Monty Don has urged people with a garden – private or shared – to ensure one task is completed during November. The expert, known for the much-loved BBC’s Gardeners’ World show, has said that during November, there’s an area of our gardens that can be very dangerous.
He explained: “At this time of year, brick and stone paths can be very slippery and dangerous. This is due to algae that grows on the surface, especially if wet and shaded, and at this time of year, they may stay wet and slippery for months.”
Because of this, he urged people to hire a key piece of equipment, if they don’t own one already, and get to work. In his blog post, the presenter wrote: “The best way to reduce the slipperiness is to wash off the algae with a pressure hose (which can be hired by the day).
“When this is done brush in sharpsand. If the path is brick or stone the porous surface will absorb some of the sand. A quicker -but still quite laborious – alternative is simply to work sand in with a stiff brush without the washing. Either way you have a very effective way of making a path safe without resorting to chemicals.”
The top TV green-fingered expert also suggested that people start planting one flower now so it blooms in time for December 25. He said: “Paperwhite daffodils, narcissi papyraceus, will be flowering for Christmas if you plant them at the beginning of November.”
He explained that, unlike most daffodils, this variety is native to the Mediterranean and does not need a cold, or vernalisation period to grow. All you need to do is simply plant the bulbs just below the surface of the compost in a container.
This should ideally be one with drainage, but a regular bowl will work if you add a bit of charcoal to keep the soil fresh. You should aim to keep the compost moist – but not waterlogged – and place the container in a warm, bright spot.
He added: “The bulbs will grow strongly, and if indoors in the warmth, flower in 4 weeks. To delay and prolong flowering, keep them cool but frost-free.”
Oh, and before you put your lawn-mower away, make sure it’s all in a good working order. Monty Don suggested that instead of waiting until spring, now is the perfect time to give your mower a thorough check before storing it for winter.
You should:
Wash it down and scrape off any encrusted grassDrain any petrol from the tankCheck all screws and bolts to ensure they are properly tightenedOil the blades and all moving parts and unless it is running and cutting exceptionally well take it for a service and sharpen by a professional rather than wait until next Spring when they will be inundated
Just make sure that you put it somewhere dry and safe in the knowledge that when you need it, “it will perform properly at the first asking and throughout the next cutting season.”
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