Innehållsförteckning för Jan-23 från BBC Gardeners' World

HOT TOPIC Support for sycamores While reading the ‘Hot Topic’ letters on trees (December issue) I was astounded to find out that trees are not looked upon favourably by everyone – regardless of the good that they do for our environment and for ourselves. Yes, they can overhang gardens and drop seeds that grow causing a little extra gardening but even so, the thought of an entire species of tree being removed from our eco system has never crossed my mind. We have sycamores and ash trees in our neighbours gardens and the seedlings get everywhere, the poplar trees along the road fill the gardens with fluffy seeds that make it look like it has been snowing, and the oak trees over the back keep the squirrels busy burying acorns…

FREE SEEDS with your next issue FREE SEEDS for subscribers All magazine subscribers will exclusively receive an expertly selected mix of 14 packs of seeds worth over £33, starting with the February 2023 issue and continuing every month until June. ■ Two packs of seeds every month from February to June 2023 (plus 6 packs in May) worth over £33 ■ Extra subscriber-only offers ■ PLUS exclusive How-to videos and content to get the best results Subscribe before 3 January to receive your February 2023 issue, which includes our fabulous Verbena bonariensis and chilli seeds Go to GardenersWorld.com/free-seeds-23 to find out more 3 EASY WAYS TO SUBSCRIBE Offer ends 19 January 2023 Call 03330 162123* and quote code GWNP123 Visit buysubscriptions.com/GWNP123 Post your completed order form to the Freepost address at the…

January, for me, always brings a sense of new beginnings, to life and the garden. While we may not be quite at the moment when we get the first inkling of spring – your snowdrops may still be some way off, the nights long and temperatures chilly – but with everything so still, it feels like the big breath in before the season begins to slowly crank up and things get growing again in a month or so. For now, the garden is quiet and bare. But with nothing stirring there is no particular hurry and we can tackle big jobs in a leisurely way. Renovation pruning is often best done when plants are dormant – in other words, now. We also work our way through big jobs such as…

January Grow & save With the cost-of-living crisis hitting hard, we show how to save £££s on this year’s food shops by growing your own fruit and veg. Discover more with our money-saving feature on page 75 February Save and sow We show how sowing seed can save £££s on new plants. Discover how to swap seed with friends and where to buy good-value, sustainable seed. Plus, how to make your own seed-sowing kit including pallet trays, paper pots and more. March Kit on a budget We explain how to find charity-shop bargains and buy second-hand tools, as well as the benefits of hiring or sharing expensive equipment with friends rather than buying. April Thrifty makes Make the most of the extended Easter weekend with easy DIY projects to save…

I recommend buying a begonia if you prefer something more dramatic. There are thousands of different types, with different flowers and leaf forms, but some of my favourites are the cane begonias, such as ‘Comte de Lesseps’ with its prolific clusters of bright-pink flowers. Begonias are shade-lovers, and their leaves scorch easily in the outside world, but when grown indoors they will benefit from being in bright, filtered light on an east-or west-facing windowsill. If flowers don’t appear, try moving the plant to a brighter position; a south-facing window in the low light conditions of winter is ideal, as long as it’s not in a draught. Make sure the growing medium you’re using is free-draining, and water the plant when it’s almost dry – but don’t let the plant dry out…

VISIT GardenersWorld.com/what-to-do-now for more advice on the best crops to sow and plant this month, and how to do it. GOJI BERRY ‘SWEET LIFEBERRY’ Pick scrumptious super Goji berries from your own garden! Great tasting whether eaten fresh or used in cooking. Easy to grow, fully hardy and heavy cropping in autumn. Gorgeous berries and stunning foliage. Harvest August Height x Spread 3.5m x 5m 1 established plant in 2L pot £14.99 £9.99 SAVE £5 (310071) Call 0844 502 0050* or visit yougarden.com/GWGROW Please add £6.99 P&P to your order Orders despatched in 7-10 working days. Offer subject to availability and in the event that this offer is oversubscribed, we reserve the right to send suitable substitute varieties of the same or a higher value. Offer closes on 31/07/23 or whilst stocks last. Delivery…

January is a good time to plant any bare-root roses. When you receive a bare-root plant, remove any packaging that it comes in and give it a drink in a bucket of water for an hour or two. If you cannot plant it within 24 hours, it should be heeled in, either in the garden or in a pot with some old potting compost covering the roots. Prepare the soil so the roots will have a loose, easy run but do not add any compost. Sprinkle the damp roots – and they should not be allowed to dry out for a second – with some mycorrhizal powder if you have it, although this is not a deal-breaker. Spread the roots carefully so they are not bunched up in the hole…

