Looking out for changes

12:21pm Saturday 2nd August 2008

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Late summer colours are here, says GINA PARKINSON.

Colours in the garden begin to change in August, as lighter pinks and blues make way for the more vibrant hues of late summer. Ornamental grasses also make their mark this month, with tall species looking spectacular with plumes of flowers contrasting with late summer perennials.

Helenium is a good source of yellows, reds and colours in between for the late summer and autumn garden. This hardy perennial was popular in Edwardian gardens but for some reason fell from favour for a number of years until new varieties began to appear from the continent. With the popularity of “prairie” planting being taken into even the smallest of gardens heleniums are enjoying their just rewards as they become increasingly available in nurseries and garden centres.

There are many varieties of Helenium, most of which being from the species Helenium autumnale, the hardiest member of the family. Also known as sneezwort or Helen’s flower, the botanical name is derived from the Greek helios meaning sun.

Helenium is easy to grow in sun or partial shade in all but the driest of soils. Light sandy soil needs to be improved with plenty of moisture-retaining compost, as well as a thick dressing of mulch each spring as the new shoots begin to emerge. Mainly disease and pest-resistant, the open flowers are a magnet for pollinating insects.

One of the most popular varieties is Helenium “Moorheim Beauty”, with coppery red flowers. It is interesting to see in the garden that such a dominant colour looks as good with mustard yellows of fennel and achillea or rich pink of spirea and dahlia. Other red or rusty varieties include “Bruno”, “Coppelia”, “Indianersommer” and the wonderfully named “Jam Tarts”. Yellows include “Pipsqueak” (or Blopip), and “Margot”.

While heleniums are easy to grow some of the taller varieties may need staking, especially in an exposed garden. Pea sticks or other type of support need to be put in place in March just as new growth is appearing. March is also the time to be dividing a plant which is usually recommended to be carried out every three or four years. Autumn division is not recommended for Heleniums since failure rate can be high especially for small divisions which struggle in cold winter wet.

Deadheading will prolong the display of flowers, which with some varieties can last from July until well into September or even October. Once the flowers have finally died back, all stems can be cut back to ground level where new growth may already be appearing. Leave these small sign intact and they will overwinter before starting into full growth the following year.

As has been mentioned, helenium can be placed with most other plants that flower at a similar time. Mine, “Moorheim Beauty”, grows in a border filled with the usual late suspects, fennel, dahlias, white hydrangea and wine coloured astrantia. But my favourite companion for it, at the moment at least, is the wonderful grass Calamagrostis x acutiflora “Overdam”. The long thin cream-edged green leaves and tall lilac brown flowerheads of this plant contrast so well with the colour and form of the helenium.

Weekend catch-up

Spring and early flowering shrubs can be got into shape this month. Species such as Philadelphus and Ribes grow rapidly, getting congested and flowering poorly.

They flower on wood that is produced this year so pruning needs to be done soon to allow plenty of new growth to grow over the rest of the summer.

Take out about one third of the oldest growth, cutting it back as near to the ground as pos-sible. At the same time remove dead or diseased stems and neaten any over-long or wayward branches that overhang a path or gateway. Clear any rubbish away from around the base of the plant and give it a good soaking of water if the soil is dry to give it a boost into new growth.

Open gardens

Sunday, August 3

In aid of the National Gardens Scheme.

Langton Farm, Great Langton, five miles west of Northallerton.

Organic riverside garden with formal and informal gravel areas, nuttery, a romantic flower garden with mixed borders and a pebble pool. Open 2pm-6pm. Admission £3.

Thorpe Lodge, Knaresborough Road, Ripon.

Twelve-acre country garden with extensive colour-themed flower borders, walled rose gar-den, courtyard with exotic shrubs and tender plants in pots, fruit trees, picnic area and a pleached hornbeam walk leading to walks through mature woodland with vistas and pond. Open 1pm-6pm. Admission £5, child under 12 years free.

Saturday, August 9

In aid of the National Gardens Scheme.

Mansion Cottage, Gillus Lane, Bempton, two miles north-east of Bridlington.

Secluded garden with 100ft mixed border, vegetable and recycling plot, new cutting area, shady border, bog garden, scented border and patio, lawns and late flowering tender perennial bed. Open 10am to 4pm. Admission £2.50.