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GARDENING

Join Jenny on the Friday Mix when she talks to Landscape Designer, Shirley Wallington, about all things horticultural.

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GARDENING WITH SHIRLEY WALLINGTON for 05 February 2010

This is the time of the year when our plants start to produce seed or slow down growing in readiness for the 'dormant period'. Otherwise known as 'Harvest time'.

So this is the time to start harvesting seeds from many plants.

At the moment I am collecting agapanthus, daylilies, St Joseph lilies, alstroemeria, arum lilies, clivia, aquilegia, etc.

This is also a good time to take cuttings of certain roses, lavander, hydrangea, fuchsia, daisies, geraniums, salvia, etc.

If you have never taken cuttings before try to look for soft and hardwood cuttings because you might have success with one or the other. Some plants like Hydrangeas are better if you take hardwood but lavander is better if you take softwood cuttings.

You can make your own germination mix or buy a bag from the nursery.
To make your own you should use river sand, vermiculite, perlite and loam soil. The 'medium' should not be rich. If I have to make my own then I just mix some well washed river sand with a bit of vermiculite and the cuttings work well in this.

Lavander - cut the tip of the lavander (not a flowering tip) and strip all the little leaves off the stem except for about 3 at the tip. Cut these leaves right across the top so that you now have a flat line. Dip the cutting into a No 2
hormone powder. You could fit about 50 to 100 cuttings in a small tray. Put 10 in a line and make 10 lines. Always let the cutting lie at an angle. Never straight up.

Hydrangea - take a hardwood cutting and cut just above the 'eye' at an angle. Dip them into No 2 hormone powder or straight into the soil.

Remember to water every day until you see them shooting.

CARAWAY seed is very easily grown and best sown outdoors in early autumn into full sun or light shade. Well drained soil. Caraway perpetuates itself by self-sowing and can, with a little control maintain the cycle.
Harvest by cutting the seed heads just before they fall. Fresh leaves are great in a salad.

You could do the same with CORIANDER.

If your ginger is pushing little shoots, plant them in the garden and by next spring you will have your own GINGER.

A new rose has been launched.

BLACKBERRY ROSE - Deep-red Blackberry Rose.

This new rose has been cultivated for Blackberry by Ludwigs Roses to benefit the MISSING CHILDREN SA. Ludwigs will also donate R5 each time a rose is sold in aid of this worthwhile cause.

OPEN GARDENS 6th and 7th February.

This Saturday and Sunday. Entry charge R10 p.p. For adults and children under 12 can enter for free.

1. Lesley Lewis – 51 Leighton Road, Victory Park.

2. Claire Callie – 9 Ivydene Road, Blairgowrie

3. Melanie Falkov, C4 Malaguena, c/o Melaguena & Lynton Lane. Victory Park.

GARDENING WITH SHIRLEY WALLINGTON for 29 January 2010

The heavy rains have continued all week and will be doing so all weekend. The storms are quite frightening if you are caught in them and you are brought to realise the power of a strong flow of water. I was in such a storm last night! Wow!

Well I have been able to mow my lawn this week as I have a fabulouse new ROLUX lawnmower. It is going like a boing and would like to thank Harold of Rolux for all his kindness. Thanks.

At the beginning of each year I find my creative 'juices' start flowing and I am already thinking of planning the revamping areas which could be a small area or something quite radical.

Our lives become faster and faster and we try to simplify so much in our homes and gardens so that we have more time to work (or be busy). What about making time to relax in your own environment with the joy and tranquility that a garden can bring.

We are now at the end of January so here is a little 'to do list'.

- it is now time to start thinking what flowers or bulbs that you would like to have this winter. If sowing from seed then these must be planted in trays now so that they will be ready for the winter planting around Easter.
Think of things like : primula, antirrhium, aquilegia, pansies, poppies,etc.

- of course, the winter bulbs give such pleasure in spring, so think about the anemone's, freesia's, daffodils or any of our super indigenous bulbs.

- still time to plant some veggie plants before the end of winter e.g. beans, spinach, beetroot, basil, coriander, and parsley. Tomato plants will be OK and still enough time to ripen but not later than the end of this month.
Tomatoes don't like all this rain.

- Take cuttings of fuchsias, daisies, lavender, geraniums, salvia and hydrangea.

- divide perennials like agapanthus, daylilies, alstroemeria

- Collect seed of the agapanthus, clivia and daylilies. Aggies grow very easily from seed. Also Eucomis (Pineapple flower).

