Roehampton Garden Society


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Should we be planting nettles?

It seems there is a world wide trend to plant more stinging nettles – and not just for soup! In New Zealand nettle cultivation is revitalising their red admiral butterfly population, and in the UK the Woodland Trust urges us to conserve nettle patches – home to several lovely UK butterflies. If you have a small patch of nettles, please consider leaving it alone this summer….

Butterflies on Site 3…
On Sunday last, (9th May) both Albert and myself were treated to a charming Common Blue Butterfly fluttering over both our allotments. Everyone has been telling me about Peacock Butterflies, how they for a few days and were everywhere, then suddenly disappeared. Don’t be sad, they will have mated, laid eggs, and the caterpillars from those eggs will grow over the summer, to enchant us all flying around in August and September.
Small Pearl Fritillarys are now on the wing; several can be seen on site 3. They are about the size of an old half-penny at most. In some of the ponds, damsel flies are now in residence. I’ve yet to see any dragonflies but with the expected hot weather, they will put in an appearance.

Bill Young


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Peat Free is the Future

The Government have banned retail sale of all peat containing composts from next year. Plant growers will also have to stop using peat – container plants containing peat may only be sold up until 2026.

As gardeners, we know we have a responsibility to save peatlands, but alternatives have not always proved reliable or of good quality.

A fascinating talk by Catherine Dawson, a Senior Associate of Melcourt, who make Sylvagrow, highlighted the long and difficult process of producing an effective all round peat-free compost.

Each different mix can take years to trial, so it’s no wonder that some of the products rushed to market were not top quality and gave peat-free a bad name! Much better peat-free composts are now being produced, and the challenge is to supply the ever growing market, and do so sustainably. Catherine was positive that this could be achieved.


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Success at Chelsea

One of our Plotholders, Alexander, was part of a prize winning team at the Chelsea Flower Show this year. He helped to create “The Shifting Garden”, which won a silver-gilt medal in the Container and Balcony Gardens section.

The Shifting Garden reflects the changing climate and plants that need little or no fertiliser and can cope with periods of dryness. Alexander developed a new formula for the Hypertufa material for the containers which does away with peat and is far more sustainable and eco friendly than concrete, as well as being lighter and porous, so lichens can more easily grow on it.

Many congratulations, Alexander!


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Open gardens to visit this May

The National Gardens Society have a wonderful programme of Open Gardens this month.
You can visit the many superb gardens around Kew Green, Lambeth Palace, Royal Trinity Hospice, the Hurlingham Club, the Water Gardens at Kingston, Garden Barge Square at Tower Bridge and more.

The azalea garden at 21 Arthur Road Wimbledon is open on 21 May and has superb views.

Arthur Road Garden

Find details of the gardens open near Sw15 this month here.
In June gardens at 40 Chartfield Avenue and 39 Hazlewell road will also be open.

Entry fees go to support NGS charities.


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It’s No Mow May – should you let your grass grow?

We’ve lost nearly 97% of flower rich meadows since the 1970’s and with them gone are vital food needed by pollinators, like bees and butterflies.

A healthy lawn with some long grass and wildflowers benefits wildlife, tackles pollution and can even lock away carbon below ground – and best of all, to reap these benefits all you have to do is not mow your lawn in May!

With over 20 million gardens in the UK, even the smallest grassy patches add up to a significant proportion of our land which, if managed properly, can deliver enormous gains for nature, communities and the climate.

Information from the Plantlife website

The 10 most common plants recorded during the campaign last year were daisies, creeping buttercup, yellow rattle, common bird’s-foot trefoil, field forget-me-not, meadow buttercup, white clover, common mouse-ear, oxeye daisy and dandelion.

Bird’s-foot trefoil is a rich sort of food for 140 insect species! Even the humble dandelion is loved by bumble bees.

Read more about last year’s survey in this article in The Guardian

Find our more about No Mow May and join in on the Plantlife website


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Getting the grass to grow…

If you’d like advice about growing and maintaining a lawn, there’s lots to read on the RHS website.

Try this special section of the RHS website all about lawns here. Starting from Seed; Spring and Summer care and a special ‘problems’ section make this a comprehensive read.

Seed lawns, Turf lawns, Chamomile lawns……advice on your own lawn month by month here

As the RHS so rightly says, “One person’s weedy lawn is another’s wild flower meadow”….

wildflower meadow

If you feel inspired to give the wild side a chance, the RHS has very good advice about how to put away the weedkillers and fertilisers and give your mower a rest! All you need to know about Lawn and Mini Meadow Habitats from the RHS.


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A workshop on Herbs and Edible Flowers – Saturday 20th May

Spice up your salads! This workshop will cover everything you need to know about growing your own tasty herbs and edible flowers to add flavour and vibrancy to meals. Filling our outdoor spaces with herbs and edible flowers adds welcome scent and colour for us and benefits our urban wildlife too.

Led by an RHS qualified horticultural tutor, the workshop provides lots of learning about how to grow herbs and edible flowers, plenty of information to take away and an opportunity to practice sowing seeds and taking cuttings.

Taking place in a lovely walled kitchen garden, this practical one-day workshop includes lots of planting ideas and some simple propagation techniques for you to try, so that you can take away a pot of your own herb cuttings. The cost is £38.

This course is at: Ecolocal, The Lodge, Honeywood walk, Carshalton SM5 3NX. Within the grounds of Carshalton Ecology Centre, by the ponds.

Find out more and book online HERE


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An invitation from Borde Hill Garden

Borde Hill is a fascinating garden in West Sussex, not far from Wakehurst Place.
As an Affiliated Society of the RHS we have received an invitation to the following event:

Dear Affiliated Society,
Borde Hill Garden would like to invite you to an exclusive event on the 27th April for an opportunity to meet the owners and learn about the future of the garden.
The day includes lunch and a tour with the Head Gardener.

Places must be pre-booked (max 4 per group). The cost is £45 per head.

If you would like to go, and would like to be put in touch with others interested, please do let us know at rgs.sw15@gmail.com

Book directly with Borde Hill BOOK HERE

For further information please email Borde Hill Garden directly.


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How to Sow Seeds – from the RHS

Well – it’s certainly seed sowing season now! The RHS has been encouraging everyone to join in – and has produced some excellent advice with ideas for us all.

Faye, an RHS expert, is sharing seed sowing advice over on the RHS YouTube channel.
Watch her How-To videos and follow along for help and guidance sowing seeds of any size.

Here’s how to grow basil:

and here is the full play list on YouTube….


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Spring Plant Fair at the Garden Museum

On Sunday 16th April the Garden Museum is hosting a Spring Plant Fair. Expert plant growers and specialist nurseries from around the country sell some of the best garden plants you’ll find in London.

This year’s fair also features a programme of talks and workshops on growing flowery annuals, seed sowing and increasing wildlife and biodiversity in small spaces, as well as a cookery demo and tasting in our studio kitchen. Book each talk online. Find out more here

Time & Place

16 Apr 2023
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
The Garden Museum

Entry £5 (£4 members)