May 2015 Newsletter

There are buds bursting everywhere, so I hope you find time to get out there a take a look at the wondrous things Mother Nature has to offer this month.

I’ve got lots to tell you about, but must first say a huge welcome to two new members of the team. Firstly, there’s Hannah, who you’ll meet calmly and efficiently working behind the till at the weekends (though we hope to entice her to do more days during the week as well!), and, secondly, Laura, who’ll be taking some of the admin load off my shoulders, as well as learning the ropes in most other areas in the centre. Do introduce yourself to them when you next visit. I know you’ll make them feel welcome.

We’re celebrating May in grand style this year with a massive event. Put the date in your diary!

Saturday 16^th May – Love West Dulwich Spring Fair

This West Dulwich wide fair will take place from 10am to 5pm, and will include:

• Funfair rides for small people
• A visit from the animals at Vauxhall City Farm – meet the ducklings, pigs, goats and even a cow!
• An entertainment tent, featuring live music, dance and local school performances
• Delicious food stalls from around the world
• A children’s activity tent – lots to do to educate and entertain
• Lots of in-store events and promotions within West Dulwich businesses
• and, of course, dancing round the Maypole!

At the garden centre, we’ll have some in-store events too:

• Tree pruning demonstrations from our recommended tree surgeon John Welton
• Making your own gardeners’ hand-cream workshop with the lovely girls from Liha.
• A beekeeping information table – discover how bees live and are cared for, and even buy some delicious local honey.

It’s going to be a fabulous day, so please put it in your diary now. Further details (including timings) are available on the facebook page (facebook.com/lovewestdulwich) or you can follow on twitter @lovewestdulwich. For those of us who prefer the old school way of doing things, just pop into one of the local shops and pick up a leaflet!

Whilst I’m really looking forward to the Fair, right now I’m enjoying living in the moment and appreciating all spring has to offer us in our gardens.

It’s always interesting for me to look back and see I wrote in the previous year’s newsletter. I’ve just done so for May last year and was reminded how much further ahead the season was by now in 2014, as we’d had a very warm March. So whilst last year at this time the tulips were fading and the apple blossom all but over, this year they’re still in their full glory. It’s just one of the wonderful things about having a garden or outside space …. each year will be a little different. This sometimes means that planting combinations come into flower in conjunction with each other in unexpected ways, and there is an unpredictability about spring that keeps us gardeners on our toes.

One thing I know for sure, though, is that May is the month when the most difficult thing for us at the centre is reining in our enthusiasm on the buying front …. there is so much gorgeous stock on offer from our suppliers that we just want EVERYTHING! Of course, as you well know, we manage to get an extraordinary amount into our rather tiny space, but there are limits …. or are there? …

Here’s an edited highlight of what’s on offer:

• Perennials: As always, I’m really impressed with the quality of our herbaceous perennials which come from our grower in Kent. Like so many of our suppliers, this is a small family run business (mum, dad and two sons). They grow an amazing array of plants, which we delight in bringing into the centre for you. Hostas are now starting to look great, and we’re constantly torn by which ones to bring in each week as there are just so many! Dorota’s been putting a layer of Strulch into the pots around these luscious plants, as a reminder that to slugs and snails they’re the most delicious thing going. Using Strulch in this way in your garden will help deter these destructive pests - so take a leaf out of Dorota’s book (excuse the pun) and try protecting your precious plants this way.
• Roses: The range of David Austin roses we have in is just astounding. Valerie continues to pick out some wonderful climbers, ramblers, and shrubs - many with evocative names such as Paul’s Himalayan Musk, or Gentle Hermione. There’s a rose for every garden, even the shadiest, smallest of spaces, so you don’t have to miss out. Nothing lifts the spirits like the scent from a glorious rose wafting on a balmy summer evening breeze.
• Acers: Blazing burgundy and vibrant green, the leaves on these beautiful trees are at their fullest right now. They are the ideal tree for a small garden, and are fine grown in semi shade and even happy to be kept in a pot. (Either way, just remember they prefer to be in ericaceous compost.) Their promise of an Autumnal fanfare is what draws most people to them, but I love the way they look during the spring and summer just as much.
• Fruit: The range of fruit trees still available is wide, with apricot and nectarine sitting alongside the apples, plums and pears. We also have plenty of soft fruit, including blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and rhubarb.
• Trees: There are some glorious ornamental trees just coming into their own right now. The lovely ornamental pear (Pyrus), with its soft silvery leaves, young slender silver Betula (birch), Robinia Frisia with their light green pea-like leaves, the deep burgundy of Prunus Pissardii (ornamental cherry) which have finished flowering but are now showing the rich leaf display that adorns them until they blaze into autumn colour. I don’t remember the Photinia Red Robins ever looking as striking as they do this year, and we have them as bush or standard specimens. There are single- and multi-stemmed Amelanchier (which is the first tree in my garden to flower), and some lovely single stemmed Cercis canadensis Forest Pansy too. The cold March means that we still have some beautiful later flowering ornamental cherries, such as Prunus ‘Kanzan’, looking wonderful.
• Herbs: The range continues to increase as the weather warms up, with a shift to more of the larger Hairy Pots and less of the smaller herbs. Sally is doing a marvellous job of ensuring we have a range of unusual herbs sitting alongside the more mundane (if you can possibly call the likes of Coriander ‘mundane’!)
• Vegetables: The range again is increasing all the time, not only in the strips of small plants, but also now in larger individual pots, including – of course! – many varieties of tomatoes, including some more unusual ‘heritage’ ones.
• Summer bedding: Now that we are just about past the point where we could still get an overnight frost, we are delighted to be stocking the full range of summer bedding. As always, these hard working little gems line the driveway to our gates, waiting to tempt you as you arrive.

