Let’s nail those snails

11:10am Saturday 19th July 2008

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AFTER a trip round the open gardens in Poppleton last month, and the sight of a tremendous display of hostas in one of the gardens, I decided to give these plants another go.

There was a space in a semi-shaded spot in our garden calling out for something low growing that would complement the shrubs already present. Hostas would be perfect – but for the one problem that comes with these lovely foliage plants: snails.

Still, I was willing to give them another go and try, once again, the snail prevention methods, which are many and varied.

Firstly, the choice of plants. There are scores of hostas to choose from. The list in The Plant Finder runs to more than eight pages, so I took the easy way out and went to York Market one Saturday morning to see what was on offer.

As luck would have it, there were two hostas on the stall that day, one a variegated type called Wide Brim, the other a ribbed, plain-leafed sort which had lost its label. Looking through my reference books later, it appears to have been one of the sieboldianas, which have these deeply ribbed and sometimes puckered leaves.

Wide Brim has spreading, heart-shaped leaves of mid-green with wide cream edges and lavender flowers in summer.

Like most hostas, it prefers partial or full shade and moist, reasonably heavy soil. The bright foliage brightens a dark corner and although primarily grown for the leaves, the flowers are an attractive bonus at this time of year.

The unnamed relative planted with Wide Brim in our garden has a slightly different habit of growth, with the leaves being more upright, at least for the moment while the plant is young. Flower stems have formed and the blooms are likely to be white or lilac, the usual colour in this group of plants.

It is probably tempting fate to write that these hostas have so far managed to avoid being bothered by snails, but I am putting it down to the application of coffee grounds. I had already successfully experimented by piling the grounds around some African marigolds. They suffered mollusc attack the first night they were planted, but coffee grounds seem to have done the trick and new growth and flowers have been produced.

Weekend catch-up

CONTAINERS and hanging baskets need to be catered for during holidays away from home. Asking a friend or neighbour to pop round is the best solution, even though it may be necessary to ask them to do the watering once a day, should the sun decide to make an appearance. Move as many of the pots as possible out of the sun and into a shady spot, and soak them thoroughly before leaving. At the same time, deadhead and cut back where necessary and a new crop of buds and blooms may await your return.

Gardening TV and radio

Tomorrow.

8am, BBC Radio Humberside, Gardening Phone in. With Blair Jacobs and Doug Stewart. Telephone number 01482 225 959.

9am, BBC Radio Leeds, Gardening with Tim Crowther and Joe Maiden.

2pm, BBC Radio 4, Gardeners’ Question Time. Anne Swithinbank, Pippa Greenwood, John Cushnie and chairman Eric Robson help gardeners in Cheshire. Meanwhile Anne and Chris Beardshaw look at the daisy family, the largest of the plant families. The gardening weather forecast is at 2.25pm.

Thursday.

8.30pm, BBC2, RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park. A look at the show gardens, marquees and flowerbeds as the Cheshire flower show celebrates its tenth anniversary.

Friday.

8.30pm, BBC2, RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park. Joe Swift, Carol Klein and Rachel de Thame tour the show.

Saturday.

7am, Radio York, The Plant Surgery. Presenter Julia Booth and gardening expert Nigel Harrison give advice, tips and help with horticultural problems. Telephone number 01904 641641.

Open gardens

Tomorrow.

In aid of the National Gardens Scheme East Wing, Thorp Arch Hall, www.eastwinggarden.info,Thorp Arch, one mile south of Wetherby.

Contemporary garden set in parkland with courtyards, ponds, potager, earth sculpture, dry garden and striking views, all framed by yew hedges and trained trees. There is also a photographic exhibition. Open noon to 5pm. Admission £3.50.

The Nursery, Knapton Lane, off Beckfield Lane, Acomb, York. One-acre productive organic garden created from a former nursery and extended over the years. There are more than 40 varieties of apples and pears, large and small greenhouses, vegetables in bed and row systems and informal ornamental planting providing colour and a habitat for wildlife. Open 1pm to 5pm. Admission £2.

Sleightholme Lodge, Fadmoor, six miles north east of Helmsley. Hillside garden with a walled rose garden and herbaceous borders. Open 2pm to 6pm. Admission £3. Also open today 2pm to 6pm.

Yorke House, Dacre Banks, Nidderdale, ten miles north west of Harrogate. Flower arranger’s two-acre garden with colour-themed borders, extensive water feature, nut walk, rose pergola, Millennium garden, wildlife area, picnic area and views across Nidderdale. Open 11am to 5pm. Admission £3.

Wednesday.

In aid of the National Gardens Scheme Hunmanby Grange, www.hunmanbygrange.co.uk , Wold Newton, 12.5 miles south east of Scarborough. Three-acre garden created from an exposed field now with hedges and fences providing shelter for a series of gardens planted for year round interest with seasonal highlights. The adjacent nursery will be open and an artist will be working in the garden. Open 1pm-5pm. Admission £3.

Saturday, July 26.

In aid of the Candlelighters and CLIC Sargent Children’s Cancer Groups.

58, Rawcliffe Lane, off Shipton Road, Clifton, York. Established garden with two ponds, trees, climbers, rockeries, brick paths, containers, lawn and many perennials from popular varieties to more unusual specimens and species. Plants will be on sale as will cream teas and a range of garden-inspired greetings cards. Open 10am to 5pm. Admission £2 adult, 50p child. Also open Sunday, July 27.