Garden Thoughts

November is the first winter month when the light levels are lower and there’s a general sad feeling that the bright colours of summer in the garden have come to an end for another year. Gardens though need not be gloomy. Brightly coloured winter evergreens will light up our borders and tubs and there is a vast array to choose from. Here are a few proven old favourites and some interesting new introductions.

Let’s start with some suggestions to grow in a mixed border or as feature and focal plants.

Abelia Gold Jewel is an attractive compact semi evergreen shrub with pure golden foliage that fades to a deep copper colour as the plant ages and goes through the winter months. The trumpet flowers are pink and white and scented from June until late autumn. Plant in moist well drained soil in sun or partial shade.

Escallonia Gold Brian is a bushy, compact, evergreen shrub with bright yellow scented new foliage that turns burnished gold and holds this colour throughout winter. The bell shaped rosy red flowers appear during the summer months.

One of the brightest yellow variegated evergreen shrubs in winter is good old “Golden Privet” a much undervalued plant possibly due to the “suburban clipped front garden hedge” of the 1930’s. The foliage positively shouts out I am here on a dull November day.  Euonymus Silver Queen which holds the Royal Horticultural Society's prestigious Award of Garden Merit. It is a versatile evergreen shrub with dark green leaves and pretty pink white margins. Inconspicuous pale green flowers appear in summer, sometimes followed by pale pink fruits.

Skimmia Japonica Perosa is a compact, rounded evergreen shrub which produces grey green leaves with creamy yellow margins. The dense clusters of red to pink buds are held all winter above the leaves giving a good splash of colour before opening to small star shaped white flowers in spring. This is a male variety of Skimmia which will pollinate varieties like Skimmia Reevesiana or Skimmia Nymans to produce bright red berries that hold on the plant for at least six months. It grows well in shady places.

Euphorbia Ascot Moonbeam is an upright, bushy, evergreen perennial with shoots bearing dense whorls of light grey green leaves with creamy white margins and from spring into summer. The small pale yellow flowers are surrounded by large, pale yellow bracts. It associates well near the front of the border with red Heucheras and silver Brunnera requiring no maintenance.

Fatsia Japonica Spiders Web is a new Fatsia grown for its handsome foliage which looks as though it has been dusted with icing sugar.  It makes a wonderful specimen particularly when planted near white flowering plants like Hydrangea Annabelle that complement the leaf variegations. It is also good in a patio container. It can be used to help add light and colour to areas of lightly dappled shade and in winter adds another feature to the garden. It grows well in moist well drained soil and benefits from some winter protection.

Senecio Angel Wings is a striking perennial plant that has been achieved lots of awards. Its large, silvery white leaves have a soft, downy texture making it ideal for a sensory garden. It is an eye catching feature for a border or pot where it will thrive in a hot sunny spot. It quickly forms a good sized clump and will become tolerant of drought once established. Move to a dry sheltered spot if temperatures dip below minus 8 degrees.

Lomandra Whitesands looks like a grass but has recently been reclassified as a member of the asparagus family so is actually a variegated perennial. Its grass like foliage is attractively striated with cream lines against dark green. In the spring flower spikes emerge from the plant bearing small scented yellow blooms.  It is hardy and will tolerate frost and drought and grows well in containers. Plant in semi-shade amongst the broad spotty leaves of Pulmonaria or Symphytum where the spiky upright leaves provide a visual foil.

Many of these suggestions for the border can also be planted in tubs like Euonymus, Fatsia, Senecio, and Skimmia using John Innes or a good fibre based compost. 

A group of plants that can always be relied upon to give brilliant colour and a sculptured shape for winter Patio Tubs are the dwarf conifers. The picture shows the variety of shapes and colours available in these colourful evergreens. To name a few for yellow foliage Cupressus Wilma, Chamaecyparis Pearly Swirls, Karamachiba, and White Beauty and Thuja Goldy. Chamaecyparis Curly Tops has bright silver blue leaves while Juniperus Lime Glow,Cryptomeria Mushroom, Thuya Anniek,and Fire Chief and Chamaecyparis Rubicon all turn a bronze red colour as the weather gets colder and the light levels reduce.

With some of these additions to your planting scheme The Garden is never dull in winter.

Last month we talked about growing bulbs indoors for winter so this month let’s look at planting them in the garden for colourful displays next spring.

Bulbs are the hidden surprises in the garden. We plant daffodils, crocus and tulips now and forget them until spring but Autumn Crocus with large rosy pink flowers can be planted now to flower in the autumn. Colchicums flower before the leaves so plant them in groups of 5 bulbs amongst ground cover plants like Vinca Minor or Lamium. These ground cover plants will hide the bulb foliage as it dies back while feeding the bulb for next season. Plant in partial shade and well drained fertile soil. Another type of autumn flowering crocus is Crocus Speciosum a tough and vigorous species in shades from white to purple which will quickly naturalise. It is tolerant to wind and rain so will grow in more exposed places. The foliage is velvety and turns red at the end of the season. Crocus Kotschyanus and Crocus Pulchellus appear next with pale lilac petals and orange centres. In late autumn the Saffron Crocus, Sativus, with deep purple flowers and bright red long stigmas pop up. The stigmas can be cut off and dried to give the much prized spice saffron. The autumn flowering daffodil Sternbergia Lutea with its bright yellow trumpet is another autumn bulb delight when allowed to naturalise, as is Cyclamen Hederifolium planted in light shade under trees and left undisturbed.

Snowdrops are the first harbingers of spring with their snowy white flowers and green markings appearing from late January onwards. These can be disappointing if planted as dry bulbs in autumn, it is more successful to plant green growing plants in spring. If you plant Cyclamen Coum, Species Crocus and Aconites amongst the Snowdrops you will have lots of colour and interest at a time of year when the rest of the garden is still in the winter sleep.

