Fact Sheet 50
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THE GARDENERS DIARY
WEEK 50
11th September 2005
THE DIARY THE FLOWER GARDEN: Top dress ericaceous plants. A number of shrubs like Rhododendrons and Azaleas plus other acid-loving plants will respond well to a good general top dress of fertilizer. Before applying your top dress remove any leaves which have shed and lay at the base of the plant as these can make great hibernation areas for pests like Vine Weevil adults to over winter in. Place a handful around the base of each plant and lightly hoe in. Also add a mulch of ericaceous soil or leaf mould to help increase the acidity and some organic matter around each plant would be a good idea as well. Do not use manure as this can be too strong for acid lovers and could cause irreparable damage. If the plants are in containers then scrape off the top few centimetres of compost and replace with some ericaceous compost and feed. By top dressing you will help nurse your prize acid loving plants through the autumn and winter months whilst ensuring you plenty of fresh new growth next spring.
THE GREENHOUSE: Final chance for Pelargonium & Geranium cuttings.
Pelargonium and Geraniums out in the garden will start to look very tired, though you should notice that they have many side shoots which will make excellent cutting material. Cuttings should be the usual 7-8cm in length and be trimmed just below a leaf node. Leave just two leaves at the top and pinch out any flower bud which may be attempting to bloom. Insert these cuttings into a sandy cutting medium putting between 4-5 cuttings into a 9cm pot and lightly firm down. Place into the greenhouse and water, keeping moist to the dry side. Once the cuttings have struck, pot up into individual pots, place in a well lit part of the greenhouse and keep them lightly moist through the winter months until spring. Try not to over water because problems like basal rot can set in. LAWN CARE: Start the autumn lawn care calendar. It is time to start the autumn calendar of lawn care. " First of all scarify the lawn with your lawn rake and spike any heavily compacted areas especially where your children have been playing through the summer months. Once these jobs are done apply an autumn lawn feed with added moss killer. This will help strengthen the lawn and also help remove any large areas of moss which have thrived through the summer months.
PEST PROBLEM OF THE WEEK: Vine Weevils again!
Vine Weevils can be annoying any time of the year but in the autumn this pest, which was labelled the millennium bug, can become a nuisance in the house and greenhouse. The adults enter the house and slowly and surely they lay their eggs in all your plants without you even noticing until your plants suddenly start to look sick and by this time it is all too late. One way of combating this problem is to water all of your houseplants and greenhouse crops with Provado this will give you 6 months protection against the weevils Another deterrent in the greenhouse is to apply some of Agralans insect barrier glue around all your entrances. If you notice one of these slow moving pests you can always use the good old fashioned method of placing the Vine Weevil onto block A and hit it with block B.
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 94.7, 98, 103.8, 95.5 and 104.5FM | 
