Category: The Village Gardener

Gardening on times can seem to be hard work and it is easy to stay indoors when it’s cold or wet. The garden at this time of year is not at it’s best; we are still waiting for most of the bulbs to emerge to cheer us up. The main thing not to forget are the benefits of being in the garden and working with the soil. There have been numerous studies over the years and some of the pluses of gardening they all agree on are as follows.

1. It can reduce the risk of a stroke.
2. It burns up calories.
3. Heavy gardening can reduce the risk of heart disease and other life-threatening diseases.
4. The chances of osteoporosis developing can be reduced and for people who already live with the condition gardening is a good workout.
5. Stress levels are reduced. A study in the Netherlands proved that it is better than most other leisure activities at reducing stress levels.
6. Being surrounded by flowers improves ones health as they are a natural moderator of moods.
7. Digging in the soil has actual health and mood boosting benefits. There is a natural antidepressant in the soil called Mycobacterium vaccae. This stimulates serotonin production which is the stuff that makes us happy. It has been known for sometime that children exposed to soil in formative years develop healthy strong immune systems and have a lower incidence of asthma and eczema.
8. Gardening may lower the risk of dementia. Research shows that the physical activity associated with gardening can lower the risk. Two separate studies of people in their 60s and 70s over a sixteen year period showed a 36% to 47% lower risk of dementia than non gardeners, even when other health factors were taken into account. If only half of the claims of these studies are to be believed, then gardening can only improve our lives.

RHS top tips for this month

1. Prepare vegetable seed beds and sow some vegetables under cover.
2. Chit potato tubers
3. Protect blossom on peaches, apricots and nectarines.
4. Net winter vegetable crops.
5. Prune Winter flowering shrubs that have started to fade.
6. Divide snowdrops and replant while still in the green.
7. Prune wisteria.
8. Prune evergreen hedges and renovate deciduous ones.
9. Any climbing plants in conservatories can be cut back now.
10. Cut back deciduous grasses left uncut over winter. Remove dead grass from evergreen grasses

Note: start using those gloves you were given for Christmas or your partners will think you didn’t appreciate the well chosen gift.

Dahlia tubers can be started now. Place in a warm, well lit area to start sprouting before planting up. You may need to spray with water to avoid drying out. Sweet pea seeds can still be sown now under a cloche. Keep up with dead heading of Winter pansies and primula and these will continue to flower well into the Spring. Cut off the old leaves of hellebores to expose the flowers.

Towards the end of the month, top dress the borders with a well balanced fertiliser such as growmore or blood fish and bone to feed perennials as they start to grow. Please follow instructions as to how much you need to use or the extra will only wash away

If you’re thinking it’s too early to plant tomato seeds then think again as the likes of Colin Thomas and Brian Foster will already have seedlings on the window sill.

 

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THE VILLAGE GARDENER

Happy new year. Hope you all had a fantastic Christmas. January is usually the coldest month, so wrap up warm when you start getting the garden ready for the year ahead. We start as usual with the RHS tips for January. I would really like to hear about your ideas on how we can all improve our gardens.

1. Recycle your Christmas tree by shredding it for mulch.
2. Clean pots and greenhouses ready for spring.
3. Dig over any vacant plots.
4. Disperse any worm casts on lawns.
5. Inspect stored tubers of dahlias, begonias and canna lilies.
6. Prune apple and pear trees.
7. Start forcing rhubarb.
8. Plan your vegetable rotation for the coming year.
9. Keep putting food and water out for the birds.
10. Make a polythene cover for outdoor peaches and nectarines to protect against leaf curl.

It may seem early but with a propagator you can sow begonia, pelargoniums and lobelia seeds. Sweet peas can also be sown this month. Sweet peas that were sown last Autumn can be re-potted but be careful not to damage the roots. From the middle of the month seed potatoes and onion sets will be available. These days most things can be bought online but these really ought to be seen before purchasing.

Cut the old leaves off hellebores to expose the flowers. Once the winter grasses have started to look scruffy, they can be cut back.

Still a good time to move trees and shrubs as long as the ground is not frozen. You can still plant bare root plants, making sure that the support stake goes in first so as not to damage the roots. Wisteria can be pruned now by cutting back to 2 or 3 buds. Check all other plant supports to avoid wind damage.

