BBC Gardeners’ World May 2022

slugline in here Before He has a really healthy collection of plants. This is a garden that’s looking to the future and what’s possible as the climate changes Kate Gould, GOTY judge Tropical-leaved bananas and palms are proving surprisingly hardy, while succulents and cacti bask in full sun and enjoy their free-draining, gritty soil In a small hamlet outside Bath, point for ten years. When I did Garden plan Pergola Nigel has created a surprising have a garden many years ago, garden filled with tropical and I was quite young and really Water feature arid planting that’s also bursting got into it. I read loads of books with upcycled design ideas. and learned as much as I could. N Created on a small budget, So when I moved here and Nigel has found clever ways found myself with quite a large to recycle hard landscaping outdoor space, I was really materials and seek out exotic excited to get started. plants at bargain prices to make a garden he and his family can Where did your interest Med bed Arid bed all enjoy. His garden has not only in gardening stem from? BBQ been kind on the family’s budget, I think I first started gardening GARDEN PLAN: NEIL DARBY but is also eco-conscious – when I was about 16 or 17. But Bench something that Nigel, who’s when I was much younger, maybe Garage an environment consultant, nine or 10, my dad took me to is especially proud of. the Lost Gardens of Heligan in Seating area Water feature Approx size: Cornwall, and going there had a 28 x 17.5m What was your garden like really big impact on me. I used to when you first started scour the charity shops to try to gardening here? find gardening books – we didn’t I moved in to my partner’s house have the internet when I started in summer 2017. All that was here gardening! I had a bookshelf and at that point was a central raised I would just keep adding more bed. And that was just full of gardening books to it. And it soon potatoes, although there was one became very much a passion. small border on the other side and two old greenhouses that were I guess it was unusual – growing falling apart, and that was pretty up I don’t think anyone else I knew much it. But I saw it as a real shared my passion for gardening. opportunity, because I’ve always One of the books I stumbled been pretty keen on gardening. across was about the restoration I’d not had my own garden at that of Heligan, by Sir Tim Smit, and I think that also helped to really May 2022 GardenersWorld.com 51

slugline in here inspire my style of gardening and 2 encouraged me to start growing tropical plants. 1 How did you make the garden? This is an incredible garden, done on a budget and My partner, Emma, had no real done well – hats off to him for sourcing all the freebies interesting in gardening, so the and recycling as much as he has Wayne Amiel, GOTY judge first thing I needed to do was convince her of my plans. So I 1 Although he only new things and trying to use what does require a little bit of extra created a 3D model with software started creating his you already have or what someone work. But sometimes it’s similar to that I use at work. After garden just over two no longer needs. People are always surprising how well some of these that she agreed I could take over years ago, Nigel’s throwing away things like old tropical plants can grow in our certain areas of the garden, but plants have already decking – that’s what I did with climate without any problems. I had to keep the big section of established well and ours. I just rebuilt it to my own Some of the bananas, such as lawn untouched – I still have look lush and tropical design. I’ve re-purposed an old Musa basjoo, are also perfectly to work on her to let me start fire pit and turned it into an agave hardy – in a cold winter you might transforming that! 2 Nigel has created bowl. When recycling you just lose them down to the ground but beds on either side have to think creatively – it will generally they’re going to shoot The work started during the of the path leading to end up giving the garden a bit back up from the base. The arid bed first lockdown, so it gave me a bit the lawn – this one is more character too. does need a bit of extra protection of a focus. Once I’d got the main filled with arid plants over winter – from the end of decking area done, just before and opposite is a What are the challenges of October to the end of March I put Covid hit, I was always planning Mediterranean bed creating a mainly tropical a rain canopy over it to keep the to start on the rest of the garden. garden in Somerset? wet off. It’s always gratifying when But being in lockdown meant we 3 Cleverly recycled We’ve definitely lost plants, plants make it through winter that had a bit of extra cash to put into items fill the garden, especially when you’re trying perhaps shouldn’t or that you the garden, as we weren’t going such as this old fire to push boundaries a bit. And it weren’t expecting would. out anywhere – although the bowl that is now a whole garden has been done water feature on a low budget. 3 How did you manage to keep the budget down and still create the garden you want? We’ve found bargains on selling sites like Facebook Marketplace and eBay and through local plant groups. Gardening can be expensive, so it’s good to get hold of bargains, especially on the more expensive and unusual plants and things like decking. In the arid bed, where the agaves and the succulents are, there are some big reddish boulders. These were free from a couple in the village next to us, who were dismantling a koi pond and were just giving away the rocks. They would have cost an absolute fortune in the garden centre. The biggest palm in the garden, a Butia capitata, was from a local animal sanctuary that was closing down. We managed to buy it for £70, but if that was bought from a nursery it would be over a thousand pounds. The paneling in the circular seating area was made from free reclaimed deck boards that I stained and used as a fascia. Budget is a driving factor, but recycling does benefit the whole ecology. You cut down on your carbon footprint by not buying 52 GardenersWorld.com

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Could you be a winner? Enter now and your plot could be featured in the magazine Gardens of the Year 2022 is set to be Have you created a garden another fantastic showcase of the full of personality? nation’s best gardens. And we want to see your inspiring creations, no Is your plot a relaxing matter how big or small they are, entertaining space? or where in the UK they’re situated. Previous winners have created everything from flower-filled allotments and green city terraces to wildlife-friendly container gardens and large family plots. What type of garden will you show us? The competition is open and now’s the perfect time to submit your entry. We’ll select eight winners, then it’s over to our expert judging panel to choose their Judge’s Choice and Highly Commended prizes, and then onto GW readers to choose their favourite, which will be awarded the People’s Choice. There are £10,000 worth of prizes to be won too so, go on, enter now! Win a 7-night holiday Great prizes The winner of the Judge’s two people, consisting of to win Choice award will receive flights, accommodation, a holiday for two, courtesy and car hire. PLUS of Pure Michigan and Visit Detroit, worth over £6,000. The lucky winners will All eight winning gardens will spend 2 nights in Detroit be awarded a professional The state of Michigan, visiting The Ford House photoshoot of their garden and in the Great Lakes region & Belle Isle, 5 nights in will be featured in BBC Gardeners’ of the American Midwest, Michigan, including the World Magazine in 2022-23. home to the City of Detroit, famous Mackinac Island, There will also be fantastic prizes beautiful countryside, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, for the Highly Commended iconic gardens and open and Holland. garden and the winner of the roads, is a true American K Return flights People’s Choice vote. adventure. K 7 nights in 3- or 4-star hotels Pure Michigan and Visit Good Luck entering this Detroit are delighted to amazing competition! offer a 7-night prize for PHOTOS: SARAH CUTTLE; PAUL DEBOIS; NEIL HEPWOPRTH; JASON INGRAM; MACKINAC ISLAND, MICHIGAN PHOTOS: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Take a relaxing carriage ride in Mackinac Island For full details of all prizes see GardenersWorld.com/garden-competition 54 GardenersWorld.com May 2022

Do you have a plot that’s perfect for wildlife? THE VIEW FROM OUR 2021 FINALISTS We caught up with our three 2021 Gardens of the Year winners to find out what winning has meant to them and why you should make this the year you enter your own garden. Nadine Mitschunas Deanna & Rob Thomas Jose – – Judge’s Choice Halsall – Highly People’s Choice “When I entered my Commended When I received the allotment garden “We almost didn’t magazine and into the competition enter our garden – discovered the last spring, I never in fact I think we results I couldn’t thought I’d have a entered 10 minutes believe it! The whole chance of winning before the deadline! experience was a the Judge’s Choice. To win the Highly great thrill and to If you have a nice Commended award make it so far in garden, there is was a dream come such a coveted nothing to lose by true. We were new competition is entering. Since to gardening and incredible winning I’ve been knowing that such motivation and asked to help design respected judges had reward for all the a Beautiful Border chosen our plot was hard work. I have inspired by my an amazing feeling. been persevering allotment at the We’d encourage with the hobby BBC Gardeners’ anyone in doubt with greater vigour World Live show. like us to enter!” than ever. Is your garden an urban How to enter oasis bursting with plants? Our competition is open to gardens across the UK, of all shapes and sizes – so just give it a go! 1 GO TO GardenersWorld.com/garden-competition to enter. 2 UPLOAD at least six photos and tell us how you created your garden. Choose photos that show areas of your garden, not individual plants. And we’d like to see a photo of the garden before you transformed it, plus a photo of you in your garden. 3 ENTER by midday on 13 June 2022. If your garden is a winner, we will contact you in June to arrange a date for photography, which must be completed by mid-August. ABOUT OUR SPONSOR Inspired Villages offers stylish apartments designed to discreetly support you as you age, and on-site teams to do cleaning and maintenance, so you don’t have to. Plus residents have leisure facilities like swimming pools, restaurants and cinemas on their doorsteps in the vibrant village centre. “If you ‘right size’ to one of our villages, you are no longer burdened with worries about maintaining a large home or security,” explains James Cobb, Director at Inspired Villages. Find out more at inspiredvillages.co.uk Enter by midday on 13 June 2022 at GardenersWorld.com/garden-competition May 2022 GardenersWorld.com 55

