Indholdsfortegnelse for May 2019 i BBC Gardeners' World

Gardens on the go Take our 2 for 1 Gardens Directory with you, to use on mobile while out and about. Go to gardenersworld. com/gardens to find Interactive maps and search options. And find more about our new garden email newsletter on p5. Go wild with Monty We’ve brought together the best of Monty’s TV programme clips on his wildlife garden, for you to watch online, on any device. Go to gardeners world.com/monty-don New for containers We’re thrilled to bring you a new collection of container plants, chosen by magazine editors for readers who love pots with impact. Find out more about the range by turning to p66. Join Alan at Downton We’ve created for readers an unmissable day, teaming Alan Titchmarsh with the nation’s favourite period drama, Downton Abbey.…

I have my birth certificate open before me. A little dog-eared and worn, the handwritten form is still very legible. It says that I was born in Iserlohn, West Germany, at five minutes past midnight on 8 July 1955. It also has my name as George Montagu Don. However, this has a single line passed through it in different ink and in another, smaller hand is written Montagu Denis, to replace the George. The intention had been to name me after my two grandfathers – George Don and Montagu Wyatt. The latter died a few months before I was born, but my father’s father – George Don – when told of the arrangement for his latest grandson, said he thought Montagu was an absurd name and should be removed. However,…

New plants for Chelsea 1 ROSE ‘EUSTACIA VYE’ Strong fruity fragrance davidaustinroses.co.uk 2 PEONY ‘ALL THAT JAZZ’ Large, scented double blooms with apricot tones primrosehallpeonies.co.uk 3 DELPHINIUM ‘CINDERELLA’ Delicate pink triple flowers with green tips suttons.co.uk 4 BUDDLEIA ‘BUTTERFLY TOWERS ’ An upright habit, good for hedging and screening thompson-morgan.com 5 CLEMATIS ‘MEGHAN’ Royal purple blooms named for Duchess Meghan thorncroftclematis.co.uk…

May is a wonderful month for gardeners. The temperature is up and every day the garden seems to have something new for us to see, smell and enjoy. And it’s show time! We all want the Chelsea Flower Show look in our gardens, so I have chosen two flowering plants that are always a favourite with designers – geums and phlox. Not only are they great for pollinators, but they come in a variety of colours that can bring ‘Gold-medal’ status to any planting scheme. Geum ‘Mrs J. Bradshaw’ is the go-to plant when looking for a vivacious scarlet red. I’ve teamed it with the cool, lavender-blue Phlox ‘Clouds of Perfume’ for a bold colour contrast. It’s best placed in partial shade, near an entrance or path to enjoy the…

SOWING UNDER COVER It’s easy to sow annuals under cover and ensures that hardly any seedlings will be wasted since you can sow the right amount and will be keeping an eye on their progress. Sow in half trays or pots with a large surface area. Sprinkle seed sparingly over the surface of a good seed compost. Press the seed into the surface, then sprinkle some grit over the top, using enough to just cover the seeds. Water by standing the pot or tray in shallow water until the grit changes colour. Place your trays or pots on a sunny windowsill or inside a greenhouse. SOWING DIRECT To prepare your sowing area, lightly scarify the soil using a rake or hand fork so that you have a fine tilth, broadcast…

Last year I created a gravel garden at the front of my house, and already it’s one of my favourite places. It’s a great, informal space that’s a good place to relax with a glass of something at the end of the day. What makes gravel gardens so exciting is the way you can get among the plants. There aren’t clear divides between the pathways and planting, so it’s much easier to get up close to what’s growing and enjoy even the smallest details. This style of gardening is also great for saving water, as it’s suited to dry, sunny areas and plants that don’t need lots of moisture to thrive. The front of my house is south-facing and the soil isn’t too heavy, which is perfect. The plants that…

