Devon Country Gardener March 2025

Gardeners cuttings in Devon

A LOOK AT NEWS, EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS IN YOUR AREA

TORQUAY REACHES THE FINAL OF BRITAIN IN BLOOM

Torquay has reached the finals of the prestigious RHS Britain in Bloom finals for the first time. The Devon town is one of 13 first time finalists who will prepare to win over judges in the summer with their displays and horticultural principles.

The Royal Horticultural Society has announced the 44 finalists competing in this year’s finals nominated through regional arms of the competition, who will compete to be crowned winner in one of eight categories, and will secure an RHS gold, silver gilt, silver or bronze award. One will then go on to be named RHS Britain in Bloom Overall Winner for 2025.

Judges will assess groups’ efforts against a criteria that has environmental benefit, community engagement and horticultural excellence at its core.

Among this year’s finalists are Abergavenny in Bloom who have devised a smart system that draws on sensors fitted across the town centre that measure soil moisture levels and temperature to help conserve water and identify ideal planting conditions. Similarly, Stony Stratford in Bloom have fitted innovatively designed downpipes to polytunnels, enabling them to capture even more rainwater.

HOSPICE CHARITY LOOKS FOR GARDENERS TO PROVIDE HELP

The Greenfingers Charity, which is dedicated to creating therapeutic gardens for life-limited children and their families in children’s hospices is looking for skilled gardeners in Devon to become a Garden Ambassador.

Over the last 25 years, the charity has designed and created nearly 70 gardens in children’s hospices across the UK. These spaces provide a backdrop to those children, families and staff that spend time in hospices.

The charity is launching a programme asking for help from experienced gardeners to support the maintenance and development of gardens. The work involves ensuring gardens are well maintained and providing help on garden volunteering days.

Applicants should have hands-on garden maintenance experience, strong plant knowledge, their own transport with a full driving licence and public liability insurance. The role needs commitment of one day a month per garden, with a rate of pay set at £200 per day, including travel expenses.

Send your CV and covering letter to Neil Sewell at neil@greenfingerscharity.org.uk to learn more about the work of the Greenfingers Charity visit www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk

MARVELLOUS MANGELWURZELS - THE VEGETABLE TO GROW THIS SPRING

There’s something likely to be new in vegetable plots this spring and summer- the forgotten heirloom vegetable, mangelwurzels.

It’s the vegetable that looks that looks like something out of a Harry Potter bookand with a name to match, the mangelwurzel has shot to fame this winter! The vegetable is a huge quirky cousin of beetroot and sugar beet and with its massive size, vibrant colour and interesting history, the mangelwurzel is fun to grow, but it also stores well, making it a real winter staple. It produces a huge root with chard-like leaves making it a dual-purpose vegetable as both the root and leaves are edible.

Mangelwurzel seeds can be sown directly into the soil and kept undercover until May, although earlier sowings produce larger harvests.

Mangelwurzel seeds should be available at garden centres but if you are struggling to find them visit:

www.shegrowsveg.com

FULL GARDEN EVENTS DIARY FROM ST LUKE’S HOSPICE

St Luke’s Hospice in Plymouth has another full diary of gardens opening across Devon this year. The scheme sponsored by NFU Mutual Plymouth, offers a diverse selection of beautiful gardens, many of which are not normally open to the public.

The season begins with Gnaton Hall’s Mothering Sunday opening on Sunday 30th March where visitors can enjoy over five acres of beautiful gardens just outside Yealmpton.

Other Devon gardens opening under the scheme include Flete House Gardens, Lukesland Gardens and a garden walkabout in the picturesque village of Rattery.

The scheme runs until September and entry to the gardens costs £6, with free entry for children under 16. Refreshments, plant sales and a raffle will be available at most of the gardens and all proceeds will go straight to help St Luke’s deliver their vital end of life care. www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/opengardens has the full list of gardens

St Lukes Hospice, Stamford Lane, Turnchapel, Plymouth PL9 9XA

SHOWS STAND OUT AS HIGHLIGHTS IN BUSY RHS ROSEMOOR CALENDAR

It’s another busy spring and summer to look forward to at RHS Rosemoor in north Devon but some special shows stand out as highlights in the calendar.

First to arrive will be Spring Flower Show, now in its 11th year at Rosemoor-on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th March. Show visitors will be able to enjoy spring blooms grown by competitors from the South West and beyond, focusing on daffodils, camellias, early magnolias and rhododendrons. In addition to the RHS Early Camellia competition, the show includes classes for ornamental shrubs and the RHS Daffodil competition.

Classes are free to enter and open to anyone who wishes to exhibit – please contact the RHS Competitions Manager Georgina Barter at georginabarter@rhs.org.uk . There will be trade and advice stands plus early spring shrubs, bulbs and

‘That is one good thing about this world... there are always sure to be more springs.’

LUCY

MAUDE MONTGOMERY

flowering plants available to buy in the Garden Centre.

Opening times -Saturday: 11.30am (after judging) to 4pm: Sunday 10am to 3pm.

RHS Rosemoor welcomes the Alpine Garden Society to the RHS Alpine Garden Society Show on Saturday ,22rd March–an opportunity to see some of the best-grown alpines in the country. Opening times 10am for nurseries with the show opening at 11am.

Stunning displays of camellias and magnolias take over RHS Rosemoor on Saturday, 26th and Sunday 27th April as exhibitors come from all over the south and west come together to form the RHS national Rhododendron show. It is an opportunity to view over 60 classes of rhododendron and stunning displays of camellias and magnolias.

On Saturday and Sunday 3rd May and 4th May The Garden Room at RHS Rosemoor hosts the Bonsai South West show.

RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington Devon EX38 8PH

‘The promise of spring’s arrival is enough to get anyone through the bitter winter!’

JEN SELINSKY

ANNE’S PAINTINGS HELP WITH HOPES OF SPRING

Anne Cotterill’s flower paintings are a welcome reminder of the hope and promise of spring. Her depictions of snowdrops, primroses and other wildflowers are a reminder of the joys ahead.

Anne Cotterill was born and bred in the Scottish Borders and studied at Edinburgh Art College but moved to Somerset in the 1960s and spent the rest of her life revelling in the flowers and landscapes of the West Country.

Her original paintings became well-known in the 1990s and were in demand, and it was at this point she started to reproduce some of her work as prints and greetings cards. Mill House Fine Art is now run by her daughter, Catherine, and continues to reproduce a lovely selection of Anne’s work.

Mill House Fine Art Publishing Ltd, Belflower Gallery, Market Place, Colyton EX24 6JS Tel: 01297 553100

www.millhousefineart.com

PEAT-FREE GROWING WITH COIR PRODUCTS

CoirNutri from Salike® is a revolutionary, 100per-cent peat-free growth substrate ideal for all types of growers and gardeners.

Made with de-composted coir and enriched with essential nutrienats of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK), this mix is developed by CoirProducts.co.uk®, blending traditions with the inherent goodness of coir.

Unlike other types of coir mixes, it functions as a compost, having gone through natural microbial activity and decomposition. It has high water holding capacity, excellent air porosity, and facilitates drainage. The addition of NPK helps plants grow stronger root systems.

HELP PROTECT ENGLAND’S GREEN SPACES WITH CPRE

Since 1926, CPRE has campaigned for a countryside that is rich in nature, accessible for all and protected for the future. Its proud history includes advocating for rural spaces, National Parks and the Green Belt, as well as ensuring local people have a say on what gets built where they live. Some of CPRE’s recent successes

include securing commitments to restore hedgerows and influencing the government’s planning reforms. Yet the countryside remains under threat now more than ever. CPRE has partnered with Farewill to offer you the opportunity to write your will for free. After providing for your loved ones, please consider leaving a gift in your will to CPRE to let your love of the countryside live on.

For more information on leaving a gift in your will to CPRE, contact us at legacyinfo@cpre.org.uk

GARDEN HOUSE CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY WITH STUNNING SNOWDROPS

A stunning Devon garden celebrating its 80th anniversary is showing over 400 varieties across ten acres. The spring event which runs through to mid-March is taking place once more at The Garden House on the western edge of Dartmoor.

The snowdrop festival has become an annual pilgrimage for families, garden lovers and snowdrop enthusiasts. For many, it is a heart-warming experience marking the first signs of spring after months of dark nights.

The hundreds of varieties include many with distinctive forms – such as the variety Galanthus ‘Ivy Cottage Corporal’, named for its two green ‘V’s resembling a corporal’s stripes. For head gardener Nick Haworth, the snowdrop festival is one of the highlights of the gardening year. “Snowdrops mark the first signs of new life in gardens and raise our spirits after months of gloom and decay. They give us promise of the delights nature will bring as winter turns into spring. “Somehow snowdrops trigger a lot of emotion. Many people have very strong memories of seeing snowdrops in particular places years ago — there’s almost something magical about them.”

This year’s Garden House Snowdrop Festival marks the start of a series of celebrations and events to mark the 80th anniversary of the garden’s creation.

Visitors will be able to sample a newly created range of culinary snowdrop-themed delights, including drinks and cakes in the garden’s café. A display of snowdrop-themed art by Di Fifield is also on sale in the café. The Snowdrop Festival runs to mid-March and is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10.30am to 3.30pm.

For the first time, visitors will be able to take their dogs into the garden, providing they are kept on short leads and stay on gravel paths. More information about the snowdrop festival including opening times is available at:

www.thegardenhouse.org.uk

Look out for our April issue of Country Gardener available on Friday 28th March Find your nearest stockist www.countrygardener.co.auk/magazine/stockists

NEW PEAR ‘CORNISHGOLD’ TO CELEBRATE

The South West has a new pear to celebrate pear ‘Cornishgold’ from the nurseries of Frank Matthews. Originally discovered in Launceston, the Treburrow Pear, as it was first known, stood in the kitchen garden of a historic farmhouse. For centuries, this ancient tree thrived unnoticed, bearing fruit with a mellow sweetness and outstanding juicing qualities. In 2015, its hidden legacy was uncovered by renowned pomologist Dr. Joan Morgan, who was captivated by its unique character. DNA testing confirmed that it was unlike any other known variety.

Frank P Matthews took grafts from the original tree, carefully propagating them into what is now known as ‘Cornishgold’—named for its radiant golden fruit.

Unlike traditional dessert pears, ‘Cornishgold’™ is prized for its exquisite juice, with a flavour that captures the essence of its Cornish origins. The firm, golden fruit is also ideal for cooking, canning, and other culinary delights, with a harvest period in late September.

www.frankpmatthews.com/catalogue/fruit-trees/pear/cornishgold/

GORGEOUS NGS SPRING GARDENS WAITING FOR VISITORS

The days are lengthening, spring is getting under way and there are lovely gardens in Devon just waiting for visitors to come and enjoy them, while helping to raise funds through the National Garden Scheme for nursing and caring charities.

UPPER GORWELL HOUSE, Goodleigh Rd, Barnstaple, Devon EX32 7JP opens for the National Garden Scheme on Sunday 23rd March from 2pm until 6pm. This four-acre garden overlooking the Taw estuary has a benign microclimate allowing many rare and tender plants to thrive, both in the open and in the walled garden. Several strategically placed follies complement the enclosures and vistas within the garden.

Admission £7.50, children free. Cream teas available, plants for sale, wheelchair access, dogs allowed, visitors can bring picnics, and coaches welcome.

CHEVITHORNE BARTON, Chevithorne, Tiverton, Devon EX16 7QB opens for the NGS on Sunday 30th March from 1.30pm until £4.30pm. There’s a walled garden, summer borders and woodland of rare trees and shrubs, a large collection of magnolias, camellias, and rhododendrons, and grass meadows. Admission £6, children free. Homemade teas available, dogs allowed and visitors can bring a picnic; the garden is not suitable for wheelchairs.

BICKHAM HOUSE, Kenn, Exeter, Devon EX6 7XL opens for the NGS on Sunday 30th March from 2pm until 5pm, six acres with lawns, borders, mature trees, formal parterre with lily pond, and a one-acre walled garden with vegetables and flowers. A palm tree avenue leads to a summerhouse, there’s a cactus and succulent greenhouse and lakeside walk.

Admission £6, children free. Homemade teas available, plants for sale, wheelchair access, dogs allowed, picnics and coaches welcome, and accommodation is offered at this venue. The garden is also open for the NGS by arrangement, from April until August; go to the NGS website and follow the links for more details and to make enquiries.

These gardens also open regularly for the NGS during the season, and there are more to choose from on the NGS website, in the county booklets and in the NGS Visitors Handbook 2025

Pear ‘Cornishgold’

Upper Gorwell House

Chevithorne Barton

The spectacular Garden House

It’s the final call for pruning!

MARCH IS THE LAST MONTH TO PRUNE MANY TREES AND SHRUBS BEFORE THEY COME INTO LEAF IN APRIL. WHY?

IT’S EASY TO SEE THE BRANCHING STRUCTURE AND SAFER IN TERMS OF DISEASE SPREAD

Pruning is done for a variety of reasons – to promote bigger harvests, get newly-planted trees and shrubs off to a good start, thin crowded stems, train cordons, fans and espaliers, encourage flowering, shape plants, remove diseased wood and promote vigour.

With a few exceptions, these jobs can be done in late winter and early spring when bare stems make the job of shaping shrubs and spotting diseased growth much easier.

There is still plenty of time in late February and well into March to prune, cut back and encourage new life into your plants and shrubs.

So, as we start the hopeful downward spiral to spring here’s what action you can still take when it comes to pruning.

Roses

Many types of roses can be pruned in winter right through to March, including floribundas, hybrid teas, shrub roses and climbing roses.

As a rule, cut back thin, weak stems the most, and thick, vigorous stems the least. Aim to leave plants anything from 15cm to 45cm tall, depending on the original size of the plant and your preference. The basic principles of pruning roses are the same as pruning anything else: cutting back hard will promote the strongest growth, while light pruning will result in less vigorous regrowth. Bush roses include cluster-flowered floribundas and large-flowered hybrid teas, and have been bred for their ability to flower freely on strong new growth made during the current growing season. This means they can be cut down hard every year to keep plants compact, if they are well mulched and fed every year.

Fruit bushes

Fruit bushes, including blueberries and blackcurrants, plus gooseberries and redcurrants are best pruned in late winter. Generally, remove some old wood each year, creating a goblet shape and leaving healthy young branches that will produce large crops in years to come.

Apple and pear trees

If you’re wondering when to prune your fruit or pear trees, the answer to that question depends on your goals. Do you want to reduce the size of a vigorous tree? Or, do you want to encourage a young fruit tree to grow faster?

Correct fruit tree pruning, at the right time of year, can help you achieve those goals.

Both these can be pruned through to mid-March to encourage fruiting. Aim to create a wine-glass shape, with evenly spaced branches rising up from the trunk in a circle around a hollow centre. Cut off any water shoots at their very base and remove any dead, diseased or crossing branches. Fruit trees hardly grow at all during the winter months (their roots continue to grow, but that’s about it). So, your tree will use just a small percentage of its stored nutrients to keep it alive during the winter. Most of the remaining energy will be saved for a flurry of action in the spring, when fruit trees emerge from dormancy. Their buds break open and trees need their stored energy to fuel blossom, leaf, branch, and root growth.