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Subscriber CLUB Grow your FREE seeds* Sow your easy-to-grow 3 REASONS TO GROW  Zinnia ‘Jazz’ gives flower, herb and salad a pop of colour to seeds now for beautiful borders and pots  Loves sun and blooms and tasty flowers for months  Makes a great cut pickings this summer flower for your home This month our Subscriber Club members received six packets of seeds, delivered through their letterboxes with their May copy of Gardeners’ World Magazine, as part of our 14-packet, five-month giveaway worth more than £31. If you don’t already subscribe, you still have time to join our giveaway and receive two more free packets of seed with our June issue. Turn to p30 to find out more benefits. Our seed giveaway this month comprises three summer flowers: zinnia, gypsophila and nigella; and three delicious edibles: basil, parsley and lettuce. Sowing instructions for the flowers are given across these two pages, and for the edibles on p59-60. It’s warm enough to sow all of them outdoors now or you can start them indoors – check the packets for details. Growing your zinnias and gypsophila Sowing seeds indoors Growing on your seedlings 1 Fill pots or trays with peat-free 2 Scatter the seeds thinly on the 1Carefully prise out each 2Water the seedlings to settle PHOTOS: PAUL DEBOIS; JASON INGRAM potting compost, then label with compost. Cover with a 5mm seedling from its compost and the compost around their roots. the type of seed you’re sowing. layer of compost and water gently. replant to grow on with more space. Place in a warm, light location. Subscribe now Subscribe for just £26 every 6 issues – saving 29% – and you’ll also receive 58 GardenersWorld.com May 2022

Subscriber CLUB FREE SEEDS Find out more 3 REASONS TO GROW  Nigella ‘Miss Jekyll’ Use your phone to is so easy to grow scan the QR code on  Sky-blue flowers are the back of each seed followed by decorative, packet for easy access to our gardening balloon-like seedheads advice and inspiration.  Months of interest in gardens and vases 3 REASONS TO GROW  Gypsophila ‘Covent Garden’ gives clouds of white blooms  Harmonises well with other flowers  Makes the perfect filler in a vase Growing your nigella and gypsophila Coming up *DUE TO CURRENT RESTRICTIONS ON THE MOVEMENT OF PLANTS AND SEEDS, WE REGRET THAT WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PROVIDE FREE SEEDS ON SUBSCRIPTIONS OUTSIDE THE UK. VARIETIES Sowing seeds outdoors JUNE ARE SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY AND MAY BE SUBSTITUTED FOR SEEDS OF A SIMILAR VALUE. Foxglove + cosmos worth £4.55 Tall, pastel foxgloves and long-flowering, sun-loving cosmos 1 Prepare the soil by removing all weeds and 2 Rake a thin covering of soil over the seeds WATCH video guides and get more raking level. Then scatter the seeds evenly and water gently using a watering can with and sparingly so the seedlings won’t be crowded. a fine rose. Add a label with the flower’s name. seed-sowing and trouble-shooting advice at GardenersWorld.com/free-seeds In partnership with Mr Fothergill’s mr-fothergills.co.uk top-of-the-range Darlac Expert Bypass Pruners and a Darlac 5 in 1 trowel worth £42.98 – see p32 for full details May 2022 GardenersWorld.com 59

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Parsley Subscriber CLUB FREE SEEDS Flat-leaved parsley like ‘Plain leaved 2’ is 3 REASONS TO GROW more flavoursome and easier to grow than curly  Parsley ‘Plain parsley and will provide leaves for months, or Leaved 2’ is packed even a whole year once established, if tended full of flavour and regularly harvested.  Versatile herb for use in all kinds of dishes Requiring fertile, moisture-retentive soil,  Easy to harvest by parsley thrives in a semi-shaded spot, although snipping as needed it can also be grown in full sun if frequently watered. Picking a few leaves whenever you need them will encourage it to produce more, for a constant and fresh supply. Parsley can also be sown outdoors, but do look out for pests and keep the soil moist until it is established safely. Germination Parsley can be slow to germinate and develop, and needs to be kept moist at the roots for best results when starting off your plants. Growing your parsley Sowing seeds 1 Fill pots or trays with peat-free 2 Flatten the surface of the 3Insert the label then sprinkle 4Place in a tray of water until the potting compost and prepare a compost – a drinking glass is the seeds over the compost and compost is damp at the surface, label with the variety name. perfect to use with a round pot. cover with a fine layer of compost. then remove and place in warmth. Growing on your seedlings 1 Fill a tray or large pot with peat- 2 Flatten the top of the compost 3Carefully ease the seedlings 4Water gently but thoroughly PHOTOS: JASON INGRAM; GETTY/ANDREY TTL free multi-purpose compost without compacting it. A home- individually from their original using a can with a rose, then once the seedlings have germinated. made tamper works well. pot and replant well spaced apart. place in warmth to grow on. Subscribe for just £26 every 6 issues and receive a Darlac pruning and planting set worth £42.98 – see p32 for full details May 2022 GardenersWorld.com 61

Subscriber CLUB FREE SEEDS Lettuce and basil 3 REASONS TO GROW 3 REASONS TO GROW  Lettuce ‘Salad Bowl  Basil ‘Sweet’ is Easy to grow and good looking, lettuce Red and Green Mixed’ perfect for indoor or and basil are suitable for growing in a container on a patio. Your free seeds will keep you well looks great on a plate outdoor growing supplied with salad ingredients all summer.  Full of flavour when  Great for pesto or Simply fill the pot with multi-purpose peat-free grown at home tomato salads potting compost, tamp down and space the  Can be picked as  Saves you spending seeds over the top. Cover lightly and water needed, leaf by leaf £££s in supermarkets gently with a watering can with a rose, so you don’t disturb the seeds Basil grows best in the warmer months and doesn’t like to be kept too damp, so make the most of it this summer by frequently sowing small batches. You can preserve it by mixing with olive oil and freezing, for a tasty supply all winter. The lettuce can be harvested into autumn and you can even try covering it with a cloche to extend the harvests further. Growing your lettuce and basil outdoors Sowing seeds 1 Prepare your soil by clearing all weeds and 2 Carefully space out your seeds along the 3Lightly cover the row of seeds by flipping raking level, then make a shallow straight drill watered drill. Try sowing just a few seeds a thin layer of soil over it with your hoe or with the hoe or trowel and trickle water along it. every three weeks to give you a steady supply. trowel. Label the row with the type of seed sown. Growing your basil indoors Growing on your seedlings Sowing seeds 1 Fill pots or trays with peat-free 2 Space the seeds over the 1Gently prise out each seedling 2Water the seedlings to settle PHOTOS: JASON INGRAM; GETTY/GERT-JAN VAN VLIET potting compost, then label with surface, then cover with a thin from its compost and replant the compost around the roots. the type of seed you’re sowing. layer of compost and water gently. into its own spot to grow on. Place in a warm, light location. Subscribe for just £26 every 6 issues and receive a Darlac pruning and planting set worth £42.98 – see p32 for full details 62 GardenersWorld.com May 2022

offer GARDENERS’ WORLD TRAVEL OFFER Meet Adam on our East of England tour 7-11 August 2022 – four nights from £1,295pp Elton Hall I’ve lived among and around these Adam Frost gardens for many years, so it’s a real pleasure to be joining this exclusive trip in a region that’s so dear to me. The East of England has some of the finest gardens in the country, and I look forward to being a part of your holiday. Boughton House Barnsdale Gardens The Old Vicarage YOUR TOUR K SUN 7 AUG Check in to our three- where owner Sandra Blaza will share prairie planting. Then to Boughton star hotel for the trip, Barnsdale Our tailor-made itinerary through her gardening passion. Later, enjoy House, Northamptonshire, which the charming countryside of the Lodge, near Rutland Water. Enjoy East of England includes an exciting a welcome drink, dinner with wine will open exclusively for us, starting array of wonderful locations, along a welcome dinner and talk by with informative talks. And you’ll and a talk by Nick Hamilton, owner with a welcome Prosecco, a two- be entertained by Adam Frost, as BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine he joins us for a special afternoon Associate Editor, David Hurrion. of Barnsdale Gardens, created by course lunch with a glass of wine, at Boughton House, one of Britain’s K MON 8 AUG First to Cottesbrooke grandest and best-preserved Hall Gardens in Northamptonshire his father, beloved GW presenter and a talk and Q&A with our special stately homes. for an exclusive head gardener-led Geoff Hamilton. guest Adam Frost. After lunch, tour, plus lunch. Then to the private K TUE 9 AUG Barnsdale Gardens we take a tour of the gardens with garden of The Old Vicarage, Burley, is the former – and iconic – home the head gardener, including the of Gardeners’ World. Comprising amazing new contemporary garden 38 gardens in many styles, it offers feature by Kim Wilkie. inspiration for all. Nick Hamilton will K THU 11 AUG Our last day takes WHAT’S INCLUDED be on hand to show you round. In us to Ursula Cholmeley’s Easton K Buffet lunch, plus talk and Q&A with Adam Frost, followed by an the afternoon we visit magnificent Walled Gardens in Lincolnshire, exclusive, private guided tour of Boughton House gardens Elton Hall in Cambridgeshire for famous for its sweet peas and the K Visit to Barnsdale Gardens with a talk by Nick Hamilton and lunch K Talks by head gardeners and owners at eight gardens a tour of the private gardens with Pickery cut flower garden. Ursula K Four nights at the three-star Barnsdale Lodge Hotel, Rutland Water K 4 dinners, 3 lunches and afternoon tea at Burghley, all included the head gardener, and free time will introduce the gardens along K BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Associate Editor, David Hurrion, to explore the formal gardens. with the head gardener. Our final as tour leader throughout the trip Dinner at the hotel. stop is Burghley House, with a WE ARE COVID-SAFE – BOOK IN CONFIDENCE. Travel Editions have a comprehensive K WED 10 AUG Our day starts visit to the magnificent house COVID plan in place to ensure your safety. For more information, visit: traveleditions.co.uk/coronavirusinformationlink in Rutland at Redhill and a guided tour of the Lodge, the garden of gardens with head garden designer Sue gardener Joe Whitehead. Moffitt. Sue will introduce After afternoon tea, we you to the garden and its David Hurrion will return to the hotel. MUGSHOT PHOTOS: JASON INGRAM To discuss further details of the tour, Find out more about the trip at or book your place, please call GardenersWorld.com/adam-east-england 020 7553 6945 quoting GORMAY22 PLEASE NOTE: this is a busy itinerary visiting some sizeable gardens and involving a considerable amount of walking, with little or no access to assistance. Please bear this in mind when booking this tour. Terms & conditions: Holiday organised by and subject to booking conditions of Travel Editions Tours Ltd. All timings are approximate and may be changed. Joining instructions sent 10-14 days prior to departure. In the case of unforeseen circumstances, experts/locations may be substituted. Singles welcome: £100 supplement for single occupancy, £152 supplement for double for sole use. Additional night available on request. May 2022 GardenersWorld.com 63



