Garden Gems: Pruning, Pests and Plenty

v: Garden Gems

Pruning, pests and plenty

Ruth Crichton-Ward

Summer is now upon us, although that may be hard to believe. Finally, the temperatures have risen following the cold spells of late April and early May. I often consider May the best month of the year in terms of weather, but this year it was not to be.

June can be a busy month in the garden. Everything seems to be having a growth spurt. The grass needs cut, and beds and borders require regular weeding. Plants burst into flower. By now the frosts have passed and plants which have been kept indoors or in cold frames can be planted out. Keep watering and feeding plants regularly as required. Spring flowering shrubs such as Forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia) should be pruned now, as the flowers grow on the previous year’s growth. If pruning is left until later in the year, the plant will not have time to produce fresh growth and so will not be able to bloom the following year. Other early flowering shrubs include Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum) and Bridalwreath Spiraea (Spiraea prunifolia).

One of the issues we now face is the prevalence of slugs and snails— the gardener’s nemeses. Every gardener you ask will have different suggestions for deterring or getting rid of the dreaded gastropods. Deterrents include eggshells, coffee grounds, wool pellets, Garlic spray and copper tape. Eggshells (crushed but not too small) or coffee grounds should be placed around the plants that the slugs and snails find attractive, as shown in the photo featuring a Courgette plant (Cucurbita pepo). The pests do not like the crunchy texture on their little slimy bodies so keep their distance. These substances will eventually compost down into the soil, so they do not need to be removed when the plant has grown.

Ways of dispatching the pesky creatures include nematodes and beer traps. I also know gardeners who prefer the old-fashioned way of catching them, which involves going out at night with a torch and manually collecting them in a bucket — certainly an environmentally friendly method. I have deliberately not included slug pellets in this list as my heart always sinks at the mention of them. Wildlife such as hedgehogs, toads and birds feed on slugs and snails; if they ingest the pellets that their prey has eaten, the effects can be devastating. I have heard that gardeners who have a wildlife pond tend to be less bothered by slugs if it is home to frogs or toads, so that’s another option.

The treatment which seems to be the most effective against these pests is the use of nematodes. Nematodes are microscopic creatures that feed on other organisms. There are thousands of types of nematode, so do ensure that you are buying the correct one for the specific pest. They are a form of biological control and do not harm other wildlife, pets, children or the environment. Nematodes should be mixed into water and applied to the soil with a watering can. As they are living creatures, each pack has a fairly short shelf life but can be kept in a refrigerator for up to three weeks.

By late May, some plants have already flowered. Certain herbaceous plants, such as Catmint (Nepeta cataria), can be cut back already and may flower again before the year is out. Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) will start to turn yellow when they have finished flowering. Cut them back at this point, and they will give you another crop later in the year. The flowers of the Chive are pretty and edible, and the bees also love them. There is harvesting to be done now too. Remember the Garlic (Allium sativum) we talked about in previous issues? When its leaves wilt and turn yellow, it is time to harvest. Dig the bulbs out of the ground and leave them to dry out for two to three weeks, complete with their leaves. When the leaves have completely dried, snip them off. By now the familiar papery husk will have formed around the outside of the Garlic. Early Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) should be ready now too. It is important to pinch out side-shoots on Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) at this time of year— if they are left, the yield of fruit will be reduced. Pinching them out encourages the plant to concentrate on fruit production rather than leaf growth.

Strawberries (Fragaria ananassa) will be showing signs of near-readiness, so place straw around the base of the plants. This has several functions: to make it more difficult for slugs to access the berries; to keep the berries off the ground and prevent them rotting; and as a weed suppressant. It is also a good idea to put netting over the Strawberries as birds also enjoy them as a tasty treat. Later in the year when harvesting is complete, the straw can be added to the compost heap. Enjoy the long days and the warmer weather. Until next month, happy gardening!