Japanese Knotweed 2

Thanks to Kate Hodson from The Woodstock Stationer for the following advice on Japanese Knotweed:

...one for your blog..think I have sorted the knotweed problem....cut it down to about 6" above ground level , the stalks are hollow, use a dropper and give a squirt of neat Roundup for treetrunks,jap knotweed etc (got it from ebay for a tenner..but maybe you sell it online?) ..did it in July ..it keeled over within a few days and hasnt sprouted back yet...have to see what it does in the spring, but so far so good!

Autumn Gardening

In 1937 the famous garden designer, Vita Sackville-West wrote ‘If only one were as good a gardener in practice as one is in theory, what a garden one would create!’

And so, as autumn days are really upon us, now is the time to take stock of the garden in theory as well as practice. Inevitably one of the first jobs to be done is to think ahead to spring. Bulbs are currently in plentiful supply in garden centres, and, I think, represent some of the best value flowers available. However, there seems to be a terrifying array - how does one begin to make a selection?

One tip is to look at the time of flowering. Aim to have a succession of flowers from the first snowdrop in January to the final autumn crocus. A second piece of advice is plant bulbs in pots to fill gaps in the borders. Lillies do particularly well, simply follow the instructions on the packet and then put them in a corner somewhere until they are required next summer. Colour theme packs seem to be a very good idea to prevent those horrible clashes. Red tulips and pink hyacinths were my mistake for last spring.

In my garden I seem to be constantly rectifying mistakes. At this time of year I end up moving plants to new positions, where I hope they will do better or look better for the following year. It’s only by trying things out that we really learn and every year I keep..... I’d like to say a diary, but a list on a scrappy bit of paper is a more accurate description, of things to do in the autumn. So, for example, earlier in the year I decided that the bright orange euphorbia griffithii did not look its best next to the delicate pink of the sambucus black lace and it will therefore be moved.... well that is in theory.
The autumn border need not be dull, as winter closes in the colours seem to put on a blaze of glory. If your garden seems past its best take a look at some of the spectacular shrubs and climbers that are singing out at the moment. Viginia creeper, euonymus alatus, acer palmatum and callicapa are just a few of the wonderful plants that are putting on their best display at the moment. And now is a good time to plant.