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BLUE MINT BEETLE
If you believe blue mint beetle has arrived in your garden the RHS would like to hear from you. You can either send samples or provide clear photos of the suspect beetles to –
RHS Blue Mint Beetle info
Gardening Advice,
RHS Garden,
Wisley,
Woking,
Surrey,
GU23 6QB
Or you can contact the RHS by email at advisory_entomology@rhs.org.uk.
Samples should be packed in a stout container that will allow the beetles to travel safely and securely through the postal system. Remember to give the address and post code of where the beetle was found.
Please do be aware that there is a green mint beetle that is native to Britain, and that its presence in the garden should not be of concern. The image above clearly shows the distinction between the two. -
SUMMER SCENT
The summer garden would not be complete without perfume. The best place to grow plants for scent is where you sit and relax. In the walled garden Monty’s seating area is south facing and backed by a stone wall. This wall soaks up the warmth of the sun by day and come the evening, when many perfumed plants begin to release their fragrance, this area of the garden will be the perfect place to sit and take in all this warm delicious perfume.
RHS Top five scented climbers
Monty’s choices of perfumed plants for the walled garden -
Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
Common jasmine (Jasminum officinale)
Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum 'Graham Thomas')
Pink (Dianthus 'Doris')
Meadow phlox (Phlox maculata 'Omega')
Perennial phlox (Phlox paniculata 'White Admiral')
Phlox paniculata ‘White Flame’
Flowering tobacco (Nicotiana sylvestris) -
GARDEN VISIT – RHS HARLOW CARR
The RHS Gardens at Harlow Carr are open to the public.
RHS Gardens Harlow Carr
For visitor information and opening times click on the link below
RHS Garden Harlow Carr?
Crag Lane?
Harrogate?
HG3 1QB -
GARDEN VISIT – DUTTON HALL
The rose gardens at Dutton Hall are open by appointment.
Contact Dutton Hall
There will be a Plant Heritage open day on Saturday 8th September when all are welcome. Click on the link below for contact details
Dutton Hall?
Gallows Lane
Ribchester
Lancashire?
PR3 3XX -
POTATO BLIGHT
Like many gardeners Monty’s potatoes have been struck by blight. This fungal disease is the result of the wet summer. The pathogen overwinters in rotten potatoes left in the ground and the spores are wind-blown, so they can arrive from other gardens, allotments, or fields. It first manifests itself as brown blotches on the leaves that quickly lead to foliage collapse. The foliage should be pulled or cutaway and destroyed either by burning, burying, or put out for green waste composting. Caught early the crop can be harvested but it is important when lifting not to leave any potato in the ground allowing the blight to overwinter.
More on potato blight -
BOX BLIGHT
The wet summer adds yet a further insult; Monty has discovered box blight in his box hedging. There are no fungicides that are specifically approved for box control available to gardeners. Cutting away all infected parts of the plant and removing all fallen foliage from the surrounding soil is the best thing to do. Some advocate the replacement of the top layer of soil around the plant, and others suggest feeding the plant. Monty's view is not to feed the plant, as soft new growth could be susceptible to re-infection. Material cut-away should be burned and secateurs disinfected after use.
More on box blight
If you have had box blight in your garden and survived or are still coming to terms with it, Monty would like to hear about your experience. Contact us at gardeningdilemmas@bbc.co.uk -
JOBS FOR THE WEEKEND: CUT BACK LAVENDER
If like Monty your lavenders have not done particularly well this year, giving them a cutback after flowering will promote fresh new growth. This re-growth will have time to harden-off before the onset of winter. Cut only into this current year’s growth, as older woody stems are reluctant to regenerate.
More on growing lavender -
JOBS FOR THE WEEKEND: WATER CONTAINERS
Even though we have had a wet summer containers and pots do dry out quickly. Plants are reaching their maximum growth with roots working hard to support this top growth. Regular watering is important to maintain plant health and vitality.
More on container care and watering -
JOBS FOR THE WEEKEND: SOW PARSLEY
Parsley is probably one of our most popular herbs. A delicious addition to stews and soups and of course with white fish, parsley sauce. It is biennial, growing in its first year; sets seed as Monty’s has done in the second, then dies. Spring sown seed often struggles to germinate but sowing now in a tray whilst there is summer warmth around germination should be good. Once plants are three to four inches tall they can be hardened off and planted out into their final growing position. This will ensure a ready supply of fresh parsley throughout the winter and well into spring.
More on growing herbs
Credits
- Series Producer
- Liz Rumbold
- Presenter
- Monty Don
- Presenter
- Carol Klein
- Presenter
- Rachel de Thame
- Producer
- Louise Hampden
More expert gardening advice
Find out more about the gardens featured in the show and get some topical tips.