• As with any border, keep your plants tidy by removing dead, diseased or damaged material. • Rake through your gravel border to tidy up the surface, collect debris like leaves and twigs and level out the gravel, particularly on pathways where the gravel will be more compacted. • Keep on top of weeds that pop up, especially at the start of the year. But if you have planted any self-seeding perennials or annuals, make sure you aren’t weeding out new plants. Sometimes seedlings might need a little thinning if there are too many growing close together, but don’t pull them all out, as self-seeders are a great way to give your gravel garden a more natural feel. Weeding a gravel border needs to be done either by hand or…

There’s little more rewarding than harvesting your own crops and eating them moments later. You might imagine you need acres of land to do this, but edibles can be grown in the smallest of spaces – from hanging baskets dripping with cherry tomatoes to runner bean wigwams that can be slotted into ornamental beds. Here, I’ll share how to start a new veg patch and how to get more from an existing plot.…

The golden rules Location Most crops will do best in full sun so pick a south facing spot, ideally with some shelter from wind, such as hedges. Resources Consider access to the resources you’ll need for the plot such as water and compost. The closer they are the better. Remove weeds This is a vital step, and if you try to skip it you’ll regret it later. Start by removing perennial weeds such as nettles, thistle and dock. This can be done with a spade or fork but be sure to remove every last bit of root. If you unable to dig out the weeds, you could choose the non-organic option of a systemic chemical weedkiller. Remove annual weeds with a hoe or by hand. Soil preparation Improve the soil…

Are you proud of your garden? Are friends and family impressed by your plot when they come round? Then we want to hear from you! We’ve launched our 2019 Gardens of the Year competition, sponsored by Inspired Villages. We’re looking for gardens of all shapes and sizes, from a tiny balcony or roof garden right up to rolling acres, created and gardened by readers like you. We’ll reveal the winning gardens in our November 2019 issue. *FACILITIES MAY VARY ACROSS VILLAGES, PLEASE CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS – INSPIREDVILLAGES.CO.UK To enter: gardenersworld.com/garden-competition Meet our judges Our longest standing contributor, Alan has created gardens large and small Kate has won 'best in show' three times for her gardens at RHS Chelsea Flower Show Designer of gardens at RHS Chelsea Flower…

Whether cast by a high wall, a dense hedge or a tree canopy, shade affects almost every garden to some degree. Areas that get sun for half the day or less in mid-summer are described as partial shade, whereas heavy shade, such as on the north side of a building, sees less than two hours a day. Fortunately, there are lots of enchanting plants that live happily in shade. Many are at their best in spring and early summer, so here we’ve put together four combinations of easy-care shade-lovers to brighten up all your gloomy spots right now. Ferny favourite Feathery leaves and airy sprays of spring flowers give this gathering a dainty demeanour. Draping the slate-effect trough in fine foliage, a row of fern-leaved corydalis gives a long succession…

Once SPIRAEA THUNBERGII and S. ‘ARGUTA’ have bloomed, cut the tallest, oldest shoots to the base to promote new growth. SUCKERS may be appearing now, growing from the rootstocks of grafted plants. Pull or cut these off as close to the base as possible. HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS that flower from midsummer onwards can be treated to the ‘Chelsea chop’ to extend their flowering season. Use loppers and a pruning saw to thin out the oldest woody stems from DECIDUOUS VIBURNUMS that have flowered this year.…

Get your kids out into the garden and away from screens with these simple projects. Now that spring is here, it’s the perfect time to start growing fruit and veg. These activities are a fun way to teach children about growing plants, as well as getting them excited about eating vegetables. Our projects are perfect for children of primary school age (or younger with some help). You don’t need loads of materials to get started and each project has plenty of elements to capture kids’ attention. You’ll find more projects for kids in the next four issues Roots and shoots This is a quick and easy project that will get kids excited about growing. We used runner bean seeds, because they will produce shoots quickly to keep children interested. Leave…

Corded electric • Clean and easy – just plug in and mow • Often the quietest powered type • Power output measured in watts (W) • Cables mostly 10m long but can be up to 20m • Convenient power point essential, possibly an extension cable too • Electric cable an obvious potential hazard. Always use a RCD (Residual Current Device) for safety Petrol • Most powerful model, able to cut without restrictions • Engine size measured in cubic centimetres (cc) • Wider cut and good-sized grass collector to tackle larger areas • Pull cord start usually easy, but may not suit all users • Heaviest mowers, give off emissions, and should be serviced every year Push • Environmentally friendly: quiet, no power use or emissions • Cylinder blade gives a…