Deciduous ornamental trees

Again prune through to March, remove smaller branches arising from the trunk to create a clean, bare stem at least 90-120cm tall. Remove any branches that impede access or block mowing, but cut sensitively, thinning out rather than chopping back the whole canopy.

Buddleja davidii (butterfly bush)

New plants should be cut back now to create a short, stubby framework of branches 15-90cm high, depending on how tall you want the shrub to be. Thereafter, you can keep the shrub neat, vigorous and free-flowering by pruning back hard annually during early spring. As new growth starts to break, remove all of the previous year’s growth to two or three pairs of buds from the main framework.

Forsythia

Do not prune forsythia during the first few years after planting. However, once established, older plants that are left un-pruned become woody at the base where few flowers are produced. To avoid this, prune after flowering has finished, by cutting out one-in-three of the main stems at the base, starting with the oldest. Neglected plants can be rejuvenated by cutting back all flowered shoots to a strong bud near to the base of the shrub. Trim forsythia hedges after flowering too, then leave un-pruned until the following year otherwise you risk removing all of next spring’s flowers.

Hebe

Hebes grown for their foliage rather than their flowers, can be pruned in spring to achieve a compact and neat habit. Neglected plants can be cut back hard since new shoots will be readily produced from near to the base. Hebes grown for their flowers and foliage should only be pruned to remove frost-damaged, dead or diseased growth. You can also use a pair of shears to trim all hebes over lightly to encourage bushy growth. Variegated hebes that produce all-green shoots, should have these removed completely.

Spiraea

Spiraeas are a varied group including spring and summer flowering forms, some of which flower on new growth produced this year and others that flower on old wood produced in previous seasons. Late spring flowering spiraeas as well as summer-flowering varieties that bloom on old wood should not be pruned until after flowering. Also, spiraea hedges should be pruned annually, by lightly cutting back after flowering to maintain a dense and neat habit.

Why early spring is the best time to prune

• The plant is dormant. It’s not putting energy into producing leaves, flowers, buds, or new stems.

• There are no diseases or fungal pathogens in the air in winter. Late summer and fall are the worst time of year to prune because airborne pathogens reach their peak at that time.

• You can see the plant structure better when there are no leaves.

Rose pruning through to end of March

Shaping your tree for summer is a pruning goal

Bridford, Nr Exeter EX6 7LB 01647 252654

Traditional Nursery

Trees, Shrubs,Climbers and Perennials

Hanging Baskets, Patio Plants and Spring Bulbs Garden Shop, Local Produce Competitive Prices www.teignvalleynursery.co.uk teignvalleynursery@gmail.com

Garden designs Consultations and talks 07594 574150 info@katherinecrouch.com www.katherinecrouch.com

DON’T JUST TAKE OUR WORD...

Fine Turf (Devon) Ltd, a family a locally seeded turf, suitable treated and fertilised several

We also supply topsoil, composts your gardening needs, we can for planting flowerbeds and vegetable certified and stored dry all year 01364 652538

Lower Waye Farm, Ashburton

“Picked up a copy of your September issue yesterday. I have to say that it was easily the best free magazine of its type I have ever read. Congratulations on such a great publication.”

Time to learn a new skill

Would you like to learn a new skill this spring?

A high-quality series of craft workshops has been launched as part of the popular two-day Toby Buckland Garden Festival at Powderham Castle on Friday, 2nd May and Saturday, 3rd May.

The chance to learn a new skill brings together local craft and gardening experts for a new programme of Craft Workshops at the Devon event.

Taking place on both days, and with limited tickets, there are five workshops to choose from, including

• botanical art

• willow weaving

• fermenting

• floristry

• house plant terrariums.

The high profile in-demand tutors include renowned Devon

Botanical water colour painting

Join award winning and best-selling botanical Devon artist Harriet de Winton to start to delve into the world of botanic painting.

This two-hour session is an opportunity for beginners keen to learn pencil and watercolour work and how to paint seasonal plants from sight. Harriet has developed her own botanical painting style which she shares through workshops and bespoke commissions, teaching how to create contemporary watercolour artworks to treasure and share. Her teaching is much in demand.

COURSE DATE: Friday, 2nd May 10.45am and 2pm Saturday, 3rd May 10.45am

DURATION: 2hrs

PRICE: £55 including entrance to the Festival and all the materials you need.

The popular two-day Toby Buckland Garden Festival is launching a series of high profile workshops offering the chance to visitors to learn a new skill

botanical artist Harriet de Winton, Amelia Cooper Smith from Devon based Amelia’s Flower Farm, Frankie Hutch, co-owner of Exeter’s Hutch House Plants, Somerset willow artist Jo Sadler and owner of The Ground Up Cookery School, Colin Wheeler-James.

The cost of the course includes entrance to the festival and all your materials – plus you will go home with something fabulous, created at the festival.

All the courses will be held in specially allocated rooms inside the historic Powderham Castle.

How to book one of the workshops

Just visit www.tobygardenfest.co.uk

Go to What’s On and drop down to Learn a Craft where you can book all the individual courses

Creative willow making

Weave your own willow owl with artist Jo Sadler Jo Sadler is a Somerset Willow Artist with ten year’s experience. She teaches willow animal sculpture all over the Southwest using willow from the Somerset Levels. She has a large following of willow enthusiasts keen to learn more and create more using this fast-growing skill. She aims to encourage people to let themselves go and try something creative.

She says : “The Little Owl which we will be creating at Powderham is a great sculpture-small enough for indoors and lovely hovering over a garden border or lawn”.

COURSE DURATION: 2hrs 30mins

PRICE: £65 including entrance to the Festival and all the materials you need.

DATES/TIMES: Friday 2nd May 10.30am and 1.30pm Saturday, 3rd May 10.30am and 1.30pm

Flower arranging

Make a hand-tied bouquet with Amelia Cooper Smith

Learn how to make a beautiful hand-tied bouquet, get tips on growing you own cut flower patch and take your bouquet home!

From her small-scale cut flower farm and florist in Combeinteignhead, South Devon, Amelia grows thousands of flowers, including heirloom, scented, and unusual varieties. her style is natural and abundant using her own home-grown flowers.

COURSE DURATION: 1hr 30mins

PRICE: £75 to include entrance to the Festival and all flowers and materials for your bouquet.

DATES/TIMES: Friday, 2nd May 10.30am Saturday, 3rd May 10.30am

Or if you just want to visit the festival

Toby’s Garden Festival, now a premier gardening event in the Southwest is back for the 11th year, on the first Spring Bank Holiday of the year, Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd May, at Powderham Castle just outside Exeter.

The 2025 event promises visitors a great gardening day out with over 200 exhibitors including award winning plant nurseries, an outstanding speaker programme which includes BBC TV presenters Joe Swift, speaking on the Saturday and Frances Tophill speaking on the Friday. The speaker line-up includes award-winning author and Devon grower, Mark Diacono, and Susy Atkins the BBC Saturday Kitchen expert who will be hosting talks as part of a Food & Drink Market, a showcase for fabulous local products.

There’s a full supporting speaker and demonstration programme to view at www.tobygardenfest.co.uk

Book your tickets now at www.tobygardenfest.co.uk

Adults £18 Group bookings £15

Create a living terrarium

Make your own terrarium to take home

Design and build your own sealed miniature house plant ecosystem in a course led by Frankie Hutch from Exeter’s Hutch House Plants, covering everything from plant selection, layering and planting design – plus the care, techniques and tricks that’ll ensure your terrarium thrives. With thousands of plants to nurture daily, the team at Hutch have experienced it all and are on a mission to share their knowledge and skills with you!

COURSE DURATION: 1hr 30mins

PRICE: £65 including entrance to the festival and all the materials and plants to create a bespoke terrarium.

DATES/TIMES: Friday, 2nd May 1.30pm Saturday, 3rd May 1.30pm

Learn how to start fermenting

Join Colin WheelerJames from the renowned Ground Up Cookery School in Chudleigh in Devon for a hands-on workshop and introduction to the world of fermentation. In this relaxed and informative two-hour session, you’ll learn how to make fermented food, plus, you’ll get to sample a variety of ferments.

COURSE DURATION: 2hrs

PRICE: £65 includes entrance to the Festival.

DATES/TIMES: Friday, 2nd May at 1.45pm Saturday, 3rd May at 1.45pm

Devon artist Harriet de Winton

The flying willow owl by Jo Sadler Hugely popular terrarium making

Colin Wheeler-James - passionate about fermenting

Beautiful hand-tied bouquets

Yes please

✓ All cooked and uncooked food waste

✓ Bread and pastries

✓ Dairy produce

✓ Eggshells

✓ Fish and bones

✓ Fruit and vegetables, including peelings

✓ Meat and bones

✓ Pasta and rice

✓ Tea bags and coffee grounds

Uneaten pet food and cut flowers

No thanks

Compostable packaging Garden waste

Anything other than food waste, uneaten pet food or cut flowers

Top Tip

You can use any bag to line your caddy e.g. an old bread bag, empty salad bag, frozen food bag, old carrier bag, compostable bag or newspaper.

welcoming ‘home away from home’

No two days are ever the same for the residents at Fremington Manor care home in Barnstaple.

The residents, who receive residential, respite and nursing care in a large 19th-century manor house, enjoy a varied activities programme seven days a week, 365 days of the year, facilitated by a dedicated onsite activities team. They are actively encouraged to continue pursuing their own interests and hobbies, with friendships forming as residents get together over shared interests.

Sara Maynard, Home Manager at Fremington Manor, said: “When a resident first moves in for permanent or respite care, as well as finding out about their care needs, we also learn about their likes, dislikes and interests and then try to facilitate them pursuing that.

“Our residents particularly enjoy playing bowls, which can get quite competitive when we have a match, and they also enjoy lots of arts and crafts, so our activities calendar heavily focuses on that.”

The care home has also built great links with the local community, which sees visits from local nursery schools, scout groups, choirs and singing groups, and churches.

“Our community is very important to us at Fremington Manor and that includes the relatives and local community groups, as well lots of our doggy visitors. We are a very dog-friendly care home, which residents love.”

Residents’ family, friends and loved ones are also welcome to visit as much as they’d like and are invited to join in the activities or sit down for a meal in the dining rooms.

“Visitors are always welcome in the home, and we encourage people to come and visit their loved ones as

much as they’d like. We are happy to welcome them in for a meal with their relatives, as it’s good for morale and helps to make it feel like a ‘home away from home.’”

Residents at the care home, which is run by Care South, benefit from fully-furnished bedrooms with ensuite facilities and a range of communal lounges, dining rooms, a library, onsite hair salon, and a conservatory area for them to socialise in during daily activities.

Care South is a leading provider of high quality residential and home care services across the south of England. The not-for-profit organisation, which is a registered charity, has care homes in Dorset, north Devon, Somerset and West Sussex, and home care offices covering east and west Dorset, and northeast Somerset and south Somerset.

The start of SOMETHING SPECIAL

Magnolia’s magnificent blooms arrive at the end of winter, announcing that spring isn’t far away. Their white, pink, purple, dark pink or soft yellow flowers appear before the leaves - so the blooms take pride of place.

Few things announce the arrival of spring more than a hardy magnolia. Their creamy white, beautiful fragrant flowers adorn the glossy leaves –leaves that, at times, stay around all year long with dark green colour.

Magnolias can be either evergreen or deciduous but the deciduous varieties that lose their leaves in winter are by far more common. They have few leaves and this allows the beauty of the flowers to be seen much more clearly and are thus more popular. They are one of the oldest plant groups still in existence today and date back at least 20million years.

Planting a new magnolia tree

First identify the correct position. In full sun and not directly open to cold winds is best and not in a place which will get waterlogged. As far as spacing is concerned, don’t cramp your magnolia and allow enough space for it to grow to its full size. The plant label should give a good idea of spacing but in the absence of that the following rough guidelines for mature plants can be used:

The best time to plant a deciduous (loses its leaves in winter) magnolia is when they are dormant, from December to January. Dig the soil well slightly deeper than the container of the new plant and 60cm to 90cm wide. Remove the plant from the container and place the plant in the hole to the same depth it was in the pot and fill in around it with the dug earth.

Do not pile the soil higher around the base of the plant, the roots of magnolias are shallow by nature. Water well and make sure the area around the plant

remains moist for the next nine months until the roots have established themselves.

How to care for a magnolia

When magnolias are established, they are truly low maintenance shrubs. The following care plan will help them thrive although they withstand neglect (other than lack of water) very well:

An annual mulch with well-rotted organic matter such as the compost heap or spent potting compost. Weed well around the base of the plant and keep mulches away from the stem. If your garden soil gets dry in summer water very well a couple of times during the dry period. Magnolia roots are shallow and even well-established they can dry out in summer.

Pruning magnolias

Pruning a magnolia will not damage it but it will encourage the growth of wispy shoots which detract from the shape of the plant. Pruning can also cause flowering to reduce for a couple of years. So, the rule with magnolias is to avoid pruning them unless they are outgrowing their existing space. The best time to prune a magnolia is early to mid-summer because this will avoid the cuts bleeding which can be an easy site for infection.

Growing magnolias in pots

Magnolias can be grown in large pots or planters but do need good drainage - choose a pot that’s at least three sizes bigger than the original nursery pot. Select a dwarf-growing magnolia tree, suitable for growing in pots. Fill your pot or planter with a good quality planting mix. Gently remove the magnolia from the nursery pot and tease the roots lightly if they are compact. Plant the magnolia into the potting mix and backfill around the plant. Water in well and mulch over the surface of the potting mix to help retain moisture but keep the mulch back from the plants main stems. Keep the potting mix moist, but not soggy and make sure your new magnolia receives plenty of water during hot and dry summers.

There are some 125 species of magnolia plants, several of which are important ornamentals with many named cultivars. There are shrub-like deciduous magnolias and huge forest evergreen magnolias. The Asiatic species, star magnolia (M. stellata) and saucer magnolia (Magnolia × soulangeana), bloom in early spring before their deciduous leaves come out. The sweetbay magnolia (M. virginiana) has fragrant white flowers of medium size.

Some of the most popular magnolias include ‘Bracken Brown Beauty Magnolia’, a relatively cold hardy cultivar of southern magnolia with a dense pyramidal shape, and ‘Little Gem Magnolia’, a smaller, compact version of the same species that grows to about 20 feet tall. Both of these have large flowers that bloom in mid spring to summer. Among the deciduous magnolia tree varieties that bloom in early spring on bare branches are ‘Alexandrina Magnolia’ and ‘Ann Magnolia’, both hybrids of Asian origin and of considerably smaller stature than the American species with pink flowers that are tulip shaped.

Top tips on magnolias

• They prefer full sun but will also grow well in light shade for part of the day. In low light conditions the plant may not produce flowers.

• Choose your variety according to the space you have.

• They grow best in soil which is slightly acidic or neutral, they do not do well in alkaline, chalky soils.

• They are shallow rooting plants and because of this the soil should not be allowed to dry out. An annual mulch is highly recommended to prevent water loss.

