The INDEX magazine october 2011
INDEX gardening
HERE’S PLENTY of mellow fruitfulness to be enjoyed in gardens throughout the month of October, a time of change, when flowers and foliage fade but the golden colours of autumn begin to show their splendour.
The year’s long afternoon T
Caroline Knight advises making an investment in a future spring as the nights draw in
dewy webs and threads on seeds and stems; squirrels foraging for winter fuel; the twitterings of birds such as swifts, swallows, gulls and terns as
The clocks go back on Sunday 30 October, and the shorter days should act as your prompt to plant bulbs ready for spring colour. These are your investment for the future – you can look forward to their colourful emergence with eager anticipation. You can also divide perennials, plant new treasures and move things around fairly safely throughout the month, knowing that some careful placing now will pay dividends in the spring and summer. Meanwhile, take a moment to enjoy the crisp mornings; the
they prepare for migration. Batten down the garden hatches by doing some gentle pruning of deciduous trees, shrubs and climbers and remember to leave lots of cover, fruit and seeds for wildlife. Trees can be much maligned within a garden setting because of the potential, or perceived, threat they pose to house foundations. Indeed, it’s now common for designers to encounter problems with risk assessments because of insurance implications where trees are concerned. Problems can occur with both existing
Where to go in autumn
GARDENING minds are never still and there’s much to be enjoyed throughout the month. For instance, there is a flower-arranging demonstration on the theme of Nature’s Bounty, hosted by Dr Christina Curtis, at Wakehurst Place on Wednesday, 5 October. Wakehurst, near Ardingly in Sussex, is often described as Kew’s country garden and is the home of the Millennium Seed Bank. Tickets to this particular workshop, which runs from 1.30 to 4pm, cost £20, including tea and cake. Telephone 01444 894310 or email
adulted@kew.org. Alternatively, download a booking form at
www.kew.org.
Wild Child – Acorns & Conkers – at
www.indexmagazine.co.uk
Scotney Castle, near Lamberhurst (11am to 4pm until 30 October, but closed Mondays and Tuesdays), should keep children entertained. Scotney is set in what is described as one of the most romantic gardens in England and is owned by the National Trust. Normal admission charges apply, plus £2 for a Discovery Pack. There is also a Fungi Foray on Wednesday 5 and Thursday 6 October at the same venue. Telephone 01892 893 860 for details or visit
www.nationaltrust.org.uk. Finally, if you are swift you might just be lucky enough to secure a ticket to see Monty Don at Hadlow College on
mature trees and the planting of new ones, particularly in clay soils. Clay tends to shrink in dry weather and this is exacerbated when tree roots extract water from it. But removing the tree does not necessarily improve the situation because, in some instances, the sudden change in conditions caused by, for example, the removal of a mature tree is sometimes enough to change the ground composition, potentially leading to shifting soil. A tree can be removed more safely in smaller stages, but it is always advisable to consult an expert when in
Tuesday 6 December at 7.30pm. This esteemed writer and TV garden programme presenter of Gardeners’ World and the highly acclaimed BBC2 series Monty Don’s Italian Gardens will be delivering a fascinating lecture entitled Around the World with Monty. A range of Monty’s books
any doubt. The helpful Kew Root Survey reveals the approximate ‘safe’ distances for different tree categories. Oaks and willows should ideally be positioned at least 59ft from a house, but it’s a mere 26ft for an apple tree. Vigorous trees such as poplars, willows, oaks and some eucalyptus should be reserved for larger gardens and banished to their far corners, although there are plenty of smaller and gentler trees, such as the Eucalyptus pauciflora subsp. niphophila, that are easier to live with.
Never underestimate the benefits provided by trees, however. They give us oxygen, provide shade and shelter, enhance the landscape and have plenty of psychological health benefits, too; in addition to providing entire ecosystems that host thousands of life forms.
i
will be offered for sale and there will be a book-signing session in Broadview Garden Centre from 6.30pm. The admission price of £25 includes tea or coffee and mince pies. Tickets from Broadview Garden Centre, Hadlow College, Tonbridge, Kent TN11 OAL, either in person or by post (please enclose an SAE). Telephone 01732 853211 for further information.
105
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116