Innehållsförteckning för March 2020 från BBC Gardeners' World

STAR OF THE MONTH Muscari armeniacum To continue the musical theme from the words above, Muscari also spurs me into song, this time an Italian one. This song (Nel blu, dipinto di blu), written and sung by Domenico Modugno, found fame as the Italian entry in the 1958 Eurovision Song Contest. It goes on to wax lyrical about the blue, blue sky, which is, as you can see, the same glorious colour as the flowers of this exquisite grape hyacinth. The little purple chap peeking out from the foliage is a viola, with deep blue/purple hyacinths at the back. Very easy to grow. Plant as bulbs in autumn, in borders and containers. If happy it will self-seed, and clumps can be divided when dormant in summer. Height x Spread 15cm…

A petition by the Wildlife Trusts calling on the Prime Minister to rethink the new High Speed 2 (HS2) railway has received over 66,000 signatures. The Trusts’ report What’s the damage? Why HS2 will cost nature too much claims that 33 Sites of Special Scientific Interest, protected by UK law, will be significantly impacted or risk being lost. Nikki Williams, from the Wildlife Trusts, says, “We’re asking the Prime Minister to act now – the fate of hundreds of treasured wild places, and the wildlife that depend on them, is in his hands.” As the petition has over 10,000 signatures, the Government is required to respond. An HS2 spokesperson told us, “The number of sites presented in this report as being ‘at risk of loss or significantly impacted’ simply isn’t…

I am looking forward with enthusiasm to the start of the new decade at Longmeadow. I have always regarded my relationship with viewers as a process of sharing my own love of the garden and the process of caring for it, and this includes my mistakes and failures, as well as my successes. This year there will be no dramatic transformation – at least none planned at the moment – but I do have a large new woodland project, to plant under and around existing mature trees. There will be a certain amount of tweaking and remodelling of different areas of the garden and, as always, the desire to grow what I love as well as I can, and enjoy all the sensual and aesthetic pleasures of the garden throughout…

Last summer we started a new project at Longmeadow that I suspect passed under the radar for most viewers, even though we filmed every aspect of the process so far. The truth is that there was barely then (and even now) anything to see at all. Yet it involves a dramatic, long-term change that is both really exciting, potentially beautiful and horticulturally fascinating. This was the beginning of the process of converting the orchard to a wildflower meadow. As I write this, the wild daffodils (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) are budding up and will soon be flowering and, in about a month’s time, these will be followed by another raft of daffs – this time old pheasant’s eye daffodil (Narcissus poeticus, see p.8). The wild daffodils were first planted at least 20…

Horatio’s Garden is a national charity that makes gardens specifically for patients at NHS spinal unit centres. It aims to deliver a garden to each of the 11 centres in the UK and has so far completed four. I was already aware of the positive benefits that the first two gardens (in Salisbury and Glasgow) were having on patients’ wellbeing and recovery, so when I was asked to design the third, at the National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, I didn’t think twice. I was daunted by the responsibility, but also excited to turn my design skills and experience to a space that would meaningfully impact on many people’s lives. Spinal injury patients spend months, sometimes years, in hospital. The interiors are understandably sterile spaces, so a garden…

If you like visiting gardens but fancy seeing something new, a cruise along one of Europe’s mighty rivers might be just what you’re looking for. Offering plenty of choice – from palace pleasure grounds to smaller private gardens – river cruises take the stress out of travelling, with no need to plan day trips or hunt out restaurants, plus they often include extra perks, such as complimentary wine at dinner and free guided tours. You don’t even have to board a plane – just hop on Eurostar to Paris for the Seine, or change trains for Amsterdam to explore Holland and Belgium. Turn the page for a selection of our favourite garden cruises. Cruise specialist Deborah Stone writes for several national newspapers and travel magazines, and has seen many of…

Our gardens really spark back into life this month. Bulbs are emerging, perennials are producing fresh growth and deciduous plants are sprouting new leaves. As the days get noticeably longer and the mercury rises, our gardens and their inhabitants are warming up for the season ahead. In colder parts of the UK, there’s still time to prune apples, pears and late summer-flowering clematis (Group 3), but in warmer areas it’s getting too late. Climbing roses, hybrid teas and floribundas are still fine to prune, but the sooner the better, so they don’t waste their energy growing leaves that will be pruned off. Borderline-tender perennials, such as penstemons and phygelius, can be pruned too. But the key plants to prune this month are evergreens and shrubs that flower on this year’s…

