Fact Sheet Eleven - Download here THE GARDENERS DIARY
WEEK 11
12 December 2004 THE DIARY FLOWER GARDEN JOBS: Clean up paths and drives. Gravel pathways should be scraped, skimming off surface weeds using an onion hoe. If you only have small patches of weeds then it is much more efficient to get on your hands and knees and pull them out by hand. If you find after the removal of your weeds that the path is a bit sparse on chippings then re-apply some gravel. The use of landscape fabric can help with suppressing weed growth especially if you are placing new paths down. If your path or drive is covered in thick blankets of moss then an application of a moss killer will render the problem making it easier to scrape it up. GREENHOUSE JOBS: Draw up the plan for next season. This week is an ideal opportunity to plan ahead for the coming greenhouse season. Using your notes of successes and failures sketch up which varieties you wish to re-grow and of failings that you want another crack at. Once you've decided; scan through your seed catalogues making a list of the seed you require; then take a trip to your storage area, if you have one, and see how many seed trays, pots etc need to be replaced. With this noted down take a trip to the garden centre and try and buy your bits and pieces this side of Christmas before next years prices take affect. Also send away as early as possible of any new varieties you wish to try. By purchasing early you will avoid the disappointment of key varieties being sold out.
FRUIT GARDEN JOBS: Plant Cobnuts.
With the festive season looming nearer hazels, filberts and cobnuts are widely available in supermarkets and green grocers up and down the country and many of us are completely unaware how easy they are to grow. Most good nurseries and garden centres will at least carry one variety if not several. Varieties to look out for are Butler, Cosford and Kent Cob. The Corylus (Hazel) family make a great screening plant for the fruit garden. If you are limited for space then why not fill a gap in the back of a mixed border as the hazels produce a beautiful catkin in the early spring and all varieties are self-fertile. When planting make sure that the soil is well prepared with compost/feed. Plant them around 60cm apart if growing as screen/hedge or 90-120cm if being grown in a border/row. After care is rather simple trim out any old and exhausted branches in March. Listen out to up and coming show's because we will be planting cobnuts and Hazel nuts soon
Listen to The Gardener's Diary with Luke Ashmead on BBC Three Counties Radio every Sunday afternoon at 2.00pm Contact The Gardener's Diary Here BBC Three Counties Radio 98, 103.8, 95.5 and 104.5FM | 
