Innehållsförteckning för October 2024 från BBC Gardeners' World

HOT TOPIC Doubling down for pollinators I agree with Josie Lewis (Over the Fence, August issue) that a mixture of flower types adds interest to the garden. We have a selection in ours that bees and other insects are happy to visit, so much so they sometimes get in a ‘tizzy’ not knowing which to land on first! These include veronicas, heucheras, scabious, Allium sphaerocephalon and spireas. How they find lots of nectar in these small flowers is amazing – the alliums always have at least four bees making a ‘beeline’ for them. I enjoy watching bees disappear into the ‘bells’ of penstemons and fuchsias, which are again different in shape, so good for the insects and joyful additions to the borders. All these plants are perennial so that keeps…

2 EASY WAYS TO SUBSCRIBE Visit buysubscriptions.com/GWNP1024 Call 03330 162123* and quote code GWNP1024 Free UK delivery Money back guarantee Worldwide delivery Secure online payments Offer ends 17 October 2024 †This offer is only open to new UK customers subscribing to BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine by recurring payment. The closing date for this offer is 17 October 2024. You will pay £5 for 3 issues; your subscription will then continue at the rate of £27.60 every 6 issues – still saving 32% on the usual shop price. You may cancel at any time and receive a full refund on any outstanding issues by contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may also be required. We reserve the right to reject or cancel subscriptions during the trial period for that…

“Hedges will outlive any fence, while providing habitats for wildlife and food sources” The boundaries of your garden or of areas within your garden may seem relatively unimportant, but planting a hedge gives both visual and practical benefits that are far reaching. With careful selection, a hedge can provide an attractive, soft backdrop, while simultaneously offering environmental advantages such as reducing noise, minimising air pollution by absorbing harmful particles, storing carbon and giving shelter from wind. Hedges will long outlive any fence panel, while providing corridors and habitats for wildlife, food sources for various creatures (including us) and, in the long term, can be a fairly cost-effective and beautiful way to mark a boundary.…

❶ Ribes sanguineum This flowering currant has scented foliage and showy pink flowers in spring. It makes a perfect decorative and wildlife-friendly hedge. ❷ Prunus avium The wild cherry produces lovely white blossom in spring, as well as delicious sour cherries. ❸ Eleagnus × ebbengei The sweet aroma of the flowers, produced on evergreen stems, is heavenly. The fruits are also edible. ❹ Alnus glutinosa Alder is fantastic at carbon capture and for wildlife. It produces catkins in spring and cone-like fruits that last through winter. It’s best for larger spaces. ❺ Taxus baccata Yew is such a versatile plant. It can be clipped into any shape and will regenerate. It can live for thousands of years. But do note that if you have pets, be sure to clear up…

“We grow several asters, which at this time of year give huge swathes of lilting colour” I have had a close acquaintance with Michaelmas daisies, or asters, since way back. In my childhood they decorated waste land and old bomb sites. And here in Devon at this time every year, beside the railway line near where we live, a dainty blue and white form of Michaelmas daisy creates an exuberant display of billowing clouds. These escapees have probably been there for a century, chucked out from a cottage garden and left to colonise the steep bank, with self-seeded buddleias, willows and brambles their only neighbours. Although they receive no care, they flower reliably and remind us of just where the year has reached. There is a touch of sadness about…

A garden in winter can seem forsaken of life. Apart from birds clamouring at your feeders, it is hard to imagine that anything else survives. A few feathered species have migrated south, but most of the wildlife you saw in the warmer months is still out there, somewhere, in some form. What you do in the garden in autumn and winter can affect whether they make it through until spring. Knowing where they might be hiding ensures you don’t disturb them. So, where are they and how do they cope with the season’s hardships? Most warm-blooded creatures in the UK – birds and mammals – keep up their daily routine, but bats, hedgehogs and dormice take a more radical option. They find a safe, cool, dry place, where they settle…

