batello garden design

How to keeps cats out of garden

2011-01-24T03:16:00.000-08:00

This is such a common question amongst many of my garden maintenance clients. I continually find cat mess throughout people’s garden and most don’t even have a cat. For one of my clients it is a continuing two year battle to prevent cats from entering the garden and especially preventing them from fouling in the garden. It’s not that any of us hate cats but when it not your own cat which is fouling in your garden then it can be frustrating to have such an attack on your outdoor living space.

There are many products available in garden centres to repel cats from your garden. Some of these products work and some don’t work. In my experience the ultrasonic cat deterrent system is a waste of money it has little or no effect of cats. There are also powders which put cats off from using the same place, which contain aromatic oils that smell revolting. These are fairly effective, but you need to keep reapplying after it has rained and so it is expensive and time consuming. So through a great deal of on going research I think that the most cost effective way of keeping cats out of your garden is to use a combination of garden centre products and natural methods.

Keep cats out of garden the natural way.

Spiky plants are a good way to prevent cats from entering your garden. Cats like humans create desire lines. Routes that we all use to get to a certain place. By breaking up these routes you can deter and prevent cats from walking through your garden. A great way to do this is to repaint your fences and then wait for their little paw prints to a appear on the newly painted panels. Once your know where they are entering and exiting your garden you can grow plants which will prevent them from using this space again. I planted the wall shrub Pyracantha in these spaces with great results. It spiky thorns stopped the cats from climbing the fences. Some other great plants for this method are Berberis, Roses and Hawthorn.

There are also plants which cats are said to detest the smell. The herb Rue is said to deter cats and also recently there has been a mysterious plant named Pee-Off, which as far as a colleague has found is a member of the Coleus family, which as most gardeners know is only half-hardy.
Scaredy Cat, Scardy Cat (Plectranthus caninus) (Coleus Canina).
Attractive half-hardy plant with grey-green foliage which gives off a strong aroma especially when touched or in the sun. The aroma is disliked by most cats and dogs. Our resident cat reacts strongly to the smell!
In summer it produces heads of pale blue flowers which also give off a strong aroma.
If planted in a container this can be moved around the garden, thus protecting different areas of the garden from unwanted attention from cats. The pot can then be over-wintered in a frost free area.
Full sun or light shade. Any reasonable soil.
cocoa bean shells

Keep cats out of your garden by encouraging them to one specific area!

This isn’t a novel idea but something very few people are willing to try. It is possible to keep cats out of where you don’t want them and into a small area of the garden where you do. This can help keep other small rodents out of your garden too.

By giving cats there own space to play and rest you’ll find they wont be interested in other areas of the garden. Although, this does mean they might foul in this space, but at least it is contained!

To create this space you’ll need to use plants which attract cats. Attracting cats can easily be achieved through the texture of plants. Cats love to chew, play and relax around and on grass. In my neighbourhood, they especially love to sit on Carex comans.(New Zealand hair sedge) I frequently find a present for me left by cats within the centre of one of these plants. It is my belief that the soft nature of this grass is comforting to cats in an outdoor environment and I frequently see them basking in the sun. This is not the only grass which cats like, others include: oat grass, lemon grass , wheat grass and fountain grass.

Another way of attracting cats is through the use of medicinal methods using plants which are known to stimulate cats.

Nepeta also known as catmint or catnip is very effective on cats by stimulating the cats’ pheromonic receptors, inducing a elated state. Catmint is a hardy, long flowering perennial that belongs in a cottage garden. nepeta cataria is the variety which is thought to be the most attractive to cats

Valerian is a plant which is known to work in a same way as Nepeta. The roots of valerian contain actinidine another active compound known to stimulate cats and insects. Valerian is a plant which was introduced to Britain by the Romans in 450AD. It often grows where you don’t want it, but Their are some more ornamental variety in various pinks and white.

Other plants known to attract cats are Viburnum opulus, Silver vine (Actinidia polygama), Mint , Nemophila menziesii (annual plant) Nepeta nepetella, Jacob's Ladder, Valeriana phu, and V. celtica.

Gardens in July

2011-01-24T03:08:00.000-08:00

July is peak flowering time for most gardens, perennial favourites such as Lavender, Penstemon, Fuchsias and Crocosmia are all coming into flower. In fact, just about everything in the garden is in full swing, even the weeds! On the horizon are the summer holidays and perhaps you’re preparing to leave your well-tendered gardens for a week or two. Maybe you’re wondering who will water your house plants whilst you’re away. Why not give your house plants a holiday too? It’s now the perfect time. If you think the only place to grow house plants is on a sunny window sill think again. Most tender plants you have growing inside would be quite happy to spend the summer in the garden. Bromeliads, Cacti, succulents, palms, swiss cheese plants, spider plants, Coleus, and many other house plants can create all sorts of interesting displays in the garden.

Here is my 4 step guide to creating a rainforest or desert garden.
1. Dig an area set aside for your display and mix some compost with the soil. Once you’ve done this, walk over the whole area on your heels, firming the soil to remove air pockets. Level the surface with a rake.
2. Dig a hole the same depth as the pot. Sink houseplants in their pots into the soil. It’s a good idea to place them out first so you can decide what looks best where.
3. For your desert garden you could finish by spreading gravel around the collar of the plant to prevent leaves from rotting and for the rainforest garden ornamental bark would add to its look.
4. Don’t forget, bring all plants back inside in Autumn

Things to do this month –It’s a good time to cut off those faded flower heads especially roses. This will encourage further blooms to form later in the summer. It’s worth making time to potter, tidy your beds, do some weeding and water pots and plants if they need it

Gardens in May

2011-01-24T03:03:00.000-08:00

May is the month of great change in the garden. There is something new to see everyday, even if it is the relentless growth of weeds amongst your specimen plants. I always associate the month of May with the flowering of Wisteria. This classic early flowering climber which is predominantly known for its long trailing lilac-blue flowers can grow to 10 metres. A great example of this plants superb flowers can be found at Cannington College (now Bridgwater College) The historic walls of this old Priory are literally smothered with this plant and when I studied there, their use to be a wisteria weekend in May, which I’m sure is still happening and is definitely worth a visit. Plants of interest this month include the Judus tree, bearing mauve/pink pea like flowers which grow straight out of the branches. This great specimen tree is ideal for any garden in our part of the country. More common plants which you will be able to spot along our road sides and coastal spots are Tamarix tetranda (Tamarisk) and Sambucus nigra. (Elderberry)

Things to do this month – In the middle of May and onwards plant out bedding plants, pot grown dahlia and tender exotics. It’s also a good time to clip beech, box and cypress trees. In the vegetable garden sow swede, beetroot peas, Swiss chard, radish, lettuce and spring onions.

Gardens in April

2011-01-24T02:53:00.000-08:00

This year more so than previous years your borders might look a bit tired due to the harsh winter. Perhaps now is the time to give it an overhaul with a fresh planting scheme.

Here is my 7 step guide to creating a new border

1. Assess your border and decide what’s worth keeping. Don’t be afraid to be ruthless.

2. Dig out old shrubs. If they still look good replant them to fill other gaps in your garden.

3. Dig the soil over thoroughly, breaking it up to aerate it and relieve compaction. Mix some home-grown compost or even consider buying a bag or two from the garden centre.

4. Dig the border deeply mixing the compost thoroughly. Once you’ve done this, walk over the whole area on your heels, firming the soil to remove air pockets. Level the surface with a rake.

5. Lay out the plants, placing them into their rough position. Take your time, stand back and view these from various angles.

6. Now plant it up. Dig holes large enough to for each root ball.

7. Dig a generous amount of peat-free compost, bark or other mulching material around the plant to retain moisture and help prevent weeds (for a while).

You may like to put wall flowers into your new border. A star performer, which as far as I can tell flowers for 11months of the year, is Erysimum ‘bowles Mauve’ It produces vibrant blooms that contrast well with green and golden leaved neighbours. They are hardy but after 3 years they’ll begin to lose shape, so it’s better to pick some non flowering side shoots and sow them in summer. Another great perennial wall flower is Apricot delight – it’s equally impressive.

By now you should be enjoying your camellias if you have them. They prefer acid soil so you may have them in a pot with some ericaceous compost. However, varieties such as ‘X williamsii’ tolerate free draining alkaline soil which some of you may have. Camellias cry out to be admired close- up, even on the coldest days. Be warned though, early morning frost harm their buds and blooms. This can be prevented by pegging over a large piece of fleece when frost is forecast. It’s worth doing because it makes the display last longer. These make a great indoor display if you cut single blooms and float them in a glass bowl of water.

Things to do this month – Sow sweet peas directly in the soil at the base of an obelisk or other support. Plant out gladioli in groups of single varieties through April. Trim off faded blooms from winter-flowering heathers and early daffodils. Sprinkle rose fertiliser around roses and other flowering shrubs.

Gardens in march

2010-03-02T02:18:00.000-08:00

This March we’ll see some of our spring favourites a little later than usual. The likes of Daffodils and Crocus will be later to flower because of the hard cold snap we had back in January. Ive already noticed that Witch Hazel and Snowdrops are blooming later than previous years. I can honestly say it a relief to see March again. Finally the ground is warming up and the grass in beginning to grow but also the days are becoming longer. It’s nice to finish work in the day light again.

I read recently that those that do grow their own spend on average £9.25 a week on fruit and vegetable whereas those that don't are spending on average £13.32 a week. It seems to me that there is a big drive by the media to make us ‘grow your own’ fruit and vegetables this year; I’m already noticing the difference as several of my customers have asked me to build raised beds this year so they can grow their own vegetables.
But why should home growing end there? Why not grow your own perennials and shrubs from seed? Most garden centre are encouraging this now, as a result, seeds, heated propagators and all the kit needed is easily available.

If you want to make a start to home growing and are able to grow things undercover now is time to sow tomatoes, sweet-peppers, aubergines and chillies. If your really keen to make a start outside in the vegetable garden, sow lettuce, spring onions, leeks, broad beans, parsnips, turnips and also early varieties of peas and carrots. Sow your seeds under a cloche or fleece and resist filling the space up all at once as you’ll need to leave room for sowing in April.

Things to do this month – The most important thing to do in your garden this month is an annual spring clean. Fork out weeds and deadhead stems of perennials Doing this now means you don’t have to fight your way through the beds later in the year when things are in leaf and flower.

Gardens in January

2010-03-02T02:11:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year…You may have been expecting a picture of a beautiful winter scene. Well, I decided I would show you something a little different this month. The picture on the right is of the Otari Native Botanic Garden in New Zealand in January 2008. So what may you expect of a January in the Southern hemisphere?

To start it is smack bang in the middle of their summer. New Zealand’s climate ranges from a cool temperate climate in the deep south to almost subtropical conditions in the far north. Plants do not necessarily require the same conditions at one end of the country as they do at the other. The climate of the south island is most like that of Britain meaning that we are able to grow various plants from this island.

Cordyline australis (featured in the far right of the picture) is an NZ native plant. It occurs naturally on open ground in all but the driest and coldest of sites from one end of the country to the other. Therefore it is an ideal plant for our British climate and likes will tolerate most conditions.

Ornamental grass is also a strong feature on the New Zealand landscape. The grasses featured in the image to the top right are predominantly Carex buchananii. This type of Carex is found on the coast mainly in dry conditions. It is widely available in Britain, but tends not to do so well in the wet clay soil of the West Country in winter. However, if you are fortunate to have a sandy free draining soil give it a go.

Closer to home, one plant worth looking out for this January in the UK is Hamamelis (witch hazels) This frost hardy, highly perfumed shrub is an excellent choice for any winter garden. Its has a variety of sunset shades from yellow to deep red.

