Put frost protection round any plants that will be staying out for the winter.
Prepare the garden for winter: keep drains and ponds etc free from leaves and debris, clean and store garden tools, ensure that greenhouse glass is clean, and that any shading has been replaced by insulation.
Start sowings of hardy annuals and sweet peas under glass.
Change the plantings in hanging baskets for winter interest.
Take hardwood cuttings of deciduous shrubs, and gather clematis seed for sowing in a cold frame.
Feed roses with sulphate of potash to ripen the wood and make the plants more disease resistant.
Lift dahlias after the first frosts blacken their leaves.
Place netting over ponds to catch leaves.
Monday 1 October 2007
Maggot Come Home!
Last month saw the return of the Halo film crew, following the gardeners about for almost an entire day, to see what we do... There must have been about 8 hours of film that the editor will now cut down to half an hour. It was an interesting experience to wear a microphone all morning. Our great debut goes out at the beginning of October on sky 280. After completion of the series there will be a set of DVDs available. That sorts out this year's Christmas presents!
And of course there is another programme on BBC2 in the Spring: "Castle in the Country", where Spetchley gets a mention too.
The hedgehog, that was noted in September's diary is now safely back home. One evening a about 3 weeks ago, two ladies from Worcester Hedgehog Rescue brought him back. They have fondly named him Maggot! He is quite distinctive as the tips of his spines are quite pale, and he has dark rings round his eyes. He is also rather camera shy, this is the best of about 5 pictures, all showing a curled up ball of spines. A home was set up in the copse and instructions were left about feeding. I was given a tin of puppy food and some very unappealing mealworms. The next day he had scuttled off to find his own way, and we didn't see him again until today when he managed to get into the tennis court. He was rescued again, and set up in a more suitable des res. Long may he enjoy the gardens.
The conservatory renovation is making great progress. All the new roof panels are installed and glazed, the top 3 vents are back on their chains again so that they can open, and all that is left is the front panels; just in time for the winter weather!
Hedge cutting has now been completed, including the back breaking task of the box hedges. We are now looking forward to the 'winter jobs list', as compiled by Mr Berkeley.
Alex moved on at the beginning of September, and our Japanese student Satsuki has returned home, but we have the welcome return of Steve, who worked at Spetchley about 3 years ago, and will be working again part time for a while.
And it is almost the end of the season. The gardens will soon only be open at weekends, but we can expect some good autumn colour, so don't forget to visit!
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