Here’s an example: ‘Never water plants in sunshine because you’ll scorch the leaves.’ Utter nonsense. Here’s another: ‘Plant garlic among your brassicas to scare away aphids and cabbage-white butterflies.’ Try it if you wish, but it doesn’t work. Nor do marigolds. The truth is that aphid infestations vary enormously from week to week and garden to garden. You never know whether or when one will turn up. Some years, I find very little greenfly activity; at other times, it arrives when I least expect it. Last year, blackfly attacked a mass of thistles that I had forgotten to pull out, but ignored my roses almost completely. And, for the record, caper spurges—Euphorbia lathyris— do not repel moles.
‘Finish planting tulip bulbs before the end of November.’ Well, mine never go in before January, because otherwise I find that winter wet will rot them off. ‘Always split herbaceous plants immediately after they have flowered.’ Not so—I find they all do best in October, because the soil is still warm and moist enough to get them established. ‘Wash out your empty flowerpots—clay or plastic—so that you do not transmit disease.’ This can only be true if the previous occupant of the pot succumbed to a soil-borne fungal infection, but, if that’s the case, it’s best to throw away the pot.
Bu hikaye Country Life UK dergisinin August 09, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye Country Life UK dergisinin August 09, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
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The original Mr Rochester
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FOR many years, some large boxes have been stored and forgotten in the dark recesses of the garage. Unpacked last week, the contents turned out to be pots: some, perhaps, nearing a century old—dense terracotta, of interesting provenance.
Plants for plants' sake
The garden at Hergest Croft, Herefordshire The home of Edward Banks The Banks family is synonymous with an extraordinary collection of trees and shrubs, many of which are presents from distinguished friends, garnered over two centuries. Be prepared to be amazed, says Charles Quest-Ritson
Capturing the castle
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Nature's own cathedral
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All that money could buy
A new book explores the lost riches of London's grand houses. Its author, Steven Brindle, looks at the residences of plutocrats built by the nouveaux riches of the late-Victorian and Edwardian ages
In with the old
Diamonds are meant to sparkle in candlelight, but many now gather dust in jewellery boxes. To wear them today, we may need to reimagine them, as Hetty Lintell discovers with her grandmother's jewellery
