Latest news with #AutumnFern
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- General
- The Irish Sun
Five underrated shade-loving plants including striking fern that brings brilliant season colour & texture to flower beds
These plants are great to use where fussier plants fail to thrive BRIGHTEN UP Five underrated shade-loving plants including striking fern that brings brilliant season colour & texture to flower beds SHADY areas in your garden don't have to be boring, by selecting the right plants, you can transform dim corners into lush, vibrant retreats. Here are five underrated shade-loving plants, including a striking fern that will bring brilliant season colour to your garden. Dryopteris 'Brilliance' (Autumn Fern) 5 Dryopteris 'Brilliance' (Autumn Fern) Credit: Getty Horticultural expert Laura Root said in Homes and Gardens: "This is a shade-tolerant fern with fiery copper-red new fronds that mature to deep green. Advertisement "This variety of fern adds striking contrast and texture to shady beds." In addition, its "Brilliance" brings seasonal colour to a plant category known predominantly for being green. This variety of fern is low-maintenance, deer-resistant, and thrives in moist, well-drained soil. It is certainly a popular ground cover choice that offers a lively splash of colour and is easy to care for. Advertisement It's also one of the best underrated shade plants to use where fussier plants fail to thrive. Iris Foetidissima (Stinking iris) 5 Iris Foetidissima (Stinking iris) Credit: Getty It is one of two iris species native to Britain, the other being the yellow iris. Stinking iris thrives in full shade, particularly beneath trees in your garden. Advertisement It has architectural evergreen foliage and dull, purple-green flowers. But it comes into its own in autumn when its large seedpods split open to reveal rows of orange-red seeds that remain well into winter. Alan Titchmarsh's top 7 plants that 'transform ugly fences with gorgeous flowers & fragrance' & they grow for years It is known as "stinking" because some people find the smell of its leaves unpleasant when crushed or bruised, an odour that has been described as "beefy". The Royal Horticultural Society has given it the prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM). Eranthis Hyemalis (Winter aconite) 5 Eranthis Hyemalis (Winter aconite) Credit: Getty Advertisement Aconites grow into clumps, eventually bearing masses of bright yellow flowers in late January and February. They thrive in damp shade so are perfect for growing in a damp, shady border or woodland garden. August gardening jobs The Sun's Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine, has shared the 10 gardening jobs to take on during the last month of summer - and the all important ones to remember if you're going on holiday. 1. Watering plants on holiday Think about how you're going to water your plants if you're going away. Irrigation systems are stupidly expensive - so ask a friend or neighbour to pop over. 2. Remember your houseplants! For houseplants use the upside down bottle trick - where you fill a wine bottle and then tip it upside down, spout down, and stick it into the pot - the water should seep out slowly. For smaller plants you can use a thick piece of cord running from a glass of water, into the soil - so it slowly takes it up over time. Be sensible with your watering - vistit for some tips on how to conserve water in August. But use as much grey water - ie washing up water - as you can to save such a valuable resource. 3. Dig for potatoes Second early potatoes should be ready to dig up. 4. Carry on deadheading Use either secateurs or just pinch off the blooms with your finger and thumb. With roses, make sure you're dead heading back to a set of five leaves, giving you the best chance of more blooms. 5. Plant strawberries You can actually plant strawberries in late august - which will be ready next year. For the ones you already have - if they've got runners springing off them - try and pot them up to make more strawberries for free. 6. Prune lavenders In late August once they've finished flowering cut back your lavender - always prune them back to the woody stems - but make sure you can still see some little buds. 7. Collect seeds A lot of plants will start going to seed now - so it's the perfect time to walk around collecting them to get free plants for next year - just make sure you label the envelopes. 