Letters to Wendy: from AG readers

Your

LETTERS TO WENDY

Write to us: Letters, Amateur Gardening magazine, Future Publishing Limited, Unit 415, Winnersh Triangle, Eskdale Road, Winnersh, RG41 5TP (please include your address). Email us: amateurgardening@futurenet.com

At the end of the drought…

AFTER what seemed like a never ending heatwave and drought this summer, I was determined that when the rain did finally come, I would save every drop I possibly could. So when the weather forecast promised thundery downpours I rushed to the garage and gathered up every receptacle I could find to maximise the water collection. The next day, steady rain soon turned into a deluge! I was soon outside, filling various small containers via the water butt taps, emptying some onto the garden before going back for refills; I was getting a bit wet but it was worth it.

Then I had an even better idea. If I removed a section of downpipe from the gutter (one that did not feed into the water butts) I could put my three large tub trugs underneath and they would soon fill up. Once done, there was a steady stream coming out into the trug and I was quite pleased with myself. When I next looked, however, the steady flow had turned into a torrent – this was maybe working too well!

Sure enough, in no time at all the last trug was overflowing. I tried to bail it out using a smaller trug but it was no use, the water was flooding in faster than I

Then came the rain: as the torrent gushed through the water butt taps, Robert had another technique to maximise his water collecting

Star letter

could get rid of it. I was going to have to refit the downpipe. I can say with some conviction that attempting this job with water gushing out of the pipe is not recommended if you want to stay dry (and I was already soaked to the skin). I did think though, after the downpipe was refitted, that I had gone above and beyond the call of duty in my efforts to save water and I decided to call it a day!

Robert Hinchcliffe, North Lincolnshire

Moth traps are lethal to blue tits

DEAR John and Ruth, you suggested a pheromone moth trap from Agralan for capturing the male moth and preventing the plums being eaten. However, the one suggested is absolutely lethal to the blue tits who try to get the male moth from the trap and end up smothered in the glue. An alternative one is a cup and cap sold by 8 Dragonfli.co.uk and it’s both pleasing to the eye and safe for our feathered friends.

Having bird feeders in the garden and a good water supply to encourage our little feathered friends into our gardens, is good as a deterrent, they will pick off those pests in no time.

Andrea Farrell

Wendy says Thanks Andrea. The pheromone trap you mention has entry holes that are only big enough for moths. The pheromone lures for the trap are available for plum fruit moth, codling moth as well as other moth caterpillar pests

The Castellastion Pheromone Trap, 8 Dragonfli.co.uk Thank you for all your gardening-themed poems. Marilyn Wellman from Taunton, Somerset, writes WIN £20 about the antics of visiting birds and the joy that they bring...

A takeaway

My outside space is a wonderful place, Wild birds visit each day. They argue and fight all with their might, To pick up a takeaway.

I leave out a treat for them to eat, . And though this may sound absurd, I have sparrows and tits who eat the most bits –And even a grape-eating blackbird.

Wagtails abound, they vacuum the ground They will only eat from the floor. Starlings eat fast as if each peck was their last, They drop more than they eat I am sure.

If a wash is their wish there’s always a dish, Or a bird’s bath to do as they please. To drink or to clean and then away to preen, Nor far just up in the trees.

It’s just my bit to keep them healthy and fit, As they live their life every day. The joy they bring with the songs that they sing, Saying thank you in their own special way.

Photo of the week

Hats off to Diana, for her amazing red, white and blue baskets this summer

Baskets of fun

IT WAS so sad about the passing of the Queen. I am sending a few pictures of my red, white and blue display for the Jubilee year. That’s me, sitting under the hanging basket!

I sowed a packet of cosmos seeds and now in September, they have only just started to flower, it’s so late. My Busy Lizzies are still going strong.

All my plants are grown on the patio in pots, it’s much easier for me as I’m disabled. I have a long patio so I’m very lucky. It was a struggle to keep them watered in the drought this summer with the hot winds as well. We love our plants and us gardeners don’t like to see our plants suffer and wilt!