- Deadhead roses and feed with bonemeal, 5:1:5 and Epsom salts

- Check roses for mildew and black spot. Spray if necessary, with the cocktail we spoke about last week. (Milk, condy's crystals and bicarb.)

- Prune shrubs but NOT spring flowering varieties such as Cape May

- Fertilise lawn

CARAWAY seed is very easily grown and best sown outdoors in early autumn into full sun or light shade. Well drained soil. Caraway perpetuates itself by self-sowing and can, with a little control maintain the cycle.
Harvest by cutting the seed heads just before they fall. Fresh leaves are great in a salad.

You could do the same with CORIANDER.

If your ginger is pusing little shoots, plant them in the garden and by next spring you will have your own GINGER.

POTATOES that are pushing out little shoots can also be planted. Heap up the soil around them and you should still have a few potatoes before winter.
As soon as you see the flowers on the plant, tickle the surrounding soil and that is where you find the babies.

GARDENING WITH SHIRLEY WALLINGTON for 22 January 2010

We have had an incredible amount of rain over the past month. Probably one of the wettest January’s in years. Not sure of exact quantity but it sure has been plenty but am told by reliable sources that we have had double what we usually get for the entire season!!

With all this rain comes all sorts of gardening issues.

If the lawn (Kikuyu) has been cut and fed regularly then it will be looking good but, for those who went away and let the lawn get a bit too long, it is now a awful looking yellow area. Rain would not have helped many lawns if the drainage is not really good. Kikuyu hates too much water as it can get rather ‘vrot’ and needs to be dryed out for a while. I suggest that lawns should be cut a 1/3 every 3 to 4 days until all the ‘thatch’ is off. Then fertilise with 3:1:5 or 5:1:5. If it has been cut right down to the roots (scarified) then use 2:3:2.

Cheer up with a packet of Nasturtium seeds which can withstand all sorts of conditions!!

NASTURTIUM is such a versatile plant and can withstand all sorts of weather conditions. Shades of yellows, oranges, red, lemon and even cream.
All parts of this rewarding plant are edible which makes it ideal for children to grow as it is also quick. The seeds can be pickled or preserved the same way you do capers and the leaves make a peppery addition to a salad and the nectar is divine.

HOME REMEDIES for pest control

More and more gardeners are keen to use pesticides and fungicides made from everyday kitchen and laundry products so here are a few recipes with some caution offered.

These homemade remedies are not always harmless, so it's important to use all products with caaution. As well as killing pests and diseases, some of the oils and detergents that form the basis of homemade sprays also have potential to harm the plants they are sprayed on, and the environment.

Never spray the plant with the oil-based spray when the temperature is more than 24deg or you might burn the plant. You will also kill the benenficial insects so understand what it is you are trying to get rid of and direct this homemade spray directly at your target.

OIL SPRAY – controls scale and mites

Place 500ml of vegetable oil into your mixing bowl together with 150ml of dishwashing liquid or pure soap flakes.
Stir two ingredients togher until blended and pour into a clearly labelled jar with a lid. Before using dilute the mixture at a rate of 1 part concentrate to 20 parts water and then put into your spray bottle.
Don't apply in the middle of the day when the temperature is high.

CHILLI SPRAY – to kill chewing and sucking insects on contact only and if they are present. Watch out for the good guys.

You will need onions, hot chillies and garlic.
Chop 4 onions, 4 chillies and 2 garlic cloves and put in a bowl.
Cover with warm soapy water and leave to steep for 24 hours.
Strain off this liquid and keep. Add to 5L of water. It is ready for use.
This mixture will keep for weeks stored in screw top jars in a cool dark spot. Remember to clearly mark the bottle.

BLACK SPOT FUNGICIDE – for fungal problems.

You'll need full-cream milk, some Condy's crystals and bicarbonate of soda to make this mixture. Powdered milk can be use instead of fresh milk.
Place 1L of milk in a mixing bowl and add 1 tsp bicarb with 1L of water.
Into the mix add a pinch of Condy's crystals (potassium permanganate). You can buy this from a chemist.
Use this undiluted as a spray.

GARDENING WITH SHIRLEY WALLINGTON for 08 January 2010

We are now into the 2nd decade of the 21st century. How quickly the past 10 years have gone and we prepare to see all the changes for the next 10. In the gardening world there will be many changes as people becoming more and more aware of going 'green'.