8. Sow hardy annuals Towards the end of the month, sow hardy annuals in order for them to flower next year. Try and choose sheltered spots for them. 9. Cut back roses Prune back rambling roses and make sure they are all tied in. And in late August give your roses their last feed. 10. Keep on top of watering hanging baskets It's really important to keep hanging baskets hydrated - they are the first and the worst for drying out. The pretty plant is especially common in the east of England, and can be found in parks and woodlands. Winter Aconite however is not a native wildflower. It was introduced in the 16th century as a garden plant. But now centuries later, it is considered naturalised. Advertisement The Royal Horticultural Society has given it the prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM). Digitalis Purpurea (Foxglove) 5 Digitalis Purpurea (Foxglove) Credit: Getty Our native foxglove, Digitalis purpurea, is a woodland plant that thrives in dappled or partial shade. There are many cultivars and varieties that flower in different colours and have different shaped blooms. Most thrive in partial shade but some require more sun and it generally produces enough seeds so that new plants will continue to grow in a garden setting. Advertisement It is the original source of the heart medicine digoxin (also called digitalis or digitalin). Aquilegia Flabellata (Granny's bonnet) 5 Aquilegia Flabellata (Granny's bonnet) Credit: Getty Aquilegias are a sweet, old-fashioned cottage garden plant with bonnet-shaped flowers, perfect for growing in partial shade. Aquilegia flabellata is a dwarf columbine, bearing blue nodding flowers over a compact mound of waxy grey-green foliage. Aquilegia flowers each have five sepals and five smaller petals. Advertisement Each petal has two portions: a broad portion called a blade that projects forward and an elongated base that forms a structure called a nectar spur containing nectar that projects backward. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it the prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- General
- Scottish Sun
Five underrated shade-loving plants including striking fern that brings brilliant season colour & texture to flower beds
These plants are great to use where fussier plants fail to thrive BRIGHTEN UP Five underrated shade-loving plants including striking fern that brings brilliant season colour & texture to flower beds Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SHADY areas in your garden don't have to be boring, by selecting the right plants, you can transform dim corners into lush, vibrant retreats. Here are five underrated shade-loving plants, including a striking fern that will bring brilliant season colour to your garden. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up Dryopteris 'Brilliance' (Autumn Fern) 5 Dryopteris 'Brilliance' (Autumn Fern) Credit: Getty Horticultural expert Laura Root said in Homes and Gardens: "This is a shade-tolerant fern with fiery copper-red new fronds that mature to deep green. "This variety of fern adds striking contrast and texture to shady beds." In addition, its "Brilliance" brings seasonal colour to a plant category known predominantly for being green. This variety of fern is low-maintenance, deer-resistant, and thrives in moist, well-drained soil. It is certainly a popular ground cover choice that offers a lively splash of colour and is easy to care for. It's also one of the best underrated shade plants to use where fussier plants fail to thrive. Iris Foetidissima (Stinking iris) 5 Iris Foetidissima (Stinking iris) Credit: Getty It is one of two iris species native to Britain, the other being the yellow iris. Stinking iris thrives in full shade, particularly beneath trees in your garden. It has architectural evergreen foliage and dull, purple-green flowers. But it comes into its own in autumn when its large seedpods split open to reveal rows of orange-red seeds that remain well into winter. Alan Titchmarsh's top 7 plants that 'transform ugly fences with gorgeous flowers & fragrance' & they grow for years It is known as "stinking" because some people find the smell of its leaves unpleasant when crushed or bruised, an odour that has been described as "beefy". The Royal Horticultural Society has given it the prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM). Eranthis Hyemalis (Winter aconite) 5 Eranthis Hyemalis (Winter aconite) Credit: Getty Aconites grow into clumps, eventually bearing masses of bright yellow flowers in late January and February. They thrive in damp shade so are perfect for growing in a damp, shady border or woodland garden. August gardening jobs The Sun's Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine, has shared the 10 gardening jobs to take on during the last month of summer - and the all important ones to remember if you're going on holiday. 