Although the days are shorter there are still jobs to be done in the garden.

Having emptied the containers of summer plants its fun to just go to the garden centre with no preconceived ideas and find some plants at random to make a beautiful display to take you through to spring and perhaps under plant with crocus and small daffodils to give an early splash of colour when spring starts. Another idea for a container is to plant tulip bulb, daffodil and crocus bulbs in layers and then finish the planting with winter pansies and then feed in a few winter pansies into the flower beds to carry the colour through the garden. To stop any containers getting waterlogged raise them on feet that can be bought in the garden centre or find some flat stones. The bulbs will give a succession of joy in the first months of spring. Keep sweeping up leaves especially from lawns and ponds, cut off any leggy stems from roses that will catch the wind and keep deadheading if the frosts have not arrived.

The most important job is to feed the birds and hedgehogs if they can access your garden. Our wildlife needs all the help it can get. Enjoy the beauty of the autumn and perhaps start planning new ideas for your garden in 2022.

The Tidy Gardener

We are all trying to cut down on how many chemicals we are exposed to daily.

If this is your aim, read more to find how the undervalued properties of vinegar can help you in the garden and home.

• REMOVE WEEDS.. Vinegar can be sprayed directly on weeds and tufts of grass in walls and walkways. They will dry up and die in two to three days. Beware it can kill your lawn and make soil infertile.
• REPEL ANTS...Ants hate vinegar. Mix equal amounts of water, spray the solution on any ant hills. White vinegar or apple cider vinegar can be used.
• REPEL GARDEN PESTS. Guess what rodents, moles, cats, dogs, rabbits have in common? They all hate the strong smell of vinegar. Soak a few rags in white vinegar and place them hidden around where vandalism is noticed. Keep re-soaking every week for maximum repellent action. 
• CLEAN CLAY POTS. Gardeners love clay pots. Their natural properties keep soil cool in Summer, allow plants to breathe, and look attractive in all kinds of settings. As clay pots age, they absorb calcium and minerals from water and become discoloured. I like this aged look but you can do the following: Remove any surface dirt from pot then soak it in a container with this mixture ONE CUP five per cent acidity white vinegar to FOUR CUPS of water Quantities used will depend on size of container. The less vinegar the longer you will have to soak the pot /pots. Wipe with cloth and leave to dry before storing or potting up again..
• EXTEND THE LIFE OF CUT FLOWERS…Add TWO table spoons of vinegar and a teaspoon of sugar per litre of water for any cut flowers you want to keep fresh for as long as possible.
• CLEANING.. The non toxic properties of vinegar make it perfect for cleaning the following.. rust from garden tools with neat vinegar, birdbath and bird houses with 25% vinegar to 75% water solution

Perhaps gardeners in the past used vinegar for its medicinal properties. It was used as a poultice for sprains and cuts to alleviate inflammation. Do you remember the nursery rhyme, ‘Jack and Jill’? HE WENT TO BED TO MEND HIS HEAD WITH VINEGAR AND BROWN PAPER … I am not suggesting using it medicinally but there are some great uses for vinegar in the garden and home and you may know more.

So when you next buy vinegar, do not think only of CHIPS.

Happy gardening.

Hazel Wyatt

Who knows what to expect weatherwise this month? The year seems to have been quite a mix and not too great for the gardener - still things have caught up and even though there is rain in the forecast for September there is lots to enjoy and plenty to keep you busy in the garden this month. 

The approach of Autumn is a fantastic time of year to plant your spring bulbs, feed your lawn or prepare for your winter vegetable planting. Sow hardy annuals now for spring flowers the following year. The seeds can be sown in spring but sowing in autumn often results in earlier flowers and more robust plants. Sowing hardy annuals is easy - either sow in rows, or broadcast the seed on a prepared seedbed. Particular favourites are Love-in-a-mist - a cottage garden favourite, Corn Flowers - makes an excellent cut flower, California poppy brings swathes of bright orange-yellow to borders, self-seeds readily so once sown you will enjoy them every year and lastly Poppies - opium, field and ladybird poppy can all be sown now.

It's is a good time to take cuttings of many plants. Some plants, such as half-hardy perennials or tender shrubs, may not make it through the winter, so by taking cuttings you can ensure that you can enjoy them the following year. Taking cuttings in autumn is also a good way to increase your stock of your favourite plants and save money. Take semi-ripe cuttings, from this year's growth. They are woody at the base and soft at the tip. In autumn, hormone levels are high, so plants should root and grow well, the hard base makes the cuttings less likely to rot and, if you have some, hormone rooting powder helps. Give it a go! There are no gardening mistakes only experiments.

