The very first mistake is to believe your friends that gardening is easy and relaxing. It is hard work. When you visit gardens you will see many benches or seats to sit on. These are not for the gardener but the visitors!!.

Here are some mistakes to be aware of:

• Clueless watering - many new gardeners kill their plants by either drowning or letting them dry out too much too often. Know your plants moisture requirements.
  
• Over feeding - plants need to be fed especially pot grown plants but too much fertiliser is as dangerous to a plant as an overdose is to us.
  
• Forgetting about sun, shade and soil requirements - we are all guilty of buying plants we like and planting them where we want them and  wonder why they do not thrive. Read the labels.
  
• Planting too early - we have an unusual spell of early warm weather and get very excited. Supermarkets and garden centres entice us with bedding plants. We rush out  and plant them, then the weather changes to frost and even snow, which means the plants do not survive.
  
• Planting too close together - each plant needs its own space depending on its final size. They also need space to take nutrients and water from the soil without competing with their neighbours.
  

I am sure like me you will make many more mistakes but hopefully learn from them and have many years enjoying your garden and telling new gardeners how easy and relaxing a hobby it is.

Hazel Wyatt

Love it or hate it snow arrived. There were not many jobs listed in my last article that we could do. I did not say clear snow from paths. 

The snow did look beautiful and the hilly fields in Frenchay looked like a Swiss ski resort with adults and children having a wonderful time. Will we have lots of entries in the photographic section at Frenchay flower show later in the year? I hope so.

Another beauty peeping through the snow was the snowdrop. Galanthus nivalis, for many years I had no success growing this gem until I followed this advice. Snow drops do well in damp, light-shaded woodland or border. Add plenty of leaf mould or compost. They multiply of their own accord. 

Divide the clumps every three years. Lift them when they still have foliage and even when still in flower. Tease clumps of bulbs apart trying not to damage the roots. Replant in clusters and water in. Snowdrops also like growing in terracotta pots. Position these where you often pass.

Hoping for warmer weather soon,
Hazel Wyatt

Gardening at this time of year? Yes, you can start, Here are a few ideas to get you motivated or you can choose the alternative idea.
 
At a Glance:

• Make sure that birds have food and water
• Keep on top of winter germinating weeds
• Clear the crowns of plants of damp leaves
• Continue with winter digging as soil conditions allow, cover to keep out the wet
• Order seeds and summer flowering bulbs
  
• Check newly planted trees and shrubs ,refirm if lifted by frosts
• Check supports of trees and shrubs
• Protect plants vulnerable to wind and cold
• Plant deciduous hedging
• Prune shrubs and trees into shape ..not on frosty days
• Prune wisteria and other vigorous climbers
• Take hardwood cuttings of trees and shrubs 
• Check forced bulbs for growth
• Sow sweet peas under cover
• Aerate lawns to  improve drainage
• Keep a small area of ponds free from ice
• Chit early potatoes
• Sow early vegetable crops under cover
• Protect fruit trees from bird damage 
• Force rhubarb
• Sow some summer -bedding under cover

 
Last Chance:

• Prune grape vines and other vines  before sap starts rising
• Protect container plants from freezing and insulate outside taps

 
Alternative idea:
Sit in a comfortable chair with a good book, preferably a gardening book!
 
Hazel Wyatt

This summer it has been very challenging to keep the borders looking their best. Lawns if they look anything like mine, resemble sandy beaches and the borders struggle to keep flowering.
 
My favourite plant for many years has been the Agapanthus. This year the ‘beast from the east’ slowed it down a little but then it enjoyed the summer sunshine and survived very well in drought conditions.
 
Pot grown ones did need watering  and feeding regularly. Commonly known as the African Lily, it is a
vigorous perennial with fleshy roots from South Africa. Despite their South African origins, they are easy to grow in the UK. Some species are evergreen and these tend to be less hardy than the deciduous varieties that die down completely over winter. 
 
Agapanthus grow best in full sun in a well-drained soil. Planting in shade will result in poor flowering. If your soil is thick or heavy, plant with grit or compost to loosen surrounding area. They dislike being waterlogged in winter and in colder parts of the country prone to frosts, should be grown in large pots which can be protected in winter in a cold frame, greenhouse or conservatory. I grow them in pots, and shelter them in winter. The hardier varieties will grow in borders covered with a mulch for protection.
 
The last 2 years I grew some in window boxes with great success. They had 3 foot stems dancing above the pelargoniums and fuschias. It is important to feed them weekly or fortnightly with a balanced liquid feed during the growing season until flowers begin to show colour.
 
Agapanthus will be reluctant to flower next year if subjected to drought conditions after flowering. To ensure a good display next year, keep plants moist until autumn after flowers start to fade. This will encourage the development of new flower buds.
 
