clean and neat. APPLY A SAND MULCH Use the spoon to spread fine sand around the surface of the planter. This helps water quickly drain away from the surface, preventing rot, and gives the planter an authentic desertlike appearance. Set your arrangement in a bright, sunny position. TOP TIP: WATERING OVERFILLED POTS Cacti are often sold when the plants are almost overflowing the sides of their pots, making it tricky to water them properly before planting. Sit these in a container of water until the root ball is damp. SELECTIONS >> 390 PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME >> Desert dwellers Cacti create intrigue with their weird shapes, fierce spines, and surprisingly vivid flowers. Together with succulents, these easy plants are perfect for a sunny windowsill. Most remain small when grown as houseplants, but others, like the silver jade plant, will make sizeable specimens. Water from spring to summer, allowing the soil to dry between doses, and in winter, reduce this to once a month for succulents and not at all for cacti. All of these plants need a sunny site and minimal watering (see opposite) 1 Haworthia attenuata f. clariperla; hs5 in (12 cm) 2 Parodia penicillata; h12 in (30 cm) s5 in (12 cm) 3 Parodia magnifica; h6 in (15 cm) s18 in (45 cm) 4 Echinocereus pulchellus; h2 in (5 cm) s6 in (15 cm) 5 Plush plant, Echiveria pulvinata; h12 in (30 cm) s20 in (50 cm) pseudotruncatella subsp. dentritica; hs1½ in (4 cm) 6 Living stone, Lithops 7 Flaming Katy, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana; hs16 in (40 cm) 8 Silver jade plant, Crassula arborescens; Eto 24 in (60 cm) in a pot 9 Echinopsis multiplex; h10 in (25 cm) s12 in (30 cm) 0 Aloe aristata; h5 in (12 cm) s12 in (30 cm) q Mammillaria blossfeldiana; hs2 in (5 cm) PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME 391 SELECTIONS >> << << PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME Perfect presents Poinsettias are classic Christmas plants, bringing a splash of festive red and green to the table or windowsill. An attractive bowl, planted up with one or two, makes a cheery winter gift. FIND THE IDEAL SPOT To keep them looking good, give poinsettias a sunny, south-facing windowsill, or bright filtered light. Don’t press them close to a cold windowpane however, because this can damage the leaves. Keep them at about 68°F (20°C) during the day, and cooler at night, to prolong the display. WATERING AND FEEDING Poinsettias should be watered regularly and kept evenly moist. Never let plants sit in water; always empty their saucers or planters shortly after watering. GETTING IT TO BLOOM AGAIN With year-round care, you can get a plant to perform again. Water it until mid-spring, then let it dry out and allow the stems to shrivel. Keep it cool. At the end of spring, cut all growth to a couple of inches above the soil and repot it in new soil. Water well and keep it warm, feeding it with houseplant fertilizer when new growth appears. A month later, move the plant outside to a shady spot, pinching out the growing tips in midsummer, before returning it indoors. Give it a sunny spot, watering and feeding regularly; then from mid-autumn, keep the plant in total darkness between 5pm and 8am. It will then re-flower and produce colorful bracts. TOP TIP: LEAF DROP It is common for a few poinsettia leaves to turn yellow and drop off when you first bring them home. Don’t be alarmed, the plant is just reacting to its new living conditions. Poinsettia gallery Many colorful cultivars are available, and grow to about h12 in (30 cm) s16in (40cm). 1 Euphorbia pulcherrima ‘Freedom White’ 2 ‘Red Fox Infinity Red’ 3 ‘Sonora’ 4 ‘Spotlight Pink’ 393 394 PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME >> Encourage plants to flower There are some house plants that will flower prolifically whatever you do with them. However, there are others that, having been chosen for their glorious flowers, only ever seem to sprout more leaves. Every house plant requires slightly different care to make it bloom again, plus a degree of patience. Peace lilies This plant is one of the trickiest to encourage back into bloom. If you try these tips, and still have no luck, keep it and grow it for its attractive, swordlike leaves instead. YOU WILL NEED WHEN TO START Spring AT ITS BEST Spring Peace lily, Spathiphyllum Container House plant soil TIME TO COMPLETE 1 hour ASSESS THE PROBLEM Take care not to feed your peace lily too much. Feeding may initiate flowering, but it often has the opposite effect, leading to more leaves at the expense of blooms. REPOT IF CRAMPED Peace lilies will tolerate small pots unless their roots are severely cramped, causing the plant to become water-stressed. Transferring it to a slightly larger pot can lead to a flush of new flowers. CHOOSE A BRIGHT LOCATION Poor light is the main reason why peace lilies don't reflower. Although these plants will tolerate quite deep shade and grow reasonably well in dull corners, they actually require soft, indirect light in order to flower. Position them on a north-facing windowsill, or somewhere within a few feet of a brighter window, but shielded from direct sunlight. The plant will then flower at various intervals throughout the year. Other difficult plants House plants originate from all over the world, and naturally require different conditions in order to flower. The trick is to mimic these at home to coax reluctant types to bloom. BROMELIAD The main part of a bromeliad dies after flowering, leaving new shoots to take its place. These can either be grown on as a group, or divided and grown on for a few years until mature. Once the bromeliad is as large as your original plant was when it flowered, place a clear plastic bag over it for a week, with a ripe apple inside. The apple releases ethylene, a gas that initiates flowering. CLIVIA CHRISTMAS CACTUS For this beautiful spring- and summer-flowering bulb to flower, it needs a period of cold dormancy. While it likes a warm spot for most of the year, from late autumn to late winter, keep it dry and at around 50°F (10°C). Water again from early spring, and give it a liquid feed every other week. As growth begins, move the plant to a warmer spot to flower, after which you should water it slightly less and begin the cycle again. Clivias actually likes to be pot-bound, so repot infrequently. To flower well, Christmas cacti, Schlumbergera, need plenty of light during the summer. If grown indoors, keep them on a sunny windowsill. If placed outside, shade them a little to prevent them from scorching. To persuade them to flower, they then require short days and long nights. So, from autumn to Christmas, keep them in a room that is not lit at night, such as a spare room or a child’s bedroom. MOTH ORCHID If the growing conditions are right, it is fairly easy to get beautiful moth orchids, Phalaenopsis, to reflower. They don’t like too much light, so grow them on a west- or east-facing windowsill during winter, and in a shadier spot in summer. Water weekly in summer with rainwater, taking care to avoid the crown. Reduce watering in winter. If you have a plant in flower, just as the last bloom is fading, trim the spike slightly below where the first flower opened. A bud there will sprout a second flower spike, which itself can be trimmed to give a third. To encourage a moth orchid to flower again from scratch, keep it humid (see p.374), give it a diluted feed once a month, and keep it at around 59°F (15°C) at night and 70–77°F (21–25°C) during the day. This fluctuation, combined with feeding and humidity, will initiate new flowers. 396 PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME >> Silver splash Begonias come in many forms, and these elegant foliage types make handsome features in a modern indoor arrangement (right). Choose tall simple containers to contrast with the heavily textured leaves, partner them with small-leaved trailing plants, and set them in a line or up a few steps. YOU WILL NEED WHEN TO START Any time AT ITS BEST All year round TIME TO COMPLETE 2 hours Silver-leaved Begonia rex hybrids Pilea depressa Tall metal container Plastic tray, such as vegetable packaging, or thick plastic bag Plastic pots Gravel Houseplant potting mix Caring for begonias Begonia rex hybrids come in many colors and forms, but all require the same treatment. Feed them fortnightly in summer and once a month in winter, and keep them away from bright sunlight to prevent the foliage from scorching. FOLIAGE NEEDS Although they dislike strong sun, begonias produce the best colors in bright, diffused light, and prefer a temperature of 64–70°F (18–21°C). Watering is the key to success, since they are prone to rotting if given too much or too little. Every two weeks, remove the plastic pots from the container, and place them in a bowl of water that reaches just below the rims. Allow moisture to seep up from the bottom, and when the top of the soil is wet, take them out and leave to drain. LINE THE CONTAINERS If your container has drainage holes, place a deep plastic tray in the bottom to prevent water from leaking out, or line it with a thick plastic bag. Then add gravel to the bottom. Also buy plastic pots that fit neatly into the container. ARRANGE THE PLANTS Cover the drainage holes of the plastic pots with gravel, top up with soil, and plant the begonias and Pilea (one in each pot). Water and allow to drain. Arrange the pots in the container, adding more gravel to raise them up to the correct level, as required. Begonias come in an array of spectacular colors and forms. Specialist nurseries offer the widest choice, and most offer an online service: 1 ‘Martin Johnson’ 2 ‘Benitochiba’ 3 ‘Tiny Bright’ SELECTIONS >> 398 PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME >> Winter flowers When it’s cold and gray outside, you need some indoor color to brighten things up. Lots of house plants flower over winter, and you will appreciate them all the more for their excellent timing. From dependable stalwarts, such as primulas and African violets, to exotic clivias, there is a winterflowering house plant to suit every taste. Some, such as jasmine, provide delicious scents that will remind you of the warmer months to come. PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME A full light B partial shade (bright but filtered light) C full shade E water lightly—only when the top couple of inches of soil are dry F water frequently—once or twice a week in the growing season 1 Pentas lanceolata; h20 in (50 cm) s16 in (40 cm) BF 2 African violet, Saintpaulia; h6 in (15 cm) s16 in (40 cm) BE 3 Cyclamen persicum ‘Sierra White’; h9 in (23 cm) s8 in (20 cm) BE 4 Clivia miniata; h18 in (45 cm) s12 in (30 cm) AE 5 Flaming Katy, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana; hs16 in (40 cm) BF 6 Cymbidium ‘Showgirl’; hs18 in (45 cm) BE 7 Primula obconica; h12 in (30 cm) s10 in (25 cm) BE 8 Winter-flowering begonia; h12 in (30 cm) s18 in (45 cm) Be 9 Jasmine, Jasminum polyanthum; hup to 10 ft (3 m) s3 ft (1 m) Be 0 Flamingo flower, Anthurium andraeanum; h24 in (60 cm) s12 in (30 cm) BF 399 SELECTIONS >> << Plant Care To care for your plants well it’s important to provide them with sufficient water and fertilizer, and to keep your garden free of weeds. Shrubs and some trees also benefit from an annual pruning to keep them tidy and boost new growth. Propagating plants is another fun project—dividing perennials couldn’t be easier; taking cuttings requires a little more skill but you will soon master the techniques. Finally, learn to recognize and treat common pests and diseases. 402 PLANT CARE >> Dealing with weeds Thuglike grasses, such as couch, scutch, and twitch grass, as well as broad-leaf weeds, including thistle, dandelion, and chickweed, all compete with your plants for nutrients, water, and sunlight. They also spoil the look of displays and take up valuable planting space, so it is vital that you weed them out. REMOVING ANNUALS AND PERENNIALS METHODS OF CONTROL The way in which you control the weeds in your garden depends partly on whether they are annual plants that grow, make seed, and die in one year, or perennial types, which survive winter via tough root systems. Some annuals flower almost continuously for most of the year and produce vast amounts of seed, so try to clear them at the start of the growing season before they bloom. After weeding, apply a mulch and dig over the soil as little as possible so that you don’t uncover more weed seeds. Perennial weeds, like dandelions and couch grass, also flower and seed, but it is their tough roots that make them difficult to eradicate. Any root fragments that you miss when digging them up will regrow into new plants, so try to remove every piece. Most annual weeds are easy to dig up or pull out by hand. On large areas, use a hoe to sever the stems from the roots just below soil level, taking care not to cut off your plants too. Hoe on a dry day, and leave the weeds to die on the soil surface. Some weeds, such as buttercups, spread by long stems, called runners, that root when they touch the soil. Ease out the root systems of young plants with a hand fork . Contact weedkillers are useful for controlling annual weeds in paths and gravel, and on bare soil before planting. Always follow the manufacturers’ instructions. Use a systemic, glyphosate-based weedkiller for perennial weeds because this kills the roots, preventing plants from regrowing. 1 Set aside one watering can to apply weedkiller, and keep it well away from those you use for watering. 2 A hand fork is useful for digging up the roots of weeds because it loosens the soil, making them easier to extract. 3 Move your hoe back and forth along the soil surface so the blade slices through the lower stems. 1 Oxalis is a perennial and produces hundreds of tiny bulbils that split off and regrow when you try to dig them up. 2 Many perennial weeds have drought-resistant taproots that survive extreme conditions. 3 Annuals have fibrous roots that can be pulled up easily. << PLANT CARE Persistent troublemakers The following rogues gallery will help you identify and control some of the most troublesome weeds. If you do not want to use weedkillers, eradicating some will be very difficult. Your options are either to starve their roots by continually removing the leafy shoots, or try blocking out light by covering the ground with black plastic or matting for two years. 1 GROUND ELDER 2 OXALIS 3 HORSETAIL 4 DOCK This perennial forms a low mat of dark green leaves. Dig up young plants before they flower (above), or cover them with weed matting or carpet. If they persist, treat repeatedly with glyphosate weedkiller. The cloverlike leaves spread rapidly, and can invade lawns. Annuals have explosive seed pods; perennials have bulbils. Yellow oxalis in lawns resists selective weedkillers, so try autumn scarifying (see p.423). The roots of this perennial are hard to pull out since the stems snap easily. A water-resistant coating on the stems also helps them shake off weedkiller, so crush them before treating with glyphosate in late summer. Treat plants when young: dig the taproot out with a fork, or use a weeding tool in lawns. Don’t allow mature plants to flower, and use a glyphosatebased weedkiller to kill their extensive root systems. 5 NETTLES 6 JAPANESE KNOTWEED 7 BINDWEED 8 BRAMBLES Perennial stinging nettles form a network of root runners that support a colony of plants. Wear thick gloves to dig out the whole root system, or spray with systemic weedkiller. Or leave large groups for a valuable wildlife refuge. Any root fragments of this bamboolike thug will regrow. Repeatedly dig them out over several seasons; dry and burn the removed roots. If this fails, spray with glyphosate-based weedkiller repeatedly from late spring to early autumn. This pretty but persistent twining perennial disappears in winter, only to resprout from fleshy white roots in spring. Digging it up can spread the roots; instead, train it up canes set away from ornamentals, and spray with glyphosate. The thorny stems spread rapidly over other plants and the tips will root wherever they touch any soil. Dig out seedlings and rooted runners. Cut back larger plants and dig out the woody base and roots. Spray unplanted areas with brushwood killer. 403 404 PLANT CARE >> Feeding your plants No matter how good your soil, it will probably need extra nutrients to help plants with specific needs, or to boost them at key times, like flowering. Always follow the instructions on the label because too much, or the wrong type of fertilizer, can cause problems, such as plants with all leaves and no flowers. UNDERSTANDING NUTRIENTS The three basic elements that plants require are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). Nitrogen is needed for leaf and shoot growth, phosphorus for roots, and potassium helps flowers and fruits develop. Fertilizer manufacturers list the nutrient content as a ratio: a general purpose fertilizer has an N:P:K ratio of 7:7:7, while a tomato feed has a high concentration of potassium to boost fruit production, and a fertilizer for lawns or leafy crops contains mostly nitrogen. Many fertilizers also include various trace elements or micronutrients. A plant's nutrient requirements can depend on its growth phase, with most needing a general boost in the spring, and additional potassium as they fruit or flower. 1 Nitrogen (nitrate) is needed for healthy leaves. 2 Potassium (potash) boosts the production of flowers and fruit. 3 For strong root development, choose a fertilizer rich in phosphorus (phosphate). FERTILIZER CHOICES Your local garden center will offer both organic (derived from plants and animals) and inorganic (chemically manufactured) fertilizers. Most are concentrated for convenience and available as liquids, powders that you dilute in water, or granules. Typical examples of organic fertilizers are pelleted chicken manure; blood, fish, and bonemeal; liquid seaweed fertilizer; and homemade plant feeds, such as the diluted liquor from a wormery, or fertilizers made from soaking comfrey leaves. Inorganic feeds include sulfate of potash, Growmore, and granular rose feeds. 1 Blood, fish, and bonemeal is a balanced organic fertilizer, applied through the growing season around flowers and vegetables; cease applications in early autumn. 2 Slow-release granules, activated by warmth and moisture, give a steady supply of nutrients in containers and borders. 3 Well-rotted manure or garden compost is rich in trace elements and soil-conditioning substances. Dig it in or apply as a surface mulch. 