RHS Tips For This Month
RHS Tips For This Month
- Divide established rhubarb crowns.
- Cut back perennials that have died down.
- Divide herbaceous perennials.
- Move tender plants into a greenhouse.
- Plant out Spring cabbage.
- Keep harvesting apples and pears.
- Prune climbing roses.
- Finish collecting seeds from the garden to sow next year.
- Keep up with the mowing as long as it’s dry enough.
10.Renovate old lawns and lay turf.
It was nice to see a great turn out at the Village Show. It is only due to the volunteers from the library that this event takes place. Their aim is to improve the experience year on year and they would welcome any ideas to make the show better. One of the veg judges, who shall remain nameless and lives on Old Port Road, failed to realise that the village gardener’s fantastic red fruit were obviously superior to the winner’s pale imitation. I lodged a complaint, but they informed me the winner has a nut allergy?? Mr & Mrs Hammond were once again winners; their veg plot in the back garden would be the envy of any veg grower. Anwar, the proprietor of the village shop, was also a winner with some very unusual veg. Thanks for a good show, long may it continue.
Do not neglect your hanging baskets. If you keep deadheading, feeding and watering, they should keep going untill at least mid autumn. Even with the increase in rainfall at this time of year, containers and hanging baskets close to buildings still need extra water.
We need to lift tender summer flowering bulbs and store over winter. Dahlias need the first frost on them before lifting and storing tubers. They may survive over winter in the ground if covered in mulch, but they will be later next year and give a poorer display of flowers. Any remaining summer bedding can be cleared away and replaced with fresh displays. October is a good month for moving and planting trees and shrubs and a great time for planting new hedges. A lot of trees and shrubs are available in bare root form at this time of year and are cheaper than containerised ones. They are especially good if you’re planning a new hedge.
Autumn work on the lawn includes scarifying and top dressing with autumn feed. Do not use any spring feed leftover from earlier as its high nitrogen content will encourage the grass to grow and consequently weaken it. Keep raking up the leaves before they block any light. Toadstools and fairy rings will be a sign that scarification and autumn lawn care is necessary.
Wenvoe Craft Workshop are holding The Christmas Reindeer Cafe event on Saturday 23 November where those who have asked about The Village Gardener’s Rustic Christmas Reindeers will be able to purchase one for a small fee. There will be a raffle in aid of the Wenvoe Wldlife Group, 2 or 3 Craft tables and a chance to sit and chat over a cup of tea or coffee and a piece of delicious homemade cake at the church hall from 12 – 4 pm.
Along with the local garden centre, B&Q are recycling plastic plant pots. Just go to customer services and hand in your old ones.
The former writer of this gardening column, Trevor Case, and his wife Marilyn are back home after they have both had spells in hospital, we all wish them a speedy return to full health.
Take care and happy gardening