If you are fond of the colour blue, Agapanthus are the plants for you. There is nothing better for an infusion of midsummer blue than a border or pot lined path of Agapanthus. They come in a range of colours and heights from almost black through to purple, from French navy to royal blue, to subtle lilac, pink, grey and white.
 
With careful planning borders in July to late September could be filled with varieties of Agapanthus of all heights from 20cm dwarf forms to giants up to 2 metres.
 
As usual space is running out. Look up more information on varieties and start planning for next season. I mention one unusual variety I bought a few weeks ago, Agapanthus Graskop. The buds emerge almost black and are held erect atop tall stems, slowly elongating and finally becoming pendulous as they open. It is hardy and can be grown in containers or borders. This winter I will nurture it in the conservatory.                                                                 
 
Hazel Wyatt

As I write this the temperature is hovering at 30 degrees. My gardening advice is to find a shady spot and enjoy. I am sure that by the time  this is printed we might be experiencing normal British weather, hope so!!
 
I had intended to give a few tips to keep your plants happy and watered  during your holiday. I am sure you have thought and been given enough advice to do this during this heat wave. Parched lawns, wilting flowers and shrubs under stress will soon recuperate after a prolonged shower of rain. We must stay positive, all is not lost and there can and  will be vibrant colour all around once more.
 
Late summering plants are seen as high maintenance yet there are plenty of easy to grow plants ready to deliver a riot of colour and form at this time of year. Sedum spectabile, Autumn Joy is one. By the end of August its heads are bursting with promise and covered with butterflies and bees. There are many varieties to find in garden centre.
 
Just as the garden seems to run out of puff, Helianthus Lemon Queen will give it an extra boost and score the winning goal. It will return every year and at 2 metres high creates a dramatic sky line. Despite its height it needs no staking. Another is Rudbeckia Herbstonne. It has chunky flowers and an intense yellow colour.
 
Tall plants look their best when they have a few short plants to hide their knobbly knees. Phlox plants are  perfect for this, they look great, smell great and are easy to grow. Phlox prefer a sunny spot, give them some leaf mould in autumn.
 
Another favourite which rarely disappoints are the Japanese anemones. They come from China and most gardens have these. There are many varieties the most common is Anemone x hybrid. Honorine Jobert is tall elegant and white, look up some pink varieties, they are popular for a good reason. They are reliable, easy to grow, multiply easily and despite their delicate appearance are as tough as they come.
 
I hope when I write next the grass will be green and we as well as the plants will have survived. Enjoy!
 
Hazel Wyatt

The title is of a popular song written by Ivor Novello in 1945. It's not heard often now but lilac is still a popular garden shrub. Here are some facts about lilac.

The lilac bush or Syringa vulgaris is a deciduous plant and a member of the olive family. It originates from South Eastern Europe and Eastern Asia and thrives in a sunny position. It will grow in a range of soil conditions but prefers a well drained humus-rich soil. Lilac should be planted in spring or autumn.

Lilac is perhaps best known for its delicately fragranced blossoms ranging in colour from purple to blue, pink ,white and yellow. 25 species of lilac are available. Its most fragrant varieties are usually medium to dark purple.

Lilacs produce tiny shoots around the base of the trunk and these can be used to propagate new plants easily. It can also be grown from seed, slowly. It is a hardy low maintenance shrub and a well planted bush can last for decades. It can grow to nine metres in height providing shade in the garden or even a natural fence.The dwarf variety will grow up to  8 feet. Lilac does not need pruning until it has reached 6-8 feet tall. After this keep it at desired height by pruning after flowering.

French flower breeder Victor Lemoine was the creator of many of the varieties enjoyed today. He is thought to have developed more than 150 cultivars between 1876 and 1927. In Lemoine's honour the term (French lilac) is still used to refer to all double-flowered lilac varieties.

Some white blossomed varieties have no aroma. Other scented varieties will not smell when the weather is cold or damp. Warmth releases the essential oil produced by lilac flowers and thus regularly used in perfumery. I am sure many of you, dare I say mature ladies, remember Morny's French Lilac talcum powder.

Lilac flowers are edible and can be used in jams, jellies and liqueurs even fried to make lilac fritters.

There is often folk lore associated with our plants. In Greek mythology, Pan, the god of the forests and fields became besotted  by the nymph Syringa. Afraid of Pan who chased her through the forests, Syringa metamorphosed into  a lilac bush to escape from him.

I am sure there are many more facts about lilac that you will find and maybe decide to plant a lilac and enjoy its beauty and perfume for many years to come.

Hazel Wyatt

Plants in Song
1. Something to tie a yellow ribbon around.
2. This could be from either Texas or Tralee.
3. Imported from Amsterdam 
4. Was Gracie's really the biggest ...in the world .?
5. It's branches are spreading ..if boy scouts are to be believed.
6. It's a bonny heathland shrub.
7. Would you see a partridge in a place like this at Christmas.?
8. On a beautiful morning this grows as high as as elephant's eye.
9. She says she could never tell why she is called this.
10.  Pure and white, clean and bright.