Garlic is believed to have originated from regions around India, central south-western Asia and north-eastern Iran. It’s one of the oldest cultivated vegetables, with a history stretching back 5,000 to 10,000 years, celebrated for its nutritional value and health benefits. It was one of the most revered plants in ancient times and belongs to the vast allium family, which includes onions, leeks, chives, garlic chives, Welsh onions and ramsons (wild garlic). And that’s just the edible side of the allium family! I find garlic is one of the easiest crops to grow, and always appreciate the pungency of homegrown garlic, which tends to be stronger than garlic from the supermarket. It’s also fascinating to witness how a single clove, planted in cold soil, grows and swells over the season. The…

Do you garden in silence? Or are you constantly plugged into music of your choice? Time was, whenever you passed a building site, you would hear the blare of BBC Radio 2 emanating from the bricks and mortar. Then came the advent of AirPods, which are less antisocial in some ways but which do mean that should you try to communicate with a wearer of these intimate sources of entertainment you are most likely to be ignored, simply because they are plugged in to a podcast, a radio station or music of their choice. In a garden, when a boring task is underway – pot washing or weeding between paving slabs – these little bits of in-ear plastic do help to make the going easier, but they also preclude the…

Narcissus ‘Tête-à-tête’ is one of the most popular miniature daffodil varieties, with fragrant buttercup-yellow trumpetshaped blooms that open in March and April. It’s perfect for adding spring cheer to containers and the front of borders. The blooms also make excellent cut flowers, lasting well in vases. Height x Spread 15cm x 5cm Flowers March-April Your 15 free Narcissus ‘Tête-àtête’ bulbs will be automatically added to your order when you buy an allium or tulip collection. Allium Artisan Mix Allium amplectens x 10 Starry flowers striped with pink. H x S 30cm x 15cm F Jun A. ‘Miami’ x 10 Dark purple, half-round, shaggy flowerheads. H x S 90cm x 20cm F Jun-Jul A. oreophilum x 30 Short allium with starry cerise-pink flowers. H x S 20cm x 10cm F May-Jul…

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Cel Robertson A cut-flower grower based in North Norfolk, Cel Robertson is author of Cut Flowers (Quarto, £12.99) and has appeared on GW’s Growing Greener podcast to discuss sustainability in the cut-flower industry. You can follow her on Instagram @forevergreenflowerco Tulipa sylvestris is often thought to be a tulip native to the UK, but this species – originally found throughout the Mediterranean region – has become naturalised further north since its introduction in the 16th century. It is less common to see it growing in the wild in the UK in recent years, and it’s not a tulip you are likely to see blooming in many gardens. I love the delicate nature of Tulipa sylvestris. This wild tulip has gracefully arching stems and small, scented flowers that have a sense a…

Over the years, autumn has become one of my favourite times of year. Firstly, I do get a little more time to enjoy my garden and also, let’s be honest, autumn now seems to give us some of the best weather of the year. There’s a rich, velvety feel to the garden. Yes, the days are shortening, but the change in light can provide some wonderful moments – watching wildlife interact in a different way to a warm summer evening is one such joy. For me, too many people retreat indoors too early. As summer ends and autumn arrives, we disengage with our gardens until the following spring. Which seems a shame, as there’s still loads of joy to be had from the cooler months. Plus there’s plenty to do…

Prairie gardens have never been more popular, combining swoops of colourful, textural flowering perennials and grasses in a free-flowing style. At Sussex Prairie Garden in West Sussex, Paula and Paul McBride have made a prairie garden on a grand scale. Created 15 years ago, with the help of about 40 willing friends, their eight-acre garden includes more than 60,000 plants in 1,600 different varieties. A real prairie is the North American equivalent of a wildflower meadow, where flowers that reach for the skies, in a bid to be the first to attract the attention of pollinators, mingle with tall, waving grasses. A prairie-style garden – also known as a ‘new perennial’ garden – is a garden that is inspired by this. While Sussex Prairie Garden has the benefit of having…

