Monday, 30 September 2013

Plants for Windy Locations


There are plants for every location, soil type and climate so it’s only a matter of choosing the right plant for the right location. Wind often can be one of those factors that cause problems in the garden. Sometimes we can reduce the effect of wind by wind-breaks, mulch (to reduce the risk of drying out), staking (to stop plant movement damaging or loosening plants roots) size (smaller plants in same location might not catch same amount of wind). If these measures aren’t enough then plant selection is the next step to combat the problem of wind.


 
 
 
Agapanthus – Herbaceous perennial that flowers in summer, usually white or blue flowers, can be up to 6’ tall.    Propagate by dividing bulbs or by seed.
 
 
 
 
 
Agave – Plants are succulents with a large rosette of fleshy sharply pointed leaves. Requires little water or attention when established. WARNING: juice from plants can cause acute dermatitis with reddening and blisters lasting up to two weeks.

 

 
 
 
Anthemis – Commonly known as Chamomile produces a white daisy like flower. Plant is used for making a tea, and a hair rinse for fair hair. Leaves give off a scent when crushed.







Armeria –  An small ground cover plant producing an attractive grassy foliage and a mass of pink flowers. Needs well drained soil.

 
 
 
Berberis – Mainly evergreen thorny shrub but some species are deciduous, producing a small waxy shiny green or purple leaf. Flowers are usually yellow or orange and some produce fruit that are red or dark blue.



 
 
Bottonia – Wind actually prevents it being attacked by powdery mildew .Can grow to about 3’ tall; divide if required in early spring. Flowers which are good for cutting come in white, pink and purple.



 
 
 
Choisya – Ornamental evergreen shrub grown for it fragrant flowers and aromatic foliage. Plants can be prone to Pythuim root rot when grown on pots.
 
 

 
 
 
Ceanothus – Evergreen flowering shrub or tree producing white, pink. Blue or purple flowers which turn into a three lobed seed capsule.

 
 
 
Clematis – Clematis Montana are very wind tolerant. Plant with “heads in the sun and feet in the shade”! Roots need to well planted and kept cool. Water well.

 
 
 
 
Cordyline – Available in green, Red, Purple and variegated yellow/green varieties. Will tolerate frost to about -5 but will sprout new growth from the base if they do “die”.

 
 
 
 
 
Cupressus – Evergreen conifer which Goldcreast (Gold!) or Arizonica (blue/green) are the more wind tolerant.

 

 
 
 
 
Coreopsis – Yellow flowering daisy like perennial that grow between 18 -48” high. Attacked by slugs.


 
 
 
 
 
Dianthus – A cottage garden favourite with its green/grey grass like foliage and fragrant flowers. Perennial plant that height ranges from 4-30”.

 
 
 
 
Escallonia – Small waxy shiny leaved perennial that can be used as either a specimen plant or hedging. Produced a white or pink flower.

 
 
 
 
Eucalyptus – Usually silver /grey leaved tree or shrub. Oil is made from its leaves and has a variety of uses.

 
 
 
 
Echinacea – Herbaceous perennial that that produces daisy like flower with petals coming from a cone type centre in summer can be up to 4’ tall.
   

 
 
Fatsia Japonica – Evergreen shrub with large leathery shiny leaves. Commonly known as the Caster oil plant. Originated in Japan & Taiwan.

 
 
 
Gaillardia – Blanket flower, Perennial striking flowers that can be any shade of yellow, red, brown or bi-coloured. Need free draining soil to survive.

 
 
 
 
Honeysuckle – Perennial vine type plant that tolerates most types of soil and requires little maintenance once established. Prefers sun.

 
 
 
 
Hebe “Wiri Series” – Small leaved perennial shrub that like free draining soil. Produce white pink or purple flowers.

 
 
 
Lavender – Grown for their fragrant whorl type flowers and for production of oils, they require a sandy/shale type free draining soil for best results.

 
 
 
Nepeta – Catmint, Herbaceous perennial that’s foliage and tubular flowers are both fragrant. Flowers can be pink, purple or lavender in colour with blue/grey leaves.
 
 

 
 
 
Nasturtium – Grown from seed, it’s a half hardy annual. Comes in reds, yellow and oranges, its flowers and leaves can be used in salads.
 
 
 
 
Hope these selections can help if you have a windy location that needs filling.
As always - Happy Gardening!

Saturday, 14 September 2013

Winter Window-boxes & Hanging-baskets



Now is the time to think about planting up your Window-boxes, Containers and Hanging-baskets for a little winter colour during the bleak months ahead – growth wise. The sooner they are planted, while there’s a bit of warmth to encourage growth, the better. The larger the container you intend planting up,  the more adventurous you can be size wise with your plant choice ,  the larger more visually dramatic display you’ll end up with.