Love learning with BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine PHOTO: SARAH CUTTLE iGPAnRT3rpowotisng Your beginner guide to beautiful GardenersWorld.com 65 containers for any style of garden ✔ G rowing flowers, veg, trees and more ✔ C hoosing the right compost ✔ C lear advice and easy instructions May 2022

How to pick the right container The type of material that you choose for your pots will not only affect the look of your garden, but also the growth of your plants. Pressure-treated, lined, timber containers are a good choice for their weather-resistance and give a rustic appeal to the garden. Terracotta pots can be damaged by cold, but are ideal for a Mediterranean scheme and are porous, allowing roots to ‘breathe’, TOP TIP which is vital for plants that struggle if roots are wet Use an old broom for long periods. Glazed head to remove dirt ceramic pots will hold from the outside of onto more moisture than your pots then wipe terracotta. Aluminium and them down with a galvanised steel containers damp cloth are a good choice for a sleek, modern patio and are resistant to rust and very sturdy. Plastic pots are light and can be reused many times, but there are also various alternatives made from recycled materials such as Wooden containers bring a natural look to the garden when planted up. Timber can be a long-lasting material if coated with preservative every year bamboo, coffee husk and other plant fibres. THE BEST POT FOR YOU Dos and don’ts ✔DO choose pots that are PHOTOS: JASON INGRAM; SARAH CUTTLE comfortably wide and deep enough to fit the rootballs of the plants you have – one-and-a-half times as wide and deep as the rootball is a good rule of thumb. ✔DO use a mix of different-sized and shaped containers on the patio to add extra height and depth to the area and to show off plants at different angles. ✔DO check if terracotta pots are being sold as frostproof and check if they come with a guarantee. ✗DON’T plant up a container that doesn’t have any drainage holes. Key points K Style is important, but make sure the material of the pot suits the plants you want to put in it. K Weight of the pot should be a key consideration if you like to change the position of your pots a lot. CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT Metal containers are sturdy and give the patio a modern feel; glazed ceramic Find out more pots retain moisture well; terracotta pots let roots breathe; a mix of pot sizes add depth to a display For more advice on choosing the right container for your garden see our how-to video guide 66 GardenersWorld.com/grow-how Love learning with BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine

How to choose GrowHow compost Potting composts are made up of ingredients, including (clockwise from Always choose a peat-free compost, and consider top left): well-rotted compost from garden waste; coir; loam; perlite the plants you want to grow and how long they’ll be in a container. Plants that are to spend years in a pot are best grown in soil-based compost (often sold as John Innes compost). This gives a longer- TOP TIP term supply of nutrients than multi-purpose, doesn’t shrink Add old multi- and holds onto moisture well. purpose compost from Multi-purpose is best for finished containers to young plants that are only in areas of heavy soil in pots for one growing season at the most, but they will need the garden to help loosen it up regular liquid plant food to ensure they receive enough nutrition. Acid-loving plants such as blueberries, camellias (below) and pieris need to be grown in ericaceous compost. Homemade compost is best used for mulching or mixing into planting holes. THE BEST COMPOST FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF PLANT LEFT TO RIGHT Camellias need ericaceous compost; long-term plants such as box grow best in soil-based compost; annual veg suit peat-free multi-purpose compost; perennials and shrubs need soil-based compost Dos and don’ts ✔DO tip the contents of bagged Key points ✔DO buy peat-free – always compost into a trug or onto K Plants that are to stay in the same pot for many years are – and make a note of the a work surface and break it not likely to grow well in multi-purpose composts. different brands you use in down with your hands to a K Soil-based composts are pots through the growing crumbly texture before using heavy, so place large pots where you want them to season, and the results. Some it for potting. stay before planting with it. will be more suited to your ✔DO add more of the same K Grit and perlite can be added to any type of compost to help plants than others. compost to crops in pots improve drainage, if needed. ✔DO keep bagged compost through the year if you notice in a shed or greenhouse, that the compost level has so that it is dry for when you dropped, then water. are ready to use it. Love learning with BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine GardenersWorld.com/grow-how 67

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For ONLY £1 we will treat your whole order with MAXICROP to give your plants: • Strong, healthy root system - More energy for growth • Greener, healthier leaves – Great nutrient availability • Reduced stress during transit • Better establishment and improved root growth www.thompson-morgan.com/TM_TS3951 Tel: 0844 573 7414 When ordering online please use order code TM_TS3951 to access our special offers. Phone Lines open 7 days a week 9am – 6pm. Please send to: H10AP0P%Y Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge. Thompson & Morgan, Dept TM_TS3951, Poplar Lane, YOUR SATISFACTION GUARANTEED or your money back Ipswich, Suffolk, IP8 3BU. We want you to be 100% satisfied with any product you buy from us. If you’re not 100% happy then neither are we, so let us know and we’ll replace your product or give you your money back.† I enclose a cheque/postal order made ORDER CODE Code Item Description Price Qty Total Staying in touch with T&M payable to ‘Thompson & Morgan’ for £ Please read each statement carefully Name TM_TS3951 73691 Geranium Jackpot 15 Garden Ready Plants £14.99 £12.99 Address KC6184 Geranium Jackpot 30 Garden Ready Plants £29.98 £16.99 •By placing an order with us, you become a T&M customer, so KA9686 Begonia Apricot Shades 15 Garden Ready Plants £14.99 £13.99 we would like to continue sending our catalogue to you, giving you first sight of our new varieties. Please tick the box if you do KC6169 Begonia Apricot Shades 30 Garden Ready Plants £29.98 £18.99 not want to receive them . 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How to plant a pot right now Planting up a feature container with a mix of plants is one of the easiest ways to instantly improve your garden. Choose hardy plants that will survive winter and it can be an attractive feature on the patio for years to come. Succulents and alpines are cheap TOP TIP and drought-tolerant plants to plant now, or you could choose Liven up your old summer bedding plants, but pots by painting them these need to be kept frost with masonry paint or free. This stylish container will coloured woodstain work well in a sunny corner. before planting them up You will need K Peat-free multi-purpose compost K Wicker container (lined) K Alpines, such as sedums ‘Golden Queen’ and ‘Cape Blanco’ and Antennaria rosea Plant alpines in pots ensuring that the base of each plant’s stems is just above the compost surface. This prevents plants getting too wet and rotting K Grit and pebbles STEP BY STEP How to add grit and mulch ➊➋ 1 Mix equal parts grit and peat-free 2 Layer the top with 2cm of grit Place newly planted pots in a shady place on very hot May days multi-purpose compost when planting after planting to improve drainage. to prevent heat-stress and help the new plants settle in well a pot with alpines and succulents. Finish with smooth pebbles. PHOTOS: SARAH CUTTLE Dos and don’ts choosing them, so you know Key points Find out more ✔DO check if the plants you are how much space they will K Planting a mix of different Follow our guide to plants in the same pot is a choosing plants for potting up can withstand cold eventually take up. great way of maximising pots to help you find a small space. the right mix to suit the temperatures. ✗DON’T forget to water style of your garden K Adding an attractive mulch ✔DO move pots with plants that thoroughly around the base of such as grit, slate or decorative stones to the compost surface can’t stand frost indoors on each plant before adding the will create a more ‘complete’ final display and will also help cold nights, until late May. grit and pebble mulch on top. prevent weed seeds from germinating in the compost. ✔DO make sure there are ✗DON’T be afraid to plant the drainage holes in the bottom same plant more than once of the pot before you fill it up. in the same pot. It can look ✔DO check the heights and very effective. spreads of the plants before Love learning with BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine GardenersWorld.com/grow-how 69