Trees
11. Dapper.
12. Old joke.
13. A District of East London.
14. Sometimes spread on a vegetable plot.
15. This could not be me .
16. A tool for smoothing .
17.  Popular with children in Summer holidays .
18. Punishment ordered by the magistrates of old .
19. Cricket bat.
20. Communist timber 

Final Question...Is there anyone out there who would like to write an article for the Gardening page? If so, then please contact ednacause@john-lewis.com. 

A love of gardening and an interest in wildlife are natural bedfellows. So I ask, why do garden centres devote so much shelf space to substances that kill? Perhaps it is that we have a mental picture of the perfect garden where everything is beautiful and orderly and the gardener is in complete control. But if you want a garden bustling with wild life you will have to compromise and must be prepared to forego perfection.

The key to success is to think of food chains. Wild things will not come to your garden if you do not have food for them. Welcome visitors such as robins, tits, wrens and hedgehogs feed on insects and other invertebrates so it makes no sense to wage war on these creepy crawlies.

The greater the variety of creatures that visit the garden the more likely they are to balance each other out and the plague of nasties will not decimate the plants.
Here are a few ideas for a wild life friendly garden.

Bird box in a sheltered site, out of reach of predators (clean it every year to get rid of mites). Put out protein rich food and a variety of seed for different species. The feeder if possible should be near a dense shrub so that small birds can dart in and out to feed, safe from cats.

Ivy and Climbers. The flowers and seeds of ivy are nutritious and are a good source of pollen. Ivy being evergreen provides a protective habitat all year round.

Clematis and rose all create good habitats at varying heights and attract bees and birds to feed.

Water source. All creatures need fresh, unchlorinated water. Build a pond, bury a shallow bucket. Read a good gardening book for ideas to suit your garden.

Compost Bins  use up waste and also feed the soil.  They are also a habitat for worms, woodlice, fungi, frogs  grass snakes and spiders supplying a cordon bleu feast for garden visitors. Read up more on composting.

Flowers. Grow as many flowers as you can from spring bulbs to late flowering perennials. Choose flowers that are true to species not bred by humans for lots of  petals. Petals grow at the expense of pollen and nectar and make it harder for bees to get inside. Examples include foxgloves, marigolds and cornflowers. There are many more pollinator friendly flowers to read up about.

Weeds. Dare I  mention that they are some of the best plants for pollinators. Buttercups, daisies and wild foxgloves flower for a long time and thrive in bad growing conditions. Do not be too tidy behind a shed. Out of sight, these will thrive and when they die insects like spiders and earwigs will live under dead plants and in turn will keep aphids in check.
I should not mention this to the lawn perfectionists but if you can leave a bit of long grass the butterflies will thank you because it is an important habitat to lay their eggs.
As usual space is running out, I hope I have whetted your appetite and you will consider a whole host of wild ideas and features or just pick one and then sit back and welcome your visitors.
Hazel Wyatt

One thing you can be certain of is that nature will always do her or his best to clothe any patch of bare soil quickly. This she does with wild plants that we call weeds. It is a constant battle to keep a plot or flower bed weed free.

My answer to this is to cover it with acceptable plants. As soon as a canopy of foliage covers the ground, any weed trying to germinate is kept in the dark and will not survive. The name given to this is '' ground cover". There are a host of plants that can be used for this purpose and once established they look after our weed problem in a perfectly natural way. No need for weed killers.
These plants will not make your garden flat, boring and colourless but will surprise you with a colourful tapestry.

Efficient ground cover comes in different heights, from ground huggers to large shrubs. Most of them flower and many have attractive, even ornamental foliage. A surprising number are evergreen and there are ground cover plants that are happy in sun or shade, dry or moist soil.

By growing the right ground carpeting perennials around shrubs you can get a double show of flowers either together or at different times. If the ground cover plants are under planted with bulbs that happily spear them, you can have a succession of flowers.

Failure with this planting regime occurs because careful clearing of perennial weeds such as tap-rooted docks and dandelions or creeping horrors like buttercup, couch grass and ground elder, has not been done. So begin with clean ground and success will be yours. Start with a small part of the border and once matured these plants can be split up to plant in the next area. 

During the first season make sure the plants are well watered and you will have to do some weeding and mulching but once established simply look over the area two or three times a season and remove any weeds that have defied you before they seed.

My favourite ground cover plants are Tiarella, Bergenia, Ajuga, Brunera, Epimedium, Saxifrage,Thymus and Tellima to name a few. A good book to read is Plants for Ground Cover by Stuart Thomas.

Happy new gardening year and a weed free 2018,

Hazel Wyatt