1. Watering plants on holiday Think about how you're going to water your plants if you're going away. Irrigation systems are stupidly expensive - so ask a friend or neighbour to pop over. 2. Remember your houseplants! For houseplants use the upside down bottle trick - where you fill a wine bottle and then tip it upside down, spout down, and stick it into the pot - the water should seep out slowly. For smaller plants you can use a thick piece of cord running from a glass of water, into the soil - so it slowly takes it up over time. Be sensible with your watering - vistit for some tips on how to conserve water in August. But use as much grey water - ie washing up water - as you can to save such a valuable resource. 3. Dig for potatoes Second early potatoes should be ready to dig up. 4. Carry on deadheading Use either secateurs or just pinch off the blooms with your finger and thumb. With roses, make sure you're dead heading back to a set of five leaves, giving you the best chance of more blooms. 5. Plant strawberries You can actually plant strawberries in late august - which will be ready next year. For the ones you already have - if they've got runners springing off them - try and pot them up to make more strawberries for free. 6. Prune lavenders In late August once they've finished flowering cut back your lavender - always prune them back to the woody stems - but make sure you can still see some little buds. 7. Collect seeds A lot of plants will start going to seed now - so it's the perfect time to walk around collecting them to get free plants for next year - just make sure you label the envelopes. 8. Sow hardy annuals Towards the end of the month, sow hardy annuals in order for them to flower next year. Try and choose sheltered spots for them. 9. Cut back roses Prune back rambling roses and make sure they are all tied in. And in late August give your roses their last feed. 10. Keep on top of watering hanging baskets It's really important to keep hanging baskets hydrated - they are the first and the worst for drying out. The pretty plant is especially common in the east of England, and can be found in parks and woodlands. Winter Aconite however is not a native wildflower. It was introduced in the 16th century as a garden plant. But now centuries later, it is considered naturalised. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it the prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM). Digitalis Purpurea (Foxglove) 5 Digitalis Purpurea (Foxglove) Credit: Getty Our native foxglove, Digitalis purpurea, is a woodland plant that thrives in dappled or partial shade. There are many cultivars and varieties that flower in different colours and have different shaped blooms. Most thrive in partial shade but some require more sun and it generally produces enough seeds so that new plants will continue to grow in a garden setting. It is the original source of the heart medicine digoxin (also called digitalis or digitalin). Aquilegia Flabellata (Granny's bonnet) 5 Aquilegia Flabellata (Granny's bonnet) Credit: Getty Aquilegias are a sweet, old-fashioned cottage garden plant with bonnet-shaped flowers, perfect for growing in partial shade. Aquilegia flabellata is a dwarf columbine, bearing blue nodding flowers over a compact mound of waxy grey-green foliage. Aquilegia flowers each have five sepals and five smaller petals. Each petal has two portions: a broad portion called a blade that projects forward and an elongated base that forms a structure called a nectar spur containing nectar that projects backward. The Royal Horticultural Society has given it the prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
Daily Mirror
21-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Gardeners issued 'act now' warning over common pests
There's one thing you need to do this week to prevent problems continuing in your patch for many years, says gardening expert Diarmuid Gavin Your garden may have some uninvited guests, commonly known as weeds. And one of my jobs to do this week is get weeds out of the ground before they set seed and propagate another generation of weeds. As the saying goes, one year's seeding is seven years' weeding. Some weeds, like bindweed and ground elder, are particularly invasive and can quickly strangle your cultivated perennials if unchecked. We now know that chemical herbicides can have serious environmental and health impacts. But of the most effective and environmentally friendly methods for dealing with weeds is manual removal. Hoes are particularly useful for dealing with young seedlings, slicing them just below the soil surface and