Cyclamen Hederifolium’s tiny pink flowers in autumn are followed by gorgeous silvery marbled foliage. It is more vigorous than C. Coum and will quickly carpet a shady dry area under trees. These small bulbs like dappled shade and are suitable to plant under deciduous trees and shrubs where the soil is dry and well drained. When the leaves fall in autumn leave them as mulch over the bulbs. If left undisturbed all these plants will seed and naturalise quickly forming a spring carpet.

Dwarf Irises grow to 15cms and flower in February and March with their perfect fragrant blooms of white, yellow, china and deep blue and violet. It is important to grow them in drained soil in a sunny or part shaded place. Put fine grade gravel around the bulbs to protect the flowers from being damaged by rain splash.

These early varieties of small naturalising bulbs are followed in March and April by Anemone Blanda and the wood anemone A. Nemorosa. The little starry shaped flowers with pretty feathery leaves are lilac blue, pink and white and associate well with the fragrant Muscari, Grape Hyacinths. Sky blue Scilla Siberia, white Puschkinia Scilloides and china blue Ipheion which will all naturalise in a sunny border.

Dwarf Narcissus and Tulips are also in flower in March and April. They are particularly good to grow in tubs with Primroses, Violas and Panolas. Tete a Tete is the shortest Narcissus at 15cms followed by the multi headed fragrant Double Camperelle and Silver Chimes at 25cms. Jack Snipe, Intrigue and Pipit are also really worth growing.

 Dwarf Tulips are very good planted in containers either mixed with other plants or alone. Varieties like Fire of Love has perfect bright red tulip flowers and striking green foliage with creamy yellow edges and Gluck with lemon and red flowers and blue green leaves striped red. They will make a good display planted alone and are a very low cost way of planting spring containers.

Another cost effective spring planting for tubs is layer planting tall daffodils and narcissus. It is better to use only one variety for each tub. Place a layer of drainage at the bottom of a 40 cm wide and deep container then a layer of compost. Arrange seven bulbs evenly without touching and cover the bulbs with compost, add another layer of nine bulbs and cover with compost again and repeat with a final layer of nine bulbs and cover. The bulbs will all grow to the same height, flower at the same time and make an amazing display.

 Garden Hyacinths make wonderful scented displays in tubs as well. Try Woodstock a gorgeous deep mulberry wine colour, Splendid Cornelia lilac, Royal Navy a deep rich blue or Sweet Invitation which is pale orange pink.

We must not forget “Our Host of Golden Daffodils” and Dutch Tulips. These are excellent to plant directly into the borders and leave undisturbed to flower for many years.

The bright yellow trumpet daffodils are among the old favourites like King Alfred, Carlton, Dutch Master and Camelot but there are also many other lovely variations. Sacajawea has an orange centre and yellow petals, Vanilla Peach has lemon petals and frilly apricot centre and Acropolis is white with an orange centre.

Tall Dutch or Garden Tulips are among my favourite plants. These stately bulbs love a sunny place and I like to see them planted in groups of the same variety. Red Impression is bright scarlet and sumptuous. Pretty Princess is bright rosy pink with red purple flames on the outer petals while Queen of the Night is one of the darkest described as satin black in colour. Brown Sugar is fragrant and apricot pink, Zurel is ivory and deep red and Sunlover changes as it matures from yellow to orange and then red.

Garlic and Japanese Onions are also bulbs and can be planted in October for early crops next year. There are now several varieties of onion to choose from, all are hardy and reliable, it is your personal choice for flavour. We have the yellow onions Senshyu, Radar and Troy or Electric which is bright red for salads. Garlic varieties available now are Marco for that strong garlic flavour, Germidour a mild flavour and Elephant Garlic which is a sweet and mild ideal for roasting.

Prepared Hyacinths are probably the most popular Christmas flowering bulb. These have already been treated to bring their natural spring flowering time forward by about 3 months. Good varieties are Pink Pearl, Delft Blue or City of Haarlem, yellow. The lovely vibrant colours and fantastic scent fill the house at this time of year. Bulbs will flower for Christmas if planted from the third week in September to the middle of October. Choose an attractive container, for 3 bulbs it needs to be 15 cms in diameter, and using bulb fibre or a peaty compost half fill the pot. Set the bulbs close together, but not touching each other or the sides of the container, on the fibre or compost. Fill around the bulbs leaving the tops just showing at the surface. Water the pot and then place in a cool dark place. Check after 3 weeks and water if the compost is dry and continue to check and water until the shoots are 3 to 5cms. Then move to a cool light place until the flower starts to show and then to a warm window sill to flower. Hyacinth pots also make lovely presents so finish with a moss topping and coloured ribbon.

It is interesting for children to watch the bulbs grow so planting in a hyacinth glass with just water and using the same technique of dark cool and then light warm conditions they can watch the roots, shoots flowers and leaves all emerge from the bulb. All that’s needed is to keep topping up the water level.

Paper White, Pheasant Eye and Bridal Crown are all good varieties of Narcissus for planting at the end of September. Their natural flowering period is January or February, but good quality bulbs will flower 6 to 10 weeks from planting. They all have a lovely perfume and should be planted as tightly as possible on the surface of the compost in a tall pot to balance the height of the bulbs and with a plant support. Water the pot and put in a cool dark place and keep checking until the shoots appear and then gradually bring into a light warm place to flower. The miniature Narcissus Tete a Tete and Pipit are also delightfully scented and excellent to grow in the same way for flowering indoors. They will probably not be in flower until January but still a joy in the middle of winter.