March is irresistible. It can be like a naughty child – throwing tantrums of snow and ice, gales and rain – often all in the same day. But just when your patience is wearing thin it charms you. It has to be exceptionally mild here at Longmeadow for the ground to warm up but the sun can and does shine. This is the month when bulbs really take charge, growing and flowering regardless of the weather, adding an array and intensity of colour that sweeps winter away. Daffodils, irises, crocus, the first species tulips, muscari, chionodoxa, scillas – they are all flowering strongly and even a few snowdrops linger into the beginning of the month. The days are getting longer – the clocks change at the end of the month…

• Shallow areas, where frogs can spawn, birds can drink and bathe, and hedgehogs can drink safely • A dragonfly perch, which male dragonflies will use to patrol the area. Use a large stone, log or a long stick pushed into the ground. Make it sturdy, as birds will use it too. • A beach area made from stones, which will stop plants growing at the edge and give you a clear view of bathing birds. • A good mix of oxygenating, floating and submerged plants, plus marginals planted into the pond edge. The more plants you have, the healthier your pond will be. • Hiding areas around the pond. These could include a pile of stones, some large stones or lots of low-growing plants that could shelter wildlife, such…

1 VISIT SPRING FLOWER COLLECTIONS Find the UK’s National Collections of your favourite plants on the new online map from Plant Heritage. plantheritage.org.uk 2 PLANT HEALTH Dame Helen Mirren is supporting plant health as she narrates a new Defra video about the plant disease Xylella. bit.ly/ helen-mirren-xylella 3 AMONG THE TREES A new exhibition exploring our relationship with trees opens at London’s Hayward Gallery this month. The works include paintings, sculpture, installation, video and photography. 4 March to 17 May. Tickets from £10. southbankcentre.co.uk 4 HARM TO MOTHS Findings reveal that blue and LED lights are more attractive to moths than orange ones, so are more harmful to them when used in outdoor lighting. bit.ly/harmful-lights 5 GARDEN SAVED FROM CLOSURE The Salutation Gardens in Kent, designed in 1912 by Edwin…

THE ORCHARD is undergoing a major change. The fruit trees remain, although our apple harvest last year was the worst for a long time. The rambling roses I planted a few years ago are now coming into their own. The real change, though, is in the grass. Last year we re-seeded it with wildflowers, including yellow rattle, and planted tulips, camassias and many more daffodils. It will become an important area for spring beauty and wildlife – not least the bees that live at the far end. See p36 to find out more. THE VEGETABLE GARDEN remains the bedrock of my gardening activity. I have been growing vegetables since I was a small boy and cannot imagine not doing so. As you read this, we will have sown many seeds,…

“Give your garden the shot in the arm it needs to lift your spirits and spur your plants into giving their best” Encouragement – that’s what we need at this time of year. Not only the encouragement to get out there, but the feeling that by doing so we are making a difference – improving the view and giving our plants the impetus to do better than ever. Winter is an unforgiving season, but without it we would not have the chance to start again. Gardening in the tropics might be a warmer exercise, but it lacks the variety created by a cool, temperate climate. The prospect of an unchanging outlook in which spring played no part would fill me with dread. It’s time to stop finding excuses for staying…

I fell in love with houseplants while spending time with my grandma and her seemingly endless assortment of scented pelargoniums (or geraniums, as she called them). However, the plant that really caught my imagination was a Ferocactus emoryi, which she kept in her greenhouse. I grow one of these in my office to this day, and it’s a firm favourite. Collecting other cacti and succulents then became my obsession, and I still own more than I know what to do with. Despite this, I find it great fun perusing houseplants in nurseries and finding those I’ve never owned or grown before. They bring freshness and a sense of style to my home, which, in turn, adds so much personality, colour and character. My tastes in plants have never followed fashion,…

When Gary first laid eyes on the tiny plot that he and his long-term partner Lindsey had inherited with their home, he became determined to create the garden she had always wanted, despite the odds. This design will inspire anyone with a compact area to realise its full potential. What did the garden look like when you took it over? It was a concrete covered backyard surrounded by four, high, brick walls. It was damp, dingy, colourless, depressing and with no life at all. There was also an old shed in one corner, which took up a quarter of the entire area. Talk us through how you created the various garden elements. With our space being so small, I decided that I was going to cram as much into it…

A few popular shrubs have a nasty trick up their sleeves in the form of toxic sap (such as euphorbias and oleander) or irritating hairs (such as fremontodendron and phlomis). These may affect some people more than others, but to be on the safe side it’s best to wear waterproof gloves and long sleeves, and possibly protective glasses, whenever you prune and handle them. Wear a dust mask too with plants that have irritant hairs.…

