Heaps of watering had to be done this week even though we had a shower or two.
I had a couple of days in Darfield this week having Nana time with youngest Grandchild sweet Tahlia, to let her know I don't live in the computer!Then back to the garden again on Thursday with the hope of rain in my absence, Trimming with secateurs is not practical for me with such a large garden so the hedge trimmer has been out again, the grow back rate is pretty quick in summer. The newly trimmed box hedges are suffering from sun scorch, scorching of newly cut box in early summer sun is unavoidable but they soon grow through it and harden off.
If your catmint has been flowering for a while and it is looking a bit tired, trim the long growth back by half and in no time at all it will re-grow into a neater clump and continue to flower,the same applies to aubrietia.
Many winter damaged and dead branches need removed on trees here, I hire chain saw which is small on the end of a very long handle, just perfect for reaching up and removing dead branches and thinning out to let light onto gardens below.
Anemones for winter flowering will be in shops now, Pop some in pots to have ready to put on show when all the summer & autumn pots finish flowering.
Large clumps of lilies can be divided up and shifted straight after flowering and planted into good compost but they must never dry out so keep an eye on them through the dryer months. I have had clumps of Christmas lilies completely disappear. It takes ages for lilies to grow from seed and little pup bulbs so they are worth looking after.
Another recipe!!
Comfrey liquid fertiliser.
With its deep taproot, and large root system, comfrey pulls its nutrients from way down in the subsoil, where most other plants can't reach. Comfrey is high in just about every nutrient a plant needs, including the big 3, Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium and many trace elements. Its high carbon to nitrogen value means that it does not deplete nitrogen from the soil, as it decomposes. In fact, it becomes a good source of nitrogen. And it has more potassium than composted manure.
Comfrey leaves decompose down to a black liquid over a 6 week period. Pick and break up as many leaves as you can harvest, place in the bottom of a large container, weigh down with a rock and within 6 weeks the leaves will have decomposed into a thick black liquid. Dilute to 1 part comfrey liquid to 15 parts water, dilute more when using on seedlings. ( let me know if you would like comfrey to start a patch)
Lawns: If you don't like using sprays and have a few flat weeds in the lawn try spot spraying them with vinegar,
I use white vinegar and it works! great on pathways and drives and leaves no dangerous residue to leach into nearby plants . For best results apply in the heat of the day, however clover is a toughie, vinegar browns the leaf off and knocks it a bit but it soon recovers.
Another recipe!!
Comfrey liquid fertiliser.
With its deep taproot, and large root system, comfrey pulls its nutrients from way down in the subsoil, where most other plants can't reach. Comfrey is high in just about every nutrient a plant needs, including the big 3, Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium and many trace elements. Its high carbon to nitrogen value means that it does not deplete nitrogen from the soil, as it decomposes. In fact, it becomes a good source of nitrogen. And it has more potassium than composted manure.
Comfrey leaves decompose down to a black liquid over a 6 week period. Pick and break up as many leaves as you can harvest, place in the bottom of a large container, weigh down with a rock and within 6 weeks the leaves will have decomposed into a thick black liquid. Dilute to 1 partcomfrey liquid to 15 parts water, dilute more when using on seedlings.
Vegetables:
Sow late crops of cucumbers, courgettes, beans and basil, peas, rocket and corriander,
Keep mounding up potato rows to encourage bigger shores, corn also, having a shallow rooting system mounding helps to keep them upright in strong winds, planting in groups rather than a row also helps with wind support.
Nature will have its way if we turn a blind eye, weed seeds pop, fruit over ripens and the veg bolts.
Fruit: Shorten back fruiting leaders on grape vines, If a leader has produced too many bunches remove some when shortening back leaders. Nitrate fertiliser will produce more leaves and leaders, like most fruiting plants a little pot ash to encourage fruiting is beneficial in spring.
Harvest garlic and onions, if ready.
All of the above can wait until the New year, Christmas is time for thinking of others and for Gardeners to enjoy the produce bounty from a busy year past.
For you all I wish a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a safe and prosperous 2015, from Linda, family & Scruff.
Cheers, Linda.
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