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Gardening Tips

Graham Porter: Problems arising from a bendy Birch Aug 15 2009

BRIAN MORIARTY of the Colne Valley Tree Society writes to me regularly and his questions are always challenging.Read

Graham Porter: Bedding Plants Aug 15 2009

OUR ever popular Busy Lizzie, Impatiens walleriana, has become one of the most important summer bedding plants over recent years, with double flowered forms and improvements in flower colour ranges being made available to us.Read

Gardening: Blackberries good to go Aug 15 2009

1 Blackberry harvest – now that the blackberries are ripening, harvest them every day, either from your own plants or from the hedgerows where they are growing in abundance this year. For your own plants, cut out the fruited canes as soon as you have harvested the last fruits and tie in the new canes to their support system, removing any weak or badly positioned canes at the same time. Leave plenty of room between each cane to allow light and air to circulate and ripen the canes before winter comes again.Read

Graham Porter: Gardening diary Aug 15 2009

` RHS Courses – have you ever thought of going on a gardening course? You might just want to go for an evening out with like minded people or to learn more about how to manage your little piece of England. Some people go on basic courses and end up with degree level qualifications, going on to work in the industry or to start their own businesses. Whatever your reasoning, why not give RHS Harlow Carr a call on 01423 724680 or visit the RHS website at www.rhsorg.uk/learningRead

Graham Porter gardening: Glad for Gladioli Aug 08 2009

THOSE stunning tall, elegant flower spikes at this time of year seem to have come and gone in popularity over the years but, when you see the displays at all the late summer shows, it makes you realise that there are a great many people still growing, hybridising and developing gladioli with enthusiasm and commitment and, with climate change gradually having its effect, you may be able to risk leaving the corms in the ground over winter to naturalise, thus removing some of the traditional hard work at the end of the each season.Read

Graham Porter gardening: Jobs to do Aug 08 2009

1 Second Chance – now that herbaceous plants such as the hardy geraniums have finished their first flush of flower, some varieties will give you a second flush if you cut them back. Some herbaceous plants will also set copious amounts of seed if they are not cut back so cut back the flower heads of alchemilla to stop it spreading across the whole garden.Read

Graham Porter gardening: Hitting the 500 mark! Aug 08 2009

NEXT week’s article is the 500th since I starting writing the gardening page for the Huddersfield Daily Examiner in August 1999.Read

Graham Porter gardening: Huddersfield Flower, Vegetable and Handicraft Show at Ravensknowle Park Aug 08 2009

` Huddersfield Flower, Vegetable and Handicraft Show – this year’s show is being held at Ravensknowle Park on Saturday, August 15 from 12 noon to 5pm. Visit www.kirklees.gov.uk for details or call 01484 234026 for more information and a copy of the show schedule.Read

Graham Porter gardening: May the force of nature be with you Aug 08 2009

HAVE you ever wondered how some of the flowers that are seen at flower shows can be producing those superb displays often up to six months ahead or behind their natural flowering season?Read

Graham Porter’s gardening: Ornamental sages or salvias Aug 01 2009

WE are probably all familiar with the sage (Salvia officinalis) that we use to help flavour the turkey stuffing at Christmas and add to a bouquet garni for a stew, but the ornamental sages seldom get much of a mention in garden books and only a very limited range is ever found in garden centres and retail nurseries.Read

Graham Porter’s gardening: Books on herbs and family gardens Aug 01 2009

New RHS Books – Dorling Kindersley have recently published two new books based on RHS Simple Steps series, with one on Herbs (ISBN 978-1-4053-3549-2) and one on the Family Garden (ISBN 978-1-4053-3548-5).Read

Graham Porter’s gardening: Time to prune back the wisteria Aug 01 2009

1Wispy Wisteria – if your wisteria is now looking as if it needs a short back and sides, then the time is right to give it its annual hair cut. Unless you need to use the long new stems to extend the spread of your wisteria, all of them can be cut back to 3-4 buds now – this allows light and air in to ripen the growth and helps to form next spring’s flower buds. If you have to use steps or a ladder to do this job, make sure that you have someone else with you to support the steps or ladder whilst you concentrate on the pruning – use a holster or apron with pocket to store your secateurs in as you untangle the growth.Read

Graham Porter’s gardening: How the law affects gardeners Aug 01 2009

WHO would have thought that we would ever have to give due consideration to the law as it relates to our gardens?Read

Gardening: Saffron harvest time almost upon us Jul 25 2009

CROCUS sativus will be coming into flower within a couple of months and the annual saffron harvest can begin.Read

Gardening: Diary Jul 25 2009

WITH only about eight weeks until the gates open on the Harrogate Autumn Flower Show, you can order your reduced price tickets online now.Read

Gardening: Jobs to do Jul 25 2009

1Summer pruning – now that the first flush of summer flowering shrubs have finished, it’s a good idea to get in and prune out one or two pieces of older wood as well as cutting back some of the excessive summer growth they have made. In particular, take a look at Weigela, Philadelphus and Deutzia. You can, while you have the secateurs and loppers handy, carry out some post-harvest pruning of raspberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants and gooseberries. Garden trees might also need a few lower small branches removing if they have dropped over a path or lawn or are hiding another plant or a view. Remember to either shred and compost your prunings or take them to one of the household recycling centres that are available in our area (visit www.kirklees.gov.uk or call 01484 414700 for more details).Read

Graham Porter: Plan before you plant your dream garden Jul 25 2009

HAVING recently completed a garden design for a neighbour of mine I thought it was about time I let you know my feelings on the complex and sometimes frightening process of designing the use of that outdoor space that many of us are lucky enough to have.Read

Modest Margaret Beever takes the top prize in Examiner contest Jul 23 2009

A SHOCKED Margaret Beever can’t believe her stunning garden is a winner.Read

Garden of the Year: Large category with pictures Jul 23 2009

1st and overall winner: IF WE’D taken note of the sat nav we would never have found Margaret Beever’s stunning garden. And what a shame that would have been.Read

Garden of the Year: Small and container category with pictures Jul 23 2009

1st: IF YOU could bottle Diane Gibson’s infectious personality and enthusiasm for gardening then the whole of Huddersfield would be blooming beautiful.Read

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