Innehållsförteckning för December 2017 från BBC Gardeners' World

• Feeling festive Get creative this festive season with our stylish collection of Christmas projects. Visit bit.ly/ GW-Christmas for video and step-by-step guides. • Join our day out Explore a feast of spring inspiration next March on our exclusive reader day at The Savill Garden. You’ll also enjoy a hands-on pruning masterclass – find out more on page 81. • Monty in Ireland Join Monty Don on our exclusive reader holiday to Ireland next May. Highlights include the gardens of Jimi Blake (right) and Helen Dillon, as seen on Gardeners’ World. Turn to page 42. • Pruning made easy Inspired by Alan’s winter pruning guide? You can discover more about pruning through the year, with useful step-by-step guides to follow, in our 132-page guide, Your Essential Guide to Pruning. Just £7.99…

Subscribe today for a chance to win! As we mark the end of our series of competitions celebrating 50 years of BBC2’s Gardeners’ World, we bring you the chance to win a fantastic trip to South Africa. For a chance to win this fabulous prize from Saga Holidays subscribe to BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine by 20 December 2017 Visit South Africa’s Western Cape in August and you’ll see the region and its wild flora at its finest. Departing on 23 August 2018, this guided tour will take you to the farthest reaches of South Africa to discover its horticultural heritage and explore its stunning landscape. Staying in five different locations, you’ll visit spectacular gardens and reserves including the acclaimed Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. You’ll also have the chance to see…

“Gardening projects in the prison system have multiple benefits” The UK has a reputation as a nation of gardeners and the benefits society can gain from horticulture are many, including urban regeneration, expanding food production, new streams of income and enhancing health and well-being. I have been working to highlight these benefits, arguing that horticulture must be brought into government policy. Studies have shown that engagement with plants and green spaces is therapeutic, stimulating interest and a daily purpose where other techniques have failed. So I’ve encouraged the Health Department to include eco therapies and ‘green’ prescriptions in treatments for mental health conditions and obesity. Gardening projects in the prisons system also have multiple benefits, providing produce for prison kitchens and boosting the self-confidence, skills and employment opportunities of those…

Gold Leaf gloves Deerskin ladies gloves in three designs – perfect for winter pruning. £15, rhsshop.co.uk Copper plated tools Personalisable ash handle and copper-plated carbon steel tips. Trowel £23; Dibber £17.50, notonthehighstreet.com NGS Tea Apron Be the toast of your open garden in this cotton apron with adjustable neck tie. Every order helps the National Garden Scheme raise funds for nursing and care charities. £14, ngs.org.uk/ shop Globe mini terrarium Hanging globe complete with moss, gravel and air plant. £29.99, theurbanbotanist.co.uk Kitchen garden trug Galvanised steel trug for gathering up garden essentials. £19.99, crocus.co.uk RSPB Burford bat box Natural roosts are disappearing so offer bats a nesting box in your garden. Two different size chambers to attract different species.£29.99, shopping.rspb.org.uk Nutscene twine in recycled seed tray Useful and colourful, 24 mini…

Check under fallen leaves Autumn’s leaf layer is a natural ground conditioner if left on the ground, but some border plants get smothered, and leaves need to be cleared away to stop stems and buds rotting. Deep leaf litter around the stems of woody plants will act as a moisture trap, so pull them away from the base of shrubs, particularly heathers, lavender and other grey-leaved Mediterranean shrubs that need plenty of light to survive. Also, clear leaves from perennials such as alliums, peonies and red hot pokers to ensure flowering next year. Prevent windrock Strong winds can whip the branches of exposed trees and shrubs around so much that the roots rock in the soil. At worst, the roots can snap but even the minor damage of rubbing branches…

There are few things more irritating than taking down a tool from its hook in the shed and discovering that it is so heavily caked in dry mud or sap that it will not function properly. There then follows a spell of bad-tempered cleaning that will take far longer than it should do because someone failed to spend half a minute cleaning the implement before putting it away. Now is a great time to start afresh with clean tools. Between December and February garden tools tend to be used less frequently (unless your winter digging takes week after week of toil). That means you can set aside time to have a go at them all – as a result, your tools will look good, last longer, save you money, and…

Q What can I grow in a small garden that has a huge conifer? Chiara Santamaria, Norfolk A MATT SAYS Despite the soil under conifers being dust dry and full of roots, there are several plants that will be successful. But first you need to improve the soil with organic matter. Try Dryopteris filix-mas ‘Linearis Polydactyla’, a deciduous fern with a filigree of ‘crested’ leaves, forms of the hart’s tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium), which looks good with the silvery-patterned leaves of Cyclamen hederifolium and its pink and white flowers in autumn, and Cyclamen coum, which has more rounded leaves in spring. Also look at evergreen geraniums, such as the white-flowered Geranium x cantabrigiense ‘St Ola’, which blooms from late spring to midsummer, and G. macrorrhizum ‘Spessart’, which has white flowers…