4 Growmore is a balanced chemical feed used to enrich soil for sowing or planting, and as a top dressing. << PLANT CARE Mulching Materials spread on top of the ground, usually around plants, are called mulches. They can be practical—feeding the soil, suppressing weeds, retaining moisture, or insulating roots in winter—or mainly decorative, applied for visual effect. APPLYING ORGANIC MULCHES Mulches are applied at different times depending on their purpose. For example, bark chips are spread over the soil after planting to suppress weeds. An organic mulch, such as manure, garden compost, chipped bark, or cocoa shells, must be laid over moist soil, whether in spring, after autumn and winter rains, or after watering. Some mulches, especially bark, use up nutrients temporarily as they decompose, so before laying them, apply a nitrogenrich fertilizer, such as fish meal. Lay organic mulches in a layer 4in (10cm) deep so they continue to provide cover as they slowly decompose and feed the soil. Replenish these mulches every year. a Moist mulch Organic mulches help retain moisture but if laid too close to plant stems can cause them to rot, so keep them at a safe distance. PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS a Useful coverings Spread landscape fabric over the soil prior to planting to prevent weed growth (left). Use straw to keep strawberries clean and dry (right). Man-made mulches offer many benefits. Weed membrane or landscape fabric is a semipermeable material that blocks out light but allows moisture through. Use it on low-maintenance beds, or on weed-ridden ground. Lay it before planting (see also pp.76–77) and cover with a natural bark or gravel, or a decorative mulch. Black plastic does not allow moisture through, but it warms the soil and kills off weeds when laid over vegetable beds in spring. Straw insulates the soil, and protects tender plants in winter. It is also used to raise crops, such as strawberries and zucchinis, off the ground, reducing fungal and slug problems. A think layer of straw will protect the roots of vulnerable plants from frost. DECORATIVE OPTIONS Mulches that don't decompose are useful as decorative garden surfaces. They are particularly effective when laid over landscape fabric or membrane, which reduces weed growth and helps prevent soil mixing in with the mulch and spoiling the effect. For a modern feel, try colored crushed glass or slate shards. Cover small areas, like the tops of pots and containers, with beads, crushed and whole shells, or polished pebbles. Natural pebbles blend well with gravel over larger areas, and can create a beach effect when laid in swathes. 1 Pebbles come in different colors and sizes. Ask to see a sample out of the bag, wetted to show the true color. 2 Crushed glass is usually a recycled product, milled to take off the sharp edges. Use bright colors for design highlights. 3 Slate chips in various grades and subtle shades of dark gray have sharp edges, so they are unsuitable for children's areas. 4 Crushed shells are recycled from the seafood industry. 405 406 PLANT CARE >> Watering your plants All plants need watering, but some need more than others. Concentrate on plants in containers, where the soil dries out relatively quickly; newly planted specimens that haven’t yet developed a strong enough root system to cope on their own; and fruits and vegetables at key stages in their growth cycle. PRESERVE WATER SUPPLIES Water is a precious commodity, but if you irrigate only those plants that need it, and water in the cool of the morning or in the evening, you can greatly reduce your impact on supplies. Other ways to minimize water usage are to add moistureretentive gel crystals to containers, and mulch borders every year after it has rained. Trees, shrubs, and perennials will also need watering less frequently during the first few months if you plant them when the soil is naturally moist in autumn, winter, and early spring. Lay turf in late winter and early spring, too, and it will usually establish well without the need for extra irrigation. After planting, encourage deep rooting by watering thoroughly and then leaving for 7–14 days before watering again, rather than giving frequent small doses. The water will then sink deep into the soil and encourage roots to follow. Also, if planting in the rain shadow of walls and hedges use drought-tolerant species. a No buts about water butts Save water by installing water butts around your property, connecting them to the rainwater downspouts. Metal or plastic butts are widely available, or choose something more attractive like this wooden barrel. Watering methods Make the most of your water supplies and save yourself time and energy by using a watering method that suits the job at hand. A watering can is ideal for small areas where you want to target water accurately; hoses are best for large beds, but use them with care to avoid waste. WATERING BY HAND If you only have a few plants or pots to water, use a watering can, and pour slowly so it has a chance to soak into the roots; remove fine roses from cans unless watering new plantings. Direct water to the roots of your plants—they do not absorb water through their leaves so spraying overhead is not only wasteful but means that less moisture reaches the soil. Also avoid flowers and fruits, which may rot if too wet. Mound up the soil around the base of large plants to create a reservoir in which water will collect and sink down to the root area. When hosing beds and borders, focus the spray on the soil, and turn it off as you move between planted areas. Longhandled hoses are useful if you have lots of pots and baskets to reach—again, turn the flow off between each container. a Spraying from a distance Long-handled hoses allow you to reach hanging baskets with ease, and also to direct water to less accessible plants, such as vegetables in a large bed, without treading on the soil. << PLANT CARE AUTOMATIC SYSTEMS Relatively easy to install, automatic watering systems can save hours of work in the garden; attach a timer, and they will water your plot in your absence. Most come in kit form and allow you to design a system that suits your garden. Kits typically include a network of main pipes into which you insert fine feeder pipes that take water directly to individual plants or pots. These terminate in small drip nozzles, held just above soil level, that gradually release water, which drains down around the roots. Check your watering system every few weeks to ensure plants aren’t being under- or over-watered, and adjust individual flow regulators as necessary. Turn off nozzles when no longer required. o Timed to perfection Set water timers to come on every day or week, in the morning or evening to minimize evaporation, and alter the program if the weather changes. LEAKY AND SEEP HOSES Less sophisticated than automatic irrigation systems, these perforated hosepipes are perfect for watering lots of plants at the same time. Unlike a regular hose, water gradually seeps out at soil level and penetrates deeply. Lay one along a row of thirsty vegetables, or weave it between newly planted shrubs and perennials. Attach the hose to a water butt, which may need to be raised up to provide a gravitational flow of water, or fit on to an outdoor tap. Lift your hose and reposition it as needed. Slow-release watering p The most efficient watering method if used correctly, seep hoses trickle water into the soil exactly where it is needed. WATERING CONTAINERS Although large containers need watering less frequently than small ones, they may still require water every day in summer. Porous terracotta pots dry out quickly, so consider lining them with plastic before planting (see p.409). Don’t rely on rain to water your pots because the soil often remains dry after a shower. When planting, leave a gap of at least 1 in (2 cm) between the soil and the pot’s rim to allow water to collect there. A bark or gravel mulch helps retain moisture. o Preventing soil erosion Direct water onto a piece of broken pot to help prevent compost being washed off the roots. TOP TIP: WATERING TREES Help trees establish by inserting perforated drainage tubing into the hole, close to the roots, at planting time. Water poured into the exposed end is directed to the root area with no wastage. Mulch, or use a tree mat, to deter weeds and to seal in moisture. 407 408 PLANT CARE >> Frost protection Some plants and containers need a little help to get them through cold winters but they can be left outside if you provide some protection when temperatures dip below freezing. The big cover-up Tender plants must be brought inside in winter because they die when exposed to freezing temperatures, but those that can survive a few degrees of frost should survive outside in all but the coldest regions. PLANTS TO PROTECT Many slightly tender plants survive low temperatures but not cold, wet soils, so ensure yours drains freely before planting (see pp.14–15). Other plants are not killed by frost, but their flowers may be damaged. Examples include peach trees, magnolias, and camellias, which suffer when frosted blooms thaw too quickly in warm morning sun. Young leaves and buds of hardy plants can also be sensitive to frost, so don’t feed in late summer because it promotes vulnerable new growth. Also, allow herbaceous plants to die down naturally so that the leaves fall over the plant, forming a protective blanket, and apply a thick mulch over those that may suffer in low temperatures, like Alstroemeria or diascias. a Ice-laden maple Acer palmatum cultivars are hardy, so just enjoy the sparkle of their vibrant deciduous autumn leaves laced with frost. TOP TIP: OVERWINTER BANANAS AND TREE FERNS Popular for tropical gardens, Musa basjoo is one of the hardiest bananas and tolerates winters outside if protected from cold, wet conditions. First, cut down the stems and remove the leaves. Attach chicken wire to bamboo canes set around the plant to form a cage, and pack it with straw. Treat tree ferns in the same way: make a cage around the plant, fold the fronds over the top of the stem, and pack straw around it. a Straw blanket Use chicken wire to secure a straw blanket over frost-sensitive plants that prefer dry soil conditions. o Star fright The flowers of star magnolias are damaged by frost; protect them with garden fleece. a Make a waterproof hat Both bananas and tree ferns suffer in wet winters, so top the wire cage with a waterproof covering, such as clear plastic sheeting. In very cold regions you can also add a fleece wrapper. Remove the protection in late spring or when you see new growth. << PLANT CARE Cloches for crops Some vegetables that overwinter in the soil benefit from a protective cloche or a layer of straw. Likewise, crops that are sown early in spring may grow more quickly if kept snug when frosts strike. A wide variety of cloches is available to buy, or make one yourself from recycled materials. CHOOSING A COVER Winter root crops, such as parsnips, carrots, and leeks, are difficult to lift when the soil is frozen, so cover them with a layer of insulating straw in autumn. Cold frames are ideal for spring-sown frost-hardy seedlings in trays or pots, which will be transplanted outside later in the year, while a cloche is best for crops that are sown in situ in early spring, such as lettuce, arugula, and Oriental greens, or for overwintered vegetables like broad beans. Cloches can be bought already constructed or as kits, or if you want frost protection for just a few weeks each year, a homemade type made from a few sheets of clear plastic may suffice. Alternatively, make a more permanent tunnel from wire hoops covered with clear plastic; leave one end open for ventilation. a Store-bought option Cloches are an investment and should last for many years; choose from pricey decorative glass types to cheaper plastic models. o Home-made solution This cloche is easy to make with two sheets of clear plastic pinned together with pegs. Wrap up your pots Container plants can suffer in winter on two fronts: roots are more vulnerable in pots because they afford less insulation than the soil in the ground, and the pots themselves may crack or break during icy periods. CONTAINER CARE Some containers are more vulnerable to frost damage than others. Stone, metal, and plastic pots will sail through winters unscathed, while terracotta often cracks in frosty conditions. Terracotta suffers because it is porous and when moisture from the soil and rain leaches into it and then expands as it turns to ice, the pot cracks. So, unless you pay a premium for containers that have been fired to high a Pot protection Line terracotta pots with bubble wrap to keep them from absorbing moisture and cracking when the water turns to ice in cold weather. o Hessian wrapper Wrap tender plants and vulnerable pots with hessian or bubble wrap to keep them warm. temperatures to reduce their porosity, you will need to take steps to make sure yours stay intact. Either remove plants and soil and store pots inside, or, if they are housing a prized plant, wrap them up with hessian or bubble wrap. Cover the soil, too, so that it does not become saturated. Another tip is to line the pot with bubble wrap before you plant it up, thereby forming a barrier between the soil and the terracotta. Slightly tender potted plants are best wrapped in horticultural fleece in the winter. Also tie together the leaves of strappy plants, such as cordylines, to protect their crowns from snow and ice. 409 410 PLANT CARE >> Basic pruning techniques Some shrubs and trees require little pruning apart from removing dead or damaged stems, but for many others an annual trim is essential. Regular pruning can improve a plant’s appearance, stimulate the production of fruit and flowers, keep specimens youthful and vigorous, and encourage bolder foliage. WHAT TO PRUNE Routine pruning maintains the health and appearance of woody plants. In late winter or early spring, before the leaves of deciduous shrubs and trees appear, look at their overall shape in detail and identify branches that need removing or shortening. Also note any congested growth in the center, which can encourage disease. Then, cut away dead or damaged stems to healthy tissue; crossing branches that are rubbing and liable to create a wound; and stems that are no longer producing fruit or flowers. 1 Remove stems and branches growing at odd angles that look unsightly and may rub against one another, creating entry points for infection. 2 Cut back to young wood, which is often a different color and texture to the older, thicker stems. 3 Remove dead or infected wood to prevent further die-back or disease entering healthy tissue. HOW TO PRUNE When pruning, use sharp clippers for thin stems, or a pruning saw for wood that is thicker than a pencil. Loppers are useful for chopping up prunings into more manageable pieces. Always make your cut just above a bud to avoid the stump dying back into healthy wood, and make clean cuts that will heal more quickly and are less prone to infection. To avoid wood ripping or splitting when cut, take the weight off long branches in stages (see opposite). a Slanting cut for alternate buds Cut to an outward facing bud, slanting the cut so that water will run away from the bud. a Straight cut for opposite buds Where buds are arranged in pairs, cut straight across the top. Two shoots will emerge. << PLANT CARE Cutting branches When possible, remove tree branches when young, because the cuts heal more quickly. Most should be pruned in late winter, but wait until mid- to late summer for hornbeam (Carpinus), pears (Pyrus), plums and cherries (Prunus species). MAKE AN UNDERCUT FIRST Take some weight off the branch first to prevent it tearing close to the trunk. Cut partly through the underside of the branch; then saw from the top a little further up. Allow the branch to snap off. TOP TIP: KEEP SAFE Wear thick gardening gloves when pruning or trimming, and use wellmaintained tools appropriate to the task. Wear goggles and ear protectors when using a hedge trimmer. Don’t cut above head height; use ladders or platforms and make sure that they are stable and secure. Undergo approved safety training and wear specialist clothing before using a chainsaw. CUT CLOSE TO TRUNK Remove the final stump by cutting close to the trunk, but not flush with it. Make an angled cut away from the tree, just beyond the crease in the bark where the branch meets the trunk. ALLOW THE WOUND TO HEAL The result is a clean cut that leaves the tree’s healing tissue intact, speeding up its recovery. The wound may bleed after pruning, but will soon form a layer of protective bark. Spur pruning This technique encourages climbers, wall shrubs, and trained fruit trees to flower and fruit more freely. Shortening the shoots that grow from the main stems promotes the remaining buds to produce far more productive stems than would normally appear. FIND A HEALTHY SHOOT Identify strong growing shoots and trim back to two or three buds from the main stems to form short branches or “spurs.” Make a slanting cut to channel rainwater away from the chosen bud. This helps prevent disease and die back. CREATE SHORT SPURS The “spurs” of this climbing rose will each produce two or three flowering stems in the forthcoming season. You can also spur prune wall-trained Chaenomeles, Pyracantha, and Ceanothus to keep plants neat and blooming well. 411 412 PLANT CARE >> Pruning shrubs The best time to prune deciduous climbers and shrubs depends on whether they bloom on growth produced in the same or previous years. Generally, those that flower after midsummer are pruned hard in spring. Those that bloom in winter, spring, and early summer are pruned soon after flowering. EARLY-FLOWERING SHRUBS This group contains spring show-stoppers, such as forsythia and flowering currants (Ribes), as well as early-summer bloomers, including Philadelphus, Weigela, Deutzia, and Spiraea ‘Arguta’. These all flower on stems that were produced the previous year; prune them just after flowering so that new growth can ripen throughout the summer. Remove dead and diseased growth, and cut back old flowering stems, leaving new shoots to take over. Thin overcrowded growth, cutting a third to a fifth of the oldest stems to ground level. Apply an all-purpose granular fertilizer, water well, and lay a deep organic mulch. ENCOURAGE FLOWERING Prune early-flowering shrubs, such as honeysuckle, Lonicera x purpusii, in early summer after flowering. Cut a third of the oldest stems to 12 in (30 cm) from the ground with a pruning saw, reducing the length gradually to prevent tearing. MAINTAIN VIGOR Trim back tall stems to stimulate new buds to shoot lower down the stems and make a bushier plant. This also gives new growth room to develop and mature, and still leaves sufficient old wood to bloom the following year. LATE-FLOWERING SHRUBS This group contains shrubs and climbers that flower in late summer and autumn, such as butterfly bush (Buddleja), shrubby mallow (Lavatera), Hydrangea paniculata, Perovskia, and hardy fuchsia, as well as late-flowering clematis, like C. viticella (see p.414). Prune all the stems back hard in late winter or early spring to promote lots of new flowering shoots. SHORTEN STEMS To prevent tall, fast-growing shrubs, such as butterfly bush, Buddleja, from being damaged by autumn storms, prune the tallest stems after flowering. Then carry out the main pruning in spring. CUT BACK HARD In spring, remove long whippy stems and thin twiggy growth with clippers to reveal the main framework of branches. Using a pruning saw, cut back to create a low structure of healthy stems. ENCOURAGE LARGER BLOOMS Pruning encourages more flowers and healthier growth. It breathes new life into old shrubs, and can even