I’VE been at Spring Cottage since November 2005 and it’s only the third proper garden I’ve made since 1978. All three gardens have been very different, but they’ve all been completely empty of plants on my arrival. My first proper garden was a north-facing Northamptonshire plot with wonderful views across a sloping landscape where sheep grazed and cuckoos called.
My children grew up there and I enjoyed the north-facing aspect because it was sheltered from easterly and westerly winds. The shade cast by the tall stone cottage suited ferns and woodlanders. The soil was free-draining, because it had been cultivated for hundreds of years, and there was a small, very sheltered south-facing garden on the other side of the cottage, complete with a functional well covered in honeysuckle.
Denne historien er fra June 18, 2022-utgaven av Amateur Gardening.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra June 18, 2022-utgaven av Amateur Gardening.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
To dig or not to dig?
Should we be carrying out a full dig on plots now? Bob considers the pros and cons of the 'autumn dig' debate
The box ball blues
As if his beleaguered box hadn't already taken a beating, Toby now has to deal with some hungry box caterpillars
Save your own seeds
Masterclass on: seed saving
Strange sightings
Three unusual insects turn up in Val's garden in one day
A bolt from the blue!
Cornflowers are perfect for garden and vase
Winter moth prevention
Ruth shows you how to avoid maggoty tree fruits
Create a winter container
There are as many options as in summer
Lightweight gardening tools
AS well as being good for our mental health, gardening is also great exercise.
Autumn price round-up
AG finds better bargains in lesser-known brands
Rudbeckias
Rudbeckias are ideal for sunny summer patios and borders, with some able to survive our coldest winters