Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2007 | Page 77

GARDENING the mower blades higher. Weeds Hoe weeds out of gravel paths, then carefully apply a residual path weedkiller to keep the area weed-free. Pond care Top up the sunken waterlevels in garden ponds Bulbs Order spring-flowering bulbs from mail-order suppliers ready for autumn planting. September Greenhouse life Lawn care Prepare areas of ground for sowing new lawns later in the month. Collect seeds Make the most of free seeds produced by perennials and other garden plants by saving them when they are fully ripe. Collect mature seed-heads in paper bags and hang them in a warm place to dry out. The seeds can be cleaned and sorted, then put into labelled envelopes and stored in a cool, dry place. Swap your seeds with your friends to share in each other’s successes. Make sure your plants are well shaded on hot days to prevent scorch. The easiest way to do this is to apply netting or shade paint to the outside of the glass. Scorch is exacerbated if leaves are wet, so take care when watering plants. General care August Holiday watering There are several things you can do to help prevent plants drying out. Move any baskets and containers out of full sun to a position where they are shaded at the height of the day. Stand terracotta pots on gravel trays topped up with water, so the pots can gradually absorb the reservoir of liquid. You can also install an automatic trickle watering system on an outside tap, which is controlled by a timer and will turn water on and off each day. Take Cuttings Continue taking summer cuttings of fuchsias, pelargoniums and tender perennials. These root quickly at this time of year, forming sturdy young plants that will successfully overwinter on a bedroom windowsill. Many houseplants, including coleus and African violets, can also be propagated from cuttings now. Take a look at our propagation section to discover which other plants can be grown from cuttings. Island Life - www.islandlife.tv Trim hedges Trim hedges, especially hedging conifers that can become tall and annoy neighbours. Be considerate, and cut their tops down to 3m (10ft) at a maximum. Our guide to pruning hedges has more useful tips. Pests Watch out for ants nesting in patio pots, where they can disturb root growth and reduce a plant’s performance. Standing pots in a large saucer of water helps deter them from settling in. Vine weevil is a particular problem in greenhouses and patio pots. Now is a good time to treat compost with biological pest control nematodes, which search out and kill weevil larvae. They can also be applied to the soil around attacked plants. Lawns To achieve a fine finish, cut your lawns more than once a week. Spot treat and dig out weeds, filling holes with gritty compost, and rake a little grass seed into bare patches if necessary. In hot, dry weather, keep grass longer by setting 77