Innehållsförteckning för June 2024 från BBC Gardeners' World

Campanulas For several years, my now 15-year-old grandson has wanted to learn Latin. He’s just mad about languages. Unfortunately, it’s not offered as an option at his otherwise excellent school. But, thinking on the subject of campanulas, I was reminded of when I was training at Kew Gardens in London. The staff training officer, who at the time just happened to be a certain Mr Alan Titchmarsh in the earliest days of his horticultural career, came up to me one day with a flower in his hand and said: “What do this flower and that,” – he pointed to a tower on the other side of Palm House Pond – “have in common?”. He was astonished that I knew the answer! The plant was a bellflower – that was the…

Live and let grow I recently realised that every year I spend many hours working in the garden but never sitting and appreciating it. This year, I intend to take a different approach. What brought about this change in attitude? A trip to the garden centre and seeing a box of ridiculously priced wildflower seeds. It dawned on me that every year Mother Nature presents me with hundreds of these wildflowers, which obviously love my soil. They don’t cost me anything in terms of either money or time, and yet I spend hours and effort removing the offending ‘weeds’ and in their place put something else, which invariably fails to thrive. I realised that I could still have a beautiful garden but for far less money than usual and with…

Borrowing from other cultures is commonplace in garden and planting design and, despite a controversial past, I believe there is an important place for it, moving away from thoughtless cultural appropriation towards cultural collaboration – a consensual exchange for mutual benefit, which amplifies the donor culture, preserving its history and honouring its origins. RHS Bridgewater’s Chinese Streamside Garden, designed in collaboration with Manchester’s local Chinese community and horticultural experts from China, is a good case in point. This doesn’t ignore how the UK’s enviable horticultural expertise and rich design style came about, whereby landed gentry, scientists and adventurers scoured the world for fresh ideas, relics, curiosities and exotic plants, often with little regard for the equity of trade – or, in the case of colonising empires, any trade taking place…

Castle on a cloud Visit Powis Castle, near Welshpool, to see its famous rose-coloured ramparts perched atop billowing cumulus-shaped yews. Italianate terraces cascade downwards from the lofty castle heights, while roses climb around the elegant balustrades and classical-inspired sculpture. Don’t miss the Edwardian Arts and Crafts bothy, with its richly planted rose border. Whether up on the terraces or in the gardens below, the scent of summer blooms hangs in the air as if trying to drift up to the fantastical castle on high. ENTRY OFFER Offer not valid on bank holidays or event days. For opening times, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/powis The plot thickens Coughton Court, near Alcester in Warwickshire, has a special place in English history owing to its involvement in both the Throckmorton plot to assassinate Elizabeth I and…

“The greenhouse is a great place to grow fruit and vegetables from around the world that taste as they should – packed with flavour” I’m not sure there are many things better in life than opening a greenhouse on a midsummer’s morning and being hit with the aroma of ripe tomatoes. I love to take a moment and breathe it in, and am instantly transported back to times spent in my Nan’s greenhouse as a kid. Over the years, my little protected growing space has also become a kind of retreat, and it opens up a world of edibles, with even a small greenhouse making it easy to grow favourites such as tomatoes, chillies or cucumbers. It’s a great place to raise fruit and vegetables from around the world that…

Pruning and training Pruning is best done in late winter to early spring – in London that means January and February, before any new growth gets going. Roses are pruned to keep them in good health and vigour, to maintain a nice shape and, crucially, to encourage lots of fresh growth and flowering. The plants will respond with tons of fresh shoots that will appear in just a week or two. Training the shoots to be horizontal encourages more flowers. Growing in pots There are lots of roses that grow happily in pots – good news for gardeners who are short of space. Be sure to choose a generous-sized pot to give the roots plenty of room and to hold enough compost to keep a hungry rose happy. My container…

