Page 20 - HGS Suburb News 147 - September2021

S U B U R B

GARDENING

question: What do you want from • Observe the directions of the soil that has not been improved is mould (preferably home-made*,
your garden? Now, I don’t want to sun throughout the day for sunny a fool’s errand. What do I mean by but we’ll come to that) is ideal
It’s all rain on your parade, but if you want and shady aspects. improved? Mulch Mulch Mulch! • Apply grit or gravel to any of
flowers that bloom throughout all
your containers
What is mulch? It’s a protective
• Is it exposed on the brow of a
layer of organic matter, which acts
• Shingle or slate lend themselves
four seasons, attractive evergreen
hill or sheltered by neighboring
shrubs and innovative planting buildings or trees? as a blanket, keeps weeds down, to formal dry gardens
in the schemes, with as little maintenance • Are you on a slope? returns nutrients to a depleted principle of gardening: Know Thy
Having implemented the first
• Are you in a frost pocket?
soil, feeds worms who pull it down
as possible, then Buy Plastic or
• Do you have areas that are
hire a gardener! Seriously, one has
into the soil below, which in turn
Soil, then, and only then, should
to manage one’s expectations. If waterlogged or thick with tree roots? opens up its structure, breaks you start to think about planting.
soil you are realistic from the outset, type of soil do you have? The very down clumps, improves drainage, In future editions I’m going to
And most important of all, what
guide you through the seasons,
then you can create a landscape
builds up soil levels depleted by
first lesson of my RHS General
concentrating on developing
that suits your lifestyle, tastes and
natural erosion. This autumn, call
resources without it becoming a Certificate course was about soil. it Year One, apply a 10cm layer to successful planting schemes for
millstone around your neck. And just to get my point across, damp soil, then annually, ideally conditions most common to
Consider what you want your here are some words of wisdom: in autumn after leaf drop. Wherever Suburb gardens, from very dry
garden to provide: Do you need a “Essentially, all life depends upon the possible, incorporate a compost shade, moist boggy conditions, to
lawn for children to play on and soil.” Dr Charles E Kellogg, Soil heap or bins into your scheme, as exposed sunny sites.
someone to mow? Do you want to Scientist and Chief of the USDA’s this will provide the perfect home-
grow your own fruit and veg? Do Bureau for Chemistry and Soils. made mulch and soil improver. *And here is your autumn homework:
you long for a quiet haven to sit “To be a successful farmer one must However, in addition, there are If you don’t have a compost heap,
and relax in, surrounded by the first know the nature of the soil.” various different media, which gather up fallen leaves into black plastic
sound of birds singing and bees Xenophon, Ancient Greek mimic natural conditions: bags, tie off the tops, puncture bag with
buzzing? Could it be a formal philosopher and historian, • For alkaline heavy clay, apply holes, set aside in a shady corner for
outdoor room for entertaining? student of Socrates, circa 430 - well-rotted manure. about a year and hopefully next
Need inspiration? Then you can 354 BC. (NB: That applies to • Acid soil prefers bark chippings autumn you will have lovely home-
research the internet, TV and gardeners too.) • In woodland conditions, leaf made leaf mold to mulch your borders.
horticultural publications, check “The nation that destroys its soil,
out your neighbours’ plots, join destroys itself.” Franklin Delano
your local Horticultural Society. Roosevelt, 32nd President of The
CAROLINE BROOME (I would say that, wouldn’t I, I’m United States of America.
Chair and my husband David is Testing the soil for its pH
reating a garden, whether Membership Secretary!) value is not rocket science. You
you’re starting from scratch One thing I have learned can buy soil testing kits from your
Cor developing an existing over the years, is that there is no local nursery or garden centre.
one, can be a daunting task. A such thing as an ideal situation Whether it’s acid, neutral or
blank canvas can overwhelm; for a garden. When it comes to alkaline will determine what you
where to start? planting, you adapt to your can plant. There are clues:
But then a mature, sometimes garden, not the other way round. Rhododendrons, azaleas and
overgrown or neglected plot, can If you are taking on an established camellias thrive in acid soils,
seem insurmountable. garden, ideally you should whilst roses, clematis, viburnums
So, over the coming year, I’m experience the garden through all and philadelphus require alkaline
going to help you navigate your way four seasons before making soils. Just to confuse, neutral
towards year-round, manageable changes. But let’s face it, how (lucky you!) is a mixture, and
planting schemes, season by many of us want to wait that long! judging by the number of
season. But first and foremost, Establishing some fundamentals viburnums and camellias growing
ask yourself a very fundamental from the get-go is key: happily side by side in the
Suburb, I would hazard a guess
that several areas of NW11 and
Looking forward to N2 fall into that category.
There are lots of different types
of soil structures: chalky, sandy,
getting together again stony, but I’m going to concentrate
on London Clay, typical of Suburb
gardens. Typically, heavy clay soil
MARJORIE HARRIS is rock hard when dry and cracks
in the summer but can become
ith fingers crossed that virtual events are a thing of the past, waterlogged in winter, feels sticky
Horticultural Society events for the rest of the year, both live when wet, often forming a mossy
W and via Zoom, can be found at www.hortsoc.co.uk, or from surface ‘cap’.
the membership secretary, David Broome (020 8444 2329). From It’s not hard to realise that
September we plan monthly Zoom talks on various topics, except on planting straight into heavy clay Photos: Caroline Broome
14 October, when Philip Colman will be at Fellowship House at 7.30pm
to talk about his much-loved family firm, Finchley Nurseries (members
free, non-members £2 at the door).
Towards the end of the year, we hope to hold a party to celebrate
the fact that, at last, members can get together again to swap stories
of how their gardens are growing, or just talk face to face.
Four Seasons

GARDEN MAINTENANCE
r Weekly or fortnightly maintenance contract r Garden clearance
r Lawn care (mowing, turfing, fertilisation etc.) r Planting We’ll bring your dream garden to life
r Weed killing & treatment r Hedge trimming, tree works
r Patio cleaning r All general garden services
We offer a professional, reliable service with 10 years of Our professional team with seven years experience specialises in all types of garden
experience at an affordable price. Call Roland or leave a message landscaping including • Fencing • Decking • Driveways & Patios • Turfing • Irrigation.
for a free quote. Also monthly garden maintenance undertaken. For further details or a free quotation,
contact Noemi: 07718 592955 / 8374 8103 • naomilandscaping@gmail.com
r 07584 574520 r fourseasonsgarden@hotmail.com or visit our website at: www.naomilandscaping.co.uk

20 SUBURB NEWS IS PRODUCED AND DELIVERED TO YOU BY RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEERS