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Fungi appear all over our gardens in many forms and 2014 has provided some of the most ideal weather for it to grow and fruit. The fruiting body, the mushroom, is the most conspicuous part, however it is only a tiny proportion of the fungus which will have extensive feeding ‘roots’ (mycelia) running deep into the material it feeds from.

Whatever type of fungi you have in your garden, don’t panic. Try to identify it and call in experts where necessary. And don’t forget to enjoy fungi, the structure and colour of some make them just as beautiful and worthy of a place in the garden as any flower!

Below is a link about bracket fungi but find other fungi links to the right of this page.

(www.rhs.org.uk)

RHS Garden
Wisley
Woking
Surrey
GU23 6QB

Telephone: 0845 260 9000

RHS Wisley proved an ideal place for a fungal foray with RHS Pathologist, Dr Liz Beal.  Dr Beal hunted down types of fungi which may affect our gardens but there’s plenty of beauty to hunt out at Wisley too, including wonderful plants in the glasshouses and extensive outdoor collections.

(www.rhs.org.uk)

Monty added Rosa rugosa ‘Alba’ to his white garden; a lovely self-supporting shrub rose which flowers all summer and bears large hips in the autumn. Rosa rugosa ‘Alba’ can be planted singly but also makes a wonderful hedge.

Mycorrhizal fungi is a product often available when buying roses. It comes as a powder which you sprinkle onto roots. The idea is that the fungi creates an association with the rose roots and gets sugars from the plant whilst the plant benefits from increased water and nutrient uptake thanks to the fungi’s extensive network of mycelia.

Mycorrhizae are ancient and most often found in woodlands where many miles of trees can be connected through one underground fungus. It is believed that many of our forests would not be able to support themselves without this relationship.

(www.rhs.org.uk)

Imagine, you’re a tiny bird looking for seeds to eat… There are predators everywhere but you’re hungry so you risk exposure… Suddenly a buzzard’s shadow cuts across the sun, a chill runs through your feathers and you dart for cover… but… where do you go….?

Hedgerows in both rural and urban areas offer invaluable protection for small birds, mammals and insects. As well as acting as a protective pathway between gardens, fields and trees, a mixed hedge can help wildlife escape danger, rear young, find food and survive over winter.

(www.hedgelink.org.uk)

If you’ve got terracotta pots, don’t leave any soil inside them over winter because there’s a risk the soil will get wet and expand and possibly crack the pot. Empty the soil out, wash them well and store them upside down so they are protected and ready for next spring.

(www.rhs.org.uk)

A lovely job for a cold, dark winter day is to gather your tools which have a cutting edge such as secateurs, spades or hoes and clean them. Get rid of any rust, sharpen them and oil them ready for action. Find a pdf below with instructions on how to sharpen tools with an edge.

(www.which.co.uk)

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Go through your seeds to make sure you don’t build up a backlog as seeds lose viability with age. Monty has a rule to throw away anything over 2 years old. It’s a good idea to be ruthless and then, and only then, can you begin your seed order for next year.

(www.rhs.org.uk)