Wednesday May 31st

Agapanthus is a Herbaceous plant well worth growing. Here in Aberdeen it is best to grow them in containers, and give them the protection of the greenhouse over winter.Agapanthus need a well drained soil/compost. Use John Innes No. 3 for container grown plants. Feed with a high potash feed (tomato food) once in April and again in May in June use a general fertiliser then feed once again each month July August and September with the tomato food. In late November cut back the leaves a few centimetres above ground level and mulch with a layer of compost.With the evergreen varieties just keep the green leaves on, These will yellow and dry with the wind and frost but will re-grow happily in the spring. Old dead leaves can be removed in March. Do not give Agapanthus heat in the winter as this could cause them to flower very poorly or not at all.Agapanthus like a sunny position. The best way to propagate Agapanthus is by division. They come in many shades of blue and also white.

Tuesday May 30th

Thats the end of a busy day.got the bedding planted out in the walled garden which we are helping friends with. It was a most hellish day, blowing a gale, cold, regular showers of rain, but so satisfying to get the job done. Plants we used were, Impatiens, Non Stop Begonias, Begonia Semperflorens, and Violas. These were planted in the semi shaded border, for the rest of the garden which is more or less in full sun we planted, Pelergoniums, Petunias, French Marigolds, Dahlias and dotted with Cinerarea. Our own garden, we are saving the bedding out job for the weekend when I believe the weather is going to improve greatly. The walled garden which we had earlier planted up with Roses and Herbaceous plants is now looking exeptionally good, I am looking forward to seeing the garden in full bloom I will be showing you the results of our work probably mid July.

Sunday May 28th

Most climbing plants require support with trellis or wire,and very often a degree of skill with pruning and training the branches. The self clinging Hydrangea Petiolaris is a climber that is easy to grow and will take care of itself other than maybe cutting back some of the branches that grow outwards if you feel they have become to long. It does not grow as fast as ivy, but after a few years you will be rewarded with lovely white flowers. Flowering time is June to September they attract, bees and butterflies. Apart from the attractive flowers, the hydrangea also has shiny, fresh green foliage. The climbing Hydrangea is an easy plant that thrives in the shade or semi shade. It likes humous soil with a neutral Ph .Petiolaris looks very good on a north-facing wall or fence especially during the flowering period, when it will brighten up a dull area beautifully. The plant can reach a height of twelve metres or more and a width up to five metres,however you don’t have to let it grow that large it can be pruned back in autumn or early spring.

Hydrangea Petiolaris

Saturday May 27th

One of the best ways to add structure to a semi shaded border is with the use of Ferns And Hostas. If you have never been keen to try Ferns, maybe you think they are a bit boring, well take a look at this one.The Japanese Painted Fern, Athyrium niponicum Pictum’, is a low maintance, deciduous fern with soft grayish-green and silvery dark maroon foliage. The Japanese Painted Fern has a height of 24 inches and a must to any garden. Japanese Painted Fern grows best in a semi shaded position. A well-drained area is best, not allowing it to dry out. Perfect as a specimen plant It will contrast well with Hostas or red leafed Heuchera. Grow this one and you will see Ferns in a new light.

Japanese Painted Fern

Thursday May 25th

Time to start hardening off all the half hardy annuals in preparation for planting out. We normally wait until the first week in June, well in actual fact its almost always the first day in June. Often we use Impatiens as one of the main plants in the scheme, but if June gets off to a cold start they always get set back, they do recover again in a few weeks time. This year the main part of the bedding will be Begonias, seem to be using them more often now, however there are so many varieties to choose from you can get away with doing this. The Privet Hedge in the back garden got it’s first cut of the season today,tops looking pretty level pleased to say, after someone got out a spirit level to check, (naw only joking). Just finished giving the plants a good watering in the greenhouse with the hose, the blooming attachment came adrift got a right soaking. Off to have a bath.