Anna Pavord: Weekend Work
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.What to do
* Cyclamen corms that have been resting can be started into growth again now in a greenhouse. Clean off all the old leaves, shake any loose soil off and repot each corm in the smallest pot that it will fit into. Use John Innes No 1 compost or its equivalent and set the corm so that the top just shows above the compost. Spray every day with tepid water to start into growth. Do not bring the plant into the house until there are at least four to six flowers in bud.
* In hot, dry weather, remember your camellias, especially if they are growing in pots. Flower buds are being initiated now for next spring's display. If the plant is too dry, it will not have the strength to produce these buds.
* Over the next month, take cuttings of tender fuchsias and geraniums. Choose strong, healthy shoots for geraniums and crop off the top four inches. Trim the cutting to a point immediately below a leaf joint, remove all mature leaves and any flower buds and pot them up in a mixture of compost and sand. Do not cover them.
* Stem cuttings can be taken of hibiscus, hydrangea, kolkwitzia and perovskia (Russian sage). This last is a useful plant, like a tall shrubby catmint, which flowers from August to September.
* Well-established hedges of beech, hornbeam, privet and yew should be clipped this month. Box, holly, laurel and Leyland cypress should also be tackled if necessary. If you leave the clipping of these much later, new growth will be cut back by frost.
What to visit
Sir George Sitwell, who about a hundred years ago laid out the garden at Renishaw Hall in Derbyshire, is a hero of mine. He dreamed of blue-painted cows to brighten the coal dusted pastures of his estate. He commanded his land agent to provide a stone boat to decorate his lake and an aqueduct to frame a favourite view. The Renishaw garden was his greatest achievement and it is the setting tomorrow (10.30am-4pm) for a specialist plant sale. Twenty-five nurseries will be there selling a wide range of plants.
Admission to the sale is £1; to the garden, £5. Contact Val Woolley on 0115-983 0278 for more details.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments