This Week’s Guest Blogger is Bettina Sytner a Garden Designer at Chelsea Green

This blog is written in two parts. The first was in April and then the second in early August this year.

I had began writing a while ago before I became unwell, everything paused  and slowly came to a halt. I was at home, just recovering and planning my working schedule when the virus struck. Being Italian, my heart was broken each day by the news. And now it is here, I continued my isolation and, apart from a short early morning walk with my dog. My garden only contains two raised border and two shallow ones by the neighbouring fences, but it is my salvation and my haven. Clearing out winter’s debris, cleaning pots and mossy paving and checking the new shoots, and finally beginning re-potting last year’s plants and potting out the cuttings which have taken roots in tiny containers on the window sills .
The clematis are rapidly growing and canes are now in place to support them and shoots are encouraged to meander around and grow through shrubs and other climbers, so that there will be a succession of blooms. The roses are inspected each day, and even twice daily, and gently shaken to remove greenflies which are greedily feeding on the tender shoots – no need for spraying! 
Several small bedding plants have survived the winter and they only need a little pinch to tidy them, then a good clearing around them, a sprinkle of organic fertiliser and a topping of good compost. Not forgetting to water plants well, as the recent windy weather and now sunny and dry days are drying the soil a great deal. And the garden is ready for spring

Mid summer. It has been, and still is, a strange summer: hardly any rain , extreme temperatures, and Covid. But, for gardeners as for farmers, the unpredictability of the weather is quite normal, and we adapt and help plants adapting as much as we can, with more water and more protection.
Japanese anemones, dahlias, sedum, asters, cyclamen – to name a few – are all flowering with abandon, while most herbaceous borders have faded in the heat.


I have planted tomatoes, courgettes, peppers and herbs and the crop is amazing and abundant. However, there is a great deal of extra watering to be carried out, and feeding with good organic fertiliser. There are also, alas, many diseases around, primarily rust and fungus and mildew, which need to be kept under control with, again, organic methods where and when possible. And sadly the foliage of plants, shrubs and trees looks dry and scorched by the sun and the intense heat.
But it is also time to enjoy being in the garden during the evenings, looking at the stars and spotting meteor showers, and being grateful for the joys nature brings.


I have planted tomatoes, courgettes, peppers and herbs and the crop is amazing and abundant. However, there is a great deal of extra watering to be carried out, and feeding with good organic fertiliser. There are also, alas, many diseases around, primarily rust and fungus and mildew, which ned to be kept under control with, again, organic methods where and when possible. And sadly the foliage of plants, shrubs and trees looks dry and scorched by the sun and the intense heat.
But it is also time to enjoy being in the garden during the evenings, looking at the stars and spotting meteor showers, and being grateful for the joys nature brings.