GARDEN NOTES

Everything you need to know to get the most from your plot in August

Everything you need to know to get the most from your plot

EVERY GARDEN has a history and when you move to a new property it can be fun to uncover this gradually, waiting to see what emerges as the seasons change. A few summers ago, I cleared space in my front garden and lifted and divided some overcrowded bearded iris rhizomes that had never flowered. It was a satisfying task for a sunny afternoon and, the following June, my efforts were rewarded by the appearance of stunning velvety flower heads, held high on long, strong stems. With a little research and the help of an iris expert, I found out that it was probably ‘Ambassadeur’, a variety introduced in 1920 by French breeders named Vilmorin. Apparently, it was available for sale in the now-defunct Orpington Nurseries in Kent and was very popular in the 1930s when our house was built. It is lovely to have that link with the past, especially as this iris seems hard to source now.

It pays to do a job like this properly and, as well as reaching for a reliable gardening book, it’s useful to watch one of the RHS online how-to videos (rhs.org.uk/videos/advice/dividing-iris). Details such as orientating the trimmed rhizomes north-south to catch maximum sunlight, and planting them on a slight ridge of soil so the rhizomes stand proud with the roots buried, can make a difference to the level of success.