Divide primulas Lift and divide spring flowers such as primulas now to keep them fresh, and spread them through the garden for colour next year. Do it now before it gets too hot. Pull the plants apart into small clumps, and trim off the old flower stems and the oldest leaves. Repot into fresh loam-based compost or plant back into the garden. Keep well watered while they root in again. STEP BY STEP Sow perennials outside A packet of seeds saves pounds on flowering plants. Either sow in gaps or make a nursery bed where plants can be lifted and transplanted later. They won’t be ready for flowering until next year but you’ll have plenty of blooms to look forward to. 1 CLEAR an area for sowing and use a…

Look up the health-giving properties of blueberries – you will be astounded at the claims: high in antioxidants, high in nutritional value, reduce blood pressure, have a positive effect on cholesterol and are good for… well, just about everything else. Plus, they are tasty! Plant them now to harvest later in the year. They enjoy rich, moist acid soil, rather than chalky or alkaline, so if you garden on the latter, grow them in pots. In either case, you will need two varieties to ensure pollination and fruit setting. Feed them well each spring and, when growing them in open ground, give them a mulch of well-rotted manure or garden compost immediately afterwards. In future years, prune out dead or weak shoots in winter and cut back a quarter of…

■ Pot on aubergines, cucumbers, peppers and indoor tomatoes as soon as their roots have filled their first pot. ■ Harden off annuals ready to plant outside, looking out for and squashing any aphids ■ Make your last sowings of melons, sweetcorn and cucumbers ■ Open the ventillation during the day to prevent plants from overheating and wilting ■ Damp down – spraying water on the floor – to increase humidity, which discourages red spider mite infestations ■ Finish planting up hanging baskets…

STEP BY STEP Repair a damaged lawn edge It’s easy to repair damaged lawn edges. You’ll need some grass seed and loam-based compost to fill in a few gaps, but the seed should quickly germinate and the lawn be perfectly green in a few weeks. If the edge has dropped, raise it up with some soil before laying the turves. 1 LOOK for places where the lawn edge has been scraped by the mower, died back under plants flopping over or has been trodden and worn down over the years. 2 USE a spade or half-moon cutting tool to cut out a rectangular section of turf around the damage, pressing down to the base of the grass roots. 3 LIFT out the turf section with a spade at a low…

3 WAYS TO TRY • Bake Dover sole for 10 minutes with a little wine and butter. Drain the juice into a saucepan and boil gently with crème fraîche and sorrel. Spoon the sauce back over the fish. • Whizz chopped sorrel, butter and lemon juice in a food processor. Heat up and mix with cooked pasta. Plate up and serve with a scatter of pine nuts and parmesan. • Heat up 25g butter in a pan, add shredded sorrel, cook till wilted. Pour over 2 beaten eggs and cook for 3 minutes. Scatter with crumbled goats’ cheese and fold over for a tasty omelette for one. FIND MORE detailed recipe information from BBC Good Food at bit.ly/good-food-sorrel Nutrition Sorrel is a good source of vitamin C, plus vitamin A,…

Anne Swithinbank A keen fruit, vegetable and houseplant grower, Anne was formerly the glasshouse supervisor at RHS Garden Wisley. Bob Flowerdew Bob is an organic gardener and a regular panellist on BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time. Matthew Wilson Garden designer Matthew was curator of RHS Hyde Hall and Harlow Carr, and often appears on television. Q Can I build a green wall with irrigation on my garage roof? Richard Malthouse, Hampshire A MATTHEW SAYS Living walls are a great way of maximising growing space in a garden and turning ‘dead’ areas into havens of colour and biodiversity. Systems range from bespoke, high-end, living walls that work on a hydroponic (no soil) set-up, to simpler types that are compost-filled troughs on brackets. Hydroponic living walls require a lot of electrical…

