AFTER the cold winter we have had a real mixture here at Wallington, and while it is true to say we have had some weather befitting summer, we have also had cold spells, dry periods and, more recently, storms, rain and gale-force winds. However, in general it has been a good growing season here in the heart of Northumberland and everything is still green and fresh. Garden plants which have remained upright are looking good and the vegetables are strong and healthy. Where plants have been battered to the ground because of the weather or inadequate staking, it is usually better to cut them down and let them start again, otherwise they may be damaged further or eaten by slugs. Cutting back flopped plants is normal practice for the likes of Centaurea montana, the blue perennial knapweed. It flowers early and then collapses, only to come back and bloom again in late summer after being cut down. Where temporary gaps have been created they can be filled with additional perennial or seasonal plantings for the summer and autumn. Our local nurseries and garden centres have many plants suitable for filling in and prolonging the flowering season. In fact, we have several peat-free plant stalls here at Wallington which are always attractive and colourful with interesting plants for sale. The garden will be at its most colourful in the next few weeks and the gardeners will be busy cutting back, dead-heading and, of course, weeding. It has been a good season for weeds – or do I mean a bad one? All this activity and many others help to present the garden in as perfect a state as possible, and although perfection is rarely achieved, it remains our goal. As well as keeping the garden tidy, dead-heading encourages further flowering, but it is obviously inappropriate where the fruit is required as a feature or if the seed is to be harvested. We are also thinking well ahead into the future and creating and developing borders by clearing the ground, adding compost and digging it in. Plants of note in the garden at the moment include Roscoea purpurea, a herbaceous perennial from China 30cm high with rich purple flowers. At Wallington it is a late starter and remains below the ground until early June, but always comes good by now. Also lovely at the moment is the ‘Graham Thomas’ English rose introduced by David Austin – a lovely yellow colour which is reliable and trouble-free. It feels good to grow this cultivar here at Wallington. Graham Thomas (1909-2003) was the National Trust’s head of gardens and advised at Wallington from 1958-75, helping to make the garden the success it is today. John Ellis is head gardener at Wallington, Northumberland. For more information, go to www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ northeast. | 
Find a Home | New Home Bargains | Property Pricecheck | New Homes Search | Classified Property Search | Commercial Property
