May 2013 Newsletter

I’m almost fearful to say this, but (… hushed tones ….) ‘It seems we’ve turned the corner and warmer weather is really here’. Let’s hope it continues, as it’s certainly lifting everyone’s spirits.

The garden centre is full to the brim, and - even if I say so myself - it is looking absolutely gorgeous! Current highlights in our plant stock include:

Italian stock . For the first time, I’ve got in a late delivery from Italy, which I handpicked last year. I wouldn’t normally risk it, but as they suffered anextended winter in Tuscany too, I’ve been able to get in some stock that is looking really lush, as it’s had a bit more sun than we’ve had here. TheRhynchospermum (formally Trachelospermum) is already showing flower bud, as are the Philadelphus, Ceonothus and Euonymus Alatus.
Ornamental shrubs and trees . We still have a few glorious ornamental Prunus (flowering cherries) and the Robinia frisia are just starting to show leaf, as are pretty Salix, Acers and many more.
Fruit trees and soft fruit . We’ve had another delivery from our wonderful fruit grower in West Sussex, so have a good range, including apples, pears, cherries, damsons, plums and nectarines, as well as blueberries, raspberries, gooseberries, tayberries and much more!
Summer bedding by the lorry load. Almost all varieties of bedding are now available. These are packaged in packs of 6 or 12 small plants. Some varieties of bedding are available in larger, individual pots. Just a few quid spent on bedding now will really brighten up pots or borders in the coming months.
Vegetable plants . More and more varieties of vegetables are becoming available each week (in strips priced at £2.95, or individual pots priced from £1.50). If, like many of us, you started growing from seed but either the weather or the slugs got the young seedlings, fear not!
Japanese Acers . These stunning trees are ideal for a small garden, especially if you have a somewhat gloomy spot you want to brighten. They like shade or semi shade, and aren’t difficult to keep, as long as you ensure they are well watered, and also in ericaceous compost (which you can mix into your garden soil).
Cornus Florida and Kousa. I first came across these lesser known Cornus a few years ago in Italy. They like sun or dappled shade and look absolutely amazing when their weird flowers start to open, looking at first like alien pods, but changing form and colour as they open until they resemble butterflies resting on the branches.
Herbaceous perennials. We have weekly deliveries from our suppliers, including gorgeous Peonies, Lupins, Delphiniums, Holly hocks, more unusual Veronicas and lots of shade tolerant options.
Herbs. A customer told me this morning that the ‘Hairy Pot’ range herbs she planted last year have survived the winter cold brilliantly. They are back in stock and our first delivery sold out in a couple of days!
Roses – shrubs, standards and climbers. They are starting to romp away now, and will be glorious in a month or two. Just remember that if you get a climber or rambler it is worth ensuring you have good strong trellis or wires erected for it to be tied to.

In the shop and vintage shed we also have lots of new things on offer …

Smaller sized Burgon and Ball tools which are ideal for use by the older child, or for container gardening.
True Grace candles in summer scents – Meadow, Grapefruit, Rosemary and Eucalyptus …
Handmade rattan planters to grace any deck or patio.
Pretty coloured and clear tea-light holders or lanterns to hang in trees or on crooks for that alfresco dinner.
Bistro tables and chairs, as well as benches (new and vintage) for relaxed afternoons in the garden.
Stunning rusty iron plant supports and obelisks which are beautiful as well as practical.

There’s a wealth of other things I could tell you about, but I don’t want to lose your attention, so I’ll stop now. I hope I’ve piqued your interest enough to ensure you visit us soon.

Lastly, I’d like to tell you about a really rather wonderful show garden you can visit every weekend from 18 May until June 9. It’s part of The Chelsea Fringe, which is to the Chelsea Flower Show what the Edinburgh Fringe is to the Edinburgh Festival. A lovely customer of ours, garden designer Anna-Rose,is transforming an unlovely wasteland in a hidden corner of Camberwell into a secret garden, called WC @ Vanguard Court. It promises to be an oasis of green calm. Pick up a flyer from our shop, or look at the Chelsea Fringe website for more information.

As always, Sally has put together a useful list of garden tasks for this month, which follows below.

Warmest regards

Karen

Opening Hours

Monday to Saturday: 9:30am – 5:30pm
Sundays and Bank Holidays: 10am – 4pm

Except

Jan: 10am – 4pm (Fri, Sat & Sun only)
Feb, Aug, Nov: 10am – 4pm (every day)

Web: www.alleynpark.co.uk
Email: info@alleynpark.co.uk
Phone: 020 8670 7788

Rear of 77 Park Hall Road
(Entrance opposite Café Rouge)
West Dulwich, London SE21 8ES

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Garden jobs for May

Spring is here and with it the promise of months of enjoyment in our gardens. Here is a selection of ideas which will hopefully allow you to enjoy your outside space even more.

