{"id":14172,"date":"2024-04-09T00:28:29","date_gmt":"2024-04-08T23:28:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=14172"},"modified":"2024-04-09T00:28:29","modified_gmt":"2024-04-08T23:28:29","slug":"let-the-dandelions-flower","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=14172","title":{"rendered":"Let The Dandelions Flower"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

T<\/strong><\/em><\/span>HE VILLAGE GARDENER<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Let The Dandelions Flower<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Whilst weeding the flower beds, a couple of passers-by advised me to let the dandelions flower as they were a good early source of nectar for pollinators. These pretty yellow flowers seem to turn into seed clocks in a matter of minutes, you would need to watch them like a hawk if you don\u2019t want your garden covered in them by the end of the season. These broad-leaved weeds smother everything around them. Just try digging them up, it\u2019s nearly impossible, especially when they get established. Your neighbours will not thank you for spreading these across their borders. A few years ago, the authorities dug up 12,000 sq. metres of verge around Wenvoe, where weeds (wildflowers) were in their element.<\/p>\n

Slugs are out in force now so protect the young shoots of hostas, lupins and delphiniums. Some of the new shoots of delphiniums and lupins can be cut off at the base, then potted up and put in a plastic bag, these Basel cuttings root easily and are a great way of getting more plants at little cost. The new leaves of roses will benefit from a fungicide spray now to prevent black spot and rust, before it can get established. If you follow the advice given by tv gardeners to wait until April before cutting hydrangeas back, they will give a better display. Cut them back to a new shoot.<\/p>\n

This month the people at Greenmoor nurseries will be planting up their hanging baskets. These will stay undercover until established. Don\u2019t put these outside until late May at the earliest, or they will go back and not give their best. As with potted up plants they will need a regular feed and consistent watering\u00a0throughout the season, along with deadheading to keep them flowering.<\/p>\n

And so it begins, the annual fight at the allotments between man and beast. This spectacle goes on until the end of the season. The young plants have been nurtured by the growers then planted in the hope of providing produce. On the other side we have the foe – slugs, snails, mice, rabbits and birds all vying for their bit. Runner beans are one of the favourites of both man and beasts, we like them in a dish smothered in butter, but the pests love them as they come out of the soil. Onion sets planted in neat rows are scattered about by the birds looking to see what\u2019s underneath. There is still time to plant more peas to make sure you get at least some to cook as the mice will have decimated the first planting. Carrots planted earlier to avoid the carrot root fly need to be thinned out, allowing those remaining to grow on so the rabbits can have their fill.<\/p>\n

Remember don\u2019t be greedy when planting potatoes, it\u2019s tempting to cram them in. If you do there will be no air flow between the foliage, and they will be more susceptible to blight.<\/p>\n

Next month the Tuckers Spring plant sale will take place at the Church Hall on 11th May so if you have some extra plants you\u2019d like to sell, this would be a good opportunity. There will be a raffle with proceeds going to the Wenvoe Wildlife Group and homemade cakes sold by the slice to take away or enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee. See you there.<\/p>\n

Take care and happy gardening<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

THE VILLAGE GARDENER<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

THE VILLAGE GARDENER Let The Dandelions Flower Whilst weeding the flower beds, a couple of passers-by advised me to let the dandelions flower as they were a good early source of nectar for pollinators. These pretty yellow flowers seem to turn into seed clocks in a matter of minutes, you would need to watch them like a hawk if you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[77],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6cWjO-3GA","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":14228,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=14228","url_meta":{"origin":14172,"position":0},"title":"The Soil Is Now Warm Enough","author":"Alan Williams","date":"10th May 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"THE VILLAGE GARDENER The Soil Is Now Warm Enough Whilst weeding the flower beds, a couple of passers-by advised me to let the dandelions flower as they were a good early source of nectar for pollinators. These pretty yellow flowers seem to turn into seed clocks in a matter of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Village Gardener"","block_context":{"text":"The Village Gardener","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=77"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":15209,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=15209","url_meta":{"origin":14172,"position":1},"title":"This Month for Early Spring Bulbs","author":"Alan Williams","date":"6th March 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"THE VILLAGE GARDENER This Month for Early Spring Bulbs This month early spring bulbs and ornamental quince will be in bloom. The quince would have been in flower since last October and will continue to flower for months. When we were pupils of Wenvoe school, a long time ago now,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "New Items for March 2025"","block_context":{"text":"New Items for March 2025","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=420"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":155,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=155","url_meta":{"origin":14172,"position":2},"title":"Nature Notes","author":"Alan Williams","date":"27th July 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 \u00a0 The photo shows a bee gathering pollen from a Borage plant in Grange Park in the middle of Wenvoe. Why is this important? The last and previous issues of Whats On have highlighted the many problems our bees are facing and if our bees are in difficulties we\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wenvoe.org.uk\/wentest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/AUG-ps-81-225x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":14508,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=14508","url_meta":{"origin":14172,"position":3},"title":"Watering, Weeding And Dead Heading","author":"Alan Williams","date":"1st August 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"THE VILLAGE GARDENER Watering, Weeding And Dead Heading Watering, weeding and dead heading are the jobs that need attending to every day at this time of year in an attempt to keep the garden looking it\u2019s best for as long as possible. Some of the late flowering plants, such as\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Village Gardener"","block_context":{"text":"The Village Gardener","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=77"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":8296,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=8296","url_meta":{"origin":14172,"position":4},"title":"Your Jobs For September","author":"Alan Williams","date":"5th September 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"THE VILLAGE GARDENER Your Jobs For September Environment team tips. Make sure your stored produce is mouse proof. Clean out the bird feeders. Leave the ivy if it's not bothering you as the birds will love the berries over winter. Save seed, don't get caught out next year. Clear the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Village Gardener"","block_context":{"text":"The Village Gardener","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=77"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wenvoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/garden.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":11865,"url":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=11865","url_meta":{"origin":14172,"position":5},"title":"Must Do Gardening Tips for July","author":"Alan Williams","date":"7th July 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"THE VILLAGE GARDENER Must Do Gardening Tips for July Jobs for July from Susan Bowen MBE Cut back growth in hanging baskets and feed to encourage new growth. Prune wisteria now. Just remove the whippy side shoots to about five leaves from the main stem. Cut spent stems of lupins\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Village Gardener"","block_context":{"text":"The Village Gardener","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?cat=77"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wenvoe.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/waterCan-2-257x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14172"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14172"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14172\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14173,"href":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14172\/revisions\/14173"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14172"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14172"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14172"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}