People are so much busier and want a pretty but easier garden to maintain.
Water wise gardening and environmentally friendly gardens are in. We are all so much more aware of our surroundings, birds, trees, flowers and veggie gardening. All good stuff………….lets keep up the momentum until we have converted the country into being more considerate and concerned about our environment.

Make a few 'New Year's Resolutions' in your garden.

• Simplify the design
• have less lawn to maintain
• use less plant varieties
• plant more indigenous and even try 'endemic'
• use water cautiously and wisely
• mulch as much as possibly

Just a few guidelines for this time of the year……………….

- it is now time to start thinking about what plants and bulbs to be planted for the winter garden. If sowing from seed then these must be planted in trays now so that they will be ready for the winter planting around Easter.
Think of things like : primula, antirrhium, aquilegia, pansies, etc.

- still time to plant some veggie plants before the end of winter e.g. beans, spinach, beetroot, basil, coriander, and parsley. Tomato plants will be OK and still enough time to ripen but not later than the end of this month.

- Take cuttings of fuchsias, daisies, lavender, geraniums, salvia and hydrangea.

- divide perennials like agapanthus, daylilies, altstroemeria,

- Collect seed of the agapanthus and daylilies. Aggies grow very easily from seed. Also Eucomis (Pineapple flower).

- Deadhead roses and feed with bonemeal, 5:1:5 and Epsom salts.

- Check roses for mildew and black spot. Spray if necessary.

- Prune shrubs but NOT spring flowering varieties such as Cape May

- Fertilise lawn.

GARDENING WITH SHIRLEY WALLINGTON for 31 December 2009

While on holiday many South Africans will be drinking good wines and coffee and indulging in eating chocolate. The word ‘terroir’ may be used to describe the influence that a local geography and climate may have on the taste of grapes, coffee tea, and cocoa beans. Farmers who embrace their local growing conditions are rewarded with a product that has a strong character, with the products nailing their colours to the mast and often developing a strong and healthy fan base.

Setting resolutions, and especially gardening ones, is a sure way to set a stage for failure, but I do like to have an overall theme for the year and so on this, the last day of 2009 perhaps it is appropriate to share my approach for the year ahead. My idea is to constantly try and find the essence of the space that I am gardening, be it a landscape project or the growing of food. Perhaps a way to describe this is finding the ‘terroir’ of the site or garden.

Having worked in Gauteng in October, visited family in Kwa-Zulu Natal in December, both areas having received very good rain for the first half of the summer, and then living in the succulent Karoo where most towns are in the grip of severe water restrictions, one has to accept that even if you are sceptical about global warming, that we are living in a time of extremes which makes farming, the growing of horticultural crops and even domestic gardening tricky to say the very least.

However by understanding and embracing your local climatic conditions you can make a very big difference and what is more make your own work load much lighter. I encourage anyone who is interested in the idea of ‘not gardening’ to visit the site of William Martin at www.wigandia.com for some inspired reading about his approach to gardening. Because he is based in Australia his idea and thoughts are very relevant to South African gardeners.

So perhaps you would consider the following.

Walk around your suburb and look for areas that have not been developed (yet!) to get an idea of the overall look of the vegetation type. An exposed area will have fewer trees and more grassland, where as a more protected site will enable trees and more delicate species to grow. If you do not have any natural undeveloped open areas close to your house, then look out for properties that may have been abandoned or neglected. This may sound very odd asking you to take inspiration from a what to most people would look like a horrible garden, but what it will point out to you is what trees and shrubs have succeeded without watering, fertilising and general pampering. The idea is not necessarily to plant exactly the same species but rather to get an understanding of the site, and what vegetation type is thriving.
Natural untouched areas are also good references to see how plants, ranging from trees right down to low groundcovers are placed in relation to each other. Take a picture of a grouping of plants and replicate what nature has naturally selected and produced. An exposed site will be made up predominantly of grasses with bulbs and perennials pushing through the grasses during the rainy season, while a more protected area will have scattered trees with under storey shrubs. By replicating this style of planting, rather than imposing what you as a gardener want to create, you not only make life easier for yourself but also maintain more of a natural balance for the insects and birds, all of whom are well adapted to live in that type of vegetation.
Embrace diversity and ‘untidiness’ in your planting scheme garden. People often associate this type of gardening with indigenous gardening but remember that even a roses garden that is planted up with other species such as herbs, veggies and perennials will be healthier and happier than them all neatly boxed into a bed that is just asking for insects and disease to hit it.
The ‘art of not gardening’ also means that we abandon our addiction to the hose pipe and irrigation system and create a garden that can cope and thrive with the amount of water it receives from natural precipitation.
The moon phases have a very significant effect on our gardens and by simply following the cycle of the waxing and waning of the moon, you will be a more efficient and happy gardener.
Working with the natural cycle of the season is also important. Understand that because we are passing through the summer solstice at the moment, the days will become shorter. Even though we still have the second half of the summer to get through with lots of heat, the plants will start to slow down having done their work and made the most of the lengthening days in the first half of summer. If you are a farmer this period is one of harvest, and so as gardeners it is a time to take cuttings, harvest seed for next year and summer prune.