increase the longevity of short-lived plants, such as shrubby mallow, Lavatera. PRUNING EVERGREENS TRIM PLANTS LIGHTLY Many evergreens are not as hardy as deciduous shrubs and grow more slowly. They are best pruned sparingly to reduce their size and keep them tidy after the frosts, between late spring and late summer. To avoid removing any blooms, prune summer-flowering evergreens, such as Escallonia, when the flowers have finished. Never prune evergreens in autumn because any new growth will not have enough time to harden off before the frosts return, and could be damaged. If any stems are harmed by frost, leave them until the following spring before removing them. Shrubs, such as Ceanothus, should be pruned lightly after flowering since they may not make new wood if cut back too hard. Maintain a compact, flower-filled shrub by pruning long, straggly branches by 10–12 in (25–30 cm), but leave some of the shorter stems unpruned to help the plant maintain its strength. Cut above a leaf bud to prevent die-back and stimulate new growth below the cut (see p.410). Stay in shape p Spring-flowering ceanothus grow very quickly, and without annual pruning they soon fill out their allocated sites and become untidy. RENOVATING SHRUBS Old and overgrown deciduous or evergreen shrubs can be cut back quite severely to rejuvenate them and help them become productive once more. Those flowering on wood made the previous year may take a couple of years to bloom again. CUTTING BACK AN OVERGROWN MAHONIA o a Cut down to size To improve the appearance and performance of this overgrown mahonia, prune hard after flowering (midwinter to early spring). Renovate other evergreen and deciduous shrubs in the same way. Shorten the main stems to 2 ft (60 cm) above ground level. First, remove dead, damaged, and diseased stems. Then, imagine the regrown plant and maintain a balanced shape while you cut out the oldest growth, to leave around 5 or 6 strong young stems. Prune these to 12–16 in (30–40 cm) from the ground, making sloping cuts to deflect the rain. PRUNE FOR FOLIAGE DISPLAYS Many deciduous shrubs are valued for their brightly colored foliage, which grows on young stems and can be encouraged by hard pruning. Some shrubs should be cut back severely every year, such as the colored-leaved forms of elder (Sambucus), spiraea, Indian bean tree (Catalpa bignonioides), and smoke bush (Cotinus). Others, like the purple filbert (Corylus maxima ‘Purpurea’), should be pruned every two years. To aid their recovery after pruning, water them well and apply an all-purpose fertilizer. Then add a thick mulch. CUT BACK A SMOKE BUSH Prune the shrub down to a stout framework of branches in spring, before the leaf buds burst. Use a pruning saw to reduce the height initially, then cut all the healthy stems to 2 ft (60 cm) from the ground. Pruning also keeps the shrub more compact. a p Larger and brighter The regrowth on this previously hard-pruned smoke bush, Cotinus, (above) has larger, more colorful leaves, giving a glowing autumn display. 414 PLANT CARE >> How to prune clematis Clematis are some of our best-loved flowering climbers but although they are generally easy to grow given the right conditions, there is often confusion about how best to prune them. Some flower well if pruned lightly, while others thrive when cut back hard. The trick is to identify which type you have. IDENTIFYING CLEMATIS Clematis species and cultivars are divided into three main pruning groups; the plant label should tell you what type you have. A broad rule of thumb, as with many deciduous flowering shrubs and climbers, is that early-flowering (spring and early summer) types require just a light tidy-up, while late-flowering (mid- to late summer and autumn) clematis should be pruned hard in late winter. PRUNING GROUP 1 This group contains the vigorous, latespring-flowering, Clematis montana and earlier blooming evergreen, C. armandii; the late-winter-flowering C. cirrhosa, and dainty C. alpina and C. macropetala which both flower in mid-spring. These need little pruning once established, except to remove dead and damaged stems. PRUNING GROUP 2 This group includes the flamboyant largeflowered cultivars, like ‘Nelly Moser’. Wood made the previous year bears flowers in early summer, but these plants can also bloom again in late summer on stems made the same year. In early spring, follow the stems from the top down to new growth, and cut just above it. Prune to a healthy shoot p Remove the dead and damaged tops of the stems, which will look brown and dry, and cut back to green buds from which flowering side shoots will grow. PRUNING GROUP 3 Clematis that flower from midsummer through to the autumn make up this group, and include the prolific small-flowered C. viticella hybrids, and forms of C. texensis. The yellow autumn-flowering C. tangutica and C. orientalis also belong here. PRUNE BACK TOP GROWTH a Trim back lightly After flowering, remove any wayward shoots and damaged growth. This also helps to reveal the attractive fluffy seedheads. When left unpruned, these clematis form flowers at the top of the plant, leaving long, straggly bare stems beneath. To prevent this, cut back the tangle of shoots, removing them from their supports. Do this in late winter before the buds have started to break. PRUNE TO HEALTHY BUDS Then cut all the stems back hard. It may look drastic, but pruning the stems to within 12 in (30 cm) of the ground encourages plants to develop a strong network of new shoots. Cut to just above a pair of healthy buds. Prune less radically if you want to maintain height. Pruning roses Modern floribunda and hybrid tea roses benefit from hard pruning to encourage new flowering shoots, while shrub roses require relatively gentle treatment. Pruning also helps control the disease blackspot. FLORIBUNDA ROSES Also known as cluster-flowered roses, floribundas produce flushes of blooms through summer and early autumn. Compact dwarf floribundas are also called patio roses, and can be grown in pots. In early spring, remove dead, diseased, and crossing stems. Prune the other stems to outward-facing buds 8–12 in (20–30 cm) from the ground using sloping cuts. EXAMPLES OF FLORIBUNDA AND PATIO ROSES ‘Arthur Bell’ ‘English Miss’ ‘Fellowship’ ‘Fragrant Delight’ ‘Pretty Lady’ ‘Princess of Wales’ ‘Remembrance’ ‘Sunset Boulevard’ ‘Sweet Dream’ ‘Tall Story’ ‘Trumpeter’ o Make a low framework When pruning, aim to leave a framework of between eight and ten strong, healthy stems. SHRUB AND SPECIES ROSES Usually flowering once on wood made in previous years, these should be pruned lightly in early spring. Thin out congested stems to improve air flow, and remove dead, weak, damaged, or diseased wood. Also prune some of the oldest stems to ground level. Cut main stems back by a quarter and slightly reduce side shoots by a few inches. These roses often grow quite tall and benefit from being cut back by a third in late autumn to prevent root damage caused by wind rock. Prune lightly to prevent disease p Shorten the main stems by about a quarter to produce an open-structured framework, allowing in light and air to help prevent fungal diseases. HYBRID TEAS These are large-flowered roses, with some varieties that repeat bloom, although they produce just one flower per stem. Prune in early spring, removing dead, diseased, and crossing stems. Cut the oldest stems to the ground, and shorten the remainder to 6 in (15 cm) from the base. In late autumn reduce their height by one third to prevent root damage caused by wind rock. EXAMPLES OF TEA ROSES ‘Alexander’ ‘Blessings’ ‘Deep Secret’ ‘Elina’ ‘Ingrid Bergman’ ‘Just Joey’ ‘Lovely Lady’ ‘Paul Sherville’ ‘Savoy Hotel’ ‘Tequila Sunrise’ ‘Troika’ ‘Warm Wishes’ o Slanting cuts Leave three to five strong young stems after pruning with cuts angled to allow water to drain off the buds. EXAMPLES OF SHRUB AND SPECIES ROSES ‘Blanche Double de Coubert’ ‘Boule de Neige’ ‘De Resht’ ‘Fantin-Latour’ ‘Graham Thomas’ ‘Louise Odier’ ‘Madame Isaac Pereire’ ‘Madame Pierre Oger’ ‘Maiden’s Blush’ Rosa gallica ‘Versicolor’ ‘Souvenir de la Malmaison’ ‘William Lobb’ 416 PLANT CARE >> Propagating plants There are many simple techniques to propagate all types of garden plants, from perennials, shrubs, and climbers to fruit trees. You don’t need specialist equipment; divisions, layers, and some cuttings can be left to root in the ground with little additional help, although a cold frame is useful for some plants. Dividing perennials This easy method can be used to propagate most herbaceous perennials, and to rejuvenate large, tired clumps that are no longer flowering well. You can also divide newly bought perennials, providing they are large enough, to make the most of your purchases. PLANTS TO DIVIDE Achillea Aster Bergenia Campanula Geranium Helenium Heuchera Hosta Iris Ligularia Monarda Nepeta Phlox Polemonium Pulmonaria Rudbeckia Sedum Veronica Bargain borders p Dividing perennials, such as Achillea and Helenium, in early spring is an easy and economical way to fill large borders. After replanting, they will soon bulk up to form new flowering clumps. DIG UP PLANT In early spring, select a healthy clump of plants and water them well. Cut back any top growth to the ground. Using a fork, lift the clump, taking care to keep the whole root ball intact. DIVIDE WITH FORKS Cut solid crowns into portions with a spade or old bread knife. If you can’t pry other pieces apart by hand, use two forks back-to-back to split the clump into smaller sections, ready for replanting. REPLANT Discard dead central portions of overgrown clumps. Replant healthy hand-sized pieces with strong buds in soil improved with well-rotted organic matter, such as manure. Water in well. << PLANT CARE OTHER LAYERING TECHNIQUES Basic layering works for a wide range of shrubs, and by varying the technique, you can also use it to propagate woody climbers and fruit bushes. IVY AND HONEYSUCKLE Layering shrubs and climbers Climbers, such as ivy (Hedera, below), and honeysuckle, Lonicera, often root where their stems are in contact with the soil. Either pin stems down yourself in autumn or spring, or check your plants for any stems that have rooted naturally. Use a hand fork to lift any stems with roots, and cut them between each rooted section to make new plants, which you can then grow on. The stems of climbers and shrubs sometimes root when they touch the soil, and you can harness this tendency to make new plants. This is useful for shrubs, such as rhododendrons (above), that can be difficult to propagate in other ways. MAKE A SLANTING CUT In spring, from the base of the plant select a flexible stem that bends to the ground. Remove side stems and make a shallow slanting cut on the underside, 12 in (30 cm) from the tip. Dip the cut in hormone rooting powder. PLANTS TO LAYER Aucuba Chaenomeles (above) Cotinus Erica Fothergilla Lonicera Magnolia Passiflora Skimmia Syringa Viburnum Weigela (right) Wisteria PEG DOWN STEM INTO SOIL Use wire staples, or a large stone, to firmly anchor the wounded section of stem just below the soil surface. To aid rooting in poorer soils, pin the stem into a shallow depression filled with moist potting soil. a Climbers for free Many climbers will root along their stems where they come into contact with the soil. Peg them down at intervals to produce new plants. BLACKBERRIES In summer, propagate blackberries and their hybrids by burying the tip of a healthy, young stem (below) in a hole 4 in (10 cm) deep. In a few weeks a new shoot will appear; transplant it the following spring. 417 418 PLANT CARE >> How to take cuttings Given the right conditions, plants can be persuaded to root from stem cuttings in spring or summer, or in winter from pieces of root. Seal collected cuttings and root material in a plastic bag to keep them fresh. Root cuttings With the exception of variegated plants, which produce only green shoots from root cuttings, many perennials can be propagated using this method. Never take more than a few roots from each plant, and quickly replace the plants in the soil. Thin roots, such as those of phlox (Phlox paniculata), should be laid horizontally on the soil to root. SUITABLE PLANTS Anemone x hybrida Bear’s breeches, Acanthus Campanula Crambe Dicentra Globe thistle, Echinops Plume poppy, Macleaya Oriental poppy, Papaver orientale Sea holly, Eryngium Tree poppy, Romneya Verbascum TRIM OFF HEALTHY ROOTS In midwinter, lift the plant, or scrape away soil from larger plants to expose the roots. Cutting close to the stems (crown), remove three or four fat, healthy roots, avoiding brittle, damaged, or woody pieces. Seal in a plastic bag. PLANT UP Insert the root cuttings vertically in pots of soil (with the blunt end at the top), spacing them 2 in (5 cm) apart. Lay thinner roots on the surface, covering them with ½ in (1 cm) of coarse sand or grit. Water the roots with diluted fungicide and move pots to a sheltered spot outside. CUT TOP AND BOTTOM Cut each root into 2–3 in (5–8 cm) segments with a sharp knife. Trim the top end (nearest the crown) straight across and the bottom at an angle, to make sure you plant them right end up. You do not need to do this with thin roots. AFTERCARE Cover pots and trays with fleece, or place them in a cold frame, and keep the soil damp. The cuttings should be well rooted in about six months. They may produce shoots beforehand but wait until roots appear at the holes at the bottom of the pots before transplanting. << PLANT CARE Hardwood cuttings These are the easiest cuttings to grow, but you need patience, as rooting can take more than a year. Find a sheltered spot where the cuttings won’t be disturbed, such as the back of a border. Use this method for deciduous shrubs, trees, roses and fruit. TAKE A HEALTHY STEM In autumn, select straight stems, about the thickness of a pencil and with plenty of buds, taken from the current year’s growth. Strip off any leaves and side shoots. You may be able to take several cuttings from a single stem. CUT INTO SECTIONS Make individual cuttings about 10 in (25 cm) long. Cut straight along the bottom just below a bud, and make a slanted cut above a bud at the top. The cuts differentiate the top from the bottom, and allow you to plant the right way up. a Worth the wait It can take two or three years for a shrub grown from a cutting to reach flowering size, so take a few each year for a constant supply of new plants. If you don’t have room for them yourself, your gardening friends will appreciate a gift. SUITABLE PLANTS PLANT IN GROUND Make a narrow V-shaped trench by inserting a spade about 8 in (20 cm) in the soil and pushing it forward. On heavy soil, add horticultural sand to the base to aid drainage. Insert cuttings 6 in (15 cm) apart, leaving a few buds above the surface. These will form the branches of the new shrub. Firm lightly, label, and water. POT-GROWN CUTTINGS For less hardy plants, such as Cistus, Perovskia, and Santolina, plant cuttings in pots of free-draining soil. Trim cuttings to 3–4 in (8–10 cm) long and plant with the top bud exposed. Protect from frost by placing pots in a cold frame or unheated greenhouse until spring. Plant in autumn once rooted. Boxwood, Buxus Butterfly bush, Buddleja Deutzia Dogwood, Cornus Elder, Sambucus Forsythia Flowering currant, Ribes Mock orange, Philadelphus Rose (including bush types) Spiraea Viburnum Weigela Willow, Salix 419 420 PLANT CARE >> Softwood cuttings Nonflowering shoots of many tender perennials and patio plants, as well as some herbaceous perennials, including delphinium and lupin, will root in six to eight weeks in warm, humid conditions in summer. Cuttings are prone to disease, so sterilize any knives, pots, and trays used in their preparation, and root them in fresh, sterilized soil mix. Use tap water for cuttings. SUITABLE PLANTS Argyranthemum Begonia Chrysanthemum Delphinium Dianthus Erysimum Felicia Fuchsia Hebe Impatiens Lantana Lupin Nepeta Passiflora Pelargonium Penstemon Salvia Verbena Find the right material p Flowering shoots, such as those on this lupin, are unlikely to root, even if the blooms are removed, so look for young leafy stems for the best results. SELECT HEALTHY STEMS In summer, collect healthy, leafy shoots, about 3–5 in (7–12 cm) long, from plants that you have watered well the evening before. Take your cuttings in the morning, before the plants are stressed by high temperatures, and seal them in plastic bags to keep them fresh. TAKE OFF LOWER LEAVES Pre-fill pots and trays with moist cutting soil mix to avoid any delay once cuttings have been prepared. Using a sharp knife, cut just below a leaf joint and trim off lower leaves neatly to leave just two or three healthy ones at the top. Dip the cut ends in hormone rooting powder. POT UP Push the cuttings into the soil mix, leaving the upper half exposed. Root singly in small pots or fit several into large pots or trays, making sure the leaves are not touching. Firm lightly, water, and cover with a clear plastic bag, or root in a propagator, and keep at 59–70°F (15–21°C). << PLANT CARE Semiripe cuttings These are gathered later in summer when the bases of the stems are firmer. You can pull off side shoots with a little tear or “heel” of stem, and they will root in about ten weeks, or the following spring. This method is used mainly for evergreen shrubs, like boxwood (Buxus), and woody herbs, such as sage (Salvia). SUITABLE PLANTS CHOOSE A HEALTHY STEM Select shoot tips or side shoots that are firm at the base, soft and leafy at the top. Cut just below a leaf joint or gently pull side shoots downward to leave a heel of stem tissue still attached. REMOVE LOWER LEAVES Remove the leaves and side shoots from the lower half of the cutting, and trim back any heels at the base that are particularly long. If your cutting has no heel, simulate one by cutting a 1 in (2.5 cm) slice from one side of the stem. PREPARE THE STEM Use a sharp, sterilized knife to trim off the soft shoot tip just above a leaf joint. Discard this section. Removing the shoot tip helps reduce moisture loss from the cutting. POT UP Dip the cut ends in hormone rooting powder. Either root in pots of moist cutting soil mix, inserting them up to the base of the lower leaves, or set hardy types, such as boxwood (above) 3 in (8 cm) apart in sandy soil in a cold frame. Abutilon Artemisia Buxus Calluna Ceanothus Choisya Cytisus Erica Lavandula Mahonia (pictured above) Rosmarinus Salvia Sarcococca KEEP WARM Place your pots of cuttings in a covered propagator set to 64–70°F (18–21°C), or seal them in clear plastic bags, propped up with sticks to keep the plastic off the leaves. Keep soil moist. Harden off (see p.109), and plant out once rooted. 