SUBSCRIPTIONS – 03330 162123 Including new subscription orders or queries, missing covermount gifts and magazine slipcase orders. Email gardeners.world@buysubscriptions.com Phone line open Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 9am-1pm. GARDENERS’ WORLD OFFERS – 020 7150 5780 Email offers@gardenersworld.com MAGAZINE EDITORIAL – 020 7150 5770 Email magazine@gardenersworld.com or letters for publication to: letters@gardenersworld.com. Phone line open in office hours, Mon-Fri 9.30am-5.30pm.…

Ferns – they’re green and lacy, love the shade, right? But there’s far, far more to them than that. And it’s all in the detail. If any group of plants teaches us to look closely – then it’s the ferns. Let’s consider dryopteris, the wood fern; each shoot produces what looks a little like a large shuttlecock of often evergreen leaves. Each is split into pairs of oppositely arranged leaflets, and may be again, and again, split. And it’s the overall shape of each of these fronds – and then the shape and arrangement of the individual divisions – that creates the individuality of these plants. Some feature colourful amber or brown or black scales covering the unfurling fronds, the fronds of some turn attractive autumnal shades at the end…

A growing family Having just become a subscriber, I love the free seeds and tutorials on what, when and how to grow. It’s really helpful for a self-taught gardener like myself and helpful for my seven-year-old son who also enjoys gardening. He particularly likes growing plants from seed as he experiences a great sense of achievement watching them grow into something. It would be fantastic if your magazine could include a little bit more for younger gardeners. Gardening is such a wonderful way to help children deal with stress and anxiety. Katrina Beck, by email We say See page 99 forchildren’s garden projects. We will be running more of these over the next few months. Diary of a gardener How I agree with Alan regarding diaries (Tales From Titchmarsh, April…

1 Lay out the plants on the prepared ground and don’t be afraid of changing your mind until you are happy, even if that’s over a few days. Think about creating contrast between different leaf shapes and textures as well as flower colours and shapes. You also need to bear in mind how big the plants are going to grow. But don’t be afraid to bring some bigger plants to the front of your planting scheme, perhaps close to where you will walk. Just make sure they have a see-through quality. 2 Using a garden spade, or hand trowel, dig a good-sized hole that will be big enough for your plant. I tend to go twice the width of the rootball. If you aren’t sure whether the hole is wide…

Gravel gardens are great because they need less water than a normal border. The amount of water you need to give them will come down to your garden conditions and the weather. The Beth Chatto gravel garden in Essex is famous for having never been watered since planting, and relies simply on rainfall. I water in new plants to give them a good start, then after that I water them a bit during very hot spells. But really it’s just about keeping an eye on your plants and spot-watering with a watering can if there is anything that needs it. Depending on the design of your gravel garden, it is usually best to use a can, as moving a hosepipe around can be tricky and potentially damage plants.…

This veg plot is sizable but all of the growing ideas in it can be shrunk to fit smaller spaces. Raised beds create manageable areas that are easy to access and maintain. The soil drains well, and warms up earlier in the year, which can mean earlier harvests. Beds can be built to any size – just a metre-square is enough to get your veg growing off to a great start. The fruit cage at the back of the plot is ideal for preventing birds and caterpillars destroying bush fruit or brassicas. A cage can be constructed to any size, with simple pop-up versions for covering a single bed. Ornamental flowers are great for drawing in pollinators, but edible flowering herbs such as pansies and chives have the double benefit…

What you could win All shortlisted gardens win a professional photoshoot of their garden, to appear in BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine. And thanks to our sponsor, Inspired Villages, we have three fantastic holidays to give away… Top prize • An 8-night tour of Costa Rica for two people, with Collette, including return flights, worth £5,000 Two highly-commended prizes Both aboard luxurious Fred.Olsen cruise ships and worth £2,500 each. • An 8-night cruise of the Norwegian fjords, for two • An 8-night cruise to Spain and Bordeaux, for two…

