Browsed by
Category: Gardening

General gardening tips and hints

Allotments Replaced by Trees

Allotments Replaced by Trees

 

allotments

We used to have allotments in our village until the blight. That was not a gardening blight or a problem growing anything but a planners and local politicians blight.

A large green open space surrounding an old hospital ‘High Royds’ was too good an opportunity for power broking and developers profits so the old hospital and the village allotments all had to go. I blame ‘care-less in the community’.

Now the ‘new’ village is built and called Chevin Park (not High Royds because the hospital was a former lunatic asylum. Other name changes such as Windscale to Sellafield also springs to mind.)   Many properties are empty partly due to the property recession but also due to the paltry size of the gardens and lack of allotments that could so easily have been restored.

What has replaced our allotments? As you can see a veritable forest of plastic tubes protecting newly planted trees and the flimsiest stakes you could imagine after 3 foot canes. As I said earlier this week this is an updated post for National Tree Week 2018. The plastic tubes are now litter around some decent young trees.

6 Years on and the trees are growing well as if to proove the allotment soil was in good condition. Unfortunately much of the area has suffered from flooding after intensive housing building.

Tips for Planting Trees

  • Dig a good sized hole and incorporate some slow release fertilizer like bone meal. The tree should be there for a long time.
  • Spread the roots of a bare rooted tree or tweak the edges of a container grown tree to give roots the encouragement to spread. Trim off any broken roots.
  • Plant at the same depth to which the tree has been grown.  There is usually a soil mark on bare trees to help. Do not bury any graft.
  • Drive the stake into the bottom of the planting hole before planting the tree and try to ensure that 2/3rds of the stake is underground when the soil is returned to the hole. …

    Read More Read More

Hydrangeas At Thorp Perrow

Hydrangeas At Thorp Perrow

This Hydrangea panniculata Limelight was one of several under-planted trees at Thorp Perrow Arboretum. In full flower at the beginning of September this Hydreagea was one of 70 or so species and varieties planted in the grounds. Different parts of the arboretum have soils with PH values of 6.7 to an acidic 4.6 . There is marshy and wet ground despite the 15,000 trees drawing water from the land.

Paniculata

This Hydrangea quercifolia or oak leaved hydrangea looks a bit bedraggled in the photograph but it looked marvelous insitu. Quercifolia are medium sized shrubs worth growing for the leaf colour in autumn.

The volume of flowers and bracts on the one head was astonishing. There are many interesting Hydrangeas to see at Thorpe Perrow and I recommend buying the authoritative catalogue (£3.75) listing the featured trees and shrubs by location, name, origin and often age.

Hydrangea Villosa group are hairy leaved shrubs. This glorious specimen was at least 8 feet high and made a startling feature in moderately acid soil.

Hydrangea

For more information on Thorp Perrow see Gods Own County

Thorp Perrow

After a good wet year for Hydrangeas,  please can we have more sun next summer.

This was first posted  in September 2012 now with updates

Clematis for Pots and Containers

Clematis for Pots and Containers

Clematis

Tips for Growing Clematis in Pots

Use a large pot, bigger the better as the roots need room to grow and the soil needs to hold moisture. 18″ depth and diameter are needed.
Use good quality compost and add a slow release fertiliser.
Top dress each year and add more slow release fertiliser.
Repot when the compost is totally denuded of goodness, perhaps every 5 years.
Plant deeply as you would in the garden, to avoid clematis wilt.
Water regularly and avoid drying winds and strong sunshine.
Support the vine with a good quality, firm framework.

Adventures in Clematis Propagation
‘Adventures in Clematis Propagation by billums who tried this successfully the year before last, but only with one little pot. Last spring I tried again on a much larger scale.

You just take a Clematis vine and run it through a pot of soil and it will take root. Not much effort involved if the damn squirrels would quit digging the vines out of the pots.

You do have to do this right when the vines first pop up and are still flexible enough to bend into a “U” shape to run through the pot without breaking.’ CC BY 2.0

‘Which’ Recommended Clematis Varieties for Pots

Chantilly is a small flowering rain resistant white clematis.
The Vagabond grows 4 feet tall in a pot and has a long flowering season.
Early summer flowering Rebecca has deep red flowers and like most varieties suitable for pots, only needs a light pruning in early spring.
Crystal Fountain is one of my favourites looking like a quilled, double flowered clematis in a pale lilac.

Pots suitable for Clematis

  • Select good looking pots and containers. Only the skeleton will be visible in winter.
  • Unusual containers may be created from reclamation or recycling activities.
  • Ensure you create drainage holes.
  • Pots need to hold healthy hairy roots at least 12″ long.
  • A wide pot can also support some annual trailing plants to disguise the pot edges.
  • If using terracotta pots line the inner walls with polythene to reduce evaporation.
  • Are you ‘Pushing your luck’ with so many good clematis grown in the ground. I’ve moved away from pots and containers for my clematis.