GrowHow How to grow crops in pots Most veg crops can be grown in containers if space in the ground is limited. Concentrate on crops that will give best value from one container. Tomatoes and cucumbers produce fruits over a long period, especially in a greenhouse or south-facing spot. Courgettes TOP TIP and winter squashes will also give a good harvest. Multi- Check compost for purpose compost is fine for dryness regularly by annual crops if you regularly pushing in your finger use a feed suitable for fruiting – only water if it’s dry crops, or add a controlled- release food when you plant. beneath the surface You will need Planting drought-tolerant thyme around the base of potted vegetable plants creates a full display as well as giving tasty pickings when you need them K Trough (with saucer) K Peat-free multi-purpose compost K Chilli and thyme plants K Watering can STEP BY STEP How to plant a trough with chilli and thyme Dos and don’ts 1 Break up the compost ✔DO mix a controlled-release plant food into the compost for hungry well with your hands to crops such as tomatoes, squashes, remove any large, hard raspberries and maincrop potatoes. clumps, after checking ✔DO grow long-term crops, such as that drainage holes are blackcurrants, gooseberries and clear and fully open. blackberries, in soil-based compost. Half-fill the trough. ✔DO place saucers under pots when 2 Position the plants on feeding veg crops with liquid plant food, so roots can take in the the compost surface. The excess nutrients from the water thymes need planting that drains through the pot. slightly higher up than ✗ DON’T grow crops in pots in a the chilli, so that the base shady place unless you are growing of each plant is almost ➊ ➋ cut-and-come-again salads, which level with the rim of the will still crop well in shade. trough. Plant the chilli 2cm deeper. Key points 3 Fill in the gaps K Make sure you check your crops around the plants with daily for watering needs in summer. more compost once K Fruit and veg in pots will need you are happy with the feeding to give good results. arrangement and push it down through all the gaps with your fingers. 4 Water well and water ➌ Find out more PHOTOS: SARAH CUTTLE again when the compost See our guide to growing veg and salad surface and the saucer leaves in pots on the below the trough is dry. ➍ windowsill within easy reach of the kitchen 70 GardenersWorld.com/grow-how Love learning with BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine

offer DELIGHTFUL DRIFT ROSES S£A1V2E ON Buy this collection of three drift COLLECTION roses and save £12 A cross between a groundcover rose and a miniature rose, drift roses carry abundant, large, semi-double, fragrant flowers. They’re also repeat flowering in summer and autumn, disease resistant and easy to grow. Supplied in 9cm pots and delivered in May. K Rosa Coral Drift Rosa Popcorn Drift Height x Spread 45cm x 80cm Rosa Coral Drift Rosa Peach Drift Flowers Jun-Sep 1 plant £14 01386 426245 (quote code ROGW) rare | unusual | exciting K R. Popcorn Drift www.hayloft.co.uk/ROGW Please add P&P £5.95 H x S 40cm x 60cm F Jun-Sep 1 plant £14 K R. Peach Drift H x S 40cm x 60cm F Jun-Sep 1 plant £14 K Drift Rose Collection 3 plants (1 of each) £42 £30 SAVE £12 DON’T FORGET ROSE FOOD AND PEAT-FREE COMPOST After Plant Rose Food provides your plants with essential nutrients and to boost performance. The peat-free compost is made from a sustainable blend of materials, including Forest Gold, coir and clay. 1kg bag rose food + 40L bag of peat-free compost £33 £18 – SAVE £15 Cut out order form and post orders to Gardeners’ World Code: ROGW Reader Offer, PO BOX 2020, Pershore, WR10 9BP offer CODE DESCRIPTION PRICE QTY TOTAL rare | unusual | exciting ROGW-14RC1 ROGW-14RD1 Title Initial Surname ROGW-14RP1 Rosa Coral Drift x 1 £14 Address Email ROGW-14RC3 £14 Postcode Rosa Popcorn Drift x 1 £14 ✁ Tel ROGW-14CF1 £30 Rosa Peach Drift x 1 I enclose a cheque (no cash, please) for £ made payable to Drift Rose Collection x 3 (1 of each) £18 1 £5.95 £42 SAVE £12 £5.95 Rose Food 1kg bag & Peat-free Compost 40-litre bag £33 SAVE £15 P&P Hayloft with my name and address on the back GRAND TOTAL £ Or charge my Visa  Mastercard  Maestro  Maestro issue no  BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine (published by Immediate Media Co Ltd) would like to send you Card number     special offers and promotions. You can unsubscribe at any time – for details of how to do this, Start date / Expiry date / Card security code  please see our privacy policy, which can be viewed at immediate.co.uk/privacy-policy. Please tick here if you would like to receive these [ ]. BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine is published by Immediate (Last 3 digits printed on signature strip) Media Co Ltd on behalf of BBC Studios (the commercial arm of the BBC). We would like to send you Gardeners’ World-related promotions, content and offers from BBC Studios. Your information will Signature Date be used in accordance with the BBC Studios privacy policy, which can be viewed at bbcstudios.com/ privacy. Please tick here if you would like to hear from us by email [ ]. Terms & conditions: All orders will receive an order acknowledgement. Dispatched from May. Offer closes 31 May 2022. Please note your contract for supply of goods is with Hayloft, Manor Farm, Pensham, Worcs WR10 3HB. Full T&Cs available on request. All items are subject to availability. All orders will receive an order acknowledgement. We may send Hayloft gardening catalogues and emails in the future. If you prefer not to receive them, please call 01386 562999. Occasionally the advertised delivery date may change, however, this will be clearly stated on your order confirmation. Offer available to UK addresses only. Reader offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotions or discounts. May 2022 GardenersWorld.com 71

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How to grow a tree in a pot Growing even one tree in a pot can add blossom, fruit, shelter, shade and scent to the patio. Trees need large pots (at least 45cm wide) although tiny saplings are best grown in smaller pots and potted into slightly bigger ones each year as they establish. It is TOP TIP harder for trees to anchor themselves in pots than in the Regularly check ground, so staking and growing tree ties through the in a sheltered spot are vital the year in case they need first two years after planting. slackening or tightening You will need K A deep pot (30-45cm wide) K Soil-based compost K A tree, suitable for a pot K Tree tie Growing different varieties of apple trees in pots is a neat way of ensuring K Controlled-release plant food a heavy crop in a small space because they can pollinate each other easily K Watering can STEP BY STEP How to plant a tree in a pot Dos and don’ts ✔DO remove the top 5cm of PHOTOS: JASON INGRAM 1 Fill the pot with the ➊ ➌ compost each spring and replace compost after placing an with fresh, plus more controlled- upturned 5cm pot over release plant food. the drainage hole to stop it getting blocked. Mix ✔DO grow trees in pots of soil-based controlled-release plant food into the compost. compost. Multi-purpose will dry out too quickly, be too light and need 2 Remove the tree from replacing each year. its pot and place it on the ✔DO select a heavy pot that won’t compost surface. The best planting depth is with the be easily blown over in the wind. bulky part at the bottom of the trunk just above the ✗ DON’T choose trees that have level of the rim of the pot. If roots are tightly wound, roots bursting out of the pot they tease them apart with your fingers. ➍are being sold in – they may not 3 Water the tree well establish well. until puddles start to form ➋ Key points on the compost surface and repeat each time the K Trees in pots will not grow as compost is pale, dusty quickly or as tall as they would and dry on top. when grown in the ground. 4 Insert a stake into the K Over time the tree will cast shade and change the growing conditions compost and secure the of part of the patio. tree to the stake using a rubber tree tie, taking care Find out more not to overtighten the tie and damage the stem. Discover some beautiful trees, for flowers, fruit ➍ and foliage, that won’t take up too much space in a small garden Love learning with BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine GardenersWorld.com/grow-how 73

