topgardensuk.com :: Gardens,Garden Tips 5 Articles
Hi everyone
What a week I have had this week with all the rain, that even the gardens are sighing and saying enough is enough, we want the sun.
Anyway, where should I start I wonder? At the beginning would be good I hear you say. Well, you know how one small thing can start a chain reaction, that’s exactly what happened on Monday morning.
I went to one of the amenity sites, where we are contracted to keep the grass and hedgerows cut back for visibility for people going in and out of the site.
I started cutting the grass as usual with a John Deere F1145 four wheel drive ride on machine, running alongside a ditch when suddenly I felt the ground move and the front of the mower started to sink.
No problem I thought, just stick it in reverse and out it should come, theoretically. Boy was I wrong! When I tried to reverse the back wheels started to sink and slide into the ditch. OK I thought, still no problem, go on site and get the big 20-ton loading shovel to pull me out.
The loading shovel came round, we hooked the chain on the mower and started to pull me out, out it came without any problems, great I thought until I looked at the loading shovel, it had started to sink and lean over sideways.
The driver said not to worry as he would get the 360 degrees 20 ton excavator hooked onto the loading shovel and pull it out. Thank heavens I thought, but to my horror the loading shovel slid down deeper and leaning over more, to such a point that it was in danger of completely turning over, I just looked away in disbelief and shook my head.
After several minutes of deliberation it was decided the only form of action was to call in a crane to lift it out. Some hours later this massive 100- ton road crane turned up. Guess what? No it did not get stuck, turn over or anything else like that, but the major road the site is one had to be closed for an hour while the recovery took place. This was because the only safe way to pick the loading shovel up was by the crane standing full width of the road. The good news is the loading shovel came out with only some minor scratches, the road was reopened and everything was hunky dory again, apart from me now waiting for a very large bill to turn up. That is certainly what I call a chain reaction and that Monday morning feeling - blasted rain!
I hope your Monday was not quite so eventful. Have you been able to get in your garden this week in between the deluges?
A good garden tip is to check your plant containers to make sure they are getting enough water, I know this sounds really silly with all the rain we have been having, but often containers are close to the house and especially hanging baskets, and are sheltered by the walls and eaves.
Also the denseness of the leaves can deflect the rain water from the potting medium, allowing it to dry out which can be detrimental to the flowering ability of your plants. Hanging baskets can be soaked in a container, or in your garden barrow for half an hour or so till they have absorbed enough water.
Another handy garden tip is to carry a pair of scissors with you around the garden, whether you are popping to the washing line or just admiring the garden. My wife always has a pair to hand to snip off dead heads and yellowing leaves, especially in the green house.Scissors are often easier to use than secateurs unless it is woody, and great on small-headed annual plants in containers, and is quicker than nipping out.
Do not forget to nip out those side shoots on your tomato plants. Keep an eye on all you greenhouse plants for insect infestations and have your soapy water spray ready to go.
The cucumber plants are growing quickly at the moment and need regular tying up to a sturdy support, we have been doing this every couple of days.
The squashes likewise are putting on a good growth spurt but allow these to trail around your greenhouse, as the squashes are very heavy and if staked upright are likely to snap the plant. Another good garden tip is to turn flowerpots upside down and slightly support the main stem so that the young squashes start growing off the ground until they are half the size of harvesting.
Have a good look at the roses around your garden, as this cool damp weather creates the ideal climate for mildew, rust and black spot on the foliage. The new growth is most susceptible to mildew whereas the older leaves are where black spot and rust could be a problem. Trim away affected shoots and leaves for burning, and collect any leaves that have fallen due to the heavy rainfall recently.
Your lawns should be in tiptop condition at the moment thanks to the rain, just keep them tidy by trimming regularly and strimming the edges.
Hope you enjoyed Gardens, Garden Tips 5
Ted & Sandra