Floods

COPING WITH A FLOODED GARDEN
More and more people are getting concerned about flooding and the damage it causes. No house is really safe, although the severity of the floodwater will differ depending on where you are. Although we escaped the severity and distress of the damage, there have been floods in Inishowen with Greencastle being the worst hit. The issues of why this is happening are open to debate…Global Warming and the fact that we have been building on flood plains are just two theories. Whatever the reasons our hearts go out to the families who have been so affected by the floods. When the waters recede and it is time to clear up and count the costs there will also be some work to do in the garden.

HERE COMES THE FLOOD
I used to live in an area where the bottom of the garden got washed away every year. It wasn’t that the area was low lying though, it was because the storm drains were not sufficient to carry away the water fast enough. The result was the manhole covers used to pop off of the drains and the water would come out like a very powerful fountain. It wasn’t just the water of course as the drains were also linked to the sewage pipes. Having sewage in the water is why so many household items have to be dumped. Veggies contaminated by sewage couldn’t be eaten either.

AFTER THE FLOOD

After the water level has gone down there are some steps you can do to bring the garden up to scratch.

· Add some slow release fertiliser or well-rotted manure to the soil (beds and lawn) as nutrients will have been washed away. Don’t disturb unti it has dried, then gently aerate the soil with a fork.
· Put some coarse lime-free sand into the holes as well to aid the drainage.
· Most garden plants will survive a day or two under water so don’t panic and start digging everything up straight away.
· Wash down hard surfaces and collect up debris to prevent drains blocking, soil surfaces being covered, and pollutants or contaminants lingering in the garden. Wear gloves and overalls to minimise contact with pollutants.
· Remove damaged shoots from affected plants.
· Consider planting trees on a slight mound.
· Grow plants in raised beds.
· After flooding, edible crops near to harvest are best not eaten: no assurances can be given that root crops will be safe to eat, so they should be discarded. Plants eaten raw should be discarded too, and it is prudent to avoid growing salads and other uncooked crops for two years in case disease spores remain in the soil. However, the following year after flooding, it should be safe to grow crops that are to be cooked.
· If you know in advance that a flood is coming then try to gather everything from the veggie patch that you can before it comes.

Here are a few other things you can do:

· Roofs converted into living green roofs absorb storm water and release it slowly.
· Move any items kept outside such as garden furniture to higher ground. Remember that floodwater could get into your garage so move any chemicals or fuel to ensure that they do not spill into the floodwater and cause damage.
· Close off the flow valves on propane tanks, oil drums, or other fuel containers that supply your home through pipes and fittings.
· Unplug any exterior electrical connections such as outdoor lighting, pond pumps and filters.
· Turn off the water supply to the garden.
· Tie in climbing plants.
· Check tree ties are secure on any newly planted trees.
· Anchor fruit cages and coldframes against storm damage or dismantle them if time permits.
· Take valuable or sentimental items and store them indoors or move them to higher ground.
· Empty petrol lawn mowers.
· Lock gardening tools away.
· If there is somewhere for water to go, drainage can be installed. Or, where appropriate, it may be worth digging out a ditch or seasonal pond at the lowest part of the garden to catch surplus water and let it soak in slowly.
· Choose permeable surfaces when laying drives, paths and patios to allow rain to soak in.

REMEMBER:
Floodwater will often be contaminated, usually by untreated sewage, spilled chemicals, silage from farms or dead animals.

· Always wear protective clothing when working in or near floodwater.
· Wash all cuts and cover them with waterproof plasters.
· If you receive a wound during a flood you should go to a doctor and get a tetanus injection.
· Small children, pregnant women, elderly people and those with mobility difficulties or other health problems should be kept away from floodwater.
· If you feel unwell at any stage or if you ingest floodwater you should contact a doctor.

If you would like some more information about how to cope with flooding then go to
www.flooding.ie.

