HRAA St Ives Gardening Club

Newsletter August 2018

I have no intention to ‘reinventing the wheel’ and felt this advice

from the RHS would not go amiss. So our Newsletter for August is basically

this:

RHS Gardening Advice during this period of drought

Our top 10 tips for caring for your garden in this hot dry weather

With the recent wave of hot, dry weather across the UK you might have noticed your garden starting to wither. Chief Horticulturist, Guy Barter, has some top tips for caring for your garden at a time when water is at a premium.

1. Trees may shed leaves indicating stress but it is seldom fatal. Established shrubs, roses and climbers don't usually need watering either.

2. Consider re-using water from your home. Wastewater from the kitchen, baths, basins and showers is suitable to water plants and containers.

3. Water newly planted trees and shrubs as a priority. Ensure the root ball is wet, checking with a trowel if necessary.

4. Where planting is essential and can't be delayed; puddle plants in, fill the planting hole with water (or better, ¼ strength liquid fertiliser) and allow to drain several times before setting out plants.

5. A good soak, to wet the root zone, every 10 days in July and 14 days in August is best. Watering little and often is generally more work, less effective and wasteful of water. However, a ‘good soak’ can mean the equivalent of four 9L / 2gallon watering cans per square metre / yard. 6. Move small pots and hanging baskets into the shade. Suspend hanging baskets over a potted plant so run-off water gets used.

7. Lawns may brown, but although the leaves die the grass remains alive, ready to regrow once the rain returns. So watering them is not essential.

8. Greenhouses, conservatories and polythene tunnels easily overheat. So boost shading and even remove some panes of glass to reduce temperatures.

9. Target water where it is most needed. Camellia and rhododendrons lay down buds in late summer, so a good soak every so often then will help.

10. Warmth will speed up composting so there should be plenty of excellent compost this winter. Add some water, however if the mix looks dry.

Don’t dismay all will recover, well most will - have a good summer!!!

Don’t forget – The Flower, Produce and Craft Show is being held in

the St Ives Corn Exchange on Saturday 1st September from about

12.30 through to 3.45 / 4.00 pm. Go to their Web site at:

http://stivesshow.org.uk/ for more details and the listing of the

various categories of entries. As usual there will be a plant sale with

proceeds going to club funds. Entry to the various competitive

elements is free as is entry to the show on the 1st September.

Thanks to Linda and Neville for hosting our July member’s garden visit and though Linda sought many ways to encourage rain – all attempts alas failed except for one or two noted droplets (which I suspect was a passing bird!). Indeed a splendid garden achieved in a relatively short space in time

Some of the gathered membership are here

See next page ………

Wheatfields Primary School won the inter Junior Schools

gardening competition with Eastfields Nursery Infants School –

some of their achievements will be displayed at the show. The

SIiB Allotment Competition results will be declared at the show.

Best wishes to everyone Robin Bletsoe sigc.weebly.com

robin.bletsoe@yahoo.com

Sheila, Linda B, Val, Linda C and Pauline

Kevan, Norma, Gina and Steve