Garden walls, particularly those with crumbly holes, can be a haven for
wildlife. Attract bees, butterflies and other insects with Verbena
bonariensis, buddleia, agastache, echinops, polemonium and the paler
varieties of sedum, including Sedum spectabile.
Wall-backed borders are ideal for growing dahlias. Prepare the ground with
well-rotted manure and incorporate organic slug pellets into the soil. Drive
in stakes when planting so as not to damage the root system later on, and
dress with pelleted chicken manure or a general-purpose fertiliser.
“One of the best tips for planting out vegetables like cabbage and
cauliflowers in a windy garden,” says Castle of Mey head gardener
Andrew Glaister, “is to make a shallow trench with a draw hoe and plant
your young plants into the bottom of the trench. The sides of the trench
will help protect the plants or seedlings from the wind. The trench will
gradually fill in as you hoe the weeds and the plants mature.”
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