TEN of Lymm’s most green-fingered residents are opening their doors for the annual Open Gardens charity scheme on Sunday, June 22.

Last year the event, part of Lymm Festival, was a sell-out success and raised more than £7,000 for St Rocco’s and other charities.

We ask Chris and Joan Wakefield, of Higher Lane, what visitors can expect and how they got into gardening.

Describe the garden
Mixed planting of mainly shrubs and small trees with areas of more specialised planting. For example, heucheras and geraniums.

Plants have been allowed to dictate the form of the garden with minimal intervention apart from some pruning and shaping and re-siting.

Tall ash tree is a feature. Side courtyard with raised pond and tubs. A ‘laissez faire’ garden to a large extent.

How did you get into gardening?

Joan’s family history. Her great grandfather was head gardener at a large estate in Oxford and her father was an expert in vegetable growing and camellias.

Joan has a degree in botany and was brought up in a house with a large garden.

Why do you enjoy gardening?

I love plants and watching them grow. I never fail to be amazed by fantastic variety, forms, adaptations and all from basically carbon dioxide and water!

I also enjoy the changes in colour and form throughout the year and choosing plantings to ensure a different appearance as seasons change.

I have only recently started growing to eat it is very enjoyable.

What are your plans for the garden?

See how everything grows and move things around if they don’t look right. In other words, no major plans at present!

What is your favourite feature Joan and why?

Changes from season to season and even day to day. At present I’m very fond of the foliage colours of the heucheras.

Chris likes the curve of the path leading up to the front door with plants trailing over the edge of the low walls.

Have you suffered any garden catastrophes?

Magnolia stellata always dies on us. More a disappointment than catastrophe...and the wisteria has never flowered in decades!

Top tips for gardeners?

* If space allows divide your garden into ‘rooms’ using shrubs, trees and natural materials to separate areas.

* Let your plants decide the appearance of your garden. If you plant something and it doesn’t look right dig it up and move it or compost it.

If you like a manicured garden ignore all of my tips!

* Look after soil structure. We have a petrol driven shredder. Worms and woodlice colonise a fresh 6in layer of shreddings within days, turning it into a warm heaving mass. Use chicken manure pellets to help activate the compost. The result is that most plants grow far taller than the label says.

* Don’t be afraid to retire super-annuated plants. This applies especially to conifers that are often difficult to prune effectively.

* Leave some structure for the winter.

* Take advantage of the slightly acid Cheshire soil.

Lymm Open Gardens takes place between noon and 5.30pm on Sunday, June 22.

Tickets are £7 for adults and £2 for children. Visit lymmfestival.org.uk for more details.