GrowHow How to plant a year-round pot The beauty of planting different plants in the same container is that you can create a long-season of interest in a very small space. As well as planting a container like this from scratch, you could also ‘upgrade’ existing pots that are planted with evergreen TOP TIP shrubs or topiary. If there is 10cm spare around the edge Use a hand fork to of the pot, then there is room ‘comb’ stipa grasses in to add some trailing plants spring to remove any or wispy grasses to liven up the display. old yellow-brown strands that spoil the display You will need K 30-40cm wide pot K Broken clay pot pieces K Controlled-release plant food Box topiary and Stipa tenuissima grasses are good contrasting evergreens K Soil-based compost for year-round structure in a pot, while osteospermums flower all summer K Box cone, stipa and osteospermums STEP BY STEP How to plant a pot that looks good all year Dos and don’ts 1 Place some pieces ➊ ✔DO aim to grow plants together PHOTOS: SARAH CUTTLE ➌ of broken pot over the that like the same growing drainage hole of the conditions and compost, and pot to make sure that it have similar watering needs. doesn’t get blocked up. ✔DO consider repeating the 2 Fill three-quarters of display to create a symmetrical the pot with soil-based arrangement either side of a door. compost and sprinkle in some controlled- ✔DO think how the container will release plant food granules to provide look in winter, the season when it a long-term supply of can have the most impact. food to the plants. ✗ DON’T forget to place the 3 Place the plants on container onto pot feet at the end the compost surface and of autumn, so the plants won’t get add or remove compost too wet in winter. in order to leave the plant with the base of the ➋ ✗ DON’T be afraid to swap in other stems just below the rim plants if one plant in the pot isn’t of the pot. having the desired impact or is struggling to grow well. 4 Fill gaps with Key points flowering plants to maximise the space, then K Choose a solid ‘backbone’ add more compost and evergreen plant for structure all firm it well to make sure through the year without having to each plant is anchored in rely on flowers to create a strong place. Water well. visual effect. K Select plants that peak at different parts of the year so that the container has multiple ‘highlights’ as the months progress. ➍ K Choose hardy plants so they can be planted in the garden if over time they outgrow the pot. 74 GardenersWorld.com/grow-how Love learning with BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine

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GrowHow How to plant a wildlife pot The plants on our patios have a role to play in STEP BY STEP How to plant a pot for wildlife providing habitats and food for pollinators. Planting ➊➋ a wildlife-friendly pot is an easy task and can potentially attract wildlife for much of the year. Plants with berries or seedheads intact in winter can attract birds and there are many bee- and butterfly-friendly plants that are ideal for pots. The more pots you can dedicate to planting TOP TIP with wildlife in mind, the more likely you are to see If you break a your patio buzzing with life. terracotta plant pot, leave it upturned in a You will need corner of the border for insects to K Multi-purpose compost shelter in K Grit K 45cm wide container K Verbena rigida, sedum ‘Carl’ and lavender ‘Hidcote’ 1 Add multi-purpose compost mixed 2 Tip each plant out of its pot, teasing with grit, until the pot is half full, making out any roots that have wound tightly sure drainage holes are unblocked. around their pot with your fingers. ➌ ➍ 3 Check that the surface of each plant 4 Water well, placing a saucer beneath is just below the rim of the pot, then add the pot first to catch the excess water. more compost and firm in well as you go. Repeat each time the compost goes dry. A wildlife-friendly pot with butterfly magnets Verbena rigida Dos and don’ts Key points PHOTOS: JASON INGRAM and sedum ‘Carl’ and bee-attracting lavender ‘Hidcote’ ✔DO grow lots of plants with simple, K Wildlife pots are best not ‘tidied open flowers that will attract up’ too much. Deadhead spent flowers in summer, but leave insects, rather than frilly flowers perennial plants intact over winter. Their stems can be used by with many petals, which are less hibernating insects and seedheads can provide food for birds. appealing to them. K Place your pot in a south-facing, ✔DO choose plants that flower at sheltered spot for the most flowers and to attract more bees and different times, to extend the butterflies to them. potential season of interest for different pollinators. ✔DO choose plants with sturdy seedheads that last until winter. Love learning with BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine GardenersWorld.com/grow-how 77

How to make a potted pond The beauty of a pond in a pot is that it can be put STEP BY STEP How to plant up a pond in a pot together in a couple of hours without all the hard labour and logistics involved in digging out a pond from scratch in the garden. Make sure you use a container that is completely watertight. Purpose- made pond containers may come with planting grids to place your plants on. If you use an improvised container, place the plants on top of TOP TIP upturned pots or bricks. Add barley straw You will need extract or oxygenating plants to the water in K Similar container the pond to help keep pond kit, from £230, it fresh and clear watersidenursery.co.uk at all times K Aquatic plants, such as Cyperus involucratus and rushes ➊ ➋ K Rainwater or dechlorinated water 1 Place a purpose-made metal grid 2 Position the plants by placing them into the container and fill with collected on top of the grid, keeping them in the rainwater or dechlorinated tap water. aquatic containers they were sold in. ➌ ➍ 3 Continue adding plants, with the 4 Top up the water level so that the tallest at the back so they stand out, plants are at the desired depth and be until you’re happy with the arrangement. ready to top up in hot summer spells. A potted pond with tall Cyperus involucratus, maroon Dos and don’ts Key points PHOTOS: SARAH CUTTLE; JASON INGRAM; PAUL DEBOIS seedheads of Juncus ensifolius and Equisetum scirpoides ✔DO check plant labels for K Many kinds of wildlife can be information on the correct water attracted to your garden by even a small pond, including mayflies, depth that is needed. dragonflies and pond skaters. Add rocks to the outside edge of the pot ✔DO include oxygenating plants to to create a ramp to attract frogs. help keep the water crystal clear. K Choose the container for your pond carefully so that it is stylish ✔DO add an eco-friendly as well as practical. dechlorinator to tap water before K A potted pond is best placed in a sheltered place in full sun. filling or topping up the pond. ✔DO remove old plant material from the water to prevent it from becoming polluted. 78 GardenersWorld.com/grow-how Love learning with BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine

GrowHow How to feed and water containers Feeding and watering is an essential task for plants in pots. They are much needier than those in the ground because their roots don’t have as much space to spread into and there is a limited amount of nutrition available in a small area. If lots of plants are growing in the same pot, all competing for a limited amount of food and water, this can lead to plants drying out and getting hungry very TOP TIP quickly. Adding granular food to the compost before Pick up young potting is a good start and potted plants – can provide nutrition if they feel light it’s through spring and an indication they summer. Liquid feeding will give plants a more instant need to be watered boost, but needs repeating often. Apply it at the manufacturer’s recommended rate, or at half the rate but twice as often, to help you get in the habit. Check plants daily for water. If the surface is pale, dusty and dry, Some bagged composts are pre-mixed with plant food. Add an extra boost of controlled-release fertiliser for hungry plants such as roses and sweet peas or foliage has visibly shrunk, give the plant a soak. WAYS TO WATER AND FEED YOUR PLANTS IN POTS Dos and don’ts ✔DO regularly feed fruit and veg crops and annual plants that can flower all summer long. ✔DO use high-potassium plant food for flowering plants and fruit, and veg crops. ✔DO use a general-purpose plant food in spring to give all plants a boost, and high-nitrogen food in summer if leaves look sick. ✗DON’T rely on rainfall to keep plants well soaked, especially those with large foliage that acts like an umbrella. Soak plants when dry, rather than sprinkling them little and often. Key points K Different plants have very different feeding and watering requirements. K Watering daily may be needed for some pots in hot summer spells. CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT Check pots for watering every day in summer; seaweed fertiliser is a good Find out more organic feeding option; controlled-release granules feed plants for months; drip irrigation saves time Follow our video guide to feeding plants in summer to promote flowering, fruiting or foliage growth Love learning with BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine GardenersWorld.com/grow-how 79

16 – 19 June 2022 | Birmingham NEC Includes entry to the Browse and buy the latest gardening kit and accessories A celebration of summer Join us for an unforgettable day out next month The Show will celebrate the BBC’s 100th birthday as BBC Gardeners’ World Live returns to with a series of Floral Marquee features, and Birmingham, 16 - 19 June. Explore Show Gardens Frances Tophill presents the headline Show and Beautiful Borders, pick up gardening tips Garden. A host of Gardeners’ World presenters and shop ‘til you drop for top blooms and kit! take to the stage, too. Book tickets today! Readers save 20% off Thu, Fri and Sun tickets* – quote GWR7 Floral Marquee Show sponsors and supporters: CELEBRATING Headline BBC Gardeners’ World BBC Gardeners’ World My Gardeners’ World Garden product Garden product Marshalls Garden: sponsor Live Theatre sponsor Magazine Stage Stage sponsor supplier supplier Food for Thought

Ultimate plant shopping Highlights BOOK NOW Explore one of the country’s largest Floral Marquees and the Plant Village, packed with plants to buy. In the Marquee, the Plant Experts will be on hand for 1-to-1 advice and their sponsor, Regents Seven Seas Cruises will inspire with Plants of the World talks at the My Gardeners’ World Stage, where you can also catch Q&As with the TV presenters, demos from a selection of nurseries and more. Get ready to shop! As the show returns to its usual size, you can expect a shopping emporium. Seek out tools, garden buildings, kit and more, plus Hillier Nurseries with details of their new online store. Buy from big names and independent brands, gifts in the Artisan Collective Fair and make use our Car Collection Service. SShhoopp aammoonngg ddaazzzzlliinngg Family gardening ddiissppllaayyss iinn tthhee fflloorraall MMaarrqquueeee A passion for gardening can Cultivate an cross generations. Bring all indoor jungle the family to enjoy activities from exploring the School Take inspiration from the Wheelbarrow competition to House of Plants feature, photography with garden kit. and find all the plants Plus, kids go free on Sunday! to turn your home into a jungle at the Indoor- Dancing shoes Plant Market. Plus, British Garden Centres will be The Floral Marquee tearoom at the show with special gets a makeover as the NEW offers on a range of their Paso Doble Café, inspired house plants. by Strictly Come Dancing, along with music and ballroom dancing. Plus, enjoy live musical acts at the Bandstand. Get good food! You’re never far from a tasty bite or a seasonal treat with free entry to the BBC Good Food Show! With chefs and experts cooking live on stage it’s fun, fun fun! bbcgardenersworldlive.com Save 25%† Plant Experts Tree Surgery *20% off advance adult/Over 65s standard 1-day tickets only, excluding Saturday. †Subscribers save 25% with their unique 10-digit Subscriber (quote your Subscriber sponsor number. Offers not valid on Saturday, 2-day or VIP tickets, or with any other offer. Ends 08/06/22. £3.95 transaction fee per e-ticket order and £4.95 number when per postal ticket order. Details correct at time of print. The Gardeners’ World logo is a trademark of the BBC. © BBC. The Good Food trade mark is booking) used under licence from Immediate Media Company London Limited. Organised and presented by River Street Events at Immediate Media.