ACROSS 1 These plot staples are a great source of winter vitamins (9) 7 It’s a good time to winter-prune apple and __ trees (4) 8 Plants with seeds in pods, such as peas or beans (7) 9 Wrap __ plants like olives and palms to protect from cold (6) 10 Black sunflower __ are a high-energy winter food for birds (5) 12 Common name for Elaeagnus (8) 15 Yellow, oval, citrus fruit with useful acidic juice (5) 17 Round, purple stone fruit good for cooking in jams and jellies (7) 19 Describes plants indigenous to a specific country or region (6) 20 Urtica __ is an irritating weed whose young leaves are edible (5) 23 __ cypress is a name for Taxodium distichum (5) DOWN 1 Check for rot on…

To advertise in the classified section call 020 7150 5155 Discover Hestercombe Gardens Nestled at the foot of the Quantock Hills in Somerset, Hestercombe offers 50 acres of unique and glorious gardens. Showcasing three centuries of garden design, discover a Georgian Landscape Garden, a Victorian Shrubbery and Terrace offering stunning views of the countryside, as well as Edwardian Formal Gardens displaying a magnificent collaboration between Gertrude Jekyll and Sir Edwin Lutyens. Use code GW2023 for 50% discount. (ends 31.03.23). 01823 413923 hestercombe.com Peak District Lodge Holidays Landal Sandybrook Lodges are an ideal base from which to explore the Peak District National Park. The award winning holiday park has 53 luxury lodges and a swimming pool onsite. It is close to the picturesque market town of Ashbourne and the stunning Dovedale.…

WORTH £20.98 Peony ‘Buckeye Belle’ (left) Vibrant colour with evocative fragrance and layer upon layer of petals to give a glamorous display. Scarlet, semi-double blooms contrast beautifully with golden anthers. Height x Spread 90cm x 90cm Flowers May-Jun Peony ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ Fragrant ruffed, famingo-pink, double blooms open from large, rounded buds, with dark-green foliage. Taller than many peonies, this is one for planting at the back of borders. Also makes great cut flowers. H x S 100cm x 90cm F Jun-Jul For more offers and details on how to order, see opposite page More great offers Peony ‘Candy Stripe’ ◼ A peony with unique marbling and strong fruity fragrance. Support to preserve the large blooms. H x S 90cm x 90cm F May-Jun 1 bare root £11.99 3 bare roots…

Scientists warn of game-changing temperature rises It may now be nearly impossible to limit global warming to 1.5°C, scientists are warning, with game-changing consequences for everyone. United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, told the COP27 climate conference in Egypt the target was “on life support”. Scientist Professor Hannah Cloke agrees, adding: “In the UK, that means increased risks from weather extremes such as storms, flooding, and longer and more intense heatwaves and droughts”. Last year, gardeners reported delphiniums flowering, butterflies still on the wing and grass continuing to grow well into autumn as late October temperatures hit 20°C in some parts of the UK. Meanwhile an RHS survey found hydrangeas, acers and fuchsias suffered most in 2022’s record-breaking heatwaves. The charity’s Principal Horticultural Advisor, Leigh Hunt, says more imaginative replanting may…

“The richer and more varied your ecosystem, the better the range of creatures you will have right up the chain, including birds” I get huge pleasure from watching the birds at Longmeadow. I put out food by the kitchen window and love how this becomes incorporated into the daily rounds of chaffinches, tits, robins, blackbirds, thrushes and occasional blackcaps. But nothing I grow gives me as much pleasure as the arrival of the house martins and swallows in April, and their presence throughout summer. The house martins nest above our bedroom window and their chittering wakes me at dawn. I lie watching their incredible aeronautical display as the parents and assistant adults swoop and wheel to the nests tucked under the eaves. By the time they’re feeding their third brood,…

What do you do when you don’t have a garden at home but still want to create a relaxing retreat? For Vicky and her partner Maxine, the answer came when they discovered this bramble-choked, allotment-style plot right by the sea. Over the past 13 years – or just one decade if you count the years they weren’t even sure how to tackle the garden – the pair have created several distinct zones in which to express their creativity and love of local plants and found objects. Their main challenge on what they lovingly refer to as ‘The Lottie’ has been to bring everything they need by hand, along a coastal path 20 minutes from their home, but their hard work and ingenuity have paid off and hundreds of you voted…

