My gardening diary
MONDAY Ferns, at least all those in the shade, have survived remarkably well in the hot and droughty spell. Occasional fronds have turned brown and it’s worth cutting them back to the ground to try and maintain this otherwise pristine green corner.
TUESDAY While filming last week at Ashwood Nurseries, one of the spectacular plants in the long, mixed border was a helenium – ‘Sahin’s Early Flowerer’. The whole plant was covered in honeybees, which were fascinating to watch as they moved around the bright yellow open flowers at the edge of the velvety bronze ‘doorknobs’ which form the centre of the flower.
WEDNESDAY The wealth of thistle seeds, product of a hot summer, have set unusually early this year in the hedgerows and on the verges. They’re favourites of finches, especially goldfinches, who have moved in small flocks (do you call that a ‘pride’ of finches?) to gorge on the seeds.
THURSDAY During a recent windy spell, Neil hit on an innovative idea to prevent squally showers devastating tall dahlias, zinnias and rudbeckias that fill our two huge egg pots. Firstly he positioned a few canes around the edge then encircled them with cling film. It worked! FRIDAY We potted on some large Hydrangea
paniculata that we’d used for Alice’s wedding last year into tree pots. We pruned them back, leaving two pairs of buds on last year’s growth. They’re now coming into full flower. Perhaps my favourite is ‘Vanille Fraise’, whose creamy white flowers eventually become pink.
SATURDAY We cut back a few perennials that were looking the worse for wear, watered them and, after recent rain, gave them an organic feed with liquid seaweed. Geraniums, astrantias and pulmonarias that we treated like this have greened up and look much more attractive.
SUNDAY Time to turn the compost heap again and to water it! The heat that it builds up internally has little to do with the ambient temperature, but moisture and air are needed to hasten the aerobic process that changes garden waste into black gold.