Author Archives: Tend&Grow

On good ground rhubarb requires no attention, other than to harvest, on less good ground a beneficial autumn mulching seems advisable. Picks for a long season but best in spring when growth is young and stems are tender. Better still forced into growth early under a traditional terracotta cloche that excludes light, lengthens growth andContinue reading “Forced Rhubarb”

Sometimes referred to as the Gold dust plant, a supurb, easy and reliable evergreen foliage plant that hails from damp shade and partial sun environments. Looks well if pruned with secateurs rather than as is often seen hedge cutting equipment which rather ruins the large leaves. Works as a specimen shrub in shade or asContinue reading “Spotted Laurel/Aucuba japonica”

The so called Spanish dagger has a bad habit of holding on to old dead leaves and periodically these need removing. It’s a job that requires determination, perseverance, puncture proof long sleeves and goggles even for the least self conscious. The overall look is improved with better air circulation and light penetration. And less coverContinue reading “Cleaning Yucca gloriosa”

A reliable and floriferous clump forming semi-evergreen cultivar in white. Here with pictures before and after cleaning, that is to say removing foliage. Not a necessary action but one that benefits the visual display.

Native Blackthorne (Prunus spinosa) just beginning to flower prior to coming into leaf followed by English Ivy (Hedera helix), evergreen and looking great. Lastly Chinese hawthorn Pink Crispy (Photinia serratifolia Pink Crispy) incredibly colourful foliage which settles down to a tasteful green and white variegation once the weather warms up.

Nothing quite so comfortable with this time of year (mid February) than the Lenten Rose Helleborus orientalis. Seen here with old foliage recently cleared from around the base of the plant and photographed from low down and then with a worms eye view. The flowers naturally sit in a face down pose so to lookContinue reading “Lenten Rose/Helleborus orientalis”

The autumn leaf colour of the Smoke Bush is reliably spectacular and for this alone the plant deserves however much space it takes up. The specimen pictured has had no real care or input, it was planted and there it exists. However, you can manipulate these shrubs quite easily through hard annual (winter) pruning toContinue reading “Smoke Bush/Cotinus coggygria”