January can be a very difficult month, as days are still short and temperatures can plummet. Natural sources of food are in short supply, making life challenging for birds. Keep feeders clean and topped up with calorie-rich foods such as sunflower hearts. If conditions are mild, hedgehogs may rouse from hibernation and will expend vital energy looking for food, which they probably won’t find. Leave a small dish of kitten biscuits out for them so they can replenish their reserves if they need to. A hedgehog feeding station, which you can make using an old plastic or wooden box, should stop any larger mammals reaching the food. You may spot… Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla Similar-looking to a chaffinch, the brambling is a winter migrant from Scandinavia and can sometimes arrive in…

The winter pruning season is in full swing and as tree, hedge and shrub prunings start to pile up, now is the ideal time to make the most of this valuable resource. Rather than adding them to your green waste bin, these prunings can be broken down into small pieces with a garden shredder, helping them to rot down much more quickly on the compost heap, and also turning them into a free mulch for shrubs and trees. Machines start at just under £100 and go up to around £500. There are two main types – rotary and impact – available as petrol or electric models. Rotary shredders use a rigid roller to draw material into the machine to crush and chop it. They are usually quick and therefore good…

It’s that time of year: the sorting time. The putting things in order while the garden is asleep time. A chance to steal a march on nature and get ahead. You know the sort of thing: cleaning and oiling tools, sharpening blades, tidying the shed, power-washing paths. All of these tasks probably fall under that dreary heading of ‘chores’, but the thing about ‘chores’ is that once they are accomplished you can feel ridiculously virtuous. Yes, I know that it’s all a bit of a plod, but if the shed is warm, the radio is on (something classical by choice) and a steaming mug is at your side, then your brain can switch off and you can turn drudgery into therapy. I know it works; I resort to it as…

“Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right”Oprah Winfrey This month has always been about new beginnings: this is not just about the passing of years but also about welcoming new phases in our lives. We have Dry January for those looking to give their livers a lie-down after the stresses of Christmas, and Veganuary for those whose diets need attention. I propose a new one, ‘Shedawaken’, where we all resolve to go into the garden and clean out our sheds. To chuck out that which is useless, to sharpen that which is blunt and to give away that which is just cluttering up the corners. January: health, vitality and a shiny shed. STAR OF THE MONTH Chimonanthus praecox ‘Luteus’ Here we are in…

Light up the dark SAVE £14 One of the most important considerations when laying out a garden is light. At Bodnant Garden, near Llandudno, the Winter Garden is designed to capture the silvery light of midwinter, with the low sun catching the plants and bringing their colours to life. It plays among the seedheads of the ornamental grasses and makes the bark of Tibetan cherries glow red. Fiery dogwoods are balanced by a rich variety of evergreens, providing the garden with both structure and texture. Daphnes and sarcococca, meanwhile, are fragrant even in the depths of winter. Bodnant really is a garden for all the senses. Open All year, daily. Card not valid at weekends or Bank Hols. nationaltrust.org.uk/bodnant-garden SAVE £14 Walk it off Just 25 miles from London, Polesden…

“Over the coming months, I hope that I can help you to feel less intimidated by the design process” LARGE GARDEN A bigger garden succeeds when the eye has a focal point to rest on Garden design is a topic much talked about in lofty circles – so much so that the very prospect can be intimidating to those who are trying to get to grips with a new garden or an old one that simply wants ‘sorting out’. Let me be clear. I am a gardener who designs a bit – well, probably quite a lot, to be honest – rather than someone who touts themselves about as a ‘garden designer’. I was taught the subject by John Brookes at Kew Gardens, and over the years – at home…

African violets, native to the coastal forests of Kenya and Tanzania, grow in moist, low-light conditions on the forest floor, but don’t let this mislead you into thinking they prefer to be far from a window. Given that the light in our homes can be at least 50 per cent dimmer than that found outside, find a spot on a windowsill facing east, west or north, and water only when they are starting to get dry. These plants dislike water pooling on their leaves, which can potentially cause rotting, so it’s a good idea to give them a drink from below by placing the pot into a bowl of water. If you prefer to use your watering can, blot away any excess water with kitchen paper. To work out if…

