10 minute Gardener – Storing Agapanthus, Lilies, and Succulents
Large containers of agapanthus need time to dry out to improve their chances of endurance over winter. Once they are dry, they can be placed under the bench of an unheated greenhouse and left alone until spring. If they need to be stored outside place them on the driest side of the building (this is usually north or east). Also to stop rain penetrating the crowns, place the pots on their sides.
Lilies can be top-dressed, re-potted or placed in the garden depending on how long they have been in the same pot. Most varieties usually perform well for about two years. After that, remove the top 2in of compost and replace with nutrient-based compost. Bulbs in their third year should then be re-potted or replaced.
Check succulents in pots in case of vine weevil. Start by giving the plants a tug- often an infected plant comes away from the stem. Upend the plant and check for gaps in the root system, this often indicates weevil damage. If everything looks good and healthy, place in an unheated greenhouse. Pull off leaves and small rosettes for cuttings, allow a couple of days for these to dry, before plunging them into a sand and compost mixture.
Try not to store old pelargoniums and other tender plants, instead take cuttings. Hide the more tender plant cuttings amongst the hardy pelargoniums.
If you would like more information on any of the above plants then please feel free to contact us.
Gardenia Kleim’s Hardy
These large white star-shaped flowers, sit on a bed of evergreen foliage. A captivating fragrance accompanies the beautiful display. It’s easy to grow as it can be planted in any soil type outside, and can be positioned in sun or soil.
Anemone blanda blue
This spring-flowering plant will spread quickly to form a bed of attractive, deep green foliage. This overshadowed though by the rich blue, daisy-like flowers that appear for several weeks during spring. In smaller gardens plant them in window boxes and containers. For bigger gardens, plant beneath deciduous shrubs and trees, where they can begin to take on a naturalistic form.
How to grow alliums
Planting– Plant the bulbs at 2 ½ times their own depth in autumn and space them about 8in apart. (Underground stems) instead of bulbs- plant these in autumn just below the soil surface about 4in apart.
Position– The idealistic spot for Alliums is somewhere sheltered with well-drained soil in full sun in their ideal position. For impact, plant alliums in groups. Create a yearlong display with spring bulbs and hellebore.
Aftercare– To keep alliums tidy, gather up the dead leaves in early summer and remove any stems that become detached at their bases in late summer. Alliums are hardy in Britain and can, therefore, be left in the ground all year round.
If you need any more information on any of the plants looked at throughout this article then please contact us and we will be happy to answer any further questions.