As we approach midwinter and the festivities of Christmas, it’s easy to turn your back on the garden. The short days can mean we rarely venture into it from one weekend to the next, but recent innovations in lighting could change that. With cheaper and more robust lights now widely available, and perhaps a firepit to take away the chill, your garden can become as much a part of your day-to-day living in the winter as it is in summer. It’s something the Scandinavians have long done well – yes, that mythical Scandi hygge can be enjoyed as much outdoors as in. The trick is to keep it simple, white and sparkly – it’s not difficult and we show you how, from page 63. It could be the best Christmas…

“The green flow of our gardens comes as mental shade” It is a four-hour car journey from the Iranian city of Isfahan; mountains fringe both sides of the route; desert – sometimes sand, sometimes rocky – creates a flat plain between the ranges. As gardening country goes, this is what even estate agents might call challenging, but arriving at Pasagardae, by the tomb of 6th-century Persian ruler, Cyrus the Great, you’ll find what are among the oldest remnants of a garden in the world. Its hard landscaping and structure date back to circa 550 BC – that’s 1,200 years before the Islamic invasion of Persia and well over 2,000 years older than any surviving remnants of a British Garden. We Brits tend to conceive of a garden as a hierarchical…

The Almanac  by Lia Leendertz A seasonal guide to foraging, feast days, growing and gardening. £9.99 Penguin Books The Great Dixter Cookbook  by Aaron Bertelsen Classic English recipes from an iconic garden. £24.95 Phaidon Prick  by Gynelle Leon A comprehensive guide to growing cacti and other succulents indoors. £15 Mitchell Beazley The Lost Words  by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris Re-connect children with the natural world. £20 Penguin Books…

Dreaming of a white Christmas? Make your own, with this chic wreath using foraged ingredients – turn over to see how. We’ve also created a red-hot wreath full of festive fire, and the ultimate plant-lovers’ choice – a living wreath. Scour your garden for berries, leaves and stems to make your wreath unique – and keep your eyes open on country walks. But take care to leave plenty of berries and seedheads for wildlife. If you can’t find the ingredients for your chosen wreath, be creative with what you can find, or check out florists and craft shops.…

Recycle old seed trays and pots Now is a good time to collect up your old seed trays and pots and clean all the undamaged ones so they’re ready for use in spring. Wear gloves and immerse them completely in hot soapy water or an outdoor disinfectant, to wash away any fungal spores. Then scrub off all the old compost and debris using a brush. Be sure to clean under the rim of trays, where pests such as snails, slugs and red spider mite like to take shelter over winter. Then leave them to dry, before stacking them ready for the start of the sowing season. Cover up on cold nights Even inside a greenhouse, temperatures can drop enough to scorch and eventually kill tender plants. Anything below 5°C can…

Clear last year’s crops Finish clearing away the debris from summer’s harvest before the days lengthen again, bringing the promise of spring sowing. Pull everything out and cut into smaller pieces for composting. Lift the deep roots of beans and sweetcorn, and knock the soil off the roots. Rake the cleared bed level and cover with a layer of well-rotted compost or manure. Place a black polythene cover over that to keep the bed weed-free. When you remove it in spring, the tilth will be perfect for sowing. Plant dormant fruit trees December is a good time to plant dormant fruit trees. Dig out and remove a square metre of grass sward if orchard planting, then make a hole a little deeper and twice as wide as the tree roots.…

Winter Cabbage Winter cabbages are hardy enough to cope with harsh weather and ready for harvest in the coldest months 3 WAYS TO TRY • Wrap leaves round butternut squash puree and goats cheese and pan fry • Slice with carrot, onion and mango; dress in lime juice • Roast wedges in garlic, butter and sherry vinegar Winter cabbage Nutrition Winter cabbages are an excellent source of vitamins C and K, as well as being rich in fibre and iron. They also have properties that help prevent certain types of cancer.* How to grow Winter cabbages require a long growing season and ideally should be sown successionally from April-June. Apply a base dressing of a general fertiliser to the site. Cabbages can be especially susceptible to fungal diseases so don’t…

While thinking about the possibility of a white Christmas, my mind turned to white pests. It’s true that whitefly may well be present in greenhouses that are kept warm this season, but I’ve gone for mealybugs, which are likely to be found on quite a few houseplants around the country now. These sap-sucking insects, shaped like mini-woodlice, can gather in multi-age-group colonies on all plant parts, but are often found in inaccessible places, like the gaps between leaves and stems. Here, protected from sprays and biocontrols, they are tricky to get rid of. If ignored, they soon multiply, producing white ‘mealy’ fluff, sticky sooty mould and discoloured patches on the plant, where they’ve sucked out the sap. A paintbrush or cotton bud will help you work insecticide into the place…

 ‘A Good-Humoured Christmas Chapter…’ so begins chapter 28 of Charles Dickens’ novel The Pickwick Papers, which, traditionalist that I am, I take down from my shelves every year at the beginning of December and sit in a comfortable chair to disappear into an altogether more comfortable world. It is comfortable because it remains at a safe distance, and while earnest realists might tell me there was nothing cosy and safe about Charles Dickens’ England when it came to the poor, the malnourished, the criminal, and the divide between the haves and have-nots, you will allow me, I hope, my Victorian Christmas escapism. The Pickwick Papers puts me in the right mood for the festivities because it sets the scene so perfectly, and reminds me that the ancient oaks and beech…

