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General gardening tips and hints

Garden Problems Caused by Heavy Rain

Garden Problems Caused by Heavy Rain

Wet summer gardens are something the UK gardeners are having to contend with for the first time in a long time. For St Swithin’s Day I thought I would review the summer so far and provide some tips and ideas in case the wet weather continues.

Extreme garden flood

Garden Problems Caused by Heavy Rain

  • One off heavy rain runs off before the soil gets a chance to soak through. That is not the problem when rain is as continuous as this year.
  • Heavy rain can damage young growth with the force of the rain. If rain is accompanied by wind the driving rain can do even more damage.
  • Rain washes out some of the goodness from the soil and deprives plants of good fertiliser.
  • Waterlogging of your soil can drown the roots of plants.
  • Needless to say wet gardens attract snails and slugs. (The prize for the largest exhibit at many garden shows may be a big fat slug this year!)
  • Lush growth has been put on by hedges and plants that would normally stay quite small.

Garden flood 2

Tips and Ideas for Wet Gardens

  • My runner beans have grown tall but have very little leaf. I have pinched out the tops to encourage growth and flowers lower down.
  • I am adding some granular fertiliser for beans and plants that I would normally have given a liquid feed.
  • Use the lush conditions by planting more leaf crops whilst there is still time.
  • Put gravel around the neck of plants, such as succulents,that may rot if the soil is too wet.
  • Check potted plants and containers to see they are not waterlogged or stood in water. Raise them on bricks if needs be.

Encourage Flowering

  • If you garden for colour and flowers you may suffer most in heavy rain.
  • Deadhead asap and do not let buds get soggy and start to rot.
  • Feed with a high potash fertiliser
  • Prune excessive leaf growth or top out plants that are growing tall and wide at the expense of flowers.
  • Give plants access to as much sun as possible.

Flooded Garden (2)


Photo Credits

Extreme garden flood by johnpaulgoguen CC BY-NC 2.0
Garden flood 2 by Chris & Angela Pye CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Flooded Garden (2) by Roger Lynn CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 ‘Happy April Fool’s Day! another Photoshop creation using the incredibly fun “Flood” plugin by Flaming Pear

Wild Plants for Butterflies by Height

Wild Plants for Butterflies by Height

This is a selection of wild flowers that have for generation helped provide food for butterflies. They are rich in nectar and even garden cultivated varieties should feature in your butterfly friendly garden. Even nettles feed butterfly larvae.
weedy dandelion
Low Growing plants up to 12 Inches Tall
Primrose and Cowslip.
Orange Hawkweed
Daisy
Dandelion
Birds-foot -trefoil
Lesser Celandine
Sweet Violet and Pansy
Thrift
Wild Thyme
White Clover
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Growing Ixora in the UK

Growing Ixora in the UK

Ixora 'Peter Rapsey'

This updates my earlier post on Ixora with a new photograph from Kew Garden of the variety Peter Rapsey. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

I liked the look of the Ixora ‘Super King’ (below) although I am unlikely to be able to grow a flowering specimen with my limited heat. That photo was taken at Kew Garden in March 2011.

What is Ixora

  • Ixora are tropical evergreen trees and shrubs. There are said to be around 500 species.
  • Ixora can flower in red, orange and white with 4 petals but are arranged in a profuse ball shape to make a fine display
  • Other names for Ixora coccinea include Flame of the Woods, Needle flower, Jungle Flame, Jungle Geranium.
  • Red ixora flowers are used in Hindu worship as well as in Indian folk medicine.
  • More Photos of Ixora from Google
  • The variety photographed above was Ixora Super King but there are 3 species with this name Ixora casei ‘Super King’, Ixora duffii ‘Super King’ and Ixora macrothyrsa ‘Super King’ or ‘Malay’ so I am still in a quandary.
  • Ixoras do best in full sun in a moist, organic, well drained acid soil .

