Читать книгу Your Wildlife Garden - Jackie Bennett - Страница 33

Border perennial plants which were not cut back in autumn (leaving the stems for over-wintering insects) should be trimmed now to make room for new growth. Cut off any dead or straggly stems to just above ground level with secateurs.

In mild winters, young leaves and stems will already be appearing. Removing the old growth rejuvenates the plants and allows these new leaves and stems plenty of room to grow. Add the cuttings to the compost heap.

PERENNIALS TO DIVIDE

Globe thistle (Echinops ritro) B, N Golden rod (Solidago canadensis) B, N Greater knapweed (Centaurea scabiosa) B, N, Nat Michaelmas daisy (Aster nova-belgii) N Sedum (S. spectabile and ‘Autumn Joy’) N Yarrow (Achillea millefolium and A. filipendulina) B, N, Nat

SHY-FLOWERING LILIES One of the reasons lily of the valley often fails in gardens is that it is planted in dry, open, sunny beds, when it really needs a moist soil and the cover of deciduous trees.