My Winter Garden
Lovely walk round my garden!
What is ‘leaf scorch’?
I’m seeing the valiant efforts of my clients diligently watering their new plants in all thus ridiculous hot weather only for me to bemoan ‘they’ve got sun scorch!’
When you water it needs to be when your border is out of the sun. Then direct the water at the base of the plant – not on the leaves.
Wisteria and Clematis in May
The results of pruning wisteria and clematis abound in May.
Regular pruning of clematis encourages strong growth and flowering and keeps the growth in check. If left unpruned, clematis can turn into a mass of tangled stems with bare base and flowers well above eye level.
Gracie: The Allotment Gardener – 4
Words of wisdom. I have been growing veg and flowers for a while now but always love to talk to fellow plot holders and gather any advice or ‘old wives’ tales’ where I can. Now dear reader, I must tell you the sorry tale of Millie’s plot – It is covered in mare’s tail. Now as any established plot holder will tell you, mare’s tail is the kiss of death to anything that you may want to grow.
Gracie: The Allotment Gardener – 3
Where do I start? The best way I have found to take on the massive task at hand is to break it down into little sections. To avoid being overwhelmed, tackle a bit that will give you instant gratification. Always, always take photos when you get to your plot and take them at various times and then again at the end. It is easy to feel like you are getting nowhere when it all needs to be tackled at the same time and these photos, along with your flask and some shortbread will keep you going when you feel like it will never end.
Gracie: The Allotment Gardener – 2
Oh joy, oh joy to be found when one rescues fruit trees from brambles and grasses. Nothing makes your heart sing more than the sight of those amazing-looking pears which had survived all the attempted strangling of brambles to produce the most wonderful golden fruit that of course you have to sample immediately. Anyone who knows anything must admit that fruit always tastes so much better straight from the tree and an allotment tree makes it so much sweeter.
Gracie: The Allotment Gardener
Now, when one gets the opportunity to become the allotment gardener for Millies garden Design, you visualise beautifully tended rows of vegetables, gorgeous blooms, glorious fruit trees and manicured paths with rose arches and maybe a quaint wildlife area? Well, think again …
Roses Galore!
What a great season it is for roses this year! Although the first flowering flush is a little later than usual it was worth waiting for. To continue to enjoy many more blooms throughout the summer and autumn regular dead heading is essential.
Chilly Bank Holiday!
A trip to your local garden centre will see an array of all sorts of colourful bedding plants ready for the summer. But … frosts still loom and these tender plants still need to be kept under cover until the end of the month. Plant up a basket or summer pot but either place it in a greenhouse or tuck it up with garden fleece over night.
Sunny Sunday!
When the sun shines on a Sunday I’m like a kid in a sweetie shop; what to do first I’m my patch?
Planting up Dahlias and begonias is a nod to cutting flowers and great summer floral displays.