Waste not want not

DON’T DITCH YOUR OLD PLASTIC POTS

IT’S important to give the garden its pre-winter clean-up.

Take some time to gather all your small plastic pots together and empty the old soil and compost from them.

All the spent material can be taken outside and spread over the soil rather than ditch it in the community disposal plant, such as those at Kirn Drive in Gourock, inset, or Pottery Street in Greenock.

Do not dispose of the plastic pots, however, as these can be washed and dried and re-used.

Soil in larger containers can have the top couple of inches removed and dumped on the outdoor borders and then cover the top with fresh compost.

While you are attending to these large containers raise the bottom of them off the ground by using proprietary pot feet or even a couple of old bricks so that excess water can drain out during the winter.

If excess water cannot drain away the danger is that if a severe frost comes along the compost will freeze.

When the thaw comes along the container – especially if it made of ceramic material – will crack.

When washing the used pots use soapy water with a little disinfectant such as ‘Jeyes Fluid’ added.

If you still have plants in your greenhouse it is advisable to remove them for a short space of time – maybe just one day before using greenhouse fumigator such as one marketed by Vitax.

This treatment will destroy or kill flying and crawling pests.

It is essential that you read the instructions carefully before using this product both to protect your own safety and that of other forms of life such as aquatic fish equipment.

Do not smoke while using the product and wash your hands thoroughly after use.

The treatment needs a minimum of two hours but it is better to allow the procedure to continue for up to several hours before ventilating.

Take extreme care when lighting the candle and follow the instructions given with the product.