The Need For Change

Gardening as we know it is changing and will need to change immensely over the next 25 years to remain sustainable. Global warming, global dimming call it whatever you like and blame it on whatever you like, but the fact remains that our climate is changing and will change further and change is something us humans don’t like. Rather than accept the fact that things aren’t like they used to be and adapt we soldier on trying to continue as we have done creating endless work, disappointment and trying to achieve the unachievably.

It is time for us to take stock and look at what the future holds for gardening. With and increase in milder, wetter winters, summer flooding and heat waves many of our traditional garden plants will become impractical to grow. Many of our traditional spring bulbs will not be able to cope with the wet winters and become prone to diseases whilst traditional herbaceous perennials will not be able to cope with the dry. There is already a huge increase in fungal disease throughout the year, increase in pests, plants just not coming back due to excess wet or dry. Therefore we need to adapt and ensure our gardens become sustainable which our changing world.

Water is precious and a necessity for the garden and one water butt tucked away in a corner is like having a 1 pint petrol tank on your car, it just isn’t enough. There are many different options available to us now to store water, by either linking several water butts together, getting bigger butts or using under ground tanks. For my garden I purchased domestic oil tanks each holding 650 gallons and linked them together with a pond pump inside to supply the water easily. These can be sunk into the ground under a patio or lawn, put along the side of a house or covered with trellis and plants and can be fed by run off from the entire house. A tank can also be used for grey water (bath/shower), though some maintenance is required to keep the tank clean, providing you with an endless supply of water for the garden. It would however be pointless to save all this water to throw it away on plants that aren’t happy in our current conditions and this is where we have to bite the bullet and introduce new plants that will cope with the changes.

Ironically, due to the wet this year I have lost many Gladioli where they have just rotted away. Rather than waste time and resources by incorporating grit to improve the drainage of my soil, they will be coming out and going into pots and in there place I will plant something that will be happy in that type of wet soil. It is pointless spending a fortune on trying to change my soil, using endless chemicals to keep diseases away that wouldn’t be there if I’d planted the right thing in the right place. Instead we need to work with what we have and garden accordingly, working with nature rather than against.

Written by Day Lily on 2007/07/21 | Permalink to this article

Make your own rooting hormone

The active ingredient of many commercial rooting products is Indolebutyric Acid (IBA), a natural plant hormone. Although store-bought rooting hormone powders now use a synthetic version of IBA, you can try the real thing by making a batch of willow water.

Here’s what you do:

• Get a handful of willow twigs (any Salix species will do)
• Cut them into pieces a few inches long
• Soak the twigs in a few inches of water for a day or two; then remove the twigs
• Use the willow water to soak cuttings in overnight, or to water flats of newly started cuttings, or to help transplants

Now remember since this method isn’t very exact, the strength of the willow water can vary depending on the time of year, the number of twigs, the concentration of hormones in the twigs, and the amount of time that the twigs were soaked.

You will, however, still get a solution that will help your plants root.

Written by Admin on 2007/07/06 | Permalink to this article

Bodnant Gardens

We had the pleasure of visiting Bodnant Gardens last week, part of the National Trust outside Llandudno in North Wales. The gardens comprise of 80 acres and are considered to be one of the finest gardens. After visiting them, I have to agree as they were stunning even at this time of year. There is a lot to see there with formal and natural gardens, meandering footpaths that lead you ever deeper into a wealth of stunning planting.

Bodnant is very well known for it’s world-famous Laburnum Arch, with still looks impressive whilst out of flower. If you are a lover of Rhododendrons and Azaleas, then this is the place for you as everywhere you turn they are there. I can only imagine from the postcards how stunning the gardens must look throughout spring with them all in flower. There is also a stream that runs through the woodland garden forming a large pond that cascades into a beautiful waterfall which you can stand over by crossing the wooden bridge that links the two sides. Behind the waterfall is a mausoleum which at the moment is covered for restoration work but the National Trust have put a picture up by the side so that you can see what they are hiding. At the foot of the house is the rose garden which has undergone a lot of work. On talking to a member of the National Trust, we were advised that last year all the roses were removed and stored, whilst they dug out all of the soil from the beds. New fresh soil was brought in and all the roses treated and re-planted so not a big job! Most visitors have said that this year the roses are the best they have ever been. Though I cannot compare as it was my first visit, I have to say the display was absolutely stunning this year and I have already ordered 10 of the roses I saw there.

There is so much more there to see as I have only touched on the basics otherwise I would be typing for days. I strongly recommend if you have the chance before November to visit Bodnant Gardens you do as it was well worth seeing. We went back two days later to see it again!

Though the gardens will close for the winter from 4th November, there are still things you can access there as Bodnant has it’s on plant and gift centre which is open all year. Lucky for me the plant centre has all it’s outdoor plants at half price, so the journey home was rather cramped, especially for the dog. There are also a few gift shops selling ceramics, jewellery, art and craft items next to the plant centre so it offers a little something to everyone.

Bodnant Gardens: http://www.bodnant-garden.co.uk
Tel: 014920 650460

Written by Day Lily on 2007/10/12 | Permalink to this article