Clematis

Rampant and Strong Clematis Unsuitable for Pots

Clematis Venosa Violacea
Clematis armandii
Clematis cirrhosa ‘Freckles’
Clematis montana and its relatives

 

 

Interest in Flag Iris is Flagging

Interest in Flag Iris is Flagging

Iris

Wild Flag Iris are easy to grow. The flowers are bright yellow, blue or purple. The seed heads show bright red seeds and are quite decorative.

Where to Plant

  • Wild Flag grow in most damp borders but look best near ponds or streams.
  • On the edge of a pond the roots will creep into the water and a large clump will grow.
  • Wild Flag Iris will flower in a shady area providing a splash of colour when other plants are over.

Growing Tips

  • Flag Iris grow from horizontally growing Rhizomes.
  • Buy plump roots without soft mushy parts. Cut foliage down to 3- 4″ before planting.
  • Keep new plants well watered.
  • Top dress in autumn with good compost.
  • Increase your stock by dividing the root in late summer after blooming has finished.
  • Sow fresh seed in late summer but it may take 3 years to bloom.

Varieties and Colours

  • Iris pseudacorus has yellow or golden blooms up to 4 feet tall.
  • Iris pseudacorus variegata has cream stripes in the green leaves.
  • Iris virginica is a small growing blue iris.
  • Iris versicolour rosea has lilac-pink flowers.

Flag Iris

 

Avoid Stinking Iris feotidissima

I know it is a Maple leaf and not an Iris but it amused me.

Iris in rows

Upgrading Iris
I renovated my Iris last September. The centre was woody and no longer producing flowers.
I cut out old material and planted new lengths of Rhizome in rows laid flat like a cigar.
I made sure they would get the sun by only half burying them and running rows East to West.
I will be interested to see what the result is like in a few weeks time.
It was a great way to increase my stock

Flag Iris

This year I must try to be a bit tidier when I reduce the flags to stop wind rock

Iris foetidissima Stinker For Valentines Day

Iris foetidissima Stinker For Valentines Day

This is not the Iris for Saint Valentines Day! There are sweeter smelling plants but the seed heads of Iris foetidissima are a striking orange at the end of the season when there is less colour in the garden. Before opening the seed heads swell to a bulbous green head that cracks open to reveal masses of red, orange or yellow berries that the birds seem to leave alone of long periods well into winter.

The sword like leaves are very tough and this iris can thrive on neglect. Eventually clumps need chopping down as the centre becomes congested. Dead leaves need tidying but this Herbaceous UK native is evergreen.

Limniris – Stinking Iris Series

  • Plants with strong smells are often using the aroma to attract pollinators.
  • What is unpleasant to some people can be OK to others.
  • Iris foetidissima citrina is a pale yellow and brown flowering form
  • This is the only Iris that can be recommended for dry shade even under a tree.

Knock Knock?

  • Who is there
  • Iris
  • Iris who
  • Irish stew in the name of the law
Sunflowers for Display and Cutting

Sunflowers for Display and Cutting

Sunflowers look great in a vase but are heavy drinkers and need conditioning in a dark place overnight after cutting.

Valentine Sunflower

I have tended to drift away from growing Sunflowers but now I think my reasons may not be correct.
I tended to grow tall varieties which produce one or few flowers. They were showy but needed support from the wind in our northern hills.
The knew the space was better dedicated to other plants and the only sunflowers that grew this year were self sown from our bird feeders (and the flowers were small weedy efforts that I should have pulled up).

North Carolina University Sunflower trials
…

Read More Read More

Earwig Oh!

Earwig Oh!

There are a lot of earwigs around this year or so it seems. Typical in a year when I had decided to grow more dahlias than usual but I guess the earwigs must have known that and got on with early breeding.

Facts about Earwigs

  • Earwigs chew on live shoots, flowers or decaying vegetation and like damp secluded conditions.
  • In my garden they do most noticeable damage on Chrysanthemums and Dahlias.
  • Earwigs are attracted to lights when they move around at dusk and nighttime.
  • Females lay between 30 and 50 small, round, translucent eggs.

Some Control Tips

    • Good housekeeping, dry areas and removing leaf litter restricts an earwigs desired living conditions
    • Soapy water sprays or chemical formulas can reduce infestations
    • To catch these night feeders use a torch.
    • The inverted plant pot on a cane method with the pot filled with straw or well crumpled newspaper will act as a trap. You can then collect the earwigs for destruction.
    • Birds, frogs and toads that prey on earwigs will help reduce the population of earwigs and keep it under control.
    • Chemical controls such as permethrin should be applied at dusk on warm evenings. Treat the leaves blooms and the soil below the plants.
    • Prevention by removing moisture and decaying vegetation will make conditions less hospitable for earwigs.

read more

Fungi Out Walking

Fungi Out Walking

All mushrooms are edible but some only once!

