News - Page 144
Lift and divide perennials this month to thin out overcrowded clumps and keep your plants youthful and healthy. It's a great time of year to do it, as the plants are starting to slow down for winter so you won't check their growth by splitting them, and there's still warmth and moisture in the soil.
Most clump-forming perennials, like crocosmia, daylilies, epimediums and bergenia, get a little crowded a...
Plan it, plant it this autumn – it's by far the best time to get new trees, shrubs and perennials into the ground. The warmth from the summer still lingers to encourage them to grow plenty of roots and settle in well before the cold weather comes; and good root systems mean better drought resistance and strong, healthy growth which shrugs off pests and diseases more easily.
Fruit trees and bushes plante...
What to do in the garden in September:
This is one of the most rewarding months of the year, with apples and pears fruiting abundantly, brilliantly colourful autumn flowers and the weather often better than what we optimistically call 'summer'! Make the most of it with our jobs this month:
General tasks:
Plant new trees and shrubs as there's still warmth in the ground and moisture in the air, so...
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September's plant of the month is the aster, also known as the Michaelmas daisy and a stalwart of the late-summer border with its cheery, daisy-like flowers in shades of mauve, pink and violet.
All asters flower for a satisfyingly long time, starting in late August and continuing often until the first frosts. They're much-loved by bees and butterflies, so perfect for the wildlife garden, and make wonderful cut flowers. What's more, they go wi...
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Give wisteria its summer prune to keep it within bounds, prevent winter damage and encourage lots of those sumptuous long perfumed flower racemes next spring.
Your plant will by now be sprouting a jungle of long, whippy shoots in all directions: this not only looks messy, but all that green growth is diverting the plant's energy into producing lots of extra shoots rather than ripening wood to make fat flower buds for next...
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Tackle your pond weed before it takes over and swamps fish, plants and wildlife. Blanketweed, duckweed and 'pea soup' algae turn your pond green and cover the surface until your pond is completely obscured. It can really get going as the weather turns warm, but fight back now and you'll keep it under control.
Blanketweed: This clings to the sides of the pond and to the plants themselves, quickly clogging up your...
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Keep chillies growing strongly by giving them the best possible conditions to form flowers and then fruit to set your tastebuds on fire this autumn.
The staff at West Dean Gardens in Chichester are past masters on the subject of chillies: they grow over 300 varieties, and their annual Chilli Fiesta takes place this week (see www.westdean.org.uk for more details). Among their top tips for...
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Get water wise this summer for savings on your water bills and to beat the drought conditions which have afflicted many gardeners in recent months.
These days it's hard to tell whether we'll be facing flooding or hosepipe bans: so it makes sense to hope for the best and prepare for the worst, saving rainwater when there's plenty of it so you've got good reserves for when there isn't. Here are just a few of the ways you can droug...
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August's plant of the month is the phlox, one of those plants no cottage garden border should be without. Quintessentially romantic, its fragrant clusters of pink, white or purple flowers release their perfume in the evenings: they're also a big favourite with bees and other pollinating insects making them ideal for the wildlife garden, too.
Modern-day varieties are bred to grow sturdy and healthy, so you don't need to do the st...
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Count your butterflies for this year's Big Butterfly Count, the initiative run by Butterfly Conservation which draws on ordinary gardeners to help monitor populations of this much-loved but endangered garden regular.
All you have to do is find a quiet spot somewhere in your garden any time between now and the end of August, sit down for 15 minutes and record any butterflies you see. You'll find an ID chart and full instructions on the website...
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