Fact Sheet Nineteen
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THE GARDENERS DIARY
WEEK 19
6th February 2005
THE DIARY HOW TO:
SEPARATE HERBACEOUS PLANTS 1. Using your hands, sharp knife or scissors simply split plant into the number of sections you want. You could split a clump into 2 plants or more depending on your needs. Take care not to damage the roots 2. Pot the spilt part of the plant into some compost and water well. 3. Don't allow the plant to be affected by the cold weather and until the frosts subside keep in a shed or greenhouse overnight. 4. When it is time to plant into the ground use the instructions on our separate fact sheet which is called 'How to Plant a Containerised Tree/Shrub' THE DIARY
FLOWER GARDEN JOBS: Time to clear and feed herbaceous borders.
Areas of herbaceous plants now need attention.
Start clearing by removing all the dead foliage trimming back down to where any visible growth is sprouting. Don't worry if there is no sign of growth or buds as they may be below ground level.
Once all of last year's growth has been removed then Top dress with a general purpose fertiliser like Vitax Q4 or Fish, Blood & Bone.
Lightly hoe in the fertiliser and apply a mulch of cocoa shell or bark to help suppress weed growth.
Some of your plants may be getting over crowded, if they are, now is the time to lift and split the clumps up and increase your stocks.
Replant some of the split clump into the existing position if required. Remember to pot some of the clump into containers and if the replanted clump fails then you'll still have some to replace it.
GREENHOUSE JOBS: Pot on your Dahlias.
Dahlias this week should be taken out of storage and potted on into containers ready for planting out later in the year.
Take your tubers and plant into a multi-purpose compost.
Water and then leave the tubers to stand in the compost to settle. Place a garden cane into the container for your Dahlias growth to be trained to.
With Bi-colours, Cactus, Pompon, Decorative, Bedding and Dwarf varieties to choose from. Dahlias are probably the most dramatic bedding plant to grow. Some varieties have bronzed foliage which makes them ideal dot plants in larger bedding schemes. Dwarf varieties make ideal companion plants for patio planting. Giving a vibrant and a vivid spectrum of colour your containers, your pots will be the envy of your neighbours.
Next week we'll be potting on our Dahlias so listen out for guidance.
GREENHOUSE JOBS: Plug up your gaps.
You'll find in most garden centres and nurseries at this time of year a wide range of plug plants and rooted cuttings to plant and pot up ready for the coming bedding season.
It's propagation for lazy people. With the hard part done for you, plants pre-raised and growing happily away awaiting to be potted up and grown on for container work later on in the summer.
When potting up these small plants it is a good idea to use good quality multi-purpose compost whether it is peat based, loam based or sewage caked based.
Make sure the plants are placed into new or sterilised pots or trays to reduce the effect of pest and disease.
Once planted place into a heated greenhouse pinching back growth which gets too leggy keeping the plants nice and compact until late April/May.
If you don't possess a greenhouse you can still grow plugs on in a well-lit window but remember to turn the pots/trays a quarter turn each day to deter the plants growing towards the light. FRUIT & VEGETABLE JOBS: Protect young shoots.
Young shoots on a wide range of fruit bushes will start to burst their buds. These can become rich pickings for a wide range of wild birds.
If left unprotected your fruit crop could be hampered. Protect your fruit by placing a fruit cage or some netted frames over your crop. LAWN CARE JOBS: Time to start cutting the lawn.
The lawn finally gets some attention this week. If the weather is mild and the lawn has dried out then blow the dust off the lawnmower and give your turf a long awaited cut.
Before you cut make sure the lawn is free of worm casts, leaves and stones. Remove these with either an Ekel broom or a besom.
Once the turf has been trimmed, tidy up around the edges with your edging iron and edging shears. To keep these newly trimmed edges in check place some plastic lawn edging along them. LAWN CARE JOBS: Cordon areas of bulbs off.
Areas of lawn which have spring flowering bulbs sprouting should be cordoned off to stop you decapitating your prize blooms.
DISEASE PROBLEM OF THE WEEK: Pansy leaf spot.
Whilst dead heading pansies and viola plants you may come across some dark black-brown spots upon the leaves.
If left untreated the diseased tissue will eventually form holes as the infected part of the plant drops out.
To treat this spray with a fungicide and pick off any badly infected leaves.
PEST PROBLEM OF THE WEEK: Moles
Mole activity doesn't seem to stop throughout the year and gardens suffering with this lawn pest can resemble a cleared mine field.
Unfortunately mole smokes which were one of the most affective control methods are no longer available.
Traps can be almost a hit and miss though one of the most effective control methods available on the market these days doesn't harm them.
At first sight Sonic mole controllers resemble a rotary clothes line soil spike filled with batteries.
These controllers send out a sonic pulse out which is sensitive to the moles ears. One controller can usually protect an area up to 9,000 square feet. 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 | 
