Amateur Gardening – 13 July 2019

12 AMATEUR GARDENING 13 JULY 2019

Where possible, use rainwater harvested from water butts

as it contains fewer chemicals than tap water

1

Check plants and deadhead

every day, because if seedpods

are left to develop, the plants will

stop flowering.

2

Sweet pea tendrils usually hold

plants secure, but you should

tie in wayward stems to prevent

breakages in bad weather.

3

Sweet peas flourish for longer

and produce more flowers

with regular waterings and weekly

feeds of liquid tomato food.

4

Aphids are a major sweet

pea pest, so squash colonies

between finger and thumb before

the need to use chemicals arises.

Look after

sweet peas

Keep plants blooming for longer

Step

by step

Pond care in summer

Keep water, plants and animals healthy, says Ruth

1

Skim off algae and weeds as they

may deplete oxygen levels. Leave

plants by the pond overnight so trapped

creatures can return to the pond.

2

Deadhead faded flowers, cut off

dead and damaged foliage, and

remove fast-growing oxygenators

before they become invasive.

3

Choose what sort of pond you

want, because ornamental fish and

wildlife ponds don’t mix – the fish will

eat insect larvae and tadpoles.

4

Test the water to keep the pond

in balance. Fish excretions and

phosphate from fish food, soil and

tap water can cause algal blooms.

If tap water is your only

option, fill a watering can

and leave it standing for 24

hours before adding to the

pond, so the chlorine

dissipates and it

warms up.