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A-Zhouse planofts Add some spiky attitude to a sunny room with this architectural foliage plant Yucca Grow a small indoor ‘tree’ to give your living space a tropical twist. Indoor yuccas (Yucca elephantipes) hold upright stems with spiky but surprisingly soft leaves on the end of a thick trunk. It’s a plant that can suit different spaces, depending on its age, from small, young mini-trees for a desktop to older plants that can be as tall as your bookshelves. Whether small or large, a yucca is an unmissable rather than understated houseplant, with long, broad, leathery leaves that create a vibrant atmosphere in a well-lit room. They grow best and develop their strongest leaf colour in a sunny position, although a lightly shaded spot can still give good results. VISIT GardenersWorld. Words: GREG LOADES Photos: SARAH CUTTLE com/houseplants for tips on AND JASON INGRAM how to grow house plants GardenersWorld.com 83 May 2022

1 84 GardenersWorld.com TOP TIP Allow water to reach room temperature before watering your yucca May 2022

Y is yucca Originally from the dry, sun-baked landscapes of eastern Mexico and Central America, Yucca elephantipes takes the second part of its latin name from the resemblance of its thick trunk to an elephant’s foot. It has the common name of ‘spineless yucca’ because unlike many yuccas, its sword-like leaves do not have a sharp edge, making it perfect for life in close proximity to people. The leaves die back as they get older to be replaced by new ones further up, making the plant taller. Mature plants can reach the ceiling in a well-lit room. A very free-draining compost with added perlite is best, because the main obstacle to good growth is the plant’s roots being too wet, which can lead to rotting. K Position Grow in a sunny spot, ideally by an east- or west- facing window in the summer, then move to a south-facing spot to maximise sunlight in winter. K Care Water each time the compost surface has completely dried out in spring and summer, but water sparingly in autumn and winter. Feed monthly in spring and summer. K Details Re-home in spring using a slightly larger pot if the roots are starting to grow through the pot’s base. How to re-pot a yucca 1Gently turn the plant on its 2 Sprinkle some free-draining side to release it from its compost mixed with perlite pot. Using your fingers, gently in the pot, then place the plant, tease apart the roots at the being sure that the top of the base and sides of the rootball rootball is at the same level to encourage establishment in as it was in the old pot. Fill the the new pot, which should be pot up to that level and firm slightly larger than the original. down, then water well. Where to buy PLANTS K houseofplants.co.uk 01435 874874 K primrose.co.uk 0118 903 5210 K thenunheadgardener.com 020 7635 3443 ACCESSORIES Similar pots are available from garden centres 2 Don’t miss our podcast from interior stylist and house plant expert Hilton May 2022 Carter, revealing everything you need to know to start a house plant collection. GardenersWorld.com/podcast offer 20% off indoor plants VISIT yougarden.com/GWPLANTS20 and use code GWPLANTS20 Terms: P&P £6.99 per order. Offer closes 31 May 2022. Delivery two UK only and surcharges may apply to outlying areas. Full product details and T&Cs at yougarden.com NEXT MONTH Find out how to get the best from a ZZ plant (Zamioculcas) in your home GardenersWorld.com 85

GGrreowenınegr Ptrhoebglermeesnowlvainyg Using chemicals to get rid of bugs and weeds can not only harm the environment, it can even make the problems worse. Sally Nex explains how a greener, more tolerant approach can provide benefits all round Sally Nex is an Do you sometimes worry that Some chemicals caused such eco-conscious everything’s out to get your plants? concern they’ve been banned. These professional gardener From red spider mites on your include the slug bait metaldehyde and writer. Her recent cucumbers to bindweed strangling – which has been found in drinking book How to Garden your roses. Garden sheds used to water sources in England and Wales – the Low Carbon Way be cocktail cabinets of chemicals and several neonicotinoid pesticides, helps you bring your designed to blitz enemies into thought to be one of the reasons garden in tune with submission. But nowadays we’re behind declines in bee populations nature and the far more aware of the collateral (although one, acetamiprid, is environment damage we inflict when we reach considered less harmful to bees, so is for a spray. So join the greener still on sale). The widely used weedkiller growing movement, clear the glyphosate is also under scrutiny after chemicals off your shelves and being linked to cancer: dozens of local discover more nature-friendly councils have stopped using it. ways to keep your plants safe. Your garden is part of a wider ecosystem Evidence for the harm pesticides in which plants co-exist with slugs and aphids do to our environment in mounting. When we spray chemical bug killers, A word of caution about organic natural predators weigh in on your weedkillers and fungicides on our insecticidal sprays – they don’t cause side and biodiversity booms. gardens, only a small proportion of pollution but they still can’t tell the the liquid reaches its target. The rest difference between an aphid and a Your garden is part of a much wider drifts into the environment, polluting ladybird and kill both. Aphids are born ecosystem: one in which plants waterways, killing other insects and already pregnant, with colonies co-exist with slugs, aphids, ground potentially harming human health. capable of tripling in a day, and recover beetles and hedgehogs. Weeds – much faster than the ladybirds that aka wildflowers – have their place Greener facts would have eaten them – so spraying too, as valuable food for pollinators: PHOTO JASON INGRAM can actually make your problem worse. a recent study found pollinating insects ILLUSTRATION: ELIN BROKENSHAW L The biocontrol visited ragwort, dock and thistles Phytoseiulus eats Most chemical-free pest control twice as often as other wildflowers. glasshouse red spider measures don’t come in plastic mites – the adults, packaging, nor do they require high- Encourage a healthy, balanced young and eggs carbon manufacturing and transport. ecosystem and there’s room for Choose biocontrols and they’ll fill everyone, and biodiversity is the your garden with life, as these winner. Your job as gardener is to monitor the status quo and step in 86 GardenersWorld.com May 2022

growing greener Greener facts L Nematodes alone are available to control slugs, vine weevil grubs, caterpillars, fungus gnats, chafer grubs, leatherjackets and many other common pests to gently restore balance and prevent Nature’s own solutions minor damage getting out of hand. Pippa Greenwood, from are – some devour the pest, Some are supplied mixed Of course sometimes things can go Radio 4’s Gardeners’ some lay their eggs in the with a carrier such as badly wrong. Non-native pests can be Question Time, explains pest, and others introduce a vermiculite, and need to be devastating: box tree moth caterpillar how biocontrols work. pathogen into the pest’s body. sprinkled on infested plants. numbers shot up to nearly 12,000 Some come in a container or cases within five years of arriving from Biocontrols are natural There are numerous on a card and just need to be east Asia. Once we’d have reached for enemies of pests, usually advantages to biocontrols. released, while others need a bottle, but now we know biological predators or pathogenic They are generally very to be mixed with water and controls work at least as well. And in nematodes. For example, you targeted, so the risk to other poured on. Biocontrols are extremis you can always plant a can buy ladybirds and their creatures is non-existent or found at larger garden similar-looking alternative to box, like larvae to control aphids. very slight. They are harmless centres or online from a Euonymus japonicus ‘Microphyllus’. to humans, pets, wildlife general garden supplier, and The precise way these and plants. There is also no often must be used within Gardening without pesticides is a biocontrols work depends on risk of pests building up a few weeks of receipt. state of mind: it’s about simple, gentle, what sort of creature they resistance to them. nature-friendly actions that help your plants thrive, but in harmony with the GardenersWorld.com 87 wild world around them. And you’ll have a lot more room in the shed. May 2022

