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Twenty Eighth edition - August 2003
August, and time to turn our thoughts to the coming autumn. Already the
days are starting to shorten and the gardens are looking a little jaded. I have
recently sown wallflowers, which are biennials, for a colourful spring display next year.
I think together with tulips they make an excellent display. This month I shall
start my preparations for autumn by marking plants with tags that I intend to collect
seeds from.
Some gentle gardening a few days ago turned into a disaster for me. Whilst
weeding an overgrown area at the bottom of the garden, a wasp found it`s way inside my
tracky bottoms and stung me whilst I was balanced on a rockery. Running up to the house
yelling and waving my arms and legs, I fell over the dog who thought this was a new and
wonderful game and by the time I had discarded the clothing I had several stings from the
yellow peril. A few moments later I decided to replace the disturbed rockery stones and
dropped one onto a finger, crushing it... So in the space of a few moments I suffered
several stings, a twisted ankle from tripping over the dog and a badly crushed finger,
which is currently all shades of blue with a black nail.. Gardening then is not
such a healthy and therapeutic pastime...
On conservation matters, I read in my paper about the
decline in wild flowers around our countryside and admit to noticing this
myself. Also some useful information about the notifiable weed, Ragwort and some pesticides that have recently been
banned.
Sadly I haven`t seen one ladybird this year in my garden, which is
usually full of them. Friends have also noticed their absence. Is it I wonder due to the
fact that I am killing the aphids and depriving the ladybirds of food?
Having followed the advice that Alan Titchmarsh has recently given, and
gone for `natures way,` I have stopped using bug guns and sprays, hoping to restore the
balance by letting the ladybirds and other `good guys` take over from the chemicals and
eat the aphids. Aphids become immune to the stuff we spray on them anyway, in much
the same way as us humans become immune to antibiotics.
Some of your
recent gardening queries
Jobs for the month - August
The vegetable patch
 Herbs still in flower should be gathered in dry
weather for drying and storing.Tie them in bunches and hang them upside down in your
garage or shed. Shallots and autumn grown onions might be ready for lifting and more seeds
of these varieties can be sown for next year. In the dry weather ensure your runner beans
have plenty of water and start picking any early produce. There is still time to sow a
last batch of lettuce. I like the Lollo Rosso variety, which are dotted around the flower
borders. Take care to water and continue feeding tomatoes.
Hanging baskets, tubs and window boxes
Continue as for July... In hot dry spells, you will need to
water sometimes as often as twice a day. A plant food, such as Miracle gro mixed with
water will ensure your flowers get an extra lease of life.. Regular deadheading will help
keep the plants flowering profusely. (I managed not to weaken and am pleased to say
that the time consuming hanging baskets are NOT adorning my house this year and even more
pleased to say I don`t miss them!)
August update on my decision not to have hanging
baskets. I have ALMOST been tempted to buy some late bargains and am now seriously
missing not having them.. Having said that, I am not missing caring for them.
 Lawns
Lawn care this month is straight forward: a weekly cut or
even more if there is a lot of rain making the grass grow quickly, not forgetting
attention to the edges. If your lawn is looking rough and patchy as mine is, due to poor
soil conditions, you may consider applying a top dressing of humus matter in the autumn
and/or spring
Shrubs and flower borders
Keep your borders looking cared for and colourful by
continual dead-heading of flowers and ensuring the lawn edges are neat. I have been using
Miracle Gro on the flower beds, using the special feeder attached to my hosepipe. This
plant food feeds plants through roots and leaves.
Wildlife
The squirrels will be gathering nuts already in preparation for the barren
winter months ahead and some birds will be thinking of their long winter journey to a
warmer country, so extra food on the bird table will be welcome for all of these friends
that have given so much pleasure through the year..
Ponds and water features
This is a
month to enjoy the pleasures of a pond, without any urgent jobs needing attention.
