Gardening

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Living on the vegMake your outside space work for you by growing fruit, work for you by growing fruit, vegetables and herbs at home

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1. Cityjungle with trellis, £126.99, Dobies; www.dobies.co.uk 2. Garland 60cm potato/vegetable storage bag, £2.99, The Old Railway

Line Garden Centre in Brecon; www.oldrailwaylinegc.co.uk 3. Traditional wooden trug (medium), £39.99, The Organic Gardening

Catalogue; www.organiccatalogue.com 4. Buzzy Organic seeds, £2.49, CJ Wildlife in Shropshire; www.birdfood.co.uk 5. Wooden vertical garden, £199.99, Wayfair; www.wayfair.co.uk 6. Hip-Trug (large), £12.99, Burgon & Ball; www.burgonandball.com 7. Timber coldframe, £99.99, Rowlinson Garden Products in Nantwich,

Cheshire; www.rowgar.co.uk 8. Beehive composter, £124.99, Bents Garden Centre in Warrington; www.bents.co.uk 9. Wire cloche, £32, Kadai in Leebotwood, Shropshire; www.kadai.co.uk 10. Economy potting table, £39.99, The Woodworks Garden Centre & Café in

Mold, Flintshire; www.woodworksgc.com 11. Kent & Stowe long-handled fork, £22.50, Shawbury Garden Centre in

Shrewsbury, Shropshire; www.shawburygardencentre.co.uk 12. Edible plant box with 16 plug plants, £40, Lazy Flora; www.lazyfl ora.com 13. Grow It Herb Garden, £13.50, Oliver Bonas; www.oliverbonas.com 14. Strawberry and herb patio planter, £10.99 for two, Waitrose & Partners; www.waitrosegarden.com 15. Cast brass garden vegetable sign, £15.99, The British Ironwork Centre in

Oswestry, Shropshire; www.britishironworkcentre.co.uk 16. Deep root planter, £99.99, The Woodworks Garden Centre & Café in Mold,

Flintshire; www.woodworksgc.com 17. Stewart Garden oak e ect water butt, £129.99, Charlies; www.charlies.co.uk

Plants&Gardens Gardens

GO, GO GARDENS!

After having to cancel its planned programme last year, the Shropshire Historic Churches Trust has unveiled its open garden scheme for 2021 to allow us all to enjoy the beautiful blooms

The impact of Covid was felt in all corners last year, particularly among small organisations and the events that fund them. When the Shropshire Historic Churches Trust had to cancel its Gardens Open scheme, it lost all the vital income this would have brought in. So this year, the programme is bigger and better than ever as the trust attempts to make up some of that shortfall.

A wide range of gardens and green spaces is open to view – from tiny cottage gardens to large-scale grounds – all with a common goal: to share delightful horticulture, inspire fellow green-fingered enthusiasts and raise money to help in the upkeep and restoration of some of the area’s oldest church buildings. So if you’ve looking for a garden treat, check out the forthcoming calendar of events below.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

4th July – Clee St Margaret Trail

A trail through six gardens in a village conservation area with views of Nordy Bank, including new and established plantings of perennials, roses, fruit and vegetables. Starting at the village hall. 1pm-5pm. Tickets £5.

11th July – Bitterley Court

This eight-acre garden sits on the side of Clee Hill with beautiful views towards Ludlow. It features specimen trees, topiary, woodland walk and developing fern era. The kitchen garden dates back to 1766. 10am-5pm. Tickets £6. 18th July – New Eyton Hall

The parkland, woodland gardens and Victorian walled garden have all been restored since 2017. With guided walks by Ann Holland, head gardener and Britain in Bloom judge, at 2.30pm and 3.30pm. Apologies, not suitable for wheelchairs. 1pm-5pm. Tickets £6.

25th July – Sambrook Manor

Large gardens of an early 18th-century manor house (not open),with sweeping lawns surrounded by colourful borders. Includes a Japanese area with stream running through, pond and waterfall, roses, shrubs, herbaceous and climbing plants and an arboretum. 11am-5pm. Tickets £5.

8th August – Cardington Garden Trail

A series of gardens of various styles, featuring ponds and woodland, wildflower meadow, traditional cottage gardens and courtyard gardens, all set in the charming village of Cardington. Tickets and visitor guide available from the car park. Noon-6pm. Tickets £6.

For details of more gardens open throughout September check out the trust’s website, www.shropshirehct.org.uk

HAVE A LITTLE TRUST

Shropshire is home to many historic churches – there are more than 350 Anglican churches alone in regular use and many churches and chapels of other denominations. Most of these are over 700 years old and many are listed, signifying outstanding architectural and historical interest. Responsibility for their maintenance falls on the parishes and most are in rural areas where the congregations are often small, which is why they need help from the Shropshire Historic Churches Trust. Find out more at www.shropshirehct.org.uk.

SUMMER ESSENTIALS FOR GARDEN GLORY

With the summer sun finally upon us, it’s time to keep on top of the garden to make sure it’s at its best for the season

After a very long winter, hopefully we can spend the summer enjoying the magnificence of our gardens. But before you settle back into that deck chair, here are eight must-do jobs from Lis Morris, lecturer in horticulture and sustainable technologies at University Centre Reaseheath in Cheshire.

• Keep new plants, pots and tubs well watered using rain water from your water butt or grey water from your kitchen where possible. Give the same care to any trees or big shrubs introduced over the winter – it will take a full year for their roots to become fully established.

• Deadhead bedding plants and perennials to encourage repeat flowering and keep your borders looking good for longer. In dry periods, hoe off weeds.

• Prune June-flowering shrubs and remove any sucker from rose bushes and trees. Tie in climbers and ramblers as they grow. Leave serious cutting until the autumn to avoid disturbing wildlife.

• Mow your lawn regularly unless it’s exceptionally hot and dry.

As summer progresses raise the mower cutting height slightly, as very short grass can get stressed in warm weather.

• Harvest vegetables regularly.

Courgettes can quickly turn into marrows and radishes can become woody, while spinach, chard, beans and peas are much more delicious when picked young.

• Make sure greenhouses are well ventilated by opening doors, windows and vents in warm weather.

Water new plants

TOP TIP

Water the greenhouse floor daily to keep the humidity high and cool the air

For more on Reaseheath’s horticulture courses visit www. reaseheath.ac.uk/horticulture

TOP TIP Leave out over-ripe fruit for butterflies, preferably on a plate or other flat surface

Frequent mowing

Harvest regularly

Ventilate your greenhouse

EASY-PEASY PLANTS

However keen a gardener you are, you’ll love these great low-maintenance options you can add to your garden this summer – then just sit back and enjoy them!

Peonies

These lovely flowers bloom in the same spot for decades, coming back year after year with no intervention needed. As well as being beautiful they are also drought- and slug-resistant.

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are easy to care for with huge beautiful full heads in their full spring. Coming in many different colours such as blue, green, pink, purple, red and white, they will definitely catch the eye of your garden guests this summer. Butterfly bush (buddleia)

These sun-loving plants are among the longestblooming shrubs. Just water the shrub slowly and thoroughly during summer dry spells – the most labour required is deadheading!

Coneflowers (echinacea)

Coneflowers are hardy, drought-tolerant and long-blooming, meaning they are easy to care for. The gorgeous pinks and purples will add a pop of colour in your garden, attracting butterflies.

Anemones

Anemones are both early and late flowering so your garden will be beaming in pinks, reds, blues and whites all year round. Anemones are also very low-maintenance – regular watering is all they need.