Fact Sheet 45
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THE GARDENERS DIARY
WEEK 45
7th August 2005
THE DIARY THE FLOWER GARDEN: Fill gaps! Certain bedding plants will now start to look tired and show signs of going-over. Some of these should be removed and placed upon the compost heap while others you may able to pinch back to entice some fresh healthy growth and hopefully a late flush of flowers. Once pinched back feed your plants with a general fertiliser. Areas which have completely gone-over may well look barren once cleared and it will be at least another 4 weeks before winter flowering bedding like Pansies will be widely available. So the puzzle is what to plant whilst awaiting for the Autumn/Winter colour. There is a wide range of herbaceous plants and summer flowering shrubs which can fill gaps so don't panic
THE GREENHOUSE: Check out your frames.
This month it can worth doing a little maintenance to your glasshouse. Wooden and aluminium both require some attention before the autumn and the un-welcomed return of the winter weather. Wooden greenhouses may require some wood preserve to be painted onto the frame inside and out. At this time of the year the preserve will dry very quickly so any plants can be move out whilst you treat inside and be quickly moved back once the treatment has dried. Bolts and screws should be checked that they are tight and the glazing is secure. Aluminium framed glasshouses should have their bolts tighten. Also ensure there are enough glazing clips holding the glazing in place. Always keep some spare clips and bolts as you never know when they will be needed.
FRUIT & VEG: Time to get in a pickle with onions.
If you haven't already done so it's time to harvest onions. Some of these onions may have been earmarked for pickling and if so you need to dry off the bulbs and pickle them as soon as possible. You may have noticed that some of your onions have thick-necks. This is a sign that they haven't bulbed up properly. These should have this growth checked by bending the leaves over the neck or as near as it is possible. These ones should also be earmarked for instant use. LAWN CARE: Last chance for weedkilling. August is probably the last month you can use a weedkiller on the lawn. This last application will hopefully rid the lawn of weeds ready for the autumn. PEST PROBLEM OF THE WEEK: Mildew on Euonymus. Evergreen varieties of Euonymus at this time of year can suffer with an attack of powdery mildew. The powdery mildew will first show signs of infection on the upper side of the leaves. The fungal spores if not checked can slowly infect the rest of the plant and can distort growth in very severe cases. It is caused by the humid, damp conditions and will usually attack plants which are growing in a dry soil. To control this disease, remove the infected leaves promptly and use a suitable fungicide. Don't forget to keep the plants well watered. It is best to water plants at ground level ensuring the moisture gets to the roots of the plant.
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 | 
