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You might think
January
is a dead time of year in the garden, but not necessarily so. Over the
past 10 years our winters have got warmer, and it's now quite usual
for snowdrops and winter aconites to start flowering in January. Shrubs
such as winter honeysuckle, witch hazel and Viburnum bodnantense will
add colour and gorgeous fragrance to the garden, and evergreens and conifers
will ensure your plot looks good on the greyest days. So, if the view
from your window is bare and dull, now's the time to decide on new
planting to liven things up. Although January is often bitterly cold and
wet there may be the odd bright day. Take the opportunity to mulch your
soil using one of the wide range of J Arthur Bower's soil conditioners,
then sit back and let the worms do the hard work for you.
ESSENTIAL JOBS CHECKLIST FOR JANUARY
Flower Garden Tidy up your borders if you didn't do
it in the autumn and put the debris on the compost heap. Mulch between trees and shrubs to improve
soil structure and fertility. You can use one of J Arthur Bower's
soil conditioners for structural improvement or use the 100% organic
Farmyard Manure if your soil needs feeding up. See our Quick Guide for
more tips on improving your soil. Phormiums and cordylines need to be protected
from sever frost and snow - tie the leaves loosely together and cover
with horticultural fleece or bubble wrap. Order seeds and plug plants
by mail order Plant bare-rooted shrubs. Get them off to
a great start by using one of J Arthur Bower's planting mixtures.
See our Quick Guide for planting tips. If you haven't got time to
plant properly yet, or the weather's awful, unpack the plants and
dig a trench in a spare part of the garden. Lay the plants in the trench
and cover the roots with soil until you have time to plant them. If you are planting a new hedge, prepare
the site before planting by digging it over and adding homemade compost
or J Arthur Bower's Farmyard Manure Roses Plant bare-rooted roses following the instructions
given in the Flower Garden and in our Quick Guide. Lawn Take the opportunity to check over your lawn
mower and trimmer and clean them. Arrange to have the mower sharpened
if necessary. In the Greenhouse Hygiene is crucial in the winter greenhouse,
otherwise grey mould may infect over-wintering plants. Pick off old flowers
and dying leaves and dispose of them. Don't over water plants. It's
worth using a fan in the daytime to improve air circulation. Containers Even in winter containers of winter bedding
such as pansies and ivies may need watering in dry conditions. If you have tender specimen plants protect
them from the cold with fleece or bubble pack. Vegetable Garden Dig over new plots and leave roughly dug
to allow frost to break down the large clods. Fruit Garden Mulch between established fruit trees using
one of J Arthur Bower's soil conditioners or mulches. Prune blackcurrants and raspberries. Plant new fruit trees following the instructions
given in the Flower Garden section. Water Features If you haven't already removed pumps
and filters from your water features, do so now. Clean and store the pumps
until spring. Keep an area of you pond ice-free to stop a build-up of gases affecting wildlife. To contact us: Phone +44 1406 370242 |
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Spring may seem a long way off, but calm, sunny days will bring early daffodils and crocuses into flower to join the snowdrops. Don't be fooled though - February is often the coldest months of the year. Those clear days may bring hard frosts at night. Listen to the weather forecast and protect vulnerable plants. If you want to get some fresh air, why not fork over the soil; between established plants and mulch with one of the range of J Arthur Bower's mulches and soil conditioners. This will help get your soil into good heart. ESSENTIAL JOBS CHECKLIST FOR FEBRUARY
Flower Garden Start to prune clematis. For more help to get you started, read our Quick Guide. Clematis fall into one of three basic categories - early-flowered such as montanas, early large-flowered hybrids and those flowering after midsummer. The ones that need pruning now fall into the last two groups, so check first which varieties you've got. For the last group, the late-flowerers, it's very easy - cut them down to six to eight inches above soil level, cutting just above a bud if you can. Don't prune spring-flowering clematis or you'll get no flowers! After pruning feed with your favourite J Arthur Bower's plant food, either Growmore or Fish, Blood and Bone. The early large-flowered varieties are a bit more tricky. You need to cut back healthy stems to just above a strong pair of leaf buds. Don't cut right back or you won't get the early flowers at all. Split clumps of overcrowded snowdrops by digging them up and gently teasing the bulbs apart. Replant in groups of five using a handful of peat or J Arthur Bower's Mulch and Mix in the planting hole. Continue to plant bare-rooted shrubs, trees and perennials. Continue to mulch established borders.
Roses Roses can also be pruned now. Shrub roses don't need much trimming, but you can be quite severe with hybrid teas and florabundas. First cut all dead wood, then cut out crowded or crossing stems. Finally cut back the remaining stems by about half. Aim to cut to just above an outward facing bud and this will help to make the bush grow outwards. After pruning use J Arthur Bower's Pure Rose feed Continue to plant bare-rooted roses
Lawn If your lawn is a bit soggy, pierce it all over with a garden fork at six-inch intervals to help drainage.
In the Greenhouse You can make the first sowings in a heated propagator of summer bedding. Those needing an early start include petunias, geraniums, Busy Lizzies and nicotianas. Use one of the J Arthur Bower's seed composts, or multi-purpose composts. Tomatoes can also be sown this month Towards the end of the month start pelargoniums into growth by watering gently. Once growth starts, cut back the plant and re-pot it into fresh multi-purpose compost Fuchsias can also be started. Cut them back to about six inches, report into multi-purpose compost then water gently.
Containers Keep picking off the dead heads from winter pansies and primroses to keep them looking good.
Vegetable Garden Under cloches you can sow broad beans, early carrots and parsnips. Sow summer cabbages, onions, leeks and peas in a warm propagator.
