We have had a reprieve from the heat this week, a shock to our systems and the garden I am sure.
I have divided clumps of violas now finished flowering, dig up part of a large clump and basically pull it to bits planting sections with roots into pots ,by the start of next winter the small pots will be filled with roots, new leaves and buds ready to be planted out.
The same for pollyanthus and primulas, break up clumps; plant out only fresh new growth and throw away knotted old spent roots.Drifts of blue and white agapanthus are putting on a great show around town, once finished flowering clumps can be dug up (if clumps are manageable enough to do this) then pull off small rooted sections and plant out on their own using fresh compost to get roots going again.
Agapanthus are great gap fillers in new gardens, they can always be removed as you fill your garden with permanent plants.
Cut back border and rockery perennials as they finish flowering, to get superior blooms on gerberas, dahlias and delphiniums dead head and give fortnightly feeds of liquid fertiliser, remove excess buds from large flowering chrysanthemum, they will be flowering soon.The ground will be getting hungry now so give areas opened up after a cutting back a good soak then top up with compost to encourage spreading plants to make new roots.
Resist the urge shift shrubs, they would suffer by being shifted at this time of the year if water was not kept up to them. Best to wait until the end of Autumn when sap is down. If large shrubs are needing to be shifted, wrench them now in readiness to lift them at the right time. Wrenching is when one half of the roots are dug around and lifted, then compost is added. Keep water up once roots have been cut or disturbed and the wrenched shrub / tree will survive with being fed from the remaining untouched roots while at the same time the other half is making new roots into the compost.
Seeds: with all the hot weather there are plenty of ripe seeds to be had from foxgloves, Poppy's, dianthus, lupin, marigold, sweet pea, lavender, snapdragon, even rhododendron and azalea. Store them in brown paper bags in a dry place( where mice cannot get at them) and plant into seed raising mix at the end of next winter. Mulching of the soil is beneficial right now but always apply mulch to ground that has been well soaked then you can forget about watering for a while because the mulch will do the job of keeping moisture in the ground. Un-sprayed grass clippings mixed with compost as a mulch around plant roots works well.
Lawns: If you are thinking of sowing lawn this autumn, prepare the ground soon by spraying out perennial weeds then rotary hoe the area to ensure there will be no hard pan. Firm and create an even service by raking and more raking to create a fine top layer to sow seed when dews start again. Warm ground and gentle watering will have the seed struck in no time. Leave fertilising until the lawn is really established, new grass will burn easily.
Veg and Fruit Vegetable gardens will be well picked over by now, keep the water up to corn and pumpkins to ensure a juicy crop, they both need a long ripening season.
Dig out old spent strawberry plants that have finished cropping and discard, Plants that are being kept for another season should have runners cut off now to preserve the strength of the main clumps. Transplant the runners closest to the mother plant and keep the water up until they make roots.
Apple trees are producing well this year and the birds will have a ball as they ripen. If there are too many apples in clusters remove some that can be reached, wind will take care of the weak and small.
Plumbs are ripening well and late peaches are coming on.
Time to cover grapes, the birds are waiting to feast.
Cheers, Linda
No comments:
Post a Comment