December Gardening News
November, true to form, delivered autumn and the colours have been amazing. Across the last ten years I have planted quite a few native trees and this year have been rewarded with a stunning show. Even the domestic planting has been generous with Maples, Liquidambar and very noticeably Cotinus and Gingko all showing off. As we are encouraged to be planting trees, do consider the extras (flowers, berries, bark and autumn colour) when making a choice. The weather has been suitably seasonal though at the time of writing only one full frost has landed, and it was just enough to knock out the summer bedding. The gentle tumbling of leaves has created work of course and the compost heap is piled high. Leaf mould is very special, so do try and round yours up for composting. With the bedding out, we can set about the bigger tidy up, thinning shrubs and trees a little, just nipping out overcrowded, broken or damaged branches. If we do get snow, the removal of clutter will protect the plant from damage. Top weary herbaceous plants too, removing the failing growth and dead flower stems. With the space open we can still do a bit of late planting, dropping in bulbs and even oddments of selected over winter bedding. Remember this is the month for bare root planting, so hedging and soft fruit will all transfer well as will rhubarb. If you are done with planting, then digging over the ground on drier days is worthwhile. Winter will bite into turned ground, breaking it up ensuring easier cultivation in the spring. Where ground is particularly heavy you can lightly dust it with lime to accelerate the crumbling process. If you have any protected space, then you can still be sowing a few seeds. A number of annuals (like Antirrhinums) will make good growth from a winter sowing and historically, my grandfather would always have something going by Christmas. It can be managed on the windowsill in the kitchen until germinated, when seedlings can be moved to a cooler space. And finally, start researching compost. The horticultural industry is currently wrestling with the changing shape of growing mediums as we move towards a peat free future. By 2025 the use of peat in horticulture will be stopped. Alternatives are around and you should be considering through experimentation what will work for you. This year we have trialled 5 different products. The jury is still deliberating. Happy Gardening. Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
November Gardening News
Who switched the lights off? Suddenly the season has turned, spurred over the line by the tweaking of time and the disappearance of daylight by 5.00pm. The smells have changed too, there is a damp mustiness as fallen leaves moulder. The livestock still skips about, rats, mice and squirrels all foraging, gathering and storing in readiness for winter. The squirrels have been a particular nuisance this year, grubbing up bulbs and seeds then turning over new plantings to bury their booty. I have replanted so many pansies and a few days ago witnessed extraordinary acrobatics, as two squirrels set about scaling our sunflowers to gnaw off the heads which they duly carted off. I suspect there will be a few surprises in the compost heap next spring. Whilst the day has shortened, when the mood and the moment suit, there are jobs to be done. You can still be planting, certainly for a week or two more over wintering bedding. Wherever possible pick up decent sized plants. It is late in the season and the ground is cooling, so bargain packs of small plug plants are almost a waste of money now. Look out for plants in pots or packs of 6 or 9 and check the underside of units to look for roots (if there are none put the plants back). You will still get away with bulb planting too. I love tulips, but will be planting more daffodils this time as they are less attractive to my marauding squirrels. Around the borders carry on cleaning up, cut back old herbaceous plants and consider whether you have space for anymore trees or shrubs which can be dropped in. In the vegetable plot you can be planting onion sets, shallots and garlic and this is perfect timing for over wintering broad bean seed. They will all stand quite comfortably in the open across the winter. There are still a few vegetable plants to be had with spring cabbage and winter lettuce both on sale. If you are putting green vegetables out, or indeed already have, then do make sure that you have some netting available. The pigeons will find every leaf left in the open, they are merciless and will strip plants completely if given the chance. And finally this month you will find bare root hedging and soft fruit plants become available. So if you need a new hedge or want to create a fruit garden this is the time to go for it. Happy Gardening. Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
October Gardening News
And there it was gone, the summer just upped and left, making way for autumn. By early September many plants looked close to surrender as the dry weather thumped them and there was a fair amount of early leaf fall. The gardens have been reasonably productive, even without the rain. The beans have been ok, the French in particular have been amazing, but everything has needed to be kept tightly picked. My real joy this year has been with Aubergines, which have been fantastic and tomatoes which have been so flavoursome. I don’t do too much feeding, so the plants really have to work on finding what’s there. I really believe that taste can be compromised by too much feed. Most mornings I have had tomatoes on toast for breakfast. If you are chasing bigger crops then feeding is important, but I am talking about my domestic needs and I need flavour. This month, we will be pulling out the stops to get the bulbs in and pad the borders and containers with the next offering of bedding plants. Pansies and violas to bring some winter colour and wallflowers and biennials as an investment for