It
was with great pleasure that we welcomed back Phil of Ribblesdale
Nurseries, Preston to talk to us.
http://www.ribblesdalenurseries.co.uk
Phil
was our guest speaker in April 2017, when he spoke to us about
preparing our gardens for spring. He especially focussed on the importance of
nourishing our soil and knowing the basics of NPK values.
Phil
reminded us that it’s not too late to plant summer flowering
bulbs or to direct sow annuals for decoration & eating! This
includes sweet peas.
Shrubs
are especially known for their spring flowering season
but Phil
reminded us about some summer bloomers -
Clethra
alnifolia var. paniculata / Summer Sweet
This is a
tough, hardy shrub which is often overlooked. It reaches 5-6 feet in height &
flowers June / July / August.
Philadelphus
/ Mock Orange - This shrub comes in a variety of sizes to suit us all!
The scent of warm summer evenings is heady.
Hydrangeas
– The paniculata species varieties re-flower more reliably, though
colour choice is more limited to whites.
Buddlejas
– These are so loved by butterflies.
(Butterflies
need sun drenched, flat flowers on which they can sit while feeding
while
bees can forage in shade, often drilling into nectar pouches.)
There
are buddlejas for small gardens such as “Buzz 3 in 1”
Phil
then profiled some herbaceous summer plants.
Melissa / Honey Balm -This non invasive variety is ornamental, long flowering
(white) and a delight for bees. It copes well in the shade in damp
soil. Remember your herbal, lemon balm needs these conditions too!
Polemonium
/ Jacob’s Ladder - The new varieties are longer flowering and
respond well to the ‘Chelsea Chop’
Guems
- These plants should flower repeatedly, but this has not been
Phil’s experience to date. He suggests that we experiment with a
selective ‘Chelsea Chop’!
Astrantias -
These cope in both shade and dry soils. They come out early and go
all summer long. They are also the focus of current breeding
strategies.
NB
Plant breeding is now a vast and expanding field of horticulture.
Inevitably hybridisation leads to 'weakness' in plants
as they genetically deviate from the species form.
The desire for new hybrids creates commerical pressures. An example of potential downfall here is that often new varieties are not effectively 'trialed'.
Previously trial periods could last ten years.
Finally it can take considerable time to produce sufficient stocks of new varieties.
E.g. It can take some twenty years for daffodils to bulk up sufficiently
to be ready for for release onto the general market.
Verbascums
- These plants need good drainage & plenty of sun.
Trollius
/ Globe Flower - Recently new pale yellow varieties have been breed;
'Alabaster' and 'New Moon'. This plant thrives in wet heavy
clay soils.
Nepetas
/ Cat Mints
These plants are great at deterring greenfly and again
there are many new varieties.
The talk concluded with some 'Questions & Answers' before we enjoyed making a little purchase or two!
Phil's Tips from 'Qs & As' were:
1. Agapanthus - The narrow leaf forms cope well in NW England. They are winter hardy if not sitting in the wet. If you lift your agapanthus then don't let the bulbs dry out! Store in a shed rather than greenhouse. Split in early autumn or winter before they start growth.
2. There is no benefit in replacing new for old varieties of plants if they are thriving. See NB above.
3. Paeonias - They can be moved but take care to replant at same level.
Remember not to plant too deeply. The tuberose roots must not be more that 2.5cm below the surface. Also plant in fertile free draining soil and ideally in the sun.
4. Hostas - There is an enormous new variety reputed to grow to six feet called 'Empress Wu' - who could be without her?
5.Tulips - Generally tulips have a life span of 2 years. Do lift and slowly dry your bulbs over two to three weeks after leaves have died back. Commercially bulbs are stored at 3c. The long dry spell in 2018 meant that the tulip bulb harvest was unusually poor.
Phil is happy to answer any other questions - philsd@outlook.com
Written
by PMR
Various
internet
reference
sources used
