Saturday, January 26, 2008
ALL HANDS ON DECK
Decking for the garden is still a popular option in Inishowen, and it can be built on the steepest of slopes or the wettest of ground. Putting decking in the garden can increase your living area considerably and young children enjoy playing on the soft,warm surface. The major complaint is that the surface can become very slippery in winter. This week I visited Brian Timmins from Inishowen Garden Equipment in Shandrum to find out the best way to keep your decking up to scratch.
Prevent algae build up
“There are simple steps that can be taken to prevent algae building up” says Brian, who clearly is passionate about decking and feels that preventative maintenance is the way to go. “To start with remove any debris such as fallen leaves from the deck, I use a leaf blower myself and it only takes five minutes! The deck can then be swept with a good stiff brush. Go with the grain for the best results.”
This process can get the bulk of the algae off of the wood but if the garden is shady or really wet you may need better protection throughout the winter. “Try treating the area with decking reviver and protector.” Brian suggests. “This kills of the algae and prevents it from coming back for at least a year. After brushing and when the weather is dry, treat with a good quality oil or wood stain that will soak into the wood. Remember to read the instructions as the right application is crucial!”
Brian throws me a grin and wraps up our chat with this bit of worldly wisdom “There is no such thing as maintenance free in the garden, you have to put in a little work, but …..with a bit of care your decking can look good and be safe to walk on for many years to come”
Freshen up houseplants
Colm also has some advice for the care of houseplants in general. “Over the year dirt and grime from the house has settled on the leaves of our plants, so we put all of our houseplants outside in the summer months, the amaryllis goes out too. I choose a damp muggy day and this freshens them up really well.”
Mind you, I tried that with our housplants last year… They are still out there. Well the pots are, the frost has turned the plants into green sludge!
Prevent algae build up
“There are simple steps that can be taken to prevent algae building up” says Brian, who clearly is passionate about decking and feels that preventative maintenance is the way to go. “To start with remove any debris such as fallen leaves from the deck, I use a leaf blower myself and it only takes five minutes! The deck can then be swept with a good stiff brush. Go with the grain for the best results.”
This process can get the bulk of the algae off of the wood but if the garden is shady or really wet you may need better protection throughout the winter. “Try treating the area with decking reviver and protector.” Brian suggests. “This kills of the algae and prevents it from coming back for at least a year. After brushing and when the weather is dry, treat with a good quality oil or wood stain that will soak into the wood. Remember to read the instructions as the right application is crucial!”
Brian throws me a grin and wraps up our chat with this bit of worldly wisdom “There is no such thing as maintenance free in the garden, you have to put in a little work, but …..with a bit of care your decking can look good and be safe to walk on for many years to come”
Photo: “Annual care for your decking needen’t be a chore” says Brian Timmins from Inishowen Garden Equipment in Shandrum
Is this the way to amaryllis?
Having an amaryllis in the house is a real treat. These gracious tropical flowers hint at a more exotic climate, yet they are not too difficult to care for. Colm Grant, the founder of the Swilly Gardening Club in Buncrana is an avid houseplant collector and has a beautiful amaryllis specimen which is about 4 years old (and has even had a few babies). So what is the best way to care for this graceful blossom.
“Overwatering is the biggest problem these bulbs face” Colm tells me with an air of confidentiality. “Water sparingly throughout the year from the bottom of the pot. This plant grows all year round. It has lost its dormant period and actually flowers twice a year now! When the flower dies and the stem rots back, I cut it off before the dieback reaches the bulb” Colm also explains the importance of feeding the bulb. “I use a general purpose houseplant fertiliser in the summer months so the bulb can build up it’s strength.”
I asked Colm if the bulbs have any other common problems we should know about “Apart from watering the other problem we have had was with the woolly aphid. They would settle on the bottom of the stem. I used a spray bottle with diluted methylated spirits in it. It got rid of the sticky pests and the plant was none the worse for the ordeal.”
