Droughts, floods and frost warnings
We’ve
had a long period of fine sunny weather, but last weekend, there were frost warnings on the TV and radio. I cannot recall a frost warning in mid-July before.
There is no doubt the weather patterns are changing, especially this year. In the world, droughts continue in parts of Africa, there is very hot weather in parts of North America, and in Canada mixed weather has brought floods.
When I was in England recently, there were droughts and watering bans, while in other areas there were floods. Indeed, one farmer had planted several acres for an early crop of potatoes and they were washed out by rain and rotted. He plowed the fields again and planted another crop and a nearby river burst its banks and ruined the second crop.
Incidentally, while in the U.K. I visited several nurseries and was struck by the number that had piles of large stones for rockeries or other garden uses for sale, and their high prices. Maybe we should be exporting stones for gardens.
We are now well into the gardening season and most nurseries and the gardening sections of hardware stores still have a large quantity of trees, shrubs, evergreens, perennials and annuals in stock. Most have sales and bargains.
As we continue in the gardening season, there are many jobs to be carried out. Lateflowering clematis should be given a feed of high potash solution, or tomato fertilizer.
Potatoes should be earthed up to ensure that those near the surface remain white and do not turn green. Likewise, carrots whose shoulders have been exposed by heavy rains or watering should also be earthed up to prevent them turning green. Celery should have their tops drawn together and the sides covered by earth drawn up to blanch then white. To prevent earth getting between the stalks, wrap them in black plastic or black roof felt. Peonies have provided some excellent blooms this summer and as the blooms fade and die, they should be cut off and disposed off. If left to become wet, the weight pulls and bends the stems. Also, the petals can make a dangerous, slippery surface, especially on paths, when they are wet from rain or watering. I normally gather raspberries around Regatta Day, but this year harvesting will vary. Wild raspberries may be small and hard due to drought. The cultivated ones should have been watered and will be large, full of juice and tasty. However, remember to spray them to kill that little insect that tends to hide between the fruit and stalk. Read the instructions on the container, to allow time between applying and harvesting. Enjoy. Most homeowners cut their lawns and feel it is a job well done and are glad to wait until the next cut, but there is one more job to do. If you look at the edges, whether along the paths or flower beds, you will see they are an eyesore and appear raggedy. Get out your long-handled edging shears and cut the vertical edge of the lawn. The clippings can easily be removed from the flower bed soil.
Now the lawn will have a nice, clean vertical edge.