SAVE £5 PLUS FREE plant food This Echinacea Lakota Collection offer includes one plant each of Lakota Red, Lakota Rose and Lakota Yellow. Each variety brings its own unique charm to your outdoor space with a mixture of soft, warm and vibrant tones. These robust perennials are not only a feast for the eyes but will also attract butterflies and bees, adding life and colour to your garden. Perfect for borders, beds or containers, the Echinacea Lakota Collection is ready to make a statement with minimal effort. Don’t miss this opportunity to brighten your garden with these captivating blooms. Height x Spread 60cm x 45cm Flowers Jul to Sep ◼ 3 garden-ready plants (1 of each) in 7cm pots £18.99 SAVE £5 PLUS FREE plant food (25g) (420456) 3 EASY WAYS…

Even as an eco-minded family, we seem to go through a vast amount of ‘single-use’ packaging. While we do, of course, make good use of our fortnightly recycling collection, I’m always looking for ways to make the most of our waste. Food containers, punnets and pots can make ideal seed starters and, best of all, raiding the recycling is free! For this project we decided to start some winter greens in a cardboard tray with yoghurt pot cloches, and also in a can, to prick out and grow on later. You will need A variety of containers from the recycling box Hammer and nail Peat-free multi-purpose or seed compost A tray or bucket to contain compost Small trowel Scissors Watering can with a fine rose Seeds (we used cavolo nero,…

Oh June – summer is here! I love to sit outside and write on days like this, stretching my arms up in the comforting breeze. Warm days are at last upon us and, more importantly, warm evenings on which to sit out and enjoy the fruits of our labour. Why not flavour cold drinks and cocktails with herbs like rosemary and lavender for a botanical twist to go with a delicious salad, picked fresh from your plot? On the 20th of the month it’s the summer solstice – the longest day of the year for us in the UK. Days shorten from here on, but only slowly at first, giving us the warmest evenings for the next few months. This is a time of very little sowing, giving you a…

STEP BY STEP Repot aubergines Aubergines should be ready to be moved into their final containers this month, and the fresh potting compost will provide plenty of nutrients to help them start fowering and fruiting. They’ll put on lots of bushy growth in the warmth of the greenhouse, so a strong root system is vital for support. Give the plants plenty of space, as the top will bush out and bear fruit on the sideshoots. Add a cane to support the fruits too. Water the plants every day and add a liquid feed once a week. 1 CHECK that your aubergine plant has rooted out to the edge of its current pot before repotting. Choose a 30cm-diameter pot for the final stage of growth, to allow room for the roots…

Balmy and long sunny days precede the height of summer in the garden. Once the day length reaches its pinnacle, late-summer performers start to form and open their buds. Now, then, is a fantastic time to finish off staking any herbaceous plants that are flopping, or better still those yet to form weighty flowers, before they have started to stoop under the load. Any spring shrubs that have finished flowering, such as ornamental currants, deutzia, spirea and broom, are generally best pruned now, giving them the rest of the summer to recover and form next year’s flower buds. Start pruning evergreens and members of the Prunus genus (apricots, plums and cherries), but don’t remove too many forming fruits at this point. May and June are very similar in terms of…

Q Will next-door’s goat willow strangle my plants? Caroline, by email A MATT SAYS Goat willow, known botanically as Salix caprea, is extremely vigorous and shallow rooted, and can be a nuisance on both wet and dry soils. When the plants start to produce seed, they are prolific self-sowers, too. While they have biodiversity value, it is a very common species and not one that I would want near building foundations, or in an ornamental garden. The shallow roots will forever be in competition with your plants in the summer months for food and water, and if the tree is allowed to grow freely it will most certainly cause some ‘heave’ around your hard landscaping. I’d be pretty sure in suggesting that it would have self-sown itself there, and if…

One of my earliest gardening memories is helping my grandad to weed his rose beds. They contained nothing but roses, apart from a neat row of aubrieta lining the smartly clipped lawn, and keeping the bare soil between the bushes weed-free was of paramount importance. I was about five at the time, and the task felt like a monotonous chore, far removed from all that I love about gardening today. My grandad was a gardener of his time and, despite nearly 40 years having passed, I love roses as much as he did – even if I grow them in a very different way. There’s no bare soil in my garden and my roses are combined with other plants to create a more jumbled look. That’s not to say roses…

