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Autumn
Water Garden: Keep an eye out for blanket
weed thin strings of bright green algae attached to the bottom surface.
Either manually remove the weed or use one of the chemicals available on the
market, however if you have water lilies check if the product is compatible.
Top up the pond as it evaporates – it is important to keep the water level
constant as this will keep the plants in good order and reduces shrinkage.
Remove the worst of the autumn leaves as they fall into the pond.
A lightweight net such as a fruit cage net will keep out the worst of them.
The Lawn: Keep off the nitrogen at this time of year:
it will make the growth too soft and prone to disease. As autumn approaches it is
always a good time to apply lawn sand to help control mosses.
This usually has iron sulphate in the mixture, which helps harden up the grass
sward and helps reduce disease. It also makes the lawn a lovely emerald green
colour.
The Rose: Keep an eye out for disease and spray
with fungicide and pesticide – rose clear will do both jobs in one spray.
Remove any suckers by tearing them off as close to the base as possible.
Do not cut them off as this will multiply the suckers. Once flowering slows
down prune hybrid tea shrub branches back by ½ to ? to reduce
wind rock and firm soil at the neck.
Ornamental Trees: Continue
regular clipping of topiary. We use Roundup weed killer around the base
of trees for 2-3 feet, which reduces the competition from weeds and makes
mowing easier around obstacles.
Remove any dead wood and crossing stems or weak forks.
Further to the last update on Sudden Oak Death, please keep a sharp
look out for the new disease as it is not only affecting oak trees:
it is affecting Rhododendrons and Viburnums throughout England.
It is caused by Phytophthora ramorum
and mature trees wilt and die within months following infection.
Symptoms are branches dieing back from the tips, very often in a short time,
ending in the death of the plant. Remove the plant and burn it on site
as soon as possible. Do not take it to other gardens / nurseries for
identification.
If the presence of the disease is suspected on these species
contact DEFRA Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate,
tel: 0190 445 5174; for Oaks contact the
Forestry Commission Plant Health Service,
tel: 0845 367 3787.
Further information can be obtained at
www.forestry.gov.uk/planthealth or
www.defra.gov.uk/planth/phindx.htm.
Ornamental Shrubs: Remove suckers from grafted
plants and prune out reverted shoots on variegated species. Carry out formative
training and pruning. Prune shrubs that flower during the spring months where
required.
Bulbs: Still time to plant your bulbs for that
spring show.
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