WAYS TO GARDEN WITHOUT CHEMICALS A greener garden doesn’t need to be full of pests and diseases. By understanding how your garden grows you can be ready for any problems that might beset your plants, and use solutions that won’t harm the planet. Stay alert Grow resistant varieties Encourage biodiversity Pour yourself a cuppa and take it on a daily Some plants are naturally more robust It’s a bug-eat-bug world out there morning stroll around your veg patch, flower and usually trouble-free, such as lavender, – and the pests that attack your borders, pots, greenhouse and windowsills. hardy geraniums, artichokes and parsnips. plants are at the bottom of the It’s a lovely way to start your day and helps you Some are less prone to pests: slugs don’t food chain. Natural predators, from bluetits spot any problems the moment they start. like red lettuces much, and mangetout to beetles, won’t wipe out pests totally, TOP TIP Catch pest outbreaks early and peas aren’t affected by pea moths. but will stop them getting out of hand. they’re easy to deal with. Squish aphids by TOP TIP Many varieties are bred to shrug TOP TIP Encourage predators with food hand while numbers are still small. Pick off any off pests and diseases: ‘Flyaway’ carrots and shelter. Dot bug hotels and log piles mottled leaves affected by red spider mites and aren’t bothered by carrot fly, ‘Florence’ around the garden, and plant twiggy you’ll remove the mites too. And set the hose to strawberries suffer less from vine weevils, native shrubs and hedges like hawthorn jet to blast blackfly off lupins and runner beans. and eelworms rarely attack ‘Cara’ potatoes. to shelter birds and hedgehogs. Make your own deterrents Grow carnivorous plants Chop off their heads Plants often have good defences of their own, If your house plants are plagued by fungus gnats Even thugs like bindweed won’t survive if they producing natural pest deterrents such as and flies, add some carnivorous plants, such as can’t photosynthesise. So hoe off or pull out capsaicin (chillies) or allicin (garlic). Distil these Venus flytraps and pitcher plants. These new shoots weekly, without digging (bindweed and they help keep pests off other plants too. fascinating plants trap flies, then dissolve them roots can reach 5m deep and simply regenerate, TOP TIP Make chilli water by chopping a in ‘digestive’ juices, so are great natural pest so there’s no point anyway). Over time, the handful of hot fresh chillies and soaking in a controls for windowsills and greenhouses. plants weaken – and may, eventually, die out. litre of water for a week. Filter through muslin, TOP TIP They’re surprisingly easy to grow, TOP TIP Thick cardboard also beats perennial add a tablespoon of liquid Castile soap, and as long as you give them ericaceous (acidic) weeds. Lay on bare soil, wet it and tread down, spray plants, repeating after rain. To tackle compost and water with rainwater, keeping them then top with a 10-15cm layer of garden compost. mildew on courgettes, spray the leaves with damp at all times. Move to a cool spot in winter Sow and plant into the compost for a year of a 50:50 mix of milk and water. – they’ll die back then re-emerge in spring. weed-free growing. Repeat the following year. 88 GardenersWorld.com May 2022

growing greener Greener facts Put down the chemical sprays and L The tiny wasp Encarsia use greener options formosa lays its eggs inside to keep pests and – and kills – the young stage diseases in check of glasshouse whitefly, so breaking the lifecycle Stop them in their tracks PHOTOS: SARAH CUTTLE; PAUL DEBOIS; JASON INGRAM; TIM SANDALL DOING YOUR HEAR how ILLUSTRATION: ELIN BROKENSHAW GGrreowenınegr BIT NOW Once you’ve spotted pests, some damage is you can make a already done, so it’s better to physically Reducing your dependence on chemicals difference, as prevent them reaching plants in the first place. is an important part of Growing Greener Arit Anderson Grow brassicas under insect-proof mesh to and it’s something that’s become more discusses keep off butterflies, flea beetles and pigeons; and more achievable. Fortunately, as sustainable and stand pots of hostas on pot feet above harmful garden chemicals have gardening at saucers of water, like a moat, to keep slugs out. increasingly been banned, new ways GardenersWorld. TOP TIP Anti-slug barriers don’t always work: of gardening without them have come coffee grounds, eggshells and wood ash wash to the fore. So why not dig deeper into com/podcast into the soil when it rains. But bran swells up this topic and see what you can do when wet, making it more, not less, effective. in your garden. Boil your kettle Go to: GardenersWorld.com/ growing-greener Weeds in paved courtyards, patios and paths can be devilish and time-consuming to winkle COMING UP in Growing Greener out by hand – so brew yourself a cuppa instead. Contact with boiling water is as L JUNE Cutting down water use Natural wetlands feed our tap-water damaging to the soft parts of plants as it system and storing rainwater usually requires plastic. Discover how you is to any other living things. TOP TIP Pour just-boiled water along the can garden with less irrigation and reliance on the outdoor tap. cracks in your paving to kill the top growth L JULY Supporting wildlife By Growing Greener we help our wildlife to of weeds and some roots too (repeat as often as required for deep-rooted weeds thrive, but a diversity of wildlife can make our ecosystem healthier too. such as dandelions). May 2022 Explore how gardening and nature can benefit each other. GardenersWorld.com 89

PHOTO: SARAH CUTTLEPART 9 Getting started Wsthaererdto?I May 2022 Lawns For beginner gardeners, getting to grips with the fundamentals can seem daunting. But in this 12-part exclusive series, Alan Titchmarsh is sharing his wisdom to help you master the skills that really matter. This month, Alan explains how to look after your lawn – when and how to cut it, how to weed and feed it, and how to make a new one. Keeping your lawn looking good doesn’t have to be hard work – in fact Alan finds the regular gentle routine both enjoyable and rewarding. You’ll learn about: ✔ How a lawn can benefit you and the environment ✔ Year-round lawn care ✔ How to achieve the perfect cut 90 GardenersWorld.com

getting started Lawns are enormously beneficial to wildlife, to the environment in general and to gardens in particular May 2022 Regular mowing keeps your grass strong and healthy – and gives you a good workout at the same time GardenersWorld.com 91

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getting started Love your lawn Mowing and edging your lawn can be a relaxing process leading to a satisfyingly smart result A lawn is the hardest- Your lawn – the long and short of it working feature in a PHOTOS: GETTY/ANDREW_HOWE; SARAH CUTTLE/DIPLEY MILL, HAMPSHIRE garden, but the one that’s So what exactly is a lawn? In essence a garden riverbank when you go fishing. It may say often the most mistreated lawn is an area of close-cropped grass, valued a lot about me as a person, but I do actually and the most maligned. for its aesthetic appeal but also as a surface on enjoy mowing my lawn. It allows my mind to which games can be played – from croquet to wander, and at the end of the operation I have A well-kept lawn shows non-league football – and on which you can a crisply mown lawn, a well-exercised body off beds and borders arrange your garden recliner to bask in the sun and the ability to look forward to doing it all far better than paving or or cosy-up in the shade of a tree. Its purpose is over again in a week’s time! Gazing on the gravel ever can, thanks to give you pleasure and to show off the beds lawn immediately after mowing, taking in to its organic nature and borders, shrubs and trees that surround it. that unique aroma, gives me an inordinate and its sympathetic amount of pleasure and in so doing colour and texture. There have been suggestions, of late, that contributes to my mental health. close-cropped, striped lawns are not Managed well, it can be environmentally friendly. I would dispute that. Looking after your lawn beautiful in its own right Compared with block paving and gravel, lawns and is versatile enough are enormously beneficial to wildlife, to the It is worth saying here that the time-honoured to suit a variety of needs environment in general and to gardens in ‘lawn maintenance programme’ of weeding, and time constraints. particular. Don’t feel guilty if you enjoy your moss-killing, feeding, scarifying and aerating stripes – I certainly enjoy mine, and no one has is very much reduced on my own lawn. I use It can be striped and told the blackbird and the robin, the starling no weedkillers, I apply organic fertiliser in the manicured, allowed and the thrush, who peck at its surface for form of blood, fish and bonemeal in March and to grow longer at the worms and grubs, that they would be better off again in June, and only occasionally rake out margins or planted in the long grass. I have plenty of that too and the moss. My green sward is comprised of a with wildflowers and it’s all too obvious which surface they prefer. botanic garden that is mainly grass, but with spring-bulbs, through other species in and among it that contribute which paths are It seems to me that the best gardens achieve to its velvety appearance. I remove individual mown. Grass is more a balance. By all means have some longer grass rosette-forming weeds, such as dandelions environmentally around the edges of your close-cropped lawn and plantains, by hand with an old-fashioned friendly than hard and under fruit trees – perhaps planted with tool called a daisy-grubber. surfaces and a haven wildflowers and spring bulbs – but appreciate, for all sorts of wildlife. too, the calming effect of a close-mown lawn, And that really is all I do. Watering? Not at In short, what’s whose even surface and soft texture do much all. Of course newly created lawns, whether not to love? to soothe the fevered temper. seeded or turfed, do require watering in dry spells, until the grass is well rooted. But an May 2022 It is true that a close-mown lawn demands established lawn, while it may turn brown regular attention. Between April and September in prolonged dry spells, will always be the it will need cutting once a week and the first thing to recover come the rains. So save clippings taken off and added to the compost your water for other plants, and save your heap. The edges will need regular trimming. money and energy too. This takes time. But so too does sitting on a GardenersWorld.com 93