Freshen up houseplants
Colm also has some advice for the care of houseplants in general. “Over the year dirt and grime from the house has settled on the leaves of our plants, so we put all of our houseplants outside in the summer months, the amaryllis goes out too. I choose a damp muggy day and this freshens them up really well.”
Mind you, I tried that with our housplants last year… They are still out there. Well the pots are, the frost has turned the plants into green sludge!
Friday, January 18, 2008
WIND IN THE WILLOWS
Blustery day
The strong winds recently did a fantastic job of getting all of the old dead twigs and branches from the trees. It also moved a few other things too. Whole trees were uprooted as the windiest winds since winds began tore through the peninsula. Which as a matter of interest was in 1839. It was on the 6-7th of January and called “The night of the Big Wind.” (Visitors to the famine museum in Doagh Island will of course have heard of when pensions were brought in and given to those who could remember the big wind, thus collecting their ‘windfall’.)
Friends of ours in Buncrana had to get their eighteen-foot trampoline from the roof of their house and loose tiles embedded themselves into the shiny paintwork of parked cars. A local estate agent put up lovely flags above their shop just a week before the gales. The material for their doomed advertising is probably somewhere down the Cockhill road wrapped around a lamppost. The poles that were left were bent like polytunnel frames.
Wind in the willows
Plants are not daft. The fact that deciduous ones lose their leaves in winter protects them from the gales. For example roses would be uprooted in high winds as they have a brittle root system.
Another reason shrubs drop their leaves is to get rid of toxins; this can be a great boon to us though, especially at a time when there are few flowers around. There are some dramatically coloured stems that are a welcome addition to the winter garden. Hazel, especially the corkscrew type, willows (Salix) and limes (Tilia) have their virtues but the most vibrant colours come from the Cornus family or dogwoods, as they are commonly known. The two most common are the alba (red) or the stolonifera (yellow). If these shrubs are cut right down to the ground every year in March, the resulting new growth lights up any sunny border and look great reflected on water.
Tunnel vision
Polythene tunnels are particularly vulnerable to the winds around Inishowen unless precautions are taken. It pays to keep the doors locked tightly. If the wind does get in, it can lift the tunnel up like a hot air balloon, or flatten the frames. I have heard some-one actually cut off the polythene in a gale to save the frame from being squashed. Good windbreaks are all important.
The strong winds recently did a fantastic job of getting all of the old dead twigs and branches from the trees. It also moved a few other things too. Whole trees were uprooted as the windiest winds since winds began tore through the peninsula. Which as a matter of interest was in 1839. It was on the 6-7th of January and called “The night of the Big Wind.” (Visitors to the famine museum in Doagh Island will of course have heard of when pensions were brought in and given to those who could remember the big wind, thus collecting their ‘windfall’.)
Friends of ours in Buncrana had to get their eighteen-foot trampoline from the roof of their house and loose tiles embedded themselves into the shiny paintwork of parked cars. A local estate agent put up lovely flags above their shop just a week before the gales. The material for their doomed advertising is probably somewhere down the Cockhill road wrapped around a lamppost. The poles that were left were bent like polytunnel frames.
Wind in the willows
Plants are not daft. The fact that deciduous ones lose their leaves in winter protects them from the gales. For example roses would be uprooted in high winds as they have a brittle root system.
Another reason shrubs drop their leaves is to get rid of toxins; this can be a great boon to us though, especially at a time when there are few flowers around. There are some dramatically coloured stems that are a welcome addition to the winter garden. Hazel, especially the corkscrew type, willows (Salix) and limes (Tilia) have their virtues but the most vibrant colours come from the Cornus family or dogwoods, as they are commonly known. The two most common are the alba (red) or the stolonifera (yellow). If these shrubs are cut right down to the ground every year in March, the resulting new growth lights up any sunny border and look great reflected on water.
Contrasting under planting will show off these dogwood stems. Hellebores stand out well and their vivid green hues look fantastic next to the brilliant red of the alba. Heathers, especially white or golden flowered varieties also make great choices for under planting.
