Gardening Mary Payne MBE

Prune, propagate, pick, protect and plan

With MARY PAYNE MBE

THEREis 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 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.

Cuttings

•Reliable hardy annuals and biennials can still be sown. Californian poppies are so easy and should be sown directly into a well-prepared seed bed in full sun where they are to flower. •Keep the show going in your pots and baskets by increasing feeds and regularly removing fading flowers (don’t let them set seeds!) •Prune climbing and rambling roses now, and Wisteria (if not done last month). •Plant snowdrop bulbs just as soon as you can. They can be difficult to get going but by planting really early they establish much more readily. The longer they are out of the ground the more dormant they become and difficult to re-awaken. •Autumn flowering crocus should be planted as soon as possible, as they will flower this October. They flower before the leaves appear earning them the common name “Naked Ladies”. •Cabbage, cauliflower, sprouts and other brassicas get a multitude of pests at this time of year. Regular sprays of Garlic Barrier keeps them all away without making your vegetables taste like garlic! •Prune fruit trees that have fruits containing stones rather than pips now. Plums, cherries, apricots, peaches and nectarines are best pruned during the summer when they are less likely to get infected with the incurable Silver Leaf disease. •Keep picking runner beans and courgettes regularly. If you don’t they will stop growing more. Both can be used to make excellent chutney or can be given to neighbours and friends.

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Open garden

ANopen garden at Blagdon Court, home of Mary Mead, of Yeo Valley, raised £1,000 for St Andrew’s Church. One of the organisers of church events, Penny Crawfurd, said:

“The afternoon went well despite the weather being rather cloudy and damp. A steady flow of people came and all were greeted by Mary on their arrival. The garden looked beautiful and of course it was set off by the wonderful view of Blagdon Lake.”

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Henley Mill

Henley Mill will not be opening again after the end of this September as the owners have sold and are moving to a smaller property and garden in Wells. So this year is your last opportunity to see this fantastic garden.

This 2½-acre garden has been developed over the last 32 years around the River Axe which runs under the house and through the property. Immediately behind the house the warm sheltered borders are arranged formally with roses and scented plants.

A deck overhangs the mill leat and looks down onto Gunneras, Siberian Iris and Miscanthus Morning Light. The bridge over the mill race leads to the entrance to a secret garden. Crossing another bridge takes the visitor to the enclosed vegetable and cutting garden. Address: Henley Lane, Wookey BA5 1AW. Contact: Peter & Sally Gregson, 01749 676966, millcottageplants@gmail.com, www.millcottageplants.co.uk. Period of Opening: April to September by arrangement. Admission: £5.50, children free.

Other Gardens Open for the NGS

Sunday, August 1st

The Hayes, Newton St Loe, Bath, BA2 9BU, 11am-4pm, adults £6, children free. Also open August 2nd.

Monday, August 2nd

Park Cottage, Wrington Hill, Wrington, Bristol BS40 5PL, 11am-5pm, adults £5, children free

Friday, August 6th

Downs Preparatory School, Wraxall BS48 1PF, 10am4pm, adults £6, children free. Also open Saturday, August 7th.

To see more gardens open for the NGS, see The Yellow Book, or Local County Leaflet, available from local Garden Centres, or go to: https://www.ngs.org.uk

Flower show is back

CLUTTONFlower Show is being held on Saturday, August 14th, 1pm, at Rudge’s Field, near Clutton Church. The marquee will be opened at 2pm by Mary Payne, MBE, gardening correspondent of the Mendip Times.

Entertainment has been booked for all afternoon into early evening. This includes music, ferret racing, a tug of war, strongman demonstration, horse riding, a dog show and agility dog course as well as a display of old cars, tractors etc.

For the children Elsa will be entertaining all afternoon with songs and a magician will perform mysterious tricks for all to watch. The tea tent will have some wonderful homemade cakes and the licensed bar will be busy all day.

Entrance is £2.50 for adults, £5 for a family, U14s free.

Schedules are available from Roger Snary 01761 453063 and Pat Williams 01761 452183, or check online or Facebook.

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EASTHarptree Flower and Craft Show will be held at the village playing field on Saturday, September 18th, 2.30pm.

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WI planters

THE Garden Gang of Bishop Sutton & Stowey WI, has been at it again, providing plants for the planters in Bishop Sutton playing fields, which the group took over last October.

The group’s president, Jenny Harris, said: “We walked home rewarded by the feeling that as a group we had done a good job.”

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