• Before you buy Check that everything you need is included. You may need to buy the collection bag or a mulching plug separately, and the battery and charger may not come as part of the set. Budget brands are trickier to experience hands-on as they are often display only and bought boxed. Higher-priced mowers can be trialled at garden machinery dealers. • Assembly Premium brands are usually available from a dealer ready to go, but budget brands are often packed into small boxes to limit transport costs and can take time to put together. Assembling handles and plastic grass collectors can be particularly tricky. • Lawn size Match the mower to the size of your lawn – ideally a fully charged battery will last long enough for you to…

Who needs sugar when you can grow your own natural sweeteners? In the final part of my series on growing for wellness, I’m looking at crops that make healthier alternatives to sugar. As our waistlines expand, we are increasing our risk of conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The good news is that there are steps we can take, including cutting down on the white stuff. Try these crops that are surprisingly easy to grow and process into delicious powders or syrups. Some, such as calorie-free stevia or yacon, make straight swaps for sugar; others act as ‘extenders’ so you can reduce the quantity of sugar you add while cooking. Plant these now and sweeten your tea with a clear conscience. Alex Mitchell is a garden writer…

It’s all go! Birds are singing loudly from the rooftops – listen out for the melodious song thrush and blackbird, which join the robin and great tit, who have been in voice for a few weeks. Large bumblebee queens will be flying close to the ground in search of a nest, and feasting on crocus flowers (sometimes even sleeping in them overnight). Ponds are alive with the sight and sound of mating frogs and toads. Listen out for squawks (toads) and low, chirruping croaks (frogs). And look out for big, gelatinous lumps of frogspawn a few days later, and toadspawn, which is laid in ribbons around the submerged stems of pond plants. The UK’s smallest vole, at just 8-12cm in length, the bank vole is also the most common and…

New way to control squirrels and help trees An oral contraceptive that would stop grey squirrels breeding is being trialled by the Animal and Plant Health Agency, part of Defra. The National Trust has announced that if the trial is successful, it will start using it on its sites in the next couple of years. The Woodland Trust also tells us that it would consider using it too. “Grey squirrels gnaw the bark of various broad-leaf trees” Squirrel damage to trees is a major hurdle in government and public bodies’ ambitions to plant up to 50m trees per year by 2025. Grey squirrels gnaw the bark of various broad-leaf trees to reach the nutritious sap. Greys also contribute to the decline of native red squirrels, as they outcompete them for…

Friday 20th March is the spring equinox. Not only does it herald the end of winter and the beginning of spring, it’s also the start of a brand new series of Gardeners’ World. It’s been a long old wait and by this point in the year every gardener is chomping at the bit to get outside and sink their hands in the soil. So, every Friday night, Monty and our team of expert presenters will be back to share their knowledge and passion to inspire our viewers. With 26 hours of gardening TV in the pipeline, we can’t mention everything, but highlights include Adam Frost giving us updates from his garden in Cambridgeshire. He’ll also be travelling around the UK getting involved in some of the country’s most beautiful and…

There’s nothing quite like early spring – daffodils swaying in gentle, cool breezes, crocuses creating intricate carpets of golds and purples, and trees aglow with delicate blossom. A huge part of the joy of being a gardener is watching these seasonal ebbs and flows. However, the reality of spring is often a lot rainier and murkier than the picture I’ve painted! But instead of waiting for the weather to clear and the plants to appear, you can make everything brighter and more cheerful in an instant with a trip to the garden centre. Choose a nice pot, some compost and the all-important plants, usually for very little money, and you can quickly create a splash of pizzazz right outside your door! Frances Tophill is a horticulturist and regular presenter on…

British gardeners have been growing plants in peat for decades. High-quality, reliable and inexpensive, it’s one of nature’s finest growing media. You’ve probably used it yourself for sowing seeds, potting on cuttings or planting into containers. Most bagged composts contain at least some peat, and the vast majority of plants you buy are grown in it, too. But the UK’s growing band of eco-conscious gardeners believe digging up peat bogs for compost is an environmental crime. About three million cubic metres of peat is harvested each year to use in bags of garden compost. Natural England (a public body that works to protect the country’s natural environment) estimates we’ve lost more than 90 per cent of the UK’s lowland peat bogs, destroying an irreplaceable habitat and letting loose locked-up carbon,…

