大象传媒

Late summer is the perfect time to cut hedges. There鈥檚 no risk to nesting birds now and growth has slowed down so hedges should stay neat right through autumn, winter and spring.

It鈥檚 a good idea to cut most hedges annually, especially with fast-growing species like Leyland cypress (脳 Cuprocyparis leylandii) as they can put on huge amounts of growth each year and soon get out of reach. Hedges of mixed native species are better cut every few years as they provide food and habitats for wildlife.

Before getting started with hedge cutting, it鈥檚 worth thinking about your personal safety so here鈥檚 a check list of things to consider:

• Warn people about your plans and ask them to stay out of the area you're working in and keep pets away too

• Wear some safety goggles and avoid loose fitting clothes

• Are you using noisy petrol cutters? If so, ear protection might be useful

• Ensure you hold the hedge cutter firmly with both hands

• Use steady movements and always work gradually up the hedge from bottom to top so that the trimmings fall away from your blade

• Move forwards along the hedge gradually to avoid having to walk backwards

• If you do need to remove any jammed cuttings ensure the machine is switched off before attempting to do so

• Remember to take breaks if you feel tired, especially if using heavy petrol machinery that causes vibration to your hands and wrists

• Take care on ladders: make sure they are in good order, erected on a level surface and that you maintain at least three points of contact with your body against the frame

• If you鈥檙e using electric cutters with a power lead, keep the cable well away from the cutting area (over your shoulder is good) and make sure it鈥檚 plugged into a socket fitted with a residual current device (RCD) to protect you from shocks if you cut through the cable. Plug-in RCD adaptors are widely available

(apps.rhs.org.uk)

Cally Gardens

Gatehouse of Fleet

Castle Douglas

Dumfries and Galloway

Scotland

DG7 2DJ

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听(www.callygarden.co.uk)

Golf Course Allotments

Winton Avenue

Muswell Hill

London

N11 2AS

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The Golf Course Allotment site is holding their Autumn Show on Sunday 1st September and will be open in the afternoon from 1-4.30pm; all proceeds to charity.

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For more details, go to the (www.ngs.org.uk)

Camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas are setting their flower buds for next spring and it鈥檚 important to keep them well watered, especially if they are in pots. Suffering dry conditions now can stop the buds from forming so watering will guarantee a good display next year.

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(apps.rhs.org.uk)

Vine weevils can be a real problem for plants in pots but if you apply nematodes now it can get rid of them.听 Adult vine weevils cause notches on leaves but the real damage is done by the larvae feeding on the roots through autumn, winter and spring. Simply follow the instructions on the packet to dilute the nematode mix. Don鈥檛 treat the plants with notched leaves; instead water the nematodes into all pots where plants are living permanently, as these are where eggs are laid.

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(apps.rhs.org.uk)

As we come to the end of August, the time left for tomato plants to form and ripen new fruit is diminishing so you should think about stopping them. Use a knife or secateurs to cut the tops off plants and don鈥檛 worry if it means removing a few flowers.听 This will focus the plant鈥檚 energy into swelling and ripening existing fruit.

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(www.bbc.co.uk)