Do not feed your slugs and snails on your Clematis

Even in this wet summer there are better plants for them to snack on

Try the inverted grapefruit skin as I prefer to drink beer not drown slugs

Not everything in the garden is lovely. Consider this hosta with snail damage that has ravaged the leaves so that they are just a mass of ribbons and holes. Slugs and snails are a pest at the best of times but this plant was in a wet spot and has suffered accordingly. See our slug and snail tips for help to prevent this in your garden (if you can trust someone who has a plant like this)

This is a picture of a Holyhock with an early stage of rust. Rust is yellow spots and grains starting on the reverse of the leaf that stop leaves functioning. This is a regular problem with most Holyhocks in our area and is exacerbated by wet conditions. By later on in the season leaves will be falling off and the plant will be in a sorry state. Even plants that are said to be resistant have shown signs of rust the progress of which can be slowed by fungicides.

This isn’t frost damage on the Hydrangea so I assume it is wind burn on some of the early opening flower heads. Normally my hydrangeas don’t suffer from pests and problems but very young plants need some protection from slugs.

Most of the infected leaves have already denuded this rose tree. The last few spotted leaves will be cut off and burnt. It isn’t safe to compost such infected leaves as the spores will persist and return via the compost when it is spread. The rose will be pruned heavily and given a fungicide treatment now and again in spring in the hope that the problem wont recur. the roses next to this tree are fit and healthy so it is worth looking for resilient varieties when you buy new ones. The cost is normally low enough that I should oust the spotted plant right now.

Hypericum is a large family of perennial shrubs with creeping roots. This specimen is three feet tall and attracts lots of insects from mid June. Often called St John’s Wort it is named after St John’s day which is 24th June when it’s flowers are collected for medicinal purposes.

In mild climates the shrub can be evergreen with glossy leaves. With several varieties having an award of garden merit this is a shrub that is well worth growing.

Flowers and Cultivation

• The single yellow flowers are often quite numerous as on this Hidcote variety. It is also known as the Rose of Sharon.
• Flower colour varies from pale lemon yellow to an umber or burnt orange-yellow
• There are 5 petals and a large number of stamen leading to another common name Aaron’s Beard.
• They flower at the end of branches or stems and create a spicy scent of curry.
• After the flowers there are fleshy red berries that contain numerous seeds
• The wild flower can be quite invasive spreading by roots or seeds dropped by birds
• Prune after flowering. They can stand a hard cut back and may even benefit.
• Grow the ground cover Hypericum calycinium Briggadoon which can flower July -October

Herbal and Medicinal Uses

• St. John’s Wort has been used for centuries to treat mental disorders and nerve pain. The flowering tops are used to prepare teas.
• Today, St. John’s Wort is used by some for depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders as well as a balm for wounds, burns, and insect bites.
• St John’s Wort contains lots of active ingredients including hypercin and hyperfloin and should be purchased in liquid or tablet form so the dose level is known and controlled.
• Photosensitivity and sunburn can be caused to users and it is not recommended for pregnant women

Other varieties to try

• H. beanii with graceful arching stems it is a parent to many varieties
• H. olympicum appropriate name for an Olympic year. AGM plant
• AGM versions of Hypericum include forrestii, moserianum, kouytchense, roeperianum ‘Rowallane’ and uniflorum ‘Citrinum’.
• Another one for the Olympics is H chinense hinting  where many Hypericums originate.

Herbal Teas, Tisanes and Infusions

Herb tea made from dried or fresh leaves can be drunk hot or iced. Chamomile tea is popular and can be bought in tea bags but growing your own is more satisfying. Use one or two tea spoonful of leaves, dry or fresh, to a cup of boiling water and steep for five to ten minutes then strain if you wish.

• Mint, Fennel and Sage can be used to create teas in the same way.
• Tinctures are make by soaking in alcohol like cider vinegar and raspberries to make raspberry vinegar

Herb Pillows

Herbs were added to straw to deter insects in less sanitary times. Today it would be enough to collect flowers and put them in a small packet or muslin bag and hang it close to the bedhead.