Herb Garden Sow small quantities of parsley seed in a seed tray.. It's a good idea to sow parsley every four weeks until autumn. This will ensure a succession of fresh foliage for harvesting. To help the seeds germinate, soak them in warm water for several hours, then dry before sowing in your favourite J Arthur Bower's Seed Compost.
Fruit Garden Continue to plant bare-rooted fruit trees If your fruit trees have had a lot of problems with pests and diseases it's worth trying a spray of tar oil winter wash over the trunk and branches. Always follow the instructions carefully and be sure not to spray on a windy day.
Water Feature Cut back in decaying plants and remove dead leaves from your pond if you didn't do it in the autumn.
Alpines If frost has lifted your alpines firm them back into the soil or replant if necessary. Dress round the plants with J Arthur Bower's lime-free coarse grit.
To contact us: Phone +44 1406 370242 |
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With days getting longer
and
the sun getting warmer, spring is just around the corner. Many spring
bulbs such as daffodils, hyacinth, crocuses and early tulips will be in
flower. There are a few jobs to be done in the garden
this month. Probably the most important is to prune your roses and clematis.
So get out there in the spring sunshine with your secateurs. Don't
forget to give the plants a generous feed after pruning. You can also
feed established borders before mulching. Seeds can now be sown in the
greenhouse or on a sunny windowsill. ESSENTIAL JOBS CHECKLIST FOR MARCH
Last Chance To…Plant bare-rooted trees, shrubs,
roses and hedging. Flower Garden Herbaceous plants will start into growth
this month. Fork a general purpose plant food around your plants as they
emerge - choose J Arthur Bower's Growmore, or Fish, Blood and Bone
if your prefer an organic product. Then cover the soil with a thick mulch
using J Arthur Bower's bark chips or composted bark. This will keep
the moisture in and keep weeds down, making your life easier. Be careful
you don't damage plants that are not yet showing. Carry on pruning
clematis. If warm weather means your late-flowering varieties have already
made a lot of new growth don't worry about cutting them back - they
will shoot again from buds lower down. Pruning will also have the effect
of delaying flowering. You might choose to prune some clematis early and
some late to give you continuity of flowering. Make sure you know which
group your clematis falls into before you get out the secateurs. Feed
your clematis after pruning and mulch them. Order summer-flowering bulbs,
corms and tubers, such as gladioli, dahlias, eucomis,
begonia, crocosmia, lily and schizostylis. Roses Continue to prune large-flowered and cluster-flowered
roses and then give them a feed. Shrub roses should not be pruned in the
spring as you won't get flowers. However, you can feed and mulch shrub
roses now. Lawn The grass will be starting to grow this month
so you can give your lawn its first cut of the season - make sure the
blades are set high. Carry on aerating your lawn and rake it to get out
debris and dead grass and moss. If moss is a problem you can choose from
one of the J Arthur Bower's extensive range of mosskillers. Lawn sand,
with nitrogen, is a traditional treatment, which many gardeners prefer,
or you can buy mosskiller on its own. Many gardeners prefer to kill weeds
at the same time - in this case choose the Feed, Weed and Mosskiller from
our Total Lawn Care range. In the Greenhouse Sow seeds for summer bedding in your greenhouse.
If you don't have a greenhouse you can raise many seeds successfully
on a warm, bright windowsill in the house or conservatory. Many people
prefer to buy the seedlings that are now available in garden centres,
and to grow these on themselves. However you choose to grow your summer
bedding, you'll find a compost available from the J Arthur Bower's
range to suit you. Carry on starting pelargoniums and fuchsias
into growth. Don't forget to pot them into fresh compost to get them
off to a good start. You can also start begonia tubers and canna
roots. Begonia are best started by laying the tubers in a tray of moist
compost. Once the shoots show you can pot them individually. Containers Winter containers might be looking a bit
the worse for wear by now. Clean out the containers ready for planting
out summer bedding in May. To give a quick burst of colour until then
look out for pots of exotic ranunculus in the garden centre, or plant
some perennials that catch your eye. Once May comes, you can plant these
into permanent positions in your garden. Vegetable Garden If conditions are suitable outside, you can
start to sow seeds of broccoli, cabbage, kale, kohl rabi, parsnips, peas,
radish and spinach. It's best to cover with cloches. Plant out onion sets and shallots Buy seed potatoes and put them in a cool
light position to sprout. You can start plant early varieties towards
the end of the month. Herb Garden Continue to sow parsley in small batches.
You can use the same technique for coriander and chervil.. Now's a good time to start a new herb
garden. Herb plants are readily available in most garden centres. You
need to decide whether your main aim is to grow herbs for the kitchen
or for their decorative value. Herbs look good in a formal design, so
spend a bit of time planning it out on paper before you buy the plants.
Most herbs require an open sunny site and a light open soil. If your soil
in heavy add grit or san to improve drainage and J Arthur Bower's
Mulch and Mix to improve the structure. Fruit Garden Now's your last chance to plant bare-rooted
fruit trees into well-prepared soil. For an early crop of strawberries bring potted
plants into the greenhouse. Water well and feed - try J Arthur Bower's
liquid tomato food to boost flowers and fruiting. If your rhubarb is pushing
through, cover it with an upturned bucket to exclude the light. This will
encourage the plant to produce tender pink shoots. Water Features By the end of the month you can safely return
your pump and filters to the pond. Marginal plants may need re-potting
into bigger baskets - use J Arthur Bower's Aquatic Compost for best
results. It's a good idea to lift the top inch of soil of established
marginals and replace with fresh compost. Water adds a whole new dimension
to gardens. If you don't have a water feature, now's a good time
of year to start. You don't have to have an excavated pond. Garden
centres stock an enormous range of different features ranging from wall
fountains and pebble pools to half barrels for miniature pools. Alpines If some of your carpeting alpines have outspread their welcome you can divide them now and replant into gritty soil
To contact us: Phone +44 1406 370242 |
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Spring well and truly arrives
this
month as trees and shrubs burst into fresh green leaf and gardens and
hedgerows are decked with pink and white blossom. Warm days should tempt
even the most reluctant gardener out to catch up with the jobs that can't
be put off any longer. For many people, the lawn will be the first priority.