Border biosecurity raises plant health issues With Britain’s appetite for live plant imports reaching a record high – up 71 per cent since 1999, and worth more than £758 million in 2022 – our island ecosystem has never been more vulnerable to pests and diseases from overseas. To help counter the threat, new biosecurity border controls were due to be introduced on 30 April as part of the Government’s five-year Plant Biosecurity Strategy for Great Britain, which launched in January last year. Without strict measures in place, the impact on Britain’s biodiversity and the financial implications for the horticultural and gardening industries could be devastating. “Since 1990, more than 20 serious tree pests and diseases have been introduced, which are wreaking havoc on our wildlife populations and stripping our landscape…

A drought-tolerant summer pot This display, brimming with heat-loving plants, is an ideal solution for those wanting to be more economical with their watering or planning a worry-free holiday. Plants such as Salvia nemorosa offer lasting colour without the daily watering demands of typical bedding plants. Adding culinary herbs like rosemary and sage provides scent, making this pot perfect for a sunny position near a door, where brushing against it will release a delightful aroma. The delicate Convolvulus flowers give a charming surprise when they open in bright light. Trailing at the front, helichrysum will grow vigorously even in the smallest pot. When the plants outgrow their container, ensure they continue to thrive by transplanting them to a sunny spot in the ground. TOP TIPS WE USED ➊ Helichrysum ‘Goring…

Good watering and irrigation The first thing I do when I enter my greenhouse is check the dampness of the soil by pushing a finger down into the compost. If it feels dry, I water – in summer, this is usually every pot, every morning. I have a topped-up container of water in the corner of the greenhouse to help keep the air reasonably humid and avoid the need for continuous damping down. To reduce water-loss from the bottom of pots I use capillary matting on bench surfaces – ideal for bush tomatoes, chillies and aubergines – and work larger pots of cordon tomatoes into the damp gravel surface of my greenhouse floor. It’s also worth setting up a hosepipe line and drip system connected to a simple electronic timer…

SAVE £21 These beautiful African lilies will create a dramatic display in your late summer and autumn garden. Striking, large, rounded clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers stand tall on sturdy stems. Excellent as cut flowers, they will make an interesting addition to vases in the home and last up to two weeks once cut. Plant in groups in containers or as a feature on your patio or balcony. Hardy perennials, they are also suited to coastal gardens and will happily cope with salty sea breezes. ‘Black Magic’ may need some protection in winter. Height x Spread 60-80cm x 50-60cm Flowers Jul-Sep ◼ Agapanthus ‘Black Magic’ 1 plant in 9cm pot £16 (K05515) ◼ Agapanthus Poppin’ Purple 1 plant in 9cm pot £14 (K22375) ◼ Agapanthus Twister 1 plant in 9cm pot £15 (K11068) AGAPANTHUS…

Pollinators need all the help they can get and creating a bug hotel is the perfect project for a happier garden. Invertebrates need shelter and safe places to lay their eggs or pupate. By including a variety of options in your bug home, you will support the widest range of creatures, from crawling insects to solitary bees. The materials used are important, too. Stick to natural items that mini-beasts are familiar with, and that naturally help to regulate temperature. Avoid materials such as metal and plastic. You will need Small terracotta or natural clay pot Thick twine Wide paper straws Scissors Thin bamboo canes Secateurs Natural raffia or straw Also try ■ Decorating your bug hotel with chalk pens or bright thread ■ Hanging bug hotels in different spots and…

Plant out indoor-sown annuals Now there’s no risk of frost, move young annuals grown from seed in pots into their final flowering position. Water them first, pick off any damaged or yellow leaves, and pinch out the tip of single-stemmed plants to encourage bushy growth. Use a trowel to plant into the border, then firm back the soil with your hands. Thoroughly soak the soil using a watering can close to the ground. Then add a mulch of garden compost around the plant to keep the soil moist while it roots into its new home. Prune tall verbena stems Verbena bonariensis is a border favourite, due to its long-lasting purple flowers and tall, airy habit. To stimulate more sideshoots and therefore more flowers, trim back the tall upright stems. Reduce…

