Mark Hinsley is often called on to explain the various operations which may be carried out on a tree so here he gives an insight into the terms you will need to understand.
In the turbulent times we now live in I thought I would share this with you:
Give fools their gold,
and knaves their power;
let fortune’s bubbles rise and fall;
who sows a field,
or trains a flower,
or plants a tree,
is more than all.
- John Greenleaf Whittier
A small but simply stunning garden, it ranks highly in our ‘small is beautiful’ favourite Cornwall gardens.
Lamorran isn’t always on the list of gardening visits to Cornwall.
But that’s a real mistake as it’s a private coastal garden with a wonderful collection of statues, sub-tropical planting and a strong Japanese theme running through it. It is based on the southern slopes of a hill above the Cornish fishing village of St Mawes and enjoys a very favourable micro-climate where frosts are rare and sub –tropical plants from the southern hemisphere flourish.
Even a small garden arch can add height and drama but it’s the choice of plants or even vegetables which is key.
It is easy to concentrate on beds and borders when you’re planting your garden, but making use of vertical space is a great way to add drama.
Adding an arch is one of the quickest ways to give height as well. It also provides a place to grow and enjoy climbing plants such as roses, clematis, honeysuckle and many others.
The key is to avoid plants that become too vigorous and to choose those that grow well together as partners.
Once known as just autumn flowering, the introduction of new hardier varieties and improved growing conditions have finally established the chrysanthemum as an all year round delight.
You are never very far from a chrysanthemum.
From garage forecourts to supermarkets, church displays, traditional florists and yes in our gardens centres -they are everywhere and they are around increasingly all year.
New varieties and techniques mean we can buy now cut chrysanthemums every day of the year.
September is the beginning of one of the favourite times of year for lots of gardeners, not least for the fact that the garden is more relaxed than it has been for some time. The fight to keep your plants watered or producing or deadheaded has eased and a new wave of tasks is awaiting - even thoughts of next spring!
With over 12,000 registered cultivars one of the hardest tasks is to try and identify a specific rose. There are ways however to make the task easier.
It can be quite a task to identify an unknown rose, especially as rose development has gone on for centuries with huge variations in colours, shapes, sizes and scents.
One estimate suggests there are over 12,000 registered rose cultivars so it can be a real challenge.
July is a very productive month in the garden. All the hard work put in during the spring now starts to pay off, with so much fruit and vegetables ready for harvest. By the end of July we can be swamped with delicious veg such as cucumbers, courgette, Swiss chard, lettuce, beetroot and French beans. Whilst it’s a great month for relaxing a little and enjoying your garden, it’s also important to keep on top of weeding, watering, deadheading and pests.
Most of us are about to be tempted to use spring fertilisers to help our plants make the most of the new season - but care is needed.
Gardens are about to start waking up after the winter rest and the chances are your plants will need feeding to get them on the march into spring proper. Many won’t have been fed since the autumn.
When the sap rises growth starts to be renewed and plants, trees and shrubs need some sustenance for healthy foliage, flowering and fruiting in the weeks ahead.
An early start is often the trick for growing what is a must-have vegetable in the garden.
Onion sets are easy to grow and should be the first thing on the list for the new season.
For too often this super food berry has had a reputation of being troublesome - needing acidic soil, cross pollination and patience before you get the first fruit - but it is worth the effort.
Growing blueberries isn’t as difficult as many would make out. They do certainly prefer an acid soil in a nice sunny or semi shaded position. And even if your garden soil is not acidic then you can try growing blueberries in containers using an ericaceous compost mix.