The bright-yellow new shoots of the euonymus, coupled with the acid-green flower-like bracts of a centrally planted euphorbia, cut through any gloom and are set off by the sculptural blue-green foliage of the hosta. At its peak now, this group maintains its appeal throughout the year, although the hosta dies back over winter. Take care when handling the euphorbia, as its milky sap can cause skin irritation. Other plants to try Variegated ivy (Hedera helix ‘Goldchild’ or ‘Glacier’) Periwinkle (Vinca minor ‘Illumination’) Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’) Japanese sedge (Carex oshimensis)…

1 CHOOSE A CONTAINER with holes in the base. Add multipurpose compost, water-retaining crystals and slow-release fertiliser. 2 POSITION TALLER PLANTS towards the back and centre of the container. Ensure they are damp before planting. 3 ADD SHORTER PLANTS at the edges. Fill gaps with more compost and firm in. Leave the surface about 5cm below the rim. 4 WATER THOROUGHLY to settle the plants in well. Continue watering regularly – even daily during hot, dry spells.…

3 October 2019 £145pp (subscriber price) £155pp (reader price) The day will begin with coffee on arrival in the Castle and a welcome from the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team. The Countess of Carnarvon will introduce the story of her family home, before Alan gives us an entertaining talk on his gardening life and times, and reveal his connection to Highclere Castle gardens. There will plenty of time to put your questions to Alan in our Q&A session, and have your photo taken with him before exploring the location. The Castle’s State Rooms, bedrooms and vistas are famous the world over as the ‘real’ Downton Abbey, fictitious home of the Earl of Grantham (played by Hugh Bonneville) in the ITV drama – and in a new feature film due out…

With budget models in this price range, it is far less easy to get hands-on experience. when choosing your mower. Whereas higher-priced machines can be trialled at garden machinery dealers, these outlets offer only a limited range of budget mowers, as do larger retail/DIY stores which usually have models on display to buy boxed. Manufacturers will sell direct from their websites (see Suppliers right) or have links to online retailers. When buying, do check that everything is included – for example, the grass collector may be sold separately. And more than any other price range, the amount of assembly can vary considerably – budget mowers may be packed into the smallest box possible to minimise transport costs. Weigh up material quality and durability in relation to price – a very…

Plant sweet peas now and they’ll be flowering in just a few weeks. These are hungry feeders, so plant in a richly prepared piece of ground or pot, and have the climbing supports – such as a tepee or pea netting on a frame – built ready for them. Plant a small clump for a mass of flowers or put single plants at the base of each support. Nip the top out of individual plants to encourage side shoots, unless you plan on training single stems to get just a few quality blooms ready for a special indoor display. For the best results, keep sweet peas well watered and add liquid feed to the water once a week. Pick as soon as the blooms open to keep the plants flowering.…

STEP BY STEP Repot succulents Succulents and cacti are fleshy-leaved or spiny plants that conserve water in their leaf, stem and root tissue. This helps them to survive in dry conditions, as they can draw on their internal water supply. They make great and easy houseplants, needing plenty of light but very little water to thrive. The succulent tissue will rot with too much water, so they are best grown in porous terracotta pots and free-draining, gritty compost. They do well with some low-nutrient feed in the summer. Place in a bright porch or conservatory or on a bright windowsill, where, having evolved in open places like deserts, they will also tolerate the low night temperatures likely in these spots. Many will burst into flower to give you that extra…

STEP BY STEP Grow tomatoes in containers on growing bags It’s time to get your tomatoes into their final pots, ready for cropping. They can go outside this month once the risks of frost are over in your area. Here, we use containers inserted into growing bags so the roots can spread deeply and the plants get lots of nutrients. Put in strong stakes and tie the plants onto them to support the weight of the crop. 1 MAKE sure the plants have at least two sets of true leaves and the roots have filled the inside of the pot. Soak the plants, ready for planting outside. 2 CUT off the base of a large pot and make a hole in the growing bag for it to sit in. Fill…

