November Newsletter

Hello and welcome again to our monthly look at what's happening in the Gardening and Pet Worlds. In this months issue we look at some key gardening jobs for your garden during October. We also look at some fantastic plants, which you can plant now for superb colour through Autumn and into Winter, and some wonderful pet care ideas to ensure your best friend is as happy as you. Remember we would love to hear your gardening tips and ideas, and we will try to publish these in next months issue. You can contact Horky on our Email address info@gardencentre.ie Advice lines on 094 26997 or 071 38870 IT'S YOUR DUTY TO BE FRUITY Ever since Adam bit into the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, apples-have been the stuff of myth and legend. The ancient Greeks and Romans believed them to be aphrodisiacs, and for the Celts crab apples were a symbol of fertility. In the middle ages, the cult of the apple continued in such customs as apple bobbing at Halloween and wassailing at Christmas. The most popular of fruits, apples are also convenient, perfect for eating raw as a nutritious snack and ideal for making into a multitude of hot and cold puddings and desserts. Delicious as they may be, no shop-bought apples can ever beat the flavour a crisp texture of homegrown apples that have been freshly picked It's your duty to be fruity! Beauty of Bath A beautiful small flattish green apple extensively flushed with red, with sharp, sweet juicy flesh. Beauty of Bath apples should be eaten straight from the tree, as they rot almost as soon as they are picked. Consequently, you are unlikely to find this apple in the shops. Ashmead's Kernel These late variety apples were first cultivated in the seventeenth century. Their flesh has a good acid/sugar balance and develops a strong, spicy, aniseed flavour in some seasons. Cox's Orange Pippin A greenish yellow apple of medium size, with some orange-red russetting. The firm, crisp, juicy flesh of this sweet fruit, with its overtones of acidity, make it one of the world's best and most popular apples, Cox's Orange Pippins are excellent for cooking as well as easting raw. Egremont Russet Russet apples have rough, porous skins, which allow the water to evaporate out, giving a denser flesh and intensifying the nutty flavour. Egremount Russet is the most readily available. It is golden russet in colour, sometimes with bright orange flush, and has a crisp texture and very sweet taste. It can be used for eating or cooking and goes superbly well with cheese. Elstar This sweet, crisp and juicy apple is a cross between Ingrid Marie and Golden delicious. Originally bred in Holland, it is now grown extensively around Europe. Picked in mid-autumn, Elstar apples will keep for 3-4 months. James Grieve A Scottish apple raised in Edinburgh in the late nineteenth century, with tart, juicy flesh that bruises easily when handled. James Grieve is good for cooking and eating, but, like most varieties, it does not store well and should be kept for no more that 2weeks after picking. Jonagold A hybrid of Jonathan and Golden Delicious, this large round green-tinged apple has creamy white flesh and superb flavour. It can be used for cooking or eating. Katy A highly coloured early apple bred in Sweden from the Worcester Pearman. Their small size appeals to children, and their flesh is crisp, sweet and juicy, Katy apples are best eaten immediately after picking. Greensleeves The James Grieve/Golden Delicious cross has more flavour than James Grieve and better acidity. It is an early fruiting variety, which should be eaten immediately after picking. Bramleys Seeding The nonpareil of cookers, this large, flattish green apple (sometimes faintly flushed with red) has coarse, white juicy, acid flesh, which cooks into a frothy puree, Bramleys are perfect for baking or as the basis of apple sauce. Routine Care for Apple Trees Horky's tip: Apple trees will flower and fruit regularly if you follow the basic routine points: Fruit thinning is necessary to provide good-sized, high quality fruits. It also prevents branch breakages by ensuring balanced crop distribution. - Apply manures and fertilisers when needed, observing crop performance and checking for any leaf discoloration that may denote nutrient deficiencies. In long, hot dry spells watering will usually be necessary. The stakes and ties of both free standing and trained fruits should be checked regularly. Once the apple tree has beets planted, it is important to follow the correct pruning methods, good pruning not only builds a strong framework of branches, but also encourages and maintains maximum cropping for many years Please ask any of the plant team at Horkans Garden Centre for any further help or advice. We're always happy to help. Coronet Apple Trees Super small rootstock Super easy to grow reliable apple trees Wide range of varieties available Only reach 6ft tall! Ideal for pots and small gardens Plant in pairs or groups to ensure pollination Family Apple Trees These super new styles of trees are becoming increasingly popular as you have two varieties of apples grafted onto the same stern. This style allows the tree to be pollinated each year by its partner, this way you can still fulfil Your Duty To be Fruity in a very small space as you. No longer need a second separate tree. Larger Apple trees Medium size rootstock Super easy to grow reliable apple trees Wide range of varieties available Only reach 10 ft tall! Ideal for poorer soils or as a specimen, Plant in any garden. Plant in pairs