September gardening newsletter – By Jane Folis
YOU may have noticed I failed to get the August newsletter out this year prior to going away! My apologies, time just ran away with me. August is one of those months where the garden is almost looking after itself ? all the hard work in spring is coming to fruition, the plants are performing and the vegetables are in abundance. I came home to a jungle as I understand it rained almost solidly. I picked literally hundreds of sweet peas and dined on vegetables for about four days. Luckily the sun actually came out by the weekend and I was able to bring everything back under control.
It would be wonderful if we had an Indian Summer to reap the benefits of all the peppers, chillies, aubergines and tomatoes that are just waiting for some sunshine to ripen. The Italian endive (bought at Chelsea this year) is looking very interesting. We have yet to try it but it definitely looks more like a lettuce than an endive! The black Kale has been decimated by Cabbage Whites ? it is a messy job pinching out the little critters but I shall continue my vigil every evening.
This month I have attached a news bulletin regarding the ever-spreading disease of Box Blight. A large number of you will have box planted in your gardens and I urge you to read this. The resultant problems are making us wonder whether we should withdraw specifying box and find alternatives.
September is the month I order bulbs. Please do contact me if you want anything for the spring. Those of you who ended up with the rogue tulips last year will automatically get replacements free of charge.
If you have been keeping a photographic diary of the garden, look back to the spring shots and identify areas that could do with a bit of colour. Obviously, there are daffodils, snowdrops, crocus and tulips but there are all sorts of other goodies, such as Alliums, Camassia, Anemonies, Chionodoxa, Cyclamen, Fritillaria, Bluebell, Lilies, Nerine to name just a few.
It has been a busy couple of weeks since my return trying to catch up and get as much done as I can before next Monday (24th). I have been called to Jury Service and hopefully it will last no longer than two weeks. It does mean I shall be out of contact as I have to be there daily even if I do not sit on the Jury. I can be available after 4.00pm if anyone needs to arrange a meeting. Please leave messages on the answerphone (01296 747775), or email me ? contact@jfgardendesign.co.uk or text me (07720 287150) and I will endeavour to get back to you.
RECIPE
Runner Bean and Courgette Salad
Runner Beans Yellow/Green courgettes
Olive Oil Lemon juice
Fresh Chilli Fresh Garlic
1 Tsp. French Mustard Salt/pepper
Fresh Thyme
This is a favourite to use up any gluts of beans and courgettes.
First, make the vinaigrette by crushing the garlic and mixing it with the mustard. Use one part of lemon juice to three parts of olive oil and mix into the mustard mix. Add salt and pepper to taste plus a finely chopped chilli and a good pinch of Thyme. The consistency should be creamy. Steam the beans until al dente. Whilst they are still warm pour the vinaigrette over the top and allow to cool. Just before serving peel strips of courgette (with a potato peeler) and toss into the beans. The courgette does not need cooking and will go a bit limp if you add it too long before serving.
SEASONAL TIPS
Keep dead heading perennials as soon as the flowers fade.
A lot of perennials will have finished flowering and can look rather tatty in the borders. Cut them back hard to encourage new foliage.
There is always a lot of clearing and pruning to do at this time of year and if you don?t have one, now would be a good time to invest in a compost bin. Local councils offer very good deals. Remember not to put twiggy off cuts into the bin as they will not compost down.
As the perennials begin to die back it is a good month to decide whether they have outgrown their space. They naturally spread to form clumps which can become congested. Dig up the plant, split it and then re-plant. Depending on the size of the clump it is possible to get many more than two from the one plant.
September can be a windy month and to avoid the risk of damage, use canes to prop up plants such as dahlias and chrysanthemums and cut back quick growing shrubs like Buddleia and climbing roses by about a third.
You can still collect seed from perennials to grow next year. Cover the seed heads with a paper bag and tap out the contents. Store in the fridge.
Aerate lawns, by using a fork to stab and lift the turf slightly. Lawns can become compacted during the summer months and this will help to encourage new growth.
If you have areas of bald grass, lightly fork the ground over and sprinkle on some grass seed. It should grow quite quickly at this time of year.
Repair any frayed edges by cutting out the damaged section and turning it around. Use grass seed to fill any holes.
Use a spring tine rake to remove any dead grass.
VEGETABLE & FRUIT GARDEN
Ensure tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers etc., are receiving plenty of water, particularly if you are growing in grow bags. Lack of water will cause the fruits to split.
Frost can easily damage tender crops such as chillies, peppers and aubergines. To prevent this, pick them now and ripen them off indoors if need be. Harvest potatoes to avoid the slugs enjoying them.
Plant autumn onions, garlic, spring cabbage and broad beans.
To encourage Brussel Sprouts to develop, cut off the top of the stem. This encourages the individual sprouts to swell. Eat the top as if it were cabbage.
Support taller vegetables, such as kale to prevent them being knocked down by autumn winds.
Apples and pears are ready to harvest from September. You can tell when they are ready to pick when they easily come off the branch in your hand.
If you have more than you can eat, apples can be stored somewhere cool, dark, frost-free and well ventilated.
Prune all berries on the canes that have fruited this year down to the base and leave all the newer canes to develop and fruit for next year.
Prune out any dead, diseased or sad looking branches on fruit trees. However, don?t prune trees that bear fruit containing stones, such as, plums and cherries as this can cause disease.