Finally, a few things to remember in the veggie garden.

- Tomatoes are in full fruit at the moment. They will also be putting on lots of new green growth and it is important to keep the pruned to one main stem. If they become too bushy you are more likely to pick up a fungal disease and by keeping the bushes ‘lean and mean’ you keep sun and air movement getting to the centre of the plants and this helps avoid diseases.

- Feed your pumpkins, butternuts and squashes. Hopefully your plants have lots of young plants on them and this feeding will help them develop. I prune out some of the babies and the young underdeveloped fruit makes a very tasty table vegetable at the moment.

- I have figs and pears on the trees and the battle is on with the birds as to who gets the fruit first! Covering the trees with netting helps and this is a very good time to get this job done.

- Rather than throwing away your orange peels, dry them out in the sun as these dry hard peels make very good fire lighters and are much more environmentally friendly than the conventional store bought fire lighters.

GARDENING WITH SHIRLEY WALLINGTON for 24 December 2009

Another year, another Christmas! How the time flies!

The Turkey has been basted and ready for the all night cook on low and the Ham is ready to be marinated in ginger beer and to be cooked. All veggies to be prepared. Christmas pud done and 'Trifle' to be done this evening. So that all taken care of, what about the garden??

Very little to do besides being sure the lawn is beautifully mowed, edges and hedges all straight and trimmed, leaves gathered and put into beds as mulch.

So why not just sit back and enjoy this peaceful time with the birds busy with new families enjoying the fruits in your garden.

The last minute rush to the nursery to buy 'fillers' for pots or garden or maybe even a last minute present for someone. There are so many gorgeous items to buy at the nurseries that would make anyone happy. More and more nurseries are stocking 'gift' items but let's think a bit about plants now.

The Hydrangeas and DayLilies are looking wonderful and make super gifts. Even Orchids for someone really special. Roses, and there are so many varieties to choose from. Dwarf Alstroemeria's make a lovely garden plant or pot plant.

Then buy a few flower and veggie seeds and in the quiet moments of this coming week, get them into the garden and enjoy them before winter sets in.

Get some beans, beetroot, carrots, onions, coriander, basil, tomotoes and a few others planted and you will still have a good harvest.

Look at your pots and maybe give them a good sorting out if you feel the plants are not looking their best. Take out the soil and replace with fresh potting soil and then give your plants a new lease on life. The nutrition in the soil gets depleted and because plants are confined they need to have you top up the nutrition so by replacing the soil this allows the plant roots to have better drainage and aeration.

To all 702 listeners have a joyous festive season and may the coming year be a happy and love filled one. Enjoy!!

GARDENING WITH SHIRLEY WALLINGTON for 18 December 2009

Once you have been bitten by the garden bug, with it comes a lifetime of wonderful enjoyment and discovery.

BUT there are still many people who are really quite disinterested in gardening and find it quite a bore. I come from a family of gardeners but was never really interested until I had a garden and home of my own.
Then I started experimenting and found that I just loved the outdoors and watching plants that I planted, grow and become beautiful.

A beautiful garden enhances your home and it definitely helps to increase the value of your property so to assist those who really could not be bothered here are a few tips that should make this easier.

ƒÜ A clever simple design with lots of lawn and lovely trees with drifts of agapanthus or tulbagia.

ƒÜ Don't complicate your life with too many variaties of plants.

ƒÜ Install a watering system to look after your investment.

ƒÜ Find good help with either a recommended maintenance team or a keen gardener.

ƒÜ Make sure your tools are in good shape because this helps to keep the garden going.

