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GREYTON SENTINEL
February 2016
Gardening Tips From Green Fingers
Mulching
Traditionally, January, February and March are the hot
dry months in Greyton, so a home-made mulch really
helps your garden at this time of the year to retain its
moisture. Mulching around the base of plants (not
touching the plant stems) entails the use of a thick layer
of organic material like dry leaves (I, personally collect
leaves in the winter months and store them in plastic
bags awaiting this mulching); or alternatively, the use of
thick chunky compost (never sift your home-made
compost), chipped bark or wood, or nut shells. Less
preferable are grass cuttings when only a very thin layer
should be used. Manure should be added to enhance
the mulch. This additive however is unfortunately a
flavoursome snack for young canine members of the
household. Manure on top of the leaves prevents them
from being blown around and is also an excellent feed
for the plants. One thing we have in abundance in
Greyton and that is free manure dotting our lanes.
Please ensure that it has been dried out before adding
to your mulch. An option is always to collect it yourself
or be like my neighbour and rush off and buy a few
bags. Do water your garden deeply before mulching
around your shrubs and roses. A deep watering twice a
week is infinitely better than a short sprinkle every day.
and/or mildew on the leaves, spray regularly, on top
and underneath the leaves (every ten days) with a
commercial or organic fertilizer.
Lawns
Sage Advice
Aphid attack: Don’t laugh at this tip, it has worked for
years in my garden.
On first noticing aphids, I
immediately go into AEA (Aphid Eradication Alert). That
is, I run my fingers gently up and down the new leaf tips
and buds and squash the “invaders”.
Word apparently goes around like wildfire after this
unconventional attack and the lucky ones that have
escaped my fingers seem to do a quick dash to
pastures new.
An alternative treatment for aphids though, is one of
the natural sprays : 1 tsp Sunlight dishwashing liquid
and 1 tsp cooking oil. Mix into a litre of warm water and
when cool use as a cover spray. Not having any
“nasties” in it means you will have to spray more
frequently. Ludwig’s Organic Spray, which also is free of
“nasties”, works well. It has garlic as a base, so your
garden does smell slightly like a restaurant for a few
hours afterwards !!
If you fancy an emerald lawn, sprinkle with a fertilizer A last word of advice: don’t be impatient. Every stage of
such as LAN or 3:2:1 (slow release). Immediately water the life of your garden should be great fun. I think this
little poem sums it up very well:
in very well, as fertilizer can burn your lawn.
Roses
My garden is a haven
From a world of weary care.
GREYTON ROSE FESTIVAL….25 YEARS OLD
I shall be writing about roses quite often during this There’s always utter freedom
year, as in October 2016 we will celebrate Greyton’s And sweet contentment there.
25th year of convening a special Rose Festival . Quite an
achievement in Rose circles! Greyton really has the My garden is a teacher
most beautiful roses so let’s aim, as a wider community, With qualities galore,
Providing many lessons
to organise a bumper festival this anniversary year!
I’d be foolish to ignore.
At some stage during the month of January, you will
have noticed that your roses started to take a breather
and