Plant specialist Keith Clouting of Taverham Nursery shares his seasonal gardening advice.
Height and colour
Long flowered climbers and wall shrubs are invaluable throughout the year to add height and colour to the garden. One of the best species for this is solanum which flowers from mid-summer to well into the autumn.
One of the most floriferous and hardiest varieties is Solanum crispum Glasnevin. This reliable, fast growing, semi-evergreen climbing shrub reaches around 15ft, bearing lightly scented, star-shaped purple blue flowers with prominent bright yellow stamens. These are followed by small, pale yellow fruits. In mild winters most of its leaves will be retained. They can lose most of their leaves in a cold winter, but they will come back well in spring. This is also the best time to prune as they flower on new growth.
Another excellent variety is S. laxum ‘Album’ which has white jasmine scented white flowers with yellow centres from mid-summer onwards. These are followed by small purple black berries. Like most climbing Solanums it enjoys a south or west facing wall or fence to offer a little winter protection after which it will reshoot in spring.
If you’re not sure if you prefer blue or white flowers have both. S.laxum ‘Crech du Pape’ a variety originally from France, has violet-blue flowers as they emerge fading to white, giving each cluster a bicolour effect. This goes well with the foliage which has a dark tinge when it first emerges.
Solanum will grow in most relatively fertile soil in full sun or part shade and are usually fairly trouble free apart from the occasional aphid.
Question for Keith.
The leaves of my Trachelospermum are covered in a black sooty mould, what could be causing it can it be cured?
I suspect this is scale insect a sap sucking bug which often attacks Trachelospermum. They exude a sticky honeydew on which the sooty mould or black fungus grows making the plant look unsightly. The insects are usually found on the underside of the leaf particularly along veins. Light infestation can be removed by hand, it’s best avoided, but larger outbreaks can be treated with an insecticide. Ensure the whole plant is covered or they are likely to return. Never spray during the day when plants are in flower to prevent pollinators from being harmed. When cured the new growth will appear green and the black mould will eventually fall off the rest of the plant.
Plant of the month.
Brugmansia suaveolens ‘Yellow Trumpet’
Brugmansias are real showstoppers and by late summer they have reached their full potential and are covered with large pendulous trumpet like flowers making a magnificent display. Many, including yellow trumpet, are also scented particularly in the evening as in their native South America they are pollinated by moths.
They can grow to 2m or more in a container, use J.Innes No.3 compost and choose a container of a good size, but one you can still move inside in the cold weather to keep them frost free through the winter when they can also be cut back if necessary.
All parts of this plant are toxic so always wear gloves when handling.
Catch up with Keith.
Plant up some parsley, mint or other herbs and grow on the windowsill for a few fresh herbs during the colder months.
As the weather gets cooler lift, divide and replant any congested perennials which have finished flowering this will help them re-establish while there is still some warmth in the soil.
Any conifer hedges not already cut can be given their final trim of the year now to tidy them up for the autumn and winter.
Autumn bedding such as pansies, sweet williams and wallflowers can be planted now. This will give them time to establish while there is still some warmth in the soil and provide a colourful display through the autumn and winter.
The canes of summer fruiting raspberries which have finished cropping now can be cut back to ground level and the fresh new canes spaced and tied in ready for next year’s crop.
