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Top Tips for: July
July in the
garden...
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We're officially into summer now and although it's
hard to believe the year has turned and the days are getting
shorter again, the plants know this. At least we still have those
long evenings for a while yet to get on with the garden
tasks.
Those mortal enemies of all gardeners, the slugs and snails, are
still active. They creep out at dusk to munch away at our crops and
hide at dawn leaving us to wonder what's eaten that row of
seedlings that looked so good yesterday. Although slug pellets have
had a bad press, you can get
the safe slug pellets containing ferramol that will not harm
wildlife or pets. As well as being a green option, I
prefer them because I feel they are more rainproof than
conventional pellets.
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We still have those aerial
enemies to deal with, the birds. Having seen them happily sitting
on top of scarecrows and taking a break on a CD hung up to scare
them off, I'm convinced
the only method that really works is netting. There
are few things more annoying than finding your crop of ripe
strawberries have provided breakfast for the birds before you get
out of bed. I grow my strawberries in a barrel which is not only
attractive but came with netting and support for it.
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It's not just the strawberries,
unfortunately. I've seen them tucking into young lettuces and the
brassica family provide a good lunch for the pigeons.
It's important to ensure that netting is supported well above the
leaves or the pigeons will just thank you for a handy place to
perch whilst they dine.
To protect young seedlings you can make a handy cage by just
bending some chicken wire into a V shape. It will protect them
until they've grown enough to be safe.
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Don't forget to keep your
greenhouse cool in hot weather. It's amazing the effect a bit of
sunshine can have.
By the time you get up to open the vents, the plants are cooked yet
an Automatic Vent Opener is inexpensive, lasts for years and
only takes a few minutes to fit.
Shade Netting is also a good investment in a
great summer, no matter how many vents you have, the direct rays of
the sun will be there and shading will keep the greenhouse at a
reasonable temperature.
It's also useful for outdoor crops like lettuce.
Keeping them shaded will certainly help to reduce
bolting. |
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The plants are growing well at this time of
year and so are the weeds. Like death and taxes, weeds will always
be with us.
Your garden may be prefect (I wish mine was!) but those weed seeds
are floating in from next door and before you know it they're
swamping the plants you want.
The easy way to
handle them is to keep hoeing, Even if you can't see a
weed, hoeing the ground will be chopping their heads off before you
can even see them.
And don't forget, there's nothing
wrong in just sitting down with a cool drink to admire your
handiwork. That's it, break over - back to work with
you!
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