Page 62 - Phonebox Magazine June 2009

A Month in the Garden
Linette Applegate of Toddington Manor
This is undeniably the time of year when flowering shrubs such as brooms,
gardeners raise their eyes above their own boundaries and look around for inspiration from gardens open to the public, of which there are plenty to choose from. A list of local gardens open for charity is available from libraries or tourist information centres, so go on, see what your neighbours are enjoying.
Remember to keep tying in stems of climbing and rambling plants, and prune early-summer
philadelphus, and deutzias as they finish flowering. This will provide new stems for next year’s flowers.
If you have an area of naturalised spring bulbs and flowers, mow late in the month and leave the cut material in situ for a couple of days before tidying up. Allowing flower seeds to be released this way will increase the number of flowering plants in the grass.
Lily Beetle
This is becoming quite a common pest, with so we have to be vigilant every spring and
unmistakable, conspicuous, bright red beetles about 7mm long with black heads. They only attack the lily family and fritallaries, but once they start eating the leaves, they can defoliate them in a short space of time, leaving just the stems remaining!
The holes are eaten by developing grubs, (covered in their own excretia to protect them from being eaten by birds) and by the colourful adults. At Toddington Manor they have now overwintered in the soil here for the past 3 years,
summer.
If you suspect lily beetle, look at the underside of the leaves for small grubs or clusters of bright orange ovoid eggs from Spring. If you have just small numbers it is easier to pick off the grubs and adults, otherwise spray with Provado Ultimate Bug Killer available at most garden centres. By removing all the grubs, you will prevent them maturing to adults, dropping off into the soil in late summer and emerging the following year for another infestation.
Bernard Crook Garden Services
Sherington Nurseries
Bedford Road, Sherington MK16 9NQ
Call us 01908 610236 Shop 01908 210672 or better still come in and talk with us at The Nurseries
Come and see us at The Nurseries for all your gardening needs
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62 Phonebox Magazine
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