Cutting the grass is hard work, (you could just leave it like this natural meadow)

Gardening is a beautiful pastime, working with plants is one of the most rewarding activities. But, there are sill some jobs that never seem particularly attractive. These are some of the jobs I try to avoid doing, or at least get someone else to do. (It’s about time to invite my Mother to cut my edges)

1. Dealing With Slugs

There is no easy way to deal with slugs. Using pellets leaves a slight feeling of guilt. Any other method is either gruesome or hardwork.

2. Cleaning equipment after use.

When you’ve spent along time clipping a hedge, putting the clippings away, the last thing you wont to do is to clean all the tools you’ve used. But, it is an effective way to extend the length of tools.

3. Cutting the edges and picking up the clippings.

Mowing the lawn isn’t too bad, but, going round all the edges and cutting them is hard work with little reward.

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The Latin part of a plant name often gives a hint about the attributes of a plant or flower.

Maculatus or maculata means spotted in leaf, bark or this case flower. It also means spotted in the insect world.

Look out for other obvious hints like odorata and fragrans which will be scented . Alba means white whilst nigrescens will be black. The spellings may differ and it isn’t a fool proof method of plant selection but it may help.

Mulching is the covering of bare soil with a mulch. Mulch can be organic or inorganic and its purpose is to conserve moisture in the soil, suppress weeds and protect the roots of new plants. The right material will cut down on maintenance with less weeding and watering.

Choose a mulch that appeals to you and don’t be worried about experimenting.

Inorganic Options

• Shells are an idea if you aren’t trying to grow acid loving plants.
• Ground glass and rubber chippings are also now available
• Gravel and grit can be acquired in various size grades depending on the location and the requirement. Finer grit can be used on the top of outdoor pots but for a larger area or around larger speciems a bigger chipping is more appropriate
• Slate can give a texture and feeling to a mulched area that transcends the basic purpose and harmonises with the greens in the plants
• Coloured chippings are now available in reds, golds and greys as a result of the base stone used. select a colour that you can live with and that complements the garden
• Pebbles or round rocks or slabs mat also be appropriate

Organic mulches

• The good old stand by garden compost is one of the favourites that also adds some nutrition
• Straw was an old substitute but is less attractive although semi composted ‘Strulch’ is available as a proprietary product.
• Coconut coir and husks may be used but pets may eat it
• Pine needles and different sized of bark are now available. Chose a bark that fits the planting scheme

It is the scented leaves of Pelargoniums rather than the flower that attracts growers and collectors. They are often used in scented gardens for the blind but are useful in a normal garden border where they may be brushed or touched. As indoor pot plants they are ideal as living pot-pourri and may be hybrids or species in their own right.

Top 10 Scented leaved Pelargoniums

1. Pelargonium Fragrans Variegata a small plant with lots of scented green and white leaves with the aroma of spice, pine and lemon.
2. Mable Grey woody and harder to grow but heavy lemon scented leaves
3. P. graveolens Lady Plymouth a strong grower favoured for exhibitions with a rose like scent
4. Prince of Orange is an old variety that as the name implies smells of orange
5. Little gem is a dwarf grower with a spicy scent that remains fresh until late in the year
6. Attar of Roses is small and compact with plentiful multi lobed leaves
7. Other possible contenders for ‘a top of list’ include P tomentosum (peppermint), P clorinds (pine), and P. quercifolium an aquired pungency not to everyones taste.
8. There are a range of fruit and nut scented varieties like Countess of Scarborough (strawberry), Big Apple and Patrons Unique (apricot)
9. Not to my taste is the Chocolate Peppermint with brown leaves that are mint scented

Cultivation tips

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Red leaved plants seem to be doing very well in this wet summer. I spotted this healthy shrub at Harlow Carr on a recent visit. The name smoke bush comes from the clouds of very fine, fluffy, grey flowers that appear on panicles in such profusion that it looks like a cloud of smoke.

• This variety is probably Royal Purple both it and other Nocutts hybrids are easy to grow at home.
• Propagate by taking a spade to an existing shrub and chopping one piece out without lifting the plant. A sort of division in situ.
• They are deciduous shrubs and mine have a lax habit that probably needs a bit of pruning but I don’t want to sacrifice the flowers.
• The mature shrubs are a neat round shape.
• The leaves are also a neat round simple leaf
• Other varieties include a tree Cotinus cobovatus called the American Smoke Tree

Acer palmatum dissectum atropurpureum

• Acer is the genus for a range of trees that includes the Sycamore and some of the loveliest foliage trees for your garden.
• palmatum the species name refers to the hand shaped leaves
• dissectum or variety name reflects how the feathery leaves are finely separated and deeply cut or fringed
• atropurpureum is the colour of deep purple leaves that turn bright red in autumn
• Japanese Maple is a generic name for a range of Acers which have this semblance of age and dignity even when the trees are small and relatively young.

Hints on Cultivation

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These gardening books are just crying out to be written so we suggest some titles and authors.

Do not smoke your grass by Mary Wana

Turn your MP into Compost by Pete Substitute

Money saving tips add up by Alice Summ

Trollius, Yaks and other plant transportation by Dick van Bike

This noble fir is a large prostrate form with thick rounded bright blue needles that gives a good colour contrast within any garden. This is just one of the good looking Conifers that can be suitable for a British garden.

• This prostrate form is slow growing. Remove any strong vertical branches
• Young plants need a good soaking when the soil becomes too dry and prefer a moisture retentive soil
• Roots spread wider than the tree but shouldn’t need fertiliser
• Will stand very cold winter temperatures
• The habit, form and colour of this Pine make it a good plant to incorporate into a garden design

This Campanula lactiflora ‘Loddon Anna’ was grown from seed distributed free to members by the RHS in 2003. It grows four feet tall and has many very attractive bell shaped flowers. The flowers are arranged on a stem in a loose cone shape but with each of about 60 flower about an inch wide the effect is light and flowing. This species commonly called the Milky bell flower is a lilac colour but Campanula more often seen as a giant bellflower in dark blue. This is the white C.persicifolia alba

Hints about the Campanula Family

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You do not always associate Tulips with fragrance but here is a selection that may be worth trying. Tulips do not need to be planted until November but if you want specific varieties it may be worth getting your order in sooner rather than later. I have received two bulb catalogues and the newspaper had a special offer this morning on lily flowers tulips. If you can’t get to a specialist nursery try mail order as your bulbs will be supplied at the right time and in good condition.

Scented Botanical or Species Tulips

• T. aucheriana rich sweet flowers open flat
• T. celsiana Persian tulip June blooms delicious scent
• T. gesneriana scarlet flowers sweetly scented
• T. primulina primrose yellow flowers smelling of lily of the valley
• T. saxatillis lilac flowers with primrose scent
• T. suaveolensscarlet scented blooms
• T. sylvestris Lemon-yellow with sweet perfume
• T .fragrans pronounced scent as you would expect with a name like that

Other Fragrant Tulips worth Considering

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