It's probably looking pretty sad after the winter, but don't worry.
There's an enormous range of J Arthur Bower lawn care products to
help you get your lawn in tip-top condition.
ESSENTIAL JOBS CHECKLIST FOR APRIL
Last Chance To…Prune roses Flower Garden Sooner or later perennials will need dividing
-ideally this should be done every three to five years. Once the plants
starts to become woody or dies back at the centre it will benefit from
being split up and replanted. Early April is a good time of year to tackle
this. Dig up the plant and split ii up into several portions, making sure
each has a good share of root. Discard the woody centre. Dig over and
fertilise the area for replanting, using your favourite J Arthur Bower's
soil conditioner and general plant food. Once planted, water in well and
mulch.Garden centres are bursting with colour at this time of year and
it's easy to be tempted into buying new plants. Make sure they get
off to a good start by preparing the soil well and using one of the planting
mixtures set out in the Quick Tips section. The clematis you pruned last month will be
putting on masses of growth now. Spend a but of time training it and tying
it in otherwise you'll find it makes a congested mass. If you get
training early you can spread the growing shoots widely over the chosen
wall or fence and get a far better display of flowers. Be very careful
with the new shoots as they are very brittle and easily broken.. The flowers of spring bulbs will be dying
off now. Don't be tempted to cut the leaves and flowers down for at
least six weeks after flowering as this will weaken the bulbs. By all
means cut off the dead flower heads to stop them setting seed. Once you've
done this give the clumps a generous feed with one of J Arthur Bower's
Liquid Plant foods. This will help the bulbs build up so that you get
an even better display next spring Annual seeds can be sown in the open garden
now. If you sow them in rows you'll find it easier to thin them, and
to tell them apart from weed seedlings. Don't sow them too thickly.
It's a good idea to sow after there's been a good downpour as
the moisture in the soil will help the seeds germinate quickly. Do water
if it becomes very dry.. Roses This really is your last chance to prune
bedding roses. Don't worry if they've already made lots of growth
- all that will happen is that flowering is delayed. The plants will benefit
from tough pruning. Honestly! And don't forget to feed them once the
job is done. Lawn Give your lawn the pick me up it needs to
ensure a smooth green carpet. Choose the appropriate J Arthur Bower's
product and use according to the instructions. Be careful not to use if
the grass is wet or you could end up with scorched grass. If you garden on heavy soil which becomes
easily compacted, consider using J Arthur Bower's Lawn Dressing, which
will improve the soil structure promoting strong root growth and healthy
grass. In the Greenhouse Continue to sow summer bedding. Last month's
sowings should be ready to prick out now. Sow tomatoes in pots - if you don't have
a greenhouse a warm windowsill is fine. Continue to start summer-flowering
plants such as fuchsias, pelargoniums, begonias and dahlias into growth Containers Keep displays looking good by dead-heading
and watering more frequently. Vegetable Garden Plant second early potatoes at the beginning
of the month and main crop varieties at the end of the month. Plant out
onion sets in rows, making sure you leave enough space between them for
hoeing out the weeds. Continue to sow outdoors or under cloches - leeks,
broad beans, beetroot, lettuce, parsnips, peas, mange-tout and spinach
can all be treated in this way. Brussels sprouts and summer cauliflower
and cabbage is best sown into a seed bed before transplanting in May Herb Garden Basil is one of the more tricky herbs to
grow from seed. It hates cold, damp conditions, so is best sown in a warm
greenhouse or on a warm windowsill. Ideally the temperature shouldn't
fall below 13 C (55 F). Sow very thinly and prick out the seedlings as
soon as they are large enough to handle. Keep them in a sunny but well-ventilated
place Fruit Garden Apply a general plant food, either J Arthur
Bower's Growmore or Fish, Blood and Bone, around fruit bushes, trees
and strawberry plants If frost is forecast spread fleece over flowering
fruit trees and bushes to protect the blossom
Water Features If tadpoles have turned up in your pond make
sure they have clumps of pondweed to give them shelter for marauding goldfish. If you have a piece of your garden that's
always soggy, why not consider turning it into a bog garden. You'll
need to dig out the soil to s depth of about 12 inches before putting
a liner in. Soil should consist of J Arthur Bower's Top Soil mixed
half an half with peat, or a peat-substitute if you prefer. Dust over
with Growmore or Fish, Blood and Bone before planting.. Among the plants
you can choose are astilbes, many varieties of primula and iris and ferns Alpines Many alpine plants are at their best in spring. If you don't have room for a traditional rockery or you can't be bothered with one, don't worry. You can still grow these lovely plants. The easiest way to start is probably in an old sink or similar shallow container. Lay fine mesh netting over the container base and place broken crocks over the drainage holes. Then add about 3 inches of J Arthur Bowers's coarse grit. Make up a planting mixture by mixing one part top soil, one part peat or peat substitute and one part grit. Fill the container to within one inch from the top with this mixture. You can add pieces of tufa rock as you put in the compost. Then it's ready for planting. It's worth going to a specialist alpine nursery and asking for plants that are small and slow-growing otherwise your trough could be swamped. When you've finished planting top-dress the trough with an inch of coarse grit.