2023 has been a good year for walking and observing nature in the raw. As autumn approached the mushrooms and toadstools or fungi were out in force. This  provides you with new observation opportunities on your nature walks. This week I spotted this gigantic fungi over 2 feet in diameter growing in a local graveyard.

fungus

These photographs are from previous autumn walks. Even if I had found them in the garden it would not be a cause for concern as they are part of natures support for the environment and a wide range of other species.

Fungus comes in all colours, shapes and sizes with most under the soil. The largest living organism in the world is arguably a honey fungus growing   2.4 miles lomg and wide in the USA.

fungus

 

Uses for Ivy

Uses for Ivy

Ivy is a versatile green or variegated plant that climbs, trails or acts as ground cover. As an evergreen plant grown for its leaves the plants would need nitrogen based fertiliser but I have found Ivies grow well even in poor soil.

Purposes and Uses of Ivy

It makes sense to decide the purpose of your Ivy plant before selecting a variety.

  • Ivy uses it’s aerial roots to cling rather than for sustenance and they can be used to climb tree stumps or cover unsightly sheds or walls.
  • Ivy can grow even in shady areas so is useful for the awkward dark corners. The variegation will be better with good light.
  • H colchica Persian Ivy is less hardy but have large leaves and a pleasant sprawling habit. Hedera hibernica also known as Irish ivy is one of the fastest growing varieties if you want quick results. Both can be used for ground cover.
  • In containers and baskets they offer year round colour and a trailing habit
  • Types of Ivy include Hedera helix English Ivy or Heart leaved, large leaved Algerian Ivy Hedera canariensis. There are numerous varieties with different features including white, yellow or cream variegation or crinkled leaves.
  • I prefer smaller leaved species which can form an impressive feature
  • I have found most varieties to be hardy, strong growers so keep them in control with hard trimming and pruning.

House Plant Indoor Ivy

  • We grow several pots of Ivy in the house. The smaller leaved types look best and can trail out of various pots and survive in lower light conditions than other houseplants.
  • Beware of too much water and too little light. Repot shop bought Ivies into a larger pot with compost that will hold moisture
  • Traditionally Ivy is used at Christmas for decoration and festive wreaths. Gold or silver-leaved ivy can be draped over Christmas trees to make attractive and natural alternatives to tinsel.
  • The National Trust maintains a National Collection of Ivy at Erddig Hall Wrexham

My Choice Varieties

  • Hedera Helix ‘Buttercup’ a climbing yellow leaved variety.
  • H.h. ‘Chester’ good self-branching with cream variegation.
  • H.h. Green Ripple hardy with lush green leaves with 5 lobes.

 

Winnowing My Garden Books

Winnowing My Garden Books

 

A Yorkshire success following my post 3 years ago on Yorkshire day. (See below). I set a resolution to reduce by book collection which has been achieved in part by charity donations and Free Cycle to a Ripley lady. Over 500 gone and only 100 or so special interest books to follow in 2023 and onward.

‘On this first of August 2020 I am resolved to winnow down my collection of books on gardening and related subjects. I want to separate the wheat from the chaff and boy is there a lot of chaff to sort, probably 500+ tomes plus related ephemera. Not all of this winnowing activity will lead to new posts on this site but my first effort has done.

The most recent book I have read from cover to cover was the entertaining ‘The Hidden Life of Trees’ by Peter Wohlleben. To me it is a master piece of accessible writing about trees, what they feel, how they communicate and how nature interacts  with them. It is based on years of experience as a forester. Peter has acute observational and analytical ability that is well reasoned and simply communicated. The main themes I have taken into my wider gardening and ecological understanding include:

  1. Trees show we can take the long view and there is no need to rush, in fact time may create a far better and sustainable result.
  2. There is a place for everything and with everything in its place we disrupt it at our peril.
  3. We don’t know what we don’t know and there are more things in heaven and earth ( but what the Hamlet to mix my metaphors.)
  4. If trees have social networking with many skills similar to human abilities and traits, then what else can our gardens teach us.
  5. Look at what is easily visible and look again to develop understanding.

Fired with this enthusiasm I looked through for further enlightenment before I  pass on the books to others as part of winnowing down from  my book shelves. I came across a 1974 book ‘Plants and Environment’ by R F Daubenmire a self professed Textbook of Plant Autecology. The book’s definition of Autecology is wider than a dictionary definition claiming it considers: geology, soils, climatology, zoology, chemistry and physics which are connected to the welfare of living organism and evolution of species. Not dissimilar to Wohlleben’s offering.  As I have only read the preface and introduction in detail some chapers have been dipped into to suit my mood at the time. These include; soil, water, temperature, light, atmospheric, biotic, fire, evolution and complex environmental chapters.

As a text book it is more detailed and less apocryphal than the Hidden Life of Trees but aims at ‘the intelligent management of plant life (and trees in particular) for the good on mankind’. Both books have excellent notes and references.’