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Lawns:
it is a great time for those
renovations. Sowing or laying turf, time
is running out. Fertiliser should also be
thrown around now, wait until after a wet
day, then just throw it around. All lawns
should have a fertilise before winter then
again after winter to get some really good
growth going
Bulbs: still
planting time for bulbs, they are
available in most nurseries at the moment,
hyacinths, daffodils, jonquils, tulips etc.
Give them a go!
Pruning: Early
pruning can commence this
month. Hydrangeas have two pruning
methods, either remove all the old stems that
have previously flowered, leaving stems yet
to flower, or prune all stems back to the
second fat bud. The cuttings can be used for propagation as
discussed in the previous news letter. The first method will allow
the plant to flower earlier in the season and is probably the best
method, however it also requires a fairly good knowledge of the
particular plant so that you know which stems have flowered. This
method of pruning can be carried out whenever a flower has died.
Herbaceous borders can also be pruned and tidied now and can be
mulched with old straw.
Now is also the ideal time to sharpen your pruning tools. Secateurs
and loppers can be pulled apart and sharpened with a stone.
Chainsaws can be professionally sharpened now, but they are easily
kept sharp with a small round file used after every use.
Bare rooted stock:
For those who have planting to do in poor soils it is a good idea to
dig the hole now, fill it with a good quality soil and let it
settle. The hole should be large enough for the plant to grow in
comfortably for a couple of years. This will mean that the plants
roots can establish before going into the poorer soil |