CHRISTMAS TREES

I inherited a mantelpiece Christmas decoration a couple of years ago from my mother. It is a collection of moulded together resin figures that have a frequency sensitive snow effect backdrop, which automatically plays a selection of Christmas carols at totally inappropriate moments. It gave my mother loads of enjoyment, as she would leave it on all year round to irritate the carers that come to visit her when she was ill. I tried to keep the tradition going in my own house after she died, but the rest of the family know where the off switch is on the back. However once the Christmas season comes it takes its place at the heart of the trappings and decorations of the season. Apart from this ‘Christmas tat’ as my 14 year old son calls this family heirloom with a look of patronising disdain, the other favourite decoration in our house (and in many others) is the Christmas tree. Now Although our family tend to put up our tree sometime in the week before Christmas, I have noticed many families locally put it up in the first weekend in December. So what are the options when choosing your tree?


SELECTION AND CARE OF YOUR TREE
You might be opting for the synthetic tree, which have their merits. Every year our family debates the merits of synthetic versus real. In practice this means I try and persuade Julie to have a practical, tidy, non needle dropping, reuse every year synthetic one and every year after politely listening to my great oratory powers, Julie goes out and gets a real one. When you are selecting your real Christmas tree always bear in mind where you are going to place it in the house. Check that the size suits your home and the room you are going to put it into. For most modern homes a 6ft Christmas tree is very suitable.

Check that the stem is straight and the tree has even, dense branches and a fresh colour. When you bring your Christmas tree home, cut an inch or two off the bottom of the stem and stand it outside in a bucket of water. Shake off any loose needles before you bring it inside and stand it in a special Christmas tree stand or in a bucket of wet sand with a water bowl to which you should add a pint of water daily (avoiding the electrics). Try not to let the tree dry out, as the base will re-seal itself and stop taking in water. Water is important as it prevents the needles from drying and dropping off and the branches from drooping. Water also keeps the tree fragrant. Place the tree in the coolest part of the room away from fires and radiators, as central heating is the worst enemy of a tree.

ROOTED TREES
If you have a big garden, then why not consider buying a rooted tree in a pot. Rooted trees in pots have the best chance of survival if they are kept in the house over the Christmas period. If you water them well they should still be alive at the end of the holiday and you can plant them outside in a half barrel in the garden ready for next year. I have known people successfully re-use their trees for a couple of years this way. They were planted into a bigger pot every year and it was a good while before the trees got too big for the house. It can be a lot of work keeping them watered in summer though.
Christmas trees to plant outdoors

Maybe you would like something Christmassy in the garden all year round. There are a few trees that would be suitable. Don't plant Norway spruce though unless you have a very large garden. It grows to about 30m (100ft) and drops needles all year. Instead, try:

· Abies koreana - grows to 12m (40ft) and therefore more suitable for the smaller garden.
· Abies procera - silvery-blue, fragrant tips, smooth, grey bark, and good needle retention.
· Abies fraseri - soft needles, which also hold well, and strong boughs that are ideal for supporting heavy ornaments.


TREE SAFETY
Make sure your tree is properly secured and positioned clear of doorways, stairs, heaters and open fires. Christmas tree lights can be dangerous if not properly wired. There are a lot of different types to go for in the shops. Look for the approved safety standards sign on the box and go for the low energy ones like the Buncrana Christmas Lights Committee have done this year. Remember to unplug tree lights and other decorations when out of the house or going to bed at night. And if you have a cat, make sure that it doesn’t jump up the tree to get to the shiny baubles and bring the whole lot down.



TREE TYPES

The most popular types of Christmas tree sold include:

· Norway spruce - the traditional choice and usually the cheapest. It has fallen from favour in recent years, as it tends to shed needles quite heavily. Nevertheless, if well watered and kept away from radiators it will drop fewer needles.
· Nordmann fir - the most popular tree these days due to its needle-holding qualities. It has strong, straight branches clothed with thick, flat needles with a silvery underside. But it's the most expensive as it's much slower growing.
· Fraser fir - this has a good shape and excellent needle-holding qualities.
· Blue spruce - this tree has a silvery-blue colour to the thick needles and an aromatic, citrus scent.
· Scots pine - a little more unusual, but a wonderful, bushy tree, with extra long needles that don't drop as readily.