Apart from plant stock, other things you might want to have a look at are the range of rusty iron plant support spirals currently selling fast. These supports blend into the border beautifully and all but disappear from view while supporting your growing plants, be they herbaceous or otherwise. Then, once the herbaceous plants die back they look great left in situ over winter as they add structure and interest.

We have a wider range of glazed pots in this year, which Rob has sourced from a new supplier. They come in both bright and subtle colours, so there is bound to be one that’s just right for you. Let Rob know what you think of them! My favourite pots, however, are the hand thrown glazed ones you’ll find in the vintage shed – each one slightly different, and each one improving with age as the glaze crackles and cracks.

The downside of the warmer months is that aphids and other pests start to make themselves known. The quicker you deal with them, the less there will be, so have a solution to hand. There are chemical sprays of course, such as the RHS endorsed ‘Provado’, which quickly dispatches all forms of aphids and beetles, including the notorious Rosemary Leaf and Scarlet Lily Beetles. An organic alternative is the ready to use spray from the Black Soap range. This solution, used sparingly, clogs the air holes on aphids’ backs, thus suffocating them.

In the shop, the ‘summer’ scents in our True Grace candle range are back, including the extraordinary ‘Seashore’. Whenever I sniff it, I’m transported back to sitting on a Cornish beach watching the kids scrabble about in rock pools.

The vintage shed is a veritable jungle of houseplants at the moment, all looking healthy and happy in Alex’s care. Make sure you take a peek at the actual vintage items though (if you can see them beneath all the greenery) as there are some really lovely new pieces in.

Sally’s section of ‘tasks’ follows, and there is a huge amount to be doing this month, but the wise gardener always takes some time to sit back and enjoy the fruits of his or her labours, though. Remember that whilst gardening is a joy in itself, taking time to just relax in it is just as important. We have lots to enhance your outdoor space when you do take time out …. lanterns, furniture, fire-pits and lots more besides.

Warm regards

Karen

Garden jobs for
May 2015

Summer is coming, but let's enjoy the lengthening days of late spring first. The fresh growth all around us is fantastic, filling out trees with blossom and leaves, filling pots and borders with early shoots, and there's plenty of flowering going on too! There are a lot of gardening jobs to be getting on with, and in the next few months you can get outside in the evenings.

My 2 top jobs for this month

1. Create some lovely containers full of plants to last the summer. The options are endless.

2. Plant out vegetable and salad crops in containers, grow bags or the vegetable garden for tasty home grown crops later in the summer.

General maintenance and planting

• Stake or support your plants now. If you leave it later than mid-May, you will be fighting a losing battle. This is essential for herbaceous plants before they get too tall, or for those, like peonies, that produce heavy blooms.
• Continue to tie in shoots on climbers that are growing madly, such as clematis, roses, honeysuckle, jasmine and rhynchospermum. It is particularly important to tie in the shoots of climbing roses as near to horizontal as possible. This suppresses the flow of sap, therefore encouraging the plant to send out more side shoots, which will produce lots of flowers.
• Early flowering Clematis such as C. montana, C. Alpina and C. armandii can be pruned after flowering to keep in check, and this may lead to another flush of flowers later.
• Prune overgrown Camellias once they finish flowering and start putting on fresh growth. Cut to young side shoots, which will flower next spring. Feed with an acidic fertiliser.
• Plant up troughs, pots and hanging baskets with tender summer bedding plants now. Incorporating water retaining crystals and slow release fertiliser in the compost will help to ensure a continuous display throughout the summer. Try some different combinations this year, some hot reds, yellows and oranges, or cool blues, pinks and whites, or moody blacks and dark purples; for shadier spots, think about ferns, begonias, petunias, bacopa, fuchsia and many more; for sunny positions, try lavender, geraniums, calibrachoa, verbena, osteospermums, marigolds and coleus for starters.
• Chopping back perennials in late spring will make bushier plants that flower later on in the season and often flower more prolifically. To do this, cut or pinch back plants by half. Sedum Herbstfreude Group, Rudbeckia, Helenium, Veronica, golden rod are amongst those which respond well to this technique, referred to by some as the 'Chelsea Chop', because it's done around the time of the Chelsea Flower Show. In large clumps, you could try cutting back one in three stems, or cut the front section down, and leave the back of the clump higher. Uncut stems will flower first, pruned stems later, thus extending the flowering period.
• Evergreen hedges and topiary can be lightly clipped to keep them neat. Make sure your shears are clean and well-oiled before use. Pick an overcast day, or wait until after the sun has set, to avoid leaf scorch.
• Cut out any plain green shoots on variegated shrubs and trees.
• Keep watering any recently planted shrubs and trees, including fruit, even if it has been raining. They won’t have had time to get their roots down yet, so are vulnerable to dehydration. Don’t forget to water your containers regularly too.
• Start a feeding regime. You can boost plant growth and health tremendously with the right fertilisers.
• Thin out direct sowings of hardy annuals. This is best done in two or three stages at fortnightly intervals. There are lots of seeds which can be sown directly now.
• Sweet peas need training and tying in to their supports to encourage them to climb and make a good display.
• Lift clumps of Forget-me-nots once the display starts to fade and before they set too much seed. They can become invasive if left unchecked.
• Deadhead remaining spring bulbs. Give the leaves a feed and let them die back before cutting them. Divide clumps of 'blind' daffodils, dig them up and plant them in a new spot.
• If you haven't done so already, mulch beds and borders with a good organic compost.