My top 2 jobs for the month:

1. The soil has warmed up a bit now and we are all feeling more inclined to get out into the garden. Get planting! This month will be a perfect time to get anything into the ground, from trees to shrubs, fruit trees to strawberries, herbaceous perennials to annual petunias, Mediterranean herbs to hanging baskets, and root vegetables to leafy salads. Whatever the size of your outside space, you will be able to squeeze something in.

2. Start a feeding regime. You can boost plant growth and health tremendously with the right fertilisers, and support them once they finish flowering. I've been asked several times about non performing Camellias, and the problem is invariably that they weren't fed last year. I will start feeding my container grown Camellia this month, through to the end of August, with an ericaceous fertiliser.

General maintenance and planting

Stake and support plants now. If you leave it later than mid May, you will be fighting a losing battle. This is essential for herbaceous plants before they get too tall, or for those, like peonies, that produce heavy blooms.
Continue to tie in shoots on climbers that are growing madly, such as clematis, roses, honeysuckle, jasmine and rhynchospermum. It is particularly important to tie in the shoots of climbing roses as near to horizontal as possible. This suppresses the flow of sap, therefore encouraging the plant to send out more side shoots. More side shoots equals more flowers!
Clematis montana can be pruned after flowering to keep it in check, and to encourage another flush of flowers later.
Plant up troughs, pots and hanging baskets with summer bedding plants. Incorporating water retaining crystals and slow release fertilizer in the compost will help to ensure a continuous display throughout the summer.
Chopping back some perennials in late spring will make bushier plants that flower later on in the season and often flower more prolifically. This technique is known as the ‘Chelsea Chop’, because it’s done around the time of the Chelsea Flower Show. To do this, cut or pinch back plants by half. Sedum, Rudbeckia, Echinacea, Helenium and Solidago (golden rod) will all respond well to this technique.
Evergreen hedges and topiary can be lightly clipped to keep them neat. Make sure your shears are clean and well oiled before use. Pick an overcast day, or wait until after the sun has set, to avoid leaf scorch.
Keep watering any recently planted shrubs, trees or other plants, even if it has been raining! They won’t have had time to get their roots down yet, so are vulnerable to dehydration. And don’t forget to water your containers regularly too.
Thin out direct sowings of hardy annuals. This is best done in two or three stages at fortnightly intervals.
Sweet peas need training and tying in to their supports to encourage them to climb and make a good display.
Lift clumps of Forget-me-nots once the display starts to fade and before they set too much seed. They can become invasive if left unchecked.

Vegetables

If you haven't got your potatoes in yet, do bury them soon and then check on them regularly and earth up when they need it.
Lots of vegetables can still be sown this month, from quick and easy radish to sweet corn and other later harvesters.
Pot on tomato and other young vegetable plants into larger pots. Begin to harden them off, introducing them to outside weather, but avoiding leaving them out if frost is forecast.
Devise a routine of feeding and weeding your vegetable garden and containers, and water regularly.

Companion planting

Companion planting can really help in the battle against pests, and help with pollination. Many herbs have nectar rich flowers which will attract beneficial insects to the garden. Try planting sage next to cabbage-family plants to repel cabbage-white butterflies, chives next to apples to prevent apple scab, or next to roses to prevent blackspot.
Nasturtiums are one of the plants which will attract black fly away from precious crops.
Carrot fly will start to appear in May. Sow carrots with annual flowers such as Love-in the-mist and Cornflowers in a roughly 50:50 ratio to discourage them.

Lawn maintenance

Continue with your lawn maintenance routine this month, increasing the frequency of cutting as long as the weather allows you to. When using a ‘feed and weed’ product on your lawn, follow the directions for the amount to use and make sure it has been very well watered in, to avoid risk of scorching.

Garden pests

Protect lily, delphinium, hosta and other susceptible plants from slugs and snails.
Look out for Scarlet Lily Beetle and squish them when you find them.
Encourage natural predators, such as birds, into your garden. Keep feeders topped up, and put up boxes.
Frogs and toads will also eat slugs, and a pond (however small) will encourage these amphibians to take up residence.
Vine weevil larvae can be a serious pest of plants in containers, and become active this month. The adult vine weevil appears more at night and leaves tell-tale notches in leaves. The larvae can cause more damage, by destroying roots under the soil. Tip out the root ball of suspect plants, and inspect for the creamy, orange-headed maggots, which tend to curl up into a ‘C’ shape. If you find them, take swift action to eradicate them.
Aphids can multiply rapidly during mild spells. Remove early infestations by hand, spray with a mix of washing-up liquid and water, or treat with a pesticide, ensuring that you do this on a still day, late in the evening when fewer beneficial insects are around.

Wildlife

Remember to keep feeding the birds as they begin to nest and raise young. Leave water for them too.

Finally

May is the start of the show season, with Chelsea and the Chelsea Fringe later this month. Another good way to be inspired is to visit open gardens. Dulwich and the surrounding areas have lots of lovely gardens which throw open their gates through the coming months, and often serve tea and scrummy cakes too!