or groups to ensure pollination. Planting Your Hedges this Autumn Autumn has long been associated with the planting of hedging plants to provide much needed shelter for garden plants. The weather conditions are ideal at present for planting new hedging plants. Strong root growth will occur over the next couple of months and ensure strong establishment before spring growth. CREATING SHELTER. Shelter is the key to good gardening and should be the first item addressed on any new or existing site. Typically a new hedge will take up to six to ten years before it offers adequate shelter and protection to the garden. When established the hedge will provide ideal conditions to grow a wide range of plants and provide a microclimate to grow more unusual and tender plants. Trees and shrubs will also establishes faster and flower longer on a sheltered location. Soil conditions are now just right for planting young hedging plants. Horky's tip: On new or established hedges in exposed areas erect some shelter netting to provide a barrier to the wind. HEDGES FOR EXPOSED SITES Three of the best evergreen hedges include Escallonia macrantha, Elaegnus ebbingii, and GreenGriselinia. All three are tolerant of exposed growing conditions. The glossy foliage is extremely hardy and if damaged quickly re-grows covering any of the damaged portion. Escallonia Macrantha. Excellent evergreen hedge producing strong growth up to twelve ft in height but can also be kept tidy to four to six feet. This is one of the best seaside hedging plants for exposed areas. The leaves are large and glossy, red flowers are produced from June to late October providing extra colour throughout summer and autumn. Even after stormy weather escallonia has the ability to produce fresh growth even on older wood and if left un-pruned can be hard pruned in subsequent years. All in all a very good and easy to grow hedge which suits all soil types. White Escallonia. Try something different in your garden by planting the beautiful evergreen white flowering escallonia called iveyi. This variety produces masses of pure white flowers right throughout the summer; the foliage is dark green, which contrasts lovely against the white flowers. Another great plant for exposed seaside gardens. Escallonias give great shelter to any garden and provide year round colour from foliage and flower. Olearia macrondata. Sea holly. Excellent seaside hedge offering both foliage and flower. Bright silver glossy foliage makes olearia an excellent choice for exposed gardens. The foliage is shaped like holly; evergreen and covered in a dense white felt. Olearia is fast growing producing up to two feet of growth per year. It is also an excellent choice for coastal areas; remember to cut olearias on a regular basis to maintain a full shape from the base. Elaeagnus z ebbingei. Another strong growing hedge with larger foliage than olearia but similar silver green colour .elaeagnus produces strong growth throughout spring arid summer and will create a dense hedge up to ten feet in height. Again a hedge which requires regular trimming to keep its shape but excellent in exposed locations. Horky's tip: Always plant elaegnus as young plants to avoid rounding of the roots associated with pot bound plants. White Thorn Hedge Again a great plant for exposed site, white thorn provides a great stock proof hedge, ideal for rural gardens. Autumn is the ideal time to plant white thorn particularly the month of November. Horky's tip: Prepare the soil by adding westland farmyard manure to give high level of nutrients for strong root growth. Add ten litres of compost for each plant. AUTUMN CHEMICALS Lawn Care: From early September to End of November is the time to prepare the lawn for the harshness of winter. Products suitable for this are: ( 1 ) Scotts Autumn Feed This is a pure feed and comes in a 25 kg bag and covers an area of 700 m2, the purpose of this is to promote strong root growth and to green the lawn. Does not promote above ground growth. To control moss use with Sulphate of Iron two or three times over the winter. The Sulphate of Iron is also an excellent lawn tonic and will insure your lawn is stronger and better developed next spring. ( 2 ) Livingston 2 in one - As the name suggests has a duel function, it feeds the lawn (like Scotts), but it also kills moss as it contains Ferrow Oxide (iron). Large bags cover 400m2 box covers 100m2.Both the above products are best applied using a spreader. The Scott's drop and rotary spreaders are suitable for all, (Scotts, Levington Sulphate of iron etc). The Livington spreader can only be used with Levington product, as it is not possible to change application rate (size of holes). Armillatox - a natural product that is possibly most commonly known as a moss killer in lawns and hard surfaces, however, it has a range. It is also used as: a. Soil drench to protect against rust and other spore producing diseases lying dormant in the soil. It reduces the severity of Club Root disease. This affects cabbages, turnips, and wallflowers. It causes swollen and twisted roots above ground shows as wilted leaves and stunted growth. b. Protection against Honey Fungus which is the most common cause of serious root rot in trees and shrubs, and was previously thought to have no known prevention/cure. c. Winter wash for fruit trees - removes dormant diseases, moss, lichens etc. treat in dormant season ( November). d. Disinfectant for greenhouses and polytunnels. e. May also kill vine weevil grub (eggs) if used in autumn. No known prevention