To contact us: Phone +44 1406 370242 |
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May is when spring turns into early summer.
It's hard to keep up with all the plants that are bursting into flower
- look out for irises, peonies, columbines and hardy geraniums. By the
end of the month the first shrub roses will be in bloom. May weather is
often very changeable. Gardeners may have to contend with everything from
frost and strong winds, to heat waves and thunderstorms. With lawns to
care for and summer containers to plan and plant, you'll probably
need to stock up on composts, plant foods and lawn treatments. Choose
from the wide range of J Arthur Bower's products to help you create
a summer garden to be proud of.
ESSENTIAL JOBS CHECKLIST FOR MAY
Roses
Keep a close eye on your roses and spray
at the first sign of pests or disease. When buying new roses you may prefer
to choose some of the newest hybrids bred for their resistance to pests
and diseases
Lawn
If you applied your first lawn weed early
you should feed again towards the end of the month with J Arthur Bower's
Spring and Summer Lawn Food Treat weeds as necessary
In the Greenhouse
Containers
Summer containers can be planted up this
month. If you don't have a greenhouse or porch to keep them away from
late frosts, just make sure you listen to the weather forecast and cover
the containers with fleece if necessary.
Vegetable Garden
Herb Garden
Take cuttings of rosemary, sage and thyme
from the previous years growth. Take off the lower leaves of the cuttings
and put them round the edge of a pot filled either with J Arthur Bower's
Perlite or Sharp Sand. If you haven't got a space for a herb garden,
many herbs can be successfully grown in containers. Chives, mint and parsley
enjoy quite a rich soil and would be better in J Arthur Bower's John
Innes No. 2. For marjoram, thyme, sage, hyssop, rosemary and lavender
mix 3 parts John Innes No. 1 with 1 part J Arthur Bower's sharp sand
and add some coarse grit. Annual herbs such as coriander and chervil can
be grown in the same mixture or in multi-purpose compost.
Fruit Garden
Apply a general plant food around fruit trees
unless they have failed to set much fruit. Young trees may still need
watering in dry weather Gooseberry and blackcurrant bushes can also be
fed
Water Features
All types of water plants can be planted
this month using J Arthur Bower's Aquatic Compost. Top dress the basket
with gravel to stop compost clouding the water Algae and blanket weed
may become a problem as the weather warms up, especially in fairly new
ponds where there is not much leaf cover on the surface. It's easy
to remove blanket weed with a stick - you'll find you can wind it
round and pull it out. If algae persist you might consider using a proprietary
pond treatment, but be sure to follow the instructions carefully and use
the correct amount for your pond.
Alpines Trim back aubrietas and arabis that have flowered - this helps keep them compact and free-flowering.. After pruning feed the plants with an all-round plant food such as J Arthur Bower's Growmore or Fish, Blood and Bone May's a good month to plant new alpines. Dig out a hole bigger than the root ball and half fill with a gritty planting mixture. Mix this into the surrounding soil and add more mixture around the plant. Water in well and top dress with J Arthur Bower's coarse grit.
To contact us: Phone +44 1406 370242 |
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Long sunny days
and
warm light evenings make June the month when even the most reluctant gardener
will enjoy spending time outside, even if it's only lounging on the
patio with a long cool drink. Roses, honeysuckle and clematis are in full
flower, and bedding plants in summer containers will start to fill out.
All containers will need careful feeding and watering - you can rely on
J Arthur Bower's specially designed composts and feeds to give you
a summer display to be proud of. If you're really stuck for space,
how about investing in a couple of grow bags.
ESSENTIAL JOBS CHECKLIST FOR JUNE
Last Chance To…Plant out summer bedding Flower Garden June is one of the most popular months for
buying perennials and shrubs - hardly surprising with so many beautiful
plants flowering this month. Make sure all new acquisitions are planted
with a good handful of your favourite J Arthur Bower's planting mixture
(see our Quick Tips for suitable recipes). Water new plantings in very
well and continue to water regularly - every couple of days if it's
really hot - until the plants are established and making new growth. Summer
bedding can be planted out in your borders this month. Follow the usual
planting rules, remembering that many bedding plants only have small root
systems and very likely to dry out in hot weather. Prune shrubs that have finished flowering,
such as flowering currants, kerrias, weigelas, philadelphus and deutzias,
by cutting back flowered shoots to a healthy bud. In mature plants, you
can cut out whole branches that have flowered to open up the shrub and
promote new growth. It's best to cut back about one third of branches
each year in a three-year cycle. After pruning, water the shrubs well
and give them a good feed using J Arthur Bower's Growmore or Fish,
Blood and Bone Evergreen hedges and topiary of yew, privet,
box, Lonicera nitida and Leyland cypress can be clipped this month and
given a light feed of all-purpose plant food. Roses Continue to spray roses against pests and
diseases where necessary Dead-head large-flowered and cluster-flowered
roses that have finished flowering- this will promote a second flush of
flowers in July and August. Feed after the first flush of blooms with
J Arthur Bower's Pune Roses. Shrub roses and once-flowering
old-fashioned varieties do not need drastic pruning. Dead-head them instead. Lawn Feed your lawn with J Arthur Bower's
Spring and Summer Lawn Food, if you didn't do it last month. If weeds
or moss are still a problem use the appropriate product from the huge
range of J Arthur Bower's Total Lawn Care range. Mowing should now be done with the blades
set low, unless the weather is very dry - in such conditions a medium
setting will be better for the grass Aerating your lawn will enable it
to take up moisture as well as improving drainage, so if you didn't
do it earlier in the year it's worth doing now. However, don't
do it in really dry conditions - best done after rain. In the Greenhouse Keeping plants moist and protecting them
from intense heat will be priorities this month. Paint shading onto the
glass, and mist plants as well as watering regularly. You can boost the
humidity of your greenhouse by spraying the floor with water each morning.