WINTER GARDENING FOR KIDS

MEETING YOUR NEEDS

I never noticed, or remember bad weather days when I was a child. I also can’t imagine being hot when my toes feel like icicles. It’s no doubt a safety feature we have built into us so we don’t suffer unnecessarily. Imagine being able to feel toothache when you don’t have it…not nice at all.

There must have been days when I just couldn’t go out though and I also must have found things to do to occupy myself. I remember having a day off school because of an illness when I was about six. This must have been one of the longest days of my life….. My mother had to put me on the settee, throw a blanket over me and left me there until teatime when she got back from work. I must have been ill because I didn’t move all day other than to see if there were any children’s programmes on the television. There weren’t. The only programme on was a schools programme called “Meeting Your Needs”, or Needing Your Meats as the producers so cleverly called it by altering the title in this edition. That phrase has haunted me ever since and I can’t help but think of it when I hear meat being mentioned. I was glad to get back to school the next day I can tell you and realised that you miss nothing if you stay off school. From then on I dragged myself in every day until I left.

GARDENING FUN FOR THE CHILDREN

Gardening fun doesn’t just have to be in the summer months. So, how can we generate a bit of horticultural interest in children and get them away from the snappy catchphrases of daytime TV and the relentless Christmas advertising? Here are a few ideas.


1. If I had a hammer: If you are handy with a hammer and nails, how about giving the children a hand making a bird house. The wood yards around Inishowen are very good at cutting wood to the right length for you if you are not too confident about cutting it yourself…It’s only a question of fixing it together with a few nails ..check out the internet for a plan.

2. Windowsill Gardens: When the relentless rain and winter cold keeps children inside, try cultivating a windowsill garden. All you need is a sunny spot and a few containers of soil. Herbs are an excellent choice for windowsills and you can plant bulbs now (just about).

3. Garden crafts: There are several projects you can try, depending on their age and interest. Hand-painted plant markers or homemade whirligigs to put between rows to frighten off birds. Check the internet for more ideas.

4. Garden Centre Visits: Plan a visit to the local garden centre to buy seeds. Or let your child help select varieties from the seed catalogues. Then start seeds indoors to plant outside after the last frost. Ask the experts at your garden centre or check the internet or your favourite gardening book to determine when to start seeds.

5. Carnivorous Plants: What child wouldn't be fascinated by an insect-eating plant? Many garden centres sell Venus Flytraps in their houseplant section.

6. Watch Seeds Sprout: Put some paper towels into a jar or on a saucer. Sprinkle on some large seeds like courgettes or smaller seeds like mustard and cress. Keep them moist and leave them on the kitchen windowsill. Seeds should sprout in a few days.
7. Potty People: Draw or paint faces on small clay pots, then fill with soil. Plant grass seed, water, and watch the "hair" grow. The other idea is to make a grasshead. Make a ball from a pair of old tights and fill with a mix of wood shavings and grass seed at the top, before tying up the end. This can then be made into a face and watered.
8. Paint and Decorate: Let children indulge their natural creativity by painting inexpensive terra cotta pots to use next spring or for repotting houseplants this winter. They also make nice birthday and thank you gifts. If you use water based paints (recommended if you are doing this inside) then a coat of varnish after the paint has dried will seal in the colour.

9. Worm Farm. Line a large cardboard box with a dustbin liner bag. Fill it with soil, organic matter, and a few worms. Keep it shady and moist, but not too wet. Add vegetable kitchen scraps to the top of the pile. Worms help teach children about the interdependence of plants and organisms as they turn vegetable kitchen scraps into valuable compost. Get them to hold one as well…..

10. Terrariums. Carefully place some soil and a few mosses and plants (with roots) inside a clean mayonnaise jar. Keep your indoor garden moist with a plant mister, and cover the opening with clingfilm.

11. Feed the Birds. Stock up on birdseed and suet at your local garden centre, and feed the birds this winter. Have your child keep a record of all the species of birds that come to the feeder and what date each first was spotted.

Toys

TOYS FOR THE BOYS

I’m at the RDS in Dublin at the Toys for Big Boys weekend. The event is highly publicised and as I think of myself as a young lad still, I thought it would be interesting to see what was on offer. I’m not here to do a review on the event, so don’t stop reading just yet if you are worried that I will be talking about Chieftain Tanks, racing car simulators and Ferraris, which are here I might add, but well fenced off….