Continue feeding the fish their full quota, taking care to get a neighbour to continue
this task if you are going on holiday. Give them precise instructions on quantities to
feed the fish as too much food if not eaten will rot, polluting the water.
House
plants
Continue
feeding your houseplants this month according to instructions, making sure they are in tip
top condition for the winter. If you think re-potting for a houseplant is needed, it can
still be done now rather than risk overwintering one that is pot bound. On a warm day put
houseplants outside for a fine spray with your hosepipe to clean the foliage. Not woolly
leaved plants though!
Weeding
Continue as for July....A nice easy maintenance job with a hoe this month
that will prevent seedlings from germinating and show your neighbours what an industrious
person you are!
Laterlife is pleased to support the project below:-
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http://beehive.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/sensorygarden
Designed to stimulate the senses and provide a haven of peace, a place
to chill-out and unwind from the stress of modern living. A garden
designed specifically to be "Positive About Disabled People" and raise
funds for people with Multiple Sclerosis.
Take a virtual trip around the garden, through different countries, its
monthly photo galleries & artwork, explore and discover the plants,
birds and wildlife, water features and wind-chimes, as we endeavour to
describe the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touch of the various
areas.
We hope you enjoy your visit to the Sensory Garden Project
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Some favourite RHS flower shows
(Dates taken from their website)
And some places to visit...
www.edenproject.com 
The
living theatre of plants and people
The Eden Project is a gateway into the world of plants and people. A meeting place for
all to discover how we depend on plants and how we can help to manage and conserve them
for our mutual survival.
Kew Gardens two locations:-
http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/
Tel: 020 8332 5655 (24 hr)
Fax: 020 8332 5197Royal Botanic Gardens
Kew
Richmond
Surrey
TW9 3AB |
Tel: 01444 894066 (24 hr)
Fax: 01444 894069 Royal Botanic Gardens
Wakehurst Place
Ardingly
Nr Haywards Heath
West Sussex
RH17 6TN |
The National Botanic Gardens of Scotland comprise:
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Scotland's Premier Garden
Benmore Botanic
Garden, Argyll
Argyll's Magnificent Mountainside Garden
Dawyck Botanic
Garden, Borders
Wonderful Woodland Garden
Logan Botanic
Garden, Galloway
Scotland's Most Exotic Garden
 The National Botanic Garden of Wales
www.gardenofwales.org.uk
The star attraction here is the 91 metre long domed glasshouse, that
houses landscapes normally found in the Mediterranean. This would be a super place to
visit on a chilly day...
Keep the e-mails with
your gardening problems coming
Have a look at previous
editions of Gardener`s Diary
Some websites of interest to gardeners:-
www.alantitchmarsh.com
Alan Titchmarsh MBE, TV gardener, writer, broadcaster and thoroughly nice person.
Just a few choice words to describe the peoples` favourite TV gardener. See his
website....
 Thompson and Morgan:
A growing
resource for gardeners worldwide. The site includes the international online seed
catalogues, the young plants catalogue (UK only), the wholesale seeds catalogue, together
with the award winning Germination Times and a host of other useful information.
www.carryongardening.co.uk
 Gardening is an important part of many people's lives. You don't have to
give up gardening because of accident or illness, the onset of disability or the problems
associated with growing older. The information on their website is designed to provide you
with the information to Carry on Gardening.
Carry on
Gardening was initiated by the horticultural charity Thrive
and is funded by the National Lottery Charities Board. It brings together information on easy ways of gardening gathered over 23
years by Thrive and research carried out since the early 1970s by Mary Marlborough Centre,
Oxford, on tools and equipment for disabled and older people.
Good reading:-
"The Yellow Book" contains information of
all Gardens of England and Wales open for charity, and can be bought priced £5 from
National Gardens Scheme www.ngs.org.uk
National Trust Gardens Handbook is £6.99 and
the new edition is out in May Telephone 01394 389 950 or see their website www.nationaltrust.org.uk
RHS Garden Finder is £12.99 from Dorling
Kindersley www.dk.com
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