Keeping the atmosphere moist will help to keep red spider mite at bay. To keep displays of fuchsias and pelargoniums
looking good, remove faded flowers regularly and apply a liquid feed such
as J Arthur Bower's Growmore Liquid Hanging Basket and Container,
which has extra potassium to boost flowering. African violets and Begonia rex can be propagated
from leaf cuttings. For African violets, push a leaf with an inch or slightly
more of stalk attached vertically into a small pot containing a mixture
of equal parts peat and sharp sand. For begonias, cut the veins on the
underside of the leaf in several places and lay the leaves, cut side down,
on top of a small tray of the same mixture. Fasten the leaves down with
two or three stones or hairpins. In a few weeks baby plants will be produced
- these can be potted up separately into J Arthur Bower's Houseplant
compost. Plant up your J Arthur Bower's Grow in Bags with your choice
of crop. Keep the bags well watered - you will find that the New Horizon
peat-free bags need slightly more water than peat-based grow in bags.
Bags should also be fed at least once a week with J Arthur Bower's Liquid plant food. If
you're growing tomatoes don't use the Liquid Tomato Food until
the first truss of flowers has set fruit. Containers Finish planting up containers of summer bedding.
Make sure you keep them well-watered, especially hanging baskets and shallow
window-boxes. Aim to water these once a day if you can, preferably when
the sun isn't on them. Vegetable Garden You can start planting out young leeks this
month - make holes with a dibber, plant the leeks then water without a
rose on your can so that the soil is washed from the sides of the hole.
Cut the tops of young leeks back by about a quarter before planting out.
Brussels sprouts, winter cabbages and sprouting broccoli can also be planted out Earth up potatoes when the foliage is 23
cm (9 inches) high. Drawing the soil up around the stems in this way will
prevent tubers that form near the surface from being green and unfit to
eat. With a bit of luck you should be harvesting
early summer cabbages and cauliflower this month. Herb Garden Many herbs will be ready for picking. Choose
a dry sunny morning (before the heat of the day releases the herb's
essential oils). Cut shoots and tie them into small bundles before hanging
upside-down in a warm place. Once they are dry, strip the leaves from
the stalks and store in jars. If you haven't really got a suitable
place for drying, try using the microwave. Place sprigs or leaves in a
single layer on a sheet of kitchen paper and microwave for 2-3 minutes,
checking every 30 seconds. Cool, then crumble and store. Another way of preserving herbs is by chopping
them and freezing into ice cube trays. This is especially good for parsley,
basil, mint and whole borage flowers. Add one tablespoon of water to each
tablespoon of herbs. Continue to take cuttings of rosemary, sage and thyme. Fruit Garden Apples will drop many small fruits this month
- it's known as the June drop. Don't worry! It's nature's
way of thinning out the crop. Gardeners can do even more thinning if a
particularly heavy crop is being carried. This is easy on dwarf trees,
but is not worth doing on large old standard trees. Check gooseberry bushes
for sawfly and mildew and spray if necessary Water Features If you have a pond with fish but no fountain,
oxygenate the water in hot weather by spraying in fresh water from a hose.
This is especially important in shallow pools. Top up pebble pools as water evaporates Alpines Healianthemums that have flowered should have their stems cut back by half to encourage next year's flowering. Dead-head plants unless you plan to save seed. Cut out dead rosettes of foliage and do any weeding as necessary. Don't let perennial weeds become established as they can quickly overwhelm alpines To contact us: Phone +44 1406 370242 |
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The hottest month
of
the year brings annual plants bursting into flower turning your garden
into a riot of colour. You may be astonished at just how enormous some
of your perennials and shrubs have grown - make a note now so that you
can move any overcrowded plants in the autumn or next spring. Unfortunately,
all sorts of pests and diseases are likely to flourish in the warm weather,
so make sure you keep plants well fed and watered. A plant under stress
is more liable to succumb to infection. If you find your borders flagging
in the sun, water them very well before mulching with bark or gravel from
the J Arthur Bower range.
ESSENTIAL JOBS CHECKLIST FOR JULY
Last Chance To…Sow biennials Flower Garden Carry on pruning shrubs that flowered in
spring and early summer, then feed them with one of the J Arthur Bower's
all-purpose plant foods. It's worth watering well and mulching them
even at this stage in the year. Cut down the stems of bearded iris now that
the blooms have faded. If the clumps are very congested dig them up and
divide, cutting the rhizomes at a joint. Trim back the leaves to 15 cm
(6 inches). Replant in ordinary garden soil with a bit of J Arthur Bower's
grit added, and water in. Continue to water until established. Pinch out chrysanthemum shoot tips to encourage
them to branch and produce more flowering stems. Remove seeds heads of annuals to encourage
the plant to produce more flowers If your dahlias aren't growing very strongly,
give them a boost with some J Arthur Bower's Liquid Growmore every
10-14 days. Some early-flowering perennials, particularly
lupins and delphiniums, can be encouraged to produce a second, smaller,
flush of flowers if you cut the stems right down and apply a liquid feed. Take cuttings of non-flowering shoots from
many shrubs, putting them round the edge of small pots of half and half
peat and sharp sand or peat and perlite. Water them in and keep warm but
out of direct sun. Cuttings can also be taken of pinks. This is the best month to trim hawthorn hedges.