ƒÜ Don't use too many pots because you will spend your life looking after plants unless you use hardy items like Aloes or 'Mother-in-laws tongue'.

ƒÜ Hard surfaces like lots of paving and walkways will also reduce the amount of garden but this really has to be cleverly designed otherwise the garden could look hot and unfriendly.

ƒÜ Use more trees and shrubs than perennials.

ƒÜ Keep lawns maintained then the rest of the garden will always look good.

ƒÜ Place the odd bench, birdbath or feature in the garden to allow the eye to settle on.

I would love to encourage the 'disinterested' to grow some veggies but know this would just be more frustrating. To try and explain the joy that you get from picking your own veg, fruit or flower and putting it in your home, might be pushing things a bit.

However, having said all this..................the most important part of any garden is not to be too critical and just enjoy it!!

GARDENING WITH SHIRLEY WALLINGTON for 11 December 2009

Another decade gone and we begin a new one in less than a month. How time flies and they say the older you get, the quicker it goes. I wonder if this 'time flying' is just the speed that we live our lives.

Everything has to be 'instant' in no matter what we do. 'Instant' gardening is what everyone wants as they don't want to wait a few months or years for things to grow. I see this with gardens all the time. Yes, you can plant large plants to give an almost instant effect but this is such a costly exercise that most people opt for the smaller plants to keep the budget down. However, having said that, people still find it hard to imagine a garden that is not like the picture they have seen in a book. Especially when you have just finished constructing a garden, people are often disappointed as they imagine it just like the picture but it needs some time to get there. Like planting seeds or even seedlings..................give it a while and all will be beautiful! I say it's like plastic surgery.................all bruised and stitched but after a few weeks the beauty emerges!! Obviously, maintenance is very important!!

Everyone is being cautious with their Christmas present shopping and trying to find clever ways of making the 'rand' go just that bit further. For your garden loving family or friends, here are a few of my own suggestions.

 There is a good selection of gardening books in Exclusive and I have my eye on a few so they will go on to my 'wish-list'. My favourite books are design ones so be sure you know who you are buying for and what you think they would like. I might also like one (or more) or the new cookery books.

• Of course, Phalenopsis Orchids (Moth Orchid) will always be seen as special and this is truly a lovely present to give and I know the older folk love them as they are not difficult to look after and will keep their flowers for ages.

• Wrought iron is still very much in fashion and you can find 'hearts', 'frames' or small water fountains/spouts that make lovely gifts.

• Candles for the garden. There are endless varieties of options for outside entertaining and candles just add to the romance of “outside” living.

• Garden Magazine subscription. There are quite a few out there and some really good ones too. I have a subscription to GARDENS ILLUSTRATED from the U.K. and cannot wait for it to arrive. This was a present from my son.

• You cannot go wrong with a very good pair of secateurs. I love the FELCO variety.

• Plants – take a walk through the Nurseries and you will find lovely plants like Hydrangeas, Arum's, Pentas, Trees, roses and so many other wonderful plants and this is such a great gift to give to someone that busy with a new garden.

• The seed companies have pretty seed packets and you could put a collection of flowers in one present and a collection of veggies for another. I am thinking of a husband and wife.

• Trendy gumboots or clogs.

• Watering can.

• Another garden bench.

• Red rose bushes and lotsa!!

A few tips before going on holiday.

Make sure your lawn has been cut as low as possible.

Check the irrigation system comes on in late afternoon – early evening.

Check the rainsensor is working so that water is not wasted.

To all 702 listeners.

Happy holidays, travel safely and have a blessed festive season filled with much laughter and love.

GARDENING WITH SHIRLEY WALLINGTON for 27 November 2009

Well the rain (and the cold) have been great for gardens. Even the cold spell was good as it prolonged the flowers instead of burning up in the heat and humidity. Odd weather but then this is what to expect with global warming.

The rain pounds the soil so you need to break the crust down with some mulch or compost. Don't put compost/manure on top of soil and just leave it there as it is a waste of money. You need to turn the soil and dig it in and then if you can, put some mulch to cover so that you contain the goodness.

The Fuchsia festival has been on all week and continues through the weekend. Treat yourself to a wonderland of beautiful fuchsias, hydrangeas, clematis and our very own indigenous Streptocarpus. Beth grows these beautifully and they are easy to have in your garden in shady spots of in containers.

