The Gardening – Practical group will start again on 6th February,10 o clock
at Maghull Parish Hall. This group has only just started, so are looking for new members to join. They have a plot of land at Hudson School if you would like to have a go at growing your own vegetables or flowers, or you can just come along and share ideas.
If you want further information come to the group support table on a Tuesday morning or send a reply to this post.
At our meeting today, Dec. 5th, we celebrated the impact of the milder weather and the relatively late frosts with, for example, sweet peas only just finished flowering for one member and artichokes and tomatoes still growing for another!
Dahlias: Leaving dahlias in the ground and heavily mulching them or digging up and storing the tubers was discussed. It is really important if the tubers are dug up for them to be washed in lukewarm water (to remove soil etc) and then placed upside down to allow them to dry before being planted in compost and stored in a dry frost free place. (Dusting on fungicidal powder first can be valuable in preventing disease.) The tubers can then be replanted outside once the danger of frost passes. Also at this point cuttings can be taken where the tubers have sprouted.
At our 3rd October meeting Brenda (McKenzie) led an initial session on Garden Planning. Brenda had attended external Garden Planning sessions a few years ago,
Brenda’s lovely garden
following which she planned out and achieved the garden she wanted. Some of the key messages were:
Brenda reiterated the importance of drawing your garden and existing or intended key features to scale before starting to think about plants and using garden magazines and other sources to decide what you like and want to include. Garden Planning sessions will continue. The group generally want to make sure they are getting what they want from their own gardens whilst also using ‘to scale drawings’ of one or two of the group who wish to replan, to develop discussions.