Ixora 'Super King'

Uses of Ixora

  • Ixora in the wild are often used as hedging and can endure some salt spray on the wind.
  • Ixora are available to grow as bonsai and flower when quite short.
  • As sun lovers Ixora need plenty of light and protection all year round so they only make exotic conservatory plants in the UK.
More Horsetail or Mare’s Tail Weeds to Eliminate

More Horsetail or Mare’s Tail Weeds to Eliminate

Mares tail

Mare’stail or Horsetail is a common garden weed that flourishes on damp soil. Even the RHS is prone to Horsetail as the picture taken at Harlow Carr Gardens demonstrates. I look forward to seeing how they cope!

Why it is a Problem

  • The plant reproduces by spores that are readily wind dispersed but most problems come from the rhizomes.
  • Rhizomes are extensive both horizontally and vertically and may reach over 5 feet deep depending on substrate.
  • Rhizomes break into small parts and reproduce quickly.
  • Tubers are then produced at the nodes of the rhizomes.
  • You can’t dig it out, although you may weaken the plants if you remove as much root as you can then hoe when you get above 1″ shoots.

Control and Eradication

Bruise Vegetation to make great Compost

Bruise Vegetation to make great Compost

It is no surprise that damaged fruit rots fastest. So it is with your compost. Cut or bruise the green stuff to make quick and friable compost.

  • Find a way to damage any compostable waste eg. run a lawn mower over it or cut into small pieces
  • Shred twigs and stalks – I use an electric shredder but secateurs are just as good.
  • Chop up any hard stems or long shoots with secateurs to about one inch lengths.
  • Leaves and other plant matter will rot quicker if the bugs and bacteria can get at them from more than just one end. So the more cutting, bruising, shredding, tearing, scrunching or chopping the better.
  • A chipper can do the bruising job quicker and a mulching device can be added to new lawn mowers.
Dactylorhiza foliosa Orchids in your Garden

Dactylorhiza foliosa Orchids in your Garden

Dactylorhiza foliosa is a hardy Orchid that will grow and flower in a protected spot in your garden. Originally from Madiera the established plants will produce stunning displays of flower in your garden.

dactylorhiza foliosa

Growing Dactylorhiza foliosa

  • This Orchid in a tuberous perennial that will lose its leaves in winter.
  • The tuberous root is hardy but good drainage and some protection with an autumn mulch is recommended.
  • Dactylorhiza in the wild like damp slopes in woodland glades so it is best to try replicate these conditions.
  • Dactylorhiza hybridise easily but young plants take a long time to develop into flowering specimens.

Description of Dactylorhiza foliosa

    • This Orchid will flower during early summer and generally has purple or pink spikes.
    • The leaves are strap like and can be spotted.
    • Plants can grow 2 feet tall
    • Dactylorhiza foliosa is just one of a large number of species and varieties within the genus Dactylorhiza.

Growing Seaside Daisy Erigeron glaucus

Growing Seaside Daisy Erigeron glaucus

Erigeron glaucus is often called the Seaside Daisy as it loves the coastal conditions. Other common names for this wild daisy include seaside fleabane and beach aster. These pictures show cultivated varieties growing on a wall within yards of the sea in Cornwall.

St Just Truro Erigeron glaucus

Growing Erigeron glaucus

  • This is a herbaceous perennial that grows 12 inches high and spreads upto two feet in a clump.
  • There are varieties flowering in pinks and blues including Sea Breeze and Roseus.
  • The notable centre of the flower has golden yellow florets with an outer fringe of petals
  • The stems appear succulent and this helps the plants survive salt ladened drying wind that you get at the seaside. Leaves are lance shaped and designed to retain moisture.
  • Erigeron glaucus flowers best in full sun each one about 2″ across.
  • Propagated from stem cuttings.

St Just Truro Erigeron glaucus

Uses and Where to Grow Erigeron glaucus

  • Erigeron glaucus can be grown in many locations where there is good drainage but they flourish at the seaside.
  • Erigeron glaucus can be used for containers and pots.
  • I grow them in my rockery and with other Erigerons in an alpine area.
  • The spreading habit makes them suitable for embankments or on top of walls.

See other small Erigeron plant growing tips and photos.

Snail Problems in the Garden

Snail Problems in the Garden

Snails can be more damaging than slugs! They like the juicy leaves of lush plants and can consume many times there own weight in green matter from your favorite plants.
The only thing snails do not do slowly is eat at a snails pace!