• Lavenda, Mignonette, Rosemary and Lemon verbena (Aloysia) make suitably restful pillows
• Eucalyptus leaves are good for congestion with a strong scent when crushed

Herb Baths

Aromatic herbal baths can be theraputic and pleasurable. Hang a muslin bag filled with a handful of leaves under a running hot tap as the bath fills.

• For stimulation try Basil, Bay, Lemon balm and Verbena, Mint or Rosemary.
• For relaxation try Chamomile Valerian, Lavender or available scented flowers.
• Healing herbs can be used such as Calendula, Acillea and Mints

Herbal Remedies

Herbs work as both preventative and curative medicines and the Greeks and Chinese have long been exponents of the craft. Remedies can be very powerful and be treated with respect. Do not ingest with prescription medicines without consulting a doctor.

• Sage can be used to make a gargle for infected throats
• Feverfew leaves or Meadowsweet can be chewed to relieve a headache
• Yarrow tea is said to be good for colds
• Dock and plantain leaves have long been used to relieve stings
• Buy a good herbal medicine book

Why do they grow ‘Shamrocks’ in Ireland?

Because St Patrick took all the ‘real rocks’ away so the snakes couldn’t hide.

Lupins can be grown from the seed you collect but if you want a second flush of flowers it is best to dead head the spires of blossom. Deadheading saves energy in the plant.

Lupin Problems and Treatments

• Slugs like the tender shoots and snails seem to have attached themselves to the stronger leaves this year in my garden. I need a lot of grit around the base of the plants before they start to grow or to buy some nematodes as the weather improves.
• Green fly gather in great quantities on my second flush of blooms and need to be washed off in soapy water or a systemic insecticide used.
• Weak Lupins or yellow leaves may be caused by too much lime as Lupins prefer an acid soil so apply sequestrine or an acid loving treatment.
• Powdery mildew may affect Lupins. Pull off infected leaves and burn rather than composting them

Create a paradise for butterfly and you will benefit from colour twice over. A garden full of eye and butterfly catching, fragrant flowers from spring to autumn can be achieved by selecting some of the following plants.

Butterfly feed on nectar and need this energy giving resource. They also need water from moist soil to which you could add a sprinkling of salt or grow a plant that catches water between its leave like Teasel. Their eggs need food so plant some Cow Parsley, Nettles and Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa).

Butterfly Attracting Flowers

• Lily of the valley - convallaria
• Rock Cress - Arabis
• Sweet Violets - viola odorata
• Shasta daisy and Coreopsis in summer
• Buddleia the butterfly bush in white pink or lilac or even Lilac it’s self
• Dahlia, Cosmos and marigold for their long flowering season
• Petunia, Verbena and fibrous Begonia
• Delphinium, Aster and Day Lily

Tips to increase the Butterfly population

• Do not use insecticides
• Get a large variety of plants to attract a variety of butterflies
• Plant groups of the same flowers so they are easy to see not individual plants
• Butterflies like water so put out a full saucer or have small ponds
• Allow weeds like nettle for food for Red Admirals
• Leave out over ripe food as butterflies love them
• Learn to recognise caterpillars and leave them undisturbed

Hay fever and Asthma attacks can be brought on by Fungal Spores and allergy to Scented Plants as well as the pollen attacks covered in

http://gardenerstips.co.uk/blog/pests-problems/grow-a-low-allergy-garden-cut-down-on-pollen/

Tips to cut Spores and Fungus

• Ferns reproduce by sending out millions of spores from under the leaves. If you suffer then do not grow any ferns.
• Fungus and mould are common names for a large variety of mycelium like Alternaria that grow on dead and rotting plants. They reproduce by light invisible spores that are distributed in the air usually in late Summer and Autumn.
• Reduce the concentration of spores by good husbandary: keep clean and rotting plant matter to a minimum, don’t use bark as a mulch, dustbin infected leaves and more drastically remove hedges that collect spores
• Compost heaps are home to fungus and ideally should be avoided if you are allergic but a closed system rather than an open pile will be better
• Spent mushroom compost can be an allergy disaster - don’t use it
• Organic compost and mulch may be a problem but coconut shell is probably one of the lower spore hosts.