If you cut them earlier they need another trim, but if you leave it any
later the growth will be very tough and hard to cut. Roses Continue to trim back and feed roses that
have finished their first flush of blooms Spray as necessary against pests and diseases Lawn Hopefully, all that hard work you did in
the spring will have paid off, and your lawn will be looking green and
velvety. If not, there's still time to use any of the wide range of
J Arthur Bower's weedkillers, mosskillers and feeds. You should continue
to feeds your lawn, and try to mow it twice a week if you can, though
once a week will be OK. Don't add the clippings to the compost heap
for the first few weeks after applying weedkillers. In the Greenhouse Never let your grow-in bags go short of water
as you may find it hard to re-wet them thoroughly Plants in pots may need watering every day,
and should be fed once a fortnight with a liquid feed If whitefly and red spider mite are proving
a problem, it is now possible to obtain biological controls, which can
be used this month. Tomatoes should start fruiting this month.
Keep the plants well supported and remove side shoots regularly. Use J
Arthur Bower's Liquid Tomato Feed every week to ensure a bumper crop. Containers Water containers every day in hot weather.
Hanging baskets can be watered twice a day if you've got them time
and energy. Feed all containers once a week with J Arthur Bower's
Liquid Hanging Basket & Container Liquid Feed Vegetable Garden Carry on sowing salad crops outside. French
beans can also be sown at the beginning of the month for a late crop. Onions will need a lot of water at this time
of year or the yield will be greatly reduced. Weeds will compete for every
drop of water, so keep on hoeing around your onions to keep weeds at bay Complete planting out young leeks Herb Garden Continue to harvest herbs for drying or freezing The first week of the month is usually the
best time to cut lavender for drying. Cut the hole stalk as soon as the
flowers show colour, but before they are fully open. Tie them in small
bundles and hang in a greenhouse or warm shed or porch to dry. Alternatively
you could lay them in trays in the airing cupboard. When the flower buds
are completely dry, rub them gently off the stalks. Use in muslin bags
or small bowls Fruit Garden Trained fruit trees, such as cordons, fans,
dwarf pyramids and espaliers should be trimmed of any unwanted shoots
this month Pick blackcurrants as soon as they ripen.
Growth being made now will produce next year's crop so keep bushes
watered in dry weather and give them a handful of all-purpose plant food Water Features Waterlilies should be flowering now, so if
you want to buy new plants, now's the time to make your choice. Waterlilies
come in all sorts of different sizes - there are even miniature ones suitable
for container pools. Make sure you get the right size for your water feature.
If aphids are a problem on waterlily foliage try and knock them off with
water spray from a hosepipe. Don't use a greenfly killer anywhere
near a pond as it will harm fish and wildlife Thin out oxygenating plants taking care not
to remove young fish, water snails or froglets with the excess. The best
way to do this is to check through the pondweed carefully, then lay it
out in bundles around the sides of the pond and leave it overnight. This
will give little creatures a chance to slither back into the water Alpines If mounded or trailing plants seem not to be flourishing after flowering give them a top dressing of J Arthur Bower's peat and Silvaperl silver sand mixed half and half with a dusting of Fish, Blood and Bone. Work this mixture into the plant then water well and dress with Silvaperl coarse grit To contact us: Phone +44 1406 370242 |
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Still hot, August
weather is often similar to that of July. However days are getting noticeably
shorter. By the end of the month there's often a distinctly autumnal
feeling in the air. As August is the month when most people go away, try
to arrange for a neighbour of friend to water your containers and greenhouse
plants. It's a good idea to move containers out of full sun while
you're away. Why not use your holiday to visit one or two gardens
- you might get some good ideas for your own plot.
ESSENTIAL JOBS CHECKLIST FOR AUGUST
Flower Garden Take cuttings of tender perennial, such as
verbenas, argyranthemums, fuchsias, salvias and pelargoniums. Dip the
cuttings into a hormone rooting compound before inserting them into small
pots of half and half peat and perlite or peat and silver sand. Water
in well and keep the cuttings in a cold frame or even on warm windowsill
out of direct sunlight. They should root within eight weeks and can then
be potted up in J Arthur Bower's Multi-Purpose compost and over-wintered
in a heated greenhouse or on a bedroom windowsill Trim lavender bushes once the flowers are
past their best. If you like to attract wildlife to your garden you may
prefer to leave the seedheads as goldcrest adore the seeds and may visit
in early autumn If you have camellias, azaleas or rhododendrons
water them well in dry weather otherwise the flower buds for next year
may not develop properly. To boost growth feed them with J Arthur Bower's
Liquid Ericaceous Feed. If you have lime in your soil you may find that
the foliage of these particular plants is turning yellow. The lime in
the soil stops the plants taking up trace elements, particularly iron.
You can alleviate the condition by applying J Arthur Bower's sulphate
of iron. In severe cases it is probably better to grow lime-hating plants
in containers using one of the J Arthur Bower's Ericaceous composts. Late-flowering bulbs such as nerines, agapanthus,
schistylis and sternbergia will appreciate watering at this time of year.