Take cuttings of alpines Many plants are easy to grow from cuttings, especially spring-flowering, creeping alpines and low-growing rock-garden plants such as arabis, aubrieta, aurinia and alyssum. Now that they’ve finished flowering, their young shoots make ideal cuttings. Look for strong shoots with foliage in good condition. Snip off your selected shoots and put them straight into a polythene bag with some moisture to keep them fresh. If you need to delay planting until the following day, put them in the salad draw of the fridge overnight. Trim the stem to about 3-4cm long and if there are already some tiny roots sprouting from it, keep those, as they’ll help to speed up establishment. The cuttings should root in quickly and may be ready for potting on or planting out…

Clematis ‘Kokonoe’ tower pot collection This climber is ideal for a patio, with rich, violet-purple flowers that emerge as singles and turn double as the season goes on. Group 3, so easy to prune – just cut back to 10-15cm above ground level each year. Height x Spread 2m x 1m Flowers Jun-Sep ◼ 1 plant in 9cm pot and wooden-barrel-effect tower pot £33.98 £15 SAVE £18.98 (KF9106) Clematis ‘Taiga’ tower pot collection Clematis ‘Taiga’ produces countless blooms throughout summer over a canvas of rich green foliage. Its compact habit makes it ideal for covering walls and fencing or growing in a container as a patio feature. It’s hardy, undemanding and, being in Group 3, easy to prune. H X S 2m x 1m F Jul-Sep ◼ 1 plant in 9cm pot…

“Summer means happy times and good sunshine”Brian Wilson STAR OF THE MONTH Malope trifida ‘Vulcan’ As I was brought up in the 60s and 70s, I was occasionally in contact with those old science fiction films. Although the special effects were truly dire in comparison to today, they had the power to make me dive behind the sofa. So, unsurprisingly, I tend to get concerned by plants that have anything resembling ‘triffid’ in their name. But if you’re expecting waving tentacles and sabre-toothed fowers, then you can relax, for this is a colourful and harmless hardy annual. Sow it in a sunny spot for fowers all summer. Good for cut fowers. May need a bit of support. Sow direct outdoors in May or in seed trays in late March. Height…

Flooded fields, puddles in the middle of borders, bubbling manholes, brick paths as slippery as ice – all these have become the norm. The wetness of winter and spring have been a disaster and I only hope that by the time you read this it will be a memory. I loathe and resent it but wearily accept it as beyond my control. But the earliness of everything has crept up on the edge of the appalling weather and shunted the garden at least two weeks ahead of itself. And that is very odd indeed. But is it odd that it seems odd? Why do we expect the seasons to behave in a predictable and orderly fashion? British weather prides itself on switching from rain to sun to snow to bright…

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Tickled pink Ideal for a sunny spot, this eye-catching, vertically planted container builds up a range of pinks, from a base of pale-blush marguerites, through clusters of candy-coloured, dark-leaved Pelargonium BullsEye to the cerise P. ‘Voodoo’ with its sultry, purple petal markings – ‘Voodoo’ also has a delicate rose scent with a hint of citrus. Designed to draw the eye up, the pot is topped by the huge, red flowers of Clematis ‘Rebecca’. Grow in full sun for the brightest blooms. We used ➊ Argyranthemum Petite Pink x 1 ➋ Pelargonium BullsEye Series Light Pink x 1 ➌ Clematis ‘Rebecca’ x 1 ➍ Pelargonium ‘Voodoo’ x 1 ➎ Metal tub (42cm) x 1 ➏ Hazel stakes (1.5m tall, tied into a wigwam) x 3 Froth and fragrance Combine clumps of…

sponsored by Been thinking of entering Gardens of the Year 2024? Now is the time to share the hard work and passion you’ve put into your garden, before entries close at 11.59pm on 10 June 2024. You never know, you could be one of our finalists, with the chance to win the Judges’ Choice prize of a £7,000 travel gift card, or the People’s Choice travel gift card prize worth £3,000! We’re looking for gardens from all over the UK – no plot is too big or too small to be a winner. Previous finalists have been flower-filled allotments, tiny urban balconies and sprawling country gardens. We want to see your creations, so gather your photos now – between 6 and 10 images, preferably including a ‘before’ shot and one…

