by Mark Evans
Bare-rooted plants look like they shouldn’t work. A rose or fruit tree dug straight from the ground with no soil or pot, roots wrapped only in damp hessian or sawdust. Yet this has been the standard way to grow and sell deciduous plants for centuries, long before plastic pots existed, and it remains one of the cheapest ways to build a garden.
The trick lies in dormancy. Once a deciduous plant drops its leaves, … Read more »
by Mark Evans
One of the advantages of gardening is that very few decisions are permanent. Plants can be moved, divided and rearranged as your garden evolves and your ideas change. That supposedly short plant you tucked in along the edge grows much taller than expected, the one you planted in the shade needs more sun (or vice versa), that climber would be better suited elsewhere, that perennial needs … Read more »
By Mark Evans
In a formal garden, every hedge is crisply clipped, plant spacing is precise and repeated planting patterns create an immediate sense of calm and intention. The effect is composed and deeply satisfying.
Yet this same symmetry carries a hidden vulnerability. When a plant dies, the gap becomes glaring. Replacing it with a small, inexpensive specimen may leave an obvious void for years, whilst buying a … Read more »
by Mark Evans
August is named in honour of Caesar Augustus, Rome’s first emperor. The Latin root augere means ‘to increase’ or ‘to make great’, which are fitting terms for both the emperor and this month’s garden tasks. August is a time for quiet, powerful, behind-the-scenes work that prepares your patch for the vibrant season ahead. While the garden might seem dormant, there is a lot happening under the surface and plenty … Read more »
by Mark Evans
Surely it’s no coincidence that most citrus ripen just as winter chills set in, right when our bodies most need a vitamin C boost. Limes, oranges, lemons and mandarins all flourish in our area, and few sights are as cheerful in the winter garden as glossy green leaves dotted with sun-kissed ripe citrus. So don’t be a scurvy sailor, get out there and plant one.
To grow … Read more »
by Mark Evans
As winter arrives and the days grow shorter and darker, your garden doesn’t have to fade with the sun. You can overcome seasonal dreariness in the short term by adding colour with annuals such as calendula, pansies, primroses, violas or Iceland poppies. But, like a sugar rush, this colour burst is fleeting. To truly satisfy your craving for winter colour, think long-term. Plant perennials that bring lasting … Read more »