Fact Sheet 34
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THE GARDENERS DIARY
WEEK 34
22nd May 2005
THE DIARY THE FLOWER GARDEN: Remove old bedding plants Wallflowers, forget-me-nots, viola's and other spring flowering bedding plants will start to go over and finish flowering at this time of the year. These plants need to be removed and placed onto the compost heap. Plants which have signs of disease should be burned or put in a green sack for the dump. Polyanthus & Primrose plants should be carefully removed and placed into a growing area ready for them to be lifted in the autumn for planting next year. You could also place them somewhere where they can naturalise. Keep these well watered through the summer months feeding every other week with a liquid fertiliser. Once these areas become clear rake them level and apply a soil steriliant if any diseases were present on the plants which you have removed. Then apply a generous top dress of compost and a general purpose granular feed. Once the threat of ground frost has ended at the end of the month keep the area weed free until you are ready to plant out your half-hardy summer bedding plants.
THE GREENHOUSE: Sow seeds for winter houseplant colour.
As space appears in the greenhouse with summer bedding plants starting to make their way into frames and cloches it's time to consider the rest of the greenhouse year. Now's the time to sow seeds of winter flowering houseplants. Indoor plants like Calceolaria (Slipper flower), Primula(Primroses) and Schizanthus (Poor Man's Orchid). Sow the seeds into a seed tray using a seed compost and then lightly cover with some fine grade vermiculite. Water the seeds in and then place on a heated propagator. This will encourage a steady germination with all your seeds ready to transplant at the same time. As the seeds germinate remove the propagator lid to allow some of the excess moisture to escape and also to allow them to breathe and deter damping off.
LAWN CARE: Welcome to the green ant metropolis!!!
You will have noticed over the past couple of weeks the increased activity of ants! Ants can wreak havoc upon areas of lawn forming large mounds of earth. These mounds of earth are usually entrances to their labyrinths and can become unsightly causing problems when mowing your lawn. The main damage which ants can cause to your lawn is that whilst they excavate their nest they will undermine the roots of the turf causing it to die back quicker as the drier weather sets in at the end of the month The easiest way to remove these mounds is to brush them off but this doesn't deal with the main problem of the nest below the surface Before you brush the mounds away ensure that you have some ant powder ready because when the brush removes the excavated earth the ants below will surface and try to defend the nest and also repair the damage caused by your brush. If the mounds continue to appear, lift the turf in that area and ruttle the earth beneath, repeat the process then replace the turf and keep that area well watered until the turf re-establishes PEST PROBLEM OF THE WEEK: Mint Beetle attack on Fuchsia's. Your prize Fuchsia's start to gain some structure and all of a sudden the foliage is being eaten and the culprits sit there in full view munching away on the growth. These beetle like insects are a nuisance called Mint Beetles. They have dark shiny metallic-green wing cases, about 3-4mm in length and will usually feed in groups around the growing tip of your plants. If not dealt with swiftly they can hinder the development of your plants and can even force your plant to grow blind. This strain of Mint Beetle can usually be dealt with by spraying with a good pesticide 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 | 
