though March is fi ne if you’re late.
Cut back a shrub rose by a third (“ It
will look small and bare, but it’s the
best thing for it.” ) and for climbers
cut old fl owering stems to about
15cm from the main stem. Lavender
is best pruned in late summer after
fl owering to prevent it becoming
woody, Laing says, “but you can give
a little haircut in spring if it’s looking
untidy.” The RHS website has a list of
pruning “groups” with broad rules of
thumb on what needs hacking back
when, but Laing says don’t stress too
much on timings: “ I prune any time
between November and spring,
depending on the plant. Just avoid
doing it if there’s a frost coming.”
U is for understanding ‘pests’
“You’re not the only creature in your
garden,” Cargill says, “so always take
an organic approach.” Poisonous slug
pellets can harm birds or the declining
hedgehog population. “Slugs don’t
like sharp gravel, so sprinkle a little
around the base of plants they like to
deter them,” he says.
V is for verticalMake an ugly fence
disappear with evergreen climbers.
Cargill recommends star jasmine
and clematis “Winter Beauty” for
year-round coverage.
W is for w atering Some
horticulturists argue that holding
off watering once plants are( @allotmentcafe ). “ Tomatoes
grown up a stick are great for a
balcony, as are chillies.” The three
sisters (corn, beans and squash) are
companion plants that can be grown
on top of each other – the squash at
the bottom as the beans climb up the
corn. “I grew them last year in a tiny
two -metre-by-two -metre garden,”
says Nwokorie.
O is for odd numbers Always plant
bulbs or bedding plants in odd
numbers – it looks more natural.
Also avoid planting in straight lines,
unless you enjoy that municipal
roundabout look.
P is for potscapingThe odd-
numbers rule applies to pots, too,
says Palmer, but “go for fewer pots
in larger sizes; they’re easier to
maintain and make the space look
less busy.” On-trend galvanised
steel planters can be expensive, says
Laing, so buy a cheap galvanised
bucket and drill holes in the bottom
for drainage.
... and pampas grassThe 1970s
ornamental grass ( 8 ) once associated
with swinging is back. Instagram is
partly to blame, where tastemakers
are displaying the fl uff y cream
fronds as alternatives to fl owers
( Kim Kardashian West among them).
Cargill says “enormous” pampas
is only for a large garden ; Stipa
gigantea is a good alternative.
Q is for a quality roseHardy, disease-
resistant and long-fl owering, a rose
is something you’ll never regret
planting. Among Cargill’s favourites
are shrub rose ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ ( 14 )
or the fragrant climbing ‘Constance
Spry’ (from davidaustinroses.co.uk ).
Follow @london_blooms for growing
and pruning tips.R is for rustic supportsGo as natural
as possible with plant supports,
Laing says. A sustainably coppiced
willow trellis or obelisk (handy for
sweet peas ; try gardengifts.com )
will let plants take centre stage. The
obelisk will add a pleasing sculptural
element to bare beds in winter.
S is for soil typeLook at what is
growing naturally on your street to
give you an idea of the plants that
will suit your soil, says Guy Barter ,
chief horticulturist at RHS Wisley.
Gauge soil type with the “sausage”
test: “Take a sample from the top
25cm of your soil and try to roll it
into a sausage. If the sausage won’t
form, your soil is sandy; if it forms
a fi rm shiny sausage, it is clay; if a
cohesive but non-slippery sausage
forms, you are in luck and have
a loamy soil well suited to growing a
wide range of plants.”
... and seeds
Palmer says wildfl owers, such as
cornfl owers ( 3 ) , poppies ( 7 ) and
forget-me-nots ( 9 ), are a fail safe if
you’re a growing-from-seed novice:
“You can even buy a window box
seed mix .” Try suttons.co.uk. “Salad
from seed is an easy win,” Laing
adds. “I t’s quick to germinate and
you can grow it in a hanging basket.
You’ll be harvesting all summer.”
T is for trimming Remember the four
Ds: “Remove anything dead, dying,
damaged or diseased,” Laing says.
Pruning also helps control a plant’s
shape and encourages growth.
Prune roses in January
and February, she says,established encourages them to
send roots deeper in search of
water , making them stronger and
more self-suffi cient. But make
sure they have enough to survive
during dry periods, says RHS water
management specialist Janet
Manning. “If you have shallow or
compacted soil, then not watering
won’t help their roots grow down
any further.” Either way, try to use
a water butt to avoid the hose. Pots
m ay need watering every day in
hot weather , but prevent waste
by placing pot trays underneath
to catch the excess. The RHS
recommends watering fi rst thing
in the morning on a hot day , so the
water doesn’t evaporate.
X is for X marks the spotAvoid
accidentally digging up bulbs by
ordering plant markers. Sarah
Raven sells pretty and durable zinc
ones you can write on (£8 for six ,
sarahraven.com ).
Y is for: You’ve got this
Gardening might seem daunting
but remember, Barter says, “A ll
plants want to live : they are on
your side.”
Z is for Zen Fill your plot with
scented plants and herbs (rosemary,
lavender, lemon balm or orange
blossom) and install solar-powered
lights so you can enjoy it after
dark. Honeysuckle ( 15 ) releases a
strong scent at night: “Grow it on a
south-facing wall, and on summer
nights the radiating heat from
the bricks will make
the plant release its
fragrance,” Laing says.
Nature’s answer to
a scented candle.
And relax rant climbing ‘Constaance n
m davidaustinroses.co..uu
ondon_blooms for grow
ng tips.ming Remember the four off watering once plants are
anything dead, dying,
diseased,” Laing says.
helps control a plant’s
courages growth.
n January
y, she says,lights so you can
dark. Honeysuck
trong scent atn
outth-hfacing wa
nighghts the ra
the bri
ththe pl
fragagra
NNts are li
d
sst
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Q is for
resista
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