Tomatoes and outdoor lettuce should be in abundance and the winter vegetables should be coming into their own. There should be plenty of fresh garden vegetables to enjoy if you have managed to get some planted as long as the caterpillars, slugs and birds leave you some. Make room in your greenhouse or windowsill and pot up your parsley, mint and chives and they will keep growing over winter. Whatever you have - garden or just pots - just make sure you enjoy what has grown, learn by your mistakes and never give up.

Gardening is too precious and plants gives us more than we realise.

Alan Caswell

Now is a great time to enjoy whatever you have planted which should be bursting with colour and producing fantastic home grown fruit and vegetables. Everything seemed a little late, due to the early weather conditions this year, but catch up it will! Keep plants looking good by regularly dead-heading and remove rose suckers - you'll enjoy a longer display of blooms. 

Hoe, Hoe, Hoe - No, we're not talking about Christmas just yet! It's time to get on top of your borders and get ahead with hoeing off weeds. Choose a nice dry day, so that any weeds that you miss collecting wither away in the sun. It's worth taking a hoe out with you every time you go in the garden, so no weeds stand a chance of bullying out your annuals and perennials. 

"A weed is a plant that has mastered every survival skill except for learning how to grow in rows!"

Many lawns look browner than they do green during the summer. This could be due to setting the cutting height too low on the mower. Doing this creates shallow rooting, making the lawn more susceptible to drought and building up of moss. From the first cut of the year, start high and gradually work down to your desired height (ideally around 1 inch cutting height) and work back up to the highest as we move into early autumn. If your grass does turn brown from the heat, don't be tempted to water, it's good at dealing with a lack of water and will bounce back - if you are tempted just give it a good soak once a week.

Keep new plants well-watered and ensure newly planted trees and shrubs do not dry out - they often need much more water than you imagine. Don't forget to water your potted shrubs like Acers and Olives and give them a feed too.

It's really nice to see the no-mow areas around Frenchay are still thriving. No mow May is over but the pollinators still need support! It's also worth noting in hot weather try limiting the amount you dig, to minimise the loss of moisture in the soil. That's a cue for rest and relaxation if ever I heard one! We should look for the positives in our lives and gardening does have a great impact on both our mental and physical health! It's amazing how many worries are lost when gardening.

Alan Caswell

For those of you new to gardening hopefully you have enjoyed the explosion of growth and colour during June. 

July is a time to keep on top of dead heading as this will encourage more flowers, the flowers will otherwise form seeds and the plant will think it has achieved its purpose in life and will give up flowering. Hanging baskets can also be revived by cutting back the growth. As your hardy geraniums stop flowering cut them back to encourage a second flush later in the year. Cut back delphiniums, penstemons and lupins and they may also reward you with more blooms. Lastly, repeat flowering roses benefit hugely from deadheading.

All the plants, especially those in hanging baskets and pots will keep healthy and productive with a weekly dose of a seaweed based feed using rain water or grey water if at all possible. Sweet peas need to be watered every day and the flowers cut very regularly otherwise they will quickly fade. 

If you have any vegetables keep watering, keeping them moist and weed by hand or with a hoe so the vegetables get the benefit of all the water and nutrients available.

There are not many gardens that do not suffer from at least one of the worst two invaders, ground elder and bindweed. They have plenty of leaf now so its the best time to treat them with a glyphosate-based weed killer. They are worthwhile keeping at bay as they can take over your garden. If you do not know what they look like look them up on the internet.

Lastly, keep a keen eye on all your plants for disease and treat accordingly. The staff in your favourite garden centre can be incredibly helpful if you are unsure of what you are dealing with, just take along a picture of the problem on your phone to show them.

Having a garden is a joy and the most important thing of all is to take a little time to sit and watch the wildlife your garden attracts and the beauty you have created. My favourite time is sitting early in the morning with my bowl of cereal!!

The Tidy Gardener 

I am sure we all have our favourite kind of garden.

During my morning lockdown exercise around the estate I have been impressed with the tidy regimented front gardens, manicured lawns and not a weed in sight.

I am not going to attempt to copy you but to tempt you to cottage style gardening.

A definition of A COTTAGE GARDEN.in the dictionary...is an informal style of garden which has beds planted with a great variety of traditional flowers.