421 422 PLANT CARE >> Lawn care A verdant lawn makes a wonderful foil for flower borders and creates an emerald focal point in winter when color is in short supply. There are different types of turf for different situations (see p.206) but all lawns benefit from regular mowing, and care and attention in the spring and autumn. MOWING AND WATERING Mow grass whenever it is growing, provided the ground isn’t too wet or icy to walk on. In spring, mow once a week with the blades at their highest setting, and gradually lower them as growth accelerates. Use a box to collect the clippings, which can be composted, or use a “mulching mower” which doesn’t remove the grass but chops it into fine pieces, returning nutrients to the lawn. Rake off thick patches of clippings, which will damage the turf. In summer, a high-quality lawn may need cutting three times a week, but in autumn, as growth slows, once or twice a week should suffice. In dry periods, water newly laid turf, freshly sown areas, and high-quality lawns. Leave established lawns unwatered, but stop mowing because longer grass helps protect the roots. The grass may turn brown, but will recover once it rains. o When to water Water a new lawn every week in dry spells, until it is established. You can tell when fine lawns need watering because they lose their spring when walked on. Reduce water evaporation by using sprinklers early in the morning or at night. Move seep hoses by 8 in (20 cm) every half hour. FEEDING The amount of fertilizer you need to maintain lush green grass depends on how rich the underlying soil is, and if you occasionally leave the clippings on the lawn, which help top up the soil nutrients. Apply granular or liquid lawn fertilizer at least once a year. Spring and early summer feeds are high in nitrogen to boost leaf growth; products for use in early autumn are low in nitrogen but high in potassium to aid grass roots in winter. Do not overfeed because it can result in weak growth and fungal problems. TOP TIP: HOMEMADE TOP DRESSING a Applying fertilizer Divide the lawn into a grid of yard squares using stakes. Apply fertilizer at the rate according to the package. Rent a calibrated spreader for large lawns, and water if it doesn’t rain within three days after feeding. Applying a sandy top dressing (see opposite), helps rejuvenate lawns, especially those grown on heavy soils, by increasing drainage and encouraging strong root growth. Mix your own dressing by spreading out a sheet of plastic close to the lawn. Then, using a bucket as a single measure, combine three parts good-quality topsoil or sandy loam with six parts horticultural sand and one part peat substitute, such as coir or ground composted bark. Let the mixture dry slightly so you can spread it more easily, and then work it thoroughly into the surface of the lawn. << PLANT CARE Autumn treatment After a summer of heavy use many lawns start showing signs of wear and tear by the end of the season. Early autumn is a great time to repair the damage and to ensure that your turf is in good condition for the year ahead. RAKE OUT MOSS Kill off any moss with a lawn moss herbicide before vigorously scratching out dead material (thatch) from the lawn with a spring-tined rake; rent a motorized scarifier for large lawns. Raking improves the look and health of the turf. AERATE THE SOIL Open up air channels in a compacted lawn by pushing a border fork into the soil, or use a hollow tiner, which pulls out plugs of soil. Work across the lawn at 4 in (10 cm) intervals. Repeat this process every two years. APPLY TOP DRESSING After raking and aerating the lawn, work a top dressing into the holes. You can buy this premixed from garden centers and hardware stores, but it’s easy and cost effective on large lawns to make your own (see Top Tip, opposite). TOP TIP: WEEDING OPTIONS FEED AND SOW BRUSH IN DRESSING Work in the top dressing thoroughly using a stiff brush or besom, lightly filling the new aeration channels, and covering the ground to encourage strong rooting. Apply it evenly and make sure the grass isn’t smothered. Wearing gloves, apply a granular autumn lawn fertilizer evenly over marked out squares (see Applying fertilizer, opposite). Water in if no rain falls within three days of applying it. In early autumn, the soil is sufficiently warm and moist to sow grass seed too. Sprinkle seed to match your lawn type at half the recommended rate for new lawns to help thicken up any bald spots. Acidic lawns are prone to moss and weed growth. Check soil pH in winter, and raise it by applying ground chalk or limestone at a rate of 2 oz per 10 sq ft (50 g per sq meter). Apply a lawn weedkiller in spring or summer, and repeat in early autumn. Organic gardeners can grub out creeping buttercups, daisies (below), and tap-rooted weeds, like dandelions, using an old knife. 423 424 PLANT CARE >> Pest control By encouraging natural predators, following good garden practice, and making regular checks on your plants, you can keep many pests at bay. Aim to create conditions that support a healthy balance of predators and their prey, and you will limit the damage and need fewer chemical controls. KEEPING PESTS AT BAY Pest patrol should begin when you buy new plants or accept leafy gifts. Unwelcome visitors also fly or crawl in from neighboring gardens, so keep your eyes peeled and take prompt action. REDUCING THE RISK To prevent a plague of pests, avoid growing large areas of one type of plant. It is more difficult for pests to home in on their target when confronted by a variety of different plants, such as perennials, annuals, and shrubs, as well as herbs, vegetables, and fruit. The abundant nectar also draws in beneficial insects (see opposite). Don’t overfeed plants because aphids love the resulting soft growth. a Make a home for pest predators This water garden, surrounded by borders planted with a wide range of flowering perennials, makes the perfect home for beneficial bugs, slug-hunting amphibians, and insect-eating birds. BE VIGILANT Use a hand lens to scan flower buds, shoot tips, and the undersides of leaves for mites, aphids, and whitefly. Also look for grubs or nibbled roots when you take plants out of their pots, and search for caterpillars on rolled or skeletonized leaves. A night-time foray with a flashlight will reveal nocturnal pests, such as slugs and snails; seek them out during the day by checking under pots. Weed regularly, and look out for pest hideouts. 1 Neaten potential slug and snail roosting sites. 2 Check buds and shoot tips for aphids. 3 Pick off larger pests, such as lily beetle, by hand. Garden friends There’s often a frustrating lag between the appearance of pests, like aphids, and their natural predators, such as ladybirds, lacewings and hoverfly larvae. So, don’t be too quick to reach for insecticides, as killing off natural predators’ food sources may drive them away. Chemical pesticides also kill friendly bugs, as well as unwanted insects. IDENTIFYING PREDATORS It is important to recognize the chief insect predators; they are often the larvae of more familiar adults, like ladybugs and hoverflies, but some are quite different in appearance (see ladybug, below). By knowing what these larvae look like, you will be less likely to confuse them with pests, and may be able to move them to badly infested plants. Some predators hide under leaf litter and bark mulch, and are invisible during the day, actively feeding at night. One example is ground beetles, which attack slugs. Visit internet websites to identify mystery bugs or try ask the experts at your garden center. ENCOURAGING FRIENDLY BEASTS Lure beneficial insects into your garden by providing hibernation sites, such as a log pile, and simple flowers, which attract nectar-feeding types (see pp.352–353). Grow leafy ground cover to shelter slug-munching a Flowering feast Simple, open nectar-rich flowers, such as blanket flower (Gaillardia), are a magnet to bees and hoverflies, which appreciate an easy meal. frogs and toads, and add a small pond with grassy margins. Delay cutting herbaceous plants till spring for winter cover, and provide food, water, and nesting sites for birds. 1 Ladybugs and their larvae (inset) both gorge on aphids. Encourage them to visit in spring by avoiding insecticides, and provide cover, such as evergreen shrubs on a south wall, a hedge base, bark crevices, or leaf litter, for overwintering adults. 2 Frogs and toads eat slugs and flies, and even without a pond, will colonize a garden if there is shady ground cover, and a log or rock pile. 3 Garden spiders, especially web-building species, trap and eat large numbers of flying insect pests, including aphids and crane flies. 4 Hoverflies vary enormously. Larger species are sometimes confused with wasps, despite their hovering flight. Adults pollinate flowers and crops, and most larvae have a good appetite for aphids and other pests. Adults prefer yellow, orange, and white blooms. 5 Lacewing adults are most often seen seeking shelter indoors in autumn. Provide cover as for ladybugs. Green lacewing larvae, called “aphid lions,” also have a voracious appetite for other pests. 6 Thrushes are one of the few birds that eat snails. Most birds, including seedeaters, feed nestlings on insects and caterpillars. Encourage them with a year-round water supply, supplementary food, and roosting and nesting sites. 426 PLANT CARE >> Common pests and their control Slugs and snails are a nuisance for most gardeners, but simple preventive treatment, such as erecting barriers, encouraging predators, and using biological controls, can significantly reduce attacks in gardens. Tackle other pests with similar organic controls and guards to reduce the need for chemicals. SLUGS AND SNAILS o Snail targets Snails are fearless climbers, making your hanging baskets, wall troughs, and window boxes just as vulnerable as your beds and borders. Although these are annoying plant pests, much of their activity, such as devouring rotting vegetation, is actually beneficial. Unfortunately, they do not discriminate and are equally happy to chomp through desirable plants and crops. These nocturnal nibblers have rasping mouthparts, and chew the margins of leaves and petals, as well as leaving holes in them. They also strip off chunks of stem, causing young plants to collapse, and graze the skin and peel of fruit and vegetables. Seedlings and any juicy young shoots of established plants, flower and leaf buds, and newly unfurled foliage are particularly vulnerable. Snails can climb up walls and tall plants to reach their food, while some slugs live underground. o Key signs Look out for tattered leaves and ragged flowers that indicate the presence of slugs and snails. ORGANIC CONTROL Check under and around the rims of pots, beneath ledges, in piles of rocks or logs, and on evergreen shrubs where slugs and snails roost, and pick them off. Beer traps will lure them in at night. Slugs and snails are also deterred by copper strips, which give them an electric shock when they pass over them, and cloches made from plastic bottles. If all else fails, sprinkle pellets sparingly around key plants. 1 Beer in a cut-off plastic bottle lures and traps slugs. 2 Use the top half of the bottle to protect seedlings. 3 Fit copper tape around pot rims. 4 Surround vulnerable hostas with copper slug collars. << PLANT CARE APHIDS These pests are commonly known as greenfly, although other colors exist and some have a woolly wax coating. Aphid species number over 4,000 worldwide, and many favor specific plants. They reproduce rapidly in spring and summer. SIGNS OF ATTACK Shriveled and distorted shoots, leaves, and flowers are the main signs of aphid attacks. You may also see a residue of a sticky honeydew excretion, which can lead to black sooty mold (see p.433). Also look for aphids’ white discarded skins, which they shed as they grow. Aphids transmit viruses, and yellow mottling and color streaks in leaves and flowers indicate possible infection. These tiny insects give birth to live young that immediately start feeding, so soft plant tips rapidly become infested. Pinch off heavily affected shoots or blast them with water from a hosepipe. BIRDS AND SMALL MAMMALS Mice and other rodents dig up spring-sown seeds in the kitchen garden, and in autumn munch on ripening fruits and gnaw newly planted bulbs. Some birds are also a nuisance, pecking flowers, pulling up seedlings, eating brassicas, and stealing fruit. AVOIDING DEVASTATION Rabbits, squirrels, and pigeons can lay waste to newly planted beds, borders, and pots. To avoid scenes like that shown (right), erect barriers or netting, or cover seedlings and pots of bulbs with chicken wire. To prevent cats from scratching in the finely tilled soil of seed beds, lay thorny twigs across the surface, or insert short bamboo canes between crops or flowers. Sow large seeds, such as peas and beans, in pots away from hungry mice, and protect trees and shrubs with rabbit guards. Physical barriers p If birds and other animals persist in wrecking crops, sow within a protective enclosure. 1 Adult female aphids can produce five live babies per day for up to 30 days. 2 Aphids can be green, black, or other colors, but all do the same damage if left unchecked. 3 Clear infestations with fatty acids or plant oil sprays. Keep a ready-to-use spray handy for spot treatments. TOP TIP: BIOLOGICAL CONTROL Slugs, vine weevils, chafer grubs, and crane fly larvae can all be controlled with microscopic nematode worms that kill the pests without harming the environment. Mix the nematodes with water and apply at specific times of year, following the supplier’s instructions. Treatments may need to be repeated. You can buy nematodes to control a range of pests on the internet or via mail-order companies. 427 428 PLANT CARE >> Identifying common pests You can identify pest damage in one of two ways: either you see the beast or you see the damage it causes. Use chemical sprays only as a last resort: wear gloves when mixing and spraying, and follow manufacturers’ instructions. Where possible, try pest traps and barriers, biological controls, and organic sprays first. 1 GALL MITES 2 BOX SUCKER 3 CODLING MOTH 4 WINTER MOTH These microscopic mites suck sap and cause abnormal growths. These include raised pimples or clumps of matted hairs on leaves, or enlarged buds. Most are harmless and can be tolerated. The wingless nymphs of box psyllids are covered in a waxy coat, and found inside the ball-shaped shoot tips in spring. Control the pest by cutting off affected growth and discard or burn it. To avoid maggots in apples, spray emerging caterpillars twice using bifenthrin, starting in midsummer. Also hang pheromone traps in late spring to catch male moths and prevent them from mating. In spring, the leaves of fruit trees are webbed together and hide green caterpillars inside. Holes are visible when leaves expand. Apply sticky grease bands to the trees and stakes in autumn to trap adult moths. 5 SCALE INSECTS 6 GLASSHOUSE WHITEFLY 7 VIBURNUM BEETLE 8 THRIPS Tiny blister or shell-like bumps on leaf backs result in poor growth. Other symptoms are sticky excretions and sooty mold on evergreens. Wash off mold, and spray with plant oils, fatty acids, or thiacloprid. Under glass, hang yellow sticky pads to trap these tiny white flying adults, which suck sap from plants; use a biological control (Encarsia wasp) on larvae, or spray with thiacloprid or organic chemical controls. Both the adults and larvae eat holes in the leaves, mainly on Viburnum tinus and V. opulus; this can slow growth and looks unsightly. Spray badly affected plants in spring using bifenthrin or thiacloprid. These tiny black sap-suckers, known as “thunder flies,” cause white patches on the petals and leaves of indoor plants, and also peas, leeks, onions, and gladioli. Spray with bifenthrin or use biological controls. 9 VINE WEEVIL 0 CATERPILLARS q SAWFLIES w LEAF MINERS Small cream grubs with a brown head (top) feed on plant roots, especially those growing in containers or with fleshy roots. This can cause plants to suddenly collapse. The adult beetle (below) is nocturnal, flightless, and makes notches in leaves. Use a biological control (nematodes). The larvae of butterflies and moths attack many plants. Cabbage white caterpillars (top) decimate brassicas and nasturtiums, while those of the tomato moth (below) damage fruits. Cover plants to keep adults from laying eggs, rub off egg clusters, and pick off any caterpillars you find. The caterpillar-like larvae (top) devour the foliage on plants such as roses, gooseberries, and Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum). Look out for the first signs of attack, such as leaf rolling (rose leaf-rolling sawfly, below). Pick caterpillars off by hand or spray with bifenthrin or pyrethrum. The larvae of various flies, moths, sawflies, and beetles feed within the leaves, creating discolored blotches (top), or linear mines (below). Most are relatively harmless and can be left untreated. However, if necessary, you can spray leaves with thiacloprid. e RED SPIDER MITES r WOOLLY BEECH APHID t HORSE CHESTNUT y EARWIG The tiny mites live under leaves and suck sap, causing yellow mottling. Fine webs are sometimes visible. Raise humidity and use a biological control under glass. Otherwise try organic sprays or bifenthrin. Seen in early summer, these white fluffy aphids coat shoots and the undersides of leaves. They suck sap, and excrete honeydew that supports black sooty mold. Spray severe infestations with thiacloprid. LEAF MINER Mostly beneficial, earwigs are nocturnal and feed on dahlia, chrysanthemum, and clematis flowers. Lure them into upturned flower pots filled with straw and set on stakes; release them elsewhere. This new but widespread pest attacks mature trees where control is difficult. Leaves show brown marks between the veins, which result in slow growth and early leaf drop. 430 PLANT CARE >> Plant diseases The best way to keep plants free from disease is to grow them in the right conditions, so that they are strong enough to fight off any infections. Clean and sterilize tools and equipment, and prevent diseases from spreading by taking prompt action. Check symptoms carefully—they may just be signs of stress. PREVENTING DISEASES Before buying a plant, check that it is healthy, and where species are susceptible to certain problems, buy cultivars that are disease resistant, if available. Try to plant in ideal conditions in well-nourished soil of the correct type, pH, and drainage for your chosen plants, and with sufficient sun or shade (see pp.14–15). Also keep them well watered, especially after planting while they establish. At the first sign of trouble, cut off affected parts, and either burn them or take them to your local recycling center. Regularly remove yellowing leaves and fading flowers, as well as diseased leaves that have fallen to the ground, which may cause reinfection if the spores blow onto healthy plants. If space allows, practice crop rotation in vegetable gardens to prevent disease from building up in localized areas. CLEANING SOLUTIONS Clean cutting tools, including pruning saws, shears, and clippers, regularly with disinfectant to lessen the risk of disease spreading from one plant to another. Clean and sterilize pots, trays, and other equipment used for sowing to prevent damping-off disease, which causes seedlings to suddenly collapse and die. Use new soil and tap water when sowing seeds. a p Clean tools and sterilize equipment Scrub sap from cutting blades with warm soapy water, and use household disinfectant to sterilize them (above). This reduces the risk of passing infection between plants. Rinse off old soil and