October From the Potting Shed
After the long hot summer, the lawns are not at their best. Removal of any thatch is a good start to allow the rain to penetrate the soil. Underneath the thatch the soil can be very dry as it has stopped the rain penetrating down to the soil. Roughen up the soil surface, add some top soil and then mix the fresh grass seed into the surface, water and then cover to protect the seed from birds.
Due to the warm soil and rain any seeds in the soil have germinated rapidly, so get out with the hoe and keep on top of any weeds. (my motto is ‘Never let a seed see a Sunday’) The germination of the weed seeds should be a signal to us to sow our hardy annuals. Seeds such as Sweet Peas, Ammi majus (Bishop’s Weed), Cornflowers, pot marigolds, love in a mist and honesty. In the vegetable garden we can be ready to sow broad beans and plant onion sets for cropping next spring.
In the border you need to leave stems and seed heads for insects and birds to feed on during the winter. Hollow stems are great for insects to over winter in safely away from predators. Early summer flowering plants can be divided up at this time of the year. The late flowering herbaceous plants can be done in the spring.
Make sure that you have plenty of organic matter for applying to the soil this autumn and winter. This will help hold water in the soil which will be valuable if we have a repeat of this years weather pattern next year. Organic matter will also improve the soil biodiversity which will help the flora and fauna in the soil and in our gardens making them mini nature reserves.
Talking of water, what about investing in more water butts. South East water have discounts on various sizes of water butts. You pay for the water if it comes out of a tap, it is free from your water butt and it is better for the plants.
Geoff Hawkins