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Gardening
Tips
May
, Week One
| 1. |
Time
Saving Tip: Don’t waste your time tying
daffodil leaves into clumps after flowering.
It looks more unsightly and may cause damage.
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| 2. |
Money
Saving Tip: Clay pots which have suffered
from frost damage can still be used. Lay
them on their side and half fill with soil.
Creepy-crawly plants, such as sedums, will
look natural growing out of the container. |
| 3. |
It
takes time for newly planted trees and shrubs
to send their roots out in search of water.
Continue to water new plants during periods
of dry weather. |
| 4. |
The
Australian palm, Cordyline australis,can
look untidy with the old,dead leaves hanging
down the stem. Don’t cut them off but pull
them off one at a time working up from the
bottom. |
| 5. |
Bark
mulch clematis at least 10 cm 94 in deep
around the stem of the plant and the immediate
root area. This will keep the roots cool
and moist and encourage the stem to reroot. |
| 6. |
Pour
boiling water along open seed drills before
sowing vegetables. It will kill soil borne
pests and weed seeds, getting the seedlings
off to a good start. |
| 7. |
Keep
an eye out for blanket weed in the pond.
Use a plastic rake or brush to remove it.
Put it on the compost heap. |
| 8. |
Cover
tomatoes growing in cold glasshouses with
fleece or newspaper at night to protect
from frost. |
May,
Week Two
| 1. |
Time
Saving Tip: Sharpen garden tools, including
the spade and hoe. They will be easier and
quicker to use. |
| 2. |
Money
Saving Tip: Container grown plants,such
as hostas,which are prone to slug damage
may be protected by coating the rim of the
pot with vaseline. The slugs won’t crawl
through it. |
| 3. |
Water
plants growing at the base of walls where
the soil tends to remain dry even when it
is raining. |
| 4. |
Where
there are mature ash,beech and sycamore
growing, seedling trees will appear all
over the garden. Remove them as soon as
you see them as they quickly grow to an
unmanageable size. |
| 5. |
Hardy
fuchsia will soon be producing new shoots
from the base.Water and apply a balanced
fertilizer to help them grow away quickly. |
| 6. |
Erect
fine mesh or fleece screens around young
carrots to keep the carrot fly from laying
its eggs close to the crop. |
| 7. |
In
areas of shrubs infested with bindweed insert
bamboo canes. The weed will twist its way
up the cane where it may be sprayed with
weed killer without damaging the nearby
plants. |
| 8. |
Ground
cover plants such as lamium and vinca can
be clipped over to remove the old, tired
foliage. The new growths will look better. |
May,
Week Three
| 1. |
Time
Saving Tip: When potting and repotting
plants leave 5 cm (2 in ) at the top of
the container free of compost for a good
application of water. |
| 2. |
Money
Saving Tip: Beds of old heathers may
be rejuvenated by spreading a 10 cm (4 inch)
deep layer of peat over the surface and
washing it down to soil level with a hose.The
heathers will reroot up the stems into the
peat. |
| 3. |
Start
spraying roses to control black spot and
mildew. |
| 4. |
As
potato shoots appear earth up the soil around
them. |
| 5. |
During
warm days open the greenhouse ventilators,
closing them before evening. |
| 6. |
There
is still time to sow sweet corn and cucumbers
for planting outside in a sheltered site
in mid June. |
| 7. |
Feed
bush and cane fruit with a high potash fertilizer. |
| 8. |
Patches
in the lawn can be oversown with grass seed.Loosen
the surface of the soil and cover the seed
with clear polythene to hasten germination. |
May,
Week Four
| 1. |
Time
Saving Tip: After scarifying the lawn
by rake or machine use the lawn mower, set
high, to collect the debris for dumping
or composting. |
| 2. |
Money
Saving Tip: Where you need privacy to
sit out in the garden in summer grow a line
of Jerusalem artichoke. They quickly grow
to 2-3 metres(7-10 ft) high, forming a screen.
The tubers make a wonderful soup. |
| 3. |
Give
the spring bulbs which have finished flowering
a feed of general purpose fertilizer to
build up their strength for next year. |
| 4. |
Sow
carrots and parsley thinly to avoid having
to remove crowded seedlings. It is the smell
of crushed foliage which attracts carrot
fly. |
| 5. |
Clear
weeds from around bush fruit and strawberries
to allow a movement of air. |
| 6. |
Remove
the dead flower heads from hydrangeas to
allow the new shoots to take their place.
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| 7. |
Grow
some extra basil in pots which can be used
in the greenhouse to attract white fly.
They prefer basil to tomatoes. When covered
in the pest the basil may be dumped or burnt. |
| 8. |
Any
peach leaves infected with peach leaf curl
can be removed and burnt. |
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