use a baby bottle sterilizing tablet to cleanse containers used for sowing (right). a Check plants regularly Keep plants healthy by removing any yellowing or marked leaves, fading flowers, and dead stems. Pay particular attention to bedding plants (above) and greenhouse crops. << PLANT CARE STRESS AND VIRUSES It can be diffficult to work out what is wrong with a plant, but some worrying symptoms are a sign that the plant is stressed, perhaps due to a lack of nutrients, or because it has suffered physical or chemical damage. ASSESS YOUR PLANTS Some plants discolor if not properly hardened off (see p.109), or if grown at too cool or high a temperature. Leaves may turn white or develop red or purple tints. Starved plants also show leaf discoloration and stunted growth. Viruses are commonly spread by sap-sucking insect pests, such as aphids. Typical symptoms are pale-streaked or mottled leaves, and leaf curling or distortion. Flower petals may also be streaked, and fruit and flower production reduced or growth stunted. Remove affected plants and throw in the trash or burn them. a Frost damage Brown or blackened shoot tips in spring are signs that a shrub has been scorched by frost. Leave stems to resprout and then cut off the dead material. a Virus attack Streaked foliage that does not improve after feeding may indicate a virus. Kill any sap-sucking pests that spread viruses, and discard or burn infected plants. Signs of stress p Some plants, including boxwood (right), show unusual leaf coloring after a hot, dry summer, or following root damage due to waterlogging. TREATING DISEASES Taking the right care of your plant patient is an important step toward its recovery. Spraying or removing affected parts all play a part in the process, but ailing plants should also be fed and watered to help them regain their strength. Watch out for pests, which may attack your plant as it recovers, causing it to decline again. CHEMICAL CONTROL Use fungicides sparingly, and follow the manufacturers’ instructions and recommendations for protective clothing. On small and wall-trained fruit trees, where practical to spray, a program of preventive treatment can be helpful to counter a range of diseases (see pp.432–433). Also, reduce the need for spraying by growing disease-resistant cultivars and providing good growing conditions. If early sowings suffer from damping off, consider drenching your soil with a preventive copper-based fungicide. a Cutting out disease Prune out diseased wood as soon as you see it, to prevent infections from spreading to healthy tissue. REMOVING THE PROBLEM a Spraying fungicide If organic methods have failed, spray affected plants with a fungicide recommended for the plant. Wear gloves and follow the instructions on the label. Keep a look out for dead wood and torn branches and prune back to healthy tissue. Prune to a bud to reduce the risk of die back and infection (see p.410 for pruning methods). As well as sterilizing cutting equipment, wash your hands in soapy water after handling diseased material. Regularly check stored fruits, vegetables, and flower bulbs and tubers, and remove any that show signs of decay or damage. 431 432 PLANT CARE >> Common diseases and disorders Some plants are more susceptible to certain diseases than others, so buy resistant varieties whenever possible. You can also boost a plant’s natural resistance by growing it in ideal conditions, and remove infected material and overwintering weeds that may carry diseases into the following year. 1 CLEMATIS WILT 2 APPLE SCAB 3 APPLE AND PEAR CANKER 4 BLOSSOM END ROT The fungus causes wilting and black foliage on large-flowered cultivars. Plant clematis 2–3 in (5–7 cm) deeper than they were in their pots; cut stems to the base if the disease strikes. Symptoms include brown leaf spots, leaf drop, and scabby and cracked fruit. Cut off scabby shoots, clear fallen leaves, and use a fungicide. Also grow resistant cultivars. Lesions appear on bark, and white fungus grows in summer on the wounds. Avoid growing plants on waterlogged soil. Cut out affected wood and spray in autumn with a fungicide. Dark patches on tomatoes are a symptom of calcium deficiency, caused by a lack of, or irregular, watering. Water more often and apply a tomato fertilizer every week after flowering. 5 CLUB ROOT 6 CHOCOLATE SPOT 7 ROSE BLACKSPOT 8 SILVERLEAF This slime mold affects brassicas and causes swollen roots, pale, wilted foliage, and poor crops. Infected soil or plants carry the spores. Plant a different crop on infected soil, or grow brassicas in pots. A common fungal disease that affects broad beans. Brown spots appear on leaves, stems, and pods, and yields are poor. Remove and destroy infected material. Improve soil drainage and air flow between plants. Signs are yellowing leaves with black spots and sunken stem lesions. Pick off and burn infected and fallen leaves. Hard prune in late winter, then use a fungicide spray. Also, select disease-resistant roses. Causes silver sheen on plum, cherry, rhododendron, and. rose leaves; affected stems may die. Prune in summer to minimize infection. Prune out and destroy affected wood. Feed to boost plants’ vigor. 9 HONEY FUNGUS 0 BOTRYTIS (GRAY MOLD) q POWDERY MILDEW w POTATO SCAB/BLIGHT Toadstools (top) appear in autumn at the base of trees or shrubs, with a white fungus that smells of mushrooms under the bark. Black “bootlaces” (below) appear in the soil. There is no cure, so remove the plant and all the roots to prevent the spread of this fatal disease. This fungal disease takes hold in humid conditions, especially on spring and autumn bedding, and under glass. Flowers (top) and leaves (below) turn yellow or brown, and may have a gray furry coating. Soft fruits and tomatoes also rot. Remove dead material, and injured stems and leaves promptly. A white fungus appears on leaves and stems of crops and ornamental plants, especially those growing in pots and planters, or by hedges and walls. Susceptibility increases with lack of water and poor growing conditions. Water well, avoiding the foliage, feed, and mulch to boost resistance. Scab (top) forms if tubers are grown in dry soil; add organic matter and water well to increase moisture. Blight (below) is more serious and worse in wet conditions. The foliage browns and wilts, and tubers rot. Destroy all affected plants and don’t grow potatoes in the soil for three years. e RUST r SOOTY MOLD t CORAL SPOT y RHODODENDRON A fungal disease that causes brown, orange, or yellow pustules on the backs of leaves. The spores increase in humid conditions. Pick off and destroy affected growth. Look for resistant varieties. This black fungus is often seen on the upper leaf surfaces of evergreen shrubs. It grows on the sticky mess produced by sap-sucking insect pests. Kill the pests, and wash off the mold with mild soapy water. The orange-pink fungus grows on dead wood but can also infect living tissue if plants are weak or poorly pruned. Cut out and destroy affected wood. Feed and water plants well to boost their immunity. Buds on infected plants remain unopened and look silvery. In late spring they develop black bristles. Remove affected buds and take to a recycling center. There is no chemical treatment. BUD BLAST 434 INDEX A >> Abies (fir) A. balsamea ‘Nana’ 243 A. concolor ‘Wintergold’ 244–5 A. fraseri 158 A. koreana 243 A. nordmanniana 158 A. n. ‘Golden Spreader’ 243 Abutilon 421 Acanthus (bear’s breeches) 418 Acer 18, 241 A. campestre 193 A. davidii 182 A. japonicum 182 A. palmatum 44 A. p. dissectum ‘Garnet’ 44–5 A. p. ‘Sango-kaku’ 184 Achillea (yarrow) 28, 29, 66, 67, 73, 416 A. filipendula ‘Gold Plate’ 66, 67 A. ‘Moonshine’ 350–1 A. Summer Pastels Group 46–7 A. ‘Walther Funcke’ 94–5 acid soils 14, 258, 422 acid-loving plants 44–5, 162, 258, 294, 295, 301 Aconitum carmichaelii Arendsii Group 68 Acorus calamus ‘Argenteostriatus’ 329 Actaea simplex ‘Brunette’ 92–3 Adiantum 368 A. capillus-veneris 140, 141, 386–7 Aeonium arboreum 140 Aeschynanthus 370–1 African violet see Saintpaulia Agapanthus 155 Ageratum houstonianum ‘Hawaii White’ 132 Ajuga reptans 56–7 Akebia quinata 224 Alcea (hollyhock) 68 A. rosea ‘Chater’s Double Group’ 69 Alchemilla alpina 204 A. mollis 77, 80, 92–3, 186–7 allergic reactions 269 Allium 38, 40, 41, 43, 72, 187 A. hollandicum ‘Purple Sensation’ 38, 42–3 almonds 306 Alnus incana 236 Aloe aristata 391 alpines 136–7, 169, 203 Alstroemeria 72, 408 A. ligtu hybrids 66, 67 Alyssum 77 A. wulfenianum 205 Amaranthus caudatus 113 amaryllis (Hippeastrum) 366–7 Amelanchier lamarckii 176 Anchusa A. azurea 66, 67 A. a. ‘Loddon Royalist’ 269, 350–1 Androsace sarmentosa 205 Anemone 68 A. hupehensis ‘Hadspen Abundance’ 69 A. x hybrida 80, 418 Angelica archangelica 74–5 animals 41, 55, 187, 290, 324, 347, 427 annuals 11, 17, 64–5, 115, 126, 312–13, 352 bedding plants 64–5, 108–11 for cutting and drying 72, 73 from seed 108–13, 167 Anthemis 68 A. punctata subsp. cupaniana 79 A. tinctoria ‘E.C. Buxton’ 68 Anthurium andraeanum 383, 399 Antirrhinum 72, 77, 121 A. majus 166–7, 288, 289, 311 aphids 249, 283, 304, 424, 425, 427 spreading diseases 427, 429, 431, 433 apple mint 310 apples 297, 299, 320, 346, 428, 432 aquatic compost 324, 327, 328, 339, 341 aquatic plants 11, 324, 325, 326, 327, 338–9 Aquilegia 43, 77 A. formosa 68 A. ‘Nora Barlow’ 42–3 A. vulgaris ‘Nivea’ 59 Arabis subsp. caucasica ‘Variegata’ 204 Arbutus unedo 185 arches 187, 222–5, 229, 233, 238 Argyranthemum 420 Aronia berries (chokeberries) 294 Artemisia 421 arum lily see Zantedeschia aethiopica Asparagus fern A. densiflorus ‘Myersii’ 128–9, 387 A. setaceus ‘Nanus’ 387 asparagus pea 250–1 aspect 15, 28, 176, 239 Asperula 189 Asplenium A. nidus 386–7 A. scolopendrium 57, 164 Aster 352, 416 A. amellus cultivars 353 A. dumosus purple hybrid 148–9 A. frikartii 94–5 Astilbe 182–3 Astilboides tabularis 84–5 Astrantia major 69 Aubretia 203 A. ‘Argenteovariegata’ 204 Aucuba 417 Aurinia saxatilis 203 autumn border 94–5 autumn colour 11, 96, 176, 220, 221, 234–5, 413 autumn interest 70–1, 95, 96–7, 148–9 azaleas 44 B Bacopa cordata 138–9 bags, growing crops in 251, 253, 276–7 bamboos 13, 62–3, 144–5, 242 see also Fargesia; Indocalamus; Phyllostachys; Pleioblastus banana see Ensete ventricosum; Musa basjoo bare-root plants 21, 62–3, 114, 196, 307, 320 bark 176, 182–3, 405, 422 barrel pool 338–9 basil 90–1, 310, 312–13 bay see Laurus nobilis bean sprouts 266, 267 beans see broad beans; French beans; runner beans bear’s breeches see Acanthus bedding plants 11, 64–5, 108–11, 120–1, 128, 135, 139 diseases 430, 433 bee hotel 362 beech see Fagus bees 13, 68, 198, 310, 350–1, 355, 362 beetroot 256 Begonia 122, 420 B. ‘Benitochiba’ 396 B. ‘Bettina Rothschild’ 371 B. ‘Illumination Rose’ 121 B. ‘Martin Johnson’ 396 B. rex 370–1 B. r. hybrids 396–7 B. ‘Tiny Bright’ 396 winter-flowering 399 Berberis B. darwinii 193 B. thunbergii f. atropurpurea ‘Golden Ring’ 194 bergamot see Monarda didyma Bergenia 19, 416 B. x schmidtii 81 berries 11, 96–7, 164, 176, 179, 194, 347 wall shrubs for 234–5 Betula (birch) 177 B. alleghaniensis 177 B. nana 236 B. papyrifera 237 B. pendula 236 B. utilis var. jacquemontii 84–5, 182–3 Bidens 108, 111 biennials 11, 114 biological controls 110, 426, 427, 428, 429 birch see Betula birds 55, 324, 328, 362, 424, 427 food 70, 96, 179, 234, 346, 347, 425 nesting sites 346, 347, 363, 425 protection from 208, 265, 294, 295, 321, 349, 427 black-eyed Susan see Thunbergia alata blackberries 13, 293, 417 blackcurrants 295, 298 blackspot 415, 432 blackthorn see Prunus spinosa Blechnum gibbum 382, 387 bleeding heart see Dicentra blood, fish and bone meal 36, 181, 404 blueberries 258, 294, 295, 301 bog gardens 85, 330–1, 337, 341 bog plants 326, 332–5 bokashi composting 359 borders 28–31, 64–5, 67, 71, 416 autumn border 94–5 for bees 350–1 cottage garden 66–7 easy-care 82–3 fiery 46–7 grass border 52–3 by hedges 80–1 pastel 42–3 prairie border 70–1 scented 50–1 shady 36–7, 80–1 winter border 100–1 Boston ivy see Parthenocissus tricuspidata box 90–1, 98–9, 142, 146–7, 194, 197, 241, 308–9 see also Buxus sempervirens Brachyglottis (Dunedin Group) ‘Sunshine’ 82 Brachyscome B. ‘Blue Mist’ 133 B. Lilac 134–5 branches, cutting 411 Brassica oleracea 164 Briza (quaking grass) 73 B. maxima 115 broad beans 282, 283, 409 broccoli 91 bromeliads 384, 395 bronze-leaved fennel 50–1 broom see Cytisus Brugmansia B. aurea 129 B. x candida 385 Brunnera macrophylla ‘Dawson’s White’ 58 brussels sprouts 265 bubble fountain 344–5 Buddleja 412, 419 << bulbs 18, 19, 35, 40–1, 124–5, 169, 187, 191 houseplants 367, 378–9, 395 naturalizing 210–11 spring bulbs 34–5, 38–41, 106–7, 230–1 bush marrow ‘Badger Cross’ F1 279 busy Lizzie see Impatiens walleriana Butomus umbellatus 329 butterflies 17, 54, 198, 265, 310, 347, 353, 357 butterfly bush see Buddleja butternut squash 279 butyl pond liner 324, 326, 330–1, 337, 339, 356 Buxus (box) 419, 420, 431 B. sempervirens 90–1, 98–9, 146–7, 170–1, 308–9 B. s. ‘Elegantissima’ 194 see also box C cabbage 91, 262 cacti 368, 381, 388–91 Caladium 368 Calamagrostis x acutifolia 170–1 Calathea C. ‘Blue Grass’ 381 C. zebrina 382 Calendula (marigold) 250–1 C. officinalis 112, 268 Calibrachoa ‘Million Bells Purple’ 134–5 California lilac see Ceanothus California poppy see Eschscholzia californica Callicarpa dichotoma 97 Callistephus chinensis ‘Pompon’ 113 Calluna (heather) 421 Caltha palustris 326, 329, 338–9 Camellia 37, 44, 408 Campanula 416, 418 C. carpatica var. turbinata ‘Jewel’ 205 C. poscharskyana 81, 203 candytuft see Iberis umbellata Canna 87, 143 C. indica 336–7 Cape primrose see Streptocarpus cardoon see Cynara cardunculus Carex (sedge) 332, 337 C. comans 336–7 C. conica ‘Snowline’ 148–9 C. elata ‘Aurea’ 332 C. ‘Ice Dance’ 127 C. morrowii 125 C. oshimensis ‘Evergold’ 123, 162–3 Carpinus (hornbeam) 81, 197, 411 C. betulus 81, 195, 197, 411 carrots 257, 409 Catalpa bignonioides 177, 413 catkins 235, 236–7 catmint see Nepeta cats 55, 427 Cattleya 374, 375 Ceanothus 411, 413, 421 C. ‘Concha’ 235 Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca Pendula’ 242 celeriac 257 Celmisia walkeri 204 Centaurea cyanus (cornflower) 72, 73, 112, 348 Cephalotaxus harringtonii ‘Fastigiata’ 243 Ceratophyllum demersum 327 Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’ 45 C. siliquastrum 185 Chaenomeles 411, 417 C. x superba 235 Chamaecyparis C. lawsoniana ‘Golden Pot’ 243 C. l. ‘Minima Aurea’ 243 C. obtusa 242 C. o. ‘Opaal’ 242 Chamaedorea elegans (parlour palm) 382 Chamaemelum (chamomile) 202 C. nobile ‘Treneague’ 209 chamomile lawns 209 chard 250–1, 260 checkerboards 202–3 cherries (fruit trees) 297, 298, 321, 411, 432 cherry see Prunus chicory 288, 289 children 17, 54–5, 187, 202, 266–7, 274 chillies 90–1, 280 chives 166–7, 288, 289, 311, 312–13, 314–15 Chlorophytum comosum ‘Variegatum’ 371 Choisya 164, 421 C. x dewitteana ‘Aztec Pearl’ 82 C. ternata Sundance 157, 165 chokeberries 294 Christmas, plants for 366–7, 378–9, 392–3 Christmas box see Sarcococca confusa Christmas cactus see Schlumbergera Christmas trees, repotting 158–9 Chrysanthemum 72, 420, 429 Cirsium 68 C. rivulare 80 C. r. ‘Atropurpureum’ 68 Cistus (rock rose) 78, 345, 419 C. x dansereaui ‘Decumbens’ 79 x Citrofortunella microcarpa 305 Citrus 304–5 C. aurantifolia 305 C. hystrix 305 clay pots 104, 105, 110, 150–1, 407, 409 clay soils 14, 199 improving 15, 29, 41, 51, 67, 71, 82, 91 Cleistocactus strausii 388–9 Clematis 118, 119, 213, 214–19, 239, 429 pruning 119, 412, 414 C. alpina 119, 414 C. ‘Arabella’ 119 C. armandii 214, 215, 222–3, 239, 414 C. ‘Ascotiensis’ 215 C. ‘Barbara Jackman’ 119 C. ‘Bees’ Jubilee’ 119, 214, 215 C. ‘Bill MacKenzie’ 214 C. cirrhosa 414 C. c. var. purpurascens ‘Freckles’ 239 C. ‘Comtesse de Bouchaud’ 119 C. ‘Daniel Deronda’ 119 C. x diversifolia 46–7, 215 C. ‘Etoile Rose’ 214 C. florida 119 C. f. var. flore-pleno 119 C. f. var. sieboldiana 119 C. ‘Henryi’ 214 C. ‘H.F. Young’ 119 C. ‘Ice Blue’ 119 C. ‘Kingfisher’ 119 C. macropetala 119, 414 C. ‘Miss Bateman’ 119 C. montana 214, 414 C. m. var. rubens ‘Tetrarose’ 214 C. ‘Nelly Moser’ 414 C. ‘Niobe’ 119 C. ‘Ooh La la’ 119 C. orientalis 414 C. ‘Perle d’Azur’ 119 C. ‘Prince Charles’ 119 C. ‘Purpurea Plena Elegans’ 215 C. ‘Royalty’ 119 C. tangutica 414 C. texensis 414 C. ‘Ville de Lyon’ 214 C. viticella 412, 414 C. ‘Vyvyan Pennell’ 214 clematis wilt 219, 239, 432 Cleome 72 Clerodendron C. thomsoniae 128–9 C. trichotomum var. fargesii 96 Clethra 45 climbers 11, 13, 126, 212–13, 251, 411, 417 in containers 118–19, 126, 251 vines 220–1 for winter 238–9 see also arches; obelisks climbing French beans 248–9 climbing roses 212, 213, 224, 225, 411 Clivia 395, 398 C. miniata 398 INDEX cloches 263, 287, 409, 426 cobnuts 307 Coelogyne nitida 372 cold frames 228, 264, 409, 416, 418, 419, 421 coleus see Solenostemon scutellarioides Colmanara ‘Massai Red’ 376–7 compost aquatic 324, 327, 328, 339, 341 for cacti and succulents 389 cutting compost 420, 421 ericaceous 44, 159, 162, 301 garden see garden compost houseplant compost 387, 396 as mulch 196, 320, 404 potting compost 149, 157 seed compost 108–9, 115, 276, 280, 302 spent mushroom compost 12, 15 compost bins 358–9 composting 358–9, 361, 422 conifers 45, 242–3, 244–5 dwarf 100–1, 142, 150–1, 242, 243 conservatories 129, 375, 381 containers 44, 55, 110–11, 134–5, 405, 407 choosing 104–5, 142–3, 161, 169, 171, 368, 387, 396 feeding 124, 125, 149, 152, 161, 169 frost protection 128, 335, 409 fruit in 290–1, 293, 296–9 grouping 104, 142, 368 renewing compost 124, 127, 139, 151, 171, 298, 335 shrubs in 135, 150–3, 164, 165 for table displays 168–9, 204 trees in 135, 188, 189 vegetables in 250–1, 253, 260–1, 312–13 see also hanging baskets; pots; window boxes contemporary gardens 90–1, 154–5, 242 Convallaria majalis 169 Convolvulus cneorum 133 copper strips 110, 161, 285, 300, 426 coppicing 100, 307 Cordyline 116, 409 C. australis 116, 140, 141 Coreopsis 154–5 C. verticillata ‘Moonbeam’ 68 coriander 302, 311 corn cockle 349 cornflower see Centaurea cyanus Cornus (dogwood) 231, 419 C. alba ‘Sibirica’ 100–1 C. amomum ‘Blue Cloud’ 97 C. florida 44–5 C. kousa ‘Miss Satomi’ 184 435 436 INDEX >> C. mas 184 C. stolonifera ‘Flaviramea’ 100–1 Cortaderia (pampas grass) C. selloana ‘Aureolineata’ 52–3 C. s. ‘Pumila’ 52–3 Corylus (hazel) 179, 182, 192 C. avellana 192, 193 C. maxima ‘Purpurea’ 413 Cosmos 72, 349 C. atrosanguineus 48 C. bipinnatus 65 C. b. ‘Purity’ 166–7 C. b. ‘Sonata White’ 112 Cotinus (smoke bush) 413, 417 C. ‘Grace’ 243 cottage gardens 17, 66–9, 104, 233 cottage-style containers 104, 105, 126–7, 241 cotton lavender see Santolina courgettes 250–1, 268, 276–7, 405 cow parsley 349 crab apple see Malus Crambe 418 cranesbill see Geranium Crassula arborescens 391 Crataegus (hawthorn) 179, 192, 193, 346, 347 C. laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’ 346 C. l. ‘Rosea’ 185 creeping Jenny see Lysimachia nummularia cress 266 crevices, plants for 204–5 Crocosmia C. ‘Bressingham Blaze’ 82–3 C. ‘Lucifer’ 46–7 C. masoniorum 28, 29 Crocus 35, 210–11 C. corsicus 38 C. tommasinianus 34–5 Cryptomeria 141 Cucurbita maxima (pumpkin) 277, 278–9, 283 Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Goldcrest’ 162–3 C. sempervirens 243 curry plant 308, 309 