The best cottage gardens look like they planted themselves..this is a myth..but the design principles they follow are simple.

The English invented the cottage garden probably in about 1400 when even the humblest of plots were pressed into service to produce food for families. Every inch of earth counted - with herbs, fruit trees, vegetables and flowers..which attracted bees to pollinate crops..jammed close together...no room for weeds!!

Aside from being practical the effect was charming..some might say..organised chaos.

Today, modern cottage gardens look just as lovely-a spill of colour as edible plants mingle and flop over the edge of paths, roses clamber over trellis, hollyhocks lean against brick walls.. a romantic scene.

Gertrude Jekyll 1843 - 1932 is the patron saint of modern cottage gardens. 

She advocated a more natural look to the fussy formal plantings the Victorians liked. A book worth reading..GERTRUDE JEKYLL AND THE COUNTRY HOUSE GARDEN..

Some ideas to help plan a cottage garden. 

1. BREACH BOUNDARIES Plant flowers at the edge of garden beds and allow them to spill over onto paths and lawns.Bonus points for fragrant flowers that brush against ankles as you walk past.
2. Install sturdy arbors, pergolas and trellises so that vines, climbers and fragrant roses can grow into billowy shapes above doors, gates and against walls.
3. Place benches and chairs strategically in the garden to lure visitors to spend time sitting among the bees and blossom. Put seats in a hidden shady corner or smack in the middle of a pretty flower bed. Add stepping stones to guide the way.
4. Common cottage garden flowers include as examples holly \.02hocks, foxgloves, nicotiana, poppy, nasturtium and cosmos.
5. Plant shrubs, small trees, obelisks covered in climbing vegetables among the flowers to add height, structure and visual interest to garden beds
6. Lure pollinators and birds planting of lavenders, yarrow, black-eyed Susan's and asters...Bees will love them.
7. Lay out irregular shaped garden beds and allow paths to define spaces in the garden. A meandering walkway is better than a straight one. Turn a corner, slow down and find a secret garden.
8. Experiment with plants you love and reinvent the cottage garden to fit your busy lifestyle. Once established a cottage garden will be as weed free as the gardens I pass on my lockdown walk.

So whether your patch of heaven flourishes on 10 sun-drenched acres or on a 5 x 6 sturdy apartment balcony, with the miracle of soil, sunshine, and water, you can still relax in an enchanted cottage-style green space.

Whatever style of garden you like...keep gardening and ENJOY!!!

Hazel Wyatt

​May is the busiest month in the garden with plenty to do & lots to enjoy! Spring bulbs have stopped blooming & will be looking a bit worse for wear but try to leave the foliage in place as these will make the food the bulb needs to produce flowers next year. It's fine to cut off the flower heads & that should help them look better. Once the leaves have turned yellow they won't be producing food any longer so they can be cut down. Once spring-flowering shrubs such as Choisya & Ribes have flowered you can cut them back. When frost have passed prune tender plants like Penstemon, Caryopteris and Fuchsia – don’t forget to propagate your cuttings.

May is the time to get going with perennials as the ground is warm & they'll start growing more quickly. Only plant out the ones that can stand a little frost, but if your garden is generally frost-free, tender plants such as Dahlias can be put out too. Get ahead of the game by putting in support canes or pea sticks next to sweet peas, climbing roses, runner beans & peas. Tie in summer-flowering climbers regularly as once plants have got going it's difficult to try to prop them up & they may already be damaged. Buy extra plants if you need an easy fix to spaces. Little plugs of sweet peas are handy for slotting into any spot where they'll have something to climb up & will give enormous joy as the year goes on.

Lawns – lower the blade if you want to mow less frequently and apply a weed killer late April to early May – spot weed where necessary after this. Stay on top of the border weeds - a quick hoe (the gardeners best weapon) once a week will mean they don't compete for water, light or nutrients with the plants you want to grow.

Grow Your Own!  Lettuce is one of the vegetables that is very easy to grow in pots and you can
even grow it in a small container. Healthy and continuously productive, this crispy salad green has many qualities that make it a blessing for health. Gardening is therapeutic on so many levels. Just being around nature can improve your mood & be more at peace. The act of digging, planting & watering can help take your mind off of the stresses of daily life so enjoy your gardening and your emerging colours!