I did think that some gardening tools could be classed as Toys, chain saws, strimmers, ride on mowers and anything else with an engine, so I am looking around for something innovative. The closest that I have come to so far in my hour of squeezing through the crowd, is a fork (not a garden one I might add) with a battery operated swivel head for twisting your spaghetti around. I am one of those people who don’t mind twizzling pasta, so that doesn’t really appeal to me much. I have also spent most of my time looking in the opposite direction to the hoards of sales staff that have been set on to do a hard sell to the Christmas shoppers looking for gifts for their loved ones.

I am not fast enough though…..

FREEBIES – AT A PRICE

“Take this complimentary gift bag.” A young girl passes over a paper bag advertising the event in big red letters. Something for free at last, I think, and take it. It’s a bit like a grown up version of a Lucky Bag so I get out of the flow of people and have a peep inside to see what companies are trying to impress me with. First out of the bag is a national newspaper, not too bad, I can read that on the Dart journey later. I’m delving again. This time I pull out a tin of tuna, well it could be worse I suppose. Next out, a bag of crisps, followed by a small sample of anti-perspirant for men. I’m not impressed but delve deeper. Next is a free sachet of Brylcreem, as if I have a need for that. I suppose I could lubricate the door hinges with it at home, but I can’t see there being a place for it on my head. Rattling around the bottom of the bag was a couple of packets of chewing gum. I didn’t think it was possible but the bag is nearly as disappointing as I remember lucky bags being, this one didn’t have any jelly sweets either. It’s the anticipation before hand that is the fun part.

NEW INNOVATIONS

There are some great innovations in the gardening world at the moment but this isn’t the place to showcase them. I am heading upstairs where the foot spa’s, jewellery, aromatherapy, massage and teeth whitening stands are…..Maybe I am not the boy I thought I was.. fun never the less.

I don’t need a massage to start a reverie and as I have a cup of tea my mind starts to consider new innovations in the gardening world. One is growing dandelions on a large scale. Most of us have been managing to grow these for years in our own gardens, but this plan is to grow them commercially for natural latex. If you break open a dandelion stem, a milky sap comes out. This liquid is similar to the latex harvested in large quantities to make natural rubber. The latex gives elasticity to things like wheelbarrow tyres. Most of the latex is harvested from Asia, but during the Second World War, when supplies were cut off, attentions turned to the dandelion and this was used as a substitute. Rubber trees are experiencing a fungal disease at the moment and plantations are being wiped out so a natural solution is becoming vital. Rubber made with the dandelion latex seems to stop the problem of allergic reactions, which will make wearing rubber gloves to pick nettles that bit easier. If the plants were grown on a large scale every hectare would produce 500-1000 kilograms of latex per growing season, it would also make finding the plants to feed to my voracious guinea pigs a lot easier.

Another innovation that has have caught my eye recently are the new wave power farms that collect energy underwater by underwater turbines. They are unseen above ground and the tide is are really reliable. It doesn’t stop like the wind does.

Another ambitious project is to create and encyclopaedia all of the world’s species. (check out www.eol.org). This maps the appearance and movement of creatures that could either benefit or destroy plants. So now we can see those pests a-coming and get prepared. It’s interactive and free to go into (unlike most things at this exhibition).

STAR WARS

I digress though, and after resisting the urge to whiten the few teeth that I still have left, I decide that it’s time to leave. My goodie bag is full of leaflets offering me 10% off of helicopter rides and free paint balls when I sign up to a weekend of adventures in the woods.

“David Prowse will be here later this afternoon.” A voice is telling me. I look around and am confronted by an army of stormtroopers complete with guns. I’m not too worried though as I don’t think that a Stormtrooper actually managed to shoot anyone in any of the Star Wars films, they were pretty poor shots. “He plays Darth Vader in the Star Wars films and he’s here to sign autographs.” They tell me in a robotic voice. I am tempted, but decline the invitation to wait around for another two hours. I have some dandelions to grow.