Hapa zome is an ancient Japanese printing technique, which roughly translates to ‘leaf dyeing’, and is a wonderful way to celebrate the colours and beauty of nature while also learning about its impermanence. In this activity we used hammers to bash the pigment from leaves and flowers onto a clean cotton t-shirt, extracting bright pinks and oranges from dahlia, viola and pansy blooms, plus vibrant green from geranium leaves and stems. You will need Scissors or snips Basket to collect flowers and leaves Piece of flat cardboard Plain white cotton t-shirt Large wooden chopping board Piece of scrap fabric (plain cotton is ideal) Small hammer or wooden mallet Also try ■ Experimenting with seasonal wildflowers and grasses ■ Playing with different fabrics and designs – a handkerchief is fun ■…

Garden tools manufacturer STIGA is offering readers of BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine the chance to win one of its latest A1500 autonomous robot lawnmowers. Featuring predictive technology, this clever garden machine can set to work without any need for intervention on the part of the owner. STIGA autonomous robot mowers are cable-free, meaning there’s no need to lay a boundary wire as the perimeter installation is virtual and can be adapted at any time through the STIGA.GO smartphone app. With its patented Active Guidance System technology, the robot can plan mowing sessions intelligently and predict times of day when a weaker GPS signal might affect the mowing cycle. This means it will always complete the job uninterrupted, and it knows exactly where and when to cut your grass, ensuring your…

STEP BY STEP Tidy lawn edges Fill bare lawn edges with more grass by seeding it now. The warm soil will mean fast germination, but be sure to water the seeds to stop them drying out and failing. Firm the prepared surface for sowing to the same level as the rest of the lawn. Water the seedlings until they are robust enough for a first cut. 1 LOOSEN the soil and pick out weeds. Mix compost or grit into the top layer of soil to create a friable seed bed, then firm it in. 2 MIX seeds well in the packet. Sow by hand onto the surface, scattering evenly. Check the sowing rate on the packet. 3 WATER the seeds with a fine rose. Water again if the area dries out. The seeds…

Make a hanging begonia ball It’s easy to make a dramatic ball of flowering begonias to hang up outside this summer. Begonias are an ideal choice because they’ll carry on performing even if they get a bit dry, although they’ll do best when regularly watered. They’re also very tolerant of heat and will cope with some shade, too. The construction requires some planning. Choose baskets that have an open mesh so there is room to insert the rootballs from the outside. Test the length of the chain to be sure the lower chain is long enough to be drawn up above the upper basket. Add extra chain if needed. The weight of the upturned basket may well be enough to keep it in place, but it may be safer to…

STEP BY STEP Transplant young leeks Leeks sown in spring in pots or a seedbed should be ready to transplant into their fnal growing site. Plan where to put them carefully as they will take up that ground right through to winter. Choose a spot that hasn’t had leeks, onions or garlic in it for a year or two to avoid soil-borne diseases that affect the onion family. Once the young leek plants are growing strongly, mulch the soil with garden compost to help hold in moisture. Expect to harvest your crop from autumn through to early spring. 1 WEED the planting site and loosen the soil. Use a large dibber or a trowel to make holes 15-20cm deep and 20cm apart, with 30cm between rows. 2 SEPARATE the leek seedlings and…

This month 164 Gardeners’ Question Time The BBC Radio 4 experts answer this month’s pick of readers’ queries, including: ◼ Planting ideas for a garden that floods ◼ How to look after moth orchids ◼ Deer-proof gardening Solomon’s seal sawfy Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum x hybridum) is a beautiful shade-loving perennial that produces elegant arches of green foliage with pale bells dangling down at flowering time. It’s a very useful plant in a shady corner of the garden, but is commonly attacked by its own species of sawfly – Phymatocera aterrima – the larvae of which eat the leaves, resulting in a skeleton of stems and veins. The good news is that this usually happens once flowering has finished and it doesn’t kill the plant, which will emerge pristine the following spring.…

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