Last updated 07 September 2008
© Queens Park Residents 2008
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September -
Take lavender and rose cuttings, Plant daffodils for cut flowers. Transplant violets. Prepare to store apples and pears, Gather French and runner beans and sweet corn. Remove early cyclamen flowers. Sow greenhouse annuals.
September -
Plant bulbs for naturalising. Prune rampant ramblers. Train climbing roses, Treat
Hydrangeas with colourant. Pick apples and pears. Grease band fruit trees, Ripen
onions. Feed leeks. Pot cyclamen. Re-
Feeding tomatoes with liquid feed can scorch the leaves. To avoid this happening pour from the watering can using a piece of 1.25 inch drain pipe as a funnel directing the feed straight to the base of the plant, away from the leaves.
To prevent peas being eaten by pests, fill a short length of guttering with compost
and sow peas along the length as normal. Hang guttering out of reach of pests. When
seedlings are 1"-
Put broken egg shells into a watering can, fill with water and leave overnight. This will extract the nutrients making an excellent and cheap plant feed.
Bake egg shells in an oven to harden and then place around plants to prevent slugs damaging them. The slugs cannot get over the hardened shells.
Fill a small tub (low enough for the slugs to climb into) with beer and place it next to the plants. Alternatively the container can be buried in the soil.
I have found the ultimate eco-
To get rid of ants, locate their hill and sprinkle a liberal amount of talc powder around and on it. The ants dislike the talc and will move their colony several feet. Just continue sprinkling with the talc until the ants are moved to where you want them. Boiling water poured into/onto the nest also works quite well.
When planting morning glory seeds, the package directions indicate that you need to nick each one of the seeds to enhance germination. A quick and easy way to accomplish this is with a pair of fingernail clippers. Then place the seeds on a lightly dampened paper towel, fold the towel over and place inside a plastic zipper bag for a day or so before planting.
The cheapest way to make an arc in your garden is to buy some plastic water piping then drive four star pickets into the ground the with of the wire then slip the piping over the star pickets then attach the wire and you have got an arc you can grow grapes passionfruit climbing beans etc on it good luck. ]
Anonymous contributor
Plastic plant labels that have been written on using permanent ink can be brought back to new if they are soaked in a 75% bleach solution for a couple of weeks. Make sure they are thoroughly washed before using again. Alternatively, use a pencil to mark labels, these can then be used again by simply using a rubber (eraser) to remove the name.
Labels made from coloured plastic bottles can be used for labelling different types of plants e.g. blue = hardy, yellow = trailers etc.
If you run out of plant labels or money to buy more, use your old ice cream carton or margarine tubs they work just as well.
To stop fencing boards splitting when driving nails, cut the head of a nail of the same size to that being used, put the nail in an electric drill and drill the boards where the nails are to be positioned, hammer in your nails, no more split timber.
I think you could also use a drill bit of a size slightly smaller than the nail and I have also been told that if you blunt the point of the nail being used by scraping on sandpaper or cement this prevents wood splitting.
Slice your apples crosswise to evaluate pollination. There are five seed pockets
with a potential of two seeds in each. If there are 8-
For more interesting facts on pollination visit their site at http://www.pollinator.com
When growing sweet peas from seed, two-
To prevent slugs getting to plants in containers, smear outside of container with petroleum jelly or WD40.
Grow varieties of plants that require little or no staking and plant closely so they support each other.
Spray weeds which are well established in a rock garden and paving with a glyphosate herbicide. This kills the entire plant without having to dig them out.
Mix perlite in with the potting compost in patio planters and hanging baskets. It absorbs moisture when water is plentiful and releases it when the compost is dry.
When planting container grown plants, disturb the roots as little as possible so that they continue to benefit from the compost they are grown in. Water as usual after planting.
When planting bare rooted trees and shrubs, spread the roots out like an umbrella, twisted roots stunt growth. As you cover the roots with soil shake the plant from time to time to allow the soil to drop down well between them. Water well after planting.
Put support stakes in before you plant a new tree to avoid the possibility of damaging the roots.
A circle of twigs about 500mm high (20ins), provides a better support for border plants than a single stake, and is less obtrusive.
Save wooden ice cream spatulas, lolly sticks or plastic knives to use as garden labels. Write on them with a ball point pen or waterproof marker.
An old hot water bottle filled sparingly with foam rubber chips is a handy kneeling pad for long gardening jobs.
If tender buds or shoots become frozen, thaw them out slowly by spraying with cold water before the sun shines, otherwise they may get scorched.
To avoid tender plants getting damaged by frost, listen to the weather forecast and protect delicate plants with newspaper or old clothes.
To prevent snow damaging small conifers, when it is forecast tie the branches to the trunk with string, however, do not leave them tied for more than a day or two.
As long as you don't mind how they look, old car tyres make a good temporary cold frames for new seedlings. Sow the seeds inside the tyre and place a piece of glass or clear plastic on top. The rubber absorbs the heat during the day and releases it over night.
If you find handles of tools, mowers and shears uncomfortable to hold try buying a foam bicycle handlebar grip. Slip the grips over the tool handles, using washing up liquid or Vaseline if it proves difficult. If the handle in question is continuous try slitting the grip horizontally to allow it to be slipped over the handle. Pipe insulating foam may also work.
Always buy strong, good quality tools and look after them well. If you can afford it buy stainless steel as they will last a lifetime and are easier to clean. When choosing tools pick them up and try out for balance and weight.
Before filling a strawberry barrel with compost stand a piece of drainpipe or cardboard tube upright in the centre and fill with pebbles. As you fill with compost gradually remove the tube releasing the pebbles. This will act as a central drainage system preventing the soil from becoming waterlogged.
Hanging baskets need watering twice a day; to make this easier consider attaching them to a pulley system available from garden centres.
Water hanging baskets by putting ice cubes on the top, moisture is slowly released as the ice cubes melt. Ensure these do not touch the plants as this may cause damage.
If your hose springs a leak it can be temporarily repaired by inserting a cocktail stick into the hole. Snap the stick off as close to the hose as possible and wrap around with insulating tape or waterproof tape (if available). This should extend by about 2" each side of the hole. As the wood absorbs the water it will expand and seal the hole.
An old wheel rim makes an ideal storage place for a garden hose when not in use. This can be hung on a garage or shed wall.
An easy to use tool which helps remove the strain of bending
3 year Crop Rotation Planner
Get the most out of your allotment or vegetable patch with this handy planner...
