‘Don’t lose heart’ Alan Titchmarsh cries as he shares tips for ‘tricky spots’ in the garden
STUBBORN areas of the garden where nothing ever seems to grow can flourish with the right plants, according to Alan Titchmarsh.
He shared tips that have worked for transforming the “tricky spots” in his own garden.
Alan revealed in BBC Gardeners’ World magazine how he overcomes issues such as too much shade and waterlogged soil.
He said several areas of his garden can be challenging.
“There is a dry, shady bed beneath an ancient yew tree,” he said.
“A sun-scorched border along the south-facing aspect of the house.
“A winding path beneath trees where the branches need to be thinned if I want anything other than ferns to grow under them.”
However, knowing which plants thrive in these conditions can transform the appearance of the area.
He wouldn’t attempt to put bright-flowered plants in deep shade as they “need sunlight to encourage pollinating insects.”
Bluebells, snowdrops, and wood anemones are great alternatives as they have adapted to growing in shady places such as woods.
Alan said a Rose of Sharon or foxgloves inject colour into the darkest areas of gardens.
Meanwhile, an ornamental ivy, such as Glacier or White Wonder can brighten a shaded bed that also tends to be dry.
Jack Frost or Brunnera happily spread a blanket of blue flowers even in the poorest soils.
He revealed the battle of digging damp, clay soils, is worth the effort to unlock the underground supply of moisture.
“Adjusting clay soil with organic matter and sharp sand or grit will help improve drainage and widen the range of plants that will establish happily here,” Alan said.
October gardening jobs
The Sun’s Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine, has shared the jobs you need to tackle in October.
“It’s a good time to trim deciduous hedges – like box, yew, hawthorn, hornbean and beech – plus hedge trimmers are a great upper body workout!
Make leafmould – gather up all the fallen leaves and fill either bin bags or plastic carrier bags. Seal the top, stick a few small holes in the bag – and then store for a year or more. Free compost!
It’s unlikely you’ll get any more red tomatoes so have one final harvest and chuck the plants on the compost. See if you can get the green ones to ripen by putting in a drawer (some say with a banana). Also keep the seeds from a couple – and plant again next year if they went well.
Finish getting in your spring bulbs. Ideally you’d have done daffs and alliums, but tulips are better in the ground when the soil temperature gets a bit colder.
It’s good to leave some plant litter in the ground – it adds to the nutrients as it rots down, and provides shelter and food for insects. But remove the manky brown bits collapsing all over the lawn/winter structure.
Mulch – it not only suppresses weeds, but keeps the soil warm, improves water retention and adds a little winter duvet to your outside space.
October’s a good month for carrots, peas, asparagus, broad beans, and rhubarb.”
Gardens with dry soil can be another cause of frustration for green-fingered homeowners.
Alan said dry soil drains well after heavy rain “but they cannot hold onto moisture or nutrients.”
He recommends using a substantial amount of well-rotted garden compost or manure to resolve the problem.
Autumn’s wet leaves are ideal for a nutrient-rich compost.
Alan encourages gardeners to focus on solutions provided by nature rather than any challenges.
“Above all, don’t lose heart,” he said. “Remember the old saying: Right plant, right place.”