Enhance your garden with tips from Colin Crosbie

Here's the second part of our interview with gardening expert Colin Crosbie from the Royal Horticultural Society. You can read more gardening advice from Colin in our first RHS interview. 

How can people recreate the look of wild planting in their own gardens?

The term 'wild' is often misused. What people are trying to copy is naturalistic planting.

Naturalistic planting is where plants are placed in 'drifts' of about 5 plants in a group. These drifts merge into one another, mixing flower, foliage and texture. 

Plants often used in naturalistic planting include grasses, Echinacea and Eryngium. In shady positions, go for ferns, Hosta and Hellebores for a natural feel.

Remember: Planting can appear very disjointed if you plant in ones or twos.

How can we attract wildlife into our gardens?

I'd recommend having a wide range of plants - with as long a flowering period as possible - so there's a good range of nectar for flying insects. 

Water features are also a wonderful way of attracting wildlife into the garden. They provide a range of different habitats, including trees, perennials and shrubs and open areas of short grass for creatures to sun themselves. 

With trees and shrubs, go for those that have berries, especially red, gold and white ones. This should attract a wide range of birds throughout the autumn and winter months. 

It also pays to hang up bird feeders and have nest boxes if you can. Don't be too tidy, as that piece of log underneath the hedge could be home to some interesting insects. Where possible avoid using any chemicals.

What do you think makes a great garden?

A fantastic garden will have a good year-round display of colour and interest.

Bulbs and shrubs in the spring; roses, herbaceous perennials and bedding plants during the summer; great autumn colour and then winter interest from the bark, trunks and naked beauty of trees in the landscape.

There are also many wonderful winter-flowering shrubs which are sweetly scented, such as Hamamelis (witch hazel) and Daphne bholua.

Colin Crosbie's backgroud: Colin is the current Superintendent of the Woody Ornamental and Alpine Plants Department at RHS Garden Wisley.

He has contributed to various gardening journals and magazines, and wrote the RHS/DK ‘Simple Guide to Pruning’. His gardening expertise has brought him numerous appearances on television and radio programmes, including ‘Gardeners’ World’.
 

Tune in to see Colin in our RHS shows at 6pm on the 10th, 17th and 24th June. 

Comments

[philippine florists]

I also want to make an arrangement in my garden. I want something more interesting. You gave me an idea. Thanks.

-fern-

[margaret flynn]

dear Colin, i have had a necterine tree 5years but no friut what can i do please?