Scented Plants are generally pollinated by insects feeding on the nectar. This can include wasps and bees so if you are allergic to stings avoid such plants. Some people are sensitive to a range of smells and perfumes or just the scent of one plants such as a lily or honeysuckle and in this case choosing plants for a garden can be an issue.

• Aromatic leaved plants like many herbs only give off a scent when brushed or crushed so it may be worth growing herbs but take care with Lavender.
• If you are allergic to Daisies you will also potentially be allergic to Asters, Chrysanthemeum and other members of the same ‘compositae’ family.
• Don’t sniff individual plants
• Many double flowered varieties attract pollination by colour and have less scent.
• Fruit attract wasps so if allergic to stings don’t grow them or have another member of the family grow them well away from windows into the house.
• Some allergies are related to individual plants like Strawberries and Tomato so watch for individual reactions and root out offenders.

http://www.5min.com/Video/Asthma-Friendly-Gardens-26176060

Breathing Allergies

Hay fever sufferers don’t need to told about the typical symptoms of sniffing, sneezing, puffy eyes, sore throat and a runny nose. Starting in spring through summer these symptoms are likely to be caused by pollen and allergens. All year round symptoms are more likely to be caused by dust mites or pets such as cats.

Asthma is characterised by chest and breathing problems and can be caused by allergic triggers such as pollution, infection, or allergens. Airborne particles including pollen and fungal spores can bring on an attack especially if there is a known susceptibility to asthma.

Hay Fever and Asthma sufferers should cut down on Pollen

• Given the above it is logical to avoid plants that are high in pollen particularly those that are wind pollinated. This includes grasses, weeds like docks and plantains, trees and shrubs that flower before the leaves are fully formed such as Hazel,Alder, Oak, Poplar, Sycamore and Birch.
• Use other low pollen trees such as pink or red Hawthorne, Crab Apple, Prunus Cherries or Mountain Ash. These trees attract Bees so if allergic to stings then be even more selective with Ameleranchier or double flowered Japanese Cherries.
• Female flowers do not produce pollen so chooses them in preference to male plants
• If you can avoid having a lawn that may be best if not cut it regularly before it flowers or better still get a none sufferer to cut it. This is because even un-flowered grass will have trapped other pollen, dust and spores that is disturbed when cut.
• For play areas use play ground rubber, artificial turf or inert covering but be aware of dusty surfaces
• For flat areas use ponds or water to reflect other green colours from the garden

Select varieties with low Allergic pollens

Read the rest of this entry »

Hazardous and Dangerous Plants

Not everything in the garden is lovely when it can poison or injure the unsuspecting. The extremely hazardous Poison Ivy and Poison oak related to the Rhus family (Diversiloba, radicans, vernix, succedanea, toxicarium and veniciflua) should be avoided at all cost. Other highly harmful plants are listed below and the effects of eating roots berries or leaves can be serious. Many cause allergies and irritations that also need avoiding.

Tips on Dangerous Plants

• Don’t let children eat seeds and plants from the garden unless supervised.
• If you wish to see these types of plant take a trip to the Poison Garden at Alnwick which also includes strychnine opium and cocaine plants under a special Home Office license. http://www.alnwickgarden.com/about_the_garden/features_poison.asp

• Be sensible don’t cook with these plants and take care around the garden.

A list of Highly Harmful plants and flowers

On a lower scale of danger are many other plants that you would do well to avoid eating. Lupin seeds, Hellebores and Hyacinth even Swiss Cheese plants can cause problems such as swelling of the throat, vomiting, dermatitis, heart and digestion problems (enough I say lets grow some nice fruit and veg).