Vegetables and herbs

• Vegetables and herbs can be grown in the smallest of spaces, in the ground or in a variety of pots, trugs and other containers. Find a sunny spot for tomatoes, chilli and peppers, but if sun only reaches an area for a few hours a day, go for a green crop of lettuce, rocket, pak choy, spinach...there are lots of options.
• Herbs make attractive container plants. Plant some favourite herbs near the back door, or on the balcony... there's nothing better than stepping out to cut a handful of fresh herbs to to use in the kitchen. Use Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary and thyme in a sunny spot, and mint, parsley, tarragon, coriander and dill in more shaded surroundings.
• Lots of vegetables can be sown outside this month, as the temperatures rise. French beans, courgettes, squashes, quick and easy radish, and sweet corn can be sown directly as the temperatures rise.
• Pot on tomato and other young vegetable plants into larger pots. Before potting on young seedlings, make sure they have a well developed root system - if not leave them for a bit longer before moving them into individual pots. Continue to grow indoors until the risk of frost has passed. Harden off all young vegetable plants before planting out, in a cold frame, or by placing them outside during the day and under cover at night.
• Devise a routine of feeding and weeding your vegetable garden and containers, and water regularly.
• Cover strawberry beds with straw.
• Mulch around fruit trees and bushes to discourage weeds and retain moisture.

Companion planting

• Companion planting - positioning plants to benefit neighbouring plants - can really help in the battle against pests, and help with pollination.
• Many herbs have nectar rich flowers which will attract beneficial insects to the garden. Herbs also have strongly scented leaves which can repel unwanted insects, so can be useful planted around the garden,
• Try planting sage next to cabbage-family plants to repel cabbage-white butterflies, chives next to apples to prevent apple scab, or next to roses to prevent blackspot.
• Nasturtiums are one of the plants which will attract blackfly away from precious crops.
• Carrot fly will start to appear in May. Sow carrots with annual flowers such as Love-in the-mist and Cornflowers in a roughly 50:50 ratio to discourage them.
• In the vegetable plot, use taller crops such as peas or beans, to create shady conditions for crops such as lettuce, coriander, rocket and spinach which have a tendency to bolt.

Lawn maintenance

• Continue with your lawn maintenance routine this month, increasing the frequency of cutting as long as the weather allows you to. It can be catastrophic to mow when the grass is wet, so judging when to do it is the key to success.
• Keep the blades high for the first cuts, and always leave grass longer in shady areas.
• If using a ‘feed and weed’ product on your lawn, ensure it has been very well watered in, either by luckily timed rain or by hand with a hose or watering can.

Garden pests

• Continue to protect lily, delphinium, hosta and other susceptible plants from slugs and snails. Knocking the mollusc population as soon as possible will reduce the burgeoning population over the next months.
• Look out for Scarlet Lily Beetle and squish them when you find them.
• Viburnum beetle larvae can damage the leaves of evergreen and deciduous Viburnum - keep a sharp eye on them.
• Encourage natural predators, such as birds, into your garden. Keep bird feeders topped up, and put up nesting boxes. Frogs and toads will also eat slugs, and a pond (however small) will encourage these amphibians to take up residence.
• Vine weevil larvae can be a serious pest of plants in containers. Tip out the rootball of suspect plants, and inspect for the creamy, orange headed maggots, which tend to curl up into a ‘C’ shape. If you find them, take very swift action to eradicate them, with chemical or biological controls, or by disposing of the compost and starting afresh.
• Aphids can multiply rapidly during mild spells. Remove early infestations by hand, spray with an soap solution, or treat with a pesticide.

Wildlife

• Remember to keep feeding the birds as they begin to nest and raise young. Leave water for them too.
• Be aware of birds nests in the garden, and try not to disturb them.

Finally

Enjoy getting your outside space ready for summer, but make sure you take inspiration from other places such as parks, open gardens (pick up a copy of the NGS Yellow Book), and flower shows such as Chelsea, by visiting or watching the TV coverage.

Have a good month.

Sally