Mr Darlington in Larchwood has a lawn to be envied. One of his winter tips is to stay off the grass in freezing conditions. Walking on the fine grass can lead to it being scorched which leaves black marks that won’t recover quickly.

Garden centres will be selling off stock now that Christmas is over. There are bargains to be had, especially pots planted up with the odd decoration thrown in. These planters will last for months and I still have one from last January.

Cut flowers in the home especially at this time of year can really brighten up a dull day. To keep the flowers looking good for longer, a mixture of 1 litre of water, 1 teaspoon of thin bleach, 2 teaspoons of sugar and 4 teaspoons of lemon juice works a treat.

If last year was anything to go by some of the village gardens ought to be shown off on an Open Day, perhaps to raise money for one of your favourite charities.

Take care and good health.

 

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RHS December tips

1. Check that your winter protection is still securely in place.
2. Make sure your greenhouse heaters are working properly.
3. Insulate outdoor taps and prevent ponds from freezing.
4. Prune open grown apple and pear trees, not those grown against a wall.
5. Still take hardwood cuttings.
6. Keep mice away from stored produce.
7. Reduce watering of house plants.
8. Prune acers birches and vines before Christmas to avoid bleeding at stems.
9. Harvest leeks, parsnips, winter cabbage, sprouts and any remaining root vegetables.
10.Deciduous trees and shrubs can still be planted and transplanted this month.

Grass will continue to grow at temperatures above 5 degrees so if conditions allow, you may need to cut using a higher setting. Sharpen up the edges of lawns and carry out repair work as turves are available most of the year. Keep lawns clear of leaves. All this will help to make life easier next year.
This time of year there will still be quite a bit of work to be done on some trees. Don’t touch ornamental cherries, plums and almonds as these are prone to silver leaf disease if pruned now. Other deciduous trees will be easier to shape now that most of the leaves have fallen. Bay and laurel can be cut back as much as you wish; it will always come back. Small and medium sized conifers need to be tied up during winter months to prevent damage by high winds and snow settling on them, otherwise they lose their shape and branches break.
Christmas trees – the choice of tree seems to increase every year. To prevent needle drop choose any of the newer types but remember to cut a couple of inches off the bottom of the stem so that the tree can take up water. Make sure you keep the tree away from radiators. To be honest my choice would be the Norway spruce; yes, it drops needles which stick in your socks and jam the vacuum up when it’s time to get it out of the house but it smells fantastic.
If you’re lucky enough to have a holly with berries, cover a couple of the branches with netting to use as decorations in the home.
Make sure you write your present list or Father Christmas will bring you socks or things to take up space on a shelf, which won’t be a lot of use in the garden. If you feel the need to tell the main man of your wish list for Christmas, I have been reliably informed that he is at our local garden centre from 25th November. There is no age limit, you just have to believe.
To all the people I’ve met who have shared their love of gardening with me, thank you. Have an enjoyable Christmas and a happy new year.
I would just like to thank the What’s on team for the effort they put in to make this magazine the success it is.

Take care – Happy gardening.

 

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RHS tips for this month:-

1. Divide herbaceous perennials.

2. Pick Autumn raspberries.

3. Collect and sow seeds of perennials and hardy annuals.

4. Dig up remaining potatoes before slug damage.

5. Net ponds before leaf fall gets underway.

6. Keep up with watering of new plants.

7. Start to reduce frequency of house plant watering.

8. Clean out cold frames and greenhouses ready for Autumn.

9. Cover leafy vegetables with bird proof netting.

10. Plant Spring flowering bulbs.

We need to be sowing Sweet Peas in a cold frame now for early blooms next year.

Take Pelargonium cuttings now. These plants often do better grown this way. A window sill is a good place to bring them on and keep them away from frost.

If you have Crocosmia, now is a good time to divide them which will improve next year’s display.

Climbing Roses can be pruned once they've finished flowering. Side shoots from main branches can be cut back to one or two buds and take out any weak or diseased growth. Take hard wood cuttings of roses, choosing well ripened, healthy shoots.

September is a good month to plant new shrubs and move established ones as they will have all Winter to settle in. Do not forget to stake these.

