Down here not a million miles away from the Ashdown Forest we have packs of wild deer roaming the countryside looking for things to munch. As part of the development of the Forest garden we have been protecting the fruit trees and Camellias with plastic mesh cages. However at the Intelligent Garden we like to work with nature where possible so I was delighted to come across this piece via Twitter. I’ve reproduced some of it because it’s so useful. [...]
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Now the leaves are off the trees, it’s time to take hardwood cuttings It’s an easy and reliable method for propagating deciduous trees, shrubs and climbers. The “season” lasts from now until late winter. [...] Those of you who follow Gardener’s World may remember that Monty Don was warning you about these last week. If you don’t nobble them now they’ll keep on chomping away at your plants and their roots all through the winter so that by the spring they’ll be feeling sorry for themselves. [...] 
You cut below a bud horizontally. For best results cut with scissors or secateurs first to seal the cut and again with a really sharp knife just before you pot it. This cut is square. At the top end you either include the apical leaves and between 2 and 4 nodes depending on the plant or you make a sloping cut above a bud. You keep the cuttings moist until its time to pot them. Then you seal the bottom with Root!t Gel which contains auxins and then keep them moist and sheltered over the winter. [...] I can honestly report that on this year’s lot there’s been a pitch invasion of docks and at the back where the swimming pool came out 18 months ago it’s stiff with clover. Both of these happy events have been organised by nature with no input from me at all. So while I’ve been on holiday I’ve been avidly reading David Bell’s book the permaculture garden and am busily planning a forest garden round the house for a permanent supply of fruit. [...] While we were in Normandy the other week we went round this amazing Hydrangea nursery about which more later. Out the back were many beds that had clearly been used for display in the past but were now a bit overgrown. In the middle of this fertility was one bed which had been fenced off and was being used for Geese who were busily engaged in clearing the land back to the point where it could be re used. N’importe quoi. Here are the Geese for your amusement and delight. Permaculture French Style Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post [...] Healthy Plants resist pests up to a point. Companion planting can help, garlic washes and other organic treatments can be beneficial. But sometimes you just have to go on the offensive. It doesn’t matter how healthy the plants are – if there’s a pitch invasion of caterpillars they’re going to suffer unless you do something about it. [...] News of 2 new predators for Red Spider Mite, the predatory gall midge, Feltiella and californicus. [...] After our long hard winter, March is finally here! Every year when your garden comes to life, so do the other creatures that want to share your plants with you – the PESTS. Biological controls will help you tackle the common pests in the garden and greenhouse. [...] |
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