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A selection of this month`s gardening
problems - December 2004
Due to the amount of post I am receiving from
readers, I am choosing for this page mainly those
problems that haven`t been printed before..
Do please keep writing in with your
problems.
* This month I had another
undeliverable email whose recipient wanted to know
how to harvest petunia seeds. If it was you, please email me again
with a valid address.
Q: From Philip: We
have a garden near to a large hill containing a thriving rabbit
colony. Although we have a fence, buried 2 feet, around the garden
perimeter -both to contain our border terrier and exclude the
rabbits- they have managed to gain entry this summer and have been
snacking on the grass for a few months.
As I have been unwell and my border terrier can't be bothered to
chase them any more we have let them be -and they are quite cute.
However the creeping buttercup inherent in the lawn has now got out
of hand forming large clumps which together with the moss are both
apparently unappetising to the bunnies and more than a match for the
grass which has now become a threatened minority.
Being almost on first name terms with the rabbits I don't want to
poison them and wonder which autumn grass "feed and weed"
preparations would be suitable to rectify the situation .
A: Animals are pretty cute and
usually detect what is bad for them... But I would err on the side
of caution and ask the makers of the weed & Feed application for
their advice as to whether it will harm the rabbits..
One of the most popular preparations is Scott's Weed & Feed - try
emailing them for their opinion..
http://www.lovethegarden.com/
Q: From Florence: I have
a problem with fungus growing on the roots of the
plum tree
which is over 30 years old and these roots are showing on the
surface of the lawn surrounding the plum tree. Would welcome any
advice.
A: From your description this could be
one of several problems, and without seeing your tree it would be
very hard to make an accurate diagnosis..
It has been a very wet summer and some lawns seem besieged with
fungal problems, and it could be that simple.
I have found a website here that - although not a UK site - might
help you recognise what ails your plum tree.
http://www.ipm.uiuc.edu/diseases
/series600/rpd641/#top
Q: Joe asks: Is
it ok to use roundup before or after the flowering season to kill
off any weeds that are growing? Do you have another solution to weed
problems?
A: When the weeds
start to grow for the new season is the best time to treat
them with Roundup..
We stopped them growing on a raised patio area that was to be
planted with
shrubs, by first digging out the weeds, then putting down a layer of
weed
suppressant membrane, finally topping it with a thick layer of
pea-gravel.
To plant something, an area is cut out with a X so the four
flaps can be
lifted to plant the shrub, then finally cover it with gravel.
Q: Jenny wants to know about
moving plants:
We are going to have an extension built to our house, which means I shall
have to move an established St Johns Wort bush and many flowering
perennials. The building work will start in January. When would you
recommend moving them and would you recommend replanting them
elsewhere in the garden or putting them into pots?
A: I would leave them where
they are until the week prior to the work
commencing, then at least you won`t have three months of looking at
a messy
garden. There is the possibility of frost however, which would make
digging them up difficult, so I suggest keeping an ear open when the
weather forecasts are
on...
I would loosely dig them in another part of the garden so they won`t
dry
out. Take care with perennials that die down completely: it might be
worth
marking where they are.
Previous editions of your gardening
queries:
Please
e-mail me with your garden problems, comments,
or ideas for this section of laterlife.
Click here for previous
editions of Gardener`s
Diary..
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