Whether you like to plan your holidays around gardens to visit, or just want to fit in a day out to one during your break, it is always helpful to know in advance about places where you don’t need to book or pay entry fees. Not only is it easier to organise and change plans at short notice, but you’ll also be leaving more in your holiday budget to enjoy doing other things. From small gardens to large parks, we’ve done the hard work to show there is plenty to see without the need to splash out. Read on for our pick of the UK and Europe’s best free-entry gardens and green spaces – all of them brimming with gardening inspiration. The Italian Italian Gardens, Gardens, London Find serenity in central…

WALLFLOWERS Brighten your garden for months on end with these erysimums. Their dainty (and sometimes scented) blooms create a dazzling display when planted in groups for a captivating carpet of colour. ■ E. ‘Winter Sorbet’ (scented) Flowers Mar-Jul Height x Spread 30cm x 40cm 1 plant in 2L pot £12.99 ■ E.‘Winter Light’ (scented) F Apr-Jul H x S 30cm x 40cm 1 plant in 2L pot £12.99 ■ E. ‘Red Jep’ (scented) F Feb-Aug H x S 45cm x 45cm 1 plant in 2L pot £7.99 ■ E. ‘Bowles’s Mauve’ F Mar-Jan H x S 45cm x 50cm 1 plant in 2L pot £7.99 SAVER COLLECTIONS 4 plants in 2L pots (1 of each) £30 SAVE £11.96 SAVE £11.96 WALLFLOWER COLLECTION SAVE £14.95 PENSTEMONS COLLECTION PENSTEMONS Enjoy a long-flowering season of beautiful spires with penstemons. They’ll delight…

Discover the gardens and castles of North Wales NEW DATE: 22-26 May 2023, 4 nights – from £799pp* BESPOKE TOUR HIGHLIGHTS ◼ Four nights half-board accommodation at the four-star Llandudno Bay Hotel, Llandudno ◼ Coach transfers for excursions ◼ All evening meals included ◼ Services of our experienced tour manager INCLUDED EXCURSIONS ◼ Plas Cadnant Hidden Gardens in Anglesey with tea/coffee, talk with owner Anthony Tavernor plus a special guided tour of the gardens, including areas that are not usually open to the public, followed by a light lunch ◼ Penrhyn Castle and garden, in the shadows of dramatic Snowdonia National Park ◼ Gwydir Castle and gardens, with owner-led guided tour plus cream tea/bara brith ◼ Bodnant Garden ◼ Bodrhyddan Hall with guided tour of the house, followed by tea/coffee and…

Harvest parsnips as needed Dig up parsnips as and when you need them in the kitchen. It’s not worth storing them as you might with other crops because not only do they keep well in the ground but the flavour also improves as the soil gets colder, due to the plant’s ability to turn the starch into sugar to prevent frost damage in the roots. The roots can go very deep, so make sure you lift them out without causing any damage by digging down about 10cm away from the root to loosen the soil first. Use a fork if you’re growing on light soil and a spade if your soil is heavy. VISIT GardenersWorld.com/vegetable for more on growing veg this year LOOK OUT FOR Slugs under foliage Clear away…

■ What are you shredding? Most domestic electric models will handle branches around 40mm thick. If you have lighter, fresher branches and twigs to chip, an impact shredder will chop these up easily and quickly. Woodier growth is better suited to a rotary shredder. These crush most waste apart from wet, sappy material, which can get stuck. They’re also fast and pull in material strongly, so if you have lots of prunings to work through, one of these would be a good choice. ■ How often will you use your shredder? If the shredder is coming in and out of the shed regularly, you’ll need one that’s easy to move around. Look out for large, strong wheels and comfortable handles and, if weight is an issue, opt for an impact…

Humaira Ikram Humaira has worked as a garden designer for over 10 years and runs a garden design course. Bob Flowerdew Bob is an organic gardener and has designed his garden to produce lots of veg, fruit and cut flowers. Matt Biggs Matt trained at Kew and has been gardening professionally for more than 30 years. Q What grasses can we use to hide a neighbour’s fence? Helaine Plaistowe, by email A HUMAIRA SAYS Grasses can be good for this purpose but if they are deciduous you’ll have to cut them back hard in February or March, and your neighbour’s fence will be visible until the plant grows back. If this isn’t a problem then you could look at Miscanthus sinensis ‘Zebrinus’ for its striped foliage. Alternatively you could try…