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The charm of the unpredictable is one of the many delights of gardens in each season Charlie Wilkins reports

It’s a greater act of faith to plant a bulb than to plant a tree, and so, lilies as they become available continue to be stuck in wherever a ‘safe’ spot can be found.

Lilies as they become available continue to be stuck in wherever a ‘safe’ spot can be found.

INDIAN SHOT; I find that in each season, in each garden, there is always the charm of the unpredictable. The king of the spring border may indisputably be the crown imperial, Fritillaria ‘imperialis’, for it stands sentinel-like among spring’s emerging foliage during late March/April, but a prime contender for king of the summer border, must be the Canna or Indian Shot as this rather tropical-looking plant is sometimes known.

It produces huge blooms with sumptuous (if rather garish) flowers atop richly-coloured leaves as wide and handsome as you have ever had. Canna rhizomes are best potted up into a loam-free compost now and kept in a greenhouse until planting out time comes around in May. They’re as tender as dahlias or potato haulms and need protection from (in particular) late frosts.

LAYERING; Plants in many gardens layer themselves without bother! Sometimes, a branch of a shrub, or even better a tree, that has felt really comfortable with its elbow resting on the ground suddenly takes root! Even in a serene garden, this always looks like the mark of maturity. A large magnolia in a nearby Tivoli, Co Cork garden has boa-constrictor-type branches touching the ground a long distance from the main trunk. They have rooted automatically. Another in the same area has a walnut tree which has declared itself satisfied by shooting up vigorously from where a branch has drooped down to meet the daffodils. !

LILIES; It’s a greater act of faith to plant a bulb than to plant a tree, and so, lilies as they become available continue to be stuck in wherever a ‘safe’ spot can be found. ‘Safe’ means a square foot of ground where nothing else is (now) visibly planted. I stress ‘now’ for there may be bulbs hidden there already! I get tired, bored, sick to death of the job and every year I find afresh how worthwhile it is — for the pictures come flashing to and fro under the trowel and aching arms — the white of Regale and Longiflorum, the sugar pink of Pink Perfection and the red and scarlet of Stargazer. Plant lilies deep, going down 8’ or so in the ground then add gravel or grit to the bottom in order to improve drainage. Lilies hate waterlogged soil. Finally, don’t mix varieties or they’ll flower in a scrappy fashion. Plant all one variety in threes or fives and if you have to put them in pots keep them close together, two thirds deep, without actually touching. Liquid feed whenever possible for superb results.

SNOWDROPS; Gardeners who are susceptible to the charms of snowdrops should source or order the scented, reliable, and large-flowered variety S. Arnott. This variety with handsome leaves can be expensive at €2/3 a bulb but it increases so fast that a patch worth €120 could soon be theirs. The magic of this particular variety should be enough to convert anyone to try more snowdrops, but even if you doubt this claim, try cutting some of the more common forms for indoors and you’ll become hooked on their simple beauty.

SLUGS AND SNAILS; The big problem with combating slugs and snails is an environmental one to say the least, for chemical bait may damage birds, frogs, hedgehogs and other fluffy things. There are wildlife-friendly slug poisons, but some gardeners feel uneasy about them and barriers are not always effective. Just about everyone has heard of a DIY cure for slugs and snails but none are really foolproof save beer traps sunk into the ground. I continue to use a liquid slug killer (Clear). It is mixed with water, and poured over susceptible plants in the ornamental garden. The drench is renewed now and again especially following heavy rain.