Gardener’s Cuttings Berries take over from apples


Berries have overtaken apples to jump to the top of the league of most popular fruits.


In the past 12 months, sales shot up by 13.3 per cent, and are now number one in Britain’s £4,160million fruit market. Apples accounted for 18 per cent.


Health experts have described many berries – especially blueberries – as ‘superfoods’.


Many of the favourite berries - particularly blueberries - have been dubbed ‘superfoods’ by health experts and attributed with being beneficial in helping to treat a wide range of medical conditions.


Knoll Gardens Foundation fundraising event in Wimborne Christmas comes early for garden enthusiasts on Saturday 3rd December when Neil Lucas, owner of Knoll Gardens and winner of ten Chelsea Gold Medals, gives an illustrated talk on 'The Garden as a Community' at 2.30 p.m. at the Allendale Centre, Wimborne. Inspired by Right Plant – Right Place, Neil will show us how Knoll has gradually developed its naturalistic style using a range of plants and grasses, along with examples from other gardens, to create the “Knoll” style of sustainable, wildlife friendly gardening that is as high on wow factor as it is low on maintenance.


This will be followed by an Any Questions panel supported by RSPB and the Dorset Wildlife Trust. The event, which is being organised by The Knoll Gardens Foundation, will raise funds to develop an educational outreach programme through workshops, courses and lectures and to promote the ethos of sustainable gardening so strongly demonstrated at Knoll Gardens.


The afternoon will be full of interest with stands from RSPB and Dorset Wildlife Trust plus support from Plant Heritage and the Hardy Plant Society. There will also be a Knoll Gardens information stand and copies of Neil’s new book, Designing with Grasses, will be available and will be personally signed by him.


Tickets are £8 to include free entry to Knoll Gardens between 10am and 12.30pm on Saturday 3rd December. This event will


appeal to all garden enthusiasts so put the date in your diary and buy your ticket early by contacting Marion Davies on 07500863577 or email foundation@knollgardens.co.uk


The garden guide to troublesome leaves


There are some leaves you won’t be surprised to hear that are especially unwelcome garden visitors.


Millions of British gardens are brought to a standstill with blocked drains, clogged gutters and slippery patios, but it seems some leaves cause more problems than others.


2. Horse chestnut leaves disintegrate very quickly and become stringy when wet which means they stick to patios, paths and paving slabs.


3. Lime leaves are liable to break down when they are wet, again making them hard to remove.


4. Sweet chestnut leaves rot down quickly when they are wet and stick to concrete and paving, not only making them look unattractive, but also making them slippery.


5. Walnut leaves are fairly large, making them even more troublesome when hundreds fall in one garden.


Leaves come in all shapes and sizes – and they all decay at different rates. The five that are crowned the most troublesome here are from common deciduous trees and, therefore, the ones that year after year are most likely to cause problems in our gardens if they’re not cleared up properly.


Leaves - a real garden problem


A new study of leaves in our gardens has come up with Britain’s most troublesome leaves.


Britain’s top five troublesome leaves:


1. Oak tree leaves stick to each other, making them hard to manipulate and move.


10


Every gardener knows it’s best to turn leaves into compost and replenish the soil, but it’s not as easy as that. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to leaf clearing and removal which is why you’ve really got to know your beech from your hornbeam if you’re to keep your garden tidy and prepare it for the winter.


Shredding is a good way to speed up the decomposition of tougher leaves such as horse chestnut and sweet chestnut.


Beech and oak are best for turning into compost, so stack them in a compost bin and turn once or twice to aid decomposition.


Country Gardener


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