Tunnel vision
Polythene tunnels are particularly vulnerable to the winds around Inishowen unless precautions are taken. It pays to keep the doors locked tightly. If the wind does get in, it can lift the tunnel up like a hot air balloon, or flatten the frames. I have heard some-one actually cut off the polythene in a gale to save the frame from being squashed. Good windbreaks are all important.
Photo: Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ with their red stems are looking great at this time of year at John McDermotts
Jobs of the week
Joey Grant from the Sisters of Mercy Convent garden in Buncrana has been busy this week, pruning shrubs, trimming hedges and getting the convent grounds tidied up before the snowdrops and daffodils begin to flower. Joey has been maintaining the convent grounds for the last twenty years as well as doing gardening work around the town. At the moment Joey is working with Luke O’Sullivan. Luke, from Buncrana, is on a placement from Youthreach and is enjoying expanding his interest in gardening with practical work experience.
I asked Joey’s advice for a job of the week. He was more than happy to share his knowledge. “Now is a great time to be pruning roses back hard” he tells me, “Cut the stems back to an outward facing bud and clear out any dead wood to let the light and air into the centre of the plant.”
Photo: Joey and Luke are both keen gardeners.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
HOT SEAT
Can’t keep the old sods down
Just like a stubborn grass sod in the veggie patch that won’t turn over- it’s Ian Gomersall here to guide you through the maze of all things in the garden.
It’s fantastic to be in the horticultural hot seat in the Inishowen Independent. Of course this gardening page isn’t just about me, (as much as I would like to think it is!)- it’s about all of us in the peninsula who have an interest in gardening.
The strength of this column will be your participation, to increase our gardening knowledge and keep in touch with each other’s progress. And of course we need lots of lovely photos to show off the local gardens
I am also planning to recruit the elite of the Inishowen gardening world to share their gems of gardening wisdom. Remember there is no such thing as a silly question……Well actually there is….. When your child can’t find something have you ever said, “Well WHERE did you lose it?…now that is a silly question!
Paddy MCartney from Greencastle is a wealth of information in the garden
Do you dig it?
There is one job in the garden that I am always reluctant to do and that’s digging. I always felt that this was a totally unnecessary pursuit and so do some people who practise Permaculture (or the No Dig Policy). Now with all of the eco awareness that has hit the nation we find that tilling the veggie patch actually releases a large quantity of carbon dioxide. Soil actually releases 10 times more CO2 than we humans do. This contributes towards global warming. So now I have a great reason to leave the soil alone! After saying that don’t let this put you off of digging if that is what you enjoy, it is great exercise after all -although a bit heavy on the back.
Dig away if you like but I am taking it easy!
Getting to know your garden
When the sun shines we are all tempted to rush down to the garden centre to buy new plants. It is important that before you part with your money that you know your garden, especially if you have moved into a new house. There are some important facts to consider. Does the garden have shelter? What sort of soil do you have? What is the drainage like? And of course, what direction does it face? Don’t despair if your garden is north facing as even these should get some sun during the day and there are plenty of shade loving plants to choose from. Over the coming weeks we will look at how to get to know your garden so you can get the most out of it and not throw your money away on unsuitable plants.
Your garden changes all the time
Growing in Confidence
Are you a member of an Inishowen group looking for a healthy project?
The Organic Centre in Rossinver re-launched its ‘Growing in Confidence’ Community Food Project in March 2007, with funding support from HSE West and the Department of Agriculture and Food. The idea of the project is to set up small community gardens. The initiative so far has involved parents managing a tight budget, asylum seekers, older people, people with disabilities.
Participants, under the guidance of an experienced organic gardening mentor, learn to grow their own organic vegetables, and learn to prepare and cook healthy, fresh produce.
Community-based organic gardens help promote organic gardening skills, awareness of healthy eating,physical activity and of course there is the social side. All that you need to get involved is a parcel of secure land and plenty of drive and enthusiasm.
For more information contact me or check out the Organic Centre web site.
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