It’s December and so we think about holly. But there’s a lot more to holly than a sprig on a Christmas card. Hollies feature impressively colourful foliage, and at their best they drip with scarlet, orange or yellow berries. The birds love them for winter food and for nesting, and they make superb boundary hedges. Some are impressive as specimen trees, most are happy in shade and in poor soil, and, of course, at this time of year you can cut branches to fashion festive decorations. So what do you need to know in order to make good choices from the hundreds of holly varieties that are available? Firstly, most hollies have male and female flowers on different plants, so you need a male nearby to ensure that your female…

Something called fuchsia gall mite springs to mind. nutcutlet There is currently no official treatment on the market, but it is said that it is could be killed off by extreme cold temperatures. You will need to prune back the affected areas and keep the base area clean. Clean your equipment before and after use. Promptly remove dead leaves lying around. Borderline As climate change takes a stronger hold on our UK climate, it is more than likely that we as gardeners will experience so many problems new to us. The British Fuchsia Society is a useful source of information and helpful advice. Mike Allen Sorry to bring you bad news, but I have just had to bin about 30 of mine. They will not recover whatever you do. I…

“I didn’t expect to be shortlisted, let alone win the Wildlife-friendly category. I couldn’t stop smiling when the news sunk in. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of entering the competition, especially having the garden professionally photographed. It made me see it from a different perspective – just how far the garden has come.” Helen Rushton You voted in your thousands and overwhelmingly chose Helen Rushton’s wildlife-friendly garden in Aberdeenshire to win the People’s Choice award. She wins £2,000 (RRP) of Cobra garden equipment. The judges were impressed by the range of wildlife that is welcomed into Helen’s garden and her generous planting. Helen’s garden will open for charity in 2018 – go to scotlandsgardens.org for details. Could your garden be a 2018 winner? We’ll be kicking off…

• Gin is tonic for bees Craft gin maker Warner Edwards has launched a Honeybee Gin flavoured with bee pollen and honey from its hives. Priced £40, including a pack of wildflower seeds with every order, proceeds go to the RHS. warneredwards.com • Gardeners’ World Live How’d you fancy designing a Beautiful Border for 2018’s show at the NEC? GW Subscriber Nia Blake did last year and loved the experience. Visit bit.ly/beautiful-border for info and an application form. • Zany zinnias A vivid new zinnia, ‘Zany Rose Picotee’, topped a visitor poll in October as best new plant in the trials at RHS Garden Wisley. Available spring 2018. • RHS Britain in Bloom Elswick in Lancashire has been crowned Champion of Champions in the RHS Britain in Bloom Competition. Dubbed…

Combining whites, greens and a splash of silver always creates borders with a mood of sophistication, elegance and romance. It’s a classic style, and one that many of us dream of for our own plots. To succeed requires discipline and in some ways is more difficult to execute than a mixed-colour border, but if you’re prepared to focus on the end result and can be ruthless with your plant choice, then the rewards are huge. To restrict your planting to only whites may sound a little dull, but far from it – it will make you look at plants differently. You’ll observe there’s a wide range of whites, from pure white to cooler whites with hints of blue or purple, and warmer, creamier whites that have touches of yellow. When…

1 Add festive flair Decorate for a winter party with candlelit lanterns. The metal lattice work will prevent the candles from blowing out, while creating a magical atmosphere. For similar, try Moroccan-style lanterns, £34.95 for a pair containing a small lantern ( HxW 19cm x 12cm) and a large lantern ( HxW 33cm x 16cm) londongardentrading.com 2 Uplight a tree Add drama by directing light on a tree’s trunk or canopy, providing vertical interest to the garden. Use a narrow 30° beam for upright trees and a wide 60° beam for spreading trees. For similar, try Spotlight Outdoor Lighting Spears, £41.95 for one, worm.co.uk 3 Wrap it up Transform a tree with a string of LED lights. Attach…

Many people assume that garlic is, well, garlic. But there are many different varieties offering a range of flavours, from strong and punchy to mild and delicate. Last year I grew elephant garlic and let my kids harvest them. They were astonished when they saw the size of them! You may have heard garlic described as softneck and hardneck. Softneck types tend to form firm bulbs with plenty of cloves and store well. Supermarket garlic is usually softneck. Hardnecks, on the other hand, usually don’t produce as many cloves and don’t store as well, but fare better in cold regions, and a lot of people will tell you their flavour is superior. I do slightly favour hardneck over softneck. Both types of garlic are really easy to grow and now…

Thanks to a combination of climate change, globalisation and the free movement of goods, new plant diseases are arriving on our shores at an unprecedented rate. Some kill plants outright, while others simply disfigure them. Still, with good garden management and careful plant selection, it’s certainly possible to lessen the impact of these diseases. Perhaps the best-known recent arrival is box blight. This fungal disease causes box leaves to turn brown and fall, and can lead to black streaks on young stems. Dead patches should be cut out and burned, along with all the fallen leaves at the base. If the entire plant is affected, it’s often best to remove and burn the whole lot. Symptoms to look for There are a host of other diseases that attack woody plants.…