Fuchsias are really quite easy to grow if you follow the instructions and they last for a very long time if you give them some TLC.
Lady Beth Nursery 45 Oak Avenue, Fourways (off Swallow which is of Douglas Drive). Tel: 011 705 1674.
Refreshments available.

Things to do in the garden now:

Dead-head roses so that you have a constant supply of flowers

Feed lawns because the healthier the lawn is, the less weeds you will have.

Feed plants that are turning yellow with 'magnesium sulphate' or epsom salts

Fill gaps in the garden with some instant seeds or divide some perennials like Day lilies, altstromeria or agapanthus to cover the ground.

Check that your irrigation is working effeciently and getting to all plants. Remember to water later in the day to reduce evaporation. Check the times on each station.

Dead head Arum Lilies by pulling the leaves or flowers out of the base.
They start going off now.

Get the shape of lawn edges looking smart by taking a spade to the edge and getting a nice clean line, not all twisted and unruly. Clean lawn edges make for nice looking flower beds. The two need to compliment each other.
Try to keep the gap between lawn and bed to almost nothing as you do not want to see the earth, just greenery!!

Give your garden a good 'foliar feed' like 'Multifeed' or 'Seagrow'. If you do this at least once a month you will be amazed at how happy the plants are.

Prune the shrubs and plants that are getting a bit wild.

Lastly.................talk to your plants. Besides being fun it is quite therapeutic to chat to your plants. Laugh and be positive rather than negative. Believe you me, the plants will be happy and reward you all the way.

GARDENING WITH SHIRLEY WALLINGTON for 13 November 2009

The rains have been marvellous so far so hopefully all the predictions about this being an El Nino season, will be proven wrong. Such verdent countryside and gardens are getting into their summer splendour.

Roses have past through their first flush and should now be 'dead headed' and encouraged to perform during the next few hot months. Watering well and deeply at least twice a week. Don't depend on rain............observe! Observe! There is no alternative for this. People always say to me, how much water does a certain plant require and this is such a difficult answer because every plant has different needs, so you truly have to check and watch your garden if you want a beautiful show. Having an irrigation system also does not let you off the hook either. I think that is why so many people still love to water manually as they can see what is happening in the garden.

Also remember to feed your roses at least once a month. Vigerosa is a natural fertiliser and will give you all the necessary food required to keep the roses looking good.

If you need to spray the roses or any other plant that has a problem like red-spider mite or mildew, have a look at the nurseries at all the new “eco-friendly” ones available. Efekto have brought out a few good ones.
Also read the labels and be sure that is 'eco-friendly'.

This is a good time to prune all the spring flowering shrubs like Spirea (Cape May) Banksia roses, Jasmines, Mackaya Bella. These plants do not like autumn/winter planting as they will have no flowers next spring.

LUNAR gardeners can plant root crops, transplant perennials, mow and fertilise the lawn.

Essential 'backbone' shrubs to have on the boundaries.

PAVETTA lanceolata (forest bride's bush) indigenous, dense clusters of white flowers, bees love, evergreen small tree or large shrub 5 x 3m full sun to light shade.

ABELIA grandiflora, very hardy, quick growing and has pretty perfumed flowers 2 x 1.5m prefers the sun.

MURRAYA exotica (orange jasmine), evergreen glossy leaves with scented white flowers. Good plant for shade or sun. 3 x 2m

MACKAYA BELLA (river bells) prefers shade (also deep shade) white to lilac flowers, evergreen. 2.5 x 2 m

Answers to some of the sms's received last week?

Good and bad 'Lady Birds'??
There was an article in last Saturday's Star about the invasion of these 'Harlequin' ladybirds. They are quite destructive and don't think anyone knows how to go about controlling them yet. The book by Johan Gerber is really informative. (The Garden Guardian)

'Where to get earthworms?”
Earthworms come on their own if you have a healthy soil and garden. They come in the plants you buy and will flourish in your garden if you give them good quality soil.

“Snail remedy”
Last week I gave a wonderful way to get rid of snails which I saw in
Jane Griffiths ( Jane's delicious garden) book using beer and a yoghurt container. She has some marvellous ideas for natural veggie gardening

“Fly problems”
We buy the fly traps and hang them in the trees off the 4 corners of the house where they cannot be seen. Use the bait supplied or put a piece of raw meat into the trap and as it becomes rotten, will attrat the flies.

Thanks for all the compliments received about my own garden in the November issue of Garden and Home.