We direct sow carrots from May at Beechgrove. Roots follow brassicas in our bed rotation. Avoid sowing carrots into freshly manured soil. It increases ‘fanging’– forked, contorted carrots. ‘Autumn King’, ‘Yellow Bunch’ and ‘Speedo’ are favourites. Consolidate the soil with firm footsteps and rake again to a fine tilth. Sow evenly into a drill no deeper than 2.5cm. Prevent carrot root fly (and rabbit) attacks from the outset by protecting the rows with insect mesh. Hoops can be cheaply formed from alkathene pipe and the mesh weighed down with bricks or stones. BEECHGROVE GARDEN The show continues this month, on Thursdays in Scotland and Sundays nationwide – check TV listings for full details.…

Industry expert and founder of Out and Out Original, Daniel Fairburn, brings you this season’s best deals on designer garden furniture. Visit www.outandout.com or call 02037 728 752 for more exciting deals and discounts. Murcia - 5 Seater Lounge Set This chic mocha shade lounge set is made from high quality ar tificial resin which makes it vir tually maintenance free. Comfortable and stylish made easy, the Murcia includes a 3-seater sofa, two armchairs all with seat and back cushions and a coffee table made from clear tempered glass creating a functional centre piece, perfect for drinks and snacks in the garden. Includes a 12 month warranty. Normally £699, this modern set is now available at an incredible £499. To receive your £200 discount please quote code GW22APR at checkout.…

Small Space Gardening Make the most of your outside space, whatever the size, with our inspiring 132-page special edition. Full of easy to follow projects and packed with creative ideas and space-saving solutions, this guide will help you conquer the challenges of a small space with clever tricks to help you get the best from your plot. Only £6.99 incl. P&P at magsdirect.co.uk/GWsmallspace18 Your Pruning Year Perfect your pruning technique with this 132-page comprehensive guide to pruning through the year – helping you make the right cuts to get the best from your plants. Includes which plants to prune when, step-by-step guides, troubleshooting, tools and techniques and much more. Only £6.99 incl. P&P at magsdirect.co.uk/gwpruningyr19 Complete Guide to Bulbs Create impact in your garden with Complete Guide to Bulbs. Designed…

Weeds come in all shapes, sizes and growth habits. To stop unwanted plants taking over, you need to be able to identify them – are they sycamore saplings that will become mighty trees, or chickweed seedlings that will remain small but quickly colonise your whole garden? You need to deal with them according to the threat they pose. The good news is your garden will only ever be susceptible to a limited number of weed species, based on your local climate and soil conditions. Those you really need to tackle, whether they’re in your lawn or borders, are the ones that through aggressive growth methods will outcompete your cultivated plants. Annual weeds such as chickweed, annual meadow grass, spurge, groundsel, bittercress and sow thistle are very common but simple to…

Do you think one is born an activist, or can one become an activist? I only ask because I wonder sometimes if I am too gentle in my approach to spreading the word about the important role that gardens play in the conservation and wellbeing of the planet. And yet, there are several reasons why I find it uncomfortable to take an aggressive stance when it comes to promoting a passion that has grown ever stronger with the passing years. I worry that by droning on incessantly about the fact that we are all going to hell in a handcart, or berating folk and beating them around the head with a metaphorical stick, they’ll simply switch off or look away. It’s always seemed to me that the best way of…

Brighter days, lighter evenings, our first meals outdoors (fingers crossed!) and the play-time of bank holidays upon us – what’s not to love about this time of year? And while there’s plenty to be doing around our own plots, nothing beats a peek over the fence to see how others fare with the same conditions as us. Garden visiting in the UK is booming – and why wouldn’t it be? Whether you go for inspiration, fun and the feel-good factor, fund-raising or just cake, you gain in so many ways. Importantly, so do others: last year, £3.25m was raised for charity by the National Garden Scheme and Scotland’s Garden Scheme, while your visits to public gardens, such as Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, generated millions in income to ensure our vital…

As a self-confessed houseplant addict of many years, I read Monty’s article on his conversion to indoor plants (Growing Love for Houseplants, April issue) with a certain degree of self-satisfaction. One aspect that Monty has yet to realise is that house plants bring fond memories. I have an aspidistra plant that originally belonged to my grandmother. It has been split, re-potted and parts passed on to friends in all the time that it has lived with me and I am well into my eighties. Monty – welcome to the club! Margaret Standish, London…

