Gardener's DiaryApril 2011An introduction from Rosemary Martin...
This column adds a new dimension to my interest in all aspects of horticulture and will hopefully help others find pleasure in this healthy and therapeutic pastime ... Please e-mail me with your garden problems, comments, or ideas for this section of laterlife, remembering to tell me which country you are from.. Click here for previous editions of Gardener's Diary..
We have been very busy in the vegetable garden too, and have made a plan for the produce we will grow this year.. Gardeners will be pleased to know it has been confirmed that gardening makes you happy and can even keep you healthy, see here.
Jobs for the monthApril 2011 Fruit and vegetable gardening for April click here House plants Increase watering and feed plants more frequently. Repot plants that have become root bound. Choose a warm, sunny day to stand larger specimens outside and give them a wash with the hose pipe on `fine spray`and let them dry before bringing them back inside. This is a job that can also be done in the summer on a rainy day. Lawns April and May are good months for sowing or laying new lawns. Scarify the lawn to remove any dead thatch and moss, then give it the first feed of the year. For those of you troubled by chafer bugs eating your lawn's roots, it is said that a strong and healthy lawn will withstand chafer bug onslaught better than a weak lawn.. Shrub borders and roses
Paths, walls and fencing There is still time to do any necessary repairs before plant growth really gets going. Use a weedkiller such as Pathclear to kill grass and weeds on paved areas for a whole season. Examine the supports for climbing plants and replace if necessary. Pressure clean paths or other ground areas that have become slippery with moss and algae. (Read instructions carefully on weedkiller packets if you have pets) Greenhouse
Trees and shrubs Trees and shrubs will appreciate a good mulching this month to conserve water, stop weeds growing and add goodness to the soil. Look for any signs of disease or pests and spray accordingly. If there has been any late wind damage, tidy the branches so there are no ragged edges that will let the damp and disease penetrate. If you need to remove any branches of trees, there is a preparation you can buy that seals the newly sawn wood. Water gardens If you are `spring cleaning` your pond, be sure to put your fish in a large container where they can swim around quite happily until being returned to their pond, making sure that cats cannot get to them. Once you have cleaned out and re-filled the pond, allow the water to stand for a day or two to avoid any temperature changes before returning the fish. If you are re-lining a concrete pond take care to use the correct sealant afterwards, and give it ample time to dry. Be ruthless and thin out aquatic plants. They will soon grow and fill the pond. Wildlife
Happy gardening till next month....
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