There are many sorts of relationships within a garden, not least that between the garden and the gardener. Everyone feels differently about theirs – we all have our own priorities and, if you’re anything like me, those priorities are constantly changing. Gardening is such a highly creative process, especially at the ornamental level, when you’re mixing together perennials, grasses and bulbs, perhaps with shrubs and trees too. “First learn which plants thrive where, then start putting them together” Unlike painting a picture though, which in most cases doesn’t change once the artist puts down their brushes, the pictures we create with our plants are in a constant state of flux. Leaves grow bigger, change form or texture. Flower buds appear, blooms open, then they fade and set seed. This is…

My design in a pot I designed this container display to capture the essence of my Horatio’s Garden – not an easy task, but I think I’ve managed it! It’s ideal for planting now, and features a mix of grasses and perennials. These are used repeatedly across many of the planting areas at Stoke Mandeville, to bring harmony. They work well together, introducing a soft, billowing, airy feel. Every in-patient is given a potted lotus seedling (it freely self-seeds) when they leave the hospital – it’s a significant moment, so I had to include one here. 1 Part-fill a 45cm pot with compost. I’ve used a 50:50 mix of peat-free compost and loam, with added grit, as all the plants like good drainage. 2 Soak the plants in a bucket,…

Does your garden make your friends and family smile? If you are proud of your planting and delighted with your decking, then we want to hear from you! Our Gardens of the Year competition 2020, sponsored by Inspired Villages, is now open and we’re looking for imaginitive gardens created by our readers. All gardens are eligible, from tiny urban rooftops to rolling country acres – just send in some pictures and tell us how you made your dream plot. Why not start getting your garden ready to enter in 2020! “Winning the competition recognises all the hard work I’ve put in – everyone should give it a go!”2019 Judge’s Choice Frank Bowdler The prizes All of our selected gardens win a professional photo shoot of their garden to appear in…

Gardeners' World offer AUBERGINE ‘BONICA F1’ Popular, well-known variety. Crops heavily through summer. Three 10cm pots £13.99 Five plants £19.99 CUCUMBER ‘MINI STARS F1’ Plants fruit earlier in spring and crop later into autumn. Three 9cm pots £11.99 Five plants £18.99 thompson-morgan.com/TM_GW340844 573 6054 (quote TM_GW34) Grafted plants supplied. £4.95 p&p payable per order. Ts & Cs: Offer ends 29 April 2020. Offer subject to availability. We reserve the right to substitute varieties if necessary. ©2020 Thompson & Morgan. For full T&Cs, please visit www.thompson-morgan.com. Regretfully we are unable to ship live plants to the following postcode areas: HS, IV41-IV56, KW15-KW17, PA34, PA41-48, PA60-PA78, PA80, PH40-PH44, TR21-TR24, ZE1-ZE3.…

Use a heated propagator Install an electric propagator to speed up germination and root your cuttings with more success. Those with thermostats to control the temperature are expensive to buy initially, but the running costs are cheaper. Most seeds germinate at 15°C, but if you grow chillies and other exotics you will need to turn it up to 25°C. Propagators vary in power but the wattages are not much more than a light bulb. Sophisticated versions come with growing lights and humidity control. Whatever your choice, you’ll need an electrician to fit moisture-proof sockets and a flat surface to sit the propagator on. DON’T FORGET ■ Start hardening off seedlings of hardy annuals by placing them in a closed cold frame ■ Continue sowing summer bedding flowers such as cosmos…

A pond is one of the most beneficial habitats you can create in a garden. Virtually all garden wildlife will use it – birds will drink and bathe in it, amphibians, dragonflies, damselflies, pond skaters, water boatmen and a whole host of other invertebrates will breed in it. Mammals will drink from it, too. Every garden should have one and not just for the wildlife – they’re so much fun for us, too! My pond is designed to look as natural as possible. The trick is to buy extra underlay and lay this over the butyl liner. You then add a thick layer of mud (about 10cm) over the underlay, and plant directly into it. Over time, the plant roots knit together and stop soil erosion, but the water may…

If you’re thinking about planting a small tree in your garden, first let me encourage you to do so and, secondly, do it now. I say small tree because few gardens are big enough for a large one and it’s vital to choose appropriately for your space. For ideas, visit gardenersworld.com/20-small-trees, then research size and other characteristics carefully to find out whether you’ll get flowers, pollen, fruits and falling leaves. Aside from aesthetic benefits, trees bring wildlife, shade, noise reduction, protection from pollution and carbon capture to our gardens. While other plants can do the same, trees often do these things better and for longer. But why is it important to plant now? Trees planted in early spring have a better chance of survival as they can lose 80 per…