Alan Caswell

On Easter Saturday, my sister and I walked across the Common to see the ‘Easter Garden’ in the Churchyard.  It was wonderful, so beautifully made.  The three crosses stood to the left of the garden, and the closed tomb to the right, and pebble paths led to both. Spring flowers surrounded the whole Easter Garden.
It was a marvellous place to meditate and think about Easter.  As a venerable person sheltering under the Covid rules, I thank all concerned.

​To the left, a photograph of the Easter Garden, constructed primarily by Rev’d Judith Lee, and to the right, the Easter Cross of flowers, prepared by Caroline Hockin, with many individuals  separately adding a flower.
​
Submitted by Jane Coombs

The garden is naturally a colourful place... green grass, brown earth, painted fences and sheds, but it is the foliage and plants that provide the added zing. Gardening for colour is all about creative planning and judicious planting. Spring is an important season because we need something to reassure us that Summer is not far away especially in these strange times. In Winter it is wise to invest in a couple of Winter/Spring flowering  shrubs near the front door, kitchen window, or to be seen from your favourite armchair .
 
There is no need to stick to rigid colour combination rules, experimenting is part of the fun of producing your kind of colour scheme. Some like having a glorious mass of different colours, and in nature they never seem to clash, but knowing how to use colour throughout the different seasons can make a big difference to the final scene. Whether your patch is to be bright and cheery, or a haven of peace and tranquillity, will influence your choices. The hot colours...red, orange, yellow...are exciting, stimulating and demand attention: the cool colours...green, blue, purple, and white… restful calming, and recede into the background. When choosing plants and planning a colourful border, remember to select plants that flower at the same time in order to achieve your scene. As well as colour and flowering season, think about height and contrasts in shape. Tall upright plants like foxgloves, irises and day-lilies mix well with wide flower heads such as sedum and yarrow and spherical heads like alliums and dahlias. The colour value of plants used, i.e. how bright, pale or dark the foliage and flowers are likely to be, bearing in mind that this changes with the season. A small area of light colour in a sea of much darker planting creates a powerful image. Repetition of colour is an old trick to avoid a riot of shades. e.g. if you love red have more than one area if it ...think of block planting of the same  colour plant. Pale colours reflect light and brighten up a shady corner. Bright colours can look vibrant and wonderful in the sun while pastel colours will look pale and insignificant  Cool and pale colours give a sense of depth : bright colours appear closer. Planted at the end of a border,  pale colours make it look longer, while bright colours shorten it. These ideas can apply to colour in the garden all year round, using conifers, trees, bulbs, shrubs, annuals and perennials, and can make an artist out of a gardener.

​Hazel Wyatt

March - the first month of spring and the garden is coming alive! March is all about the colour of spring bulbs - Crocus, Daffodils, scented Narcissus, Snakes Head Fritillary and the delicate Erythronium.  

Now is the time to think ahead. If you have a conservatory, greenhouse, cold frame or even a windowsill start sowing seeds so you can have sturdy plants to put into the garden late spring. Aster, cosmos, celosia, dahlia, petunia and salvia can be started now for summer and autumn border colour.  

Now the slower winter months have passed, you can even sow outside if the soil is warm enough but you will need to protect new growth from a heavy frost or snow with fleece or a cloche. Sow hardy annual seeds straight into a sunny border or pots outside. Clarkia, sunflowers, stocks, poppies and cornflowers  are all hardy annuals also try some  wildflower seed mixtures into raked soil in a sunny position - great for bees and butterflies and add beautiful colour too. Chance some sweet peas seeds directly into a bed outdoors later in the month but don’t forget to provide support when seedlings emerge and start to climb. 

Last chance for bare root roses, fruit trees and currant bushes - don’t leave it much later in the month as they need time to establish. As soon as the frosts have gone get some onion, garlic and shallot sets planted with some carrots between the garlic it will stop carrot fly! Overwintered broad beans and peas start making really good headway and establishing themselves for an early crop and plant more peas directly now. 

Spring usually arrives by mid-March and the frequent sunny days provide the opportunity for an increasing range of gardening tasks. It's time to get busy preparing seed beds, sowing seed, cutting back winter shrubs, planting summer bulbs and generally tidying up around the garden. Towards the end of March give lawns a good feed on a warm day after there has been a spell of rain and the soil is moist, but the grass dry. This will provide growth to withstand any later drought. 

Gardens are special peaceful spaces with restorative qualities that can work wonders when we are stressed or under pressure. They make us feel better – that's a fact – and the real magic is that anyone, anywhere can enjoy their healing power! 
​
Alan Caswell