What you’ll need –

·       Container of choice to plant – 14” Hanging-basket or larger, Window-box, planter or ceramic /plastic pot.

·       Multi-purpose compost mixed with slow release feed ( try to get at least 5-7 month or 12-14 month if possible)

·       Range of perennial plants/shrubs as centre and side plants

·       Bedding / filler plants to add colour & interest
 


Suitable Centre Plants

·       Small or slow growing conifers – Cupressus Goldcrest (scented lime green), Thuja Smaragd (dark green) to name but a few plants as specimen centre plants.

·       Cordyline - pink passion, Torbay Red [brown leaved], Torbay dazzler[variegated]
 

Suitable side/companion plants

·       Small bushy plants – Hebe ( available in various colours : variegated, brown, green, Etc.), Choisya ( bright golden leaves), Euonymus fortune “Emerald n Gold” (variegated green & yellow leaves), Acuba ( spotted laurel )

·       Trailing plants – best are plants designed to give ground cover in normal gardening conditions : Lonicera nitidia Maygreen, Cotoneaster sal “Repens”, Juniperus squamata Blue ( low growing spreading silver/blue conifer)

 
 
       
Suitable Training plants

·       Ivy – available in green or  variegated ( with white or yellow)  

·       Vinca minor – again available  in green or  variegated ( with white or yellow)  

 
 
Suitable flowering bedding and filler plants

·       Pansies – either single colours or mixed

·       Violas -  usually multi-coloured but available as single coloured too

·       Heathers – (usually listed under Latin name Calluna) White or Pink normally, but also available painted in highly visible florescent colours, and as awful as that sounds can be used to great effect (if you pick the less gaudy colours!)

 



Now all you have to do is put them all together – easy!

1.       Fill your chosen container with your compost / slow release fertilizer mix to a little over ¾ full, leaving room for watering when filled with your plants

2.       Chose and put in your centre plant. Plant to depth it was in original pot and make sure you firm it in, so its secure

3.       Then place in two side/companion plants either side & firm them in( two plants either side or four for long window-boxes,  but circular Hanging-baskets or containers three or more look better.

4.       Then add any trailing plants (same configuration as side , one or two in window-boxes but three or five in round pots & containers look best)

5.       Then simply add your colourful bedding and heathers to fill in any spaces left. Water in well and leave in glasshouse or sheltered location to grow on before placing in their intended winter spot.

6.       You can vary your display , even when using same type container by using different plants or even by colour coding displays -  i.e. yellow flowers with variegated and light green plants or Blue / Silver conifers with white & blue flowered pansies/violas

Come on and get planting, you reap the benefits with wonderful winter colour till next summer if well cared for. Whatever you do decide, Happy Gardening!
 
 
 


Saturday, 7 September 2013

Gardening Jobs for September


 


Still looking ok, so frosts stay away !


It’s definitely getting a litter cooler and the days are already getting noticeably shorter but there’s still lots to do in the garden. Lots of flowering plants still need deadheading, and continue with the harvesting of fruit & vegetables from the garden.

The main jobs that we should be doing this September are:

·       Harvest – continue harvesting Potatoes,Onions,Apples, & Pears
 

·       Seed – collect seed from your favourite perennials and hardy annuals for sowing, to increase your collection or replace existing plants.


·       Cuttings – time now to take hardwood cuttings from fruit bushes and shrubs, again to increase or replace existing stock or for swops/gifts to other gardeners.
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·       Strawberry runners - you might still get to root a few runners if the warm weather keeps growth going, but if you already have taken some, you can think about planting up a new strawberry bed. 


·       Fruit – protect autumn fruit like Raspberry & Blackberry from the birds with protective netting if not already planted in a fruit cage.




·       Bulbs – time to think about spring colour! Bulbs can be planted not to avail of the last of the heat to provide a blast of colour in spring when we’ll have little else. If your flower beds are not ready to disturb or not sure where to plant them yet , pots and containers make sense - you can always put them in the ground later.
 
 


 
·       Divide plants – you can divide your herbaceous perennials now to again increase stock , but also some do get a bald spot in the middle if they become too large,   by dividing  them they’ll look better next year. Pay particular attention to perennials you have in pots, if they get pot bound they will struggle to preform. 
 
·       Sow – the following can be sown now: broad beans, hardy peas, spring cabbage, winter lettuces, spinach and garlic ( outside in mild areas or in pots to plant out later)
 
 
That's enough to keep us all busy this month - so Happy Gardening !