the spring. There are plenty of bulbs about and with careful management of the flowering times, very extended shows can be achieved, with selected varieties offering colour from early February into May. There are bulbs for every setting, statuesque sentinels for open space, with a little protection and dwarf forms for the breezy spots. In the vegetable area, you can be planting out onions, garlic and shallots as well as spring cabbage plants and by the end of the month broad bean seed for over wintering. As always there is some tidying up to do, a good final cut of the lawn and a repairing prune of overgrown trees and shrubs to lessen the risk of winter damage through rough weather. This is also a month for new planting or relocation of trees and shrubs as they move into dormancy. The disruption will be minimal, many items not even noticing they’ve moved. You can also consider propagation by division, putting the spade through perennial favourites to expand stock, a clean slice through a clump will make you to extend displays. Such division can also be used on rhubarb crowns to increase the crop. And finally, lift and shift dahlia tubers and other tender plants moving them into some shelter, early frosts can be brutal. Happy Gardening. Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
September Gardening News
September is upon us. What delights will this one hold? Traditionally it’s the month that marks the turn of the season, but the muddle of the last month has had me wondering which season we are changing. August was a mish mash of a month, delivering all that meteorology has to offer. We had some blistering heat, some torrential storms, some cool nights and winds to take your head off. Things kept growing, but there were casualties, half of my underdeveloped Bramley apples are on the floor and (because I neglected to put up a trap in April), the Plum moth has wrecked what plums were there. They look as though they have peppered by a shotgun, the exit route of escaping maggots apparent on every fruit. I am also waging war against the Cabbage White Butterfly. A female can, in a short time lay around two hundred eggs and these she will spread about in clusters of twenty or so . Within two weeks the caterpillars are out and voraciously chomping through all available brassicas (that’s the cabbage family including sprouts and kale). We have been netting and spraying with Grazers (a spray that works as a good deterrent…until we get heavy rain). On dry days we see some very sulky butterflies struggling to find a place for their brood. Spraying hasn’t deterred the snails, who have also brought chaos and have messed up my beans. For all of that it has been fun and some of the flowers have been wonderful. I have a fantastic display of mixed sunflowers and modern varieties offer great colours. I have also had success with Mirabilis Jalapa (grown from seed). It is actually regarded as a perennial, forming a tuber at the end of it’s first season. It flowers in the year of sowing and displays flat trumpet like flowers in a range of jazzy colours. Check it out, it’s a bed filler and very jolly. September sees garden centres full of bulbs and winter pansies, together with wallflowers and autumn chrysanthemums. As spaces appear, fill your gaps. There is no rush, stock will be around for at least another eight weeks, but earlier planting will allow good root development and should ensure some winter colour. And finally, if you have space in the vegetable garden, onion sets and shallots will all be available soon. Don’t rush for Broad Beans though, it’s too early! Happy Gardening. Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
August Gardening News
It can’t be August already surely? There has been a mistiness to the passing days, that has smudged the detail and had many of us puzzling over what day of the week it is. With the gentle easing of lockdown we will see clearer shapes and the return of punctuating routines. Thank goodness for the garden, which has continued to grow undaunted and there is harvest to reap. I’ve picked courgettes and beans, there are plenty of tomatoes and a continuous supply of salad leaves. The greens have romped too, although the need to be vigilant with netting has never been more important. The first cabbage white butterflies are around and the pigeons cast a cursory glance each evening to see if anything has been left unprotected. The flowers have been good too and in particular I have to mention my foray into the new world of garden hardy Gerbera’s, which have been fantastic. With care the summer looks promising for gardeners. Do keep on top of dead heading, feeding and watering. The watering issue is particularly important, the ground still seems incredibly dry and sulky plants don’t perform well. So keep a watchful eye, watering modestly on a regular basis. If you do have spaces around, then you can be doing a bit of seed sowing. Salad crops will all germinate quickly as will Kohl Rabi and all will harvest in the autumn. I often talk about Kohl Rabi . It’s very easy to grow and raised primarily for it’s bulbous crown, which sits above the ground. It can be steamed, roasted or braised, included in stews and is terrific grated in Coleslaw. It’s a filler. If you don’t want to be sowing vegetable seeds, but do have space, then Chard, Perpetual Spinach and Spring Cabbage plants are all around now. Incredibly in readiness for the autumn planting, we are seeing wallflowers, winter pansies and some biennials offered. These early offerings are for over wintering really and whilst early planting will build good roots, there is no rush. If you do want to treat yourself to anything, bulbs are starting to land in centres and the early bird will get the best pick. And finally, if you find yourself in the mood for a day out, head off to the Welsh border at the top end of Herefordshire. We recently visited the garden at Hergest Croft in Kington, which spreads across 70 acres and it is truly stunning. Happy Gardening. Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
