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Forty fifth edition - January 2005
A very happy new year to you all..
December was so mild here in the Midlands that it could
almost have been mistaken for February or March and many flowers are showing
their faces much too early.. It is always good at this time of
year to be able to get outside to do some garden maintenance for an hour or
two, and there are so many chores that can easily be done, such as those
listed below:-
Lawns
If your lawn needs cutting and it is dry enough then get
your lawnmower out and give it a light trim, with the blade set on the
highest cut. Several of my neighbours were cutting their lawns two weeks
before Christmas and I would have done the same but our machine was being
serviced!
Paths and walkways
Clear algae and moss off paths and walkways to avoid
accidents.. This can be done either with chemicals bought from your DIY
shop, a wire brush, or a power hose, which is good fun! I tend to use a wire
brush for awkward spots and a power washer for the larger areas..
Leaves
Sweep up leaves, especially off lawns, which if left will
encourage moss and disease. Collect the leaves and put them into black bin
liners which have holes pierced in them. Close the tops and stick them in a
hidden corner. They`ll turn into lovely leaf mould. If you lack space and
inclination you could always dig leaves straight into the borders where they
fall, which is the best way of getting the benefit of the leaves.
Greenhouse and shed
Tidy and clean your greenhouse or shed. Don`t forget to
check for any hidden chemicals that may have been banned last year and
dispose of as recommended. These warmer winters are great for people, but
pests such as aphids now survive instead of being killed off by frosts. I
still disinfect my greenhouse annually with a mixture of Jeyes Fluid and
water, which I spray on with my pump action garden sprayer, to get in all
the crevices. Your flower pots can also be washed in a disinfectant
mixture to make sure no pests linger..
Pruning
Give roses a light prune to avoid them being rocked by the
wind and tidy them up. You can take out half the height of your roses and
all the straggly weak stems. Finish pruning them in March... There are many
shrubs and trees that can be pruned at this time of year while they are
dormant.. Check in your gardening book or online whether the particular tree
you wish to prune is a suitable candidate for this time of year.
Wildlife
 A
crucial month for the wildlife that you feed.. Whether you feed birds,
badgers, squirrels or hedgehogs, don`t stop because it is too cold to go
outside. They will die because they have come to depend on you for
their survival.. If you have fish in your pond and the water freezes due to
low temperatures, ensure that a hole is left in the ice for the fish to get
enough oxygen to survive..This is especially important with a shallow pond..
Never break the ice with a tool such as a hammer because the noise will
shock the fish and kill them. Float a football on the water and that will
bob about and provide a space that will not freeze over.
Garden Furniture
This is an excellent time of year to paint or varnish your
garden seats, benches or tubs.. Have a look in your local DIY store to see
the wonderful range of paints and varnishes that are available.. And such
vibrant colours!
If the weather is inclement, what better than a trip out to
your favourite garden centre to see what`s new for 2005 and a coffee or
lunch in their restaurant!
Happy gardening.
I often hear the concerns and doubts of some older people
who are thinking of building a garden pond now they have more time on their
hands, so I have decided to do a mini series which will hopefully be quite
useful for those hoping to plan a pond for next year....
The subject is a huge one, enough to fill a book, and I
will obviously only scratch the surface. But hopefully it will help you
decide whether to go ahead and have a garden pond, or settle for something
less adventurous.
Garden Ponds - Part one
Q:
Pond safety - will a pond be dangerous
for young children who visit?
Q:
Is there enough room
in my garden for a pond?
Q:
Is there a
suitable aspect in my garden for a pond?
Garden Ponds - Part 2
Q:
Is pond maintenance
time consuming?
Q:
What sort of garden pond should I have?
Q:
What pond accessories will I need?
Garden Ponds - Part 3
Q:
How much
will a garden pond cost?
Q:
What fish/wildlife should I stock the pond with?
Q:
Would a water feature be safer and easier to maintain?
I sometimes
get asked to recommend a website, and this is one of them. A young but thriving business that I can
thoroughly recommend..
Some great ideas for presents perhaps..
www.waterfeatures2u.com
Some of your
recent gardening queries
Keep
the e-mails with your gardening problems coming Please tell
me which country you live in as knowing the climate can help me solve
your problem. A current email address is necessary as my replies to
you are sometimes returned to me as undeliverable.. Whilst I have
answered all your queries, due to computer problems there will be no
January readers queries published... Instead I have put some information
about yukkas on the usual page.
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Thompson & Morgan
You
may obtain their free New 2005 Seed Catalogue by telephoning 01473 695224
and their website address is
www.thompson-morgan.com
where full information is available on their product varieties and orders
can be taken on-line.
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Gardener's Diary is a regular feature of
laterlife.com run by Rosemary Martin.
The National Botanic Garden of Wales