Large bright yellow Crocus and fragrant Grape Hyacinths also flower in January if grown indoors. Plant the bulbs at the end of October in the same way with a dark cool period of approximately 8 weeks before bringing into a light warm place.

Another very popular gift at Christmas is the easy to grow Amaryllis. It is usually sold in an attractive box containing the pot compost and bulb. Good varieties to look out for are Christmas Star and Picotee both single flowers and Cherry Nymph and Dancing Queen with double flowers. Plant the amaryllis in a container that is 2.5cms larger than the width of the bulb. Leave the top third of the bulb sitting above the soil level. Place the pot in a brightly lit spot on a windowsill and water sparingly until it produces shoots. To encourage the stem to grow straight keep turning the pot towards the light and the soil moist.

Amaryllis should flower six to eight weeks after planting and the flowers will last for ages. To help the blooms stay fresh, move the pot to a slightly cooler but still bright spot once it starts to flower.

With proper care, an amaryllis bulb can go on producing spectacular flowers year after year. All you need to do is feed the bulb with a balanced liquid fertiliser after flowering. As the leaves begin to turn yellow stop watering and allow the bulb to dry. Simply begin watering again next spring to wake the bulb up.

Next month we can look at bulbs for the garden.

Ornamental grasses are one of the most versatile groups of plants for garden planting. They are unfussy, free from disease and easy to grow being tolerant to a range of conditions. They are very diverse in size, colour and texture giving architectural shapes with gentle rustling sounds and movement as the breeze blows through the stems. They associate especially well with herbaceous perennial plants and can be used as accent plants, screens or focal points in mixed borders.  Most varieties will accommodate extreme temperatures and drought and still look good regardless of weather. Grasses establish quickly and can be divided in early spring when the new shoots are starting to emerge to either replant in other areas or give to gardening friends. Early spring is also the best time to prune established ornamental grasses. Deciduous grasses should be sheared back to 10cms leaving an uncongested tuft from which the new growth emerges. Large varieties can even be pruned with a hedge trimmer. Evergreen Grasses can be tidied at any time but if rejuvenation is needed early spring is recommended. Cordylines should be protected from winter damage by tying the leaves together with string but tend to shed the lower leaves naturally as the plant grows. Phormiums need protection in severe weather so grow in tubs that can be moved to shelter.

Tall Grasses can be used very effectively to create screens for privacy, hiding unsightly areas or providing a backcloth to other plants. The bamboos are very effective in these situations being evergreen and only requiring trimming to restrict the size but they can be invasive.

Panicum virgatum Warrior The Switch Grass with lovely flowers in late summer that are green orange and then red or Panicum virgatum Rehbraum whose leaves turn from green to deep red in late summer.

Stipa Giganteum The Golden Oat Grass is semi evergreen with arching stems of golden oat like flower heads above grey green leaves. It is an excellent specimen plant perfect for introducing movement and gentle sound and looks stunning under planted with purple Alliums and Agapanthus.

 Cortaderia The Pampas Grass is another evergreen with long evergreen silvery green leaves and beautiful feathery plume flowers in late summer and autumn which provide winter interest or if cut and dried for decorating the house. It is a very effective accent or focal plant.

Miscanthus Gold Bar The Zebra Grass a real favourite with neat arching stems of green leaves striped creamy white plant The Red Hot Poker Kniphofia Bee’s Lemon nearby for a dramatic effect. 

Miscanthus Morning Light is deciduous producing fresh new growth every spring. A very elegant grass which has slender grey green leaves with cream margins. The red brown flowers appear in autumn and hold throughout winter.

Calamagrostis Karl Foerster planted in a tall narrow pot gives a dramatic profile to a modern patio. The upright grass has feathery plumes in summer and bleached stems that catch frost in winter giving a dramatic ghostly shape. Another contemporary effect is by planting Juncus Curly Wurly an evergreen grass which forms a clump of corkscrew like leafless stems in an egg shaped cream glazed pot.

Ophiopogen planiscarpus Nigrescens is a smaller grass which forms clumps of black leaves and violet flowers is summer followed by black berries. It looks good planted in groups with brightly variegated Euonymus Gaiety or Brunnera Jack Frost.

Uncinia rubra is an evergreen small sedge grass with reddish green leaves and black flower spikes in summer plant in groups near brightly coloured perennials like Heuchera Marmalade.

The low growing grasses are excellent ground cover plants which decorate bare soil and smother weed growth. They are good edging plants for paths or ponds and the evergreen varieties for winter colour in patio containers.

Carex Evergold is an evergreen with long golden leaves with deep green edges and has won the RHS Award of Garden Merit. It is a tough little plant for all the above uses. Carex Prairie Fire is a stunning evergreen with green leaves with brilliant orange tips. It turns a burnt orange colour in autumn that stays all winter.

Festuca Glauca Intense Blue is another evergreen grass with amazing bright silver blue narrow arching leaves which forms a delightful small mound. The biscuit coloured flowers appear in summer on upright stems. It is very tolerant to drought and requires little maintenance or water so ideal for patio pots.

Grasses are a great addition to any garden often looking their best towards the end of summer when many plants are winding down for a winter rest. You can achieve traditional and contemporary combinations with other plants in pots or garden sculptures making magical artistic designs with the simplest of all plants The Grass.

The true cottage garden is very informal with a mix of plants from climbers to bulbs planted close together so when one plant stops flowering another will take over and fill the gap. The garden is then full of bright colour and interest from an apparent hap hazard random mix of plants without planned colour schemes or design. Plants should be allowed to set their seed and spontaneously appear wherever the breeze and insects or birds take them. Include Honesty, with its fragrant purple flowers in spring which attract pollinating insects and is a host for the orange tip butterfly caterpillar, Forget Me Nots, Columbine, Foxgloves, Nasturtiums,  Snowdrops and Bluebells. All these will increase the density of plants or be found in nooks and crannies in paths, paving and walls adding to the random overall informal appearance. The crowded planting should also minimise weeding maintenance and allow plants to support each other although of course this needs to be managed until established.