.The reason is that all these plants come from parts of the world with
summer rains. If they go dry they may not flower well This is the month to plant the lovely, but
temperamental madonna lily. It prefers limy soil and should be planted
not more than 5 cm (2 inches) deep Roses Stop feeding roses now. Feeding will encourage
soft growth that won't have a chance to ripen before the winter. It
will then be prone to diseases. Rambler roses that have finished flowering
can be pruned now. Cut the long old stems that flowered this year, but
leave non-flowering shoots as these should bloom next year In the Greenhouse Vine weevil has become a common pest in greenhouses
and containers in recent years. The adult weevil is dull dark grey in
colour, slightly mottled. It comes out at night and chomps away at the
margins of leaves. But it is the larvae that cause the real damage by
burrowing down into the compost and devouring the roots of plants. By
the time the gardener spots that the plant is not flourishing it may well
be too late. If you see wilting leaves remove the plant from its pot and
have a look. The grubs are about 1 cm (1/2 inch) long, curved and creamy
white in colour with brown heads. They should be destroyed on sight. Biological
control by nematodes is now available and should be used this month. Follow
the instructions carefully. Continue to mist plants and check shading Continue to feed tomato plants each weeks
with J Arthur Bower's Liquid Tomato Feed Containers Before you go on holiday try and arrange
for a friend or neighbour to come round and water your containers. If
they can't come every day, take steps to cut down on watering requirements
by moving all containers and hanging baskets out of the sun as far as
possible. Clay pots can be stood on trays filled with wet gravel. If you
have a very elaborate summer display with window-boxes and hanging baskets,
you should consider installing an automatic watering system controlled
by a timer. Vegetable Garden Pick courgettes regularly while they are
small Pinch out the tips of the climbing shoots
of runner beans once they reach the tip of their supports Sow lettuce, winter spinach, spring cabbage
and Chinese cabbage out of doors Herb Garden Continue to take cuttings of woody herbs
including hyssop, lavender, rosemary, curry plant, rue and sage. Dip the
cuttings into hormone rooting compound before inserting them into small
pots of equal parts peat and silver sand or peat and perlite. It's a good time of year to divide congested
clumps of chives. Dig them up and divide in small clumps of about five
or six bulbs. Replant with a handful of your favourite J Arthur Bower's
planting mixture. Fruit Garden Plant rooted strawberry runners now to ensure
a good crop next year. If you leave this much later the crop will be severely
reduced Continue to prune raspberries and tie in
new shoots Prune gooseberries, shortening the main stems
and side shoots to five leaves Water Feature It's OK to cut off water lily leaves if
they are hiding the flowers Continue to thin heavy growths of oxygenating
plants from ponds Ask a neighbour to feed any fish while you're
on holiday. Ornamental fish need to feed heavily in late summer and autumn
to help them get through the winter Alpines There's still time to take cuttings of alpines To contact us: Phone +44 1406 370242 |
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Although autumn unmistakably arrives
this
month, the huge availability of tender perennials means we can all ensure
our gardens remain colourful for a few more weeks. Dahlias really come
into their own, along with salvias, cannas and other exotics. Crocosmias,
perennials asters and Japanese anemones are easy choices for colour in
the border. The weather in early September can often be warm and sunny,
but by the end of the month it is often unsettled with rain and strong
winds. Frost may strike so gardeners need to be prepared to move tender
plants to their winter quarters. Cacti and houseplants should be brought
inside at the beginning of the month.
ESSENTIAL JOBS CHECKLIST FOR SEPTEMBER
Last Chance To…Take cuttings of tender perennials Flower Garden Buy spring bulbs for next year. For a wider
choice than is available at your local garden centre, study mail order
catalogues. Most bulbs, including daffodils, hyacinths, lilies and small
bulbs are best planted this month or in early October. Tulips are better
planted towards the end of October Give evergreen hedges a final trim to ensure
they are neat for the winter Now's the time to go around your garden
collecting seeds from perennials and annuals. Collect seed heads in paper
bags and leave them in a warm place to dry for a few days, before cleaning
and storing in small envelopes. Some gardens that open to the public offer
see-collecting days - a great way to find something unusual. Most seeds
are best sown in spring, Sweet pea lovers may find that sowing seed in
autumn produces stronger plants. Do not soak the seeds as they are liable
to rot. Use J Arthur Bower's Traditional Seed and Potting Compost
and sow the seeds in root trainers, sweet peas tubes, pots or trays. It
has been found that dark coloured seeds germinate well in fairly damp
compost, but pale seed require a compost that is only just moist. Cover
the containers with glass or put them in a propagator and keep at around
15 C (59 F). When the seedlings appear transfer them to a cold frame.
Pinch out the growing tips when the plants are about 10 cm (4 inches)
high Roses Shrub roses and ramblers can easily be propagated
from stem cuttings at this time of year. Take a length of stem about 30
cm (12 inches) long and trim it off just below the bottom leaf. Remove
the soft tip just above a root joint. Take off all but the top two or
three leaves and push the cuttings into a well dug trench in the garden
to about half their length. They should be left for 12 months to root
and develop If rambler and climbing roses have got a
bit out of hand, spend a bit of time tying them in Lawn Aerate the lawn with a fork or special tool
then apply J Arthur Bower's Autumn Lawn Food to nourish your lawn
through the winter months. You can continue to re-seed bare patches on
your lawn. It's also a good time of year to prepare the ground for
sowing a new lawn, while the earth is still warm In the Greenhouse Bring in cacti and houseplants that have
spent the summer out of doors Continue to take cuttings of tender perennials Buy prepared bulbs for Christmas flowering
and plant them in bowls of J Arthur Bower's Bulb Fibre. The added
charcoal will keep the compost sweet even if the container has no drainage
holes, but make sure you don't saturate it If you have kept indoor cyclamen plants from
last winter you should now start watering them. Water from the bottom
by standing them in a shallow tray and allow to drain thoroughly. Containers Your summer bedding will probably still be
looking so good that you can't bear to throw it out yet. Keep them
going until they look tired. Remember that you can over-winter many tender
plants. Take them out of their pots and brush off most of the old compost
so that you can trim back the roots. Also trim the top growth. Then place
them in a tray with some damp, but not saturated, J Arthur Bower's
peat covering the roots and store them in a frost-free place When planting daffodils in containers it's
worth planting two layers of bulbs, slightly staggered one above the other.