against the adult form. Other autumn activities Autumn is the time for pruning roses, taking cuttings and grafting. Products are available to aid all these processes. ( 1 ) Rooting Hormone - As the name suggests promotes healthy rooting of both soft and hard woodcuttings. Dip 1" of stem into powder and plant in normal way, for hardwood cuttings dip in water to ensure powder sticks to wood. (2) Prune and Seal - Again it is self explanatory, after pruning roses and other trees and shrubs apply, prune and seal to the cut area. This prevents the entry of disease and insects into the wound and allows the plant time to heal. Can also be used if plant is accidentally damaged (storm). ( 3 ) Tenax wax - Can also be used to seal wounds after pruning but is commonly used to aid in the grafting process. Secure graft to stock and apply tenax wax with a suitable brush to ensure airtight seal. OTHER USEFUL CHEMICALS Green sulphur - can be used, as a fungicide against mildew but the most common use is the prevention of rot when storing bulbs. Another product to use in association is vermiculite, which draws out water from the bulb and therefore reduces the chance of rotting. Weedol - contact weed killer, kills all above ground greenery, does not kill roots, fast acting rain proof in 10 minutes. Pathclare - contact and residual weed killer, kills weeds on hard surfaces, gravel etc., and forms a protective barrier against germination of seeds for to 3 month. Before planting always water your roses thoroughly by soaking the root ball or pot in a bucket of water before planting. The ideal planting hole is circular, wider than the root spread and about a foot deep. Scarify the sides of the hole with a fork, to break up the side walls. This enables better root penetration into the surrounding soil. Remember for all your gardening questions we are only a phone call away on 071 38870 or the click of a mouse away on www.gardencentre.ie and you can e mail us on sligo@gardencentre.ie We are open 7 days and Sunday 2 to 6. JOBS TO DO IN NOVEMBER Take cuttings from summer flowering shrubs, hedging, roses and summer heathers. Don't forget to use rooting powder and Perlite. Continue to dead head roses and give a final spray of "Rose Clear" in late October to help prevent black spot during next spring. Pick tomatoes and let them ripen under cloths or on a sunny windowsills in Mid-October. Treat your lawn to a dressing of Autumn Lawn Feed to create a rich green colour and eliminate moss before it starts. A dressing of Sulphate of Iron can be applied over the winter period to strengthen the grass and create a rich green colour. GET YOUR SHOVEL OUT You might believe that the gardening season has come to an end but the good news is that autumn is the best time to plant. After the summer, soil is now at its warmest and there is plenty of moisture in the ground. Roots get to work immediately and by next spring the plant will have a well-established root system. Autumn is best for: PLANTING TREES. Trees particularly benefit from planting now, as they get very thirsty when their leaves emerge next spring. Autumn planted - trees will absorb water much better than trees planted next spring. For a very small garden I recommend Sorbus vilmorinii. It is a Mountain Ash and grows to about 12 to 15 feet high. PLANTING HARDY SHRUBS. The vast majority of shrubs available in garden centres are perfectly hardy. You might think that paying good money for a plant and then subjecting it to everything an Irish winter can throw ac it is madness. Don't forget that all the action is taking place below the ground. Two outstanding blue-flowered autumn shrubs are Perovskia Blue Spire and Caryopteris Heavenly Blue. BUYING ROSES. The vast majority of roses are still grown in the old fashioned way, not in pots but directly in the field. As a result they are lifted in the autumn and the new season crop becomes available in garden centres-in October and November. Keep an eye out for Rose of the Year 2000 Irish Eyes and a new ground cover rose, Red Velvet. BUYING AND PLANTING BULBS The widest selection, of bulbs is now available in garden shops and centres. A nice planting idea is to mirror white flowering bulbs under white flowering trees: As an alternative to snowdrops try yellow flowering Winter Aconite. PLANTING WINTER BEDDING. Don't wait until the very last flower has faded. Remove them now and give winter bedding plants time to establish before the worst of the winter weather arrives. This is particularly important for Winter Pansies. SPIKING AND FEEDING LAWNS. Dampness is your lawn's greatest enemy. Poor drainage and shade contribute to problems and during winter, grass roots quickly rot. These gaps are quickly colonised by both moss and weeds. Forking helps to improve drainage and an application of coarse sand brushed into the lawn helps keep drainage holes working. TAKING HARDWOOD CUTTINGS. Make a 9inch deep trench in a shady part of the garden. Break up the removed soil with a fork. Fill the base of the trench with coarse sand to ensure good drainage. Replace soil in trench. Once the leaves have fallen from trees or shrubs, select and cut healthy shoots of 9 to 24 inches long. Prepare the cuttings by trimming the shoots to 10-inch lengths. Using a sharp secateurs make a sharp cut at the bottom and then an angled cut above a bud at the top. Gently insert the cuttings into the trench. TREE SEED COLLECTING. Bring a bag and go for a walk in your immediate locality. Collect as many hips and berries as you can manage. Put a layer of sand