cut-and-come-again leaves 286, 287 cutting, flowers for 72–3, 86 cutting branches 411 cuttings 418–21 Cycas revoluta 381 Cyclamen 156 C. coum Pewter Group 59 C. persicum ‘Sierra White’ 398 Cymbidium 374, 375 C. kanran 375 C. lowianum 372 C. ‘Minuet’ 373 C. ‘Showgirl’ 398 Cynara cardunculus (cardoon) 79 Cytisus (broom) 421 D daffodils 72, 106–7, 156, 187, 211, 379 forcing 378, 379 planting 41, 211 see also Narcissus Dahlia 72, 86–7, 88–9, 121, 429 annual 108, 111 D. ‘Arabian Night’ 88 D. ‘Bishop of Llandaff’ 46–7 D. ‘David Howard’ 46–7 D. ‘Easter Sunday’ 88 D. ‘Gay Princess’ 88 D. ‘Kathryn’s Cupid’ 88 D. ‘Moonfire’ 89 D. ‘Pink Giraffe’ 89 D. ‘Polar Sight’ 89 D. ‘Preston Park’ 89 D. ‘Ragged Robin’ 88 D. ‘Yellow Hammer’ 88 D. ‘Zorro’ 89 daisies 19, 345, 349 damping off 430, 431 damsons 297 Daphne D. x burkwoodii ‘Somerset’ 48 D. laureola subsp. philippi 37 Darmera peltata 332 daylily see Hemerocallis dead hedges, for wildlife 355 deadheading 51, 77, 199, 312 containers 107, 110, 114, 125, 126, 130, 131, 140, 167 decorative edges, building 32–3 deep-water aquatics 11, 326 deficiencies of minerals 13, 44, 431 Delosperma harazianum 137 Delphinium 67, 73, 420 D. Black Knight Group 66, 67 D. grandiflorum 127 Dendrobium 374, 375 D. ‘Sweet Dawn’ 372 Deschampsia cespitosa 70–1 desert bowl 388–9 design 16–17, 29, 30, 67, 176, 177, 243 Deutzia 412, 419 Dianthus (pink; sweet William) 420 D. barbatus (sweet William) 72 D. ‘Bovey Belle’ 49 D. ‘Devon Flores’ 168–9 D. ‘Little Jock’ 205 D. ‘Super Trooper’ 50–1 Diascia 125, 408 D. Flying Colours Coral 130, 131 Dicentra 418 D. spectabilis (bleeding heart) 80, 179 D. s. ‘Alba’ 68 D. s. ‘Gold Heart’ 37 Dichondra argentea ‘Silver Falls’ 130–1 Dicksonia antarctica 180–1 Dieffenbachia seguine ‘Saturn’ 381 digging 21, 22, 23, 29, 67, 95 Digitalis (foxglove) 72, 80 D. purpurea 77 D. p. f. albiflora 42–3 diseases 20, 410, 430–3 preventing 265, 410, 430, 431, 432–3 see also blackspot; box blight; clematis wilt; powdery mildew; silver leaf disease; sooty mould dividing plants 18, 41, 127, 144, 291, 327, 416 dog rose see Rosa canina dogs 55 dogwood see Cornus x Doritaenopsis ‘Taida Pearl’ 372 Draba hispanica 137 drainage 12, 15, 41, 43, 51, 209, 331 containers 106, 110, 125, 157, 285, 370 drought-tolerant plants 76, 198–9, 308, 315 raised beds 155, 189, 254, 255, 256 vegetables 254, 256, 257, 270, 271 drift planting 35, 95, 337 drought-tolerant plants 80, 82, 116, 136–7, 169, 171, 199, 406 gravel gardens 17, 76–7, 344 dry, shady areas 57, 58–9 dry stone walls 203, 204–5 drying flowers 72, 73 Dryopteris filix-mas 57, 123, 189, 336–7 duckweed 327, 339 dwarf conifers 100–1, 142, 150–1, 242, 243 dwarfing rootstocks 296, 297, 298, 299, 320 Dypsis lutescens 381 E easy-care border 82–3 Eccremocarpus scaber 224 Echeveria pulvinata 390 Echinacea purpurea ‘Rubinstern’ 70–1 Echinocereus pulchellus 390 Echinops (globe thistle) 73, 418 Echinopsis multiplex 390 Echium vulgare ‘Blue Bedder’ 78, 352 edging 32–3 edible flowers 54, 268–9 elder see Sambucus endive ‘Pancalieri’ 288 Enkianthus deflexus 45 Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’ 128–9 Epidendrum 374, 375 E. prismatocarpum 373 Epimedium x versicolor 81 Equisetum 337 E. hyemale var. affine 336–7 Eragrostis ‘Totnes Burgundy’ 142 Eranthis hyemalis (winter aconite) 34–5 Erica (heather) 156, 417, 421 E. arborea var. alpina ‘Albert’s Gold’ 150–1 E. carnea 45, 100–1 E. c. f. aureifolia ‘Foxhollow’ 244–5 ericaceous compost 44, 159, 162, 301 ericaceous fertilizer 44, 301 Erigeron E. compositus var. discoideus 137 E. karvinskianus 204, 205 Eriobotrya japonica (loquat) 60–1, 78, 177 Eryngium (sea holly) 73, 418 E. giganteum 77 E. x tripartitum 78 Erysimum (wallflower) 19, 114, 420 E. ‘Bowles’ Mauve’ 42–3 E. cheiri 114 E. c. ‘Fire King’ 48 Erythronium 56–7 Escallonia 413 Eschscholzia (California poppy) 77 E. californica 113 Eucalyptus 182 Eucomis bicolor 140, 141 Euonymus 164, 238 E. fortunei 241 E. f. ‘Emerald Gaiety’ 154-5 E. f. ‘Emerald ’n’ Gold’ 59, 164 E. planipes 96 Eupatorium 70–1 E. purpureum 333 Euphorbia (spurge) 19, 345 E. characias Silver Swan 154–5 E. myrsinites 78 E. pulcherrima (poinsettia) 367, 392–3 E. p. ‘Freedom White’ 393 E. p. ‘Red Fox Infinity Red’ 393 E. p. ‘Sonora’ 393 E. p. ‘Spotlight Pink’ 393 evergreens 11, 156–7, 204, 205, 235, 413, 421, 428 hedges 194, 195 Exacum affine 385 exotic plants 17, 128–9 expanded clay pebbles 376 F Fagus (beech) 81, 197 family gardens 17, 54–5 Fargesia murielae 144–5 << farmyard manure 12, 13, 15, 21, 22, 29, 139, 249, 404 as mulch 139, 196, 404, 405 see also borders; fruit; planting Fatsia japonica 152, 154–5, 368–9 fedges 81 feeding 13, 64, 209, 230, 305, 404, 431, 433 borders 31, 51, 67, 82, 155, 245 containers 124, 125, 149, 152, 161, 169 fruit trees 296, 297 hedges 196, 199 houseplants 367, 374, 394, 395, 396 lawns 422, 423 roses 93, 139 shrubs 36 trees 182, 187, 296, 297 see also fertilizer Felicia 420 fences, planting climbers against 219 fennel 50–1, 311, 314–15 ferns 56–7, 179, 181, 182–3, 187 in containers 16, 123, 143 as houseplants 368, 386–7 see also Adiantum; Asparagus; Asplenium; Dryopteris; Nephrolepis; Osmunda; Pellaea; Platycerium; Polystichum; Pteris; tree ferns fertilizer 13, 30, 31, 262, 404, 405 see also feeding; planting Festuca 132 F. glauca 132 F. g. ‘Elijah Blue’ 134–5 F. g. ‘Golden Toupee’ 134–5 feverfew 77 Ficus (fig) 316 F. carica 90–1 F. pumila 368–9 fiery border 46–7 Filipendula purpurea 333 fir see Abies firethorn see Pyracantha fishponds 328–9 Fittonia verschaffeltii 382 flea beetles 287 fleece 61, 140, 298, 316, 317, 408, 409, 418 as protection from pests 257, 287 floribunda roses 415 flowering cherry see Prunus flowering currant see Ribes sanguineum flowering quince see Chaenomeles flowers for cutting 72, 86 for drying 72, 73 edible 54, 268–9 focal points 98–9, 177, 180–1, 238, 243, 370, 380–1 foliage 19, 78, 81, 116–17, 305, 381, 413 see also autumn colour foliage plants for containers 116–17, 122–3, 132, 142–3, 157, 160–1, 164–5, 170–1 houseplants 368, 380–3 shrubs 44, 152, 153, 238, 241 trees 176, 177 tropical effects 17, 60–1 foliar feeds 13 Fontinalis antipyretica 327 forcing bulbs 378–9 rhubarb 300 forget-me-not see Myosotis formal pool 340–1 Forsythia 412, 419 F. x intermedia 194 Fortunella japonica 304 Fothergilla 417 fountains 342, 344–5 foxglove see Digitalis Frankenia thymifolia 168–9 Fremontodendron californicum 235 French beans 229, 248–9 French marigold see Tagetes Fritillaria (fritillary) F. raddeana 39 frogs 55, 338–9, 355, 424, 425 frost damage 116, 117, 257, 413, 431 frost pockets 306 frost protection 87, 116, 140, 335, 408–9 fruit 298, 316, 317 ponds 324, 328 vegetables 252, 253, 257, 262, 265 fruit 16, 54 Mediterranean 316–17 for small spaces 296–9, 318–19 see also fruit trees; soft fruit; superfruits fruit cages 295, 321 fruit trees 14, 297, 316–21, 346, 431, 432 pruning 316, 317, 318, 321, 411 rootstocks 296, 297, 298, 299, 320 Fuchsia 121, 122, 412, 420 F. ‘Autumnale’ 122 F. ‘Genii’ 121 fungal diseases 405, 415, 431, 432–3 fungicides 418, 431, 432, 433 G gabions 84–5 Galanthus (snowdrop) 38, 40, 41, 211, 230–1 G. nivalis 34–5, 39 garden compost 15, 21, 29, 239, 245, 308, 404 making 358–9, 361 garden styles 16–17 Gardenia jasminoides 385 garlic 270, 271 Garrya elliptica 195, 235 Gaultheria 164 G. mucronata 162–3 G. m. ‘Wintertime’ 96 G. procumbens 157, 164 G. tasmanica 96 Gazania 65 G. Chansonette Series 121 Geranium 92–3, 416 G. phaeum 80 G. pratense ‘Mrs Kendall Clark’ 69 geraniums, bedding see Pelargonium germination 12, 188, 276, 349 Geum rivale 80 ginger 302, 303 Gladiolus 428 Glechoma 132, 250–1 G. hederacea ‘Variegata’ 132 globe thistle see Echinops globeflower see Trollius europaeus Gloriosa superba (glory lily) 129 Glyceria maxima ‘Variegata’ 328–9 goji berries 295 golden oregano 310 gooseberries 295, 298, 429 grape hyacinth see Muscari grape vine see Vitis grass border 52–3 grasses 11, 17, 18, 19, 115, 242, 348–9 in borders 52–3, 70–1, 94–5, 244–5 in containers 114, 134 see also Briza; Calamagrostis; Carex; Cortaderia; Deschampsia; Eragrostis; Festuca; Helictotrichon; Lagurus; Miscanthus; Panicum; Pennisetum; Setaria; Sorghum; Stipa gravel 143, 170–1, 344, 345, 356 for drainage 106, 137, 331, 335, 396 gravel gardens 17, 76–7, 344 green roofs 16, 356–7 greenfly see aphids greenhouses 16, 228, 272–3, 287, 304, 419 heated 64, 128, 228, 374, 375 Grevillea rosmarinifolia 45 grit see horticultural grit ground ivy see Glechoma groundcover 65, 425 grow bags, tomatoes in 272–3 growth 12–13 guelder rose see Viburnum opulus Gunnera manicata 84–5, 332, 333, 335 Guzmania dissitiflora 384 Gynura aurantiaca 371 H half-hardy annuals 73, 112, 113 hanging baskets 110, 130–3, 156–7, 250–1, 291, 312–13 indoor 370–1, 387 INDEX hardening off 64, 109, 120, 229, 251, 277, 280, 421 hardy annuals 11, 73, 112, 113 Haworthia attenuata f. clariperla 390 hawthorn see Crataegus hazel 306, 307 see also Corylus heather see Calluna; Erica heavy soils 14, 22, 52, 308 improving 15, 67, 71, 82, 206, 270, 271 Hebe 352, 420 H. x franciscana ‘Silver Queen’ 152 H. ‘Great Orme’ 352 Hedera (ivy) 56–7, 100–1, 156–7, 212, 213, 370–1, 417 H. colchica 238 H. helix 189, 238 H. h. ‘Cavendishii’ 238 H. h. ‘Eva’ 165 H. h. ‘Glacier’ 238 H. h. ‘Little Diamond’ 122 H. h. ‘Oro di Bogliasco’ 238 hedges 18, 55, 80, 81, 192–9, 295, 347 box 90–1, 194, 197, 308–9 planting by 80–1, 406 Helenium 416 H. ‘Moerheim Beauty’ 46–7 Helianthemum (rock rose) H. apenninum 152 Helianthus (sunflower) 12, 54, 64–5 H. annuus ‘Dwarf Yellow Spray’ 64–5 H. a. ‘Teddy Bear’ 64–5 Helictotrichon sempervirens 53, 164 Heliopsis helianthoides Loraine Sunshine 82–3 heliotropes 121 Helleborus (hellebore) 35 H. x hybridus 34–5 Hemerocallis (daylily) 90–1 herb circle 314–15 herbaceous perennials see perennials herbicides 21, 209, 402, 403, 423 herbs 90–1, 104, 169, 202, 250–1, 284–5, 308–15, 421 Thai herbs 302–3 Heuchera 122, 140, 416 H. ‘Amber Waves’ 148–9 H. ‘Beauty Colour’ 74–5 H. ‘Plum Pudding’ 122 Hibiscus 78 H. rosa-sinensis 129, 385 H. syriacus ‘Boule de Feu’ 79 high potash fertilizer 316 Hippeastrum (amaryllis) 366–7 H. ‘Apple Blossom’ 367 H. ‘Giraffe’ 367 H. ‘Lucky Strike’ 367 H. ‘Prelude’ 367 437 438 INDEX >> hoeing 23, 402 holly see Ilex hollyhock see Alcea honeyberries 295 honeysuckle see Lonicera hop see Humulus hormone rooting powder 417, 420, 421 hornbeam see Carpinus horse chestnut 188, 429 horsetail see Equisetum horsetail (weed) 403 horticultural grit 15, 29, 110, 161, 169, 370 for herbs 199, 308, 315 for lawns 206, 208, 209 for lilies 124, 125 horticultural sand 136, 137, 203, 207, 209, 349, 422 hoses 23, 80, 201, 233, 331, 406, 407, 422, 427 host plants 11, 213, 220, 239 Hosta 31, 56, 122, 160–1, 181, 328–9, 416, 426 H. ‘August Moon’ 160–1 H. fortunei f. aurea 160–1 H. ‘Francee’ 160–1 H. ‘Great Expectations’ 335 H. ‘Krossa Regal’ 160–1 H. sieboldiana 123 H. undulata var. albomarginata 84–5 H. u. var. undulata 340–1 houseleek see Sempervivum houseplant fertilizer 393 houseplants cleaning foliage 381 containers for 368, 380, 381, 384, 387, 396 feeding 367, 374, 393, 394, 395 holiday care 385 re-flowering 393, 394–5 repotting 394, 395 watering 384, 385, 387, 393, 395, 396 hoverflies 352, 425 Howea belmoreana 381 Hoya (wax plant) H. carnosa 385 H. lanceolata subsp. bella 385 humidity 368, 374, 375, 376, 384, 385, 387 Humulus (hop) H. lupulus ‘Aureus’ 222–3, 224 Hyacinthus 378, 379 H. orientalis ‘Blue Jacket’ 39 hybrid tea roses 415 Hydrangea 45 H. paniculata 412 H. serrata ‘Bluebird’ 153 H. villosa 37 hygiene 23, 99, 199, 430, 431 Hypericum calycinum 81 Hypoestes phyllostachya 371 I Iberis umbellata 65 ice plant see Sedum spectabile Ilex (holly) 189, 192, 347 I. x altaclerensis ‘Golden King’ 240–1 I. aquifolium 192, 193 I. a. ‘Madame Briot’ 195 Impatiens 420 I. walleriana (busy Lizzie) 122, 123, 132 Imperata cylindrica ‘Rubra’ 244–5 Indocalamus tessellatus 144–5 indoor hanging baskets 370–1, 387 insecticides 425, 428, 429 insects 55, 68, 339, 352–3 beneficial 254–5, 324, 352, 355, 357, 362, 424, 425 pollination by 13, 317, 346, 362, 425 see also bees; butterflies; pests intercropping 283, 287 Ipomoea (morning glory) 126 I. purpurea 224 Iris 31, 416 bearded 170–1 I. chrysographes ‘Black Knight’ 74–5 I. laevigata 329, 338–9 I. l. var. alba 340–1 I. l. ‘Variegata’ 340–1 I. sibirica 332 I. s. ‘Shirley Pope’ 332 iron 13, 44 Itea ilicifolia 236 I. virginica 236 ivy see Hedera J Jacob’s ladder see Polemonium Japanese anemone see Anemone x hybrida Japanese maple see Acer Jasminum (jasmine) 118, 239, 398 J. nudiflorum 239 J. polyanthum 385, 399 jostaberries 295 Judas tree see Cercis siliquastrum Juniperus (juniper) 142 J. communis ‘Compressa’ 243 J. c. ‘Sentinel’ 243 J. ‘Grey Owl’ 150–1 J. x pfitzeriana ‘Gold Sovereign’ 243 J. procumbens ‘Nana’ 243 J. scopulorum ‘Blue Arrow’ 243 K Kalanchoe 385 K. blossfeldiana 391, 398 kale 91 Kalmia latifolia 45 Kerria japonica ‘Golden Guinea’ 58 Kniphofia (red hot poker) K. ‘Bees’ Sunset’ 46–7 K. ‘Percy’s Pride’ 244–5 kumquat see Fortunella japonica L laburnum walkways 186–7 Laburnum x watereri 185 ladder, for displaying pots 166–7 ladybirds 352, 355, 425 Lagarosiphon major 327 Lagurus (hare’s tails) 73 L. ovatus 115 lamb’s lettuce 287 Lamium (deadnettle) 122 L. galeobdolon 122, 148–9 L. maculatum ‘Aureum’ 157 L. m. ‘White Nancy’ 58 landscape fabric 76–7, 309, 405 Lantana 385, 420 L. camara 129, 385 larkspur 73 Lathyrus odoratus (sweet pea) 72, 228–9 Laurus nobilis (bay) 152, 172–3, 238, 241, 308, 309 Lavandula (lavender) 73, 80, 197, 308–9, 344, 345, 352, 421 hedges 194, 198–9 L. angustifolia 268 L. a. Blue Cushion 82–3 L. a. ‘Hidcote’ 352 L. a. ‘Munstead’ 49 L. a. ‘Nana Alba’ 79 L. a. ‘Twickel Purple’ 194 L. stoechas 50–1 L. s. ‘Willow Vale’ 153 Lavatera (mallow) 412 lavender see Lavandula lawns 17, 203, 206–7, 208, 209, 422–3 chamomile 209 seeding 208, 423 turfing 206–7, 208, 209 layering 417 leafmould 34, 35, 36, 360–1 leeks 91, 264, 409, 428 lemon balm 310, 314–15 lemon grass 302, 303 lemon trees, from pips 304 lettuces 90–1, 283, 284–5, 286–7, 288, 409 varieties 288 Leucanthemum L. x superbum 352 Leucothoe Scarletta 162–3 Leycesteria formosa 97 light 12, 18, 375, 381, 384, 393, 394, 395 Ligularia 416 L. stenocephala ‘The Rocket’ 333 Ligustrum (privet) 197 L. obtusifolium 194 L. ovalifolium ‘Aureum’ 81 lilac see Syringa Lilium (lily) 72, 124–5 L. auratum 124 L. candidum 124 L. hansonii 124 L. longiflorum 50–1 L. ‘Muscadet’ 125 L. Oriental Hybrids ‘Arabian Red’ 124 L. Oriental Hybrids ‘Star Gazer’ 124 L. Oriental Hybrids ‘Tiger Woods’ 124 L. regale 124 L. ‘Reinesse’ 125 L. speciosum var. rubrum 124 lily beetles 124, 424 lily-of-the-valley see Convallaria majalis lily pond 340–1 lime 361, 423 Limonium (statice) 73 L. bellidifolium 137 liquid fertilizer 128, 139, 199, 229, 303, 359, 384, 404 Lithops pseudotruncatella subsp. dentritica 390 living willow 232–3 loam 14, 422 Lobelia 130, 131 L. erinus 166–7 L. ‘Hadspen Purple’ 328–9 Lobularia maritima ‘Snow Crystals’ 352 log piles 355, 425 logs 85, 356–7 Lonicera (honeysuckle) 212–13, 213, 345, 352, 412, 417 L. nitida ‘Baggesen’s Gold’ 81 L. periclymenum 212–13, 353 L. p. ‘Serotina’ 224 L. x purpusii 412 loquat see Eriobotrya japonica Lotus berthelotii 130, 131 love-in-a-mist see Nigella damascena love-lies-bleeding see Amaranthus caudatus low-maintenance border 82–3 Lupinus (lupin) 68, 420 L. ‘Inverewe Red’ 69 L. ‘The Governor’ 350–1 Lychnis flos-cuculi 338–9 << Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’ 121, 340–1 Lythrum virgatum 70–1 M Macleaya 418 Magnolia 408, 417 M. liliiflora ‘Nigra’ 184 M. stellata 408 Mahonia 48, 413, 421 M. x media cultivar 48 M. x wagneri 82 Maianthemum racemosum 81 mallow see Lavatera; Malope Malope trifida (annual mallow) 268, 269 Malus (apple) see apple Malus (crab apple) M. ‘John Downie’ 184 M. x magdeburgensis 177 M. x moerlandsii ‘Liset’ 176 Mammillaria blossfeldiana 391 M. hahniana 388–9 mangetout 274, 275 manure see farmyard manure maple see Acer Maranta leuconeura 383 marginal plants 11, 326, 328, 338, 339, 340, 341 marguerite see Anthemis marigold see Calendula; Tagetes marjoram 90–1 marrow 279 marsh marigold see Caltha palustris meadows 348–9 mealy bugs 304 Meconopsis cambrica 77 Medinilla magnifica 128–9 Mediterranean fruit 316–17 Mediterranean plants 14, 78–9, 344, 345 Mentha (mint) 310, 314–15 M. cervina 327 M. requienii 202 mesh, anti-pest 229, 258, 259, 265, 287 mesh crates (gabions) 84–5 Mexican orange blossom see Choisya mice 290, 427 Miltoniopsis hybrid 372 mind-your-own-business see Soleirolia soleirolii minerals 13, 44, 273, 275, 404, 422, 431 miniature daffodils 156, 379 miniature roses 138–9 miniature woodland 189 mint see Mentha Miscanthus M. sinensis 52–3, 94–5 M. s. ‘Morning Light’ 52–3 M. s. ‘Zebrinus’ 52–3 misting 203, 249, 305, 374, 376, 382, 384 mixed hedges 194 mock orange see Philadelphus modern gardens 17, 19, 84–5, 90–3, 154–5, 170–1, 242 modern rose garden 92–3 module trays 109, 112, 115, 120, 262, 302 moisture-loving plants 31, 84–5, 330-1, 332-3, 334-5, 336-7 moisture-retentive gel crystals 110, 406 Monarda 416 M. didyma (bergamot) 268 M. ‘Mahogany’ 353 monkshood see Aconitum Monstera deliciosa 381 montbretia see Crocosmia morning glory see Ipomoea Morus nigra (mulberry) 347 moss 63, 355, 376–7, 378, 387, 423 mother-in-law’s tongue see Sansevieria trifasciata mowing 203, 208, 422 mowing edges 32–3 mulberry see Morus mulches 110, 296, 405, 407, 412 mulching 31, 110, 402, 405, 406, 407, 413, 433 multi-stemmed trees 182–3 Musa basjoo (banana) 17, 60–1, 408 Muscari (grape hyacinth) 41, 106–7, 163 M. armeniacum 38 mushroom compost (spent) 12, 15 mushrooms 281 mycorrhizal fungi 93, 139 Myosotis (forget-me-not) 19 M. scorpioides ‘Alba’ 338–9 Myriophyllum aquaticum 327 N Narcissus (daffodil) N. ‘Bartley’ 107 N. ‘Canaliculatus’ 38 N. ‘Dove Wings’ 107 N. ‘Soleil d’Or’ 379 N. ‘Tahiti’ 107 N. ‘Tête-à-Tête’ 39, 379 N. ‘Topolino’ 163 see also daffodil nasturtium see Tropaeolum nematodes 110, 427, 429 Nemesia 132, 133 N. strumosa ‘KLM’ 121, 133 Nepeta (catmint) 55, 416, 420 Nephrolepis exaltata 368 Nerium oleander 79 nest boxes for birds 363 nests for bees 362 netting 208, 274, 275, 295, 321, 427 New Zealand flax see Phormium Nicotiana (tobacco plant) 80 N. ‘Lime Green’ 140, 141 N. ‘Nicki’ 121 N. x sanderae cultivar 112 Nigella (love-in-a-mist) 73, 112 N. damascena Persian Jewel Group 77, 113 nitrogen 273, 275, 404, 422 north-facing rooms, plants for 382–3 nutrients 12, 13, 14, 44, 176, 273, 275, 327, 349, 404, 431 nuts 306–7 Nymphaea (water lily) 11, 326, 327, 328, 340–1, 342 N. ‘Alba’ 340–1 N. ‘Albida’ 328–9 N. ‘Escarboucle’ 342 N. ‘Froebelii’ 343 N. ‘Gonnère’ 342 N. ‘Lemon Chiffon’ 342 N. ‘Marliacea Chromatella’ 343 N. ‘Odorata Sulphurea’ 343 N. ‘Pygmaea Rubra’ 340–1 N. ‘René Gérard’ 342 N. ‘Rose Arey’ 342 N. tetragona 342 N. ‘Virginalis’ 343 O oak see Quercus obelisks 213, 216–18, 228, 229, 306 Ocimum O. basilicum (basil) 90–1, 310 O. b. ‘Magic Mountain’ 312–13 Oncidium 374, 375 O. ‘Jungle Monarch’ 373 onions 270, 428 Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ 96, 167 Opuntia tuna 388–9 orchids 372–7, 398 oregano 310, 314–15 organic gardening 362, 426, 427 organic matter 12, 13, 15, 22, 29, 404, 405 see also farmyard manure; garden compost; planting Oriental greens 263, 