“Use gravel or other water-permeable materials where a solid surface isn’t essential” Hard landscaping has been in the spotlight in recent years. Cement paving slabs have a high carbon footprint – cement contributes almost 1kg of carbon dioxide for every 1kg produced – while natural stone clocks up environmental costs associated with mining and transport. Patios and driveways can also contribute to flooding, as they often aren’t water permeable, while large areas of paving can increase localised temperatures, as they absorb and store heat. On top of that, some materials, such as Indian sandstone, may be produced using child labour, before being shipped across the world to decorate our gardens. As flower show designers clean up their act by using sustainable, low-carbon materials, what can we do to reduce the…

Francis Hotel is steeped in the history of Bath as one of the original Georgian buildings built on Queen Square, the first square in the heart of the city. It is perfectly located with the Thermae Bath Spa, Bath Abbey and the Roman Baths just five minutes’ walk one way and The Royal Crescent five minutes’ walk in the other direction. You can explore the whole city easily from this central location. As a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine reader, you can take advantage of a fabulous getaway to this World Heritage city and enjoy a two-night stay for just £339 for two people. It includes everything you need for the perfect mini-break including overnight accommodation, a bottle of prosecco in your bedroom, full English or Continental breakfast each morning and…

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 Gardeners' World offer EASY-TO-GROW GARLIC ‘EDEN ROSE’ Produces excellent quality bulbs with attractive pink cloves. This outstanding hardneck garlic is renowned throughout France for its superior, delicate flavour. Height x Spread 60cm x 15cm Harvest Jun-Jul ■ 2 bulbs £8.99 £6.99 SAVE £2 (KC2331) ■ 4 bulbs £17.98 £9.99 SAVE £7.99 (KC2364) suttons.co.uk/SUSGW30 or call 0344 326 220* and quote code SUSGW30 Please add £6.99 P&P. Items despatched from October 2024 onwards. Offer closes 15 November 2024. Contract for supply of goods with Suttons Seeds, Poplar Lane, Ipswich IP8 3BU. Subject to availability. Full terms and conditions available on request. UK only not including N. Ireland, with restrictions to other specific UK…

Look out for leek rust Raised orange spots on leek foliage is a sign of rust. This fungal disease makes leeks look unappetising and reduces vigour. There are no chemical treatments available, but dispose of all affected material as soon as you see it, by binning rather than composting. Once affected leaves have been removed, the clean shaft underneath is safe to eat if no signs of disease are present. Tidy up summer raspberries Prune out overcrowded or excess new canes of summer-fruiting raspberries, then tie the remaining stems to the supports. These are raspberry varieties that finished cropping several weeks ago. Select the strongest new canes, 10-15cm apart, and tie them to the support wires. Cut everything else down to the ground, including any that have grown away from…

October heralds the changing of the guard; with a nip in the air and a peppering of fallen leaves across the garden, we gear up for winter and thoughts turn to spring displays, but now is a vital time to focus and be mindful of tending our plants in preparation for the winter ahead. Vigorous shrubs that have put on a lot of growth during the summer are vulnerable to strong winds, causing the plant to rock backwards and forwards, damaging and loosening their root systems. Summer-flowering shrubs as well as hybrid tea and floribunda roses should be reduced in height to limit the destabilising effect that an excessive canopy can cause during high winter winds. Wall shrubs and climbers can take on a jungle-like appearance after a long summer,…

“The end of the summer is not the end of the world. Here’s to October…”AA Milne STAR OF THE MONTH Malus ‘Falstaff’ There are few things more sensual than picking a perfect apple from a laden tree that you planted, with the pride in having nurtured a spindly sapling through cold winters and parched summers. The crunching effort of the first bite, the juice running down the chin, sharing it with someone you love and finally discarding the core into the hedge where the field mice and beetles will feast. At this time of year, no creature need be hungry as there is food everywhere, from our bulging vegetable gardens to hedgerows and field margins brimming with berries and seedheads. A good reliable, self-pollinating eater. Prune in winter. Tricky to…