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getting started ✓ How long ALAN’S will it take? TOP TIPS If you want a low-maintenance lawn, then adjust your aspirations. You can cut down mowing to once a fortnight in summer, but the green sward won’t be as dense as it will if you mow weekly. Leaving the clippings on the lawn will reduce labour too, but it doesn’t look good and you’ll like as not get it in the neck when you traipse the stuff indoors. Settle for wide pathways mown through longer grass if you want to split the difference, or reduce the size of your lawn and increase that Good soil preparation is essential, whether you’re using turf or sowing lawn seed of your beds and borders. Time Creating a new lawn spent on a lawn is repaid, I reckon, by the pleasure you’ll get from looking at it and the sustenance Your lawn will be in place for a long time, entire operation on your own, but many it provides to wildlife. Astroturf? so don’t stint when it comes to preparation. feet make light work.) Finally, rake again On a balcony maybe, but it is Clear the soil of debris, then fork it over, to even out any bumps and hollows, then plastic and does nothing for removing any large stones and thick it’s ready for sowing seed or laying turf. the environment. perennial weed roots. That said, many perennial weeds, such as bindweed and Seed or turf? £ How do you save money? horsetail, won’t withstand close mowing so You’ll find that a lawn grown should die off once the lawn is established. Which option to choose depends on your from seed is tremendously bank balance and your patience. Turf is economical, and the only annual If your soil is heavy, improve the instant but costs ten times as much as expense (if you operate the same drainage by adding sharp sand rather than seed. Turf can be laid at any time of year, regime as I do) is in those two organic matter. (If you use garden compost as long as the ground is neither frozen nor annual feeds, which are relatively or manure, it will rot down over time and muddy. Ground preparation is identical inexpensive. Good turf will cost you may make the lawn’s surface uneven.) for both. Seed is best sown in April, May around £4 or £5 per square metre; Then, on a dry day, break up any clods with or September. Scatter three clenched grass seed around £12 per kg – the back of a fork and rake the surface level. fistfuls of seed per square metre, then enough to sow around 55 square lightly rake in. If you are turfing, stagger metres. Watering will be needed Next comes the jolly bit. Enlist the help the joints and pat the turf in place so only in the establishment period, of a few friends, stand side by side with there are no air pockets left beneath. which means that lawns sown in your arms on each other’s shoulders, then September should generally shuffle to and fro across the surface in Water with a sprinkler, and repeat if need little watering at all. several different directions. The aim is to no rain arrives after three or four days. evenly compact the surface. If you can’t Turf gives an instant effect, grass seed quite understand what I mean, watch the generally takes between a week and ten film Zorba the Greek. (Yes, you can do the days to germinate in spring or late summer. PHOTOS: SARAH CUTTLE Lay the turf as soon as possible after delivery, to ensure it stays in prime condition ? What should I expect? May 2022 Beauty in terms of showing off your beds and borders, practicality as a surface for family relaxation, a clear conscience when it comes to being environmentally friendly (grass is great at carbon capture), and extra fitness thanks to walking up and down behind a mower in the fresh air, rather than being incarcerated in a sweaty gym. GardenersWorld.com 95

getting started THE PERFECT CUT Purists will insist on a cylinder mower – the sort with a helix of blades that cuts against a lower plate. I find that a rotary mower with a large rear roller gives me the stripes I like (lighter in colour when the grass is bent away from you, darker when it’s bent towards you), while being able to cope with a slightly coarser sward. Rotary mowers with wheels rather than a rear roller won’t create stripes. All can be fitted with a collecting box or bag. Leaving the clippings on the lawn looks messy and if you mow infrequently, these clods can kill off patches of grass. Aim to mow once a week from spring through to the end of summer. At other times, cut when the grass looks in need of a trim, but raise the blades between October and March to offer the lawn a little more weather resistance. Even in summer, don’t cut lower than half an inch. The longer the grass, the more resistant it will be to drought, so adjust the cutting height to an inch in prolonged dry spells. Repair bare patches in spring or late summer with a generous sowing of lawn seed Complete lawn care a year, re-cut the edges, ideally  Watering – vital only on newly with a half-moon iron. established lawns. Use a sprinkler  Weeding – lawn weedkillers If you want to create a classic striped lawn, PHOTOS: SARAH CUTTLE; GETTY/RA KEARTON attached to a hosepipe and leave it are not environmentally friendly. you’ll need to use a mower with a built-in roller in any one spot only for half an Learn to live with a mixed sward hour. Do NOT water established and remove any unwanted rosette- LISTEN to Alan talking about lawns. It’s irresponsible. They’ll forming weeds with a sharp knife soon recover come the rains. or a daisy grubber. how to create a beautiful garden  Scarifying – every March you  Repairing – worn or damaged that will make you happy. You’ll find can rake out dead grass (thatch) lawn edges can be repaired by out how Alan made his own family and moss. Don’t bother with moss cutting out a portion of turf and garden and some of the lessons killer – you’ll still have to rake out reversing it so the good inside edge he learned along the way. the stuff when it’s dead. I do this is turned to the outside. Bare patches perhaps every third year. Powered can be re-seeded in spring or late All available at GardenersWorld.com/podcast lawn rakes are available or you summer or re-turfed at any time. can exercise your abs with a  Feeding – use an organic feed wire-toothed rake. such as blood, fish and bonemeal in  Edging – trim the lawn edges spring and again in early summer. after mowing with long-handled A wheeled fertiliser distributor will edging shears. It improves the ensure even application and avoid appearance of the lawn and using too much, saving you money. gives it a sharp profile. Once NEXT MONTH Take your gardening skills up a level with Alan’s guide to basic pruning 96 GardenersWorld.com May 2022

Smell the �lowers Our gardens can provide us with a moment of comfort when we need it most – just like Werther’s Originals T here are so many reasons to treasure your Create extra ambience with lighting Feed the birds outdoor space, not least because it offers you a chance to escape the everyday and Given winter can keep us separated from our Gardens are great for helping us connect to while away the hours in your own carefully curated gardens for longer than we’d like, it’s only natural nature – and feeding the birds is a sure-fire way of haven. Happily, Werther’s Originals can help to want to enjoy as much al fresco fun as possible in attracting more wildlife to your outside space. Not conjure those same fuzzy feelings. the warmer months. If you want to stay outside long only will it encourage more beautiful birds for you after the sun goes down, try experimenting with to admire, but you’ll also help keep them well fed. Made with real butter, fresh cream and a whole outdoor lighting. For a cosy ambience, it doesn’t Perhaps you could even enjoy a Werther’s Original lot of love, Werther’s are all about finding a little get much better than solar-powered fairy lights. while you relax outside and watch them? piece of warmth – one delicious caramel at a time. And between the irresistibly oozy Creamy Filling, the wonderfully chewy Creamy Toffee and the classic Butter Candy, there really is a Werther’s Original for everyone and every occasion. Of course, enjoying a Werther’s moment is just the start. Here are some other ways you can make your day feel that little bit brighter. Build a bee hotel Grow a herb garden Take on an upcycling project We have a lot to thank bees for, so why not show Make your garden a treat for the senses with a Having somebody compliment your garden is them some love with a bee hotel? They can provide herb garden. Herbs are beautifully fragranced and always lovely, but it’s especially nice when the great nesting sites for female solitary bees, who they can be used in cooking, teas, cocktails and compliment is about something you’ve created are not aggressive and are highly unlikely to sting. herbal remedies. Plus, they often have beautiful yourself. Whether it’s making a seating area out of Unlike social bees (bumblebees and honeybees), foliage and flowers, which makes them attractive unwanted pallets or using an old bottle to create solitary bees nest individually, laying eggs in hollow to pollinators. If your outside space is limited, try a hanging planter, the garden is full of upcycling stems such as bamboo, teasel and sunflower stems. growing them in a large container or a window box. opportunities that are sustainable and so fun to do! For more warmth inspiration, or to find delicious Werther’s recipes, visit bit.ly/werthers-unwind or scan the QR code

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BBEUSYT lawn care Lawnessentials kit The ideal foil for colourful borders, a healthy, well-kept lawn can be hard to achieve when it’s also the spot where friends and families gather and play. Constant traffic and overuse, plus the need to mow and trim regularly, means that most gardeners need a selection of tools to help them give their emerald sward the right TLC. To help you keep your lawn lush and make the most of your patch of green, the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine reviews team regularly tests lawn kit so you can choose your tools with confidence. From the latest cordless mowers to edging shears for that perfect finish, we’ve put a host of lawn care tools through their paces and awarded the very best our coveted Best Buy. Every piece of kit you’ll find over the next four pages has won a Best Buy, so this is the perfect place to start your search for the right tools for the job. Mowers StiBhel sRtMfoIr4m22edPiiuMmowlawns £1,249 There are so many models and brands on the market that choosing the right Good value with an impressive finish, mower can be tricky. There are four the iMow has a single, steel rotary main types available, each with their blade that’s excellent for mulching. own pros and cons, but where you’re It adjusts its speed according to the mowing will dictate the size you need conditions, grass length and terrain, – larger lawns are covered more and can tackle inclines of 40%. quickly with a wider mower, while stihl.co.uk smaller lawns and those with lots of PHOTO: SARAH CUTTLE features or furniture to work around WoBrexstLvaanldureoridobSo3t0m0ower are easier with a narrower mower. £W6R4193.909E Robotic cordless Easy to use, this mower comes with a useful but limited range of features. These battery mowers do the hard work It’s quiet, has intelligent programming and for you, but need an outside power manages inclines of up to 35%. source, careful installation and regular worx-uk.com servicing. Make sure you choose one that’s large enough for your lawn, GardenersWorld.com 99 and keep a look out for features such as connectivity, for control when you’re away, and GPS navigation. May 2022

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