Amateur Gardening – 10 July 2019

12 AMATEUR GARDENING 6 JULY 2019

Coping with storm damage

You need to act fast to safeguard your garden, says Ruth

T

HE contrast between this

summer and the last really

count not be more marked. In

2018, gardeners were worried

about water shortages and wilting

plants. This year, waterlogging and

gale damage have been the concerns.

Last month’s torrential rain would

have left many gardens saturated

and damaged. Lawns

often fare worst in these

conditions and can

quickly turn into a

quagmire, especially if

there are children and

pets in the house.

Keep everyone off any

area of grass with standing

water and, once it has

soaked in, plunge a garden

fork 3in (7cm) deep into the lawn all

over the saturated area. This helps

drainage and boosts airflow around

the grass roots.

Heavy rain and winds can also

damage trees and plants, shredding

leaves and petals and breaking

branches and stems. Providing

adequate support before the storm

hits can prevent much destruction, but

if you haven’t had the chance to do so

you can make amends afterwards.

Splintered and hanging branches

should be removed safely and swiftly, by

professionals if necessary, before they

can cause injury or structural damage.

Remove battered leaves and

flowers on border plants that

will be vulnerable to

bacterial and fungal

infections. Cut back

broken stems to

ground level.

Clear debris from

gutters so rainwater can

flow freely into butts and

fill watering cans with

collected water when rain is

forecast to make room for more.

Prevention is better than cure, so

plan ahead – mend and replace broken

or weak fence panels, make sure

greenhouse panes are secured

with enough clips, and secure mini

greenhouses, cloches and frames

so they don’t blow away.

6: Summer Flower Arrangement:

RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Creephedge

Lane, Rettendon, Chelmsford, Essex

CM3 8ET. ✆ 0203 176 5830,

 rhs.org.uk/gardens/hyde-hall

6-7: Meet The Experts – Clematis:

RHS Harlow Carr, Crag Lane,

Harrogate, North Yorks HG3 1QB.

✆ 0203 176 5830,  rhs.org.uk/

gardens/harlow-carr

7: Plant Hunters’ Fair: Sugnall Walled

Garden, Eccleshall, Stafford ST21 6NF

8: Free Gardening Advice for

RHS Members: RHS Harlow Carr

10: What Now – The Garden in July

and August: RHS Garden Hyde Hall

12: Summer Walk and Talk: RHS

Wisley, Wisley Lane, Woking, Surrey

GU23 6QB. ✆ 0203 176 5830,

 rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley

12: Marvellous Meadows Garden

Walk: RHS Harlow Carr

12: Free Gardening Advice for

RHS Members: RHS Harlow Carr

13: Planting for Plantaholics:

RHS Garden Wisley

13-14: Belvoir Flower and Garden

Festival: Belvoir Castle, Grantham,

Nottingham NG32 1PE. ✆ 01476

871001,  belvoircastle.com

13-14: Cactus Show: RHS

Garden Hyde Hall

13-14: National Sweet Pea

Show: RHS Harlow Carr

15: Garden Walk – Fabulous

Ferns: RHS Harlow Carr

15: Free Gardening Advice for

RHS members: RHS Harlow Carr

16: How To Grow Sweet Peas and

Roses: RHS Harlow Carr

16: Get the Look – Garden Design

Styles: RHS Garden Hyde Hall

■ Send details and images of

events to [email protected]

■All details are subject to change without our knowledge,

so please check that the event is still going ahead before

leaving home.

Things to

do near you

Enjoy a cactus show at RHS

Hyde Hall (13-14 July)

What’s

on

Keep off waterlogged

lawns to avoid churning

them up, then aerate

with a garden fork to

improve drainage

have left many gardens saturated

area of grass with standing

soaked in, plunge a garden

fork 3in (7cm) deep into the lawn all

Remove battered leaves and

flowers on border plants that

will be vulnerable to

bacterial and fungal

infections. Cut back

broken stems to

ground level.

gutters so rainwater can

flow freely into butts and

fill watering cans with

collected water when rain is

forecast to make room for more.

Make sure plants are

secure and supported

Remove broken stems and foliage Clear gutters of debris