Which of us hasn't visited a Kent National Trust garden like the one at Sissinghurst and marvelled at the artistry that went not only into its initial creation, but that goes into its upkeep, too? And now our friends at the Trust have kindly rounded up a host of 'top tips' from gardeners based at the county's leading properties so that we can benefit from their hard-won wisdom, even if our own patches aren't quite as impressive.
Keep on harvesting
Sissinghurst-based gardener Saffron Prentis says, “Encourage more flowers to grow on your roses by ‘pegging’ them down. This arches the stem, and buds with short-flowering spurs are encouraged along the length of the stem.”
The majestic yellow of the Golden Rose Avenue at Chartwell is also in its prime at this time of year. First created by the Churchill children to celebrate their parents' wedding anniversary, there are 32 varieties of rose totalling in excess of four hundred individual blooms. An additional four hundred perennial plants including Nepeta (similar to catmint) and Stachys byzentina (Lambs ears) provide a final, show-stopping flourish.
Control your roses
Sissinghurst-based gardener Saffron Prentis says, “Encourage more flowers to grow on your roses by ‘pegging’ them down. This arches the stem, and buds with short-flowering spurs are encouraged along the length of the stem.”
Sweet-pea success
Gardener Pippa Coulthard, from Ightham Mote near Sevenoaks, says “Ensure you cut and enjoy the sweet pea flowers. Otherwise, the plant focuses on making seed resulting in fewer, smaller flowers. When the seed matures on the plant, the plant dies, as it’s done its job and propagated itself.”
For robust rhododendrons
“The key to growing rhododendrons successfully is to give them plenty of light and keep them pruned” advises Scotney Castle, Lamberhurst, Head Gardener Natan Cointet. “This reduces the chance of pests attacking the plants and ensures they’re healthy enough to fight disease.”
So there we have it - advice from the local experts! And the great news is that, whether or not we apply them successfully to our own patches, we will always be able to admire the experts' wonderful handiwork at National Trust properties in Kent! nationaltrust.org.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here