大象传媒

By now most of us will have cleared away all the debris from the vegetable patch and harvested the last dregs of the summer vegetables and fruit although some late varieties of Apple will still be on the tree and will need harvesting fairly soon now.l

Once the ground has been cleared this is an ideal opportunity to get the digging done incorporating some organic matter in the form of farmyard manure, especially if its well rotted and compost from the compost heap which has been breaking down all summer. Once dug the ground can be left to settle letting the air and moisture do the job of breaking it down ready for sowing some winter vegetables or salads such as winter lettuce and late Potatoes.

The days are shorter which means time spent in the garden is limited but none the less, it is great to get a bit of fresh air and exercise on dry days as there is always something to be tidied up or trimmed back.

PLANT OF THE WEEK:

Kolkwitzia Amabilis "Beauty Bush" can be seen in all its glory in many gardens during June and July. This fantastic deciduous shrub will grow in most soil conditions although it quite likes a little acidity so dig in plenty of compost when you plant one. During June pale pink Foxglove like blooms cascade from the limbs of the shrub. My favourite variety is "Pink Cloud" which has an eventual height of 3m.

TOPICAL TIPS:

Sow Sweet Peas especially the double flowering types as these not only fill the air with the most wonderful perfume but have dense flowers which will produce a much better effect especially if you are trying to cover an unsightly wall or fence. Simply sow the seeds just below the soil surface and leave once watered in. the seeds will germinate fairly quickly and are tough enough to withstand hard frosts even though the tips may be nipped back.

Plant Muscari (Grape Hyacinth) bulbs in well dug and fertilized soil. Firm in making sure the bulbs are planted at least three times the depth of the bulb. In the early spring you will be rewarded with the most exquisite little blue flowers followed by masses of bunched berries. Once planted the bulbs will go on year after year and spreading throughout the garden.

Top up fish ponds and remove any rotting plant and vegetable matter. Leave at the side of the pond overnight to allow pond creatures to make their way back into the pond and then add the old pond plants to the compost heap.

Happy Gardening

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