Bulletin

GARDEN BULLETIN FOR LATE OCTOBER

The days are getting shorter and we lose another hour of daylight at the end on the month.

Summer Flowering Bedding  – Are now coming to an end and it is time to pull them out and put them on the compost heap or into the brown bins for recycling.

Autumn/Winter Flowering Bedding Plants –  Available now to replace the summer bedding in containers borders and baskets.  We have a good selection of Autumn plants cyclamen, wall flower, ornamental kale, violas, pansies and many more.   When planting use Westland Multi Purpose Compost.

Winter  Interest Plants  – We have a good range of plants looking good now and through the winter many can be put into containers with winter bedding or bulbs, which will look good until the Spring.  They can also be planted in a permanent position in the Garden – Heathers, Skimmias, Conifers, Mahonias, Hebes,  All are hardy and evergreen.

Feed the Birds – We have received a large delivery of all Bird Products  –  feeders,  nesting boxes, and feeding tables,  and all types of food.   Using Westland Peckish Bird Food will keep the birds coming to your garden and eating slugs and snails.   This year we have brought in a larger bag which is better value.

Spring Flowering Bulbs – Now is the time to plant Spring Bulbs exception being Tulips which should be planted in November.   Bulbs like good drainage so use horticultural grit and if selected carefully can be in flower from January to May.

Onion Sets, Shallots and Garlic – These are also in stock now and can be planted as soon as possible while the soil is still warm.  They will start to grow and then stop and start again in the spring and be ready for use at  least one month ahead of the spring planted onion sets and shallots.

Ornamental & Fruit Trees – Now is a good time to think about planting trees,  we have a good selection of ornamental and fruit trees  for both small and large gardens.   At the moment trees are giving good autumn colour when planting use Westland Tree & Shrub compost.

Trees are very important for a variety of reasons they take in carbon dioxide and give out oxygen.  They can give some shelter from wind and are a good habitat for birds and insects.

Lawn Care – It is now too late to apply Summer Feed but Autumn Lawn Feed can now be applied up until late November, this product greens up the lawn without promoting growth it also improves winter hardiness and strengthens roots.   This will help to keep down moss and in the spring you will see the difference between an Autumn fed lawn and an unfed lawn.

Christmas is Coming – We are working hard to get our Christmas display up and running and hope to have it complete by the end of the month, with new and exciting decorations, novelties, lights and artificial trees.   Our real Christmas trees will be available from  the end of November.

Pots & Containers – Half Price – Having reorganised our pot area we have a good selection of pots on special offer.   Some pots have a 50% sticker on.

Quick Tips – Cut back roses to about 30-40 cm to stop plants rocking in the winter winds.

Check stakes and ties on trees to prevent wind damage.

If you spot greenfly on your roses spray with a greenfly killer

Gather up diseased foliage from below roses and put in the brown bin for recycling.

Now is a good time to lift and divide perennials such as geraniums

Collect fallen leaves and put them on the compost heap for in the brown bin.

If you have a green house give it a good clean to improve light transmission.

The next meeting of the Garden Club is Monday 28^th October in the Centre at 7.30pm.

From Team Inver

Happy Gardening.