Actor Imelda Staunton is known or roles including Dolores Umbridge in the Harry Potter films. She and husband Jim Carter (Downton Abbey’s M Carson) are patrons of Greenfingers, a charity that creates gardens for children’s hospices and has a show garden at the Chelsea Flower Show this year. Why is gardening a passion for you? Jim and I don’t work together on TV or in the theatre, but we do get to work together in the garden. We both invest in it enormously and share in the pleasure. Last summer we were both up and out at 6am to get the gardening done before it got too hot. We would sit and look at it, and couldn’t believe it was ours. What do you love about your garden? The fact…

1 Rudbeckia hirta I’ve been growing these all my gardening life, my pick from seed is ‘Rustic Dwarfs’. A couple of pinches of seed sown on the surface of a half seed tray should give you 50 or more plants. When plants are growing strongly pinch out their tips to encourage them to bush out. Flowers Jul to Sep Height x Spread 60cm x 60cm 2 Calendula ‘Indian Prince’ All ‘pot’ marigolds are easy to grow, with their large seeds making them ideal for budding gardeners to handle. Having prepared the ground, push each seed into the soil so that it’s just covered. Space seeds a few inches apart and thin out later if necessary to allow each seedling to turn into a bushy plant. FJun to Sep HxS80cm x…

INCREASING YOUR EXPOSURE TO DAYLIGHT Get into your garden and the daylight. Vitamin D, contained in sunlight, helps not only the quantity but the quality of sleep. The body learns a normal rhythm. Being outside boosts the exposure to bright natural daylight and that helps to set the body’s internal clock. DOING MORE EXERCISE Start by doing some gentle exercise in the garden to increase your heart rate. According to Julie Darbyshire: “Just a bit of pottering about can give you some physical exertion. If you’re not physically tired, you won’t go to sleep.” GROWING YOUR OWN CROPS Grow and eat tomatoes, strawberries, walnuts, and cherries – they all contain melatonin, which enhances sleep. SOWING SEEDS Sow seeds to instil calm and encourage you to think about them growing in…

Eryngium agavifolium Sea holly adds architecture with evergreen sword-shaped leaves and the thistle-like flowers are really eye-catching. Height x spread 1.2m x 60cm Stipa gigantea ‘Gold Fontaene’ An evergreen grass for winter interest. Golden flower stems add height and an airy quality. H x S2.5m x 1.2m Crambe maritima The wavy, slightly waxy leaves of sea kale have a grey-green tone, while sprays of white honey-scented flowers appear in summer. H x S75cm x 60cm Digitalis parviflora ‘Milk Chocolate’ An unusual foxglove with spikes of small orangey-brown flowers in late spring. Adds nice vertical detail. H x S60cm x 30cm Allium sphaerocephalon This drumstick allium has small heads of purple flowers that look lovely, even when faded. H x S90cm x 5cm Myrtus ‘Compacta’…

1. Go to gardenersworld.com/ garden-competition by midday, 28 May 2019. Upload photos of your garden. Write a description of your garden and how you made it. 2. If your garden is shortlisted for photography, we’ll contact you in June to arrange a date. 3. Open to gardens of all shapes and sizes, from a balcony to grand acres. 4. To be eligible, you must not earn a living from gardens or gardening. The garden may be open to the public for charity, but not for profit. The garden must be maintained by the owner, with no more than one full-time helper. See full terms and conditions at gardenersworld.com/ garden-competition Our sponsor: At Inspired Villages, your health and happiness is at the heart of everything, so retired life is a joy, full…