• All produce flowers and the most common ones do this for a couple of weeks in late March to late May.

• They should not be planted in frost pockets or areas that are subject to water-logging.

• They rarely suffer from pests or diseases unless completely neglected.

Magnolias are at their best late March and June

Growing perfect onions

Too many gardeners still seem to have problems growing a high quality onion crop which is surprising seeing how easy they are to grow

A recent survey of allotment holders suggested too many gardeners were consistently disappointed with the results of growing onions.

Crops were too small, weeds overtook them and bolting was common - all of which affected the final harvest.

Onions (Allium cepa) are a vegetable-plot favourite – one of the easiest crops to grow, taking up relatively little space and giving reliable harvests. The crop can be stored too, rather than having to be used straight away, so you won’t find yourself overwhelmed by a sudden onion glut.

So more care at certain times of growing them will negate any problems and you can easily grow perfect disease free large onions.

Onions are usually grown from small plants called sets, planted outdoors in autumn or spring. These grow quickly and reliably, with minimal maintenance. They can also be grown from seed, although this takes a little more time and care.

Onions like a warm, sunny spot in well-drained soil, with watering in dry spells and regular weeding. Onions can also be grown in large containers. Harvest the crop in summer or early autumn, then either use straight away or store them for whenever needed over the following months.

There are many varieties to choose from, producing yellow, white or red onions, some spicy and tangy, others mild and sweet. Varieties mature at different times from early summer to early autumn. Some store particularly well or are resistant to disease or bolting. When choosing varieties, look for those with an RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM), as these are particularly reliable croppers.

Plants grown from sets are also less likely to be affected by disease. However, they are more prone to bolting (when a flower is produced instead of a bulb), so choose heattreated sets to reduce the risk.

Seeds are usually cheaper to buy, more widely available, and with a greater choice of varieties. But the seedlings need to be looked after more carefully and the seeds don’t usually store well, so germination rates may decline if you keep the seeds from year to year. Onions have a limited root system, so improving the soil with lots of organic matter before planting is invaluable – dig in a bucket of garden compost or well-rotted manure per square metre/yard. This will add nutrients, improve the soil structure and hold moisture in the soil. Avoid using fresh manure.

You can also apply a high potassium general fertiliser at a rate of one handful per square metre/yard.

Growing

Onions don’t do well in acid soil (below pH 6.5), so if necessary reduce acidity by adding lime in autumn or winter.

You can sow onions outdoors from late winter until mid-spring, once your soil is drying out and beginning to warm up. Thin out the seedlings first to two inches apart, and later to four inches. Closer spacing will result in more bulbs and a larger overall crop, but smaller individual bulbs.

Top tips for perfect onions

1. Give onions exactly what they need: a sunny spot in moist but well-draining, fertile soil. Add compost or well-rotted manure to the soil several weeks before planting.

2. Spacing is vital because it has a direct impact on the final size of your bulbs. Row spacings of about a foot apart leaves plenty of room for large onions.

3. Onions have long, thin leaves that don’t shade the soil, which creates ideal conditions for weeds to thrive. Turn your back for too long and weeds can quickly gain the upper hand and prevent well-formed bulbs.

4. Bolting is a common problem and in the case of onions leads to split or poorly formed bulbs that won’t store for long at all. Two reasons behind bolting are a cold snap soon after planting, and hot, dry weather.

5. Your cue to harvest is when the leaves start to turn yellow and flop over from the neck where the leaves meet the bulb.

show onions needs something extra

Large exhibition onions are one of the most difficult vegetables to grow which is why so many people covert the prize for the biggest and best specimens at their local shows.

First select the right variety. The best choice is aptly named ‘Exhibition’. Not only will this seed grow into huge 100g onions the flavour will still be excellent and, unlike other monster onions, they will store well.

Using a good seed compost sow your exhibition onion seed in a heated propagator, lightly covering with sieved compost. Once the seedlings have germinated place a fluorescent light above them as this will stop them growing leggy and build a “wall” of tinfoil around them to reflect the light.

Once the seedlings begin to straighten out of their

crooked stage pot them on individually into threeinch pots. Once the roots have filled the pots move them on into larger pots and support the leaves using short canes and clips. You want them to grow strong and straight.

Water your exhibition onions from the bottom as watering from above may cause the bulb to rot.

Once the risk of frost has passed then the onions can be planted out, ideally in a polytunnel or raised bed. Depending on how serious you are about winning the prize you may wish to select about four of the strongest plants and put them into their own 20 litre pots, again giving the leaves some support. From then on it’s a question of giving them special care, attention, water and feed.

Remember onions need plenty of space

Selecting the right variety is key to exhibition size onions

BUZZ IT UP THIS SPRING: Planting Wildflowers for Pollinators

As February unfolds, we’re greeted with the first brave snowdrops, their delicate white blooms heralding the promise of spring. Before we know it, other spring bulbs, such as crocuses and early daffodils, will emerge, bringing with them the gentle hum of early pollinators at work. Now is the perfect time to think about how we can make our gardens not just a sanctuary for ourselves in the coming months, but for the many creatures that depend on them—especially our precious pollinating insects.

At Meadowmania, we believe in the importance of supporting biodiversity by planting native wildflowers that nurture our vital pollinators. We’re excited to help you create a garden that not only looks beautiful but also provides essential nectar from early summer through to autumn. Here are five wildflower species which, together, offer a continuous nectar source for bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects throughout the growing season.

1. Meadow Cranesbill ( Geranium pratense )

For a garden that thrives with both beauty and biodiversity, plant meadow cranesbill. This delightful perennial begins its bloom in early summer and continues to impress well into early autumn, with its striking blue-purple flowers. Rich in nectar, these open blooms are particularly attractive to a variety of pollinators, including buff-tailed and red-tailed bumblebees, and honeybees. Buff-tailed bumblebees (Bombus terrestris), the largest of the bumblebee species, are often the first to emerge in spring. These bees have a unique habit of being “nectar robbers.” If a flower’s nectar is too deep for their tongues, they’ll puncture the base to access the sweetness within. This clever method not only benefits the bumblebees but also leaves behind a handy access point for other pollinators to follow.

2. Greater Knapweed ( Centaurea scabiosa

)

This hardy perennial, with its bold purple blooms, flourishes from mid-summer through to autumn, creating a striking visual display. Its flowers are a magnet for a range of pollinators, especially butterflies, including the beautiful marbled white butterfly (Melanargia galathea). The marbled white, with its distinctive black-and-white patterned wings, is particularly fond of greater knapweed. The flowers offer both a reliable nectar source and a perfect spot for these butterflies to lay their eggs. As the larvae hatch, they feed on the knapweed, completing a full life cycle right within your garden.

3. Oxeye Daisy ( Leucanthemum vulgare )

One of the most iconic British wildflowers, oxeye daisies bloom from late spring through to early autumn, offering a source of nectar for a wide variety of pollinators. The yellow centre of the flower is made up of many small flowers which each hold nectar and are a favourite of bees, butterflies, beetles, moths and hoverflies. Their long-lasting blooms help support a steady food supply from early summer to early autumn, making them an ideal flower for your pollinator garden.

4. Bird’s-Foot Trefoil ( Lotus corniculatus )

Blooming from late spring to late summer, bird’s-foot trefoil is a must-have wildflower for supporting the common blue butterfly (Polyommatus icarus). This plant serves as a host for the butterfly’s larvae, providing them with the food they need to grow. Its bright yellow flowers also attract a range of other pollinators, including bumblebees like the red-tailed bumblebee.

5. Field Scabious ( Knautia arvensis )

This beautiful perennial blooms from mid-summer into autumn, providing a vital nectar source when many other flowers start to fade. Its lavender-pink flowers attract a wide range of pollinators, including bees, and butterflies like the meadow brown and small tortoiseshell. But it’s not just bees and butterflies that love field scabious; this plant is also a favourite of burnet moths, including the striking six-spot burnet (Zygaena filipendulae) and the New Forest burnet (Zygaena viciae). These daytime moths are particularly attracted to the nectar-rich flowers, playing an important role in pollination. By planting field scabious, you’ll extend the nectar supply in your garden into autumn, providing vital support for bees, butterflies and moths as they prepare for colder weather.

Bringing It All Together: A smorgasbord of delights

These five species, along with over 20 others from the RHS Plants for Pollinators list, are included in Meadowmania’s Native British General Purpose Wildflower Seed Mix.

Ideal for creating a pollinator-friendly garden, this mix is designed to support the essential insects that help pollinate plants, provide food for wildlife, and boost biodiversity. As spring approaches, now is the perfect time to think about sowing these beautiful, low-maintenance wildflowers in your garden.

Planting native wildflowers is an easy and impactful way to contribute to the health of our environment. Not only will your garden become a haven for bees, butterflies, and other vital pollinators, but you’ll also be helping to restore local biodiversity. Whether you have a large rural plot or a small city garden, creating a pollinator-friendly space is an effort that benefits us all.

At Meadowmania, we’re passionate about giving you the tools to make your garden more biodiverse and sustainable. Browse our wide selection of native wildflower seeds, plants, and bulbs today, and let’s work together to make our world a little greener, one pollinator at a time.

To help you make your garden more pollinator-friendly, we’re offering 10% off our Native British General Purpose Wildflower Seed Mix during the month of March. Just enter code: CG10 at the checkout at www.meadowmania.co.uk www.meadowmania.co.uk shop@meadowmania.co.uk

Meadow cranesbill

Marbled white butterfly on greater knapweed

Oxeye daisy

Common blue butterfly on bird’s-foot trefoil

Burnet moth on field scabious

Meadowmania’s Native British General Purpose Wildflower Seed Mix

Early season delights are READY AND WAITING

The first gardens to open for the new spring season are always special.

Daffodils, crocuses, magnolias, spring blossom, perhaps even the last of the snowdrops are all waiting and demanding to be explored.

It’s been a storm damaged winter for many gardens but in March there are signs of the new season and with the days getting longer and the odd warm day there’s some new hope in the air and gardeners are in general an impatient lot and keen to get out into the fresh air and visit gardens throughout the southwest.

The year ahead promises lots with so many places to visit old and new. But it may only be March but already there are special openings and early season delights to enjoy. Here’s a few places which should be on your list.

Forde Abbey crocus displays set for a bumper year

The stunning crocus displays on the lawns and meadows of Forde Abbey on the Somerset and Dorset border are ready to welcome visitors. Following the snowdrops in February, acres of naturalised crocuses (Crocus vernus and tommasinianus) will line pathways and cover the lawns with their wide-open chalices. The earliest record of Ccocus vernus growing at the Abbey dates to over a hundred years. Since then, they have self-sown and beautifully naturalised in our 30 acres of gardens and meadows. Each year, the abbey gardeners add a few more to areas needing a boost, and results are spectacular It’s the perfect time of the year for pollinators to come out, bask in the sunshine, and enjoy the nectar. Elsewhere in the garden, the wild daffodils (Narcissus lobularis), clumps of Lenten roses (Helleborus x hybridus) and splashes of Chionodoxa and winter flowering shrubs will also be at their best this month. Free entry to Forde Abbey. www.fordeabbey.co.uk

Forde Abbey & Gardens Chard TA20 4LU

Badminton House set to be at its vibrant best

There’s the opportunity to experience the vibrant beauty of spring and summer at Badminton Estate’s Open Garden Days on 27th, April 15th June, and 7th September this year.

Visitors can explore the historic Gloucestershire gardens, featuring formal beds designed by Russell Page, alongside the South Garden’s water squares, hedges, and borders. Enjoy a stunning array of seasonal blooms, from tulips to roses and dahlias, and visit the walled garden, home to the estate’s kitchen garden. Then take in the plant and flower stalls, delicious food, and drink vendors, and the very special A Garden of Botanical Art exhibition in the Old Hall.

Admission opens at 10 am, with the last entry at 4 pm. Pre-sale tickets are £10 for adults and £7.50 for seniors (60 plus), with higher prices at the gate. Carers and children under 12 free.

Proceeds support the Severn Area Rescue Association and the Church Restoration Fund. For directions, parking, and accessibility details, visit www.badmintonestate.com

Badminton Estate, South Gloucestershire, Badminton GL9 1DD

Caerhays Castle - one of the great Cornwall gardens

Nestled in a sheltered valley on the south coast of Cornwall near Mevagissey you’ll find the world class, magical 140-acre woodland garden at Caerhays Castle, steeped in history and often described as a springtime wonderland for visitors. Home to a National Collection of Magnolias, the gardens are also famous for their camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas.

Caerhays is a one of the great gardens of Cornwall. The gardens are open daily until the 8th June. The castle is open for guided tours from 3rd March - 8th June.

Caerhays Castle, Gorran Churchtown, Saint Austell PL26 6LY Tel: 01872 501310 enquiries@caerhays.co.uk visit.caerhays.co.uk

National Garden Scheme ready for a great 2025 full of gardens

There’s a host of gorgeous National Garden Scheme gardens waiting to be explored in 2025. From stately acres in the grounds of historic homes to idyllic country plots, wildflower meadows to kitchen gardens, and urban secrets there are over 3,300 gardens opening across the country for you to discover this year. With fresh shoots emerging and spring bulbs in flower, it’s a great time to get out and enjoy a visit. What could be better than an affordable day out in a beautiful garden – and perhaps a slice of delicious home-made cake!

Find your perfect garden ngs.org.uk

Hartland Abbey & Gardens

DAFFODIL & SPRING FLOWER SUNDAY 16TH MARCH 11AM - 4PM

Enjoy a lovely day out with beautiful historic daffodils, spring flowers and wildflower walks to the beach! Film location for ‘Malory Towers’, ‘The Salt Path’ and many other productions

* Special rate: Adults £10 Child over 5 £1 *

* House open 12-3pm £4 * Dogs very welcome *

* Delicious light lunches & cream teas * Open for the 2025 Season: 30th March - 2nd October

Sunday to Thursday 11am - 5pm (House 2pm - last adm. 3.45pm)

For more information and events see www.hartlandabbey.com Hartland, Nr. Bideford EX39 6DT 01237441496/234

24 acres of Rare Shrubs, Trees, Pools & Waterfalls Home-made soups & cakes

Sunday 16th March to Sunday 8th June, Suns, Weds, Bank Holidays 11am - 5pm

Harford Ivybridge PL21 0JF Tel 01752 691749 www.lukesland.co.uk

your perfect garden: ngs.org.uk

Country Gardener

CASTLE IS OPEN FOR GUIDED TOURS: 3rd March - 8th June

CASTLE IS OPEN FOR GUIDED TOURS: 3rd March - 8th June

Caerhays is one of the Great Gardens of Cornwall and home to a world-famous National Collection of Magnolias. This magical woodland garden has a spectacular springtime display. GARDENS OPEN: 10th February - 8th June

Caerhays is one of the Great Gardens of Cornwall and home to a world-famous National Collection of Magnolias. This magical woodland garden has a spectacular springtime display. GARDENS OPEN: 10th February - 8th June

01872 501310 enquiries@caerhays.co.uk

www.caerhays.co.uk

www.caerhays.co.uk

Lukesland gardens wins fulsome praise from visitors

Lukesand gardens ‘The perfumes, the peace, the beauty.....’ ‘The most magical gardens I have ever visited’, ‘Scrummy soup and cake!’