409 Oriental leaves 286 Oriental mustards 288, 289 Orontium aquaticum 328–9 Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Goshiki’ 150–1 Osmunda regalis 57 INDEX Osteospermum cultivar 132 Oudolf, Piet 71 overwintering 61, 87, 124, 128, 129, 181, 408 oxalis 402, 403 oxygenating plants 326, 327, 328, 339, 341 P Paeonia (peony) 72 P. cambessedesii 97 P. delavayi var. lutea 37 palms 104, 381, 382 pampas grass see Cortaderia Panicum virgatum 170–1 pansy see Viola Papaver (poppy) 77 P. orientale 418 P. rhoeas Shirley Group 112 Paphiopedilum 374, 375 P. callosum hybrid 373 parlour palm see Chamaedorea elegans Parodia P. magnifica 390 P. pencillata 390 parsley 310, 312–13, 314–15 parsnips 265, 409 parterres, creating 308–9 Parthenocissus P. henryana 213, 221 P. tricuspidata 213, 221 P. t. ‘Lowii’ 221 Passiflora (passion flower) 213, 417, 420 pastel border 42–3 patio roses 138–9, 415 patios 16, 18, 140–3, 148–9, 154–5, 170–1 fruit 298–9, 304 vegetables 250–1, 253, 280 pavers, laying 202–3 paving, plants for 204–5 pea sticks 229, 251, 274, 275, 307 peace lily see Spathiphyllum peaches 298, 316, 317, 408 pears 297, 299, 320, 346, 411 peas 274–5 pebbles 33, 85, 328, 337, 344, 345, 368–9, 388 as mulch 119, 166, 167, 296, 405 Pelargonium 64–5, 121, 200–1, 420 P. ‘Horizon Series’ 121 Pellaea 387 P. rotundifolia 387 Pennesetum P. alopecuroides 52–3 P. a. ‘Little Bunny’ 244–5 Penstemon 420 439 440 INDEX >> Pentas lanceolata 398 peony see Paeonia Peperomia P. caperata ‘Luna’ 382 P. c. ‘Luna Red’ 368–9 perennial weeds 21, 23, 77, 192, 356, 402, 403 perennials 11, 16, 19, 20, 30–1, 406, 408 for cottage gardens 66–9, 126 cutting down 52, 67, 71, 96, 351, 425 for cutting and drying 72, 73 for insects 18, 350–1, 352, 353 propagating 18, 127, 416, 418, 420 staking 67, 95, 230, 351 pergolas 220–1 Perovskia 412, 419 Persicaria microcephala ‘Red Dragon’ 74–5, 336–7 pesticides 425, 428, 429 pests 20, 257, 259, 290, 424–9, 431, natural predators 352, 355, 424, 425, 426 see also animals; flea beetles; lily beetles; mealy bugs; pigeons; red spider mites; scale insects; slugs; snails; vine weevil pets 55, 187, 427 Petunia 132, 133 P. Shockwave Series Pink 133 pH testing of soil 14, 423 Phalaenopsis 372, 374, 375 Philadelphus (mock orange) 412, 419 P. ‘Burfordensis’ 48 P. microphyllus 153 Philodendron bipinnatifidum 383 Phlox 416 P. nana 204 P. paniculata 418 P. stolonifera 56–7 Phormium (New Zealand flax) 117 P. ‘Bronze Baby’ 117 P. cookianum subsp. hookeri ‘Tricolor’ 117 P. ‘Jester’ 117 P. ‘Sundowner’ 78, 117 P. tenax ‘Variegatum’ 117, 140 phosphorus 273, 404 Photinia 241 P. x fraseri ‘Red Robin’ 241 photosynthesis 12, 374 Phyllostachys bambusoides ‘Holochrysa’ 144–5 Picea (spruce) P. abies 158 P. pungens 243 P. p. ‘Koster’ 242 Pieris japonica ‘Flamingo’ 152 pigeons 265, 427 Pilea depressa 396–7 pinching out 87, 228, 273, 280, 283, 309, 315, 316, 393 pink see Dianthus Pinus (pine) 242 P. aristata ‘Sherwood Compact’ 242 P. heldreichii ‘Smidtii’ 243, 244–5 P. mugo ‘Ophir’ 244–5 Pittosporum P. tenuifolium ‘Silver Queen’ 350–1 plaiting a bay tree 172–3 plant movers 128 planting 18–19, 21, 22, 430 bulbs 35, 40–1, 43, 107, 211 climbers 118–19, 212–13, 239 fruit trees 296, 318–19, 320, 321 perennials 30–1, 406 shrubs 31, 36, 235, 406 soft fruit 291, 292, 293, 298 tree ferns 180–1 trees 31, 178–9, 182, 190–1, 320, 406 wall shrubs 234–5 planting depths 30, 31, 63, 119, 219, 252 bulbs 41, 124 hedging plants 193, 196, 197 roses 93, 139, 193 shrubs 31, 36, 199, 234, 238 trees 178, 191, 320 planting out 64, 229, 249, 262, 263, 264 planting proud 31, 171, 178, 199 planting up pots 110 plants 10–13 choosing 12, 20, 29 grouping 19, 20, 315 storing 21 plastic bottles, for cloches 287, 426 Platycerium bifurcatum 387 play areas 17, 54, 202, 233, 405 Pleioblastus P. variegatus 144–5 P. v. ‘Tsuboii’ 144–5 plug plants 91, 120–1, 251, 302 Plumbago 385 P. auriculata 385 plums 297, 321, 411, 432 poinsettia see Euphorbia pulcherrima Polemonium (Jacob’s ladder) 416 P. caeruleum 59 P. viscosum 137 pollarding 100, 230–1 pollination 13, 282, 295, 306, 307, 317, 321, 352, 425 Polygonatum (Solomon’s seal) 31, 429 Polystichum P. polyblepharum 163 P. setiferum 60–1 pond liner 324, 326, 330–1, 337, 339, 356 pond plants 324, 325, 326, 327, 338–9 ponds 55, 324–9, 340–1, 424, 425 Pontederia cordata 328–9 poppy see Papaver pot marigold see Calendula officinalis “pot-bound” plants see “root-bound” pot-grown plants 41, 158, 197, 307, 320 potassium 273, 316, 404, 422 potatoes 251, 252–3, 433 Potentilla fruticosa ‘Goldfinger’ 195 pots 64, 200–1, 229 clay 104, 105, 110, 150–1, 407, 409 frostproof 105, 143, 150–1, 161, 162, 344–5, 409 see also containers potting on 108, 115, 280, 303, 370 powdery mildew 274, 433 power sources 337, 345 prairie-style planting 28, 30, 70–1 predators 352, 424, 425, 426 Primula 164, 335, 337, 398 P. Gold-laced Group 123 P. japonica 332 P. j. ‘Miller’s Crimson’ 332 P. obconica 399 P. Polyanthus Group, Crescendo Series 165 P. pulverulenta Bartley hybrids 336–7 privacy 11, 18, 170–1 privet see Ligustrum propagation 416–21 pruning 22, 23, 410–15 Clematis 119, 239, 412, 414 for coloured stems 230–1 diseased material 410, 412, 413, 415, 430, 431, 432, 433 fruit trees 316, 317, 318, 319, 321, 411 herbs 315 roses 351, 411, 415 shrubs 44, 82, 235, 238, 412–13 soft fruit 292, 293, 295, 298 standard plants 240–1 topiary (established) 98 trees 182, 187, 191, 306, 307, 347, 411 wall shrubs 235 Wisteria 226–7 see also coppicing; trimming hedges Prunus 177, 190–1, 297, 347, 411 P. avium 90–1 P. incisa 191 P. serrula 176 P. ‘Shizuka’ 191 P. spinosa (blackthorn) 192, 193, 347 P. ‘Spire’ 191 P. x subhirtella 191 P. x s. ‘Autumnalis Rosea’ 184 Pteris 387 P. ensiformis ‘Evergemiensis’ 387 Pulmonaria 416 P. ‘Lewis Palmer’ 58 pumpkin 277, 278–9, 283 pumps 337, 344, 345 Punica granatum var. nana 385 Pyracantha 234–5, 411 P. ‘Mohave’ 195 Q Quercus (oak) 189, 241 quince, flowering see Chaenomeles R rabbits 55, 427 radicchio 289 radish 261 rainbow chard 250–1, 260 rainwater 22, 301, 304, 305, 374, 376, 384, 406 raised beds 16, 44, 54, 55, 154–5, 189, 251, 254–9 raspberries 292 Rebutia 388–9 recycling 16, 29, 134–5, 405, 409 red spider mites 305, 429 red-hot poker see Kniphofia red-veined sorrel 289 redcurrants 298 repotting 104, 127, 144, 151, 159, 327, 367 houseplants 394, 395 reproduction 13 Rhodochiton atrosanguineus 224 Rhododendron 44, 417, 432, 433 R. ‘Hydon Dawn’ 152 R. luteum 49 R. mucronulatum 44–5 rhubarb 300 Ribes 412, 419 R. sanguineum 37 rock rose see Cistus; Helianthemum rockery, shady 56–7 rockery walls 203 rocket 287, 288, 289, 409 Rodgersia 332 R. sambucifolia 332 Romneya 418 roof terraces 170–1 roofs, green 16, 356–7 root vegetables 255, 256–7, 409 roots 12, 13, 20, 119, 318, 374 perennial weeds 402 restricting 63, 316 << “root-bound” plants 20, 31, 178, 394, 395 rootstocks, dwarfing 296, 297, 298, 299, 320 Rosa (rose) R. canina 192, 193, 352 R. ‘Compassion’ 225 R. Escapade 48 R. Gertrude Jekyll 50–1 R. glauca 193 R. ‘Regensburg’ 138–9 R. ‘Rose of Picardy’ 90–1, 350–1 R. rugosa ‘Rubra’ 37 R. ‘Seagull’ 222–3 R. Summer Wine 268 R. Winchester Cathedral 92–3 rose arches 222–3 rose fertilizer 93, 139, 404 rose gardens, modern 92–3 rosemary see Rosmarinus officinalis roses 14, 73, 80, 139, 268, 345, 352, 429 climbing 212, 213, 224, 225 cuttings 419 diseases 415, 432 feeding 93, 139 hedging 193 old-fashioned roses 51 patio roses 138–9, 415 planting 51, 93, 193 pruning 351, 411, 415 species roses 193 standards 241 varieties 415 see also Rosa; rose arches; rose gardens Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) 241, 308, 309, 311, 421 rowan see Sorbus ruby chard 260 Rudbeckia 72, 416 R. hirta ‘Prairie Sun’ 154–5 runner beans 229, 248–9, 261, 307 S sacks, for growing potatoes 253 safety 54, 55, 187, 344, 345, 411 sage see Salvia Saintpaulia (African violet) 398 salad leaves 284–6, 286–9 Salix (willow) 182, 230–1, 419 S. alba 232 S. a. var. vitellina ‘Britzensis’ 100–1 S. caprea ‘Kilmarnock’ 237 S. hastata 237 S. h. ‘Wehrhahnii’ 236 S. lanata 236 S. reticulata 237 Salvia 311, 420, 421 S. farinacea 166–7 S. f. ‘Strata’ 64–5 S. officinalis ‘Tricolor’ 148–9 S. sclarea var. turkestanica 66, 67 S. x sylvestris ‘Mainacht’ 74–5 Sambucus (elder) 346, 347, 413, 419 sand 76, 136, 137, 202, 207, 209 as mulch for cacti 388, 389 for sowing wildflower seed 349 sandpits 54 sandy soils 14, 15, 78, 206, 317 Sansevieria trifasciata 383 Santolina (cotton lavender) 308–9, 419 Sarcococca 421 S. confusa (Christmas box) 49 Saxifraga 203 S. juniperifolia 137 S. stolonifera ‘Tricolor’ 58 Scabiosa lucida 357 scale insects 304, 428 scented border 50–1 scented plants 11, 48–51, 124–5, 129, 177, 239, 305 aromatic foliage 78, 305 houseplants 385, 398 Schlumbergera (Christmas cactus) 395 Scilla siberica 38 Scirpus cernuus 381 screens 47, 62–3, 194, 232 sculptural plants 116–17, 180–1, 380–1 sea holly see Eryngium seasonal planner 24–5 seating areas 15, 16, 48, 177, 238, 341 sedge see Carex Sedum 31, 416 S. acre 357 S. ‘Herbstfreude’ 94–5 S. ‘Lemon Coral’ 148–9 S. spathulifolium ‘Cape Blanco’ 204 S. s. ‘Purpureum’ 137 S. spectabile 70–1, 353 S. telephium ‘Bressingham Purple’ 82–3 sedum matting, for green roofs 356–7 seed compost 108–9, 115, 228, 276, 280, 302 seedheads 43, 52, 70, 73 seedlings 64, 109, 409, 430 planting out 64, 229, 249, 262, 263, 264 potting on 109, 115, 280 seeds 13, 108–9, 112–13, 115, 266, 283 germination 12, 188, 276, 349 sowing 108, 228, 249, 261, 430 sprouting 266, 267 trees from 188–9 wildflower seeds 349 seep hoses 80, 233, 331, 407, 422 self-seeding 11, 43, 77, 115 Sempervivum (houseleek) 136, 169 Senecio S. cineraria 65 S. c. ‘Silver Dust’ 165 S. rowleyanus 381 Setaria italica 115 shade 15, 18, 80, 81, 140, 176, 177, 219, 328 shade, plants for 12, 36–7, 56–7, 81, 122–3, 180–1, 187, 382–3 shady areas 34–7, 56–7, 80, 180–1 shallots 270, 271 Shasta daisy see Leucanthemum x superbum sheds 16, 22, 87 shells 136, 405 shingle 33, 309 shrub fertilizer 182, 187, 220, 235, 239 shrub roses 415 shrubs 11, 18, 20, 36–7, 82, 240–1, 352 in containers 135, 150–3, 164, 165 planting 36, 235, 406 propagating 417, 419, 421 pruning 44, 82, 235, 412–13 wall shrubs 234–5, 239, 411 Silene acaulis 137 silver birch see Betula pendula silver leaf disease 306, 321, 432 silver-leaved thyme 50–1 “single digging” 21, 29 Sisyrinchium 31 site preparation 36, 47 Skimmia 417 S. japonica ‘Rubella’ 150–1, 156, 165 slate 33, 85, 137, 151, 166, 167, 309, 355, 405 slate trough 137 slow-release fertilizer 110, 404 slugs 290, 424, 425, 426 deterring 87, 110, 161, 285, 290, 300, 405, 424, 426 smoke bush see Cotinus snails 110, 161, 284, 285, 339, 424, 425, 426 snapdragon see Antirrhinum snowdrop see Galanthus soft fruit 290–3, 298, 300, 405, 417, 419, 433 soil 12, 14–15, 176, 404 improving 12, 15, 29, 67, 192, 308 preparation 12, 21, 192, 193, 196, 198, 208, 209 Solanum crispum ‘Glasnevin’ 225 Soleirolia soleirolii 16, 169, 202, 368–9 Solenostemon scutellarioides 132 Solomon’s seal see Polygonatum sooty mould 427, 433 Sorbus S. aria 347 S. vilmorinii 176 Sorghum nigrum 115 INDEX sorrel, red-veined 289 Spathiphyllum (peace lily) 394 S. ‘Mauna Loa’ 382 S. wallisii 380 species roses 193, 415 spent mushroom compost 12, 15 spider plant see Chlorophytum comosum spinach 263 Spiraea 419 S. ‘Arguta’ 412 spraying 428, 429, 431, 432 spread of plants 18, 20, 243 spring cabbage 262 spring onions 287 spring-flowering plants 34–5, 38–41, 106–7, 230–1 sprouting beans 266, 267 spruce see Picea spurge see Euphorbia squash 276–9 ‘Hasta la Pasta’ 278 ‘Hooligan’ F1 hybrid 279 ‘Little Gem Rollet’ 279 ‘Red Kuri’ 278 ‘Sunburst’ hybrid 250–1 ‘Sweet Dumpling’ 278 ‘Tromboncino’ 251, 279 ‘Turk’s Turban’ 278 Stachys officinalis ‘Hummelo’ 127 staking 47, 64, 86, 280, 296 perennials 67, 95, 230, 351 tomatoes 91, 272, 273 trees 179, 182, 189, 191, 306, 307, 320 standards 240–1, 242 statice see Limonium stems 52, 171, 182–3, 230–1, 232 Stephanotis floribunda 385 sterilization 23, 98, 99, 199, 430, 431 Stipa S. calamagrostis 52–3 S. gigantea 244–5 S. splendens 52–3 S. tenuissima 46–7, 74–5, 77, 94–5, 114, 163, 170–1 storage 253, 257, 270, 271, 277, 278, 431 straw 87, 355, 408, 409 as mulch 253, 257, 265, 277, 291,405 strawberries 290–1, 405 strawberry tree see Arbutus unedo strawflower 73 stream-side, creating 336–7 Streptocarpus (Cape primrose) 365, 385 S. ‘Bethan’ 368–9 stress, signs of 431 styles 16–17 441 442 INDEX >> Styrax obassia 177 successional sowing 256, 262, 263, 275, 287 succulents 17, 31, 104, 136–7, 169, 368, 390–1 sugarsnap peas 274, 275 summer border, easy-care 82–3 summer squash ‘Sunburst’ hybrid 250–1 sun-loving plants 12, 35, 58, 66–9, 81 sunflowers see Helianthus sunny areas 46–7, 52, 74–5, 170–1, 200–1 superfruits 294–5 Sutera cordata 138–9 swathes, planting in 70–1, 72, 350, 351 sweet alyssum see Lobularia maritima sweet basil 90–1, 310 sweetcorn 282–3 sweet peas 72, 228–9 sweet Williams 72 swings 54 Syringa (lilac) 417 T table-top displays 168–9 Tagetes (French marigold) 108, 111, 135, 142, 268 T. Gem Series ‘Tangerine Gem’ 269 Taxus baccata (yew) 80, 81, 194, 197 Tellima grandiflora 59 terracotta pots see clay pots textured edge scheme 74–5 Thai herbs and spices 302–3 Thuja T. occidentalis ‘Caespitosa’ 243 T. o. ‘Smaragd’ 243 Thunbergia alata 64–5 Thymus (thyme) 169, 202, 308, 309, 310, 312–13, 314–15 T. ‘Doone Valley’ 357 T. pulegioides ‘Archer’s Gold’ 162–3 silver-leaved 50–1 Tillandsia 384 T. cyanea 384 toads 55, 338, 355, 424, 425 tobacco plant see Nicotiana Tolmiea menziesii 371 tomato fertilizer 124, 125, 167, 251, 273, 290, 313, 404 for fruit and vegetables 277, 280, 291, 292, 297, 298, 313 tomato 90–1, 272–3, 312–13, 429, 432, 433 ‘Costoluto Fiorentino’ 250–1 ‘Gardeners’ Delight’ 250–1 ‘Tumbling Tom’ 250–1 tools 22–3, 98, 99, 199, 410, 411 care 23, 99, 199, 430, 431 top dressings 206, 209, 404, 422, 423 topiary 22, 98–9, 142, 146–7, 172, 241 topsoil 56, 206, 207, 255, 258, 349, 422 Townsendia jonesii 137 trace elements 13, 404 Trachelospermum jasminoides 225 Tradescantia fluminensis ‘Variegata’ 371 training 235, 238–9, 317, 318–19, 321, 411 tree ferns 180–1, 382, 387, 408 tree fertilizer 182, 187, 220, 316, 317 trees 11, 18, 176–7, 184–5, 191, 419 in containers 135, 188, 189 feeding 182, 187, 296, 297 growing from seeds 188–9 multi-stemmed 182–3 planting 31, 178–9, 182, 190–1, 320, 406 pruning 182, 187, 347, 411 staking 179, 182, 189, 191, 306, 307, 320 watering 91, 179, 182, 187, 191, 407 for wildlife 346–7 see also fruit trees trellis 118–19, 213, 220, 229, 235, 239, 293, 298 trickle hoses 80, 233, 331, 407, 422 Tricyrtis formosana 81 Trifolium repens ‘Purpurascens Quadrifolium’ 92–3 trimming hedges 192, 193, 194, 199 Trollius europaeus 333 Tropaeolum (nasturtium) 54, 64–5, 77, 108, 111, 268, 312–13, 429 T. majus 269 T. speciosum 225 tropical effects 17, 60–1, 128–9 Tsuga canadensis ‘Cole’s Prostrate’ 243 Tulipa (tulip) 19, 40, 41, 72, 106–7, 187 T. ‘Diana’ 107 T. ‘Madame Lefeber’ 107 T. ‘Oriental Splendour’ 107 T. ‘Prinses Irene’ 38 T. sprengeri 39 turf 202, 203, 206, 326, 422 laying 206–7, 406 removing 29, 32, 255 tyres 54, 135 U underplanting 36, 37, 128–9, 181, 182–3, 186–7, 191 urban gardens 90–1 V variegated sage 311 vegetables 16, 54, 90–1, 250–1, 260–1, 312–13 Verbascum 31, 418 V. ‘Gainsborough’ 350–1 V. olympicum 66, 67 Verbena 420 V. bonariensis 28, 29, 77 V. ‘Derby’ 130, 131 V. ‘Peaches ’n’ Cream’ 130, 131 Veronica 416 V. spicata ’Alba’ 92–3 V. s. ‘Rosenrot’ 127 Viburnum 417, 419 V. carlesii ‘Aurora’ 49 V. davidii 58 V. opulus 193, 428 V. sieboldii 82 V. tinus 96, 428 V. t. ‘Variegatum’ 153 vine weevil 429 vines, climbing 220–1 Viola (pansy; violet) 56–7, 92–3, 122, 163, 312–13, 314–15 V. Princess Series 122 V. tricolor 268 V. x wittrockiana cultivar 164 winter-flowering 114, 156, 157 Virginia creeper see Parthenocissus henryana viruses 427, 431 Vitis (vine) V. coignetiae 220 V. vinifera ‘Purpurea’ 220 Vriesea 381, 384 W wall shrubs 234–5, 239, 411 wallflower see Erysimum walls 200–1, 203, 219, 220, 234–5 fruit trees trained against 316–17, 321 water 12, 18, 55, 301, 406, 420, 430 growing in 303, 379 for misting 374, 376, 384 water butts 22, 406, 407 water lily see Nymphaea water-retaining gel crystals 110 watering 12, 23, 104, 110, 385, 396, 406–7 green roofs 356 lawns 207, 208, 422, 423 watering cans 22, 137, 406 wax plant see Hoya weed-suppressing membrane 76–7, 405 weeding 21, 63, 193, 206, 270, 351, 402–3 lawns 423 tools 22, 23 weedkillers 21, 209, 402, 403, 423 weeds 12, 77, 91, 402–3, 432 perennial 21, 23, 77, 192, 356, 402, 403, 423 suppressing 56, 76–7, 179, 309, 319, 337, 405 Weigela 412, 417, 419 white scheme 92–3 whitebeam see Sorbus aria whitecurrants 298 wildflower meadows 348–9 wildlife 70, 96, 356–7, 362–3, 403 hedges for 80, 192–3, 194, 347, 355 meadows for 348–9 ponds and pools for 55, 324–7, 338–9 trees for 346–7 see also bees; birds; insects wildlife hedges 192–3, 194, 347 wildlife ponds 324–7 wildlife walls 354–5 willow 230–3, 259, 355 see also Salix windowboxes 64, 110, 125, 132–3, 162–3, 284–5, 291 winter aconite see Eranthis hyemalis winter border 100–1 winter interest 11, 94–5, 100–1, 238–9 containers 156–7, 162–5 winter squash 277, 278–9, 283 winter windowbox 162–3 winter-flowering begonias 399 winter-flowering houseplants 398–9 winter-flowering pansies, Imperial Antique Shades 163 winter-flowering violas 114, 156, 157 Wisteria 226–7, 241, 417 woodland plants 34–5, 36, 80, 189 wormeries 361, 404 worms 12, 361 Y yarrow see Achillea year-round interest 189, 243, 244–5 yew see Taxus baccata Yucca 17, 116 Z Zantedeschia Z. aethiopica 60–1, 328–9, 332, 340–1 Z. a. ‘Crowborough’ 335 Zinnia 72 Z. elegans ‘Peppermint Stick’ 112 << PICTURE CREDITS Picture Credits The publisher would like to thank the following for their kind permission to reproduce their photographs: (Key: a-above; b-below/bottom; c-center; f-far; l-left; r-right; t-top) 2-3 Photolibrary: Friedrich Strauss. 4 Marianne Majerus Garden Images: Marianne Majerus/Elton Hall, Herefordshire. 5 GAP Photos: Richard Bloom (r). Photolibrary: Michele Lamontagne (l). 6 GAP Photos: Victoria Firmston (l). Photolibrary: John Glover (r). 7 Photolibrary: Flora Press (l); Friedrich Strauss (r). 8-9 Photolibrary: Francesca Yorke. 10 Dorling Kindersley: Design: Mike Harvey & Arun Landscapes, The Unwind Garden, RHS Hampton Court 2007. 11 Caroline Reed (br). 12 Getty Images: picturegarden (cr). 13 GAP Photos: Brian North (bc). Photolibrary: Nicholas Rigg (tl). 16 Dorling Kindersley: Design: Mark Gregory, The Children’s Society Garden, RHS Chelsea 2008 (all below). The Garden Collection: Nicola Stocken Tomkins (ca). 17 Dorling Kindersley: Design: Mike Harvey & Arun Landscapes, The Unwind Garden, RHS Hampton Court 2007 (crb). Getty Images: Ron Evans (cla). Marianne Majerus Garden Images: Steven Gunther (bl); David Matzdorf (tr); Bennet Smith/Design: Hazeldean, Beard and Hazeldean, On the Square, RHS Hampton Court 2008 (clb). 18 Getty Images: Jules Frazier Photography (cra); Mark Turner (bc). 19 Getty Images: Chris Mellor (bl). 20 Getty Images: Jules Frazier Photography (tr). 22 Getty Images: FhF Greenmedia (fcl); Victoria Firmston (cl); Zara Napier (cla). 26-27 Marianne Majerus Garden Images: Marianne Majerus/RHS Garden, Wisley. 