Amateur Gardening – 20 July 2019

8 AMATEUR GARDENING 20 JULY 2019

Plan for autumn colour

Plant late-flowering bulbs to broaden palette, says Ruth

A

S summer’s floral glory

starts to fade, it’s time for

the next swathe of plants

to start living their moment

in the spotlight.

Autumn isn’t just about the turning

colours of leaves and berries; many

plants flower at this time of year, and you

still have time to plant autumn-flowering

bulbs, as long as you look lively.

Late summer is a good time to plant

your colchicums, or autumn crocuses,

and although dahlia tubers will no longer

be available to buy, plants will be

available in garden centres. They will

thrive in fertile soil that has been fed and

watered beforehand, and they should

flower well into autumn. Just remember

to lift them after the first frosts have

blackened their leaves, and store them

somewhere frost-free over winter.

Chrysanthemum plants may also

be available and they will flower right

through to October.

If you are planting bulbs in containers

where they will sit for several years,

use John Innes No3 mixed with a little

multi-purpose compost.

20: Introduction to Scything:

RHS Harlow Carr, Crag Lane,

Harrogate, North Yorks HG3 1QB.

0203 176 5830, rhs.org.uk/

gardens/harlow-carr

20-21: Carnivorous Plant Show:

RHS Wisley, Wisley Lane, Woking,

Surrey GU23 6QB. 0845 6121 253,

rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley

21: Rare Plant Fair: Highnam

Court, Highnam, Gloucester,

Glos GL2 8DP. 01278 661352,

rareplantfair.co.uk

21: Plant Hunters’ Fair: Middleton Hall,

Tamworth, West Midlands B78 2AE

22: Free Gardening Advice for

RHS Members: RHS Harlow Carr

23: Midsummer Cottage Garden

Perennials, RHS Garden Rosemoor,

Great Torrington, Rosemoor,

Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH.

0203 176 5830; rhs.org.uk/

gardens/rosemoor

23: A Celebration of Echinacea:

RHS Garden Wisley

24: Walkies at Wisley Evening:

RHS Garden Wisley

24: Global Growth Vegetable

Garden Tour: RHS Garden Hyde

Hall, Creephedge Lane, Rettendon,

Chelmsford, Essex CM3 8ET.

0845 265 8071, rhs.org.uk/

gardens/hydehall

25: Living Frame (Plant a Wooden

Picture Frame): RHS Hyde Hall

26: Flower/Garden Photography

Masterclass: RHS Garden Hyde Hall

26: Summer Evenings at RHS

Rosemoor: RHS Garden Rosemoor

26: Free Gardening Advice for

RHS Members: RHS Harlow Carr

26: Gardening for Low Maintenance:

RHS Harlow Carr

■ Send details and images of

events to [email protected]

■All details are subject to change without our knowledge,

so please check that the event is still going ahead before

leaving home.

Things to

do near you

Carnivorous Plant Show

(July 20-21) at RHS Wisley

What’s

on

Autumn colour from bulbs

2

Set the bulbs at three times their

own depth and one bulb’s width

apart, either en masse or in separate,

individual holes.

3

Infill with a mix of soil and

compost and firm it lightly with

a boot heel or the back of a rake.

Water generously.

4

Alternatively, plant bulbs in a

patio container at the same depth

and spacing as in the ground. Keep

well watered.

1

Start by digging over the ground,

forking in lots of well-rotted

compost or manure to feed the

bulbs and improve the soil.

Step

by step

Bulbs can rot in heavy,

wet soil so if you

garden on clay, dig in

lots of grit and organic

matter to improve

drainage and add

nutrients.

Plan for autumn colour

Nerines bring a fabulous splash of

colour to the autumn garden

Colchicums

are another

autumnal

winner