or seed compost in the base of a pot. Pour a two-inch layer of tree seed on top of the sand. Cover the seed with a two-inch layer of sand and continue in the same fashion until the pot is full. Place the pot in a cold area of the garden over the winter. HEDGE CUTTING By clipping your hedge in early autumn your hedge will keep a tidy shape over the winter. AUTUMN FRUIT If you love Blackberries but never have the time to travel to pick them, why not plant a thorn less variety in your garden? SHRUBS Shrubs looking superb and available for planting now include: Yucca "Gold Award" This is a beautiful evergreen shrub grown for its architectural value in the garden. It also makes a superb exotic looking centrepiece in your winter flowering displays and adds a touch of class to any shrub bed. PHORIUMS are another popular plant, which again give an exotic touch to the garden and like the Yucca is perfect for the conditions here in the West of Ireland. With its long leaves swaying in the wind this is a plant, which will create movement and noise in the garden right through the darkest days October can throw at us. EVERGREEN VIRGINIA CREEPERS are super plants which are almost specially designed to liven up bare walls and introduce some year round colour to any wall. With its evergreen foliage and virus like growth its able to self cling to any surface and will form a luxurious blanket of foliage in no time at all. To introduce further colour, interest and of course for their beautiful scent, plant all your evergreen climbers with late flowering Honeysuckles, which are available now. These include the super "Americana" variety, which has a super two-tone red and white flowers complete with strong perfume. Ideal for either side of the doorway or growing across the archway on a garden path. COTONEASTERS are wonderful plants, which just ooze autumn interest. With their abundance of fire-red berries, which are the results of the mass of blooms produced early summer and their bright displays of Autumn foliage these are plants which can fully justify their selection for your garden. These include the wall shrub "HORIZONTALLS" and the tree like cotoneaster hybrid "Percectus". A soft plant, which is available for planting, now is the ever-popular Pyracanthea. With its abundance of small flowers which are borne in Spring and are then followed by a mass of berries in Autumn and right through winter. Pyracanthea can be planted against a wall or grown as a large shrub and are amazing at attracting Ladybirds and birds into the garden. And remember Ladybirds feed on greenfly so tray planting Pyracanthea near your roses. Now is an ideal time to plant a beautiful selection of Rhododendron and evergreen Azaleas. These plants are suitable for any garden and will add a touch of regal class to any border. Horky's tip: October is the ideal time to plant Rhododendrons and Azaleas. To check if your soil is suitable for these and other lime hating plants try testing your soil with a pH tester kit. When planting Azaleas and other lime hating plants always use Westland Ericaceous Compost. If needed, you can lower the pH of your soil by spreading 135g/m2 of Sulphur chips. Also available for planting now are Red, Black and White currents. Raspberries, Tay & Logan Berries and Goose Berries. Coming soon to Horkans A Massive Selection of Christmas Decorations and Giftware PET CORNER FISH ARE GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH Studies have proven that looking at fish in an aquarium can lower high blood pressure and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. They are very peaceful to look at. It is a popular time of year to buy fish, as the weather gets colder and wetter and the nights become darker and people want to spend more time indoors. Fish are a great pets to have, they do not need much looking after as you do not have to step outside your lovely warm living room. If you have a bowl or small tank, you need to clean it about once a week. Larger tanks have filters, which keep the water clean for you. All you need to do is take out about one quarter of the water once every couple of weeks and put clean water back in - simple as that! If this sounds like to much hard work, we have a new product called Tetra Easy Balance, which if added to the water once a week reduces the need to take water out of the tank to only once very six months. ARE YOUR KIDS HASSLING YOU FOR A PET THIS CHRISTMAS? Are you too busy to look after an animal at Christmas? This could be the one for you - "The pet that Santy could not bring down the Chimney" When a new pet is brought home to the family, it needs as much care and attention as possible. Christmas is a busy time for everybody and little time is left to bond with a pet. We are trying to encourage parents to but a pet in time for Christmas. The Kit will include everything required for a new pet and a letter from Santy explaining why he was unable to bring the animal down the chimney. There will be an invitation to your child to come into the pet shop on a date when all the festivities & parties are over. Santy will be here to greet them and they can chose their own pets. The Winner of the Newsletter is: Kathleen Freney Carrowkeel, Turlough, Castlebar. Remember for all your gardening questions we are only a click of the mouse away on www.gardencentre.ie and you can E-mail us on info@gardencentre.ie We look forward to hearing from you.            Back to Top          Visit the Castlebar Website  October's Newsletter  June's Newsletter  May's Newsletter