If there’s one flower that’s fallen foul of fashion in recent times, it’s the once-popular chrysanthemum. Monty Don thinks that they’re well worth revisiting and shows us how to get them off to a flying start.
And if you’re thinking of giving your garden a bit of a spring revamp, Joe Swift has some helpful suggestions to get things going.
Gardeners World episode 3 2015:
Chrysanthemum
This florist’s favourite offers striking colours and various habits. It makes a welcome late summer and autumn show in borders and beds, with the added benefit of providing perfect cutting material for floral arrangements.
Attracting wildlife to your garden
Gardens can be a really valuable resource for wildlife – find out how to make the most of your plot. It isn’t difficult to encourage wildlife without compromising the way your garden looks. Small changes to your garden can bring major benefits for the creatures that call it home. Some will actually save you time and resources, and all should bring in more wildlife to watch. Remember: gardening for wildlife doesn’t mean leaving an untidy mess of only native plants.
Prune shrub roses
Now that the weather is beginning to warm up, this is your last chance to prune your shrub roses. Remove any damaged or crossing stems and cut back hard any weak shoots. The main framework of the plant should only be trimmed back by a third. The biggest mistake with shrub roses is to over prune.
Clear your pond of duckweed and leaves
It’s time to give your pond a quick spring clean. Using a net, simply scoop out any winter debris such as fallen leaves that have accumulated in the water, along with any duckweed. If you already have frog spawn, gently move around it, but do this Leave any debris or weed you remove by the side of the pond for a couple of days to allow any creatures to crawl back in before taking to the compost heap.
