May 2016 Newsletter

Can the slog of the long cold early spring finally be over? We certainly hope so. Why not celebrate by joining us on

Saturday 14^th May, from 11am – 5pm

Love West Dulwich Spring Fair

If you missed this great event last year, here’s just a taster of what will be on offer:

Funfair rides for small people.
A visit from the animals at Vauxhall City Farm.
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.
In-store events and promotions within West Dulwich businesses, featuring the likes of a treasure hunt from Dulwich Books.

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 (http://www.facebook.com/lovewestdulwich) or you can follow on twitter @lovewestdulwich. For those who prefer the old school way of doing things, just pop into one of the local shops and pick up a leaflet.

On to some garden related comment; as I write this, I’m sitting in my garden at home. The sun is out and the sky clear blue, but it’s still chilly …. certainly not as warm as we’d hope for by now. The mild winter, followed by a cold spring, has played havoc with many plants this year – they don’t know quite what they’re meant to be doing. I commented that we had daffodils just after Christmas, and yet we still have some varieties flowering now – a full 4 months later! The tulips all seem to have come up on shorter stems than normal …. an indication that there wasn’t a proper cold snap while they were still dormant, perhaps? How can it be that all these are flowering at the same time – amelanchier, magnolia, daffodils, tulips, forget-me-nots, euphorbia, wallflowers, bluebells and erysimum?! All very confusing, but all we can do is enjoy the unusual mix and trust that nature will sort herself out by the summer!

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, and here’s a highlighted selection: /p>

Perennials: As always, our small independent growers have done us proud. We use several different growers, who between them grow an amazing array of plants, which we delight in bringing into the centre for you.
Roses: Valerie continues to pick out some wonderful climbing, rambling, and shrub roses – from purest white to deepest red. There’s a rose for every garden, even the shadiest, smallest of spaces, so you don’t have to miss out.
Acers: Blazing burgundy and vibrant green, the delicate leaves on these beautiful trees are gorgeous. They are the ideal tree for a small garden, and are happy grown in semi shade and also in pots. Their promise of blazing Autumnal colour 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 medlar, quince, apricot and nectarine sitting alongside the apples, plums and pears. We also have plenty of soft fruit, including blueberries, raspberries, gooseberries, strawberries and rhubarb.
Trees: There are many ornamental trees just coming into their own right now. Prunus Kanzan (an ornamental cherry) is only now showing its blossom, and Photinia Red Robin is also in flower. Meanwhile silvery Pyrus (ornamental pear), Betula (birch), Cercis canadensis Forest Pansy and Ginko all have a full flush of new leaf finally showing.
Herbs: The range continues to increase as the weather warms up. Dorota is working alongside Sally and I ordering in herbs (and vegetables), and has sourced some interesting varieties including Eau de Cologne Mint and Lovage.
Vegetables: The range again is increasing all the time, although we’re still not up to our full range because of the cold weather. You’ll be pleased to know that we do, however, already have many varieties of tomatoes!
Summer bedding: Now that (hopefully) 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 – essential for tall herbaceous perennials that may flop over if not supported. They 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.

Rob has sourced pots from a new supplier in France. The family who run pottery also own the quarry from which the clay is extracted, which has a unique soft looking and tactile quality. The pots and planters come in some really unusual shapes and sizes, including simple small herb or succulent planters.

The vintage shed is a veritable jungle of houseplants at the moment, all looking healthy and happy in Alex’s care. Do look out for our next terrarium workshop …. the first one was a total sell-out success, so Alex will be organising another soon.

Sally’s section of ‘tasks’ follows. Don’t be daunted by the huge amount you could be doing this month. Remember, the wise gardener always takes some time to sit back and enjoy their outside space ….

Warm regards

Karen

Garden jobs

The lengthening days of spring are a joy. The fresh green of new leaves, bright blossom, and gardens bursting into life remind us that summer is coming. There's a lot to be getting on with, preparing for the summer months outside.