disturbing their delicate roots. Specialised hand tools like sharp weeding knives are invaluable. These tools allow you to carefully pry out weeds with minimal disturbance to surrounding plants. In driveways, patios, and between paving stones, mechanical methods such as a weed burner offer a chemical-free solution. Directing a flame at the weed damages its cells and causes it to die back. Alternatively, pouring boiling water over weeds can be surprisingly effective. Jobs to do this week Hanging baskets and containers may need twice daily watering in these high temperatures. Similarly fruit and veg will need your attention. If it's moist or there's a chance of rain, give lawns a summer feed. Hedges that are looking a bit hairy can be trimmed back. Cut back hardy geraniums that have finished flowering to encourage a second flush. Summer prune wisteria – this just means cutting back long whippy shoots to about six leaves. Do this when the wisteria is finished flowering to encourage it to form more flower buds for next year. Give dahlias a liquid feed and stake them to support them. Pinch out side shoots of cordon tomatoes. Water tomatoes daily to prevent split fruit and feed weekly. Remove rose flowers as they start to go over or it will use its energy to produce rosehips. Now's the time to start refreshing parts of my garden, and this week my project was to plant ground cover beneath a canopy of tree ferns. I began with plenty of soil preparation, removing weeds and stones before covering the area with a thick layer of compost — a good six inches or more of dark, crumbly, nutrient-rich compost that smells of the woodland floor. It's the perfect host for my new plants. Ferns are a natural choice for such an area. They complement the existing tree ferns, and the shady conditions mimic their natural woodland habitats. I've planted a mixture of varieties, arranging each in groups of five. Dryopteris erythrosora, sometimes known as the Autumn Fern, is one of my favourites. It's a resilient, beautiful, clump-forming, semi-evergreen perennial, with young copper-tinted foliage that matures to a vivid green. In contrast, Athyrium 'Burgundy Lace' is a striking deciduous fern, with arching fronds that emerge purple and age to a silvery green, while retaining a bold purple mid-rib. This pairs well with the architectural foliage of Dryopteris wallichiana, or Wood Fern, known for its upright, shuttlecock shape and dark green leaves with a central black rib — a real statement plant. With a view to adding spring colour, I've included a few old favourites. Brunnera 'Jack Frost' is a reliable choice, flowering in April and May with tiny, bright blue flowers resembling forget-me-nots, beautifully offset by its silvery, heart-shaped leaves. Pulmonaria 'Blue Ensign' serves a similar role, with broad, fuzzy, dark green leaves and bright, bell-shaped flowers in early spring, providing much-needed nectar for pollinators. Both are perennials that die back in winter. Hardy geraniums are truly wonderful garden plants, with a variety for every situation. In this shady spot, Geranium phaeum is among the best options. Also known as the dusky cranesbill or mourning widow, it has distinctive flowers with curved-back petals and prominent stamens. I'm also planting 'Springtime', a cultivar with dark purple flowers and foliage attractively splotched with purple at the base. Dotted throughout the bed are several Helleborus orientalis, which will thrive in shade and flower for several months in spring. As these are unnamed varieties, their flower colours will be a surprise — I could find myself greeted by pink, white, purple, or even green blooms next year. My final star plant is Osmunda regalis, the royal fern. Aptly named, it produces elegant, regal fronds that unfurl a fresh green in spring, turn bronze in autumn, and then die back. It's a plant that demands space, capable of reaching six feet in height when it's happy — which means it needs plenty of water. As they're all new plantings, I'll be keeping them well watered through summer, and the combination of moisture and warmth should help them settle in beautifully. I'm looking forward to watching this cool, calm, shady corner develop. With the right plants, a sheltered spot like this can become one of the loveliest parts of any garden. Plant of the week: Antirrhinum 'Appleblossom' Better known as snapdragons, these delightful summer flowers are easy to grow and come in a range of cheerful colours. 'Appleblossom' has pretty pastel pink blossoms and makes a good cutting flower as it responds by producing more flowers. Grow in full sunshine in fertile well-drained soil.
