So, while Rishi is enjoying a warm state visit, we may be in for an Indian summer ourselves. It is summer, but not necessarily at the right time of year for most families!
Plants have however, flourished in this spell of warmth and the showers have sped up growth on the wanted and unwanted in the garden. I have had a late campaign to get on top of the bindweed: putting small transluscent, biodegradable bags over the last 150mm of bindweed and giving them bags a spray of Glyphosate means the plant will rapidly take in the weedkiller and knock it back. I would much rather hoe it out but time, sciatica and an overwhelming growth of bindweed has meant resorting to a habit I probably should phase out.
But it does give me a head start for next season!
The sheer pleasure of being out in the warmth has given me increased incentive to be out in the garden and away from designing Hampshire gardens - and there is plenty to do too!
• Plan, buy and plant spring flowering bulbs such as daffodil, crocus and iris over the next couple of months. Leave the Tulips until November – unless we get another drought or Indian summer. In which case, delay them all by several weeks!
• Beech and hornbeam can be given a light trim to keep them neat throughout the winter. As semi-evergreens they provide useful screening
• Deadheading will still produce results, especially with Dahlias that can look good until the first frosts.
• Be selective when cutting back your herbaceous plants: many of them will provide seeds for wildlife as well as being attractive in the winter frosts and sunlight
• Raking out the thatch from your lawn (scarifying) and using a fork or an aerator to spike your lawn will improve drainage and the quality of your lawn. Where there are bare patches, sowing seed over spread topsoil and feeding the lawn in spring will give a fresh, green appearance.
• Divide herbaceous perennials that have become too big for their spot: it is remarkable how many plants can be teased out of one large clump. Be generous and give some of it away: you are very likely to have the compliment returned.
• If you have a pond near a tree, it is worth placing a net over the water to catch the leaves when they descend in autumn
• Eke out the last colour in your pots and hanging baskets by trimming off the dead growth and feeding with liquid fertiliser.
Indian summer? A bit of G& Indian Tonic sounds in order really. Cheers.