Gardening section.qxp_Layout 1 22/07/2021 14:53 Page 54
MENDIP TIMES
Prune, propagate, pick, protect and plan
With MARY PAYNE MBE
THERE is no time to stand and stare. Plenty still to do in the garden. The months of May, June and July are “full on” in the garden, planting out, staking, and weeding, so we might think we can take our foot off the pedal in August. If that were the case, we could relax and enjoy the fruits of our labours, but sadly, the plants and weeds in your garden have
other ideas. August is the ideal time to think about taking cuttings to increase your stock of plants, either for your own garden, or to give to eager friends. Deciduous shrubs such as weigelas, deutzias and philadelphus are all easy at this time of year. Take 150mm (6”) long terminal shoots of the current season’s growth, pinch out the immature tip and cut straight below a leaf joint, leaving a 100-150mm (4-6”) length. Dip the base in fresh hormone rooting powder if you have any, if not, don’t worry. Insert the cuttings round the edge of a pot filled with a 50:50 mix of multipurpose compost and grit. Water. Pop a polythene bag over the top and secure with a rubber band. Stand in a light position that gets no sun at all, but is sheltered from rain. Do not remove the bag until you can see roots emerging from the bottom of the pot or new growth inside the bag. Many evergreens like cistus, ceanothus, box and hebes can be done using the same method. Do not attempt to pot-on the rooted cuttings into individual pots until next spring when they start into growth. Keep in a sheltered place outdoors or in a cold greenhouse or frame overwinter. Dianthus (pinks) are also easy to multiply now. Pull the top 3” of the new growth out, pot up and keep in a shaded place until rooted. Cuttings of tender perennials including pelargoniums (geraniums), penstemons, argyranthemums and Osteospermums should be done in August, so they establish before the winter. Pelargonium cuttings should be prepared and left overnight before potting up. Do not use a polythene bag for these. Pick cut flowers regularly to encourage further blooming and delay seed setting. In the greenhouse tomatoes should be starting to ripen well, and the tops should be pinched out at 45 trusses as later fruits may not ripen. Keep feeding and take care with watering to avoid “blossom end rot”. This occurs through erratic watering and inhibits the movement of calcium around the plant, so the blossom end of the fruit goes black and sunken. Pick cucumbers regularly to prevent them being overloaded. Laterals can be pinched out after the first leaf. Watch out for red spider mite attacks and order the biological predatory mite Amblyseius immediately if spotted. This works better in hot spells than Phytoseiulus if we get one! Plums will also be ready to harvest this month. In the vegetable garden, harvesting will be in full swing, but quick maturing crops can still be sown such as lettuce, rocket, and radish. Lettuce germination can be tricky in warm weather so try sowing in the evening and water in well. Bare areas can be sown with a green manure to protect and PAGE 54 • MENDIP TIMES • AUGUST 2021
Cuttings
improve the soil structure. Crimson clover or Italian ryegrass are ideal and can be dug in after the winter. Spring planted garlic should be ready for lifting this month. Watch out for cabbage white butterflies and protect brassicas with fine net or fleece. In the fruit garden, summer pruning of espalier/cordon apples and pears should be done now as this season’s growth has ceased and winter buds have been made. Prune back all new growth to 2-3” from where it started this year. There will be a cluster of leaves at the base of the shoot. If you have a heavy crop of fruit, especially on young trees it is advisable to thin the fruit leaving one per 6”. If this is not done the trees may go into “biennial bearing” when you get a big crop one year and then nothing the next. Plum and cherries can be pruned now after picking the crop. Prune as little as possible. They are never pruned during the winter months because of the prevalence of silver leaf fungal disease. After cropping, all the leaves can be cut off strawberry plants and the bed cleaned. Raspberry canes of the summer fruiting varieties should be cut out now and the new canes tied in to prevent wind damage later. The long lengths of wisteria growth that are not required to extend the framework should also be reduced to about 15” cutting just above a bud. Hedges can be pruned now and will stay neat over winter, but check carefully for active late birds’ nests. Pots and hanging baskets will be starting to feel hungry by now if the slow-release granules have been used up, so start or continue liquid feeding with a high potash tomato feed, to encourage continued growth and flowers well into the autumn. Plan for next year. Order bulbs for spring flowering. If your garden starts to wind down at the end of July it is a good idea to visit gardens that open in August to get ideas for extending the season in your own garden. If you are looking for oriental garden ideas then visit the amazing Japanese garden in Glenarm Walk in Brislington which is open on August 14th and 15th, booking is essential via www.ngs.org Watch out for news about “The Queen’s Green Canopy”, an initiative, supported by the Woodland Trust to encourage individuals, groups, companies, villages, indeed anyone to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee” to honour our Queen’s 70th anniversary on the throne.
For more details go to: www.queensgreencanopy.org