July Gardening News
The British climate doesn’t do half measures does it? Most notable through early June was the intensity of the sun. We all felt at ease about the planting, confident that the frost was left behind and then a fireball appeared in the sky and everything cooked. Any carelessness with watering saw things fry. Many hours were spent, just keeping things alive. Any late seed sowings were particularly vulnerable. Pea and bean seed shrivelled in the ground and late salad seedlings just fried. I had three goes at starting some summer lettuce, before I was able to celebrate success. Dedication to task has paid off and as June has rolled forward there has been some robust growth. The opportunity to sow seed continues and as we move through July. Perennials, biennials and vegetable seedlings can all be started, just think cool and set things off in pots and trays in a bit of shade. I try to sow perpetual spinach, spring cabbage and wallflowers in particular this month, lining up stock for autumn planting. Having identified that the gardening industry has (like so many) been chasing for stock, this year has seen a proliferation of quality in certain groups. I might have struggled to find fruit trees or rockery plants, but have seen some fantastic ferns and a delightful mixed range of big herbaceous plants. Do have a mooch about, there are some real treats. Recent sorties from the site have seen me buying Penstemons, heuchera and all manner of things from other centres for use in my own garden. A bit more maintenance for me and as the days roll on that becomes the keyword for gardeners. If the dry weather continues keep the blades up a bit on the mower to avoid scorching and keep things watered well. Feed summer bedding and vegetables, liquid Tomato food is particularly useful and easy to apply, it can be used on everything (it will really buck up baskets and containers). Keep dead heading as summer plants shouldn’t be wasting energy on seed production if you want them to perform until autumn and keep harvesting too. The first beans need picking, courgettes need to be cut quickly (you don’t need lots of marrows), the first potatoes will be ready and salads should be used before they bolt. And finally, check out the wildlife. The fields and hedgerows are bursting with life and I have never seen so many wild orchids. Nature always quick to upstage us. Happy Gardening. Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
June Gardening News
April rolled into May and the treacherous weather continued with frost across 18 consecutive days eventually easing around the 10th. It was all very testing and damage was varied and widespread. I was really saddened by the demolition of the Magnolia blossom which had only just shown itself. I had Antirrhinums knocked back to two inch stumps by one particularly spiteful temperature drop. Most things do recover, though anybody with early beans or tomatoes will be replanting. It is always very chancy to have them in the ground before late May. But as we turn into June things change and we hope the weather will be more consistent or at very least less cold. It’s festival time, a jamboree, something of a free for all, when you can plant more or less what you like. Borders can be planted out with summer bedding, which with little extra work will bring joyous colour until October. There will be plenty to choose from too, with most centres still having a comprehensive selection and there are plenty of new introductions to look out for. Following in the wake of the success of Salvia ‘Hot Lips’ ( a gloriously tantalising red and white bow of a flower) the family has extended, the series running to include blue, purple, pink and salmon. Plants are all robust and prolific. Look out too for the new hardy border Gerbera’s which will are also offered in a wide range of colours and try your luck with Gaura. My favourite of last year, this graceful, arching plant is a joy, it’s branches dripping with pink shell like flowers. There are also some very good herbaceous plants around this year and I have been really sold on Irises, which I think are set to put on quite a show. Of course no sooner are we underway with one seasonal show, than we are considering the next. You can be sowing seed this month to raise your own winter pansies, wallflowers and biennials like sweet William. On the vegetable front there is also plenty to plant, all the usual summer vegetables can go out and if you fancy something different then chillies and aubergines are great to try. So, the door is open get playing. And finally. My big experiment this year is with soya. There has been much interest in this crop, it’s certainly popular with vegans. It seems straightforward and there are plenty of recipes about. I will keep you posted. Happy Gardening. Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
May Gardening News
Wow! What an exhausting month and what a difference in the weather compared with last spring, when the sun shone every day from the end of March for ten solid weeks. Like last year the ground remains dry, but the big difference has been with the daily chill. The night frosts through April were very destructive and rapier sharp. One lapse in concentration and there was damage. As we move forward into May there is a growing sense of calm ahead and a confidence that will allow us to put out bedding and vegetable plants of our choice, though do leave tender things like begonias, dahlias and busy lizzies until the back end of the month. Apply the same timetable to tender vegetables, the marrow and cucumber range particularly should be held back until late May. Just be watchful, I have lost plants in the first week of June, but most things toughen up and recover eventually. The month of May will be flagged up by all in the gardening industry as being the busiest in the horticultural