Maghull and Lydiate U3A

Norman is happy to answer any gardening questions you may have at the Tuesday Coffee Morning or alternatively you can click on comments the link above and raise your questions on line. Ed.

May is an important month in the garden. It’s the time to start your hanging baskets. Last year I tried something new and used a woven type basket.

1. To start, prop the basket on a bucket. I lined the basket with moist grass clippings then added a layer of plastic inside this.

2.Snip a few drainage holes in the plastic, then fill the basket 2-thirds full with compost mixed with water retaining gell.

3. Plant a couple of trailing geraniums around the edge mixed in with 4 surfinas and 2 or 3 nasturtium.

4. Pop in some slow release plant food give your plants a good water and choose a sunny spot with some shade during the day.

Other plants you can use for baskets are trailing Lobelia, Begonia and  Dichondra, a plant with silver leaves. Why not plant a bucket or large basket with trailing Tomatoes and add in some nasturtiums. Tie some wire around the handle of the bucket and hang up for  a succession of tasty tomatoes .

Last year when I opened my garden I used galvanised buckets which I purchased for around £4 for hanging baskets.  I was able to find a few at boot sales for about a £1. The advantage was they take more compost need far less watering and produce massive displays of flowers and tomatoes why not have a look around the shed and see what you can plant up.

The Weather as we all know is terrible and things are slow in my garden especially the tropical type plants. One plant doing well are the Hostas -  they love it wet so make sure you have put some gravel or slug pellets around the base or the slugs will have a good meal.

Happy Gardening,

Norman.

The new season starts in March one of my favourite times in the garden this is the time to Prune mophead and lacecap Hydrangeas taking off the old flower heads and cutting just above a strong pair of buds, March is also a good time to plant or move evergreens I have had lots of success moving shrubs and conifers during this time.

                                                                       1st March was such a lovely sunny day I brought out the banana plants which I overwintered in the garage and placed them on the patio to encourage growth and moved them back in before dusk. You can do this yourself with plants you have covered up for the winter but don’t forget to cover them at night. You can also prune Mahonia ,Buddleia and Forsythia,.

Hosta’s, one of my favourites are just showing signs of life. You can divide hostas now by cutting straight through the plant with a spade I myself divided 2 plants today splitting them into 4 peices and then potting on. I now have 8 hostas which would have cost me at least £3.99 at the garden centre.

        Lawns. If you want a lush green lawn now is the time for preparation by raking and scarifying to remove dead grass. You can then mow the lawn if the grass is dry raising the cutters to trim the grass. I never use fertilizer until April when the grass is growing .

This year I am opening my garden again at Sefton Lane. The theme will be Teddy bear’s picnic, so expect some surprises and lots more tropical plants including a bigger selection of Bananas ,Palms etc and some vegetables which I will grow on in pots and various containers. The date of the opening will be announced shortly .

                                      Happy Gardening ,

                                               Norman Conway.