Work on the lawn this month if you can. If sowing seed or laying turf this is the best time of year to do it. Make sure to use the right lawn feed for this time of year. The fertiliser should have less nitrogen so as not to encourage too much growth which can weaken the grass leading in to Winter.

A really tedious job at this time of year, especially in Wenvoe as we have a great number of trees, is raking up leaves or, as some do, blowing them around the garden until they get giddy. Just rake the leaves from borders and paths onto the lawn and mow them up along with a bit of grass as this makes excellent compost material. A small space in your garden is all you need to make compost and save money in the process.

Using a mulch on borders is something that can be done all year round. It helps with moisture retention, acts as frost protection and cuts down on a lot of weeding. Buying enough to do this properly can become expensive. So the next time you see a tree surgeon working in the area, ask them for some of the wood that they have put through their shredder. They will be more than willing to let you have it as it costs them to tip it.

Local wildlife enthusiast Peter Ferris, whose back garden attracts as many birds as his car did in his misspent youth, has grown the most prolific tomatoes outdoors this Summer. If forecasters are right then drier Summers will mean rethinking what we plant. Gardeners who concentrated on Pelargoniums this year had great displays as these plants need a lot less water.

This month brings some good events to celebrate harvest time. The Village Show shows off the many and varied skills of Wenvoe folk – no tinned veg on display there! Around at the church the Scarecrow Festival takes place. It has been said that this is not a competition but a festival where parishioners turn up with their creations and praise each other on their masterpieces. In reality, this is where the Reverend needs all his skills of diplomacy to keep order and stop any skullduggery. Can't wait.

 

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The main problem facing gardens in this country at present is the illegal importing of plants, either by businesses or travellers bringing in specimens they have bought or found. These plants often harbour pests and diseases. In the UK large areas of forestry have been decimated. Southern areas of England are having a huge problem with a disease affecting Fuchsias which will soon spread to the rest of the UK.

A bacterial pest, Xylella Fastidiosa, is the latest threat that is nearing our shores and it restricts water movement in plants. This bacteria will affect up to 350 different type of plants, such as Lavender, Rosemary and flowering cherry.

When buying plants please make sure that they are British sourced and grown and take care when purchasing plants at car boot sales, market stalls, fairs or garden centres. If you suspect there may be a problem please tell the environment dept DEFRA.

The RHS top ten things to do this month:-

1. Prune Wisteria.

2. Don't delay Summer pruning of fruit trees trained in a restricted form.

3. Keep dead heading plants to prolong the flowering season

4. Continue watering, particularly new plants and those in containers, using grey water where ever possible.

5. Collect seeds – it's always worth it.

6. Harvest vegetables as they become ready. There's nothing quite like it.

7. Continue cutting out old fruited Raspberry canes.

8 Lift and pot up Strawberry runners.

9. Keep ponds topped up.

10. Feed plants with green manure.

Pyracantha, along with Wisteria, can be pruned now. Hebe and Lavender can have a light prune after flowering. Quite a few people cut the Lavender back at this time of year to where new growth started but the idea now is to leave well alone and cut back in the spring after the frosts. The seed heads help protect the plants. Glenys makes lavender shortbread biscuits with the flower heads. Rambling Roses need to be trimmed now. Be careful how you do this and think about the way you want it to grow next year.

When planting shrubs and other large plants, especially at this time of year, be sure to give them plenty of water. The Beech Grove Garden recommends a length of pipe 2''-3'' in diameter be placed alongside the root ball with the top of the pipe just above ground level. The water will then go directly to where it's needed most.

August is the time to get plants ready for Christmas. Cyclamen that have been resting can be brought back to life by replacing the top layer of compost and watering. Hyacinths, Paper White Daffodils and Freesias should be planted in bowls now. Once they have an inch of growth, they can then be put in a cool room, then back into the warmth to be ready for the festive season.

Next month sees the village show at the community centre, it's a great day, and amazing how all this super sized veg appears from well hidden plots in villagers back gardens. Brian Foster of Church Rise was picking his first tomatoes at the end of June. How do some of these people manage to be eating their veg when the rest of us are still buying produce brought in from all around the world?

