It's All Out Of Whack

Ribes sanguine (Flowering Currant)

I'm worried, really worried. Its just March (9th March when I write this) and plants are flowering in my clients gardens way earlier than usual. An example of this is the Ribes sanguineum above. A quick online search shows that this plant usually flowers in April. I have roses in one garden that have now been flowering for 12 months. I have new growth on Roses covered in greenfly and I'm still finding caterpillars amongst weeds that are growing.

When I was a kid I loved being out in the garden and often much to my parents dismay spent a fair bit of time turning stones over in the rockery and catching the bugs underneath. This often included slugs and snails, but in the Winter there was barely an animal to be found. They were all hiding away much deeper than I could go as a youngster. Now I spend time almost everyday in a garden and seeing this insects active 12 months of the year really surprises me.

One insect that is a major problem in some areas around North and West Yorkshire is one that has a knock on effect. The chafer beetle is a large beetle that lays eggs in turf. The grubs from the beetle love nothing more than eating the roots of grass. Roots are a really important part of a plant that not only allow the plant to take up nutrients, but also anchor the plant in place. If the roots of any plant are compromised this can cause all sort of problems, and in the case of the grass, it means that it can be torn up much like carpet. Unfortunately chafer grubs are a very attractive snack for many animals but in particular crows and badgers. If they get into the chafer grubs in the lawn they can easily pull up the grass and in no time can make a pristine lawn look like a ploughed field. Chafer grubs can be treated with a nematode, but its not a cheap fix.

This takes me back to being worried. Winter is an important time for plants to reset, and prepare for the following spring. Many plants need frost to fruit and some seeds need a frost before they germinate (this is called stratification). Winter is often a torrid time for pests in the garden and many pest numbers are knocked back by cold weather. If we don't get any more cold weather before spring and summer kick in I think it's going to be a bad year for garden pest and disease problems.

There are a number of approaches to tackling pest and disease problems in the garden, but the first and most important step is HYGINE. Keep you tools clean, clean up and plants and produce showing signs of disease and finally keep vigilant. A 5 minute walk round the garden is often the best way to spot potential issues in the garden before they turn into major problems and 9 times out of 10 its the first thing I do in a clients garden. It not only helps me address issues to keep the gardens looking in tip top condition, but also lets me see how any new plants are coping with the ever changing conditions in the garden, and lets me prioritise the jobs which need doing. 5 minutes observing can often save hours and pounds in the long run.

On a completely seperate note, I said I would recommend some podcasts the might interest you and keep you entertained while you are out working in your own garden or allotment. This weeks recommendation is not a gardening podcast, but current affairs

'The Week Unwrapped' is one a a number of podcasts by Olly Mann and takes a sideways look at some of the not so well known news stories each week and is both informative and entertaining.