These are some of the comments from appreciative visitors to the spectacular 25-acre Lukesland Gardens, Ivybridge. Tucked away in a woodland valley on the edge of Dartmoor (just north of Ivybridge, 10 minutes off the A38), Lukesland’s noted collection of rare trees and flowering shrubs provides a spectacular show of colour in the Spring. In March, the magnificent Magnolia campbellii should be in full bloom, along with a host of camellias and early rhododendrons and wildflowers. The Addicombe Brook at the heart of the garden is criss-crossed by a series of charming and unusual bridges over pools and waterfalls. There are also many sculptures, including a redwood carved into a striking buzzard, and indoors there is an art exhibition by well-known local printmaker, Louise Scammel. With home-made soup and cakes on offer in the tearoom, and Free Entry and fun activities for children, these family-owned gardens have something for everyone. Dogs are welcome on a lead. Spring openings are on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Bank Holidays 11am to 5pm from 16th March to 8th June.

For further details call 01752 691749/ 07479383531 or visit www.lukesland.co.uk or facebook.com/lukeslandgardens

Welcoming spring to Hartland Abbey on Daffodil Day - Sunday 16th March

After a terrible winter of flooding in Hartland Abbey itself and hurricane force winds bringing down trees in the gardens, spring is appearing in all its glory! To celebrate, the abbey, its gardens and lovely walks to the beach are open for Daffodil Day on Sunday 16th March before the season starts later in the month. It’s a great chance to see the historic collection of daffodils, the beautiful camellias and early spring flowers at a reduced entry rate. It’s a great day out and for dogs too! With Series Five of ‘Malory Towers’ on screens now, young fans can search for locations around the gardens. The Tea Rooms will be serving their warming, homemade sustenance!

Hartland, Abbey Stoke, Bideford EX39 6DT

Stunning spring blossom at Batsford Arboretum

Early spring visitors will soon be able to take advantage of the enchanting beauty of early season blossoms at Batsford Arboretum. Home to the National Collection of Prunus (Sato-zakura Group) cherry trees, Batsford boasts over 120 flowering cherries spread throughout the grounds Additionally, you’ll find 73 species of magnolia, which contribute delicate pastel shades to the seasonal scenery, complemented by vibrant carpets of daffodils and other spring-flowering bulbs.

Batsford Garden Centre is a haven for garden and plant lovers too, offering a fabulous range of quality, affordable plants and gifts. Pre-booking is advisable for arboretum visits via www.batsarb.co.uk

Batsford Arboretum & Garden Centre, Batsford, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire GL56 9AT Tel: 01386 701441

How I found my ‘inner gardener’

One young Exeter woman who wants to remain anonymous, shares her experience of how gardening moved her from anxiety and depression to having a smile on her face.

I think I can say gardening saved my life. I was a moody, unhappy 22-year-old woman with a history of depression and finding it difficult to hold any sort of job down.

I worked quite happily I guess in a local Co-op supermarket on the till and it gave me rent money and some freedom to afford somewhere to live away and independent from my very caring and worried parents.

But it was only filling in time. My depression was worsening and I was offered and accepted therapy, searching for a cure.

If I was to describe myself during this period, I was anxious, useless and completely without purpose.

I was a doctor’s daughter and we grew up in Devon in a large garden with one older sister and we loved playing tennis, being out in the fresh air and loving the outdoor life. I used to help my dad with the gardening and loved growing vegetables.

Somewhere along the line I had lost contact with being outside. I had forgotten what it was like to feel the sun on my face.

I stayed in so much listening to music, sleeping during the day and awake at night and self harming. In fact I now relied on medication to make me feel anything at all.

My father, grandfather and uncle were all passionate gardeners. I had I suppose learned to associate gardens with a sense of calm and homeliness, exactly what I was looking for. After failing to study properly the turning point came when my uncle asked me if I wanted to earn some money helping him out on his Exeter allotment. He had hurt his

back and was worried the allotment would grow out of control.

I jumped at the chance and worked there in spring and summer three days a week. I loved being outside, getting my hands dirty, planting and planning and wallowing in the camaraderie of the other allotment holders.

To me the act of gardening is this sense of giving back to nature which makes me feel so much better.

I also found I was good at it. I read a lot and found I had some genuine affinity with the allotment and with my family garden. Gardening reassures me that I am both capable and full of purpose. I’ve added some gardening jobs as well, working for three or four ladies who wanted help with their garden. When spring comes round, I think I will be fully booked.

How has this changed me? I’m sleeping well. I’m not so anxious - being outdoors even in November does wonders for that.

Most of all, I remember when a smile returned to my face after years of absence. There have been times when I have found myself standing amidst herbaceous perennials and laughing simply because the idea of these things growing out of the ground made so much sense. I can’t really explain it but it does distract me from worry and stress.

Gardening can make us feel both calm and invigorated. We all have an inner gardener, and there has never been a better time to connect with yours.

HAVE YOUR SAY...

Over the last few weeks Country Gardener readers have again been sharing their thoughts, ideas and views with us. If you have anything to add as the new growing season arrives email us at editorial@countrygardener.co.uk

TAKEAWAY DELIGHTS FOR BIRDS

My outside space is a wonderful place, Wild birds visit each day. They argue and fight with all their might to pick up a takeaway.

I leave out a treat for them to eat, and though this may sound absurd, I have sparrows and tits who eat the most bits –and even a grape-eating blackbird.

Wagtails abound, they vacuum the ground and will only eat from the floor. Starlings eat fast as if each peck was their last and they drop more than they eat, I am sure.

If a wash is their wish, there’s always a bird’s bath to do as they please - to drink or to clean and then away to preen.

It’s just my bit to keep them healthy and fit, as they live their life every day. The joy they bring with the songs that they sing; saying thank you in their own special way.

Claire Piper Portsmouth

Are wild birds getting friendlier?

I wonder if any of your readers have found that wild birds in the garden seem to be getting friendlier and more domesticated. This Christmas after feeding a handful of birds for several months with what is a very tasty diet of mealworms and superior branded birdseed, I noticed three things.

Firstly, they started perching on pots and perennials outside the window and were clearly waiting for their meal. Every day. Secondly, they became more impatient if I was late or forgotjumping around and coming to the back door and on one occasion I had a lady blackbird and two robins in the kitchen. Thirdly, if I went out, they stayed eating and didn’t seem threatened by my getting close. All in all, I feel I have some new friends. Whether or not it’s a change in habits or just that they are delighted with the quality of the food I don’t know but it is lovely.

Janet Graham Chichester

Growing large garlic bulbs

I love growing large garlic bulbs – contrary to what many think not only do they look impressive they have a better taste with a milder flavour that’s every bit as delicious as their diminutive cousins. The trick is don’t let them compete with weeds, make sure the pH range is between 5.5 and 7 and keep them evenly watered and if they dry out they will become stressed and send up shoots or a flowers stalk. We both love your magazine by the way Andy Palmer Milverton

Polystyrene to the fore

Here’s a tip as we start thinking about planting things for spring -save using too much compost when filling your window boxes, baskets, and containers. Put in a good layer of broken up pieces of polystyrene into the base of the pots first then fill with the compost. You can reuse the polystyrene the following year by just giving it a good wash.

Allen Dunre Poole

A father’s advice to a new gardener

My father who died about ten years ago was a passionate gardener. He was keen for me, his only daughter, to take up the mantle and to so wrote me words of advice. While doing one of my occasional clear outs I found his words and they are worth sharing.

“I want to offer some advice about becoming a new gardener. For along with good compost and high-quality seeds, you need patience, self-compassion, and a good dose of humour.

When I planted the first garden — patio containers for some salad greens and herbs — I read gardening involves a steep learning curve. The book said, it takes ten years to learn how to garden. You can't speed up nature. You learn by experience, by making mistakes.

Gardening really comes simply from

doing it repeatedly, year after year. But. It. Is. All. Worth. It. That feeling when you make your first meal from homegrown ingredients or grow your first artichoke— you can't buy that in a supermarket aisle. You need good soil. This is the one part where please don’t skimp.

Start small. If you take on too much all at once, you’ll only become discouraged if you can’t maintain it all, and you might give up.

If you don’t like kohlrabi, don’t grow kohlrabi. If pesto on a summer day is what makes you happy, plant as much basil as you can fit in. You get my point.

I know it’s overwhelming. But I’ll wager that five years or 15 years from now, you will not regret learning how to garden. Enjoy this time of apprenticing and growing. Put your hands in the dirt, be curious, and have fun’’.

Jo Smedley Martock

WELCOME TO A BLUE DAFFODIL!

My brother-in-law has a proud claim to fame. He has a blue daffodil! I am not sure how he came by it and he keeps quiet on the subject but I have seen it. Apparently, it took ten years in the making but does not exist in the wild. The cultivar is called Narcissus ‘Poisson d’Avril’ and was developed in Wales. Whatever next?

Emily Fisher Bristol

EVERYTHING IS STARTING EARLIER

Has anyone else noticed a trend over the last few years – that things seem to start appearing in the garden earlier – never mind what the weather is. We had daffodils the week after Christmas - out in full bloom. The snowdrops in my and my neighbour’s garden are well advanced in mid-January. Other plants are at least a few weeks ahead of what is normal. I read a study at Cambridge University said plants are flowering around a month earlier. It is all down to climate change. Does it matter? I guess it just saddens me a little. I don’t like what’s happening to our climate and I guess this is just another indication of change.

Lisa McDonald Exeter

Narcissus 'Poisson d'Avril'

0203 137 5159 www.gardenplantsonline.co.uk

A wide range of plants & trees available for UK-wide delivery direct to your door

Discounts available for trade customers

Add spring bright colours to your garden! Acacia Dealbata (Mimosa Tree) - available for delivery from as little as £51.95 product code: 22728

We have a new exciting range of greenhouses coming out for the spring with a variety of different colours to brighten up your garden for 2025, along with a wide range of apex & pent design sheds with a number of different configuration options to choose from.

We are a family run company set in the Blackdown Hills of Devon, we have been building bespoke buildings for well over 10 years and have a wealth of knowledge across our team. If you would like to get in contact and discuss your ideas please contact us on our email or phone numbers below.

Scan to browse the website!

WE ALSO MAKE BESPOKE GARDEN BUILDINGS TO SUIT YOUR NEEDS FROM GARAGING, WORKSHOPS, GARDEN STORES TO CABINS.

Operation weed patrol!

Attacking weeds in early spring is thought by many to be the secret of a successful growing season. Don’t let them get a grip of your garden.

Weeds are also very successful plants - there’s no getting away from it. That means they can dominate your borders and crowd out other plants. And until recently, gardeners took pride in making sure there were no weeds in their gardens. It was something you ‘had to do.’

But sometimes perhaps there’s another view- weeds will grow where nothing else will grow. They can be pretty. And many of them support local wildlife. So, we now realise that not all weeds are bad.

However, you do need to find out more, so that you can decide which weeds you want to keep and which ones to weed out.

Spring is the very best time to weed because that is when garden weeds are emerging.

So, if you take out the young weeds, they won’t come up to flower. You’ll have fewer weeds later. You can weed at any time of day. It’s often easier to pull weeds out after it’s been raining, but you can weed after dry or wet weather.

The main reason for weeding is that weeds take up space and nourishment in the soil. That’s particularly important if you are growing food to eat, because vegetables need space and nutrients in order to grow to the ideal size for harvest.

It may seem counter-intuitive, but hand weeding is probably the quickest and most effective way to weed a garden. If you’re short of time, just make yourself do a few ten- or fifteen-minute sessions. They will soon add up.

Perennial weeds need a different kind of weeding

However, if you hoe perennial weeds, they will sprout again.

That’s because perennial weeds have roots which stay in the ground for three years or more. If you chop its leaves off, the perennial weed just grows back. Perennial weeds include dandelions, ground elder, bindweed, creeping buttercup and many more. The best way to stop perennial weeds from coming back is to dig the whole root out. However, they can sprout again from tiny scraps of root.

People are sometimes told that using landscape fabric/weed control fabric will help stop weeds coming back. It works for a few months, but it’s not a long-term solution.

Why there is no such thing as a weed-free garden

Nobody has ever achieved a weed-free garden. And if anyone promises you that landscape fabric or artificial lawn means ‘no weeding’, then do not believe them. You can minimise weeds. You can get the most effective weeding tools. But whether you spray everything with chemicals or smother every inch of your garden in weed suppressing membrane, you will still get weeds in the future.

Like every form of weed control, horticultural membrane/landscape fabric/artificial grass does control weeds, very effectively. But only for a few months.

If you cover the membrane with gravel or mulch, weed seeds settle in that. Annual weeds are blown in by the wind and grow on top. They also grow in the dust that settles on top of artificial grass.

Weeding without chemicals

There are recipes on the internet for killing weeds with salt, vinegar or boiling water. These are all contact herbicides, which means they kill the leaves they touch. They don’t kill the roots. But they also kill any other leaves they touch, so it is difficult to use them in a crowded border.

If you re-apply contact herbicides often enough, the roots will die off. But wouldn’t it be

less effort to hand-weed them out in the first place?

Just because something is home-made, it doesn’t automatically mean it is safe. And salt leaches into the soil. It can damage the vital micro-organisms in the soil. You may have problems planting in that area.

As for boiling water – how do you keep a kettle boiling as you rush down the garden to that patch of bindweed at the bottom?

“A weed that runs to seed is seven years weed” - Proverb

The four basic ways of weeding

• Dig out weeds completely by hand, including the roots. If you leave even a scrap of root behind, it can re-grow.

• Cover weeds with a very thick mulch, black plastic or landscape fabric. This deprives them of light so they can’t photosynthesise and eventually die off.

• Use organic weedkillers, either as a spray or a topical application, such as a gel.

• Hoe your weeds.

“Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them” - A.A. Milne

Some weeding tips

• Do a small section at a time. Hand weed your plants and then cover the area with a layer of well rotted manure, garden compost, bark chippings or other mulch.

• Mulch the soil all round where you want to plant before even thinking about what new plants to buy.

• Understand what kind of weeds you are dealing with. Depending on where you live, identify your most common weeds, then check whether they are annual or perennial.

• The best way to stop annual weeds from coming back is to layer a couple of inches of mulch on your border once a year. You can use bark chippings, well rotted manure or garden compost.

“When weeding, the best way to make sure what you are pulling is a weed and not a valuable plant is to pull on it. If it comes out of the ground easily, it is a valuable plant” - Paul Dickson

YOUR SOIL IS IN NEED OF HELP!

The first weeks of spring often sees soil in its worst condition of the year, drained of nutrients, compacted and suffering from erosion. It needs some help.

Healthy and nourishing soil is the key to successful plant growth, and without it, they simply won’t thrive.

It is the first and most important rule of gardening successfully. Soil improvers are a great solution for enhancing soil health as they will enhance fertility, structure and nutrient availability.

Spring is of course the key season when the soil comes into focus. Harsh wet winters drain the soil of nutrients, it gets compacted and suffers from erosion. So, action is a necessity, every year.

