Fact Sheet Twenty Two
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THE GARDENERS DIARY
WEEK 22
27th February 2005

•THE DIARY•
THE FLOWER GARDEN: Create a canvass of perennial power.
• As March starts it's a sign for most gardeners to get out into the garden and put all those new ideas into perspective. One thing to consider is creating an herbaceous border.
• With a wide range of hardy perennial plants available herbaceous borders if planted with care can give you mountains of colour throughout the year though most people aim for the most dramatic affect in the summer months.
• Before buying any plants check your books or go online and ensure that the plants will suit your garden and the position which they are being planted into.
• When planting into your border look at your list and place the plants into order depending on their heights. Work from the back to the front of the planting area you are creating. The tallest plating should be at the back working forward to the smallest plants. If you are creating an island bed then place the tallest/most dramatic in the centre and work your way outwards.
• Try and plant into blocks and groups to maximise effect. Also look at different foliage and fauna as some plants will also give you extra interest throughout the year with their leaf texture.
•Hardy ferns and ornamental grasses can add extra interest when added to areas as dot plants. A dot plant is a single plant placed in amongst another group of plants.
•If you are struggling with room then why not use your patio for herbaceous plants.
• With the patio as your stage you can create an herbaceous border which once you tire with one design you can wipe the canvass clean and reposition the plants and their containers into a new idea or scheme.


THE GREENHOUSE: Don't leave seedlings too long.
•As seeds (like the tomato and sweet pea seeds which we planted at Janet's) germinate remember to pot them on as soon as they are large enough to handle.
•An easy sign is when the seedling has two seed leaves. Some seedlings may well be very minute and fiddly. Try and plant these on as soon as they get to the seed leave stage.
• Plant the seedling up into potting compost with it just below the two leaves.
• Also remember to take your time, if you try and rush the job you may damage the seedling thus losing some of your crop.


THE VEGETABLE PLOT: IT'S TIME TO CLEAR OUT REMAINING CROPS
•Clear all old crops left from the winter months to leave the vegetable plot clear.
• Make sure you get rid of your sprouts as they may entice colonies of cabbage aphid that could continue to create problems on your spring and summer crops of cabbages.
•Once the area is clear add some organic matter then dig and turn the area over.
• If any soil borne pests like weevil and chafer grubs are present then it's the good old fashioned organic pest control of put on block A and belt with bolt B this hopefully cure this problem.


LAWN CARE: Keep edges in check!
• Lawn edges need to be tidied and repaired. Clean up the edge with your half-moon edging iron.
• If your lawn is straight use a long plank and line to ensure a straight and level edge.
• Once the new edge has been created, tidy it with your edging shears.
• Once the edge is clean and trimmed why not apply some plastic lawn edge material to keep the clean edge
• This will help stop the turf creeping into paving, gravel and flower beds making it easier to trim and shear around the edge after mowing.
•Another important reminder is to remove all clippings from the gullies along the edge to stop the grass sprouting up in unwanted areas.


DISEASE PROBLEM OF THE WEEK: Mildew on Fuchsias
• The majority of Fuchsia lovers will over winter much loved plants in their greenhouses and back-rooms. These plants can sometimes have over winter problems caused from the previous season.
•One of these problems can be mildew.
" Where plants have been spaced too closely together the mildew spores can run riot and if not brought into check they will continue to cause problems with new plants which are slowly introduced into the collection.
•To deter this give plants ample spacing and on mild days open vents to get the stale air in your greenhouse circulating.
• If you notice the fluffy grey mould on some of your plants remove the infected leaves and dispose of them.
• Then spray with a fungicide to help reduce any future infection.

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