Gardeners Tips

Beautiful, but a hundred potential weeds.

Weeds

There are two types of weeds. – The weed which can easily be controlled through hoeing (e.g. annuals like plantains and the persistent perennial weeds – horsetail, bindweed and japanese knotweed. These latter group of weeds need a persistent and determined strategy to rid your garden of them. It takes a combination of deep digging their roots, and then spraying or hoeing off new growth until they are finally defeated.

In the case of weeds like horsetail, it can really test your patience as it can be years of weeding before you clear the garden of it.

Other weeds still require regular maintenance to keep down. If possible follow the good old advice of hoeing before they set seeding or as the saying goes – one years weeding = seven years weeding

• See: Most common garden weeds.
• Tips for weeding a garden

Neglect

Here is a common garden problem – not enough time to do what we need to do. – Weeds allowed to grow, grass too long and weedy, plants not deadheaded and a general feeling of neglect. Don’t feel too bad, nature doesn’t have a gardener, and nature doesn’t do too bad. Try to enjoy the natural aspect of the garden, even the weeds can be quite nice, if we don’t worry too much. But, if you can find a bit more time for regular maintenance you will get much more joy from the garden.

Though another less well addressed common garden problem is that of the stressed gardener. Don’t try to do everything and be perfect. There is more to the garden than immaculate edges and 100% weed free soil…

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The Foxgloves may suffer in very dry conditions. But, Lavender and Pelagoniums are both quite draught resistant.
The dry garden is a garden designed to flourish in hot and dry conditions without additional water. Sometimes, we try hard to fight nature, but, sometimes it is good to grow the plants which will thrive in the conditions we have. A dry garden doesn’t have to be an arid and boring place with nothing more than a few cactus, there are many plants which will thrive in dry conditions.

Californian poppy thrive in hot dry conditions. A good example of a vibrant colourful annual you can grow in a dry garden.

Good Plants for Dry Conditions

Trees

• Acers
• Betula Pendula

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Conifers are very popular in the garden, usually as a utility hedging feature or for a simple topiary feature like above.

They can provide a great natural screening effect – giving the garden more privacy, shelter and it’s own micro climate. However, unchecked, conifers can be a really pain, rapidly growing in size overshadowing a garden throwing shade and drying up neighbouring gardens.

A real potential villain is Leylandii Cypress. It can grow 4 foot a year and is one of the fastest growing trees. It has many advantages if properly pruned – it is hardy, responds well to drastic pruning and soon provides a shelter. But, if left unpruned it can soon get out of control. (see: Dealing with problems of Leylandii)

Often we tend to lump conifers together. However, there is great variety and diversity within this species. There are different types which can offer a useful balance of evergreen colour in the garden.

Try varieties such as Thuja or Taxus (Yew) or Junipers. These provide a variety of shapes, sizes and speed of growing. Tall thin varieties can be great for the small garden.

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An early autumn border – plenty of colour and interest.

The perennial border is one of the great joys of the English garden. It is like an open canvas, constantly changing and evolving. Crammed full of plants it can offer a great display throughout the year. With careful planning and preparation the home gardener can enjoy a perennial border like these photos here.

Tips for the Perennial Border

Contrast. It is important to have some interesting contrast within a border. THis doesn’t have to be opposite colours. Contrast can involve contrast of form, height and movement. Contrast gives any border more interest.

Height. tall plants help a border become three dimensional rather than a two dimensional bedding plant scheme you may see in your local park. For example, Verbena Bonariensis

Movement. Plants which sway in the breeze help give an added interest to the garden. It creates a sense of drama in the border. See: Movement in the garden

A July Border

Be Bold. For effect be prepared to plant in drifts and large groups. Don’t just plant he odd plant here and there, it can be more powerful to see long drifts. At the same time you don’t need to plant in regimented blocks, allow a plant to move throughout the border.

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Lawn at Brasenose College, Oxford University.

If you fancy impressing the neighbours or you fancy holding a croquet tournament on your lawn why not try to grow the perfect lawn? If the idea of a perfect lawn doesn’t appeal no harm, you can always go for a wildlife lawn complete with daises e.t.c However, there are several steps we can take to enjoy a better lawn

10 Steps to a Perfect Lawn

1. Preparation. Prepare the area by providing a good well drained soil, free of large rocks and flattened with a rake. In preparing the lawn, take time to remove any perennial weeds. You can grow from seed, but for more immediate results, buy turf from a specialist supplier. At least then you can get off to a good start. If your lawn is really bad, it may be worth starting from scratch

2. Regular Mowing. Regular mowing at the right height is one of the most important tasks to maintain the lawn in good health and beat off any weeds which may creep into the lawn. The height of mowing will vary. But, generally the rule is to start higher and reduce the cutting height in the middle of the summer, when the lawn is growing fastest.

Another lawn at Brasenose College.
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Wisteria in Full Flower, Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, June 2010

Wisteria can be a very rewarding climber. If the plant is from good quality stock and it is planted in good conditions it can give a wonderful flowering display.

Tips for Growing Wisteria.

• Wisterias are usually grown from grafted rootstock. It is important you get plants from a reliable source. Non flowering wisteria can often be traced to poor grafting / rootstock which won’t flower whatever you do.
  Wisteria naturally grow in wooded environments with shoots reaching above tree line for sun. Make sure they are planted in plenty of organic matter and ideally soil should be kept shady or moist.
• Wisteria need some training to give the best flowering. Ideally, you want to train along horizontal supports, which will maximise flowering from the spurs which develop from side shoots.
• Wisteria naturally attach themselves to supports in a clock wise motion, so bear this in mind when tying them in.

This well trained Wisteria has a high % of flowers to green leaves.

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