This Week in Your Garden
LAWNS
Most lawns are growing well and probably benefiting from the natural release of nitrogen that occurs during a warm dry spell. Any lawn that is not looking good will benefit from feeding with high-nitrogen fertilizers until the end of the month. If the soil is light make sure to use a fertilizer with some potash and phosphorus, and sulphur is a real benefit too. New lawns can be laid or re-seeding can be carried out now because the ground is excellent order.
TREES, SHRUBS AND ROSES
There has been very strong growth of trees this summer and the routine check for stem constriction by tree ties on young trees is all the more necessary. Shrubs planted from pots during recent months may still need watering despite the heavy rains.
If you have time, remove rose hips to help rose bushes to continue flowering well into the autumn. Early flowering shrub roses and ramblers could now be pruned by removing some of the shoots that flowered.
FLOWERS
Take cuttings of tender plants such as marguerites, fuchsias and argyranthemums to carry over winter before the end of the month. Continue feeding baskets and other containers on a regular basis and watering too. Stay on top of weeding in flowerbeds and borders - there has been a new flush after the rain. Prevent weeds from going to seed now. It is possible to collect seeds of perennial flowers, if it is desired to raise some new plants, for instance hostas and aquilegias.
GREENHOUSE AND HOUSE PLANTS
Tidy up all kinds of plant debris - fallen leaves, dead weeds and such like - from the greenhouse now and be careful not to over water or to splash water about. From now on, grey mould disease becomes a problem for many greenhouse plants and good hygiene is the best way to avoid it.
Continue watering and feeding greenhouse plants. Continue to train and side-shoot tomatoes and cucumbers. Take the tops off tomatoes to encourage the green fruit that is already present. The plants have enough to do to ripen the existing fruit without diverting resources into more growth and flowers.
FRUIT AND VEGETABLES
Raspberry canes that have finished fruiting could be pruned out and the new canes tied into position. If there are too many canes, reduce the number to about ten or fifteen per metre of row. Summer pruning of over-vigorous apples and pears could be carried out now to reduce vigour and increase cropping. Tying branches down to the horizontal will also help fruiting.
Sow winter lettuce, such as Avondefiance, to mature under a cold frame or low tunnel. Sow spring onions. Do not let weeds go to seed to avoid building up trouble for years to come. Remove apples or pears attacked by wasps to avoid even more damage.
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