| Thirteenth edition - May 2002
It is that time of year again, when there just aren`t
enough hours in the day to do everything that needs to be done in the
garden. May is probably the busiest of all the months for gardeners, with
hanging baskets and tubs to plant up ready for putting out in June, ponds
and water features to clean out, and if you have them, fruit and vegetable
gardens to manage. But isn`t it great to be able to get outside in the open
again, without shivering or wearing all those extra layers? I feel a
bit like a hedgehog emerging from it`s winter hibernation.
The whole of the UK seems to have had a very dry spell, with
little or no rain for five or six weeks. But as I write this column in the
last week of April, we have just had our first good downpour.. I have
promised myself an irrigation system for our garden as it takes me three or
four hours to water the borders, but as yet I haven`t got round to
installing one. If we get another prolonged spell of dry weather, don`t
forget to put a mulch of something round the plants to try to conserve the
moisture in the soil. If using grass cuttings as a mulch don`t let them get
too compacted as that will only serve to keep the rain out.
Jobs for the month - May
House plants
Increase watering and feed the plants more frequently as the
days lengthen. Move any houseplants away from south facing windows as the
sun will burn them. Keep plants misted and the leaves clean. I take my
houseplants outside on a warm sunny day and use the hosepipe with a fine
spray. Some houseplants can be propagated at this time of year, either by
division, cuttings or seeds. Refer to your gardening book..
Lawns
April and May are good months for sowing or laying new
lawns. Give established lawns their first feed of the year. Use a dual
purpose application of `weed and feed.` A new lawn raised from seed or turf
will need careful attention this month if it is to become established. With
the recent dry weather ensure the lawn does not become dried out. Water it
in the cool of the evening and the lawn will have the benefit of the water
overnight. If you water during the day, the sun will quickly evaporate the
water..
Herbaceous borders and roses
 Aphids
and other pests are busy this time of year, and seem to particularly enjoy
just a few of my plants. I have however taken note of this and beaten them
at their own game this year, by spraying the vulnerable specimens. The
flower borders will appreciate a mulching this month, which will help
conserve moisture and stop weeds from growing. If you are using grass
cuttings as a mulch, take care not to use the first three mowings after
applying lawn feed as per the manufacturer`s instructions. Don`t forget to
stake tall growing plants before they topple over and break.
Greenhouse
Increase the amount of water given to plants and still keep
an eye on the weather in case of night frosts, when you will need to cover
plants with horticultural fleece or newspapers.. Continue planting up
hanging baskets this month and be sure to keep them frost free and watered,
then by the end of May they can go outside looking really established..
Vegetables
Thin out seedlings that have come through and keep the
ground weed-free. Plants that have been hardened off can now be put into the
ground.. The soil should be warmer and dryer now, so you can continue to sow
your favourite crops. Take care not to sow the seed too thickly, pour a
little of the seed into your hand and scatter it thinly along the drill you
have drawn. It is great to grow your own vegetables and fruit, then you know
it is free of pesticides.
 Fruit
This is the month when the fruit grower finds there is plenty of crop
spraying to do to ensure a healthy crop and prevent pests and disease. Keep a close
watch on developing fruits and treat accordingly. Take care still with late frosts and
cover small trees and bushes with horticultural fleece. Refer to the appropriate section
of your gardening book for fruit pest and disease control.
Trees and shrubs
Trees and shrubs will still benefit from 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. I am finding some previously unseen caterpillars
and bugs in my borders - curled up tightly in leaves. I wonder if our warming climate is
allowing more pests to thrive.
Water gardens
 It`s a lovely month for enjoying a pond, and I spend hours just looking
at the baby frogs basking in the sun, the fish spawning and the aquatic plants growing. If
you are putting more plants in your pond, make sure you use `aquatic soil` in appropriate
containers with pebbles or gravel on the top, to stop the fish rummaging around and
disturbing the mud. The new plant growth will soon hide the containers. If you see a fish
that is being `hassled` by others, it is a female that is ready to spawn, so just leave
them to get on with it. And if you find long or oval blobs of jelly on the underside of
lily leaves, they are the eggs of aquatic snails which, on balance, will do more good than
harm.
Wildlife
May brings the very last of the summer visitors, and our gardens are alive
with the noise of birds, all busy staking their territory, attracting mates and seeing off
the opposition. Busy, busy busy... The animals that hibernated during the winter are back
in their burrows and holes, either rearing their young or preparing to do so. I have
noticed that this year the squirrels and rabbits appear to be even tamer than normal,
which is somehow very rewarding.
Some garden shows to visit
this summer:
| Herts Garden show |
Sat/Sun 18th & 19th May |
| Middlesex Garden show |
Sat/Sun 25th & 26th May |
| Kent Garden show |
Sun - Tues. 2nd 3rd & 4th June |
| South East Garden show |
Sun/Mon 25th & 26th August |
| Sussex Garden show |
Sat/Sun 7th & 8th September |
And some web sites of interest to
gardeners:
www.alantitchmarsh.co.uk
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.
 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.
The founder
of www.maple-landscapes.com is my eldest
son.. give him a call if you live in the Leicester area of the UK and have need of his
services..
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
Have a look at previous
editions of Gardener`s Diary
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