Humaira Ikram is a garden designer specialising in sustainable, client-focused landscapes via Studio Ikram. She also curates and delivers the Garden Design Diploma at the KLC School of Design Who would have thought that a washing line could be controversial? For me the answer is always yes – if you are allowed, that is, as some UK housing developments ban washing lines in the name of preserving aesthetics (have they never been to Italy?). Finding the right solution can be tricky but I think we can do better than having a rotary or rope line up 365 days a year. The way I get around this is… drum roll please… use a retractable washing line! Available when needed and easy to wind back when you don’t. Which means for those…

“Tulips make a festival of colour at exactly that moment when spring is assured and confident” Tulips are special. Their flowering is an event on a par with the best of roses. Whereas the progression through snowdrops and crocuses to daffodils is one of tentative hope that spring is on its way, tulips make a festival of colour at exactly that moment in the year when spring is assured and confident. They announce, with a shout of satiny colour, that we have all arrived at exactly the place where we want to be. Before choosing your bulbs, it is worth remembering where tulips come from so that the ground can be properly prepared. They mainly originate from an area that now occupies Turkey, Armenia, Iraq and Iran, where they grow…

■ POSITIONING When creating a boundary hedge, plant it at least 30cm or so in from the edge to allow for outward growth without encroaching on your neighbour’s garden. To divide a garden internally, plant the hedge directly along the line you wish to create. Using a string-line can be very helpful. Consider positioning the hedge to link existing trees or wildlife havens, creating a wildlife corridor. Always choose species that will be an appropriate size for your space. ■ PLANTING The most cost-effective time to buy hedging is in winter, when bare-root specimens, or whips, are available. Plant them at the depth they were previously growing (look for the soil mark on the stem) and firm in well. Allow plenty of room between each plant – from 30cm to…

ALHAMBRA PALACE AND GARDENS, SPAIN It has been voted the most stunning garden location in Spain, if not the world. I first visited in my 20s on a disastrous holiday to the Costa del Sol. I took a bumpy fourhour bus trip to the Alhambra to escape a Torremolinos hotel room. I’ve since returned on happier holidays and remain grateful for that failed trip because it led me to discover this World Heritage gem. The Alhambra is a magnificent fortress-palace complex perched on a hilltop, celebrated for its awe-inspiring architecture and exquisite gardens. These gardens are prime examples of Islamic design, characterised by intricate water features, lush greenery and serene courtyards. If you’re a garden enthusiast or someone who appreciates natural beauty, the Alhambra is a must-see. Dating back to…

PLUS ■ Sowing hardy annuals ■ Laying turf ■ Harvesting beetroot ■ Removing sunflower seedheads ■ Writing to-do lists Sign up to our Newsletter for more helpful tips and advice for the month at GardenersWorld.com/newsletters…

ACROSS 1 This Halloween favourite needs plenty of sun now for its skin to ripen (7)7 Indoor varieties of this showy bloomer like moist compost (6)8 __ plant is a name for fittonia (5)9 Check houseplants all year round for these sap-sucking pests (6)11 Dahlia ‘Pooh - Swan __ ’ has orange and yellow petals (6)13 Tiny, wriggly nematode (7)16 Creeping horizontal stem that roots to form new plants (6)19 The French marigold genus (7)20 Time to clean and maintain this water feature (4)21 Hypoestes phyllostachya is better known as the polka __ plant (3)22 Clematis variety with deep wine-red blooms (5)23 __ up fallen leaves and store in bin bags to rot down into leafmould (4)24 Herb whose fragrant needle-like leaves are used in cooking (8) DOWN 1 Winter __ add…

Gardens of the Year 2024 ✓ Meet our six worthy winners and cast your vote in the People’s Choice award ✓ Get inspiration and top tips on how to create the garden of your dreams ✓ Read what Alan and our other expert judges think makes a winning garden 3 FREE* Agapanthus ‘Donau’ plants Perfect for sunny borders or pots, this summer-flowering perennial is a real showstopper. Supplied as bare roots. *Just pay £5.95 postage PLUS… Spotlight on hornets ■ Get started with compost ■ Powered secateurs on test ■ More than 50 things to do…