This will ensure a spectacular display. Plant the bulbs deeply enough
to allow you to plant winter and spring bedding, such as winter pansies,
primroses, polyanthus and wallflowers on top Vegetable Garden Sweetcorn will be ready to harvest when the
silks have turned from golden to brown. For the sweetest taste, cook them
within minutes of cutting Ripe onions should be lifted carefully and
laid out to dry before storing Continue to harvest runner beans and courgettes.
Make sure you don't leave runner and French beans too long otherwise
they will be stringy and tough If you're sowing out of doors this month
you can speed up germination by putting a cloche over the seeds Herb Garden Parsley can be sown now for an early spring
crop. Tidy up your herb garden by dead-heading
and trimming back perennials and discarding annuals Fruit Garden Cover autumn-fruiting blackberries and raspberries
with netting to keep off the birds, but check daily to ensure no animals
or birds get trapped Pick early varieties of apples as soon as
they're ripe and eat them - they won't keep. If you want to obtain
new fruit trees shop at Baytree. You'll get a far wider choice that
way. Water Features Continue to feed fish Clear decaying foliage from waterlilies. Alpines Tidy up your alpine plants for the winter, making sure they're all firmly settled into the ground. Renew top dressings of Silvaperl Coarse Grit. To contact us: Phone +44 1406 370242 |
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October brings rain,
wind and cloud, but often there's a spell of settled weather. Gardens
can still be colourful with chrysanthemums, Michaelmas daisies and cyclamen,
not forgetting berries and autumn foliage. It's not too late to plant
something that will give you colour for years to come. Follow our planting
tips to get your new acquisitions of to a flying start. You may have more
fallen leaves than you know what to do with. Don't waste them - with
the help of J Arthur Bower's products you can turn then into valuable
compost.
ESSENTIAL JOBS CHECKLIST FOR OCTOBER
Last Chance To…Sow a new lawn Flower Garden Continue to plant bulbs in the open garden.
Enrich the soil in the planting hole with a sprinkling of J Arthur Bower's Bonemeal This is also a good time of year to plant
new shrubs and perennials. The warmth in the soil will help them to get
quickly established. Be generous with the planting mixture and be sure
to water in well in dry weather At this time of year the amount of material
suitable for composting multiplies alarmingly. Summer bedding, trimmings
from perennials and fallen leaves will all rot down, so don't waste
them. Use up all your existing homemade compost to mulch around established
borders or to add to planting mixtures for new acquisitions. Then start
a new compost heap. Always mix together the different materials - this
helps decomposition. Whether you favour a purpose-made compost container,
such as J Arthur Bower's Garottabin, or an open heap, you'll find
that the addition of a biological compost maker will help you produce
high quality compost easily and cheaply. Choose from the Garotta and Biotal
range October is a good time of year to move established evergreens and
conifers. Get a friend to help and dig them up with the biggest root ball
you can manage. Prepare the new planting site well with lots of your favourite
planting mixture - make sure to include J Arthur Bower's bonemeal
to boost root formation. Then water in very well. You'll need to continue
for several weeks until the plant becomes established Dig up dahlias as
soon as frost blackens the foliage. Cut back the stems to about 10 cm
(4 inches) and remove as much soil as possible before standing the plants
upside-down for about a week to allow them to dry out. Store the tubers
in boxes, covered with slightly damp peat. If you don't have a frost-free
greenhouse or shed, you can keep the tubers in a spare bedroom or unheated
porch Roses If black spot or rust has been a problem
try and pick off infected leaves as far as you can and dispose of them
- don't put them on the compost heap. If they fall to the ground and
blow about they will spread the infections next year. Send off for specialist
catalogues and choose new varieties for next year. Lawn New lawns can be laid or sown on well-prepared
sites Scarify established lawns with a rake, then
aerate with a fork if you haven't done it already. There's still
time to use J Arthur Bower's Autumn Lawn Food Greenhouse Check through all pots that have been growing
in the greenhouse or that have been brought in from the garden. Destroy
any vine weevil larvae that you find Stop watering tuberous begonias and allow
the tops to die off. Then remove the tubers from the compost and store
in a cool, dry place Bring late-flowering pot-grown chrysanthemums
into the greenhouse for some late colour Wash shading off the windows and consider
insulating your greenhouse with bubble wrap Containers As well as planting containers with bulbs
and spring bedding, consider planting a couple with small evergreen shrubs
to give a bit of structure and green through the winter months. Euonymus,
ivies and dwarf conifers are ideal. Vegetable Garden Harvest carrots and potatoes, making sure
the crops are clean and dry before you put them into storage. Marrows
can be stored once their skins have been hardened in the sun Finish picking tomatoes before the plants
become diseased. You can hang up the whole plant to ripen green trusses,
or alternatively pick the fruit and ripen it individually. Or you could
always make some green tomato chutney! Herb Garden To ensure a supply of fresh mint during winter
dig up some roots and plant them 5 cm (2 inches) deep in a seed tray in
J Arthur Bower's Multi-Purpose Compost. Keep the tray in the greenhouse. Clumps of chives can also be put into pots
and brought into the greenhouse Fruit Garden |