calendar. It is the month when you can do anything. With care you can still transplant those things that do not work where you planted them and set out new trees and shrubs. The lawn can be remade, re-sown or turfed and if you are happy with what is there already then it will certainly need cutting. The garden will enjoy a feed at this time (and a bit of liquid feed, is easy to apply and will pep up everything). You can still do a bit of pruning too (especially of winter flowering items) and plant to your hearts content. Potentially a joyous month and the foundation block for a bountiful summer. Of course, plans and good intentions are great but everything is subject to COVID influences. The gardening industry like all others is experiencing product shortages across the board. Compost continues to be a nightmare with suppliers offering 4–6-week lead times on orders. Tools are difficult to find and the tree and shrub market is shot to pieces. I have spent weeks trying to replenish fruit trees and have been advised that new stock will not be available before September. Roses are gold dust. And finally, the guidance is, if you see what you want, you probably need to buy it. Or wait until the autumn when we will all catch up a bit. Happy Gardening. Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
April Gardening News
The darkness shrank and the light swept back across the land. A new spring has arrived and nature unperturbed by the turbulence of an interesting year, just moves forward. Buds have filled and are poised for the new start. Hazel catkins flicked lazily in the breeze above daffodils, snowdrops and crocus which all performed well, leaving the stage to the imminent tulip and bluebell festival. The weather continued to test delivering a challenging mix of hot and cold, the spiteful wind testing the fashion choice on an hourly basis. Meanwhile the early cherries perform, naked stems festooned in droplets of colour. It has been cold but so uplifting. The early sowing has germinated, more seed is sown and the first round of transplanting is done. Things are wanting to grow, I have lettuce and cabbage ready to go out and sweet peas standing proud in the ground already. Broad beans are surging ahead and I will plant more together with some peas in the coming days. This is a good month for seed sowing and germinated this month you will have good plants ready for May. You can get all of your potatoes in the ground now if you haven’t already done so and there is still time for Onions, garlic and shallots. April is also a good month for summer bulbs, so Dahlias, Gladioli and Lilies can be popped straight in, they do come in a range of sizes, so don’t allow limited space to deny you the chance to play. Be aware that there some very interesting, lesser known bulbs that are worth a space too. Freesia, Montbretia and ranunculus are available and if you fancy something different then take a look at Tigridia and Eucomis, both of which bring a sense of the exotic. I have already earmarked some for my own garden. Tigridia brings a carnival of colour to the border, whilst Eucomis, more muted in its colour is very regal. Do check them out. And finally, if nothing else consider the lawn. Most have had a very tough journey and the wet and warm has large swathes colonised by carpeting moss. I am not a big chemical treatment person, but there are products available to slow the moss if you want them. For my part I will be aerating (pronging) the ground with a fork to allow air in and then will deliver some feed later in the month. If nothing else get cutting. Happy Gardening. Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org
March Gardening News
The spiteful wind, that has been a feature of this month has dented the enthusiasm of the keenest of gardeners. It has scythed through every fibre, whilst nature has chosen to just bash on. Encouraged by the stubborn defiance of the dormant world to get back to business, I did sow seed in February and it has germinated. The first lettuce and cabbage are pricked out to trays. The days will race now, with the light extending and in just three weeks we will have our evenings released by the change of clocks. I am back to at the seed sowing and have set out a few early annuals in trays. Some subjects like Poppies, Californian Poppies and Nigella can be sown straight into the ground. Pansies, Sweet William, Calendula and Antirrhinums (which I’ve started) will cope with minimal protection, but subjects like Impatiens, Begonias and even Petunias will require a bit of warmth to get them going. Germination can be slow, so be patient and keep your compost damp. The vegetables are a bit more straight forward, even root vegetables can be started in pots or trays and most will grow in cool conditions. Don’t allow your enthusiasm to draw you in to planting Runner Beans, Marrows or Cucumbers though, all of these will perish quickly once chilled. Late April is soon enough to sow these subjects or you can wait until mid May for the plants which will be offered in most nurseries. Whilst I have potted a few early seed potatoes, I am going to set a few more and as the month draws on (probably in the third week), will look to get some into the ground. It won’t matter if (for your convenience) they all go in, as the varieties all tend to grow at different speeds, with second early and maincrop potatoes taking longer to mature. On the flower front you can also be planting summer bulbs, Liles and Dahlias will all benefit from a late March start and can be put straight into the ground or raised in patio pots. More broadly, finish pruning in the coming days and you can be quite brutal with some vigorous subjects like willow, hazel and cornus. And finally, Celeriac has become a very popular vegetable in recent years. It is easy from seed, but has a long growing season and needs sowing soon for best results. Happy Gardening. Chris Evans www.dundrynurseries.co.uk www.thebutterflygarden.org