Work for the week

MAPLES: Japanese maples seem to be hell bent on self-mutilation!

The unpredictable die-back of twigs and small branches constantly fill their crowns with pale dead wood, inviting attack from the mortal coral spot fungus. It occurs every spring on my small collection and good growing conditions certainly help. However, even the healthiest trees need watching.

Free circulation of air around them is one way of reducing the die-back, so too the permanent removal of all affected parts. Constant watchfulness for dead extremities is advised so take regular maple patrols before they leaf out fully. I have come to know every bud of my maples-with immense pleasure!

DAFFODILS: Dead-head daffodils as soon as the blooms fade so they don’t waste energy producing seed. Help build up the bulbs for next year by giving them liquid feeds (every ten to 14 days) of Miracle Grow or Phostrogen. Under no circumstances remove the foliage of bulbs until they yellow and die down naturally.

To remove them before their time would leave the bulbs in a weakened state and unable to flower with vigour next spring.

LAWNS which have been attended to by way of feeding and moss-killing will need regular mowing and the edges neatly trimmed. If this job is done fairly frequently, before the grass gets too long, there will be no need to pick up the clippings as they will wither and become mixed with the soil. Lawns which have not been fed and maintained to date should be attended to now that the evenings have become brighter for longer.

RAPE: Oilskin-coloured fields of oil-seed rape daubed on the early summer countryside are met with mixed emotions and soon this crop will be in full bloom. You cannot trespass in these fields so instead visit a wood in your vicinity. They may very well be covered with bluebells and wild garlic, but it’s an experience not to be missed.

TULIPS are susceptible to virus disease and any bulbs which appear with distorted leaves or flowers should be routed and destroyed .

Often there will be a build-up of problems if you keep on lifting and replanting tulips in the same bed year after year. Eventually, the soil would have to be chemically treated or replaced. This is one of the reasons why plantings of tulip are done in tubs and containers. Botanical tulips are not affected and are left in the soil from year to year.