3 minute read
Gardening Diary
“If there's ice in November that will bear a duck, there'll be nothing after but sludge and muck."
The weather this month is rarely an incentive to work in the garden, but the abandonment of the garden to its own devices during the dark months is a great mistake as there is as always much to be done, right through winter.
Advertisement
Autumn digging will have been started by Battle of Britain Day with the digging-in of compost, manure and we hope shoddy too. This digging-over should be carried on and completed this month, no need to break down the clods as rain and frost over the winter will render the diggings down to a good workable condition.
In the established border deep digging will not be possible, but a light forking between the shrubs will help to aerate the soil, whilst digging in any compost, dung, leaves and annual weeds will increase the humus content of the soil. All good things.
This month is a good time to plant roses, fruit trees and ornamental deciduous trees and shrubs. It is surprising how much root they will make by Christmas if planted whilst there is still some warmth left in the soil. Firm staking is essential with any new planting and should never be an afterthought; moving roots are fatal to the prospects of newly planted trees and shrubs.
Autumn bonfires, surely one of the great joys of gardening; A still and misty November morning, a crackling bonfire, a thermos of sweet tea and a long pipe is all that we wretched sinners may reasonably hope for. Having established working or even friendly relations with our non asthmatic or bronchial neighbours we should not feel guilty at spending a whole morning leaning on our rakes musing at the flames and breathing in the evocative scents of nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, benzene, particulates and the sundry other volatile organic compounds that make up that most comforting of autumn fragrance. Aside from the sheer idle enjoyment of it all, this is the only way to dispose of rose leaves with mildew or black spot, apple and pear leaves with scab, white fly on cabbage and Sprout leaves and blighted tomato and potato foliage. Putting such stuffs in the 'Green bin' may risk spreading disease around the county through the bags of compost thus sold on, likewise putting it on our own compost heaps ensures disease next year. We are told that composting creates Methane, a green house gas twenty times as effective as the Carbon dioxide released by a bonfire.
The lawn may need some attention at this time of year, we might to aid drainage and increase aeration by easing any compaction; A garden fork pushed in half way and jerked backwards will effectively loosen the top layers, the lawn should be worked over in this way every six to eight inches, this may seem an onerous job and as we may still be wheezy from our morning by the bonfire, may be delegated to any under-employed youths we may uncover about the house or indeed any child deemed capable of hard labour.
Chiddingly Road, Horam, East Sussex, TN21 0JJ (next to golf course) For all automotive bodywork requirements Minor scratches to full restoration projects Insurance Work Undertaken Free Collection & Delivery Pop in for advice & a quotation, or call Simon or Adi on
Local company supporting people.
For all bodywork requirements -
Zfrom a minor scratch to a full restoration.
Insurance work undertaken. Free collection /delivery. Call or pop in for friendly advice and a quotation without obligation for any of your requirements.
Call Simon or Adi on 01435 810061.
01435 810061 PLEASE NOTE
OUR
email cmscoachworks@gmail.com NEW ADDRESS
www.cmscoachworks.co.uk
Unit 7 Parkside Workshops, Parkside Farm, Shortgate Lane, Laughton, BN8 6DG.
CS King Decorating
ROYS PLUMBING SERVICES
Full bathroom installation service Taps, Water Tanks, Cylinders, Radiators Drains, Gutters, Emergency Call Out All types of plumbing undertaken
NO JOB TOO SMALL Call Roy Varley 01435 866312/07920 144067
Local, Friendly, Fully Reliable professional service, NO CALL OUT CHARGE, Free estimates, All Work Full Guaranteed, NO HIDDEN COSTS.
15 years experience. Level 3 NVQ. trust worthy and reliable. Exterior and interior decorating. Wallpapering. For a free quote please call 07971643699 Email: CSKingdecorating @outlook.com