28 Marianne Majerus Garden Images: Marianne Majerus/RHS Floral Celebration 2008, Inner Temple. 31 Dorling Kindersley: Design: Cleve West, The Bupa Garden, RHS Chelsea 2008 (tr). Marianne Majerus Garden Images: Marianne Majerus/RHS Floral Celebration 2008, Inner Temple (cl). 33 Dorling Kindersley: Design: James Mason & Chloe Gazzard, The Path Not Taken, RHS Hampton Court 2007 (tr). GAP Photos: Jonathan Buckley, Design: Simon Hopkinson, Location: Hollington Herb Nursery (crb). 34-35 Photolibrary: Garden Pix Ltd.37 Marianne Majerus Garden Images: Marianne Majerus/Longacre, Kent (l). 40 Getty Images: Mark Bolton. 42-43 Dorling Kindersley: Design: Denise Preston, The Largest Room In The House, RHS Chelsea 2008. 44 Dorling Kindersley: Design: Tomoko Osonoe, The Modern Rock Garden, RHS Chelsea 2009. 44-45 GAP Photos: Anne Green-Armytage, Design: Kay Yamada. 46-47 Dorling Kindersley: Design: Kari Beardsell, Benecol’s Prism Garden, RHS Hampton Court 2008; www. bluebridge-gardendesign.co.uk. 48 Alamy Images: Photofrenetic (cr). 49 GAP Photos: FhF Greenmedia (br). 50-51 Dorling Kindersley: Design: Laurie Chetwood & Patrick Collins, Perfume Garden, RHS Chelsea 2009; www.chetwoods.com. 52-53 GAP Photos: S & O. 54 Dorling Kindersley: Design: Jon Wheatley, Mary Payne & Terry Porter, The Growing Tastes Allotment Garden, RHS Hampton Court 2009 (bl). Getty Images: JGI/Jamie Grill (br). 55 Dorling Kindersley: Design: Amanda Yorwerth (tr). 59 Getty Images: Richard Bloom (l). 60-61 Dorling Kindersley: Design: Annie Guilfoyle; www.annieguilfoyle.com. 62 Dorling Kindersley: Design: Koji Ninomiya & Takumi Awai, A Japanese Tranquil Retreat Garden, RHS Chelsea 2009. 63 Caroline Reed (br). 66-67 Harpur Garden Library. 70 GAP Photos: Neil Holmes, Design: Piet Oudolf (bl). Marianne Majerus Garden Images: Marianne Majerus/Piet Oudolf (br). 70-71 GAP Photos: Neil Holmes, Design: Piet Oudolf. 71 GAP Photos: Neil Holmes, Design: Piet Oudolf. 72 Marianne Majerus Garden Images: Marianne Majerus (cb). 73 Getty Images: Christina Bollen (t). 74-75 Dorling Kindersley: Design: Ian Dexter, Marshalls Garden That Kids Really Want, RHS Chelsea 2008. 76 GAP Photos: Clive Nichols, Design: Clare Matthews (cr). 77 GAP Photos: Juliette Wade (tr). 81 Getty Images: Geoff du Feu (bc); Travel Ink (crb). 82 GAP Photos: Richard Bloom (ca). Getty Images: Lee Avison (crb); Richard Bloom (bc). 83 GAP Photos: Richard Bloom. 84 Dorling Kindersley: Design: Alan Burns & Philip Dugdale, Cubed3, RHS Tatton Park 2009; tel:07921860092. 86 Getty Images: Mark Turner (l). 89 Caroline Reed (tr). 90-91 Dorling Kindersley: Design: Adam Frost, Back To Work, RHS Hampton Court 2009; www.adamfrost.com (all). 92 Dorling Kindersley: Design: Jeff Hewitt, Jacob’s Ladder, RHS Chelsea 2009; www.hewittlandscapes.co.uk. 94-95 Clive Nichols: Pettifers Garden, Oxfordshire. 96 GAP Photos: Pernilla Bergdahl (l); Elke Borkowski (cr); Graham Strong (br); John Glover (tr). 97 GAP Photos: Rob Whitworth (l). Marianne Majerus Garden Images: Andrew Lawson (cr). 99 Dorling Kindersley: Design: Lynda Baguley, Angela Bell & Robert Walker, Let Knowledge Grow, RHS Tatton Park 2009. 100-101 GAP Photos: Elke Borkowski. 443 444 PICTURE CREDITS >> 102-103 Marianne Majerus Garden Images: Andrew Lawson/ Bourton House, Glos.. 104 Getty Images: GAP Photos (b). 112 Alamy Images: John Glover (tr). 125 GAP Photos: Friedrich Strauss. 127 GAP Photos: Friedrich Strauss (t). 128 GAP Photos: Jerry Harpur, Design Richard Hartlage (cl). 128-129 GAP Photos: Jerry Harpur, Design Richard Hartlage. 129 Getty Images: Dave Zubraski (br). 135 Dorling Kindersley: Design: St John the Divine Church of England Primary School, I Promise, RHS Hampton Court 2009 (br). Getty Images: Mark Bolton (bc). 137 Dorling Kindersley: D’Arcy & Everest (b). 140 GAP Photos: FhF Greenmedia (br). 142 Dorling Kindersley: Design: Knoll Gardens (tr); Design: Carole Dixon, London Gardens Society, RHS Hampton Court 2009 (br). Photolibrary: J S Sira (l). 143 Getty Images: Jason Lowe (cr). 144-145 Getty Images: GAP Photos. 146 Dorling Kindersley: Design: Lloyd Christie. 148-149 GAP Photos: Friedrich Strauss. 150 GAP Photos: Graham Strong. 154-155 Photolibrary: J S Sira; Design: Phillippa Probert, Revolution Garden, RHS Tatton Park 2009; www.outerspaces.org. uk. 158 Corbis: Gary Braasch (clb). 159 Getty Images: Pernilla Bergdahl (br). 167 Getty Images: Tim Gainey (bl). 169 GAP Photos: Friedrich Strauss (crb). Getty Images: GAP Photos (cra). 170-171 GAP Photos: Jerry Harpur/Design: Christopher BradleyHole for Gail Thoreson and Tim Macklem. 173 Dorling Kindersley: Design: Yvonne Matthews, Catherine Parr Garden, RHS Hampton Court 2009. 174-175 Marianne Majerus Garden Images: Marianne Majerus/The Manor House, Stevington, Bedfordshire/Kathy Brown. 177 GAP Photos: Elke Borkowski (tl); Juliette Wade (cr). 182-183 Dorling Kindersley: Design: Niki Palmer Garden Designs, Enchanting Escape, RHS Hampton Court 2009. 184 Caroline Reed (cra). 186-187 GAP Photos: Clive Nichols. 187 Dorling Kindersley: Steven Wooster (br). 189 Dorling Kindersley: Design: Ivan Hicks, Future Gardens; www.futuregardens.org (t). 190 Photolibrary: Brigitte Thomas. 191 Getty Images: Christina Bollen (br); Nancy Nehring (crb). 193 Getty Images: Rob Whitworth (r). 197 Dorling Kindersley: Design: Luciano Giubbilei, Laurent-Perrier Garden, RHS Chelsea 2009 (t). 200-201 GAP Photos: Jo Whitworth. 202 GAP Photos: J S Sira (t). 206-207 Dorling Kindersley: Design: Nigel Boardman & Stephen Gelly, Hope Begins at Home, RHS Hampton Court 2009. 208 Alamy Images: The Garden Picture Library. Dorling Kindersley: Design: Mike Harvey & Arun Landscapes, The Unwind Garden, RHS Hampton Court 2007 (cra). 209 Dorling Kindersley: Design: Robert Myers, The Cancer Research Garden, RHS Chelsea 2008 (t). 212 Getty Images: Richard Bloom (t). 213 Photolibrary: Rex Butcher (crb). 220-221 Dorling Kindersley: Design: Fran Coulter; frances.coulter@btinternet.com. 226 Caroline Reed (cra). 227 The Garden Collection: Jonathan Buckley – Design Judy Pearce (t). 229 Getty Images: Howard Rice (bl). 233 Getty Images: GAP Photos (br). 235 Getty Images: Maddie Thornhill (tr); Mark Turner (br). 238 GAP Photos: S & O. 239 GAP Photos: Howard Rice (tr); Richard Bloom (clb). Getty Images: Jonathan Buckley (cla). 241 Getty Images: GAP Photos (cr) (fcr). Marianne Majerus Garden Images: Marianne Majerus (br). 242 Dorling Kindersley: Design: Graham Bodle, A Shared Space, RHS Tatton Park 2009 (b); Richard Bloom (tr). 243 Getty Images: Adrian Bloom (clb); DEA/RANDOM (ca). 244-245 GAP Photos: Adrian Bloom. 246-247 Photolibrary: Kate Gadsby. 250 Dorling Kindersley: Design: Hugh Thomas Gardens and Landscapes, The Dark Horse Venture Garden, RHS Tatton Park 2009; www.hughthomas.co.uk. 253 The Garden Collection: Torie Chugg – Design: John Marshall - RHS Hampton Court 2008 (cra). 254 Photolibrary: Gary K Smith. 256 Getty Images: Will Heap (bl). 257 Getty Images: Pernilla Bergdahl (cr); Keith Burdett (b); Clinton Friedman (t). 258 GAP Photos: Friedrich Strauss (cr). harrodhorticultural.com: (br). 264 GAP Photos: Howard Rice (t). 270 Getty Images: Christina Bollen (t). 272 The Garden Collection: Andrew Lawson (r). 275 Getty Images: FhF Greenmedia (cra). 279 GAP Photos: Jonathan Buckley (br). 286 Getty Images: Will Heap (cra). 287 Getty Images: Foodcollection RF (bc) (cb); Michael Grimm (tl); Gregor Schuster (tr). 289 Alamy Images: Rob Walls (tr). 290 Brian T. North: (l) (r). 291 Brian T. North: (tl) (cl) (tr). 294 Getty Images: Richard Bloom (br). www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk: (t). 295 Alamy Images: Lou-Foto (tr). Getty Images: Influx Productions (cra). www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk: (bl) (crb). 297 GAP Photos: Paul Debois (tl). 298 GAP Photos: Friedrich Strauss (br). Getty Images: Daan Kloeg (cl). 299 Getty Images: Gary Holscher (bl). Marianne Majerus Garden Images: Andrew Lawson (t). 301 Caroline Reed (clb) (cb) (crb). 304-305 Photolibrary: Nilsson Steven. 305 Getty Images: Clive Nichols (ca); DEA/C.DANI-I. JESKE (cb); Tim Hawley (crb); Linda Lewis (cra). 306 Getty Images: Pernilla Bergdahl (bl); Angela Wyant (br). Photolibrary: Francois De Heel (t). 317 GAP Photos: Rob Whitworth (c). The Garden Collection: Derek St Romaine (tr). 320 Getty Images: Jan Tove Johansson (bl); Susan Seubert (cr). 321 Getty Images: Christina Bollen (tr); Stefano Stefani (cl). 322-323 Marianne Majerus Garden Images: Marianne Majerus/Woodhouse Natural Pools. 328-329 Dorling Kindersley: Design: Brett Clarbour (ct). 333 Dorling Kindersley: Courtesy of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (l). 334 Clive Nichols: Fran Forster (crb). 340-341 Harpur << Garden Library: Jerry Harpur, Design: Ian & Morag Hughes. 342 GAP Photos: Friedrich Strauss (l). 343 GAP Photos: Marg Cousens (cr). 344 Marianne Majerus Garden Images: Marianne Majerus/Susanne Blair (t). 348 Getty Images: Christina Bollen. 350-351 Marianne Majerus Garden Images: Yvonne Inne & Olivia Harrison/From Life to Life: A garden for George, Chelsea Flower Show 2008. 352 Getty Images: Pernilla Bergdahl (l). 356-357 Dorling Kindersley: Design: Ness Botanic Gardens, A Garden For Bees, RHS Tatton Park 2008. 363 Getty Images: Richard Bloom (cl). 364-365 GAP Photos: Flora Press. 367 Getty Images: Clive Nichols (ca); Polina Plotnikova (cb) (crb). 372 Getty Images: Evan Sklar (tr). 373 Getty Images: Mark Bolton (cr); Kelly Kalhoefer (br); Martin Page (l). 378 Getty Images: Mark Bolton (r). Photolibrary: James Guilliam (l). 379 Getty Images: GAP Photos (br); Rice/Buckland (cr). 381 GAP Photos: (crb); Visions (cra) (cb). 383 Alamy Images: Glenn Harper (cr). 384 GAP Photos: Friedrich Strauss. 385 Getty Images: Lee Avison (t). 387 Getty Images: De Agostini (B. gibbum); DEA/C. DANI (P. bifurcatum). 391 Getty Images: De Agostini (cra) (br). 392-393 Marianne Majerus Garden Images: Marianne Majerus. 393 GAP Photos: Jonathan Need (br); S & O (crb); J S Sira (cb). Photolibrary: John W Warden (bc). 394 Caroline Reed (l). 396 Getty Images: DEA/C.DANI (br). 399 Alamy Images: John Glover (cra). GAP Photos: John Glover (cr); Friedrich Strauss (br). 400-401 Getty Images: Richard Bloom. 405 Getty Images: Hugh Palmer (pebbles). 408 Getty Images: Clive Nichols (t). 409 Getty Images: Nicola Browne (cra). 422 Getty Images: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Nigel Cattlin (cla). 424 Dorling Kindersley: Design: Martin Walker, The HESCO Garden, RHS Chelsea 2009 (cra). Getty Images: Mark Turner (cb). 425 Getty Images: Ben Hall (clb); Dirk Heuer – www.dheuer.net (cr); Elliott Neep (crb); ZenShui/Odilon Dimier (cb). 426 Getty Images: Steve Hopkin (ca). 427 Getty Images: FhF Greenmedia (br) (tr); Charles Krebs (tc). 429 GAP Photos: Andrea Jones (fcla). Getty Images: Nigel Cattlin (cla) (tr); National Geographic (br). 432 Alamy Images: Dr. Ian B Oldham (fcla). Getty Images: Nigel Cattlin (clb) (fclb). 433 Getty Images: Nigel Cattlin (fcra) (ftr); Christopher Fairweather (bl/sooty mould); Mark Turner (cra). Royal Horticultural Society, Wisley: (ftl) All other images © Dorling Kindersley For further information see: www.dkimages.com Dorling Kindersley would like to thank: Andrew Halstead and Beatrice Henricot from RHS Wisley Gardens for their help with the pest and disease sections. Index: Jane Coulter Proofreading: Monica Byles Styling assistance: Alison Shackleton 445 446 SUPPLIERS >> Suppliers Whether you are a beginning gardener with modest dreams or an enthusiastic expert but with little time or gardening space, you can find most of the materials you need through the resources listed below. BULB SUPPLIERS GARDEN TOOLS AND SUPPLIES ORGANIC PEST CONTROL American Meadows (877) 309-7333 www.americanmeadows.com 223 Avenue D, Ste. 30 Williston, VT 05495 Wide range of both autumn- and spring-planted bulbs, in addition to wildflower seeds. Lee Valley Tools www.leevalley.com US: (800) 871-8158 Lee Valley Tools Ltd. P.O. Box 1780 Ogdensburg, NY 13669 Canada: (800) 267-8767 P.O. Box 6295, Station J Ottawa, ON K2A 1T4 Gardening and other tools. Gardener’s Supply Company www.gardeners.com Online retailer of pest control and other supplies; online advice. White Flower Farm (800) 503-9624 www.whiteflowerfarm.com P.O. Box 50, Route 63 Litchfield, CT 06759 Wide variety of bulbs as well as perennials. Spring Hill Nurseries (513) 354-1509 www.springhillnursery.com Customer Service 110 West Elm Street Tipp City, OH 45371 Exclusively online vendor of a wide variety of bulbs, as well as ground covers and sun- and shade-loving perennials. Veseys (800) 363-7333 www.veseys.com US: P.O. Box 9000 Calais, ME 04619 Canada: P.O. Box 9000 Charlottetown, PEI C1A 8K6 Online seed and starter plant retailer. Gardening tools and equipment. Ships to Canada and US. LANDSCAPE MATERIALS FENCING & WALLS Gardener’s Supply Company www.gardeners.com Online vendor of garden fences and walls as well as gardening tools, composting bins, pest control, and other supplies; online advice. The Landscape Shop www.thelandscapeshop.com Online retailer of garden design structures, including arbors, decking, and paving. USA Landscape Materials www.usalandscapematerials.com Online retailer of landscaping materials, rockery, gardening, and topsoil. Clean Air Gardening (214) 819-9500 www.cleanairgardening.com 2266 Monitor Street Dallas, TX 75207 Organic forms of pest control; fences, arbors, tools, and other supplies; pond supplies. POTS & CONTAINERS Hayneedle, Inc. (888) 880-4884/(866) 579-5183 www.simplyplanters.com 12720 I Street, Suite 200 Omaha NE 68137 Hundreds of indoor and outdoor containers. Plant Containers (866) 342-3333 www.plantcontainers.com Pots of every size, shape, and material. PLANT AND SEED SUPPLIERS Note: Customs regulations generally prohibit shipment of live plants, including bulbs and potatoes, across the US–Canada border, but seeds can be sent in either direction. Check for current regulations with the US and Canadian Departments of Agriculture. << Baker Creek Heirloom Seed (417) 924-8917 www.RareSeeds.com 2278 Baker Creek Road Mansfield, MO 65704 Large selection of heirloom vegetable and herb seeds. Burpee (800) 333-5808 www.burpee.com 300 Park Avenue Warminster, PA 18974 Vegetable and flower seeds. Cottage Gardener Heirloom Seed (905) 786-2388 www.cottagegardener.com 4199 Gillmore Road, RR#1 Newtonville, ON L0A 1J0 Heirloom seeds and plants, particularly certified organic seeds of vegetables and herbs. More than 500 varieties of rare or endangered, openpollinated seeds. Gurney’s Seed & Nursery Co. (513) 354-1491 www.gurneys.com P.O. Box 4178 Greendale, IN 47025 Vegetable, fruit, herb, and flower seeds and plants. Henry Field’s® Seed and Nursery (513) 354-1494 www.henryfields.com P.O. Box 397 Aurora, IN 47001 Wide supply of vegetable seeds and plants, as well as trees and gardening tools and supplies. Johnny’s Selected Seeds (877) 564-6697 www.johnnyseeds.com 955 Benton Avenue Winslow, ME 04901 Vegetable and flower seeds, including heirloom varieties and organic seeds. Organica Seed Co. (413) 599-0264 www.organicaseedco.com P.O. Box 611 Wilbraham, MA 01095 Vegetable and herb seeds, both heirloom and open-pollinated, and some fruit, coffee, and tea. Park Seed Company (800) 213-0076 www.parkseed.com 1 Parkton Avenue Greenwood, SC 29647 Vegetable, herb, and flower seeds. Sand Hill Preservation Center www.sandhillpreservation.com 1878 230th Street Calamus, IA 52729 Heirloom seeds and plants. Seeds of Diversity (866) 509-7333 www.seeds.ca P.O. Box 36, Stn Q Toronto ON M4T 2L7 Website listing Canadian and US seed companies selling rare, heritage, and organic seeds. Information on how to harvest and save seeds. Stokes Seeds (800) 396-9238 www.stokeseeds.com US: P.O. Box 548 Buffalo, NY 14240 Canada: P.O. Box 10 Thorold, ON L2V 5E9 Offers a variety of flower, vegetable and herb seeds. Ships to US and Canada. Streambank Gardens www.streambankgardens.com 22481 Burton Road Milton, DE 19968 Vegetable and herb plants. SUPPLIERS Territorial Seed Company (800) 626-0866 www.territorial-seed.com P.O. Box 158 Cottage Grove, OR 97424 Unusal and heirloom fruit and vegetable seeds and plants. Underwood Gardens www.underwoodgradens.com 1414 Zimmerman Road Woodstock, IL 60098 Wide range of heirloom, rare, and open-pollinated vegetable seeds. Veseys (800) 363-7333 www.veseys.com US: P.O. Box 9000 Calais, ME 04619 Canada: P.O. Box 9000 Charlottetown, PEI C1A 8K6 Online seed and starter plant retailer. Has certified organic products as well as heirloom varieties; gardening tools and equipment. Ships to Canada and US. TREE & BUSH SUPPLIERS Note: Customs regulations generally prohibit shipment of live plants, including bulbs and potatoes, across the US–Canada border, but seeds can be sent in either direction. Check for current regulations with the US and Canadian Departments of Agriculture. Forestfarm (541) 846-7269 www.forestfarm.com 990 Tetherow Road Williams, OR 97544 Large range of plants, including fruits and berries, and ornamental trees and shrubs. 447 448 SUPPLIERS >> Henry Field’s® Seed and Nursery (513) 354-1494 www.henryfields.com P.O. Box 397 Aurora, IN 47001 Wide supply of berries, fruit and nut trees, and gardening supplies. St. Lawrence Nurseries (315) 265-6739 www.sln.potsdam.ny.us 325 State Highway 345 Potsdam, NY 13676 Hardy fruit and nut trees for northern gardens. Siloam Orchards (905) 852-9418 www.siloamorchards.com 7300 3rd Concession Uxbridge, ON L9P 1R1 Heritage, disease-resistant fruit trees and bushes. WATER GARDENING Clean Air Gardening (214) 819-9500 www.cleanairgardening.com 2266 Monitor Street Dallas, TX 75207 Tools and supplies for water gardening. Lilypons Water Gardens (800) 999-5459 www.lilypons.com 6800 Lily Pons Road Adamstown, Maryland 21710 Tools and supplies, plants, and animals for water gardening. Pondliner (866) 766-3548 www.pondliner.com 7901 North Kickapoo Shawnee, OK 74804 Wide variety of water garden tools and supplies, as well as goldfish. The Tasteful Garden www.tastefulgarden.com 973 County Road 8 Chulafinnee, Heflin, AL 36264 Open-pollinated varieties of fruit shrubs and trees, particularly citrus. The Water Garden (423) 870 2838 for information (866) 948-1479 for sales www.watergarden.org 5212 Austin Road Hixson, TN 37343 Water plants and all other supplies needed for a successful water garden. WILDLIFE GARDENING National Wildlife Federation Garden for Wildlife www.nwf.org/gardenforwildlife (800) 822-9919 11100 Wildlife Center Drive Reston, VA 20190-5362 Advice on growing wildlife-friendly plants; bird feeders and houses. Wildlife Gardening Adventures (301) 304-0357 www.gardeningadventures.com 123 Challedon Drive Walkersville, MD 21793 Advice on growing wildlife-friendly plants and gardens. Designers’ details The following designers and landscape architects have kindly helped us with planting and design plans. Laurie Chetwood and Patrick Collins 020 7490 2400 chetwoods.com Annie Guilfoyle 01730 812943 annieguilfoyle.com Fran Coulter 01582 794019 frances.coulter@btinternet.com Jeff Hewitt 0208 547 2452 hewittlandscapes.co.uk Cubed3 Alan Burns 07921 860092 Philip Dugdale 0770 216 2317 Phillippa Probert 07734 157976 outerspaces.org.uk Adam Frost 01780 762748 adamfrost.co.uk Hugh Thomas Gardens & Landscapes 01625 531513 hughthomas.co.uk