May - Village Voices

Spring at Last?The weather over the past fewweeks has been very variable andinconsistent. Despite this we haveseen the much anticipated displays ofplants.On the moss front, I managed oneapplication of Iron Sulphate, which didsome good,and then theweather fellapart, so I willmake anotherapplication.I have topdressedthe lawn toencouragegrowth ofgrass.The grass has been mown for thesecond time and we now await aservice on the mower.We haven’t seen the hedgehogs yet butthere are a few deposits which I’m sureare hedgehog droppings, so hopefullythey are around.Whenever the weather is right,keep the hoe moving to catch weedseedlings whilst they are small and theOn the nursery, the growth rate underglass and plastic at this time of yearcan be quite phenomenal, and wateringhas to be carefully administered toprevent scorching or excess wetness.Ventilation is necessary to reducetemperature and humidity.nursery are a range of Primulas,Arabis, Doronicum, Iris Pumila andDicentra.Checkingthrough theplants priorto pottingthe wintersurvivors,plus thepresence ofpests such asvine weevil.By the time you read this we will beinto May, the weather could still beunpredictable and the chance of frost isever present until the end of the month.During the setting up process for thenursery Penny and I are faced withneeding to do some jobs at once,but we have to prioritise betweenwhat’s urgent and what’s important.All this makes for an interesting andchallenging life.More next time…Ivan Clarkewww.villagevoices.org.uk May 2007 page 31