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Fiftieth edition - June 2005
As I write this in the third week of May, it is still
very changeable with occasional night frosts in parts of the UK.. Hopefully
this will settle, allowing the summer bedding plants to be planted out at
the start of this month.
I recently read in my paper about a cat that brushed against some lilies in
a vase, licked the pollen off her fur and later died from poisoning. The
RSPCA are running a
campaign about this and as it is something not many of you might be
aware of, I decided to mention it here. It is perhaps worth mentioning too,
that there are many plants poisonous to animals.
I have a cyclamen houseplant that I bought
last November, which has flowered continuously ever since and still has
about 100 new buds to come into flower. I`m sure it should have been dormant
long ago. That was £2.99 from Tesco I consider was well spent..
Do you have a special plant that survives against all odds?
Jobs
for the month - June
Time to put out your hanging baskets or tubs and plant out your bedding
plants in the garden.. Keep them watered until established.
Bulbs.
It is very tempting to cut down the daffodil and tulip leaves as they get
unsightly, but it is not advisable to do this as it weakens the bulbs for
future years. Even tying them down with string is unnatural for them. You
can lift and divide snowdrops if they have become too crowded and the
Anemone Blanda that have self-seeded can be moved, if you have the patience.
Lift tulip bulbs that have finished flowering and leave them somewhere sunny
to ripen.
Lawns
If you only have a small lawn and didn`t bother with a `weed and feed`
treatment, take care that the weeds don`t get a foothold, especially dandelions.
Dig them out using an old long-bladed kitchen knife , making sure you get
all the roots. Remove any creeping weeds too, before they smother your lawn.
Treat yourself to a good lawn edger with long handles and give your lawn a
treat. Even a tatty lawn will look good with neat edges. It is such a
therapeutic task too!
Greenhouse
Usually this time of year we have empty greenhouses, once the bedding plants
have been removed and mine is no exception. I am growing tomatoes outside
this year, dotted around the flower borders, so I have room in the
greenhouse for some peppers and chilli plants.
 Hedges
Continue shaping large leaved hedges such as laurel, but not with shears or
electric hedge trimmers, which will only cut through and spoil the leaves.
Use secateurs for the small stems and tree loppers for the bigger branches.
Flowers
for cutting
Delphiniums and Lupins are among my favourite flowers to cut for indoors..
Make sure all the taller plants are staked and protected against strong
winds. Dead head regularly to stop plants going to seed and ensure a longer
flowering period.
Herbaceous plants
Stake
plants as they get taller and feed them weekly. Keep the borders weed free and mulched
and watch out for aphids on your plants. Dead head regularly.
It is still possible to lift and divide some perennials providing you cut
them short and keep them well watered in a dry spell.
Vegetables and salad
If you fancy growing some runner beans but are short of space, make some
wigwams from 8` bamboo canes in your flower borders, or even grow them in
tubs. You will find runner
bean plants in some garden centres. Dot lettuce plants and tomatoes around
the borders too!
Ponds and water features
The poor spring weather has put a lot of people off doing their pond
maintenance, according to our local aquatic centre. If you are reluctant to
get wet or cold it won`t hurt to leave your pond another year. But do check
the water quality is OK for your fish, if you have them. Thin the aquatic
plants out and keep the pond clear of blanket weed.
Many aquatic centres will test the water from your pond if you take a sample
to them, which is a good service if you have fish in your pond.
Wildlife
Take a walk through a nearby wood or forest and listen to the birds!
I heard a cuckoo the other day in the forest: its call echoed around a huge
area. Woodpeckers too were busy tapping on the trees. In our garden we have
squirrels, which should really be discouraged, but they are so sweet.
Don`t be tempted to put out food that is anything other than peanuts for the
birds, because you will attract rats to your garden and they will quickly
colonise.
 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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The National Botanic Garden of Wales