Gardens in December

2010-03-02T02:09:00.000-08:00

December may not spring to mind as a month to spend any time in the garden but hopefully I can convince you that there still things to see and do and to leave the warmth of the fire. Yes it’s the month when we’d all like to be in the warm eating mince pies and drinking mulled wine but such treats can also be found in the garden. This is the time when we can all appreciate a winter gem. Nature’s palette is no longer a rich array of vibrancy but some plants aren’t told this and break the rule, these are our ‘winter gems’

The plant which is the focus for this month is called Chimonanthus Praecox or more commonly Wintersweet. This chinese shrub is not commonly seen because it doesn’t flower when it is young and therefore it is not shown in garden centres. It takes several years to finally start flowering, but when it does it has pale yellow flowers hanging from bare stems. It has an unusual see through appearance and boasts a sweet scent. It will eventually grow into big open shrub to a size of approximately 2 x 2metres. It likes a sheltered spot in full sun in well drained soil. I have planted this in both clay and sandy soil with good results by simply adding good organic matter (good home grown compost).

Other plants looking good this month are Taxus baccata (Yew) It is useful for making festive wreaths and garlands. Not forgetting variegated hollies (Ilex Xltaclerensis) which is both colourful and useful this time of year.

Chimonanthus praecox (above)

Things to do this month – Fork over vacant ground. Rake up the last of the leaves. Take hardwood cuttings; why not try Dogwood, Elder, Forsythia, Honeysuckle or Willow.

Gardens in October

2010-03-02T02:04:00.000-08:00

October is a great month for colour. What probably springs to mind is the bronze foliage that will cover our landscape. Leaves of many popular trees and shrubs such as Acers, Hamamelis and Cornus go through what can be described as the traffic light sequence ending in red. However, we shouldn’t forget the golden colours of so many ornamental grasses and the bright colours of Dahlia’s and stylish berries of Callicarpa and Pyrocantha.

The plant which is the focus for this month is special to both my wife and I as it is the tree is had in the church at our wedding this summer. We wanted to be a little different instead of the usual flowers. We visited several local garden centres so we could both get a feel of what we would like at our wedding. We had in our mind a tree in flower. However; my concern was that it might not be in flower on the day. So we decided to go for something that had bold green foliage with an ornamental quality to it. We chose the tree Liquidambar or more commonly ‘Sweet Gum’. Liquidamber is a deciduous tree native to warm temperate Eastern North America. The tree makes a cone shape to a size approximately 15m x 10m. It flowers in March but more distinguishingly has striking green foliage from April to late August. This is followed by the traffic light transition ending in hot autumn red before it drops its leaves. The great thing about this tree is that it can tolerate a range of soil in sun or light shade. This tree would be quite at home in anything but a small garden. If you do have a small garden and you would like your patch of ground to resemble a landscape on fire then Euonymus Europaeus ‘Red Cascade’ may be the plant for you.
Liquidamber styraciflua (above)

Things to do this month –I find it’s a good time to give conifer hedges a final trim; this will neaten their appearance till at least April. It is now time to take tender plants into the greenhouse before it turns cold and in the vegetable garden sow sweet peas in pots and over winter in a cold frame.

Written by Paul Cantello, of Batello Garden Design and Landscaping -
Tel. 01934 412244

Gardens in August

2010-03-02T02:03:00.000-08:00

July was such a great month for colour in the garden, and so is August. We’re into a time when most summer bedding plants are at their best. Individual properties across our area are dotted with rows of French Marigolds, Petunias and Busy Lizzys’ to name but a few. However, these plants will be lost when the first frost hits. If you wanted to try something a little different which isn’t too late for late summer interest and will look good in winter, try planting an ornamental grass border. Three great plants which will give you this interest are Miscanthus sinensis, Stipa tenuissima and Stipa gigantea. The stems of these plants will eventually fade in colour and have great architectural shape, so don't cut them back until the spring to get the most interest from these plants.