• Organic matter when added to the soil:

• Increases soil organic carbon.

• Increases the nutrients within the soil, making it more fertile for plant growth.

• Improves water retention in free-draining, sandy soils

• And improves drainage in heavy, clay soils.

• Creates an environment where soil life can thrive, boosting biodiversity in the soil ecosystem.

When laid over the surface of the soil as a mulch, organic matter additionally protects the soil below it, conserves soil moisture by reducing water lost to evaporation, and

Want to advertise in one of our features?

We offer special all counties prices when advertising with our features, plus 100 words of free editorial with an advert.

Speak to one of our sales people for more details.

• Absorbsimpuritiesfromthesoil.

• Holdsanddeliversnutrientstothesoil.

• Retainsmoistureinlightsoils.

• Improvessoildrainage.

• Conditionsheavysoils.

Availableonline: 750g,3.5kg,10kg 20kg,200kg

www.dorsetcharcoal.co.uk

helps to suppress weed growth. Gardeners now have such a wide range of options with biodegradable compost, where specific research provides products which deal with specific problems, everything from special root growth to drainage and compost for specific plants. It all means there’s no excuse forgetting your soil healthier.

Biochar and no-dig route to soil health

If you’re passionate about gardening and looking for innovative ways to improve your soil health, you might have encountered the terms Biochar and no-dig gardening says The Dorset Charcoal Co.

When used together, these two methods can not only enhance your garden’s productivity but also contribute to environmental sustainability. Biochar, an ancient soil amendment, combined with the No-Dig approach, creates a low-maintenance, thriving garden that benefits both your plants and the planet.

For more information and to purchase locally produced biochar please visit the Dorset Charcoal Company website www.dorsetcharcoal.co.uk

Grow sustainably with CoirProducts’ peat-free compost range

CoirProducts (of Salike®),offers gardeners the UK’s largest portfolio of coir-based products.

The peat-free coir compost range combines innovation, quality, and environmental responsibility, giving growers a biodegradable, easy-to-use alternative that supports soil health and reduces carbon footprints.

The range includes Coir Vital Grow®, Coir Plus® and Coir Nutri® All Purpose Compost and potting mixes, and new lines including DomusCoir® for houseplants, Orchid Composts, and CharoGaia®.

CoirProducts coir potting mix comes from the dust and fibres of the coconut husk. All the products have high water retention ability, and a light and airy texture, which them grow healthier with stronger root systems.

CoirProducts’ signature 5kg Coir Vital Grow® brick provides over 80litres of coir when hydrated. It enhances aeration, drainage, and moisture retention, helping roots stay hydrated without becoming waterlogged. For growers looking for a nutrient boost, CoirProducts Coir Plus® with NPK combined the natural benefits of coir with essential nutrients of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, helping to promote stronger root systems, lush foliage, and vibrant blooms. The revolutionary CoirNutri contains a specially formulated mix of decomposed coir enriched with NPK. Each of these is available in 50litre bags.

The. New. CharoGaia® is an all-purpose compost that combines coir vital grow with a blend of biochar.

Also new is the DomusCoir® range ideal for the houseplant lover, while the Orchid Compost range is perfect for a range of varieties of orchids and epiphytes. www.coirproducts.co.uk

Leave a legacy of green space

CPRE, the countryside charity works to promote, enhance and protect the countryside so it can thrive for the benefit of everybody.

Income from gifts in wills is vital for CPRE to continue campaigning to ensure the countryside is at the heart of the government’s priorities, so that people and wildlife can thrive.

For more information, contact legacyinfo@cpre.org.uk

0800 046 7443 sales@chrysanthemumsdirect.co.uk

Catalogue available online now or, contact us to receive your FREE paper copy. The widest range available in the U.K. with over 415 cultivars, including a choice selection of hardy garden (Korean) varieties, plus many others suitable for the garden or exhibition.

The March garden

The successful gardener knows how to do the right things at the right time. Our new monthly series looks at what’s happening in the garden month by month and how specific tasks matter for each month

The first month of spring has arrived in the garden and it begins to come alive after the long dreary winter. The clocks go forward in a few weeks and that gives more time for getting things done. But suddenly it can be quite a list.

March can be a tricky month as far as the weather goes; it is possible to get mild sunshine one day only to be followed by a hard frost the next. However, you can mulch and prune, take cuttings, tend the lawn and sow half hardy annuals.

Still the fact is March is always an exciting month. The weather will be maverick and completely unpredictable - the chances are high that it will be cold, wet, snowy, frosty, stormy, sunny and balmy - and often all on the same day. Despite this, March is the month when the garden really comes alive after winter.

Whatever the weather does, spring cannot be denied. March birdsong is the best of the year and the bulbs, from the latest snowdrops to the earliest tulips and a dozen species in between, are all bursting into flower. It will have to be exceptionally warm for the ground to warm up, but the sun can and does shine and this is the month when bulbs really take charge, growing and flowering regardless of the weather, adding an array and intensity of colour that sweeps winter away.

March, of all the months of the gardener’s year, is the one where time presses most urgently, finishing the winter jobs, sowing, planting, getting that feel of soil on your hands and just a little sun on your back.

Above all March is the month where gardener and garden become easy in their reacquaintance after the wary stand-off of the winter months. Just as the hedges start to prickle with fresh green leaves and the last of the snowdrops are replaced with a great flush of daffodils, crocus, hellebores and even the first species tulips, so we all feel ourselves falling in love with our garden again.

Plant but only if your soil is ready

If your soil is ready then March is a good time to plant and move things around. But ‘ready’ means, above all, warm enough. The only way to know this is by touch. Pick up a handful of earth. If it feels cold and clammy to the skin then seeds will not germinate and roots will not grow. If it feels warm, holds together when squeezed and yet can easily be crumbled then it is ideal.

When you have finished clearing and cutting back give the grasses a thick mulch with a low-fertility material – i.e. not garden compost or manure. However, do not divide or move any grasses at this time of year. They must be growing strongly to have the best chance of surviving so wait until late May or even early June.

Take it easy and be patient

It is quite understandable to get a sudden urge and get out and put the garden to rights now it is officially spring But take it easy!

Gardening is great exercise and there is nothing better than clearing out the cobwebs than working in the garden on a cold, clear day.

Just take it easy to start with. Before starting any strenuous jobs such as digging, do some warm up stretching exercises to ease yourself back into work.

Weather watch in March

March can be a cold month when it often doesn’t seem to get the message that it is spring. In the last few years March has been colder than February by an average of 2°C. The daily highs rise from 10°C at the beginning of the month to 13°C by the end. Temperatures rarely go above 17°C or fall below 8°C only one day out of every ten. In the garden it’s probably the most vital month for keeping an eye on the weather forecast. The longer days bring more chance of increased hours of sunshine

each day. But the ground can still turn hard and make planting and digging difficult so it’s not the time to put tender plants out.

What can you sow outside in March?

Sowing seeds of hardy vegetables and annual flowers outside can get under way now. This year try planting vegetables among flowers if your garden is small. Most modern gardens are too small to accommodate a separate kitchen garden but fruit, vegetables, herbs and ornaments can be grown successfully together.

• Plant onions, shallots and garlic sets.

• Plant Jerusalem artichoke tubers.

• Chit early and maincrop potatoes.

• Plant asparagus crowns.

Asparagus crowns should be ready to get in the ground

• Sow seed outdoors in mild areas with light soil, eg: broad beans, carrots, parsnips, beetroot, onions, lettuces, radish, peas, spinach, summer cabbage, salad leaves, leeks, Swiss chard, kohl rabi, turnip and summer cauliflower. Be guided by the weather, and sow only if conditions are suitable.

• Sow seed indoors of sweet peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines, celery, salads and globe artichokes.

Rose pruning in March

This is the traditional time for pruning bush and shrub roses. Some people prefer to do it in the autumn but there’s a lot to be said for waiting until spring. The more growth in general you can leave intact in the garden over the winter the more options it gives to wildlife. Also if roses have taken a battering in the wind and rain then you can tailor your pruning accordingly with the better shapes after removing the damage.

Don’t be shy about pruning bush roses very hard. Modern bush roses tend to be grafted on to the roots of more vigorous species and are strong growers so they rise to the challenge of hard running by producing good growth and flowers.

Five lawn care steps in March

• Mow established lawns when the weather is mild enough and the grass shows signs of growth. Ensure the first cut of the season is light, raising the blades a quarter of inch higher than the usual cutting height.

• Add grass clippings to the compost heap in thin layers. Too much all at once is likely to cause wet, poorly aerated conditions, resulting in smelly slime rather than compost.

• If you have bulbs in your lawn, such as crocuses and daffodils, wait at least six weeks after flowering before you mow the area, to allow the leaves to photosynthesise and feed the bulbs for a good display next spring.

• Apply a high nitrogen spring lawn feed in late March if your grass needs a boost. This will promote strong growth to help the lawn recover after the winter. However, it’s best to use the minimum necessary, to reduce the environmental impact.

• Straighten lawn edges using a half-moon turf iron

and a board, or use sand to mark out a curve, which can then be cut out with the iron. At the same time, create a 7.5cm (3in) ‘gutter’ around the lawn to prevent grass spreading into your borders.

What March means for wildlife

Keep feeding birds. Most birds are nesting this month, and many will start laying too. So, this a time that puts great demands on their energy when there is not much natural food around so keep feeding the birds all month concentrating on high energy items such as fat, peanuts and sunflower seeds.

Do not disturb frogspawn. Frogs like to spawn in shallow, still water, so if you are lucky enough to have some in your pond (and occasionally even in a puddle) then leave it well alone and do not be tempted to clear the pond or plant anything. Wait until the middle of next month when the tadpoles will all have hatched.

Many creatures such as hedgehogs, bats, dormice, grass snakes, toads, newts and many butterflies will be starting to come out of hibernation or a state of torpor. Try not to disturb natural hibernation spots, especially if you are vigorously tidying up after a long winter. These creatures all make a slow start and will be lethargic and weak - be mindful of them.

Planning ahead for fruit

Check that fruits have water in dry months as fruits of all kinds need water to develop properly. The fruit growing in containers and trained against walls and fences need checking in the early season and can easily dry out and lose the growing impetus.

Feed your fruit with potash. Most general fertilisers contain potash but it is a good idea to give everything a little extra to get some really luscious fruits later in the season.

Six star plants for the month

Anemone

Chionodoxa

Daphne mezereum

Forsythia x intermedia

Prunus surgentil

Zinnia

Don’t be shy about pruning roses hard

Grass cuttings can go in the compost- but not too much

Concentrate on high energy food in March

Garden events are one of the joys of summer

WE ARE ALL IMPATIENT FOR SPRING TO ARRIVE. WHEN IT DOES COME IT SPELLS MORE THAN JUST ACTIVITY IN THE GARDEN, IT ALSO KICKS OFF THE EXCITING OPPORTUNITY TO START PLANNING VISITS AND DAYS OUT TO A WONDERFUL ARRAY OF GARDEN SHOWS AND EVENTS

Garden shows are one of the real joys of spring and summer. They say everything there is to say about beautiful garden venues, great value for money plants to buy, knowledgeable speakers, garden demonstrations, food and music and just a great day out. There’s a wonderful array of gardening festivals, events, plant fairs and shows galore to get in the diary over the next few months and to look forward to later this year.

It’s that rare chance to have the whole horticultural year ahead of you and looking at the wonderful array of events which also includes, country and town

shows, agricultural events, gardens open and more.

There’s a brand new event in the calendar in Somerset with the three-day Yeo Valley Organic Gardening Festival in Blagdon.

It all starts this month with the Hardy Plant Society Somerset Group Early Spring Plant Fair, the Rare Plant Fair at Bishop’s Palace, Wells, an open day at Fonthill House gardens and then switches to Cornwall in early April with the Cornwall Garden Society’s Spring Flower Show and running through to a busy calendar of events through the summer and into the autumn. Later in the summer the traditional and historic Taunton Flower Show returns.

Yet it isn’t all about the big shows. It is also about the tradition of small events summed up by the Cotswolds village of Elkstone opening its gardens and the popular two-day spring plant sale at West Kington again in the Cotswolds.

So, open up the diaries and here are just a few events from a busy calendar which need your attention.

16th March

The Bishop’s Palace, Wells, Somerset BA5 2PD

29th March

Evenley Wood Gardens, Northants NN13 5SH

Crack the Egg-nigma code at RHS Garden Rosemoor this Easter!

The fun Easter egg hunt at RHS Rosemoor has an eggciting new twist this year. As well as the classic quest, children can turn ‘detective’ when they seek out the colourful eggs hidden in the beautiful gardens.

Visitors can grab the special code-breaker packs on arrival so young sleuths have everything they need to solve the mystery. The £2.50 pack contains the top-secret information and tools needed to crack the ‘egg-nigma’ code. Each giant egg found will reveal a special symbol which, when translated and combined with clues from other eggs, will spell the solution to the puzzle. Your cunning code crackers will be rewarded with chocolate treats for solving the challenge!

Parents can save time at the door and money on entry by taking advantage of the advance booking discount available online only - remember too that kids 5 to15 years are now just £5 and under 5’s go free.It all takes place from April 5th to April 21st.

RHS Garden Rosemoor, Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH

Book early for the world’s oldest flower show

Online tickets are now on sale for the Taunton Flower Show at Vivary Park in Taunton town centre on Friday, August 1st and Saturday, August 2nd, an event which proudly claims to be the oldest flower show in the world.

At the heart of the two-day show are the large competitive classes and floral classes marquees. The competitive classes are open to all and consist of approximately 250 different classes for amateur gardeners, crafters, floral artists and children. Everyone is welcome to take part in these classes that have been running since 1831. This year is the 194th year of competitions. The competitive classes have sections for fruit, vegetables, flowers, adults, plus an array of creative sections for under 17’s. The floral marquee features traders who mount displays of their flowers and plants.

Early bird discounted priced £18 for Friday and £16 for Saturday are available at tauntonfs.co.uk/tickets/

FONTHILL HOUSE

Fonthill House, Tisbury, Salisbury SP3 5SA SAVE THE DATES

2025 Charity Garden Openings To Which You Are Warmly Welcomed:

SUNDAY 23RD MARCH

Fonthill House garden opening in aid of the National Garden Scheme (12pm – 5pm)

SUNDAY 27TH APRIL

Fonthill House garden opening in aid of Salisbury Hospice (12pm – 5pm)

SUNDAY 8TH JUNE

Fonthill House garden opening in aid of the Lady Garden Foundation (12pm – 5pm) Stalls, ice cream van, wine stall and refreshments. Do bring well behaved dogs on leads. Unfortunately there is restricted access in the gardens for wheelchairs. Further details & prices for entry can be obtained from our website www.fonthill.co.uk/gardens

Sunday 22nd June 2025 2 - 6pm

Visit beautiful private gardens, the very special Norman church and enjoy refreshments and ice creams. SAVE THE DATE

We are still planning the event and updated details will be posted on: www.elkstonevillage.com

£7.50 for adults, children under 16 free. PROCEEDS HELP SUPPORT OUR CHURCH AND VILLAGE HALL

Honiton show again celebrates rural life in east Devon

Honiton Agricultural Show is planning a great celebration of rural life in the East Devon countryside on Thursday, 7th August. There will be a great line up including Bolddog Lings return, Honda’s official and the UK’s number one motorcycle display team. The event will also welcome the HOH Equestrian Team performing two stunning displays with their skilled team of horses and riders.

