Jules Gardens

Division is a quick and easy way to propagate your favourite plants for filling in gaps in your garden or swapping with your gardening friends.

Depending on the resources you have at your disposal quite a number of new plants can be propagated from division. For example, if you have access to a greenhouse, or polythene tunnel, very small sized divisions of plants can be grown on under controlled conditions. Plants grown this way will quickly become large enough to plant out after they have reached a desirable size and hardened off from the protective environment in which they were raised.

Some herbaceous perennials begin to deteriorate with age, so if you divide older plants up, use the outer sections of the plant and discard the older middle section of the plant.

If you plan on planting your newly divided plants in situ straight away, it makes good sense to improve the soil quality, if needed, at the same. Adding some grit and organic matter such as compost will help in getting your plants happily established in their new surroundings. A gentle watering in and attention to watering in dry periods will be of great help until your plants are fully established.

The time to divide plants depends on the actual plant itself and your growing conditions. For example if you garden in a mild, sheltered area then division in very early autumn will allow your new plants to grow a good root system before dormancy. This will ensure your plants get of to a great start the flowing growing season. Some plants will be much more vigorous in growth than others. In colder areas spring division might be best, as then the plants have a full growing season to establish themselves.

As with everything pertaining to gardening, it’s your knowledge and experience about your own garden and growing conditions that helps you most.

Having decided on the plants you wish to propagate by division, a good first step is to gather the tools and resources you need. For example, digging and planting tools, an old pair of secuters, for cutting through particularly tough plants. I use a bonsai tool, which is a root rake, for teasing apart small divisions that I wish to pot up and grow under a protected environment. Have some grit and organic matter at hand if you wish to improve your soil at the same time. And any pots you might need if you are potting up small divisions to grow on until planting out.

Having all you need to hand, the next step is to carefully dig up your selected plant. Some plants seem to naturally divide very easily, and a gentle teasing apart will result in new plants. Others can be a little more stubborn and might need careful cutting away to get suitable plant material for replanting. An important point is to keep the roots moist as you work so as not to put added stress on the plant.

Then, having divided your plant, the next step is to either replant, or containerise for growing on. After replanting give a gentle watering in to settle soil particles around the roots.

There are many good resources available in books and on the internet that give advice on the best times for division. For me there is nothing quite like the delight from growing and propagating your own plants. Division is a quick and cheap method of increasing plant numbers.

Jules.

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Bamboos.

Most species are hardy, but most will grow best if given shelter from cold winds. The are many different species and more detailed information is given under the species name.

Some are suitable for hedges, many form thick clumps and grow quite rapidly. Excellent for show-pieces in containers and a must for Japanese garden plantings.

New growth appears in early spring. Bamboos do flower but at irregular intervals. The flower-heads emerging in early summer and are grass-like. Quite often flowering causes the plant to die off.

Fargesia. murieliae (syn. Arundinaria murieliae)

Vigorous growing, clump forming bamboo. The pale green culms have numerous slender branches growing from nodes. The leaves are tapered and 6cm long. Native to China.

Propagation: Division is the best method.

Phyllostachys. aurea.

The culms become yellow-brown was they age.

Propagation: Division is the best method.

Pleioblastus. pygmaeus.

Dwarf fern leaved bamboo. The slender culms have one to two branches growing from each node. The leaves are 2-8cms long. Good for ground cover, spreading to form thick clumps.

Propagation: Division is the best method.

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Composting is a wonderful to recycle, help the environment, and very importantly improve the quality of your soil and plants.

Compost helps to break up heavy clay, and improves water retention on sandy/ gritty soils.

A suitable container for composting can be very easy to find. If you are good at DIY it will be easy to construct a suitable composting environment from old wood, or pallets. These items can quite often be located for free, or a small cost. If you have the space it is very beneficial to have two composting bins. That way one can be used for fresh materials and the other for more mature compost.

Ready made bins are available from a large number of suppliers. Before purchasing however, do check with your local council to see if they offer composting bins. Many councils offer a good discount, so it well worth finding out if this applies in your area.

Having a cover for the bin is very important. A close fitting cover will help to keep out pests, and in reducing any odours. Your composting will be much more efficient by keeping the heat in and rain out.

Having found your composting container, we now need a suitable location to place them. Even the smallest garden should have somewhere suitable. Make sure that you have easy access to their location, for both, emptying and adding new materials. Remember if you plan on making large quantities of compost, access by a wheelbarrow will help immensely in transporting your finished compost around your garden.

Jules.

Although some species are tender, there are also many that are hardy in the UK. The leaves are strap like and can be up to 70cms long. The flowers are borne on stems reaching to 1M tall. Flower colour varies from dark to light blue and also white. The flowering blooms are suitable for cutting and quite long lasting. Great for growing in containers. Less hardy species can then be brought under cover during cold weather and frosts.

Best For Plants. Dobies. Garden Center UK Suttons Seeds.Unwins. Raw Garden

Acanthus. spinosus very large leaves, up to 90cm in length, deeply toothed with long spines at the tips.  The flowers are mauve and pink, in summer. Height to 120cm and spread to 60cm.

Jules.

Best For Plants. Dobies. Garden Center UK Suttons Seeds. Unwins. Raw Garden

Achillea

Hardy and evergreen perennials. Tiny blooms form flower heads often closely massed into flat topped clusters. A huge range of varieties to suit most settings in a garden.
Varieties:-

Achillea ‘Apricot Beauty’
Apricot orange flower heads and it has finely dissected dark green foliage. Height to 80cm and spread to 40cm.

