Horkans Lifestyle & Garden Centre

Jobs in the garden this week..

13th October 2011

Horky’s Weekly Gardening Tips

1. Rhubarb, Strawberries and blueberry plants can be planted for the next couple of weeks in well prepared soil  Click here to see our Fruit Plants Add Supergrow compost to the planting hole before planting and remember to feed all fruiting plants next spring with Rose fertiliser Click here to see our Compost and Fertiliser

2. Late October is a good time to Kill unwanted lawn moss with an application of Sulphate of Iron, either sprayed or Spread through a lawn spreader. Lawn moss will continue to infest you lawn in left un treated. Follow instructions carefully Click here to see our Sulphate of Iron

3. Sow green manure seed into vacant areas in your vegetable garden now, simply sprinkle the seed over the soil area, the seed will germinate and grow quickly adding much needed organic fertiliser to your soil Click here to see our Green Manure

4. Moss on slates, patio slabs and tarmac areas can be cleared now by treating the area with Patio magic. Simply mix with water and apply to the entire Area Click here to see our Patio Magic

5. Family apple trees offer you two eating apples on the one tree and are ideal for growing in patio pots or directly into the soil. Family apple trees will pollinate one another and reward you with great tasting fruit next summer Click here to see our Family Apple Trees

6. Graves can be brightened up now by planting some winter and spring flowering Cyclamen, Pansies, Violas and spring flowering bulbs. You can also place a planted container with winter and spring colour Click here to see our winter and spring flowering plants

7. Collect the last of your lawn cuttings, fallen leaves, un cooked kitchen waste and shredded newspapers and place in a compost bin in layers. Add some compost accelerator to help break down the organic matter quickly. Compost made now will make super useable compost and fertiliser for next season vegetable garden.

8. Garden and song birds should be fed from now until late spring, Sunflower seeds, wild bird mixes and bird peanuts will offer high levels of protein and energy for your garden birds. October is also a good time to clean out old nesting boxes and to place a couple of new nesting boxes around the garden Click here to see our Wildlife and Birdcare

9. Plant hardy hedging plants including Beech, Laurel, Green and golden privet, whitethorn and holly now. Plants planted before the winter will continue to produce a good root structure throughout the winter and make for strong vigorous growth during spring and summer Click here to see our Hedging Plants

10. October remains one of the best months to plant foliage and flowering climbers to cover bare or unsightly walls. I recommend you plant evergreen Ivies, Prycanthea for its lovely winter berries, Self clinging climbing hydrangeas and the free flowering scented climbing roses.

Horkans Gardening Night classes have started again – If you are interested in learning how to care for your garden then call Mairead on 0874100565 for information on up coming gardening classes at Horkans.