Historically Cottage Gardens provided for the Cottagers way of life with fruit, herbs and vegetables grown amongst ornamental flowers which provided a source of plant material for medicinal or cleaning preparations. A Bee Hive supplied honey and chickens and ducks foraged producing eggs and meat to supplement the diet. Lavender was always grown for Pot Pori to scent the home or added to white vinegar as a cleaning agent for hard surfaces and windows. The flowers of Thymes were used to deter moths and other insects from destroying fabric or for perfuming homemade soap and mouthwashes. An infusion of Rosemary flowers and leaves was an ingredient for washing hair. Yes, medieval cottagers were clean certainly in country locations. Today Cottage Gardens are mostly ornamental but Herbs and Veg like Runner and Broad Beans, Carrots, Chard and Garlic are easily added annually to the mix. Spring Bulbs like Snowdrops and Bluebells readily spread and colonise if left undisturbed for the foliage to die back after flowering.

When building a Cottage Garden it is important to start with a few basics before introducing any plants. The site should be sunny with only a little partial shade. The soil should be weed free and it is worth spending time achieving this and adding a mulch of rotted down garden compost or horse manure to ensure organic material is incorporated to help maintain moisture in the soil. Now is the time to also build any rustic structure to support climbing plants like Honeysuckles and old fashioned Climbing Roses. Grass is not a feature of Cottage Gardens so paths should meander through the planting areas where Alchemilla, Mint, Chives, Nasurtiums or Marigolds like Calendula Art Shades can drape the edges as the grow. If the paths are constructed from stepping stones, gravel or bark the seedlings may encroach and appear between the stones adding to the casual relaxed planting you are trying to achieve. Picket or woven Willow fences make authentic boundaries and backdrops and will also support Species Clematis like Tangutica or Viticella, Morning Glory or Sweet Peas. A weathered Bench and a Bird Bath add interesting features.

It is good to have a skeleton planting of shrubs for winter interest like winter flowering Viburum Tinus, Mahonia, Winter Sweet, and Winter Flowering Honeysuckle and Holly J C Van Tol for red berries at Christmas. Honesty with its papery seed pods are also excellent winter interest as are the seed heads of Sea Holly and Sedums with their ghostly appearance when covered with an early morning frost. Hydrangeas are long flowering cottage garden shrubs. Leave the faded flowers on the plant throughout winter to protect the delicate shoots below and also add to the lovely spectacle after a heavy air frost. And let’s not forget the Christmas Roses.

After the spring flowering bulbs the perennial wallflower Erysimum Bowles with purple flowers and Alliums which readily set seed have lovely seed heads for winter interest to follow.

Now for the summer colour which is endless. The perennials for the permanent planting should include Lupins, Delphiniums, Foxglove, Phlox, Geraniums, Pinks, Alchemilla Mollis, Hollyhocks, Paeonies, Campanula, Michelmas Daisies, Heleniums, Aquilegia, Red Hot Pokers, and Campanula. These can be supplemented annually by sowing seeds of Larkspur, Californian Poppy, Candytuft, Cornflowers, Sweet Rocket, Rudbeckia and the climbing Morning Glory which is good to cover the picket fence.

A Cottage Garden will bring a breath of the countryside to any space.

Since 1976 our Butterfly and Bee populations have really been in decline. The destruction of natural habitats by more intensive farming methods and loss of wild flower meadows although somewhat offset by “set aside land” has still resulted in a decline of around 40%.The curtailment of the use of some insecticides has helped stop the decline in numbers but we need to restore many species, after all our fruit production relies on the pollinating insects. In our gardens we can play a part in providing nectar rich plants and suitable habitats, although on a small scale, together these become an enormous resource.

Plants rich in nectar provide butterflies and bees with energy. As they drink the nectar pollen adheres to them and as they travel from flower to flower it is transferred resulting in pollination which sets the seed and fruit. Solitary bees like Mason Bees can be attracted to the garden by providing a bee house or making one from wood or straws. Butterflies like warmth so plant nectar rich plants to attract a wide variety of butterflies and moths in sheltered warm sunny places.

A very useful group of plants with high nectar levels in June are the flowering Herbs. Chives with bright pink onion flowers are loved by Bumble, Honey and Mason Bees. Majorum and Oregano are a great nectar source for Common Blue, Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock Butterflies.

Thymes and English Lavender, with its relaxing properties, are magnets to all bees and butterflies. Comfrey as well as having many medicinal properties is another great nectar source for all pollinating insects and when the leaves are harvested, steeped in water for about 3 weeks it makes a brilliant plant food as high in NPK as proprietary brands like Tomorite.

Honeysuckles are easy to grow climbing plants for a sunny wall, fence or pergola. There are many varieties that flower at different times during the summer months. They have long tubular flowers rich in sweet scented nectar and are visited by long tongued Bumble, Carder and Wool Bees and at night time by moths. Another plant to grow against a warm south facing wall is Ceanothus. Most varieties are medium sized evergreen shrubs with blue flowers in June. Such a magnet to all butterflies and bees it buzzes all day long when in flower.

Cotoneaster Horizontalis is another smaller shrub that can be grown against a dry sunny wall. It is a semi evergreen with masses of pink and white flowers followed by bright red berries loved by the birds in autumn. When in flower it is another “humming” plant being visited by bees eager to drink the sweet nectar.

Bees also love Roses with single flowers and one whirl of petals. The prominent exposed pollen rich stamens attract bees. Good varieties are Pauls Himalayan Musk with its intoxicating heady perfume, the soft pink flowers of Ballerina and the masses of white single roses of Wedding Day.