One plant that is in full bloom at the moment and stands out from mid July and August, especially in our region, is the Crocosmia. The common wild variety is better known as Crocosmia X crocosmiiflora. You’ll either love it or hate it. It has orange flowers and spreads like wild fire. Despite this it is still a popular cottage garden plant which blooms throughout July and August. It should come as no surprise to you that there are countless varieties which are far less invasive and sometimes considered more attractive in habit and colour. Take for instance Crocosmia Lucifer’(pictured right) it’s orange/red in colour and far more erect in nature to it’s invasive cousin Other colours include gold and yellow which work well if you are trying to create a hot coloured planting scheme.

Things to do this month – Still keep those weeds at bay: 10 minutes of hoeing everyday is both good exercise and is a simple way of keeping your garden under control. The most important thing to do this month is to pick your crops. Harvest runner beans, lettuce, onions, garlic and outdoor tomatoes.

Gardens in August

2009-07-21T00:54:00.000-07:00

July was such a great month for colour in the garden, and so is August. We’re into a time when most summer bedding plants are at their best. Individual properties across our area are dotted with rows of French Marigolds, Petunias and Busy Lizzys’ to name but a few. However, these plants will be lost when the first frost hits. If you wanted to try something a little different which isn’t too late for late summer interest and will look good in winter, try planting an ornamental grass border. Three great plants which will give you this interest are Miscanthus Sinensis, Stipa Tenuissima and Stipa Gigantean. The stems of these plants will eventually fade in colour and have great architectural shape, so don't cut them back until the spring to get the most interest from these plants.

One plant that is in full bloom at the moment and stands out in August, especially in our region, is the Crocosmia. The common wild variety is better known as Crocosmia X Crocosmiiflora. You’ll either love it or hate it. It has orange flowers and spreads like wild fire. Despite this it is still a popular cottage garden plant which blooms throughout July and August. It should come as no surprise to you that there are countless varieties which are far less invasive and sometimes considered more attractive in habit and colour. Take for instance Crocosmia Lucifer’(pictured right) it’s orange/red in colour and far more erect in nature to it’s invasive cousin Other colours include gold and yellow which work well if you are trying to create a hot coloured planting scheme.

Things to do this month – Still keep those weeds at bay: 10 minutes of hoeing everyday is both good exercise and is a simple way of keeping your garden under control. The most important thing to do this month is to pick your crops. Harvest runner beans, lettuce, onions, garlic and outdoor tomatoes.

Gardens in July

2009-07-03T00:43:00.000-07:00

I must apologise for not writing an article in June. It’s a very busy time of year for gardeners; I spent most of my time working outside and I hope you have had time to spend in your gardens during what was a relatively dry June. July will be a very special month for me as I will be getting married; it will be start of exciting and new things to come. The same could be said of plants in the garden at this time. Many common border perennials are at their best in July. The early part of the month sees the dominance of radiant colours and fragrances of roses. By the end of the month more exotic additions, such as Canna’s, Cosmos and Sun Flowers, begin to bloom. There are so many plants which could be mentioned in July, but the one I would like to focus on is Hemerocallis, you may know it by its common name of Daylily. The name says it all. Each individual flower is only in bloom for one day. In fact the Greek word Hemerocallis means ‘beautiful for a day’. Although each bud on this far eastern plant flowers are short lived, new buds keep developing throughout the summer. The daylily prefers full sun but will tolerate some shade In my experience it can grow happily in both free draining and clay soils. In fact the common orange daylily is currently awaiting listing as a noxious weed! But don’t let this put you off, there are many varieties of more unusual daylilies which will add a sparkle to any border.

Things to do this month – Keep those weeds at bay:10 minutes of hoeing everyday is both good exercise and is a simple way of keeping your garden under control. In the vegetable garden once early crops are used, prepare the ground for new plants: sprinkle fertilizer and fork it in. Vegetables to sow in this space now are carrots, lettuce, spring onions and turnips.

