yardz

READY MADE GARDENS FOR THE BALCONY GARDENER

Not everyone wants to spend the time and trouble to select plants and containers for their patio, yard or balcony. www.thebalconygardener.com run by Isabelle Palmer has the answer to this problem.

www.thebalconygardener.com   supplies a range of planted containers in four styles, Contemporary Urban, Edible, English Country and Evergreen. Each of the ranges are supplied planted and ready to display.

Isabelle also supplies a range of garden and decorative items suitable for the smaller garden. Well worth a visit.

NICOTIANA SYLVESTRIS - WELL WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES

 

In the frenzy of seed sowing this spring I think some seed labels must have moved seed trays on their own accord! My plan was to have pots of warm orange red Rudbeckias on the edge of the deck to give me lots of colour for the late summer and autumn. Everything was going well until my suspicions fell that the plants that were supposed to be Rudbeckias had very hairy leaves and did not in any way look like the plant they were meant to be, they were without doubt Nicotianas, 'Tobacco Plants'. I am very free at seed sowing especially with free seeds that come with magazines such as the Gardens' Illustrated.

Looking through my seed box I find that I did sow some Nicotiana sylvestris that came as a magazine give away and had just forgotten. Still I planted them anyway and I must say they are looking majestic. They are 4' tall with drooping tubular flowers of pure white and leaves large enough to make a decent cigar. I understand they are perennial in mild areas so I hope to get them through the winter.

Mistakes ain't always a bad thing.

CROCOSMIA - IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY

 

Crocosmia lucifer is a great plant for very small gardens. It can be bought as ready grown plants or very cheaply as dried corms in the spring.

Th green spears of foliage grows quickly in spring creatingan interesting moving feature in the wind. The stunning burning red flowers are produced in late June/early July and cannot be beaten for dramatic effect. The flowers will carry on for about six weeks leaving dark shiny seeds in their place.Crocosmia will incease in size producing more corms at the edge of the clumps but it is easy to dig up in the winter and divide, replant elsewhere or give to friends.

SINGLES THE EASY WAY TO FEED PLANTS

 

Feeding plants at this time of year is more vital than ever. Growth is rampant and to sustain this growth and flowering, the plant requires the right nutrients.

'New Miracle-Gro Singles are single sachets of soluble plant food, pre-measured and simple to use. There is no mixing or mess with Miracle-Gro Singles. All you have to do is add one sachet per watering can every 7-10 days and watch the plants grow.'

There are a great variety of plant feeds around in shops and garden centres both in liquid and soluble form but Miracle-Gro Singles makes it so easy to store and use.

Available at most garden centres 20 sachet £4.99

OVERFLOWING CONES OF COLOUR

 

The Impatiens Accent salmon have been enjoying the good weather. They are now overflowing the hanging cones and starting to produce loads of flowers.

 Impatiens Accent Salmon

SWEETHEART BASKETS

 

For a change from your normal hanging basket favourites why not try looking for Ipomoea Sweet Heart 'Light Green'.

It has glorious lime green, trailing, heart shaped foliage. It will also produce the odd pink-lilac flowers in the heat of summer. They are perfect for hanging baskets or to create a bold patio container or window box. Ipomoea Sweetheart prefers full sun and a free draining but moist retentive compost.

They are not frost hardy so must over winter in a greenhouse or sunny windowsill.

 

It is also available in a dark leaved form Ipomoea Sweetheart Purple.

Look out for the plants in garden centres now under the Proven Winners brand

CUBE GREEN

 

Most of the evergreen topiary on sale in garden centres and on the web are standard spheres of 'box' (buxus). For something different look for cubes of 'box' - they are more achitectural and a lot easier to clip!

www.newleaftopiary.co.uk  From about £128.00  40cm cube

http://newleaftopiary.co.uk/buxus-cube-40cm-p-179.html

CATNIP SUMMER

 

Nepeta 'Walkers Low' is a great summer flowering perennial that is low growing, aromatic and gives bag loads of flower in early summer. It is perfect for small gardens as it is easily controllable - cut it back after flowering and it will give you another show in late summer. Great for planting in a raised bed where it will grow over the edge and soften the hard wall. One disadvantage is that it will attract any cat in the neighbourhood who will revel in lying and rolling in it!

'Deep violet to lilac-blue summer flowers and aromatic mid-green leaves. This violet-lilac catmint makes excellent, long-flowering, groundcover for a sunny border. Clipped back after the first flush in June, it flowers through to early autumn. Useful as an informal, scented edge for paths as, when trodden on, the foliage releases a pleasant aroma.'

www.crocus.com  £5.99

http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/perennials/classid.3261/

CONTAINER FIREWORKS

 

Clematis can easily be grown in small gardens on walls and fences but some are also suitable for growing in containers. The clematis shown in the photo is Clematis Fireworks. It has been in the container for almost twenty years, travelling down to Devon with us on moving, and always flowers well both in early summer and again in the autumn. If planting in a container make sure it is as big as possible, at least 24"/610mm across, and use a soil based compost such as John Innes No.3. Keep well watered through out the growing season, feeding every 10 days with a general liquid feed.

'The Clematis Fireworks has some of the largest flowers in the Clematis world, Fireworks has two separate flushes in the season May - June then again in Sept. This Clematis can tolerate shade and will grow to around 10 feet. Fireworks can be grown in a container or the garden and has the AGM.'

www.taylorsclematis.co.uk    £8.00

http://www.taylorsclematis.co.uk/product.php?productid=16175&cat=269

 

OLD FASHIONED TRENDS

 

Astrantias

Having always been a firm favourite with flowers arrangers due to their unusual flowers, Astrantias have now found their way into the palette of top garden designers. Some of the Chelsea display gardens including the award winning Laurent Perrier garden, include some of the darker flowered varieties. These included Astrantia Claret and Astrantia Hadspen Blood which along with lighter flowered varieties are available at www.crocus.com

Astrantias are herbaceous perennials that die down in winter. They prefer full sun or semi-shade and like amoist soil. They are happy growing in containers and will flower from June to August.