Diana Eastwood

A catalogue of catastrophes

I WANTED to share with you a picture of this hydrangea, not just because it looks spectacular but because I tried very hard to destroy it!

I’ve had an epic struggle growing things this year. First it was the weather, then it was a variety of rodents, then it was snails, then it was escaping goats and sheep and the pony. Not to mention the grandchildren marauding with the toy chainsaw!

The hydrangea has been hacked to the ground, partially dug up and poisoned – wish everything was as resilient.

Jane’s hydrangea has been through the mill and still looks beautiful

Jane Pridham, Deancombe, Devon

Reader’s Tip SAVE using too much compost when filling your window boxes, baskets, and containers with winter bedding. Put in a good layer of broken up pieces of polystyrene into the base of the pots first then fill with the compost. You can reuse the polystyrene the following year by just giving it a good wash.

Ann West, Eye, Suffolk

Future Add broken pieces into the base

Future Publishing Ltd Unit 415, Winnersh Triangle, Eskdale Road, Winnersh, RG41 5TP

Editorial:

Editor: Garry Coward-Williams

Email: garry.coward-williams@futurenet.com & 0330 390 3732 (Mon-Fri 9.00am-6.00pm) Gardening Editor: Ruth Hayes Assistant Editor: Janey Goulding Art Editor: Al Rigger Editorial Assistant: Lesley Upton Picture Editor and Letters: Wendy Humphries Email: amateurgardening@futurenet.com

Photography All copyrights and trademarks are recognised and respected Advertising Media packs are available on request Ad Manager: Jackie Sanders, & 07899 882370 email: jackie.sanders@futurenet.com Amateur Gardening is available for licensing and syndication. To find out more contact us at licensing@ futurenet.com or view our available content at futurecontenthub.com Head of Print Licensing: Rachel Shaw

Subscriptions

Email enquiries: amateurgardeningsubs.co.uk/subsave UK orderline & enquiries: & 0330 333 1113 Overseas order line & enquiries: & +44 (0)330 333 1113 Online orders & enquiries: myfavouritemagazines.

co.uk Subscription delays

Disruption remains within UK and International delivery networks. Please allow up to 7 days before contacting us about a late delivery to help@magazinesdirect.com Circulation Retail Category Director: Ben Oakden Production Group Head of Production: Mark Constance Senior Production Manager: Matthew Eglington Advertising Production Manager: Joanne Crosby Digital Editions Controller: Jason Hudson Director of Group Finance: Oli Foster Editorial Director: Rhoda Parry Managing Director: Jason Orme Group Managing Director: Sophie Wybrew-Bond Printed by Walstead Group Distributed by Marketforce (UK), 121-141 Westbourne Terrace, Paddington, London W2 6JR. marketforce. co.uk & 0330 390 6555.

We are committed to only using magazine paper which is derived from responsibly managed, certified forestry and chlorine-free manufacture. The paper in this magazine was sourced and produced from sustainable managed forests, conforming to strict environmental and socioeconomic standards. . All contents © 2022 Future Publishing Limited or published under licence. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be used, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any way without the prior written permission of the publisher. Future Publishing Limited (company number 2008885) is registered in England and Wales. Registered office: Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All information contained in this publication is for information only and is, as far as we are aware, correct at the time of going to press. Future cannot accept any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies in such information. You are advised to contact manufacturers and retailers directly with regard to the price of products/services referred to in this publication. Apps and websites mentioned in this publication are not under our control. We are not responsible for their contents or any other changes or updates to them. This magazine is fully independent and not affiliated in any way with the companies mentioned herein. If you submit material to us, you warrant that you own the material and/or have the necessary rights/permissions to supply the material and you automatically grant Future and its licensees a licence to publish your submission in whole or in part in any/all issues and/or editions of publications, in any format published worldwide and on associated websites, social media channels and associated products. Any material you submit is sent at your own risk and, although every care is taken, neither Future nor its employees, agents, subcontractors or licensees shall be liable for loss or damage. We assume all unsolicited material is for publication unless otherwise stated, and reserve the right to edit, amend, adapt all submissions.