TIM’S TOP TIPS

ARTICLE

TIM’S TOP TIPS

TIM WILDERSPIN, HEAD GARDENER AT TERRY JONES SOLICITORS, LOCAL HISTORIAN AND INEXHAUSTIBLE FOUNT OF FACTS, ANSWERS READERS’ QUERIES ON GARDENING AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT ARRIVES IN HIS POSTBAG. YOUR SAVINGS MAY BE AT RISK IF YOU FOLLOW HIS RACING SELECTIONS.

Dear Tim, I have a small north-facing garden with a paved seating area. Around the edge of this patio I have six hostas of various kinds in pots. I love hostas. But this year the snails are wreaking havoc with them. The leaves are as full of holes as a criminal client’s alibi. What can I do? Javid, Telford

Hi Javid,

Sorry to hear about your snail problem, let’s hope these 3 quick tips can protect your beloved hostas and drive those pesky snails into next door’s garden ASAP.

Tip 1: As recommended by a GP friend of mine – Vaseline has many uses. Apply a line around the circumference of the pot or around the feet of the pot, then rub table salt (or if you are a completely boho gardener Maldon Sea Salt) into the Vaseline. The Vaseline keeps the salt in place and helps protect it from dissolving – snails/slugs will not cross a line of salt.

Tip 2: Try using copper tape around your pots, quick and easy to apply, a roll of tape can be purchased from your local DIY shop, try Abbey Hardware in Abbey Foregate they have everything from mouse traps to four candles!

Tip 3: Delve into your hostas in true David Bellamy style to find if the snails are using your hostas as their local B & B. Quickly root them out and rehome them with a friend or garden rival.

Did you know Javid that the UK exports more edible snails to France than just about any other country, in fact more than they produce themselves.

But if all else fails they make a great accompaniment to a summer BBQ salad!

Dear Tim, I have a fantasy of roasting freshly dug potatoes on Christmas day. Is this feasible, and if so when should I be putting the seed potatoes in the ground? Andy, Shrewsbury

Dear Andy,

Firstly there is nothing wrong with a Christmas fantasy and this one can become a reality.

Yes it is possible to grow potatoes at Christmas. Use seed potatoes and plant in August, the best ones being Pentland Javelins and Arran Pilot.

Simply grow in pots or bags and place in a frost free place and don’t forget to water. Cover with good quality compost. Make sure the little shoots are protruding from the pot and then When shoots reappear cover with more compost and repeat over a period of weeks. When they have flowered and start to die back you will be ready to harvest them for your Christmas dinner.

Enjoy!

Dear Tim, How can I encourage more pollinators and wildlife in general into my town garden? I don’t want to let it go completely wild, but I’d like to do my bit for nature. Michele, Shrewsbury

Dear Michelle,

Great to hear you’re doing your bit in your town garden, try these super sexy plants to attract a host of bees buzzing through your garden gate. Brightly coloured flowers especially blues and purples are excellent pollinators. Try introducing lavender, cornflowers, sunflowers, summer lilac and buddleias and I’ll guarantee you’ll have bees in minutes.

Happy gardening!

Dear Tim, My hedges (privet mixed with some holly and sycamore, unfortunately) are full of dunnocks, sparrows and wrens but they badly need cutting. When can I trim them so as to cause the least disruption to the birdlife? Delroy, Oswestry

Dear Delroy,

I recommend trimming your bush twice a year, end of May and beginning of September but be sure to check carefully that there are no birds in there first. Also if you’re trimming buxus balls, spirals or pyramids make sure you do this on a dull day as doing this in the hot sun could scorch your bush.

Good luck!

Dear Tim, I would love a tree fern in the garden of my small terraced house. Are they too big? Peter, Wellington

Dear Peter,

Certainly not! You can get various sizes from ones as big as a telegraph pole to just a few feet tall, in the world of tree ferns size really does not matter. They make a huge impact instantly and the fact these green beauties were around in the time of the dinosaurs will impress yours kids and grandchildren.

They are simple to plant and easy to look after. Plant in a pot or in the garden, they only have small fibrous roots so once in the ground firm in and soak the trunk and water through the top. In winter protect the crown from frost with a scarf or bobble hat, straw can also be used. Before the first or second week of April take off the bobble hat, cut off the previous year’s fronds and watch the new ones reveal themselves as they uncurl over a few weeks. ■