Page 38 - Phonebox Magazine July 2007

A Month in the Garden
Linette Applegate
Weeding, watering, pruning, spraying, dead-heading, barbequeing, sunbathing, relaxing and enjoying. That just about sums up the garden this month!
To encourage flowering spurs on Wisterias, cut back all wispy side-shoots to within five or six buds form the main branches.
Although heavy pruning of deciduous trees is normally done in winter, some species bleed badly or develop diseases unless pruned in mid-summer, when the wounds will heal quickly. Larger branches on Magnolias, Prunus, (including both ornamental and fruit trees) and walnuts can be safely sawn off, using a sharp saw and prune back close to the main trunk. If in doubt when dealing with large trees, call in the services of a tree surgeon to safely prune them. ❑
Lily Beetle
This pest has spread throughout most of mainland England now, but was once quite a rare sight. But as the climate in the UK becomes warmer, and the winters milder, it has been able to survive from year to year. Fortunately, it does not affect any other plants than lilies (lilium) and fritillaries (fritillaria).
The adults are quite eye-catching, bright red, shiny beetles about 8mm long, with black heads and legs. These start to emerge from the soil when the days a warmer in April. After mating, batches of small brown eggs can be seen on the foliage, and from these emerge lily beetle larvae. These are quite difficult to spot at times, as they cunningly disguise themselves as bird droppings, by covering themselves with their own excrement.
It is the rate these larvae feed on the foliage that can decimate an entire plant in days. The adults also eat the leaves but are not so destructive as the young grubs.
Keep vigilant from April, if you squash any beetles you find on your plants, you will prevent them mating and producing any larvae, which should also be removed and destroyed when spotted, but this is a slightly messier process! Chemical control can be achieved by using Provado Ultimate bug killer, available from many garden centres. ❑
P.J.C. TREE CARE
Arborist & Forestry Contractor
Fully Qualified and Insured New Customer Discount
Tel: 01908 210257 Mobile: 07733 268438
42 Little Linford Lane, Newport Pagnell
38 Phonebox Magazine
J. D. Landscapes
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Qualified professionals carrying out
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HEDGE/TREE/SHRUB PRUNING call 01234 711681 - 07768 621234
For more garden maintenance, advice, design, and planting ideas, visit www.applegategardens.co.uk