Silvery-leaved forget-me-not-flowered brunnera and frothy tiarella are the standouts in this jostle of easy-to-grow hardy perennials. The blooms last for many weeks and, if cut back once they fade, a fresh crop of handsome leaves will please for months. Carpeting ajuga and scallop-leaved alchemilla fill in with contrasting foliage. All can be transplanted into the garden once they eventually become overcrowded. Other plants to try Heucherella Hosta (such as ‘Blue Mouse Ears’) Omphalodes Persicaria (such as ‘Pink Elephant’) Tellima grandiflora…

oin David Hurrion, BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Associate ditor, for expert pruning advice and inspiring ideas. Plus, enjoy a garden tour and talk with John Anderson, Keeper of the Gardens. • Learn what to prune and what not to prune • Know the right tools • Understand how plants grow and the outcomes of pruning at different times of year Prices £65 subscribers £75 non-subscribers Time 10am-3.30pm For further details go to gardenersworld.com/savill or call 0871 220 0260* and quote code: Savill Ts&Cs: In the case of unforeseen circumstances, experts may be substituted. *All calls are charged at 13p per minute plus your network access charge.…

Buying wisely without spending a fortune is always a challenge but fortunately, when it comes to choosing a budget lawn mower, there’s a fair choice of mowers under £100 and considerably more in the £100-£200 bracket. Most powered mowers are corded electric models, but there’s a limited choice of petrol ones in the budget price range. Manually powered push mowers are also worth considering and can munch a surprisingly large area of grass, while requiring comparatively little effort. Cordless battery-powered mowers have a higher price tag, but although several cost under £200, none was available for our trial. Paying more doesn’t mean buying better, and while we use the RRP as a benchmark, you’re likely to find discounts by shopping around. WATCH our exclusive budget mowers Buyer’s Guide video at…

Best corded model under £100 Flymo Hover Vac 250 Versatile, light, very easy to use and store; now able to collect clippings too. Best corded all-rounder Mountfield Princess 34 Packed with features, handled very well and gave a good finish. Best corded model for small/ medium lawns Stihl RME 235 Sturdy construction with a low profile, quiet, smooth and efficient cut, quick-emptying grass collector design. Best model for storage Ryobi RLM16E36H Compacts to size of mower body quickly and simply with fast-release clips on the double-folding handle and collapsible grass collector. Best petrol model Cobra M41C Very keenly priced for a petrol mower, wide cut and easy to use. Best push model Husqvarna HiCut64 Although this was the dearest, it wowed all our testers who loved its wide, efficient cut…

Cuttings of the newest non-flowering shoots on shrubs such as fuchsia are known as softwood cuttings, and are easy and fast to root, but need aftercare to avoid the soft tissue rotting. Collect cutting material in the morning when it’s coolest, choosing strong, healthy growth from the side of the plant that gets the most light. To avoid fungal rot, air the cuttings for an hour every day or two by uncovering them or removing the propagator lid. Pick off any leaves that start to wither. Cuttings will root within a few weeks; test this when you see signs of growth by gently pulling the cutting from the top – it should resist. Put them into an airy, light position to get growing. Cuttings are ready to pot in midsummer…

Install shading now In summer, sunlight shining into the greenhouse radiates back from all the surfaces, but is trapped inside by the glass. This creates a dramatic build-up of heat, resulting in plants flagging or even burning in such conditions. Shading in the summer, to reduce the intensity of light transmission, will keep the temperature down. Integral blinds are the most efficient form of shading, and can even be automated, but these are costly. Shade netting can be pinned easily into the glazing bars, but you have to make sure there is access to the windows for ventilation. Shade paint is cheap and works well – you just paint it on and wash it off again at the end of the season. Pinch out flower seedlings Grow bushy plants covered…

• Physical barriers on the soil surface, such as weed-suppressant matting and ground-cover plants, exclude light, which stops photosynthesis. A mulch of bark, pebbles or compost works just as well and keeps the soil healthy through good airflow and moisture retention. • Systemic weedkillers that include ingredients such as glyphosate, 2,4-D and MCPA enter a plant via its leaves, travel through its vascular system and kill the whole plant, including the roots. Some studies, however, claim that glyphosate is linked to causing cancer. • Contact weedkillers, often based on plant acids and oils, only kill the top growth of weeds, so they are suitable for annual weeds that don’t have persistent root systems. • Aerating, scarifying and re-seeding lawns help lawn grass species to outcompete lawn weeds. In borders choose…