 

 

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HS tips for July

1. Check Clematis for wilt.

2. Care for house plants while on holiday.

3. Keep tubs and new plants well watered.

4. Dead head bedding plants

5. Pick Courgettes before they become Marrows.

6. Treat Apple scab.

7. Clear algae and blanket weed from ponds.

8. Order catalogues for next years Spring flowering bulbs.

9. Give the lawn a Summer feed.

10. Harvest Apricots, Peaches and Nectarines

During the Summer most house plants benefit from being outside on the patio. It will save them from baking behind glass and lessen some pest and disease problems. House plants will need regular feeding during the growing season as with all plants. Damp down the greenhouse on hot days. Any old leaves or side shoots of Tomato plants need to be taken out of the greenhouse, as this can be a major cause of disease spread. Pelagonium and Fuchsia cuttings can be taken now and kept in the greenhouse.

Cuttings of Choisya and Hydrangea will take now. It's also time to prune Philadelphus and Weigela after flowering.

A long spell of dry weather can weaken the grass, so raise the cutter height on the mower. July is the last month a summer feed should be used. New grass will need extra watering. Most lawns will be covered in ants nests at this time of year. Just brush them off before you mow.

Trim back Dephiniums and Geraniums after the first flush of flowers to encourage new growth, and then feed. Blackspot on Roses can be prevalent at this time so treat straight away. Leaf cutter Bees like to alter the shape of your rose leaves in particular, but I'm assured by an expert that this is not a menace and it is kinder to live with it for the sake of the Bees.

Dyffryn Gardens, under the ownership of the National Trust, has come on in leaps and bounds and is a good day out. My only gripe is the price of their plants because, as good as they are, they are not worth the prices charged. It certainly is a good cause but they surely can't justify those prices.

Having talked about some of the better known gardeners in Wenvoe in the last issue. I would like to draw your attention to some other gems. For a garden with a difference, Mr Breese in Greave Close has a plot that needs closer inspection. If he's in the garden ask him about its history. He has objects from practically the beginning of time and it all blends in so well and is so interesting. Things are not always what they seem. Betty James does a brilliant job keeping her garden lovely to see, along with Frank Miller of Grange Close. It just goes to show that being over thirty is no hinderance to having a lovely garden. Opposite Frank is Rita and Rob's quite formal garden and it doesn't matter what time of year it is, it's always neat. Next to Rita is the famous Audrey, whose front garden is a picture with

the Roses in bloom. Brian & Sandra of Walston Road, have a cottage garden that would be on any gardeners list of must sees. If you like well looked after, neat and tidy then Mr & Mrs Lawrence of Gwenfo Drive have a garden that is worth a look. Roses are always lovely to see and if you want to see them at their very best then those belonging to Mr & Mrs Cottle of Gwenfo Drive are not to be missed.

Take care and happy gardening.

 

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The Cherry blossom on the village green in early May was just fantastic. You would be hard pressed to find a nicer village view anywhere than that from the corner of Vennwood Close by Ty pica farm house, looking towards the church. A lot of effort has been going on around the Village with residents planting out their gardens to put on a good show. If you need inspiration the usual suspects are at it. Silvia Davies, opposite the Walston Castle, always provides a great visual entrance into Wenvoe. The renowned Gerry Crump and the forever young Ieuan Williams, both excellent gardeners, are the supremoes of Rectory close. And of course, there are many more around the village.

The Royal Horticultural Society things to do list for this month: –

1. Keep borders weed free by hoeing regularly.

2. Be water wise, especially in drought conditions.

3. Pinch outside shoots on tomatoes.

4. Harvest lettuce, radish and early potatoes.

5. Mow lawns every week.

6. Plant out summer bedding.

7. Stake tall or floppy plants.

8. Prune spring flowering shrubs.

9. Shade greenhouses to avoid scorching.

10. Keep bird baths topped up with fresh water.

June is the month when gardeners who enter competitions position their hanging baskets and containers outside. These need a lot of care and attention but are stunning to see. If you have the time to do this the results are worth it.

This year saw a problem with Moles in gardens on the edges of the village. There are only two ways to get rid of them. You can either trap them or use a sonic device that will probably move them on to your neighbours who won't be best pleased.

You will need to cut back Spring flowering shrubs if you have not already done so. Deciduous Magnolias need to be trimmed back as soon as they are in full leaf. If you leave this job till later in the year it can cause die back and ruin the look for next Spring.

