| Hi everyone | | | | week in between the deluges? |
| What a week I have had this week with all the | | | | A good garden tip is to check your plant |
| rain, that even the gardens are sighing and saying | | | | containers to make sure they are getting enough |
| enough is enough, we want the sun. | | | | water, I know this sounds really silly with all the |
| Anyway, where should I start I wonder? At the | | | | rain we have been having, but often containers |
| beginning would be good I hear you say. Well, you | | | | are close to the house and especially hanging |
| know how one small thing can start a chain | | | | baskets, and are sheltered by the walls and |
| reaction, that is exactly what happened on | | | | eaves. |
| Monday morning. | | | | Also the denseness of the leaves can deflect the |
| I went to one of the amenity sites, where we | | | | rain water from the potting medium, allowing it to |
| are contracted to keep the grass and hedgerows | | | | dry out which can be detrimental to the flowering |
| cut back for visibility for people going in and out | | | | ability of your plants. Hanging baskets can be |
| of the site. | | | | soaked in a container, or in your garden barrow |
| I started cutting the grass as usual with a John | | | | for half an hour or so till they have absorbed |
| Deere F1145 four wheel drive ride on machine, | | | | enough water. |
| running alongside a ditch when suddenly I felt the | | | | Another handy tip is to carry a pair of scissors |
| ground move and the front of the mower | | | | with you, whether you are popping to the |
| started to sink. | | | | washing line or just admiring the garden. My wife |
| No problem I thought, just stick it in reverse and | | | | always has a pair to hand to snip off dead heads |
| out it should come, theoretically. Boy was I wrong! | | | | and yellowing leaves, especially in the green house. |
| When I tried to reverse the back wheels started | | | | Scissors are often easier to use than secateurs |
| to sink and slide into the ditch. OK I thought, still | | | | unless it is woody, and great on small-headed |
| no problem, go on site and get the big 20-ton | | | | annual plants in containers, and is quicker than |
| loading shovel to pull me out. I was thinking this is | | | | nipping out. |
| a good start I think I would rather be back home | | | | Do not forget to nip out those side shoots on |
| in the garden | | | | your tomato plants. Keep an eye on all you |
| The loading shovel came round, we hooked the | | | | greenhouse plants for insect infestations and have |
| chain on the mower and started to pull me out, | | | | your soapy water spray ready to go. |
| out it came without any problems, great I | | | | The cucumber plants are growing quickly at the |
| thought until I looked at the loading shovel, it had | | | | moment and need regular tying up to a sturdy |
| started to sink and lean over sideways. | | | | support, we have been doing this every couple of |
| The driver said not to worry as he would get the | | | | days. |
| 360 degrees 20 ton excavator hooked onto the | | | | The squashes likewise are putting on a good |
| loading shovel and pull it out. Thank heavens I | | | | growth spurt but allow these to trail around your |
| thought, but to my horror the loading shovel slid | | | | greenhouse, as the squashes are very heavy and |
| down deeper and leaning over more, to such a | | | | if staked upright are likely to snap the plant. |
| point that it was in danger of completely turning | | | | Another good garden tip is to turn flowerpots |
| over, I just looked away in disbelief and shook | | | | upside down and slightly support the main stem |
| my head. | | | | so that the young squashes start growing off the |
| After several minutes of deliberation it was | | | | ground until they are half the size of harvesting. |
| decided the only form of action was to call in a | | | | Have a good look at the roses, as this cool damp |
| crane to lift it out. Some hours later this massive | | | | weather creates the ideal climate for mildew, rust |
| 100- ton road crane turned up. Guess what? No it | | | | and black spot on the foliage. The new growth is |
| did not get stuck, turn over or anything else like | | | | most susceptible to mildew whereas the older |
| that, but the major road the site is one had to be | | | | leaves are where black spot and rust could be a |
| closed for an hour while the recovery took place. | | | | problem. Trim away affected shoots and leaves |
| This was because the only safe way to pick the | | | | for burning, and collect any leaves that have fallen |
| loading shovel up was by the crane standing full | | | | due to the heavy rainfall recently. |
| width of the road. The good news is the loading | | | | Your lawns should be in tiptop condition at the |
| shovel came out with only some minor scratches, | | | | moment thanks to the rain, just keep them tidy |
| the road was reopened and everything was | | | | by trimming regularly and strimming the edges. |
| hunky dory again, apart from me now waiting for | | | | I hope you found a dry spell to be able to treat |
| a very large bill to turn up. That is certainly what I | | | | those clover areas and if you did it should be |
| call a chain reaction and that Monday morning | | | | taking effect now. Like always in the gardens if |
| feeling - blasted rain! I hope your Monday was not | | | | you find something is wrong or needs attention |
| quite so eventful. | | | | strike while the irons hot it is always easier and |
| Have you been able to get in your garden this | | | | quicker. |