315 JULY 2021 - Gryffe Advertizer

Bridge Of Weir Horticultural Society
Gardeners, hoping for a warm and sunny Spring, were sadly
disappointed. Cold and dry conditions continued well into May with
occasional frosts nipping in, before settled conditions arrived. The
late May holiday weekend weather was great, bringing various Highs
which settled over the UK during early June. Plants responded
appropriately with a surge in growth but compared to last year....
were still - and remain - far behind.
Drought conditions and water rationing may be on the horizon,
exacerbated by the demands of “staycation” holidays! Buy more
water butts and store rain water and site these around the garden
for quick access. Prevent mosquitoes laying eggs on water with a
squirt of washing up liquid which will break the surface tension. Soap
weakens water molecules which cannot stick together so easily.
Remember, keep pots well watered and, if there are restrictions,
prioritise new plants and bedding, fruit and vegetables. Be
consistent. An erratic watering regime causes fruits and vegetables
to split or become misshapen. If the lawn dries out – it will recover!
Remember, if a plant is stressed (too dry) pests will move in. Do
not, under any circumstances put down Slug Pellets to kill off pesky
gastropods. There are animal-friendly products available which do
not poison hedgehogs or birds!!
After the first flush, deadhead flowers to encourage more blooms
and prevent flowers setting seed. Pick vegetables as soon as ripe for
the same reason and to prevent them becoming tough. The more
you pick the more you get! Fruiting trees will have shed surplus fruits
during the “June drop” but this year many will have been caught by
a late frost. If apples or plums are squashed together, remove the
weaker fruits to let light and air get to the developing ones.
The Committee met recently and members were notified by e-mail/
letter of the topics discussed.
Renfrewshire Grass Cutting
Communities are seeing the results of a £240,000 investment in
Renfrewshire Council’s improved grass cutting programme that
has seen two new John Deere tractors, six zero-turn grass cutting
machines, three sets of hydraulic triple units, two pedestrian flail
machines and 12 self-propelled hand rotary machines available for
the Council’s grass cutting teams – enhanced with additional staff.
Combined with an improved approach which sees all teams tackle
one area of Renfrewshire each day, grassed areas are now being
cut once every two weeks. This includes cutting all open spaces,
school playing fields, public parks, sports pitches and cemeteries -
as well as providing the grass assistance scheme for council house
tenants - and litter picking and sweeping the roads in the area too.
Hedge cutting is provided twice a year, with communities seeing
their first cut between mid-May and mid-July and their second cut
between mid-August and the end of September.
For more information, visit: www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/
grasscutting.
e: info@advertizer.co.uk | www.advertizer.co.uk | July 2021 31