California Gardeners’ Club

ON a very hot evening there was a large turnout to hear Ray Broughton talk to us. He gave us so many useful hints and tips that it is impossible to remember them all.

If there is no ban, you can keep your lawn green by using a sprayer for just 10 minutes every four days, but grass will recover, the roots are still alive no matter how dry the leaves are.

When planting a tree or shrub make three vertical cuts down the root ball with a spade and cut off the bottom inch of roots. This helps new roots to form.

Mycorrhyzal fungi help growth too.

If you use marigolds to keep off whitefly, do not deadhead. It is the dead flowers that do the job. Alyssum will protect from onion rot. Nasturtiums are NOT good! They do not deflect pests, they attract pests to your plants.

White flowered runner beans are best in high temperatures as they are more tolerant, and are wind, not insect, pollinated so crop better.

Other tips: Cuttings taken from halfway down a plant are stronger and bushier. Drill holes in the sides of the compost bin for quicker compost.

Shade the outside, not the inside, of greenhouses. Only prune hedges in autumn.

Our next meeting is on Monday, September 3, when Richard Gillings will be talking about daffodils, just in time for us to be putting in our new bulbs.

And make a note that our Summer Show is on Sunday September 9, from 2pm to 4.30pm.

This is a friendly local show, if you have something you are proud of, come and show it; you will get any help you need.

There will be teas, a raffle, tombola and a sale of produce at the end. Parking on site.

For more details, log on to www. californiagardenersclub.co.uk