In the garden with Nell Carr

nells yellow flowers

MARCH 2017 | Nell Carr

STRONG COLOURS of red and yellow seem to dominate the garden scene in February and early March.

Kniphofias (Red Hot Pokers) abound in Meander Valley, most noticeably in older gardens. They make a pleasing combination of colours when grown in proximity with the equally indestructible blue Agapanthus. The latter, however, can become invasive if left to seed, and experience has shown that only a tractor equipped with front end loader will remove them. To prevent their spreading to undesirable spaces, the seed should be removed and sent to landfill.

The deep red tubular flowers of Cestrum elegans, so beloved of honey-eaters, is in flower now, but an early frost will make short shrift of the flowers. Other late summer bloomers are Geum ‘Mrs Bradshaw’ (red), the bright yellow Coreopsis (Tickseed) and Heliopsis (pictured) .

Propagation - Geums send up dry seed heads after flowering, and these can be scattered on a tray of seed raising mix. Heliopsis and Coreopsis have multiple rooting stems and it is advisable to separate and transplant these every few years to prevent their losing vigour.

Vegetables Sow broad beans, leafy lettuce, spring onions, and the bulbs of shallots.

Photo | Nell Carr