Achillea ‘Coronation Gold’ also known as Achillea filipendula ‘Coronation Gold’
Yellow flowers that start during June and rather greyish leaves. Height to 70cm and spread to 50cm.

Achillea ‘Lachsschnheit’ also known as Achillea ‘Salmon Beauty’
Slightly yellowed green, feathery foliage and particularly large, flat heads of salmon pink flowers which fade to warmer and softer shades as they mature. Height to 70cm and spread to 40cm.

Achillea millefolium ‘Cerise Queen’
Dark green foliage, with delicate purple-pink flowers produced over the summer. The foliage has a strange, spicy, aromatic scent if it is crushed. Can be invasive. Height to 70cm and spread to 50cm.

Achillea millefolium ‘Lansdorferglut’
Salmon pink flowers with little lime green eyes that act as a good foil to the pink of the main flower. The plant has filigree soft green foliage and thrives in a sunny dry site. Height to 1M and spread to 50cm.

Jules.

Best For Plants. Dobies. Garden Center UK Suttons Seeds. Unwins. Raw Garden

Acanthus
Hardy perennials grown for handsome foliage, and displays of flowering spikes in summer. Quite a tall plant with the flowering spikes reaching to 1M in some varieties.

Acanthus. mollis

Perhaps one of the best known. Deeply cut green leaves which can grow to 60cm. The flowering spikes have clusters of mauve and white flowers in early summer. It will thrive in a sheltered site and it will also be somewhat invasive. Height to 1.5M and spread to 1.5m.

Jules.

Best For Plants. Dobies. Garden Center UK Suttons Seeds. Unwins. Raw Garden

Aucuba japonica

An evergreen, laurel like shrub with glossy green leaves and red berries in late summer. Very hardy and seems to grow almost anywhere. The variegated varieties however, need some sunshine to show of the yellow splashes on the leaves. Berries will only form if both male and female plants are planted close to each other. Height to 3M and spread to 3M.

Aucuba japonica ‘Crotonifolia’
Considered to be the best variegated aucuba. Large leafed, boldly spotted and generously blotched with gold. This is a female form and it can produce red berries if grown next to a male variety. Height to 3M and spread to 3M.

Aucuba japonica f. longifolia ‘Lance Leaf’
Male form that has long shiny green lance shaped leaves The leaves have finely toothed edge and arch gently. Height to 3M and spread to 3M.

Jules.

Best For Plants. Dobies. Garden Center UK Suttons Seeds. Unwins. Raw Garden

Buddleia.

Very popular shrub, mainly grown for the large flower heads, which are borne in abundance from July to September. The flowers are very attractive to butterflies hence its common name of butterfly bush.

Most buddleia’s will benefit from hard pruning, otherwise they can become very leggy and not produce many flowers. Pruning and thinning out is best in done in spring.

Popular varieties include:-

Buddleja davidii ‘Black Knight’
Often considered one of the very best varieties. Deep purple flowers in midsummer. Height to 2.5M and spread to 2M.

Buddleja davidii Adonis Blue = ‘Adokeep’
A more compact buddleia with grey green leaves that are lighter on their underside. The blue flowers appear in late summer. Height to 1.5M and spread to 2M.

Buddleja davidii ‘Empire Blue’
This buddleia has bluish lavender flowers in late summer. It needs to be hard pruned each spring, both to contain the height, and to encourage the production of the best flowering spikes. Height to 2.5M and spread to 2M.

Buddleja davidii ‘Royal Red’
This variety has rich red-purple flowers. They come in racemes, arching outwards, and are impressive when in full flourish. It is a big loose shrub that needs hard pruning each year for the best flowering show. Height to 2.5M and spread to 2M.

Buddleja davidii var. nanhoensis ‘Alba’
This buddleia has slender branches and leaves and white flowers. It has a loose, open growth habit. Height to 2.5M and spread to 2M.

Buddleja globosa
This is a large growing shrub, bearing orange, ball shaped flowers in late spring and early summer. It has long leaves that are downy on their underside. Height to 5M and spread to 5M.

Jules.

Best For Plants. Dobies. Garden Center UK Suttons Seeds. Unwins. Raw Garden.

Cotinus coggygria.

This is quite a large growing shrub height to 4M and spread to 4M. It does well if given some space to grow to its full potential. The large pinkish flower heads appear in June, turning grey with age, giving the plants its common name Smoke bush. The matt, oval leaves take on rich golden autumn hues.

Varities include:-
Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’ also known as Rhus cotinus ‘Royal Purple’ – Purple smoke bush.

This variety has wine purple leaves, that are small, matt and rounded. Producing long-lasting, smokey flowers in summer. The foliage colour darkens as autumn approaches. Height to 4M and spread to 4M.

Cotinus coggygria ‘Golden Spirit’ also known as Cotinus coggygria ‘Ancot’ – Smoke bush.

This variety has clear, golden leaves. These are rounded hold their colour well throughout the season, developing red tints in the autumn. This is a smaller growing variety, height to 2.5M and spread to 2.5M.

Jules.

Best For Plants. Dobies. Garden Center UK Suttons Seeds. Unwins. Raw Garden