Daily Mirror
21-06-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
Homes with hanging baskets urged to repeat crucial 60 second task daily
With temperatures expected to reach over 30°C this weekend, with relentless sun beating on your patch, pay extra attention to your hanging baskets, pots and window boxes Regular watering is essential through the summer — last weekend I noted that established roses need to be watered weekly and it should be done more frequently for newly planted roses. Always water at the base of the plant and soak the soil thoroughly to encourage deep root growth. But hanging baskets and containers may need twice daily watering in these high temperatures. Similarly fruit and veg will need your attention. However, if it's moist or there's a chance of rain, give lawns a summer feed. Hedges that are looking a bit hairy can be trimmed back, cut back hardy geraniums that have finished flowering to encourage a second flush and summer prune wisteria – this just means cutting back long whippy shoots to about six leaves. Do this when the wisteria is finished flowering to encourage it to form more flower buds for next year. Here are my other jobs to do this week: Get weeds out of the ground before they set seed. One year's seeding is seven years' weeding. Give dahlias a liquid feed and stake them to support them. Pinch out side shoots of cordon tomatoes. Water tomatoes daily to prevent split fruit and feed weekly. Remove rose flowers as they start to go over or it will use its energy to produce rosehips. READ MORE: Gardeners issued urgent ladybird warning for June as insect loves particular flower Now's the time to start refreshing parts of my garden, and this week my project was to plant ground cover beneath a canopy of tree ferns. I began with plenty of soil preparation, removing weeds and stones before covering the area with a thick layer of compost — a good six inches or more of dark, crumbly, nutrient-rich compost that smells of the woodland floor. It's the perfect host for my new plants. Ferns are a natural choice for such an area. They complement the existing tree ferns, and the shady conditions mimic their natural woodland habitats. I've planted a mixture of varieties, arranging each in groups of five. Dryopteris erythrosora, sometimes known as the Autumn Fern, is one of my favourites. It's a resilient, beautiful, clump-forming, semi-evergreen perennial, with young copper-tinted foliage that matures to a vivid green. In contrast, Athyrium 'Burgundy Lace' is a striking deciduous fern, with arching fronds that emerge purple and age to a silvery green, while retaining a bold purple mid-rib. This pairs well with the architectural foliage of Dryopteris wallichiana, or Wood Fern, known for its upright, shuttlecock shape and dark green leaves with a central black rib — a real statement plant. With a view to adding spring colour, I've included a few old favourites. Brunnera 'Jack Frost' is a reliable choice, flowering in April and May with tiny, bright blue flowers resembling forget-me-nots, beautifully offset by its silvery, heart-shaped leaves. Pulmonaria 'Blue Ensign' serves a similar role, with broad, fuzzy, dark green leaves and bright, bell-shaped flowers in early spring, providing much-needed nectar for pollinators. Both are perennials that die back in winter. Hardy geraniums are truly wonderful garden plants, with a variety for every situation. In this shady spot, Geranium phaeum is among the best options. Also known as the dusky cranesbill or mourning widow, it has distinctive flowers with curved-back petals and prominent stamens. I'm also planting 'Springtime', a cultivar with dark purple flowers and foliage attractively splotched with purple at the base. Dotted throughout the bed are several Helleborus orientalis, which will thrive in shade and flower for several months in spring. As these are unnamed varieties, their flower colours will be a surprise — I could find myself greeted by pink, white, purple, or even green blooms next year. My final star plant is Osmunda regalis, the royal fern. Aptly named, it produces elegant, regal fronds that unfurl a fresh green in spring, turn bronze in autumn, and then die back. It's a plant that demands space, capable of reaching six feet in height when it's happy — which means it needs plenty of water. As they're all new plantings, I'll be keeping them well watered through summer, and the combination of moisture and warmth should help them settle in beautifully. I'm looking forward to watching this cool, calm, shady corner develop. With the right plants, a sheltered spot like this can become one of the loveliest parts of any garden. Plant of the week: Antirrhinum 'Appleblossom' Better known as snapdragons, these delightful summer flowers are easy to grow and come in a range of cheerful colours. 'Appleblossom' has pretty pastel pink blossoms and makes a good cutting flower as it responds by producing more flowers. Grow in full sunshine in fertile well-drained soil.