Snails

Snail Problems

  • Snails can climb, so stems and stalks are at risk at least as a means of transport to the best feeding station.
  • Snails are keen on juicy, fleshy, water rich plants and less keen on ripe plant matter
  • Families of snails breed in damp and dark locations then seem to feed in groups.
  • My Lupins are always prone to attack despite my best preventative measures. Hostas are also hostage to snails fortune.
  • Snails do tidy up decaying plants and are part of a natural gardens ecology system so do not kill ruthlessly.
  • Beware homing snails, they have the ability to creep back to home territory quicker than you expect

Lost Gardens of Heligan snails

Treatments for Snails and Slugs

Garden snails 4 & 5

In Praise of Snails

  • Snails do not burrow under ground like the black slugs that do most garden damage.
  • Snails do tidy up decaying plants and are part of a natural gardens ecology system so do not kill ruthlessly.
  • Snails provide food for some birds.

Photo credit
Garden snails 4 & 5 by davidshort, CC BY 2.0

Windowsill Gardening

Windowsill Gardening

If you have a windowsill you can do all sorts of gardening. If you like flowering plants, herbs or just greenery to clean the air a vast range of plants can be successfully grown on your windowsill.

windowsill pelargoniums

Windowsill Gardening – The Sun’s Effect

  • Beware the sun is stronger through glass. South facing windows can provide too much sun and burn the delicate leaves. If worried shade plants or move them back from too near the glass.
  • East and west facing windows can also have quite strong sun that will dry soil or compost quickly. Give windowsill plants regular watering and a weekly drink of a dilute feed whilst in strong growth.
  • North windowsills can be fine for plants that do not need direct sun including Orchids.
  • All plants grow towards the light, some more pronounced than others. You want plants to be even all around not ‘drawn’ towards one side. Turn your plants regularly at least a quarter turn every week. (Fuchsias and geraniums need even more frequent turning.
  • Warm compost and dry soil suits Cacti but most plants like humidity. Stand plants on damp gravel or Hortag.

windowsill orchid Cape primrose

Windowsill Gardening Display Tips

  • Protect painted windowsills as damp from watering can make paint blister. I stand my containers on cork mats. Felt mats look good but hold drips and spills causing more problems than they cure.
  • Windowsills should be decorative and fit in with your internal decor. I use various containers as plant pot holders bought at charity shops to hold and disguise ugly plastic pots.
  • Plants with fleshy leaves like to be watered from below. I stand pots in plastic saucers which I fill with water and let all my plants drink this way.
  • If you grow plants that are a bit tender do not leave them in cold draughts and move them inside heavy curtains on freezing winter nights.

Calceolaria

Favourite Windowsill Plants

  • Pelargoniums like the dry sunny conditions found on many windowsills and can be in flower most of the year.
  • Because windowsills allow you to inspect plants close up I like to grow something a bit different like the Calceolaria above.
  • Windowsill orchids, Streptocarpus or Cape Primrose is one family of plants fit for the purpose. They are available in many colours and some can flower all year round.
  • Herbs are another favourite for a kitchen windowsill, grown for leaves for cooking.

Book Cover
The Complete Guide to Growing Windowsill Plants: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply (Back to Basics Gardening) by Angela Williams Duea and Donna M. Murphy

If in Drought – Try Xeriscaping your Garden

If in Drought – Try Xeriscaping your Garden

Lithrope

If you are doubtful about this summer’s British weather, and how can you be otherwise, then you may need some tips on watering your garden.

Xeriscaping is the creation of a garden that uses less water. No grass to cut, drought tolerant plants and appropriate landscaping are what you need.

Xeriscaping and Other Watering Tips

  • Pull up weeds as soon as they start drinking your water.
  • Plan and plant wind breaks to stop drying winds.
  • Use plants that generally require less water. Grey and silver plants often need less water.
  • Give one good weekly soaking not daily dribbles.
  • Add humus to the soil to retain water and mulch the surface of the soil.
  • Use larger containers rather than hanging baskets, they are easier to water.
  • Use capillary matting in the greenhouse to aid watering

Water Saving Tips

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