gardening

Laura's column August

Laura's column - July

Borders Organic Growers

Laura's column August

Laura is back again with this month's gardening tips - catch her enthusiasm as you read on. Even seasoned gardeners can benefit from her many years of experience as a horticulturist...

Thanks Laura!

It's August already. This month (with any luck)should be warm and dry - so watering is top of the to do list.

If you are going away for a last minute break before schools resume move all your container plants out of the sun and put them on gravel trays.

If the sudden appearance of the sun has shocked your greenshouse plants then shade the glass with shade paint to prevent scorch.

Bedding plants still need to be watered and fed. Stick your finger into the basket or pot to ensure the water is reaching the roots.

Tie in the leading shoots of tomato plants and pinch out the side shoots. Feed with a high potash fertiliser which will help the fruit develop.

Harvest your vegetables such as carrots, peas, French beans, onions and many more.

Soft fruit can still be picked - have you made strawberry and rhubarb jam yet?

Continue to dead head the roses and annuals.

Feed lawns with spring or summer fertiliser every six weeks.

Mulch flower beds to retain moisture and prevent weeds.

Hoe the garden - this not only kills weeds but it helps prevent water loss. Hoeing breaks up the top layer of soil preventing the water being drawn up to the surface and lost due to evaporation.

Clip topiary such as box or yew. A second cut may be required before the end of the growing season.

Finally, the bane of a gardener's life are greenfly and whitefly. In the greenhouse sticky yellow cards are effective and the flies will stick to them like mud! Outside either talk nicely to the ladybirds or use a soap based insecticide. I use washing up liquid in a misting bottle.

ends

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