Buddleija Buzz Series are a compact group of the Butterfly Bush and as the name implies are a favourite with butterflies. The flower colours are white, pink, blue or purple with silver green foliage. The long cone shaped flowers are made up of many tiny scented florets often with orange centres. They are in flower later in summer and are the major source of nectar to Peacock, Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral Butterflies before they migrate to warmer climes to overwinter.

Foxgloves tall spikes of flowers are also a Bee favourite and again designed to cover the insect with pollen as it emerges from the tubular floret where it seeks the nectar. The bright colours of Delphiniums another favourite of the perennial border attract Bumble Bees. The Millenniu group vary in colour from white, pink, blue to dark purple and flower twice each summer if cut back as the first flower flush fades.

Verbena Bonariensis is a tall herbaceous plant with wiry stems and small purple flowers with lots of nectar for Bees and Butterflies again later in the summer. This is an excellent filler plant in the perennial border which will act as a natural support for taller plants nearby.

Finally Monarda, also called Bee Balm because it was used to soothe bee stings, is one of the plants in the garden most visited by bees and butterflies for nectar. They flock greedily to the red and pink tufted flowers in summer.

By choosing the right plants we can not only add variety to our gardens but help to provide energy sources for these declining valuable insect populations that are so important to our daily lives.

This year more than ever we need to treat ourselves. We can’t go out to eat in a restaurant. We can only go to the pub garden. Holidays abroad are restricted and risky with all the variant virus strains about. Our own gardens become even more special this year for relaxing and enjoying ourselves in the company of however many friends and relations Boris allows us to meet.  So here are some really special additions to the bedding plants for summer colour to enhance your own outdoor space.

All my following highlights are easy to grow on the patio in pots, hanging baskets or plant pouches using John Innes no 2 Compost, Jacks Magic or John Innes with Multi compost.

Bidens Bee Dance Painted Red and Painted Yellow are 2 beautiful new varieties for planting in hanging baskets, containers and window boxes adding colour and fragrance to the patio. They have a compact habit and the brightly coloured flowers are a magnet to Butterflies and Bees who flock to the sweet honey scented flowers that have very high nectar levels. They flower continuously from June to the first frost in late autumn.

Impatiens Imara is a new strain of Busy Lizzie. Five years ago we had to stop growing Impatiens because the seed became infected with a fungus. At the time it was the most popular and versatile bedding plant. This new strain has been bred in America and has proven to resist the Downey Mildew Fungus even when grown in our climate. It is available as Imara Red and Imara Pink and flowers from May until the autumn frosts. It is lovely to be able to grow this versatile plant in our summer bedding schemes again.

Begonia Summerwings was voted one of the top 5 best performing patio plants in 2019. It is available in 3 colours Orange, Red and, my favourite, Vanilla with golden centres. These plants are very low maintenance requiring no trimming or dead heading and give a striking display planted in tubs and hanging baskets in sun or shade. Another new variety of Begonia is Fragrant Falls available in 2 colours Peach and Lemon and has a lovely fragrance. It is trailing, performs well in sun or shade and is spectacular in hanging baskets, pouches and window boxes. The perfumed flowers can really be appreciated when the windows and doors are open.

Nemesias bred by Martine Tellwright are one of the most popular bedding plants worldwide. They are very easy to grow in an amazing range of colours. Three new strongly scented neat growing varieties are Olivia which is violet and cream with a yellow centre, Sapphire purple with a cream centre and Lady Penelope with large vanilla cream, orange pink and yellow flowers. Nemesias grow well in patio tubs and window boxes with the perfume permeating into the house through open windows.

Nasturtium Orchid Cream is a spectacular plant with rich creamy yellow splashed maroon flowers. It is a compact plant excellent in patio pots in full sun. It thrives in poor soil so only water the tubs but don’t feed. As well as being ornamental the flowers and leaves add a distinct peppery taste to summer salads.  Nasturtium Orchid Flame is another dramatic colour combination of orange yellow and maroon. It was Flower of the Year in 2019. It has a more trailing habit so is excellent in hanging baskets. It is excellent for bees and brilliant at repelling destructive bugs on the veg patch so plant near any brassicas.
Another exciting new plant is Petchoa Beautical a cross between the upright Petunia and the trailing Calibrachoas.  It is very easy to grow performing well in hot dry summers and in colder wetter weather as the flowers are not damaged by rain. It grows forming a mound covered in masses of flowers of rich unusual colours with darker centres Strawberry Pink, Cinnamon, Caramel Yellow and Glowing Orange. It is a perfect plant for low maintenance patio pots.

All these are new variant strains or hybrids of the familiar bedding plants we love in summer. Unlike Covid 19 they are joys to behold. Try to grow a couple in your patio pots this summer I know you will be back to try more next year.

Products Mentioned:

• Pots
• Hanging Baskets
• John Innes Compost
• Jacks Magic
• Multi Purpose with added JI

Growing plants from seed is a very economic, interesting and rewarding hobby. It allows us to experiment with unusual varieties but for success we need to understand the conditions various plants require for guaranteed germination from the humble Radish to the exotic Bird of Paradise Plant (Strelitzia).

It is important to have space to accommodate the germination pots and trays so a heated propagator and grow lamps in a heated greenhouse or conservatory is ideal but costly in terms of energy. A spare room in the house with background heat and propagators on window sills is more energy efficient.

Timing is vital so if you have the ideal facilities to grow on the young plants you can sow some species like Begonia, Geraniums, Peppers and Chillies as early as January. Otherwise most success is achieved by sowing your seeds in April when the temperatures are rising, the days are lengthening and light levels are high. Or buy these plants from the Garden Centre at the beginning of May.