Children can meet animated characters Sheridan the Sheepdog and Pumpkin the Pony and enjoy the fabulous Twistopher Punch & Judy Show and Professor Crump, on his stilts. Over 100 vintage tractors and over 50 stunning Classic Cars will be on display. Add to this the shopping on offer, food and drink including the Cookery Theatre with a schedule of chef demonstrations then it means there is something to appeal to every member of the family.

For further details on the show or information on becoming a member of the association contact the secretary on 01404 41794. Gates open at 8.am until 6 pm. Discounted Early bird tickets are available at just £18 in advance, until Easter, (show day prices £22) accompanied children (Under 16) are admitted free!

Visit www.honitonshow.co.uk

Three charity garden openings at Fonthill House

With Lord Margadale’s kind permission, the gardens at Fonthill House, Tisbury, Salisbury SP3 5SA will again be open to the public for three wonderful charities. The first opening is in aid of the National Garden Scheme on Sunday 23rd March.

The second on Sunday 27th April for Salisbury Hospice that relies so heavily on the generosity of fundraising efforts, www.salisburyhospicecharity.org.uk

And the third, on Sunday 8th June, is for a national charity called Lady Garden Foundation who promote screening and funding for the treatment of gynaecological cancers, www.ladygardenfoundation.com. Do go along on any or all of the days not only to see the beautiful garden but also to meet Lord Margadale who will be there on all three days.

Further details for ticket prices, times can be found on the website www.fonthill.co.uk/gardens

The three Garden Shows are ready to bloom again

The trio of Garden Shows which take place in spectacular venues in the south of England in April, June and July have forged themselves a reputation for high quality events. Each one is set over three days and features specialist growers, garden related goods, artisan designs, homeware products, fashion accessories & delicious country foods. There are daily talks, activities for young and old, expert advice and a variety of music and entertainment.

It’s the right time to start planning your visit. Those three hardy show perennials, the Garden Shows at Firle, Rookery Park and Broadlands are getting ready to bring a plethora of plants, garden furniture, artisan designs, homeware products, sundries, fashion accessories and the most delicious country foods to your garden and home. Good garden advice and talks with plenty of family entertainment. Enjoy some great days in three beautiful locations. They are all worth looking forward to. Here’s the dates for your diaries

• Firle, Nr Lewes Friday to Sunday, 18th -to 21st April

• Broadlands - Friday to Sunday, 6th - 8th June

• Rookesbury Park, Romsey - Friday to Sunday, 25th - 27th July www.thegardenshows.com

Sat 3 – Sun 4 May

Country Gardener

Plant heritage Dorset plans to build on successes

Last year’s Abbotsbury Plant Fairs broke all records for attendance and Plant Heritage Dorset Group are planning to build on this success. This year, there will be three more specialist fairs in Dorset, organised by Plant Heritage. The first on Sunday 11th May, is at Athelhampton House just off the A35, near Puddletown. It’s an ideal event to buy spring and early summer-flowering perennials and shrubs, plus lavenders, alpines and a few exotics.

The second and third plant fairs will be held at Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens on Sunday, 8th June and Sunday, 31st August. Admission to the fairs is £7 and this includes free access to the gardens for the whole day until 5pm. Plant Heritage members can get in free with a valid membership card.

Elkstone village ready to impress again with

open day

Elkstone Village Gardens hosts its famous Open Day on Sunday ,22nd June from 2pm to 6pm. Visitors can enjoy the historic Cotswold village and see parts of it not accessible to the casual visitor. Relax with cream teas, homemade cakes or ice creams. The Grade I listed Norman church, the highest in the Cotswolds, will be made extra special with flower displays. Plant stalls will be open to take back a reminder of a special day. All proceeds go towards the upkeep of the church and village hall.

For further information contact the organisers.

Email: admin@elkstonevillage.com

Rare Plant Fairs return for 2025

The popular and successful Rare Plant Fairs are back with 13 specialist plant fairs, all held in prestigious gardens which provide wonderful settings for the fairs. The events are attended by specialist nurseries all of whom are experts in the plants that they grow, offering a wide range of interesting and unusual plants for your garden.

The season starts at The Bishop’s Palace, Wells, on Sunday, March 16th. Hidden within the ancient ramparts and protected by the moat are 14 acres of stunning, tranquil gardens in the heart of the City of Wells, Somerset. This is followed by a return to the unique 60-acre woodland gardens at Evenley Wood, near Brackley in Northamptonshire, on Saturday, March 29th. Both fairs run from 10am to 4pm. Visit www.rareplantfair.co.uk for details of all the events, including a full list of the exhibitors attending.

Somerset Group

EARLY SPRING PLANT FAIR

Saturday 29th March 2025 10am - 3pm (Garden open until 4pm) at Yeo Valley Organic Garden, Holt Farm, Blagdon, BS40 7SQ

Many top nurseries attending from England and Wales, plus stalls selling garden artefacts.

Yeo Valley products and light refreshments available from the shop and cafe throughout the day. Book tickets online for a morning visit, cash at the gate from 1pm. Admission charge will be £5 (£4 for HPS and RHS members.) Booking opens early February 2025. Visit www.somersethps.com

THREE SPECIALIST PLANT & GARDEN FAIRS

Organised by Plant Heritage Dorset

Sunday 11th May 2025

At Athelhampton House, Nr Puddletown, Dorset, DT2 7LG

Sunday 8th June 2025 & Sunday 31st August 2025

Both at Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, Dorset, DT3 4LA

Plant Fairs open 10am – 3pm.

Admission £7.00 includes entry to the gardens (until 5pm).

Free to all Plant Heritage Members.

Many specialist nurseries and growers, including National Collection Holders, large selection of garden stalls plus craft & wildlife stalls. Quality refreshments and food. Free parking. Beautiful locations.

Proceeds support Plant Conservation & Education in Dorset www.abbotsbury-tourism.co.uk/gardens/events www.athelhampton.com/events www.plantheritagedorset.org.uk

Honiton

Agricultural Show

We look forward to welcoming you on Thursday 7th August 2025

Fabulous entertainment, Delicious food and drink, Over 400 trade stands.

Majestic livestock and horses, Bees and Honey, Dog Show, Vintage Tractors and Classic Cars, West of England Hound Show, Cookery Theatre, Young Farmers Clubs.

Please apply for trade, livestock and horse schedules.

ADVANCE TICKETS JUST £18 (ACCOMPANIED UNDER 16 GO FREE)

AVAILABLE FROM www.honitonshow.co.uk

Secretary: Marcelle Connor, Bank House, 66a High Street, Honiton, Devon, EX14 1PS info@honitonshow.co.uk

Taunton

Vivary Park

Two-day West Kington spring plant sale

One of the most popular plant sales in the Cotswolds returns on Saturday, 26th and Sunday, 27th April when West Kington Nurseries hold their massive plant sale. Entry over the two-day event is free and visitors will have the chance to wander over the five-acre site of the nursery which promises to be bursting with plants. Catalogues for the sale are sold in aid of local charities. Call 01249 782822 or visit www.wknurseries.co.uk for more information.

West Kington Nurseries, West Kington, Chippenham SN14 7JQ

Cornish nearly season show celebrates with show gardens

The Cornwall Garden Society is proud of being one of the first flower shows of the year when it opens on Saturday, 5th April (10am to 5pm ) and Sunday, 6th April (from 10am to 4pm). Spectacular show gardens with the theme of ‘A Place to Heal’, a ‘Grow Your Own’ allotment with incredible edibles, a sustainability hub and Tipi Talks by more local luminaries and national names are some of the new features that will complement the breathtaking displays of beautiful blooms and gorgeous greenery.

Described by The Daily Telegraph as the ‘Chelsea of the West’, the annual festival of flowers – on at The Royal Cornwall Showground near Wadebridge – celebrates the county’s rich horticultural heritage and all the joys of spring.

If you fancy making the most of one of the best horticultural events in the southwest, why not buy a festival-style weekend pass and experience two whole days of glorious gardening inspiration at a reduced rate? Daily tickets: £10 in advance. £12 on the gate (card payment preferred). Weekend tickets: £15 in advance. £18 on the gate (card payment preferred). Free admission for under 16s. Well-behaved dogs on short leads welcome.

Buy tickets at www.cornwallgardensociety.org.uk/spring-flower-show/show-tickets/ Royal Cornwall Showground, Wadebridge, Cornwall PL27 7JE

Music and more at the Royal Bath & West Show

The Royal Bath & West Show returns from 29th-31st May, promising plenty of free entertainment for visitors.

Fans of horticulture have always enjoyed the floral art displays, whilst the food and drink marquee is also a perennial favourite. This year there will be plenty of creative inspiration in the craft area, where the ‘Artists in Action’ will demonstrate their talents.

With music ranging from the Old Time Sailors to the Jelly Roll Jazz Band and The Rivertones, everyone will find something to their taste!

To book your tickets, visit www.bathandwest.com

Hardy Plant Society’s early spring fair at Yeo Valley

On Saturday 29th March, the Hardy Plant society Somerset group holds its Early Spring Plant Fair at Yeo Valley Organic Garden, Holt Farm, Blagdon BS40 7SQ. Many top nurseries will be there with value for money plants plus stalls selling garden artefacts. Light refreshments will also be available. It opens from 10am to 3pm (garden open until 4pm) and there’s free parking. Pre-booking essential for a morning visit, but you can enter after 1pm with cash sales at the gate. Go to www.somersethps.com and follow links to book- £5 (£4 for RHS and HPS members).

There’s lot to consider when it comes to selecting and buying a greenhouse. They are very personal things and there’s a wide range of options when it comes to choosing one as they will be an exciting addition to your garden for many years.

Prices can vary from a few hundred to many thousands of pounds. The greenhouse you eventually choose will come down to two main factors – the area you have available and your budget.

It also comes down to experience and quality of service .One of the south west’s most experienced greenhouse supplier is Leigh Goodchild based near Bath who can supply almost all makes of greenhouses and have particularly extensive knowledge of Robinsons, Hartley Botanic, Gabriel Ash, Alton, Hercules and Simplicity structures. With over 30 years experience in the supply and installation of greenhouses the business prides itself on providing professional and practical advice where aesthetics, practicality, durability and creation of a space for plants and people can be combined.

SAFE AND EFFECTIVE UNIQUE CONTROLS FOR ALL YOUR SHRUBS AND CLIMBERS

You can control your shrubs and climbers this year using Rivelin Glen Products uniquely designed Wire Anchors. They are quick and easy to attach to concrete posts (without drilling) to act as an ‘eye’ by threading wire through them to create a trellising system.

The Gripple Trellising System is ideal to use with the anchors as the wire does not stretch, takes up to 100kg load & has a life of up to 15 years. Multiple rows can be achieved with one length of wire and two tensioners. No more sore hands or sagging wires!

Rivelin Glen Products are the main stockists of the Gripple Trellising System.

Prices: Wire Anchors from £10.25 for a pack of three; Gripple Starter Kit - £20.25. Email: info@rivelinglenproducts.co.uk Tel: 01246 462666

Captivating Camellias at the CGS Spring Flower Show. Image: Ian Kingsnorth

IT’S TIME TO MAKE A START!

A look at some of the essential jobs in the early spring garden

March is the official beginning of spring, but it can be very cold so do keep an eye on the weather forecast and at times over the next few weeks. Patience will be needed. The clocks also go forward this month, so the lengthening daylight hours also help plants to get growing. Spring bulbs take centre stage in the borders and in patio pots, rewarding your efforts for planting them last autumn It is also the time to finish

TOP TIPS FOR THE MONTH

This month’s tips are all about getting a head start in the garden.

1. Fertilise your beds. Once your soil is workable, dig a 5cm (or more) layer of compost or well-rotted manure into your beds to prepare for the growing season ahead. You can also work in a generalpurpose fertiliser, such as pelleted chicken manure, or fish, blood and bone.

pruning tasks. Now’s the time to get vegetable seeds started in the greenhouse, and you can sow hardy seeds straight outdoors into their final positions. It’s also time to kickstart your flower displays. Start sowing flower seeds undercover to enjoy colourful displays come summer.

2. Put supports in. If any of your garden plants or climbers need supporting this year, put them in now, so plants can grow up through them. Adding supports afterwards is trickier and often looks unattractive.

3. Move deciduous trees or shrubs. Now is the time to do this task, provided the soil isn’t frozen or waterlogged.

4. Resurface paths before plants start to grow and smother them.

2

Get

on top of weeks as soon as you can

Weeds will be growing as strongly as your plants during these weeks, so keep on top of them before they can get a hold. Digging them up with a hand fork is the best idea, as you can get all the roots out. Reserve hoeing for dry weather, as weeds can re-root if the soil is moist.

3 5 4 6

Plant early potatoes

Towards the end of the month early potatoes, such as ‘Accent’ and ‘Red Duke of York’ can be planted. The potatoes can be grown in the ground by digging a 12cm deep trench with some manure forked in. Plant the tubers about 30cm apart with 45cm between rows and cover with soil. Potatoes can also be grown in raised beds or even large containers if you don’t have a lot of space. They need a minimum depth and width of 30cm Half fill the bed/ container with a multi-purpose compost then plant the potatoes and cover leaving some space at the top.

Make sure you water the pot regularly, so the compost is moist but not wet. By late June or early July, your potatoes should be ready to harvest. Check they’re ready by putting your hand into the pot and gently feeling for the tubers. If they feel big enough, tip out the contents of the pot, otherwise leave them to continue growing.

Mulch, mulch and mulch

The most effective way of improving the soil in established borders is to mulch the surface with a three cm-layer of organic matter, such as garden compost. It will also help to suppress weeds and trap moisture in the soil. If your heap doesn’t produce enough compost to mulch the whole garden, it’s worth contacting your local council to see if it’s possible to buy the compost that’s made from the green-waste collections. Mushroom compost (though not for acid-loving plants, as it contains chalk) and composted bark make good alternatives and can be bought online. Before you start, make sure you have thoroughly weeded the bed and that you have sufficient mulching material – this could be leaf mould, compost, well-rotted manure or bark chippings. Always leave a gap around the stem of plants.

Plant summer-flowering bulbs

Summer bulbs such as tulips, dahlias, lilies and gladioli can now be planted. When picking your bulbs ensure that bulbs feel firm to the touch and don’t have any signs of mold. The bulbs can be planted where you want them to flower. Bulbs hate to be wet so need good drainage. Therefore, put a handful of grit at the bottom of the planting hole.

Sow your first tomatoes It may seem a bit early, but March is really the time to sow tomatoes for growing indoors. Wait until mid-month and then sow tomatoes you’re planning to grow indoors, pricking out the seedlings into individual pots later on. Plants for growing outdoors are best sown in April or they’ll be ready before it’s warm enough to plant them outdoors.