For more information, visit www.rhs.org.uk/advice/calandar.asp.
GREENHOUSE
Prepared hyacinths are available now. Plant them in a cool, frost-free place such as a shed or garage. After about eight weeks the flower will begin to start to show colour. Once it reaches this stage, move to a cool light spot. After a further two weeks move it to where you would
like to see it flowering.
Clean up the greenhouse by washing with hot soapy water or garden disinfectant. Clean pots to avoid spread of diseases.
POINTS OF INTEREST
?We will if you will?
A Government-backed initiative to encourage healthier lifestyles. The first is to encourage people to eat more home-grown, seasonal and UK produced food.
Visit www.rhs.org.uk/growyourown/news.asp for more information.
BIRDS AND BEES
A new RHS book is available and aimed at children.
RHS Wildlife Garden by Martyn Cox explains how to create suitable habitats for all kinds of wildlife.Published by Dorling Kindersley ISNB 9781405334358
RHS Mail Order 0845 260 4505
PLACES TO VISIT
Gardens free to RHS Members
RHS Wisley; Blenheim Palace Park and Gardens; Nymans; Waddesdon
Manor; Waterperry Gardens; West Dean Gardens. For a full list visit www.rhs.org.uk.
FIVE BEE FRIENDLY GARDENS
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond
The National Wildflower Centre, Liverpool
Organic Ryton, Warwickshire
Wisley, Woking
Highgrove, Gloucestershire
FUTURE GARDENS
12 gardens opened at Butterfly World, St Albans. They are all the same size and aim to invite debate and stimulate interest. On view until 4th October 2010.
www.futuregardens.org
EVENTS
FRENCH MARKET 4th/5th September
10.00-4.00pm Kingsbury, Aylesbury
WADDESDON
Chilli Festival 5th/6th September 10.00 ? 4.00pm ? Waddesdon Plant Centre
including live music performances
URCHFONT MANOR
Celebrating Art in the Garden – An exhibition of contemporary sculpture
5 ? 20th September, Devises, Wiltshire
01380 840495 www.urchfontmanor.co.uk
WISLEY
The RHS have created an Event Finder online. Visit
www.rhs.org.uk/rhseventfinder for details.
NEWS BULLETIN REGARDING BOX BLIGHT
Recently two clients have reported cases of suspected Box Blight in their gardens (one has
been confirmed by RHS Wisley) and I feel it is important for you all to know the origins of this disease and what is taking place within the industry to curtail its spread. The following information has been collated from research by the RHS, published articles and known suppliers.
Buxus spp is one of the oldest garden ornamental plants, which in the last two decades has been re-discovered and become one of the most fashionable plants in the UK. There are more than 70 species in Europe but the most commonly planted is Buxus sempervirens.
There are two organisms which cause blight, both are fungal and they can occur together. ?Volutella? has been around for many years and results in browning of the leaves and dieback of branches. ?Cylindrocladium buxicola? has only been recognised in the UK since the mid 1990?s and is far more serious. The leaves develop large brown spots which enlarge to affect all of the tissues, patches of greyish fungal growth appear on the underside and asexual spores are released to spread the infection. Black streaks appear on the stems. Germination of the spores occurs as soon as 3 hours after infection and penetration follows 5 hours post-infection. High humidity favours infection. The fungus has been known to survive on decomposing leaf material for 11 months.
There is currently no fungicidal treatment for the disease in gardens, although fungicides containing ?penconozole? does seem to have some effect. Professional nurseries can treat it with fungicides not available to the general public, but once it leaves the nursery, and based on the rapidity of the spread (detailed above), they have no control over their stock. The RHS recommend gardeners/clients should take particular care to buy uninfected plants.
?Hold any commercially sourced plants in isolation for at least three weeks to confirm they are free of infection before planting out. Commercial nurseries may use fungicides which suppress but do not kill the fungus and this isolation technique will allow time for any suppressed disease to become visible? www.rhs.org.uk
Obviously, when laying out plants prior to planting it is automatic to look for any infected plants and reject any that show signs of disease. In my experience it is very rare for suppliers to send anything that is not checked by the nursery prior to delivery.
All infections should be pruned out and all the fallen leaves destroyed. The fungus may produce resting spores and survive in fallen leaves. These spores can easily be spread in soil, for example on muddy boots. They could also be spread by water splash over short distances and it is therefore recommended not to water with a rose or sprinkler. Hygiene measures are the most important method of control for this disease.
Prune all infected material promptly and collect debris from around the base of the plants and burn. Disinfect any shears/secateurs by using household bleach or methylated spritits.
Not all brown or dead patches are caused by Box Blight, it could be caused by dog or Tom cat urine as they ?territory mark? the same spot repeatedly.
It is important to remember this is an endemic disease and rather like ?Swine Flu? can spread rapidly. There is very little anyone can do to remedy it, particularly when our weather conditions (persistent rain followed by sunshine) create the humid environment the fungal disease enjoys.
If you do detect the virus deal with it as described above. My suppliers are prepared to look at each case individually. However, based on the virulent spread of the disease, replacement will not be automatically offered. Plants from my suppliers are sold at preferential prices and they do not have the safety net of retail suppliers who enforce mark ups of as much as 200% higher than wholesalers. Plants that leave the nursery are thought to be healthy and disease free and as spores are airborne the source is impossible to detect.
Photo: Courtesy of Royal Horticultural Society