It is important to have clean equipment so wash everything in a dilute solution of Jeyes Fluid or hot water. I recommended you use plastic pots or trays which retain moisture better than terracotta. Fibre pots and Peat pots are also useful for germinating large seeds like Sweet Peas, Cucumbers, Melons and Sunflowers. They can then be planted directly into their final position without transplanting.

Temperature is a very important factor for good germination. Seeds like Primulas need one week at 24c then 20c degrees. Conversely lettuce will not germinate above 20c. Broccoli Cabbage and Cauliflower need 10c to 15c while Geraniums, Begonias and Impatiens need a constant heat of 22c to 25c degrees.

Peas, Broad Beans, Onions, Beetroot, Carrots and Parsnips and hardy annuals like Nasturtiums, Cornflower and Poppy are sown directly outdoors from April, thinly, into soil that has been raked to a fine tilth. For root vegetables sow the seeds 4cm apart to avoid disturbing the roots by thinning. The soil temperature needs to be about 8c. If very cold nights are threatened cover the planting areas with fleece which will keep the soil and seedlings warm.

It is important to use a good quality compost to germinate seeds. Jacks Magic is a fine peat based compost which retains moisture essential especially for the fine dust like seed of Nicotiana or Gloxinias. Westland Seed Compost is also recommended. It has added nutrients to produce strong growth in the young seedlings. Fill the containers with compost and then water. Allow the water to penetrate the compost and tamp the surface to level and smooth. Don’t be tempted to sow all the seed in the packet. Think how many plants you actually need and sow 10% more seed thinly on the damp compost. The sowing density should allow the seedlings to germinate and grow so there is room to produce the two first leaves. Most seeds should be covered with a fine layer of compost or vermiculate and then with a clear propagator lid to aid germination.

Most tender varieties of flowers or vegetables should not be planted outside in the Borders, Veg Patch or Patio Pots until the end of May to ensure the young plants are not exposed to cold nights and frost so sowing most seeds about the beginning of April is recommended unless you have good heated greenhouse facilities for holding and growing on young plants.

For tender varieties of flowers like Petunias, Lobelia and Marigolds and Vegetables like Courgettes, Runner Beans and Sweet Corn use cell trays or pots filled with good quality compost.  Moisten the compost and put a single large seed or a small pinch of fine seed into each cell or small pot and then vermiculite on top. Cover with a propagator lid, dome cloche or polythene bag and put in a warm place indoors or in a heated propagator in a greenhouse until the seeds start to germinate. Move to a good light source, a warm windowsill if growing indoors, until the seedlings are large enough to handle, usually when there are more than 2 leaves. Transplant the seedlings into larger individual cell trays or pots to grow on until planting in their final position at the end of May.

I am sure you will find “Sowing and Growing” your own plants will provide a very rewarding and interesting pastime save a lot of money.

Products mentioned:

• Plastic pots
• Fibre Pots
• Jacks magic
• Seed sowing compost
• Cell trays
• Dome cloche

At last its March the worst winter weather has past the Covid Pandemic is coming under control after exactly 12 months as more of us receive a vaccine and perhaps soon life can return to some normality. The Garden thank goodness is still there and what a refuge it has been this last year. It is now waking up to a new season and the excitement of the Spring Bulbs appearing the Snowdrops of course have been here at least a month already. Early shrubs are starting to flower and shoots are emerging from the soil with the promise of flowers or lovely foliage later. Time I took a look around my patch to see if there is somewhere I can accommodate any more plants because I’ve read the new catalogues and seen some exciting new varieties I would like to grow and share with you.

Erysimum Spring Breeze Sunset is a Perennial Wallflower and true cottage garden plant. It is one of the longest flowering herbaceous plants and an excellent cut flower. The blooms emerge in spring and continue until autumn changing colour as they mature throughout so the clusters are comprised of yellow, apricot, orange and mauve individual flowers within the cluster. They grow to 45cms and are happy in sun or shade in the border or a tub and are loved by the bees and butterflies.

Blechnum brasiliense Volcano has the appearance of the Australian Tree Fern Dicksonia but is much smaller and more suited to our domestic gardens and “bank accounts”. This plant is compact about 30cms but the fronds will grow to 70cms in a season. The young fronds unfurl in late spring the golden colour of an erupting volcano turning a shiny green as they unfurl. As the plant grows the hairy trunk forms from which the fronds sprout each year. It grows well in shade but welcomes moving to a sheltered place in severe winter weather. It gives a touch of exoticism to any patio garden.

Jacobina paucifolia Firefly also called The Brazilian Fuchsia. It is an exquisite little mound forming shrub about 60cm tall and flowers from December all through the winter months until April. The foliage is dark green and is a great foil for the pendulous tubular flowers that are yellow orange and red. It is an exotic plant for this time of year in the UK but is not hardy so grow in a tub which can sit on a sunny patio during spring summer and autumn and move to a protected site like a porch or conservatory for the winter months.

Nemesia Banana Split is a semi hardy perennial which is a great plant for summer patio tubs. It should be treated the same as Geraniums and Fuchsias so take cuttings in late summer and keep in the greenhouse or conservatory over winter to produce new plants the following year. It is smothered in cream, lemon and darker yellow flowers with a vanilla scent all summer from May to October. Bees and butterflies love this plant which grows to 30cms.

Another plant that attracts bees and butterflies is Sedum Atlantis. It won the RHS New Plant Award at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2019.It is a small compact plant which is ideal for patio tubs or smaller gardens. The foliage is very brightly variegated bright green and creamy yellow taking a pink hue in autumn. The pink tinged flower buds open to yellow flowers in summer and are a magnet to bees and butterflies. It is very good for dry places in sun or partial shade and is fully hardy.