Greenhouse work never ends with trying to control the temperature and dealing with pests on our precious tomatoes. Red spider mite is a nuisance and caught early is easy to control by washing them off the plants with plain water. An infestation can only be controlled by insecticide. Keeping the greenhouse humid is a good way to deter them.

Any gaps in the borders at this time of year are best filled with annual bedding plants for instant colour. It's not too late to sow fast growing and late flowering hardy annuals such as Calendula and Godetia. Hellebore seeds can be harvested and then planted as soon as possible. You know if they are ripe when you you squeeze the pod and it splits easily. These seeds will test your patience as they need a period of dormancy to germinate. Perennials such as Hollyhock, Delphinium and Lupin seeds can be planted now.

Plastic has been in the headlines for some time now and most of the supermarket chains have plans to either use recyclable or compostable pots on their own labelled plants within the next couple of years. Garden centres are a bit slower on the uptake with only a few offering any time scale on plastic reduction. Monty Don has been banging the drum on this subject in his latest series of Gardeners World. The convenience of collecting our compost etc in plastic bags is adding to the pollution.

I am really looking forward to Wenvoe gardens full of colour this Summer. Don't forget the sun screen, take care and happy gardening.

 

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RHS garden 'must do' list for May

1. Open greenhouse vents and doors.

2. Earth up potatoes and plant any remaining.

3. Plant out Summer bedding at the end of the month. As long as Derek the weather man gives his ok.

4. Water early in the morning and late at night to get the most out of your water. Recycle water where you can.

5. Regularly hoe off weeds. Best done in dry weather as they will die off quicker.

6. If you can manage it, mow the lawns weekly.

7. Watch out for late frosts. Protect young plants.

8. Check for nesting birds before attempting any hedge work.

9. Lift and divide clumps of Daffs and other spring bulbs.

10. Watch out for Viburnam beetle and Lily beetle grubs.

This may not seem to ring true but it's time to sow next year's Spring bedding, including Pansies, Wallflowers and Daisies. This needs to be done by July to be certain of flowering next Spring. Any winter bedding can be sown as well.

We can remove faded Spring bedding to make way for Summer plants. Divide Hostas as they begin to grow and plant out Dahlia and Canna lily when we've had the last of the frosts.

Apply a liquid feed to Spring bulbs after they have flowered. You can dead head them but don't touch the leaves as you need to allow them to die back.

Lawns have taken a hammering over winter and and will take a while to recover, especially those in shaded areas. A couple of people have had their lawns relaid which could be a regular theme unless you improve the soil that you're laying the turf on. As with most things it's all about the preparation. Seeding or turf laying towards the end of May can be a struggle due to the drier weather as you have to keep the soil moist. Mr Darlington (who must be an expert on lawn care) cuts his grass throughout the year at least once a week, always uses an edging shears and, to be fair, his grass is immaculate. If you use one of those edging spades then once a year should be enough and then use an edging shears. Otherwise your lawn will start to shrink.

2017 saw a marked increase in infection from insect bites. If the bite or sting doesn't clear up in the time you would expect it to, increases in size or becomes very red and inflamed you should seek medical attention quickly as it could be Cellulitis which can lead to Sepsis. Be safe and cover up.

The Wild Life Group will be present at the Wenvoe Spring Craft Fair on May 20th (the proceeds for the raffle at this fair goes to the Wenvoe Wildlife Group so come and along and buy your tickets). They will be able to give you lots of information about the tremendous work they do in the area and places to visit. One member of their Group, Gwyndaf Breese, (probably the best wood worker you will ever see) will be showing his work on a table at the entrance on the day. The Village Gardener will also be in attendance on the day so if you have any questions I'll point out some of Wenvoe's best gardeners to advise you.

Most gardeners love to share their knowledge and none more so than Clive Phillips. Clive can be found having lunch most days at our local garden centre [Pughs]. All of the staff know him so he'll be easy to find. Honestly, a more approachable man would be hard to find.

Although the work to improve the pavements through the centre of the village took away some of the floral Spring display, the show of daffodils have been wonderful. If previous years are anything to go by we can look forward to some beautiful gardens around the village .

Take care and happy gardening.

 

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