My 2 top jobs for this month

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

2. Plant containers for a summer long show of colour.

General garden maintenance

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 and jasmine. It is particularly important to tie in the shoots of climbing roses as near to horizontal as possible. This suppresses the flow of sap which encourages the plant to send out more side shoots, which will produce lots of flowers.
Later in the month, do the ‘Chelsea Chop’ on perennials which have a habit of getting tall and unwieldy. To do this, cut or pinch back plants by half. Sedum Herbstfreude Group, Rudbeckia, Helenium, Veronica and many more respond well to this technique, resulting in bushier plants that flower later on in the season and often flower more prolifically. 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.
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.
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.
Keep on top of weeds.

Container gardening

Plant up troughs, pots, window boxes 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.
For a more formal look, try some box or yew topiary in smart containers.
For a more permanent container collection, plant herbaceous perennials such as long flowering Erysimum Bowles Mauve, grasses, Sedum, Erigeron and Phlox. In shade, try Hosta, ferns, Brunnera or Heuchera.
Watering - get into a routine of watering your containers and get to know how much different plants need. In sunny or windy weather, you will need to water more.
Start a feeding regime. You can boost plant growth and health tremendously with the right fertilisers.

Pruning

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.
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.
Thin Spirea when the flowers have faded removing up to a third of old wood.
Cut back leaves of Pulmonaria if they are mildewed. New growth will be fresh and bigger.

Planting

The ground is warm and ready for planting. Spring is a perfect time, with days lengthening, for plants to get their roots down and top growth up.
Choose plants which will provide colour and interest in spots where your garden lacked interest last year. A later flowering clematis, a repeat flowering rose, an evergreen pittosporum might be a good addition.
Plant up a new border, rejuvenate an existing corner, brighten up the front garden to cheer passers by. Always remember, right plant, right place. Choose plants which will thrive in the conditions - lavender loves a sunny spot, but will be lank and sulky in the shade. Ferns, Tiarella and Vinca will thrive in partial or full shade, but may risk being frazzled in full sun.
Have a look at our Planting Instructions for advice on planting if you aren’t sure.
Water newly planted trees and shrubs throughout their first season, a bucket of water every 4 or so days, unless there is prolonged rainfall.

Vegetables and herbs

Lots of vegetables can be sown outside this month, as the temperatures rise. French beans, courgettes, squashes, quick and easy radish, sweet corn and more can be sown directly as the temperatures rise.
Make successional sowings of salad crops such as rocket, lettuce, basil, coriander and more every 10 days or so.
Earth up potatoes by 10cm when shoots are 23cm tall.
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. You can cover them in pots or in the ground with a layer of horticultural fleece.
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 or other green leafy delicacies.
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.
Devise a routine of feeding and weeding your vegetable garden and containers, and water regularly.

Fruit

Keep fruit plants and trees well watered in dry spells to ensure good setting and fruit development.
Cover strawberry beds with straw. Feed every couple of weeks with tomato fertiliser.
Mulch around fruit trees and bushes to discourage weeds and retain moisture.
If you don't have space for an orchard, there are fruits trees and soft fruit which can be grown in containers very successfully. Have a look at our guide to Fruit in containers

Companion planting

Companion planting, where plants are positioned to benefit neighbouring plants, can help in the battle against pests, and help with pollination.
Many herbs have nectar rich flowers which will attract beneficial insects to the garden.
Some herbs 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

This is a perfect time to sow new lawns, or to lay new turf. See our instructions for Laying turf
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 few 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.
Rake over soil surfaces to expose slugs and their eggs to predators.
Grow hostas and other susceptible plants in pots, raised off the ground, with copper tape below the rim.
Use a mulch of gravel or grit on pots and around plants and seedlings. This will deter slugs and snails.
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, who will happily munch on molluscs! 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.
Adult vine weevil chew notches in leaves of plants such as rhododendron, camellia and olive. However it’s the vine weevil larvae which do the worst damage to plants in containers, eating the roots. Tip out the rootball of suspect plants, and look 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 a 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.
Sow or plant wildflowers to encourage insects, butterflies and bees.
Plant single flowers which are easier and better food sources for insects than double blooms.

Finally

We are heading into the garden show and open garden season. You will find ideas and inspiration by visiting gardens and from the media coverage of Chelsea and the Chelsea Fringe festival this month.

Have a good month.

Sally