Amateur Gardening – 10 July 2019

HAVING been

gardening for

over 75 years,

I still find AG the

best gardening

magazine. In Tim’s

review of weeding

hoes (AG, 1 June), I

believe he omitted to

mention the best weeding hoe yet

invented. I refer to the hoe made by

a well-known German manufacturer

in hardened steel with two scalloped

cutting edges. This means the hoe

‘weeds’ on both the ‘push’ and ‘pull’

strokes whilst the side arms enables

weeding right up to a plant stem.

I’ll forgive Tim’s oversight, because

I have been weeding far longer

than he has.

Bob Musgrave, Street, Somerset

JUST a note to say

how much I’ve been

enjoying Tim’s

masterclasses on

various aspects of

gardening; some very

useful tips even for an old

guy like myself.

How about a piece on how

to look after garden shears? I’ve

got several, including an oldish

Wilkinson Sword and a newish

Fiskars. The latter is OK, if a bit dirty,

but the former doesn’t really cut any

more and I’m not sure how to clean

and sharpen them – help!

Ed Davis, via email

Tim replies: Last year, I covered

sharpening tools (AG, 4 Aug), and

was impressed with the Multisharp

Shear and Scissor Sharpener

(shown, £7.50). First, check that the

blade pivot nut on the shears is tight

enough to keep the blades in close

contact as they work. Clean with

white spirit, dry them, then wipe with

a cloth dipped in oil. Oil the pivot.

Fix the Multisharp to a bench or door.

To sharpen, thrust the blades into

the sharpener, opening them as you

go, then draw back steadily, closing

the blades. It takes a bit of practice,

but is quick and works a treat. If the

edge is very dull, it’s best to get the

blades reground by a professional.

6 JULY 2019AMATEUR GARDENING 55

with Wendy Humphries

Write to us:Letters, Amateur Gardening magazine,

Pinehurst 2, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough Business Park,

Farnborough, Hants GU14 7BF (please include your address).

Email us:[email protected]

I

N AG (25 May 2019), John Negus
answered a question by
James Beeson, who
was wondering why his
echium was not flowering.
I kept thinking that about
mine, as it’s waited until its
third year before repaying
me for all the devotion I had
given to it and now the bees
are adoring it as much as me.
I have seedlings on the go that will
hopefully replace it when it gives up and
dies after flowering, which will be sad, as
it gives everyone who sees it so much
pleasure. It is surprising what can be
grown in a pot.
Sylvia Monk,
Hayling Island, Hants

Wendy says:Echiums are so dramatic.
In pots, they need diligent watering and
a gritty compost to prevent waterlogging.

Patience is a virtue

The echium spires have rocketed

believe he omitted to

mention the best weeding hoe yet

(25 May 2019), John Negus

Star

letter

spirits, so I took a photo and did a

watercolour of them. It just goes

to show that plants, no matter how

simple, are good for mind and soul.

Louise Cichy, Ipswich, Suffolk

I’M really enjoying

AG’s 135-year

celebrations,

especially the

beautiful botanical

paintings you have

featured. Being

no painter myself

(except for the odd

fence or shed), I

was wondering if

you have any plans

to sell any of them

as prints? My curiosity grows even

stronger after reading the letter

(AG, 18 May) from a lady in Kentucky.

Those lithographs are beautiful. 

Sue Sullivan, Sheffield

Wendy says: The original illustrations

are from AG’s archive of volumes and

were copied to reproduce for our

special issues. We have no plans to

reprint and sell them, but would be

interested to hear if anyone has come

across old botanical prints from AG.

Appreciation for artistic fl air...

HAVING moved into a cottage in

March, I have been busy in the garden

and, as you can see, decorating the

house! I love having my own garden

and thought I’d share my ideas to

bring it into the house.

Laura Baldry, via email

AFTER a

particularly

stressful day at

work, I sat glumly

in the car park

awaiting my

taxi home. As I

stared at my feet,

the sunshine

illuminated a

clump of daisies.

The sight of

these simple,

cheery blooms immediately lifted my

you have any plans

to sell any of them

as prints? My curiosity grows even

stronger after reading the letter

(

Those lithographs are beautiful.

Sue Sullivan, Sheffield

Wendy says:

are from

were copied to reproduce for our

special issues. We have no plans to

reprint and sell them, but would be

interested to hear if anyone has come

Top tool tips

Bob’s hoe has

scalloped edges

gardening; some very

useful tips even for an old

How about a piece on how

to look after garden shears? I’ve