Anemone Fantasy Pocahontas is a compact easy to grow Japanese anemone 45cms tall. It is suitable for a container in sun or shade or the front of the herbaceous border. It will flower from the beginning of August until late October so good colour at this time of year. The flowers are poppy like, semi double with frilly pink petals and yellow centres also loved by bees and butterflies.

So here are six new plant introductions that I am going to grow this year which should give some more colour and interest each month of 2021 to The Pyghtle Garden.

Ask me “What is your favourite plant” and my reply is CLEMATIS. Why? Well within this plant genus there is a variety that will be in flower every week of the year. They come in all the rainbow colours and flower prolifically. Many have a lovely scent, grow as ground cover, over an obelisk, in a pot on the patio, climb up walls or pergolas, scramble over other plants or eyesores or as a perennial plant in the herbaceous border.

In January we see Clematis clarkeana Winter Beauty an evergreen variety with creamy lime green buds in December followed by sparkling snow white bell flowers with a tremendous scent in January to March. Plant it next to your front door enjoy it whenever you return home.

Clematis cartmannii Joe is a delightful small evergreen to grow on a small obelisk in a pot on the patio. It has fern like foliage and is covered in pearly white scented flowers from February to April.

Clematis Alpina and Clematis Macropetala greet spring in March and flower until May. Both species have an abundance of harebell flowers and varieties of various colours from creamy white to pink to lilac and blue. Recommendations are Clematis Alpina Columbine, blue, and Clematis Macropetela Markham’s Pink.

In April we see the rampant evergreen Clematis Armandii Apple Blossom or Snowdrift which will quickly cover a pergola while May heralds Clematis Montana equally as vigorous. Varieties like Miss Christine, pearly white, and Freda, bright pink which will hide a garden shed with its profusion of sweetly scented flowers. 

Most hybrid Clematis will flower from June onwards throughout summer. The list is endless but a couple of recommendations are Lincoln Star, pink and white, Lady Northcliff, blue, Rhapsody, purple, and Olympia, mauve, which is excellent in a pot on the patio. In July we are treated in the herbaceous border to the long blue clusters of Clematis Heracleifolia Stans and on a sunny fence Clematis florida Sieboldia with gorgeous purple centres.

Clematis jouiniana Praecox is ideal ground cover when planted in a bed of bush roses. The delightful bluish flowers appear before the second flowering of the roses. In September as autumn approaches so do the brilliant yellow flowers of Clematis Golden Tiara, Tangutica and Orientalis Bill Mackenzie which continues to flower into October.

In November and December Clematis cirrhosa Freckles and Advent Bells are a delight to see in the dark dank winter months with cream bell shaped flowers with maroon markings.

There are varieties suitable for sunny and shady situations and patio tubs. Climbing Clematis need support to scramble on which can be wires, trellis, pergolas or other plants. If you are growing a patio variety in a tub use a metal or willow obelisk which makes a decorative feature. Varieties that do well in containers are Cezanne, blue, Chantilly, white, Oh La La, pink with a darker pink stripe, and Rebecca, red.

Here are some cultural tips to help you grow Clematis well.  The summer flowering Hybrid Clematis are the varieties that need some special attention when planted. Cut the top growth back by half before planting. Dig a hole three times the volume of the container in which it is growing and twice the depth. Remove the pot and place the clematis in the hole. Fill with a planting compost containing lots of peat. This will bury the lower part of the stem and protect it from surface damage which can cause the plant to wilt.

Hybrid Clematis like lots of water about 5 litres every few days and regular feeding with liquid tomato food to promote flowering. Check the pruning regime on the label provided with your plant. They are available in a vast range of colours with flowers the size and shape of dinner plates to discreet small stars.

The specie and herbaceous varieties are easier to grow and only require to be planted in rich peaty soil.

Please click here to view full details of how to prune different types of Clematis.

There are so many wonderful varieties within the Clematis genus this is just a taste to encourage you to grow my most favourite plant in your garden.

Products mentioned:

• Tomato Feed
• Peaty soil
• Containers and pots
• Clematis

This month I am supporting the campaign being promoted by Prince Charles and Dame Judi Dench to plant trees for the future.

A year ago I wrote “We Can All Save Our Planet If We Plant Trees”. At the time I had no idea how much resonance there would be now after the enormous drop in carbon emissions during the lockdowns due to Covid 19 pandemic.

Being an avid gardener my surroundings and the environment have always been very important. Slogans like “Go Green” and “Green Fingers” had no effect as I’ve always been like a stick of rock green all the way through. I had no idea just how much more aware I could become of my own outdoor space until this year.

During the lock downs, when a lot of us have been forced to stay home, to be able to step out into the garden or countryside and parks for our daily exercise has been vital. Little pockets of nature around us have been vital to our physical and mental health and wellbeing. The colours scents and sounds found in our natural surroundings help us to relax and unwind providing a relief to the unfamiliar stressful situation we found ourselves. A NATURAL Health Service recognised by many as an alternative to costly drugs and therapies are found in nature and trees in particular are a great host for other living things.

Trees sculpture our landscape be it in a pot at the front door or the hedge rows and woodland. They reduce noise pollution from roads, provide a canopy of shade and absorb carbon dioxide producing a healthier and sustainable place to live.

Trees support an abundance of wild life, five star hotels for many species. One Oak Tree will support 200 different invertebrate species. Moths and Butterflies lay their eggs in the bark and when the caterpillars hatch they migrate down the trunk to feed on other plants.

Bees and Wasps nest amongst the smaller branches and are vital for pollination while Flies and Beetles important for recycling organic debris make their homes in the bark and are the food sources for many mammals.

