Fact Sheet 48
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THE GARDENERS DIARY
WEEK 48
28th August 2005
THE DIARY THE FLOWER GARDEN: Plant bulbs in containers. It's time to start preparing for the autumn. Spring flowering bulbs should be at the top of your gardening shopping list. There are a wide range of bulbs like Crocus, Daffodils, Tulips and Alliums, just to name a few, which will give you plenty of colour and enjoyment. If you haven't any room left in your borders then why not plant some bulbs into containers. Plant them into your pots with bulb fibre. Either use a mixture of the different varieties or fill the planter with all the same type. Plant layers of bulbs underneath each other so that you have layers of bloom above one another. Squirrels can be a nightmare. In the winter months they will use your bulbs as fast food to see themselves through until the spring. One way of deterring these is to use something like Squirrel Away. This is made from capsicum seeds which are highly peppery and if the squirrel decides to munch on your bulbs it will get a very hot and unpleasant flavour in its mouth. All you do is sprinkle the powder over the bulbs just before you cover them and this should stop you from losing your spring colour. This can be used in the garden in the same way by mixing with wild bird seed. LAWN CARE: Be careful creating grass pathways. If you're thinking of creating a grass path to run between the borders then remember to ensure the strip of grass is at least 90cm wide. Another thing to look at is the amount of ware and tare your turf path will have to endure. Strengthen the sides using plastic or aluminium lawn edging. Of course like any fresh area of turf do not use it until the pathway until established. PEST PROBLEM OF THE WEEK: White Rot on Onions. If the foliage of your onion turned yellow and wilted and when you lifted the onions the base were covered with white fluffy mould which also had round-ish black bodies amongst this then it sounds like your crop has suffered with what is known as White rot or Fluffy Nose. This is a serious disease. If you have any of your crop left in the ground lift and destroy it. There is no known cure for this disease and in that part of the garden it would be wise to leave it at least 8 years until you decide to grow onions again. It can be wise to sterilise the soil just to prevent the disease travelling to other parts of the garden.
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 | 
