Episode 23

Broad bean ‘Aquadulce Claudia’

Sowing broad beans
Overwintering pelargoniums
Transplanting wallflowers
Planting tulips
Sharpening & maintaining tools
Mulching trees
Planting trees & shrubs

1. Never be tempted to plant trees and shrubs too deep. This is an all too common mistake that can prove fatal. As a rule of thumb, specimens should be planted at the same depth as they were in the pot. But if there is a lot of excess compost on the surface, you’ll need to scrape this off first. The point at which the roots start to join the main stem marks the correct level for planting.

2. If the plant is pot-bound when you take it out of its pot, make sure you tease out as many of the roots as you can before planting. This will encourage them to grow out into the surrounding soil instead of growing round in circles as they did in the pot. And don’t be scared to be a little rough with them. It will pay dividends in the long term.

3. When planting trees and shrubs, don’t bother adding any fertilizer to the planting hole. It’s a waste of time and the roots can be scorched in the process.

4. There’s no need to add any organic matter to the planting hole either. Just apply it to the surface as a mulch and let the earthworms do the work for you. But make sure you leave a gap of at least 10cm (4in) around the stem or trunk to stop it from rotting the base.

5. The use of mycorrhizal fungi can be hugely beneficial, especially on poor soils. They enhance the uptake of nutrients and water by the roots and lead to better establishment. Small packets of them can be bought in garden centres and they are far more widely available than they used to be. Follow the instructions on the packet. The granules only need to be applied once and, to be effective, must be in direct contact with the roots. Most trees and shrubs will benefit from their application, although there are a few exceptions such as camellias, daphne, rhododendrons and blueberries.

6. Water in well after planting and keep well watered during dry spells to help the tree or shrub get established over the coming year.

As its common name suggests, this magnificent plant is native to China. It is more of a small tree than a shrub and has beautiful white bracts in early summer. These gradually fade to pink and in August are followed by red, strawberry-like fruits that can be eaten. In autumn, the foliage turns a beautiful shade of red and orange and then, as the tree ages, the bark starts to flake. Four for the price of one. No other tree can match it for year- round interest!

These choice, evergreen shrubs deserve to be more widely planted. Flowering through October and November and even into December, they bring a much needed splash of colour to the garden when many other plants are past their best. Their flowers are sweetly scented too. They grow best in a sunny, sheltered spot on acid soil. But if your soil is unsuitable, you could grow one in container using ericaceous compost. Good varieties to look out for include Camellia sasanqua ‘Crimson King’ (red) and ‘Narumigata’ (white) or the one we planted, Camellia x vernalis ‘Yuletide’ (red). You may need to go to a specialist mail-order supplier to buy one.