7

Cut back perennials and grasses that were left over winter

If there are any perennials that were not cut back in the winter, now is the time to do it. This is to make way for the green shoots. Cut back to ground level but be careful not to damage the new growth. The dead foliage can be added to your compost heap. Any overgrown clumps of perennials can be divided. Perennials will also need dividing once a plant becomes woody or dies back at the centre. To divide the plant, dig it up and split it up into several pieces.

…

and don’t forget your houseplants

When you see growth starting again it’s time to check your houseplants. Some may just need a tidy up, clearing away dead leaves and debris and a bit of a prune to get it back into shape. If roots are appearing through the base it’s a sign, they need repotting. If you can’t see the roots, but it’s a while since they were repotted, try to loosen the plug of earth out of the pot and see if the roots are circling as if desperate to get out. If so it’s time to repot.

Ideally, water plants a few days before repotting. Use washed pots, one size larger than the existing pot, and fresh clean potting compost – whichever is correct for the plant. Some plants like a lighter mix so mix up your own soil for each plant using a combination of potting compost, sand and perlite as necessary.

Flower seeds to sow in March

After pruning and dividing, then it’s time to feed established plants with an all-round plant food. After feeding, mulch your borders with homemade compost. Always apply mulch over moist soil, ideally after it has rained. 13 12

Prune and feed roses

Now is the time to cut back any rose bushes and hedges. Prune rose bushes when the first growth is beginning, this will encourage new growth again for the new season. It also gives the rose bush an attractive shape and good structure. Use secateurs to delicately cut stems without causing damage. Pruning roses should remove all crossing, damaged and dead wood. The main stems should be pruned to an outwardfacing bud around 15-20cm from ground level. Any climbing plants should have their side-shoots cut back to three or four buds. After the pruning, it is advisable to feed the roses with a specialist rose food.

10

Plant a clematis

March is a good time to plant a summerflowering clematis. These climbers race away now and those that flower after Midsummer’s Day (21st June) produce lots of smaller flowers from top to toe. Classic varieties include ‘Étoile Violette’, ‘Polish Spirit’, and ‘Betty Corning’. Pruning’s easy, just cut them back to the lowest buds in mid-February and they won’t suffer from wilt.

11

What vegetable seeds to plant in March

Hardy crops can be planted out in March, although those in the very north of the country should wait until the end of the month or even early April, depending on the weather. Hardy vegetables include broad beans, peas, spinach, garlic, onions, radish, Swiss chard and beetroot. Sow in short rows at weekly intervals to ensure a steady crop over summer and autumn.

Hardy annuals can be sown in trays indoors or under glass now but unless you live somewhere mild it’s a bit early for half hardies.

There’s nothing more depressing than seeds that fail and these should deliver: honeywort Cerinthe major ‘Purpurascens’, cornflowers, borage (great for bees and decorating drinks) and viper’s bugloss (also great for bees and for butterflies).

If seed trays have been stored somewhere outdoors or weren’t washed when you put them away, give them a good wash and brush up with hot soapy water and don’t think you’ll save money by using old compost or earth – you’ll regret it when seeds shrivel and die.

Use large trays, fill with seed compost to near the top and water with a can with a fine rose or stand in a sink until the tray’s absorbed moisture. Don’t use water from the butt as this can lead to disease and try to use lukewarm rather than freezing cold water.

Sprinkle over seeds as sparingly as you can manage and use a sieve to sprinkle of a light layer of dry compost. Sit somewhere light and neither too hot nor too cold. You want an even temperature around 18°C or 64°F. Some people like to cover the tray with glass or a clear polythene. You should see results in a week or two.

Keep an eye on wildlife

While bulbs are blooming and birds are singing, March can be a difficult time for garden wildlife.

Temperatures in March can still fall well below zero at night, so invertebrates such as earthworms, green shield bug, beetles and caterpillars may still be taking shelter. Garden birds will have eaten all but the last of the berries, and with less invertebrate food available, they can often go hungry, just at a time when they need to be in good condition for breeding.

March is still a busy pruning month

Timing is of course everything when it comes to pruning.

By now it is too late to prune apples, pears and late flowering clematis. But climbing roses, hybrid teas and floribundas need a March pruning and the sooner the better, so they don’t waste their energy growing leaves which are about to be lopped off.

March is the key month for breeding amphibians. Frogs start breeding first, laying clumps of jellylike spawn at the pond edge, joined by toads a couple of weeks later. Toads tend to breed in larger ponds than frogs, and are more likely to return to ‘ancestral’ pond sites. They lay ‘ribbons’ of spawn around the stems of submerged plant such as marsh marigold. Finally, newts return to ponds - shine a light into the water at night to see males performing a courtship dance to woo females. Female newts wrap eggs individually in leaves of marginal plants such as water forget-me-not and brooklime.

Unlike the more popular B.davidii, these bloom on last years’ wood so prune them after flowering in the summer. 14

March is one of the busiest months for pruning with a wide range of shrubs and other plants requiring their annual prune.

Borderline perennials such as penstemons and phygelius can also be pruned.

Tender evergreen shrubs such as variegated griselinia are best pruned now. The new growth triggered by the pruning should not be damaged by hard frosts. Evergreen edging and topiary can be finished now to create a smooth finish. 8

BUT DON’T PRUNE...

Grapevines

Sap pressure is high in March so if you prune them they will bleed profusely-something which will either damage them or possibly kill them.

Rambling roses

Unlike climbing roses these bloom on stems produced the previous year so prune and then re-train then straight after flowering.

Mediterranean shrubs

Delay pruning the more tender forms such as French lavender and hyssop until May. This ensures that the subsequent re-growth won’t be badly damaged by frosts.

Buddleja alternifolia

Garden advice for March

Overwintering and early season growing problems dominate our questions this issue. If you have anything you need help with email us at editorial@countrygardener.co.uk

I have moved into a new garden in Somerset, and I would like to run it organically. I am a fairly novice gardener and any help to get me on the organic path would help.

Mike Revell Minehead

The starting point for you has got to be the soil and how you prepare and feed it. To nourish your soil, use bulky materials like garden compost or well-rotted manures. These materials release nutrients slowly, improve soil conditions and stimulate essential micro-organisms. Mixing in well-rotted leaf mould can enhance its structure and water holding capacity and release plant foods into heavy soils.

Sow a green manure and you can improve structure by adding organic matter, aiding aeration, and boosting nutrient retention. Green manure plants such as field beans or winter tares are sown, grown, and dug back into the soil in spring – leaves, stems, roots and all. It is worth doing it to plan. They’re particularly helpful if you don’t have access to manure or compost, and they prevent nutrients being lost or washed away. Once you have the soil working right the organic options open up.

I have heard a lot about mycorrhizal fungi and how it helps root formation in plants but I don’t really understand it. Is it a complicated process?

Wanda Graham Portsmouth

Mycorrhizal fungi form relationships with plants, where the fungus provides the plant with nutrients such as phosphorus, and in return the plant provides the fungus with sugars from photosynthesis. The fungus colonises the root system of the plant and can help the plant absorb water and nutrients from the soil more efficiently.

Mycorrhizal fungi also help protect plants from pathogens and can improve the plant’s tolerance to environmental stress. The mycorrhizal fungi’s association with plant roots provides several benefits to the plant: it increases the surface area of roots, allowing the plant to absorb more nutrients such as phosphorus, nitrogen, and other micronutrients. The fungus can help the plant absorb water from the soil more efficiently. It also can help plants tolerate environmental stress such as drought, heavy metal toxicity, or soil salinity.

What time of year is best for layering rhododendrons? I love them and would like to create new plants.

Anna Porter Chichester

Layering is a time-tested propagation technique, which allows you to effortlessly create new rhododendron plants from existing ones, saving money. This method mimics how rhododendrons naturally spread in the wild, relying on the inherent ability of their stems to produce roots under the right conditions.

Early spring is the perfect time. Selecting a suitable stem is crucial. A healthy, flexible, one-year-old stem is ideal. Avoid stems that are diseased, damaged, or excessively woody. The chosen stem should be low enough to easily bend to the ground without breaking. Bend and bury the stem, ensuring proper contact with the soil to promote rooting. Make sure the root is covered with soil but don’t overwater as this causes rot. It will take anything between six to nine months until a new cutting forms which you can separate and pot on.

How do I add colour to my rose beds and which plants can I use to plant under the existing roses.

Tom Gooding Cheltenham

Traditionally rose beds have always been dug over in the winter but this can cause problems with damaged rose roots producing suckers later in the season from the wounds on the roots. It’s better to mulch with well-rotted horse manure and with no digging taking place underplanting is an option. You could try Geraniums G. renardii or G.sanguineum or geum, phlox or osteospermums which would all thrive.

Our lovely olive tree hasn’t wintered very well. Lots of the leaves have disappeared early and there are several dead branches. Is this common for olive trees in cold wet winters and can I do anything to revive it?

Fiona Beaumont Bath

Olive plants although quite hardy are often damaged by winter winds and frosts which burn the leaves. This can be avoided by placing a horticultural fleece over the olive plants on the coldest days and nights or bring them inside if they are in containers. If your trees have been damaged they should recover in the spring and to aid the recover you should feed them with a high nitrogen plant food and remove the very badly damaged leaves.

Our orchard was a disappointing part of the garden last year- very few apples and the pears were not up to much. Maybe the problem is that I am not working hard enough to attract bees. Is this possible?

Amy Brice Exeter

It’s quite true that without bees there would be no fruit so it will certainly pay to make your garden bee friendly. In sunny spots, sow clumps of bee attracting plants. There are lots of annuals you can get under way now including borage, Californian poppy, fennel and poached egg plant. The latter is sown around fruit bushes to attract aphid eating predators. As the soil warms up, apply plenty of mulch around trees and fruit bushes.

I grow a lot of vegetables and plants in pots. The compost from last summer still looks quite useable and healthy. How often should we replace the soil in garden pots?

Nic Fable Dartmouth

Eventually, container plants need to be moved to a bigger pot, which should be done in early spring. You usually have about three months’ worth of useable food for your plant in your compost. To add fresh compost to your container, first remove a little of the old compost.

Then replace the existing compost with fresh.

When repotting isn’t required, remove five cm of old compost from the top, and replace it with fresh.

Why is there white foam on almost all my lavender plants? It looks quite worrying.

Claire Griffin Lyme

This is quite a common sight on plants, and whilst it looks quite worrying, it is nothing to panic about. It isn’t anything produced by the plant itself, but instead by an insect, the juvenile froghopper. This insect is otherwise known as the spittle bug, and it is easy to see why. The white foam is to protect the larvae from predators and stops them from drying out in the heat. This foam enables the larvae to feed safely on the plant as it develops into its adult form. No, this foam is not harmful to the plant. In fact, you can leave it there as it increases the biodiversity in your garden.

We have a hedge which lines the eastern side of our garden and has just got out of hand. It is a old hedge therefore has a lot of different plants. When it’s time I want to cut it back. How severe can I be in terms of cutting it back?

Bryan Goode Swindon

If tidying an overgrown deciduous or evergreen hedge you can cut the height and width back by 50 per-cent in one cut without damaging it.

It’s best to stagger this process over the course of two years. Don’t allow hedges to become wider at the top than they are at the base, this will result in poor growth and bare patches. Avoid trimming during bird nesting times, so in early spring, as this will let them settle in to look after their eggs and hatchlings. Deciduous and evergreen hedges do sometimes require slightly different treatment. If it is an evergreen hedge, don’t trim too far back into the dry, dead foliage in the centre of the plant.

Can you recommend a small, upright-ish growing ornamental tree for our front garden? Not too wide a canopy - don’t want one that casts too much shade. It will be in a south facing garden. I must replace a winter flowering cherry that has died of old age and need a similar open branched, delicate looking treebut not a cherry again.

Janice Thomas Ilminster Sorbus vilmorinii (Vilmorins Rowan) is exactly the tree you want. It has delicate ferny foliage, panicles of creamy white flowers followed by pink-red berries and astonishingly good autumn colour. Better still, it has a small canopy and an open habit.

You might also consider one of the smaller crab apples but crab apples can be quite messy when they drop their fruits, so these are not great for paved areas! How about Amelanchier ‘Ballerina’? This is another good small tree for a long season of interest with pretty spring flowers and lovely coloured foliage. Acer psuedoplatanus ‘Brilliantissimum’ is a good choice too and has lovely autumn colour, or you might like Acer griseum for its beautiful peeling bark.

The joy of opening my garden to visitors

Christine Whyte always had compliments about her Cotswolds garden from passers-by so she decided to open it up, first for friends and neighbours and then for the National Garden Scheme. She shares her story about how much she has loved the experience.

When we first considered opening our Gloucestershire garden, the idea was just to share it with the neighbours and dog walkers who used to stop and look on the village road which borders our garden. Every day in spring and summer, heads bobbed over the fivefoot tall hedge separating our garden from the street.

When we bought the property 13 years ago, it was an abandoned shepherd’s estate house covered in weeds and in a neglected state growing in clay soil. The good news was there was just under two acres of garden, so we had a canvass to work on. My husband and I were both working so we had little time then to spend on the garden.

We asked tree companies to dump their truckloads of shredded trimmings all over the acre in front of the house. The steaming piles of mulch decomposed into rich soil while we were ignoring them. We always water by hand with hoses, so that we choose what to water when.

Since then, we have planted about sixty roses, over 800 hybrid bearded iris (along with many other iris species), many uncommon shrubs and perennials, and over fifty fruit trees, some quite unusual; we grow our own vegetables.

I love your magazine and wanted to share the happiness we have had.

We first put a sign in front of the gate, inviting people casually in to view the garden during the main flowering season for the iris, roses, some of the spring bulbs, and the last of the fruit trees. On the first few days, people who regularly walk the hill and several neighbours came in. They talked about watching the garden develop and how curious they had been to see it from inside.

One of the casual visitors was from the National Garden Scheme and over a cup

of tea she asked me if I would open our garden for them. Eventually I opened for that charity for a few years. I am on holiday from the NGS now but guess I will return when the garden feels a bit different.

Many ask why there are so many bees, birds, and butterflies in our garden and not in theirs. Invariably, they had been using chemical sprays in their gardens, but were unaware that such practices kill butterflies and bees just as easily as they kill the “undesirable insects.” Our chickens spark more conversations about care for the earth. We feed them garden scraps, weeds, and vegetable and fruit peelings, and the chickens produce compost for the garden, along with fresh eggs.

We have, indeed, become friends with many visitors, considering ourselves lucky to have met so many wonderful people. After all, gardeners tend to be good people. Have there been problems? Yes, but only a few.

I always ask visitors to stay on the paths and not step on plants. A few pick flowers to ask me for their names, not thinking that, if everyone here picked the flowers they wanted identified, there would be none left One small group of visitors thought they were entitled to eat the cherries from a young tree that had never produced before. Yet, for every individual who does something we don’t like, there are several hundred who are wonderful guests.

We are usually exhausted when an open day is over, having talked with people non-stop all day. In our own small way, we share a lot of information about gardening, and we learn a lot.

