Gardening and Outdoor Section: p.22-23

Lee’s Gardening Corner

It is the holiday season and the main garden is probably having a bit of a rest, before autumn kicks in. Depending rain fall some gardens may be bone dry, if so water any annual plants that were planted earlier this year, and make sure pots never go dry, also feed once a week and that will help the colour last.

Grass cutting carries on as normal, and this is a perfect time to redo any grass seeding as the morning dew is great for germination. Hedges and topiary can be clipped now, and continue to deadhead flowers for a longer season. Some plants that are looking good in August are the annuals Marigolds, Cosmos and Geraniums. Perennials Astrantia and Hemerocallis also look colourful. The Buddleia's are providing food for bees and butterflies.

The veg garden should be overflowing with produce now, keep picking beans of all kinds, cucumbers and courgettes. Tomatoes should be just about ripe now, keep feeding with a general fertiliser once a week. Make sure they all get plenty of water. Now is the time to start getting new strawberry plants from the runners of the old ones, pop the runner in a pot of compost and wait till it is growing stronger before cutting the stem to the old plant.

So still a full and busy month even if it is holiday season - have fun in the sun.

Garolla garage doors are expertly made to measure in our own UK factories, they’re strong and solidly built. The electric Garolla door rolls up vertically, taking up only 8 inches inside your garage, maximising valuable space.