Six on Saturday: Not Hedging My Bets

A very wet Tuesday proved to be the only weather thorn in the side this week, the rest of which has brought some brighter weather, mild enough for comfortable gardening after cool beginnings. I have no longer been able to resist the urge to cull and tidy up, and the tomatoes in the greenhouse were amongst the first to go (above), followed by some of the sadder occupants of the cutting beds (below). To the right of the space previously occupied by the tomatoes are some of the less hardy plants, potted up and brought inside ‘just in case’ (salvia and agastache in particular, with penstemon to follow soon).

Chrysanthemums are quintessential fall flowers—highly resilient and fuss-free! Emerging in warm autumn hues of yellows, reds, and oranges, these perennials can tolerate the change from hot to cold much better than other flowers! But if your mums are not blooming, something’s wrong. Here’s how to identify key causes and tricks to boost flowering!

Not long after stating publicly on this blog that I didn’t expect to find room for more roses, it occurred to me, in a tongue-in-cheek sort of way, that extending the small bed behind the shed following removal of the tree stump might in fact just do this after all! The original bed housed rambling rose ‘Rosemarie Viaud’, which rambles over the shed roof, and repeat flowering old rose ‘Rose de Rescht’, but if the latter were replanted elsewhere there would be space for a trio of modern shrub roses, planted to together to give the suggestion of a large bush, as has recently been done in the rose garden.

As well as what could be classed as ‘projects’, there is a tendency for minor editing at this time of year and, on the whole, I feel the borders generally have been improving in recent years because of this.  I daresay I will never be completely happy with them and inevitably there will always be changes to be made, but at least there seems to be more cohesion to them these days and I don’t have an issue with removing plants that no longer bring pleasure. The bold borders have certainly come a step closer in their boldness, although some editing is still required in the one to the left of the gate (above), where an over-exuberant geranium has been swamping the new Geum ‘Totally Tangerine ‘ in front of it (below); moving the geranium further back in the border will be a first step.

Chrysanthemums are one of the most popular flowers in the world, and they come in multiple colors. To enjoy most of them, follow these tips to boost their flowering. Each trick will help you ensure that these fall garden stars are in the best shape possible.

I clocked up 46 hours in the garden in August this year, up from 34 the year before, so I have clearly been busy one way or another. I don’t include things like preserve making in this total, but nevertheless found time this week to make my first batch of tomato chutney (recipe here). This time last year I had already made 3 batches and had enough tomatoes to make a fourth batch, which is perhaps as well as I may not have enough ripened tomatoes to make the minimum of three batches I need to keep me going till the next tomato season. Not only have they been very much later to establish and ripen than most years, but the beefsteak tomato ‘Burlesque’, that I grow to make things easier for the chutney-making process, is less than half its usual size, either not maturing as normal, or not the correct variety in the first place.

It has been busy in the garden recently, although perhaps it always is, juggling the less exciting seasonal maintenance with more gratifying tweaks and improvements. A number of new plants have been ordered, although where possible I have moved plants from elsewhere or used leftovers from those grown for sale. Meanwhile, the garden ticks over by itself, albeit slowing down but bringing joy with every new bloom, like a fresh flush of roses on ‘Strawberry Hill’ (above), currently awaiting a new structure to support its abundance of blooms during the season, now likely to be a winter project.

For the first time in many weeks, or so it seems, rain stopped me from getting out in the garden – no, that’s not true, it deterred me for a while but it wasn’t raining heavily so I girded my loins and went for a belated first-thing-in-the-morning ramble, ducking under drooping climbers and lifting my skirts (decorously!) as I passed overhanging borders. Taking my secateurs, I accomplished some deadheading whilst rambling, picked some tomatoes in the greenhouse, planted out some seed-sown Lychnis coronaria on the terraced beds in the rose garden and pondered what I might include in today’s Six on Saturday, the meme hosted by Jim of Garden Ruminations.

Lavender has been trending as the most sought-after hedge plant in the last few years in the gardening world. Why? Because there’s much more to this timeless classic than meets the eye, or nose, for that matter! We’re pretty sure this article will convince you to grow lavender as a hedge in your garden. Tune in to find out!

Well, I did it: after a few light showers, I took the plunge and moved the roses as planned, breaking all recognised rules about moving and replanting. The existing roses in the rose garden are now planted closely together in groups of 3 of the same variety, to give the impression of larger bushes, together with the new additions making a total of eight varieties in the enlarged bed, leaving the terraced beds either side of the bus shelter empty for some hardy perennials.

What has this rambler been brandishing her secateurs over this week, I wonder? Not these sunflowers, certainly, as they are probably over 3 metres or 10ft tall, and I would need a ladder to cut any blooms. I usually grow coppery-coloured ‘Velvet Queen’, but this year have also sown ‘Earth Walker’, another dark variety, neither of which would be expected to grow above a more manageable 2m or so, and I don’t know where the yellow blooms have come from. Perhaps I could manage to reach some blooms for a Monday vase…?

Saturday has come around again ridiculously quickly, meaning it is time for another contribution to Jim’s weekly meme at Garden Ruminations; also coming round quickly is a new month, with an end-of-month post noticeably lacking…hey ho!