Category: Nature

Planting Out

All tender plants are at risk from frost until the end of April/ May and need to have protection in a greenhouse or conservatory so if you buy plants over the next few weeks, make sure they are fully hardy before risking them outside.

Long-term, hardy shrubs or trees should be fine for planting outdoors now, even if they are carrying blossom. If you took late autumn or winter cuttings of pelargoniums, fuchsias or other tender plants they will need re-potting now.

If you grow courgettes, marrows or squash, now is the time to sow seeds and these will also need early protection in the greenhouse. Use 9cm plastic or degradable fibre pots. Fill each with potting compost and insert one seed up to 2cm below the surface.

Move your plants to a coldframe during this month and harden them off in May before planting out. Although it gets a little more difficult each year that passes the dry, sunny spell in the middle of March encouraged me and other allotment holders to make a start on rotovating or digging the ground. For me there’s nothing as satisfying as the sight of freshly turned-over soil, ready to be planted with whatever I want to grow throughout the summer.

My Dad was the same and was devoted to his allotment and he was fortunate that his patch was just across the road from our house.

March 2016

Recently I was attracted by a bay tree in a large container outside the entrance of a hotel. From a distance it seemed in very good condition but on closer examination there were signs that it was becoming pot bound.

There was a pool of rainwater standing on the surface, a sure sign of inadequate drainage. Bay needs good drainage and I think that this tree should be re-potted into a larger container making sure that there is plenty of drainage in the form of crocks plus a free-draining compost mix, (50:50 potting compost and grit.)

Over the years I’ve planted a variety of trees and shrubs in containers. At one time if I came across a seedling, I couldn’t resist growing it on – from horse chestnut to rowan, from conifers to hazel and I have learned to make sure that I have kept re-potting into larger containers and that the vital drainage is a priority. I must admit that I’ve had to chop up a plastic pot to release a shrub that had become completely pot-bound and at one time I remember having to smash up a ceramic pot. That mistake cost me dearly- some of the most attractive ceramics are quite expensive. Now I make sure to only use plastic.

I have a 10 year old Acer palmatum which I would like to keep in a pot for as long as I can and it’s already been re-potted several times. Obviously some of my trees and shrubs have reached the stage where keeping them in pots is no longer viable. These are planted here and there around the village and have thrived – notably in upper Walston Road around the Pound Lane area. Footnote: You may remember my mentioning the squirrel and the coconut. Well I did get another coconut and it didn’t take long for the squirrel or one of his mates to spirit both halves away- this time within 24 hours! There was no sign of it on the ground so how he manages to cart it away is something of a mystery!

The Marble Gall

Quite common on Oak Trees in and around Wenvoe is the gall shown in the photo known as the Marble Gall. It can be found on the Community Orchard, the Welsh Orchard and the Upper Orchid Field.

It is often confused with the Oak Apple but these are uncommon in this part of the world. The marble gall is caused by an insect which lays an egg on the Oak and the ‘marble’ which soon grows provides a living space for the young larva. Most of the galls at this time of year will have a small, neat hole in the side through which the young insect has escaped.

Galls have a surprisingly important role to play in our written records as they were used to make the ink which most of our important documents were written in for over 1,000 years. From the 5th century through to the 19th and even into the 20th century, tannin was extracted from galls and mixed with other chemicals to produce the ink used in key documents such as the Magna Carta and American Declaration of Independence. Rembrandt, Van Gogh and Victor Hugo also used it.

The charter on the left-hand wall as you enter the Bear Hotel in Cowbridge would probably have used Gall Ink. Articles on Gall Ink often feature the Marble Gall but therein lies a problem as that gall was only introduced to Britain in the 18th century and it needs the presence of another type of oak, the Turkey Oak, which is not native and has only been around for last 200-300 years to complete its life cycle.

It would be interesting to know if before the 1700s British Gall Ink used other types of galls or whether European Galls were imported and used to make the ink. If you think you know, why not drop a line to Whats On.

Environment Group

ENVIRONMENT GROUP

In June the team concentrated on generally tidying up the village – weeding beds, pruning, clipping hedges, weed killing etc.

We understand that 11 villages have entered for the Best Village Competition 2015 many more than for a number of years. There are 3 different sections, village appearance, village feature and village activities. Some villages have entered all three sections while others only one. This year it should prove quite a challenge for all entrants after the low numbers we’ve seen recently.

By the time you read this piece judging the initial will have taken place although final decisions will be made in the week commencing 6th July. The presentation evening and dinner will be on the 16th July.

Rose

Trevor’s Garden

After such a cold, wet and windy May, the appearance of poppies is very welcome, heralding the arrival of summer. I always look forward to seeing the yellow Welsh poppy, closely followed by the much larger and more flamboyant oriental variety bringing my borders to life after the winter.

Poppies have been growing and multiplying in my garden for many years – in fact ever since we moved here.

The Welsh poppy is such a low maintenance perennial, spreading readily – even in dense shade – and has a superb colour and the plants will self-seed. They are perfect for naturalizing under trees or below a north-facing wall or fence.

The oriental poppy lives up any flower border with its large vivid flower heads. However their most serious fault is a weakness in the stem. You need to support them, either with canes and string or strong pea sticks. They are fully hardy, originating from the Caucasus, Turkey and Iran, where summers are hot but winters freezing and they thrive in almost any soil as long as they’re planted in full sun. To propagate poppies, lift mature plants, divide them and re-plant. They are also easy and reliable from root cuttings.

Now for a subject less welcome. I have read that the dreaded vine weevil are more widespread this year. Gardeners are all too familiar with the damage these pests can do with their larvae destroying roots and causing entire plants to stop growing and even keel over. Adult weevils are small, greyish beetles – less damaging than the larvae but equally unwelcome. Now is the time for an action plan. You can kill vine weevil larvae in potted plants by drenching the compost with PROVADO Vine Weevil Killer2\from Bayer. This will give several weeks of protection and destroys other pests\ such as aphids and scale insects too. To destroy adult beetles, go out after dark with a torch and pick them off the foliage by hand.

BEST KEPT VILLAGE COMPETITION 2015.

The annual dinner for the competition was held at Wenvoe golf club when forty eight villagers from the Vale enjoyed an excellent meal prior to the announcement of the awards.

Just twelve villages from seventy four entered the competition, this year sponsored by the Vale of Glamorgan Borough Council.

These are the results of the various categories.

Eleven schools entered with Cadoxton winning and the award was presented at Duffryn Gardens.

The special features competition was won by Gileston while the village activities award was given to Llanmaes. The Best Kept Village was judged to be Peterston super Ely.

 

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