HOW SAFE IS YOUR GARDEN?

HERE’S an important quiz for gardeners especially those with children around:

1 When working in the garden, do you leave sharp tools where children can reach them and, when finished, leave them lying around while you have a cup of tea?

2 Are there any plants in your garden that can cause poisoning if eaten or blisters if touched?

3 Do you leave your lawnmower or other electrical tools plugged in and unattended?

4 When the paddling pool is filled, or if you have a pond, are small children allowed in the garden on their own?

5 Do you let children play in the garden shed?

The answer to each question should be no but, sadly, it is yes in thousands of homes In 2022, 110,00 children were injured in the garden, according to the Department of Trade and Industry’s home accident surveillance system

And May is the peak month for accidents

Toddlers are naturally curious and slightly older children try to “help’” parents

In either case, that can lead them to handle shears and electrical equipment, often with tragic results

Sheds are another trap where children can trip over cables, spill chemicals or pull tools down from benches or hooks on to themselves Water fascinates children – and it can be a fatal fascination A number drown every year in paddling pools and shallow ponds

A pond can be converted into a sand-pit until the kids are older Several common garden plants are toxic to a greater or lesser extent

Stag’s horn sumach, euphorbia and the herb rue can cause skin problems if handled while laburnum, yew and hemlock, a hedgerow plant, can kill if eaten

Anyone moving to a new house with young children should check what plants are growing in the garden and remove any dangerous kinds or ensure youngsters understand the hazard

Not only children are at risk from garden mishaps Altogether about 300,000 people are hurt in their gardens each year seriously enough to go to hospital

He died in 1789 at the aged of 38 – two years before the dahlia was named after him Since then many hundreds of dahlia varieties have been developed in virtually every colour except blue They range from small bedding types to tall kinds with enormous flower heads for borders and competitive dahlia shows There are so many that they are officially classified in 10 groups, the most recognisable being the Single group, the Pompon with globular flowers, the Decorative, producing huge, multi-petalled blooms, and the Cactus, with numerous petals which furl to a point

FLOWERS: From June onwards spend a few minutes every day trimming the dead flower heads off container blooms and sweet peas to encourage continuous flowering

PATIOS: Plant up tubs and hanging baskets in May Make sure the compost in containers does not dry out and give a liquid feed once a week

SHRUBS AND

TREES: Prune shrubs that have flowered this year

Cut out dead wood, weak growth and crossing branches then trim to keep the shape balanced Do not prune shrubs and trees which have still to bloom this year

LAWNS: Spike lawns, especially if they are damp or mossy, then apply a spring lawn feed, mosskiller or lawn weedkiller as appropriate

Around 87,000 are injured actively gardening or carrying out DIY jobs in the garden Men have more accidents in the garden than women and, apart from children, people aged 30 to 60 are most likely to be injured

Safety often depends on using the right equipment for the job and making sure they are of decent quality and in good repair That applies not only to electrical appliances but also to such tools as spades and hoes, as well as cutting gear like shears and secateurs

In addition, sturdy gloves and footwear can prevent nasty cuts and bruises

The top ten list of most dangerous garden objects, compiled by RoSPA (the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) are:

1 Lawnmowers, 6,500 accidents in the UK each year

2 Flowerpots, 5,300 (people trip over them)

3 Secateurs and pruners, 4,400

4 Spades, 3,600

5 Electric hedge-trimmers, 3,100

6 Plant tubs and troughs, 2,800

7 Shears, 2,100

8 Garden forks, 2,000

9 Hoses and sprinklers, 1,900

10 Garden canes and sticks, 1,800

PONDS: Water lilies and other pond species need feeding just like any other plant: use special pond fertiliser pellets pushed down into the roots

FRUIT: Apples or pears that have been infested with grubs in the past can be sprayed with an insecticide when the petals have fallen

VEGETABLES: Sow French and runner beans in mid or late May

HOUSEPLANTS: Water more freely, feed regularly and do not leave plants in full sun all day except for types really suited to hot conditions

Starspot Crossword

Can you find the celebrity name hidden in this Starspot Crossword? Complete the crossword in the normal way then make a note of the letters contained in all the squares which are marked with shaded stars. These letters will make an anagram of the name you are looking for.