If you, are passionate about gardening, consider opening your garden as an opportunity for sharing your experiences and your passion with others.

Unscramble

Unscramble the following to reveal some well-known flowers and vegetables:

Crossword

WIN £100 IN RHS GIFT TOKENS

Our popular gardening themed crossword is compiled by Saranda which over the past year has become enormously popular with readers. The winning entry to be drawn by us will receive £100 of RHS gift tokens. Completed entries should be sent to Mount House, Halse, Taunton, Somerset TA4 3AD. Closing date Friday, 21st March. The Winter issue winner was Joe Dent from Exeter.

The Country Gardener Quizzing dozen

See how you manage with these not so easy gardening questions.

1. If albus means white, rubens is red what colour does viridiflora suggest in flowers?

2. What is the common name for the climbing plant Ipomoea?

3. Which Surrey estate was presented to the RHS in 1903 by Sir Thomas Hanbury?

4. Eschscholzia californica is a tongue twister, what is the common name?

5. English Ivy (Ilex aquifolium) is dioecious. What does this mean?

6. Vanilla flavouring is derived from which flower?

7. Who is the patron saint of gardeners, horticulture, florists, brides and brewers?

Word Search

8. What word is used to describe plants that like acid soil and will not grow in alkaline soils?

9. Which charity was founded in Devon in 1972 by farmer Kenneth Watkins?

10. What is the name given to the female reproductive organ of a flower?

11. Name a reason your entry in a Standard Flower Show can be disqualified.

12. In the novel Cider with Rosie by Laurie Lee what is Rosie’s rather bucolic surname?

How did you do with the answers? 0-4 correct - there’s still work to be done 5-8 correct - impressive 9-12 correct - time to get that application to Mastermind in!

STOURHEAD

UPTON HOUSE

BARRINGTON COURT

CLEVEDON

CLEY HILL

KNIGHTSHAYES

DUNSTER CASTLE

ARLINGTON

TRELISSICK

TRENGWAINTON

AVEBURY

LACOCK

TYNTESFIELD

DYRHAM PARK

KILLERTON

PRIOR PARK

THE COOMBES

FYNE COURT

LEIGH WOODS

CHASTLETON

LANHYDROCK

ANTONY

TRERICE

PENROSE

LYTES CARY

Answers

1. Snapdragon, 2. Sunflower,

ACROSS

1. Golden rod genus (8)

5. Species of podocarp tree endemic to New Zealand (6)

9. Name given to Canary Islands' dragon tree (5)

13. Soft fruit often blown by comedians! (11)

14. The Barberton daisy is the national flower of this West African island country (4, 5)

15. A tree or plant with wide, flat leaves (9)

17. They are grown in containers at home (11)

18. Bearing catkins (12)

19. Californian estuary plant, Suaeda esteroa (8)

22. Moneses uniflora or wood _____ (5)

23. Harmful or annoying levels of disturbing sound (5, 9)

25. A type of landform colloquially known as catstep (10)

26. Tomato variety named after Firth of Clyde island (5, 5)

29. Famous Scottish football club (7, 7)

31. Briar or bramble (obsolete.) (5)

33. Orpin rose or King's crown (8)

34. Disastrously as might have befallen Jane! (12)

36. Used for shooting cinematographically! (5, 6)

38. Tarzan was sometimes called Viscount _________ (9)

40. An outgrowth or enlargement of an organ such as a plant stem (9)

41. The state of bankruptcy named after a London bankruptcy court (5, 6)

43. Piles of compost (5)

44. A sickness or ailment (6)

45. He worships blindly and to excess (8)

DOWN

1. Vegetation consisting mainly of brushwood (5)

2. Go insane or mislay certain toys (4, 4, 7)

3. A small flatfish (3)

4. Barrier between two areas of land? (6, 5)

6. Buildings used for drying hops (10)

7. The fruiting body of rust fungi (6)

8. The skin of a certain fruit (5, 4)

9. Succisa pratensis, a flowering plant in the family Caprifoliaceae (6-3, 8)

10. Great mullein or rod of biblical character (5)

11. Ornamental shrub of the genus Elaeagnus (8)

12. A wartime slogan for growing more vegetables (3, 3, 7)

16. Perennial plant, Dicentra cucullaria (9, 8)

18. In botany, joined by having grown together (6)

20. Term used for bouts of rain few and far between (8, 7)

21. Name sometimes applied to touch-menot balsam (4, 2, 7)

24. A place where eggs are deposited or kept (6)

27. Having eyes which are not elevated on a stalk (7-4)

28. Unstable or mentally disturbed (10)

30. The aromatic, resinous juice of balm of Gilead (9)

32. A mixture of oatmeal and cold water (8)

35. A tall, prickly plant of the Dipsacus genus (6)

37. The garden pansy belongs to this genus (5)

39. A comestible apple (5)

42. Sesame (3)

QUIZZING DOZEN: 1. Green, 2. Morning Glory, 3. Wisley, 4. Californian poppy, 5. Male and female are on separate plants, 6. Orchid - vanilla planifolia, 7. Saint Dorothy, 8. Ericaceous, 9. The Woodland Trust, 10. Pistil, 11. Anything

flowers, dock12.Bur

Country Gardener

CONNETTS FARM DUNKESWELL EX14 4QZ

Topsoil

Topsoil

CLASSIFIED

ACCOMMODATION

Churchwood Valley

Secluded cosy cabins & lodges in wooded valley running down to Wembury Bay & SW Coastal Path

Plymouth, Dartmoor & lovely South Devon Villages & Towns in easy reach. Pets Welcome. Forest School. Tel: 01752 862382 www.churchwoodvalley.com

Carmarthen Bay South Wales Seafront chalet situated on estuary. Sleeps up to 6. Seaview. Well Behaved Dogs Welcome Free of Charge. Free WIFI. Open from 1st March - 31st Dec. For Brochure Tel: 01269 862191

BOSWORLAS, ST JUST. Cosy Cottage sleeps 2-4. Please email info@bosworlas.co.uk for availability

GLORIOUS NORTH DEVON. Only 9 cosy caravans on peaceful farm. Wonderful walks in woods & meadows. Easy reach sea, moors & lovely days out. £125-395pw. Discount couples. Nice pets welcome. 01769 540366 www.snapdown.co.uk

SOUTH DEVON LODGE ON FARM. Sleeps 4. Central for beaches, Salcombe and Dartmouth. www.marymillsfarm.co.uk For availability Tel 01548 853669

ACCOMMODATION HOLIDAY COTTAGES

Peace, Privacy and Stunning views.

4* Delightful cosy cabin for 2 nestling between Wye and Usk Valleys. Shirenewton village & pubs close by. Comfy bed and splendid views, walks, castles and bustling market towns. Perfect for all seasons!

Tel: 01291 641826 Email: lynne@bryncosyn.co.uk www.bryncosyn.co.uk

ACCOMMODATION WITH BEAUTIFUL GARDENS

NORTH DEVON NEAR CLOVELLY. 3

delightful cottages situated in 12 acres of idyllic countryside. Sleeps 2-4. 1 Wheelchair friendly. Brochure: 01237 431324 www.foxwoodlodge.co.uk foxwoodlodge@outlook.com

BED & BREAKFAST

Gloucestershire Quality Bungalow B&B

Ensuites, rural, large garden, paddocks, sheep and fruit. Ideal Cotswolds, Malvern’s, Forest of Dean, cycle storage, ample parking, Wi-Fi £44 p.p.p.n.

Tel: 01452 840224 sheila.barnfield1960@gmail.com

sell to

individuals and

No order too small. Contact us for your free catalogue. Mill House Fine Art Publishing, Bellflower Gallery, Market Place, Colyton, Devon EX24 6JS Tel. 01297 553100 info@millhousefineart.com www.millhousefineart.com

WYE VALLEY/FOREST OF DEAN.

Fully equipped single-storey cottage with two en-suite bedrooms. Wi-fi.Recently awarded Visit England 4-star GOLD. Rural retreat, shops/pubs one mile. Enquiries welcome. AS SEEN ON ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRY! Tel: 01594 833259 www.cowshedcottage.co.uk

RYDE COTTAGES, ISLE OF WIGHT. Sleep 2 and 4. Close to beach and town. 02380849565. rydecottage@talktalk.net. www.rydecottage.co.uk

& Cotswolds. Tel: 01789 740360 www.romanacres.com

Concrete Post Fixings (Wire Anchors) & Easy Trellising System

Quick & Easy Solution to fix wires to concrete posts NO DRILLING - simply clamp the two halves together Three sizes to fit most concrete posts FREE UK DELIVERY

Main Stockists of Gripple Trellising

Visit our website to view our other gardening accessories and gift ideas

www.rivelinglenproducts.co.uk

info@rivelinglenproducts.co.uk 01246 462666

Diary events from clubs and organisations in DEVON

Welcome to a new season of Time Off and our popular coverage of gardening club events throughout Devon. If you have any events, meetings, or trips organised by your gardening club and association please let us know and as we go through the year we will happily give them coverage. Email the details to us at timeoff@countrygardener.co.uk

February

17TH

Meavy Garden Society A TALK BY SAM BROWN: HEAD GARDENER AT BUCKLAND ABBEY Details on 01822 852672

19TH

Torquay & District Gardening Club ‘ADVENTURES WITH FANCY FOLIAGE’ - JULIAN SUTTON email: nickibaker222@gmail.com

We supply and install almost all makes of greenhouses and have particularly extensive knowledge of Robinsons, Hartley Botanic, Gabriel Ash, Alton, Hercules and Simplicity structures.

March

1ST

Hardy Plant Society Devon Group ‘PLANTS FOR THE SEASON’ - PAUL GREEN email: devon@hardy-plant.org.uk 5TH

Brixham Horticultural Society MONTHLY MEETING Details on 01803 842121 6TH

South Devon Alpine Garden Society ‘SOUTHERN FRANCE & SPAIN’ - RICHARD HORSWOOD Details on 07940 372940

Teignmouth Gardening Club ‘SEASIDE GARDENING’ - CARADOC DOY www.facebook.com/teignmouthgardeningclub 17TH

Meavy Garden Society SPRING FLOWER SHOW Details on 01822 852672

19TH

Torquay & District Gardening Club ‘CAMASSIAS & COTTAGE PLANTS’STELLA EXLEY email: nickibaker222@gmail.com 27TH

Exmouth Garden Club ‘FLOWERS FOR ALL YEAR COLOUR IN YOUR GARDEN’ - TOBY BUCKLAND www.exmouthgardenclub.co.uk

North Dartmoor Garden Club ‘SUBTERRANEAN SAFARI - SOIL HEALTH AND ORGANISMS’PROFESSOR KARL RITZ

Are you part of a garden club or society?

Please send us your diary for the year - we’d love to include your talks and shows It's free!

Send them into us by email giving us 10 weeks notice of the event: timeoff@countrygardener.co.uk or by post to: Mount House, Halse, Taunton, TA4 3AD.

THE 2025 Treevia quiz

QUESTION 1

In Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman appear to walk from Dover to Nottingham via the Sycamore Gap Tree within one day. How fast would they have to walk to achieve this?

A. 4 mph B. 40 mph

C. 100 mph D. 14 mph

QUESTION 2

On April 1st, 1957, the BBC screened a hoax documentary about what growing on trees in Switzerland?

A. Money B. Toblerone

C. Girkins D. Spaghetti

QUESTION 3

In 1832 William Cobbett returned from America with which tree to be grown as timber for treenails for Royal Navy ship building?

A. Robinia B. Iron wood

C. Hickory D. Giant redwood

QUESTION 4

In the 17th Century Wheelwrights used four different timbers in wheel construction, three were harvested in the Winter, but which one had to be harvested in late Spring – early Summer?

A. Elm B. Beech C. Oak D. Ash

QUESTION 5

The main native fruit used to make gin is….

A. Sloes B. Hawes

C. Rowan D. Juniper

QUESTION 6

Who is credited with patenting the first mechanical chainsaw in 1830?

A. Andreas Stihl

B. Harold Husqvarna

C. David Danarm

D. Timothy Teles

QUESTION 7

Sorbus aria is the botanical name for which British native tree?

A. Hornbeam B. Field maple

C. Whitebeam D. Silver birch

QUESTION 8

The Horse Chestnut (Conker Tree) is a native tree of……?

A. Turkey B. Albania C. Britain D. Spain

Editorial Publisher & Editor: Alan Lewis alan@countrygardener.co.uk

Tel: 01823 431767

Time Off Kate Lewis timeoff@countrygardener.co.uk

QUESTION 9

After his failed rebellion in 1685 the Duke of Monmouth was found hiding under what kind of tree?

A Judas Tree B. Ash

C. Rowan D. Oak

QUESTION 10

Sudden Oak Death in England is so called because….?

A. it is sudden

B. it is fatal

C. it infects English Oak

D None of the above

QUESTION 11

The first European to see a living Gingko biloba tree was

A.. Engelbert Humperdink

B. Captain Cook

C. Engelbert Kaempher

D. Captain Bligh

QUESTION 12

Throughout the Industrial revolution the wood of choice for making clogs in Britain was……?

A. Dutch Elm B. Alder

C. Black poplar D. Ash

QUESTION 13

The original masts of HMS Victory were made from pine trees sourced in…..?

A. The New Forest

B. Scotland.

C. Scandinavia.

D. New England.

QUESTION 14

According to the old saying - what kind of tree ‘hateth man and waiteth?’

A. Whitebeam B. Elm

C. Yew D. Ash

Advertising Sales

Ava Bench - Somerset & Hampshire

ava@countrygardener.co.uk Tel: 01278 786139

Corina Reay - Cotswolds, Devon & Dorset corina@countrygardener.co.uk Tel: 01823 410098

Classifieds classified@countrygardener.co.uk Accounts and subscriptions

Heather Rose heather@countrygardener.co.uk

QUESTION 15

The most dangerous tree in the UK, resulting in numerous deaths over that last decade and over 1000 visits to A&E every year is…….?

A. The Christmas tree

B. The Laburnum tree

C. The Yew tree

D. The Snake-bark maple

QUESTION 16

The bark of which kind of tree is a natural source of aspirin?

A. Gingko B. Western hemlock

C. Rowan D. Willow

QUESTION 17

The oldest wooden artifact found in England was a 420,000 year old spear made by Neanderthals in Clacton (Steady!), What wood was it made from?

A. Yew B. Small Leaf lime

C. Spruce D. Western hemlock

QUESTION 18

The Emperor of Rome who, whilst Governor of Syria, sought to preserve the stocks of Cedar of Lebanon by restricting their felling was:

A. Constantine B. Hadrian

C. Caligula D. Boudica

19

QUESTION 19

The Indian Bean Tree comes from…..?

A. Rajasthan B. Alabama

C. Jamaica D. Sri Lanka

QUESTION 20

Elvis Presley sang about not having a wooden….?

A. Leg B. Head

C. Heart D. Horse

ANSWERS ON PAGE 29

Design & Production

Aidan Gill aidan@countrygardener.co.uk

Gemma Stringer gemma@countrygardener.co.uk

Distribution & Stockists distribution@countrygardener.co.uk