Lichen and Mosses also grow on the branches while Bats make their homes behind loose bark and birds like Woodpeckers, Blue Tits and Nut Hatch all find cosy holes to roost. Squirrels build drays among the upper branches where Crows and Jackdaws also build nests. In the autumn the tree produces acorns another important food source for many mammals and when the tree sheds its leaves many species including Mice Rats and Hedgehogs spend the winter months sheltering in these warm cosy surroundings. One tree provides an ecosystem for many living things including us in which to survive.

I hope you agree that we all need to plant trees or be involved in tree planting schemes. If you bought a pot grown Christmas Tree this year that could be a start. After Christmas gradually acclimatise it to colder conditions by standing it in the shed for a couple of weeks or protecting it with fleece. Then replant into a larger container and it can then be used again next Christmas.

If you have a small garden or balcony many dwarf conifers and miniature grafted deciduous varieties like the Silver Willows and Prunus will grow very well in pots. If your garden is moderate or large the choice of varieties is then dictated by the ultimate size, position and soil conditions.

It is always good to plant native trees like Oak, Hawthorn or Birch albeit more decorative or fruiting varieties. Alder and Willow are good in damp soils while Aspen and Poplar tremble and shimmer with the breeze. Crab Apple and Bird Cherries have scented flowers and fruits enjoyed by the wild birds and Hornbeam and Rowan are both habitats for wildlife during winter.  

It is the ideal time of year to plant trees providing there is no frost in the soil so please choose a tree large or small and support the campaign to provide a better environment for future generations to enjoy their surroundings.

Products Mentioned:

• Conifers
• Ornamental Tree

“Plants are Good for You” All Gardeners know this. Plants make superb Christmas Gifts for all our friends and family.

They are visually appealing with bright colours or calming green with wonderful shapes. Many are also fragrant. The home becomes a better place because people’s moods are elevated with plants adding to our décor contributing to good health and wellbeing. Plants are not just for Christmas so to make sure they give months of pleasure here are some tips to care for them.

Poinsettias probably most define Christmas with their red bracts, bright green leaves and golden flowers - yes, the golden bobbles in the middle of the bracts are the flowers. They are tropical plants so are happy between 15C to 20C in a bright, draft free place. Avoid a windowsill. Only water when the surface of the compost is dry.

Anthurium is a superb plant which is very easy to look after. It has bright red flowers that last for months. They like warmth and humidity and tolerate low light levels but avoid over watering by standing on a tray of pebbles just covered with water away from direct sunlight.

Christmas Cacti will drop the flower buds if over watered but require some humidity in the air so stand on a tray of pebbles and keep these moist. Gerberas require slightly brighter light so put on a sunny windowsill during the day but bring into the room at night. African Violets are always delightful in jewel box colours. Again stand on sand or gravel and keep moist but away from direct sunlight.

Winter flowering houseplants that are more suited to cooler houses are Azaleas, Cyclamen, Solanums and Kalanchoe.

Azaleas need to be kept moist so again stand on a tray of pebbles and water from below. Occasionally plunge the pot into a bowl of water so the level is above the rim. Allow to soak for 30 minutes, remove and drain before replacing onto the tray of pebbles.

Cyclamen should always be watered from below and the spent flowers and stems removed at the base to avoid corm rot. Again plunge the pot occasionally. It is one of the best houseplants for cool places.

Solanums, the Winter Cherry is a very easy plant for temperatures between 10C to 15C. Only water when the soil feels dry on top. It is also good in autumn tubs on the patio until there’s a hard frost. Easiest of all is Kalanchoe, Flaming Katy. It likes a cool but bright place tolerating dry conditions if occasionally plunged.

An Amaryllis bulb makes an interesting present. Amaryllis are easy to grow and should be planted with one third of the bulb above the soil level. Place in bright light and water sparingly at first increasing as the foliage develops and await that gorgeous flower. Hyacinths with their heavenly fragrance also like cooler places and will perfume the whole house for weeks.

In this time of turmoil the Peace Lily Spathiphyllum will be a welcome gift. It is one of the top ten household air cleaning plants with white and green flowers and shiny green leaves. It is easy to grow by plunging in water when dry and standing away from sunshine on a gravel tray.

Bromelia with the bold stunning exotic whirls of red foliage in a stylish pot is a trendy present. The red colour remains for a long time. It likes similar conditions to the peace lily, Spathiphyllum.

It is fun to grow Citrus Fruits especially if there is a heated conservatory. The hardier varieties like Lemon Trees and Kaffir Limes will tolerate lower temperatures down to 0c and can be grown outdoors. It is advisable to wrap the pot with hessian in late October and move against a protected wall or inside if severe weather is forecast. Calamondin, Orange, Kumquats, Mandarins and Grapefruits need warmer conditions above 5c. All Citrus Plants need plenty of sunshine and careful watering too much and too little water can result in leaf drop. We recommend plunging the plant in water so the level is above the pot and leave for one hour. Remove and allow to drain and do not water again until the soil is completely dry.

Orchids make special presents. Phalaenopsis are easy to grow tolerating the drier heat of central heating as well as being almost perpetually in flower. Water them sparingly from the top and stand on pebbles.

Terrariums are back in fashion together with large foliage plants like Calathea, Parlour Palms, Swiss Cheese Plants, Ficus, Ferns, Dracaenas and Yuccas. All have made resurgence popularity since Lock Down and spending more time indoors. All Houseplants look more attractive in a decorative pot which helps to maintain humidity and makes the Christmas Present special.

Products Mentioned:

• Indoor Watering Cans        
• Decorative Pots for Houseplants 
• Poinsettia
• Phalaenopsis    
• Anthurium
• Calathea
• Fern
• Peace Lily