Garden Tips from English garden expert

Garden Tips from English garden expert

The ornamental garden plants are growing just as fast as the crops in the kitchen garden. In the Japanese garden, I am now ready to cut back the tips of the pine branches, as I am happy with the size and form they are now - this allows the trees to mature and not lose form. Elsewhere in the garden. Clematis

montana also needs a little controlling. Although it does not require pruning for flowers, we thin the plants and

feed and water each one. Doing this can reduce the chance of a top heavy mess that we so often associate

with these plants. We cut back akebia (the chocolate vine) at this time as it responds so well, especially if it

has been left for a few years. Now is also the time to tie in the new growth of all climbers.

More garden tips: Another group of plants that needs a feed now in order to put on the best show arc the agapanthus in pots, and the best feed for them is tomato feed. In the herbaceous borders, delphinuims and lupins need tying in to supports; and while you are in the borders, remove suckers from roses and lilacs.

Our secateurs are constantly at the ready, with the laurel hedges needing to be cut back and forsylhia and

spiraea appreciating a prune after flowering. Our garden tips on it: we don't cut back all of the plant, but cut back hard one in four of the mature stems by a third. Choisya benefits from a light prune after flowering as this promotes good growth and in some cases another flush of flowers.

If the soil in your English garden is moist, then I'd put great value in mulching beds and borders. Choosing the right time to apply a mulch is essential, as if the soil is dry and cold it will be of no benefit. The main reason for doing this is to control the weeds around perennials, fruit canes and brassicas. Over time, the mulch will break down thanks to help from the worms and micro-organisms. This will improve the soil, and a yearly application will show great improvement in plant growth. Here are another great garden tips: we also practice

another method of mulching by placing down black malting and planting pumpkins and squash through it.

The matting conserves moisture and prevent weeds, and also keeps the fruit clean. This is one way to

provide the best quality vegetables for the kitchen. The gardening tasks are quite varied this month,

but one of my most exciting tasks is to place new aquatic plants in the ponds. This is a good way to

add shade for the fish, and a great excuse for me to put on a pair of waders.

Anne Marie Owens from The English Garden