Readers’ gardens
We’re busy collecting up leaves at the moment, predominantly from three large red oaks, which are always first to lose them. We spent a sunny day picking up as many as possible. We were left with aching muscles, but were well rewarded with a cup of tea and a toasted teacake!
We stack the leaves in a wire enclosure to rot down and always have the problem of fresh ones to store before last year’s leaf mould can be used. We’ve solved this by making a second, smaller wire enclosure, which is already nearly full. The leaves will be chopped up a bit by running the lawn mower over them, which will make room for more – when the silver birch leaves fall!
One slight disappointment is the lack of scent from the katsura tree. Normally, the leaves emit a wonderful burnt sugar fragrance before they fall, which is why our family refer to it as the candyfloss tree.
Hardy chrysanthemums are now starting to come into flower. ‘Clara Curtis’ has pretty single, silvery-pink flowers and those of ‘Dulwich Pink’ are deep pink. I’m growing the latter as part of the Hardy Plant Society’s conservation scheme, so I’ve propagated it for distribution to other members next year. I’ve also been busy planting terracotta pots with tulips.
I have plans to redesign the main border in the back garden. I think all the right plants are there, they just need moving around! Rose ‘Tuscany Superb’ is beautiful, but is overshadowed by a prunus tree. I’ll move the rose about (10ft) to one side, which should make a huge difference. I’ve already dug up a few perennials to make space and, hopefully, I’ll get it right when I replant them. l Read more at www. talesfromacountrygarden.wordpress.com.