Garden in May

2009-04-19T08:56:00.000-07:00

Thank you April, hello May. May is the month of great change in the garden. There is something new to see everyday, even if it is the relentless growth of weeds amongst your specimen plants. I always associate the month of May with the flowering of Wisteria. This classic early flowering climber which is predominantly known for its long trailing lilac-blue flowers can grow to 10 metres. A great example of this plants superb flowers can be found at Cannington College (now Bridgwater College) The historic walls of this old Priory are literally smothered with this plant and when I studied there, their use to be a wisteria weekend in May, which I’m sure is still happening and is definitely worth a visit. Plants of interest this month include the Judus tree, bearing mauve/pink pea like flowers which grow straight out of the branches. This great specimen tree is ideal for any garden in our part of the country. More common plants which you will be able to spot along our road sides and coastal spots are Tamarix tetranda (Tamarisk) and Sambucus nigra. (Elderberry)

Things to do this month – In the middle of May and onwards plant out bedding plants, pot grown dahlia and tender exotics. It’s also a good time to clip beech, box and cypress trees. In the vegetable garden sow swede, beetroot peas, Swiss chard, radish, lettuce and spring onions.

Gardening in April

2009-03-30T13:17:00.000-07:00

What do gardeners do when the sun shines? Answer - get out and enjoy the garden. The great weather we’ve been experiencing has been magnificent and it is a far cry from the wintry weather 6 weeks ago. Although March is the month that we see the first changes in the garden with the likes of Forsythia, Cherry Blossom and Daffodils in flower; April is the month when everything comes back to life. Blossom from Pear trees and Apple trees is set against a backdrop hazy green deciduous shrubs and trees which are bursting into leaf. April this year will undoubtedly be the month of the Tulip; it is my favourite of all bulbous plants and the mild weather we have been experiencing now will mean that many Tulips will peak towards the end of this month. Of course there are many other plants to look out for this month. The first: Fritillaria Meleagris. This has mauve and white heads with a checkerboard pattern which is why it gets its common name Snakeshead Fritillary. Another beautiful plant to look out for is Viburnum X Burkwoodii. I think it is underrated as an evergreen garden plant; not only does it not get out of hand (growing to about 2 metres in height and spread over 10 years) but it also has beautiful delicate white fragrant flowers at this time of year.

Things to do this month - It’s time to move any evergreen trees and shrubs if desired. It is also not a bad time to feed the grass, treat for moss and weeds and re-seed any bare patches. It’s a busy time in the vegetable garden too; Sow broad beans, brussel sprouts and summer cabbage and don’t forget to water and hoe regularly.

How to…prune a Phormium (New Zealand flax, harakeke and wharariki )

2009-02-03T08:15:00.000-08:00

Like many people I always assumed that the only way to prune this beast (Phormium tenax) was to hack down unwanted growth.

However, on a trip to New Zealand the country of origin for this plant I discovered first hand how to prune phormiums. The phormium (new Zealand Flax) is a very sacred plant to the Maori people historically it has and continues to be used for weaving. In fact there is such a thing as the ‘Maori police” The new Zealand flax is so sacred that in one botanical garden which I visited “Maori police” would check on these plants to make sure they had not been pruned incorrectly and often they would supervise the pruning on designated days. Of course here in the UK we don’t need to worry about the plant police, but you may want to follow a similar rule. The general rule is to prune in late spring and remove any dead or damaged leaves all the way to the base. In fact, you will usually find large, linear leaves, each folded into a V-shape with 5-7 shoots on each leaf. To reduce in size remove several of the outer shoots on either side of the main ‘V’ leaf leaving the 3 central shoots. Do this on many of the outer V-shaped leaves as desired all over the Phormium. The same rule can be applied to the species cookianum. Never "top" flax as the leaves will never grow back into a point again.

Things to remember – Phormium tenax can grow very big so why not choose the smaller species ‘cookianum’. In addition to this, if you choose a cookianum, look for a clump forming one as this will be grow slower and smaller. A good example of this is my favourite Phormium, ‘jester’ - which grows no bigger than one metre in size.

Above -A picture of a New Zealand field filled with young Phormium tenax