Weekly catch up with garden & propagation

Garden Team

We were joined in the garden this week by Tom and it was a very misty start for his induction walk with Malin, the grey skies lingering for most of the week.

In the garden, the aim was to complete the cut back of the Reservoir Garden we started last week with more chop and drop and cutting back where needed.

Cathy did a great job pruning the Bupleurum fruticosum that had gotten a little big for its space, back to a nice natural shape. It's a reliable evergreen shrub with with big yellow umbell heads in summer that we're looking forward to seeing again soon.

We also spent time weeding out hairy bittercress, a few Bristly oxtongue and editing the seedlings of Erigeron annuus and Papaver cambricum (the Welsh poppy) leaving some patches to grow on, but removing others that were crowding emerging perennials.

A final satisfying job here was to edge the perimeter using in combination a half moon iron and edging sheers. I love how the crisp edges set off the border, ready for the plants to shine.

Whilst Cathy set out another fantastic ident for our visitors the rest of us set about uncovering the Gunnera manicata below Beth's house. The crowns which have sat protected all winter are now exploding into life, the new foliage busting through ready to become giant leaf canopies once more.

By Gardener Scott

Propagation Team

The propagation team has sprung into action as new shoots pop up across the garden. You can be sure we have taken full advantage of the warm sun getting some well needed Vitamin D after a long winter.

Emily has been busy potting up seedlings and giving advice on the nursery. Debs has been taking cuttings of Origanum rotundifolium ‘Jan’s Pink’. Our sanguisorba and trachystemon stockbeds have been weeded, divided and potted ready for the coming months.

Sanguisorba

Origanum rotundifolium ‘Jan’s Pink’

Pete has been carefully packing orders, a few of which included Iris ‘Jane Phillips’.

Iris ‘Jane Phillips’

It is vital we keep on track to continue delivering plants on time, and with our schedules aligned with the seasons, time can move quickly. We must all remind ourselves to observe the day to day changes as they pass us by the fastest.

By propagation assistant Sean