Leaves still keep falling – if on the lawn why not use the mower to collect them as it will chop them up small and you can still bag them up for leaf mould – a bit of grass won’t hurt.
You can make a ‘bin’ out of wire mesh to keep the leaves in as long as it’s in a sheltered spot or if you’re limited for space, just use plastic bin liners with holes punched through to let the air in. Sprinkle with water and tie the tops, giving them a good shake before stacking them out of sight and leaving them be for a couple of years. If you’re using a leaf bin remember to dampen the leaves occasionally. Once the leaves reach a crumbly texture you can use them as mulch on your borders.
Time to sit in the warm and read the seed catalogues but beware descriptions don’t always ring true e.g.
A ravishing colour – it’s pink and it’s your wallet that’s ravished!
Pale delicate colour – It’s grey
Flowers could be higher – it’s short
Wonderful substance – tough as old boots
This met with a favourable response – we had no complaints
Interesting colour – floral art judge will heave
Makes wonderful bulbs – these sell well
An improved variety – a more profitable variety
Just read between the lines. If they have the letters AGM after the name, you know it has been trialled by the RHS and is good.
Pruning is a winter job. Don’t prune stone fruit – the time to do them is when they are growing vigorously. Apples, pears, and blackcurrants want pruning as long as there is no frost about. Always take out dead, crossing, lopsided branches first to give an open centre to let the air in. If it’s old and neglected, never prune more than a third of the tree.
Blackcurrants fruit on new wood so try and remove old black branches. Gooseberries can have shoots shortened by a third and any dragging on the ground removed altogether. Redcurrants fruit on old wood so unless they are too big, leave them alone. Cultivated blackberries want old branches cut out and new ones tied in to give them plenty of room as they shoot in spring and fill up space. Raspberries fall into two categories. Autumn fruiting – cut to the ground in early spring; and standard varieties (June/July fruiting) – cut all the old and weak canes out.
A generous mulch of muck or harden compost will benefit all fruit trees and bushes and will literally repay you in spades!
Wishing you all the very best for the New Year and don’t forget to check what’s on our new programme at www.bishamptongardeningclub.org.uk
Pete Chamberlain
You can make a ‘bin’ out of wire mesh to keep the leaves in as long as it’s in a sheltered spot or if you’re limited for space, just use plastic bin liners with holes punched through to let the air in. Sprinkle with water and tie the tops, giving them a good shake before stacking them out of sight and leaving them be for a couple of years. If you’re using a leaf bin remember to dampen the leaves occasionally. Once the leaves reach a crumbly texture you can use them as mulch on your borders.
Time to sit in the warm and read the seed catalogues but beware descriptions don’t always ring true e.g.
A ravishing colour – it’s pink and it’s your wallet that’s ravished!
Pale delicate colour – It’s grey
Flowers could be higher – it’s short
Wonderful substance – tough as old boots
This met with a favourable response – we had no complaints
Interesting colour – floral art judge will heave
Makes wonderful bulbs – these sell well
An improved variety – a more profitable variety
Just read between the lines. If they have the letters AGM after the name, you know it has been trialled by the RHS and is good.
Pruning is a winter job. Don’t prune stone fruit – the time to do them is when they are growing vigorously. Apples, pears, and blackcurrants want pruning as long as there is no frost about. Always take out dead, crossing, lopsided branches first to give an open centre to let the air in. If it’s old and neglected, never prune more than a third of the tree.
Blackcurrants fruit on new wood so try and remove old black branches. Gooseberries can have shoots shortened by a third and any dragging on the ground removed altogether. Redcurrants fruit on old wood so unless they are too big, leave them alone. Cultivated blackberries want old branches cut out and new ones tied in to give them plenty of room as they shoot in spring and fill up space. Raspberries fall into two categories. Autumn fruiting – cut to the ground in early spring; and standard varieties (June/July fruiting) – cut all the old and weak canes out.
A generous mulch of muck or harden compost will benefit all fruit trees and bushes and will literally repay you in spades!
Wishing you all the very best for the New Year and don’t forget to check what’s on our new programme at www.bishamptongardeningclub.org.uk
Pete Chamberlain