Restoring Order To A Neglected Garden

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30477, 26 June 1964, Page 6

Restoring Order To A Neglected Garden

Moving into a new house sometimes means taking over a neglected garden. Looking out of the window on to the jungle of growth that constitutes the garden one feels dismayed and wonders where to begin.

Bringing a neglected garden back into order and producing something attractive poses problems. First, one should tackle the main drives and pathways. Cut back all growth that is encroaching and be quite ruthless so as to have ready access.

If they are choked with weeds some effort should be made to tackle these. Tall weeds should be • scythed down and this should be removed. Treat the entire area with an effective and residual weed-killer. More than one application may be necessary before complete control is achieved. Lawns Cut the grass, but not too short at the first cutting. As new growth appears, and the grass becomes thicker, the cutting can become closer. Vigorous raking with a wire rake will gather up dead grass, much rubbish and plant refuse. While regular cutting will eradicate many weeds, there will still be a considerable problem with the rosette type and at the appropriate season application of hormone weed-killers should be made. In shady or damp lawns, moss may also be a problem and this should also be controlled. All edges of lawns should be trimmed either with a turfing iron or a sharp spade. When growth comes away readily in the spring carry out regular feeding of the lawn to encourage the strongest possible growth of the grasses so that they can colonise the lawn once again and so fill up those areas cleared of weed. Beds and Borders

Remove all plants of a temporary nature and dig over the beds, removing

weeds in the process. Permanent . plantings should be cleared of weeds and then the soil forked over between the plants. Where possible, applications of organic matter should be worked into the soil which can be supplemented by, or substituted with, applications of a general fertiliser: Fruit Garden Remove any rank growth from under the trees and rake up all old fruit and dead branches and burn them. Pruning during the first year should consist of removing all dead or diseased wood and thinning out some of the remaining branches.

The next winter normal pruning can be practised. Apply a clean up spray and then maintain a regular spray schedule. All this work cannot be done immediately and it should be so organised that work appropriate to the winter should be done first and other work, which is necessary during the growing season, or, which can be extended into the growing season, should follow. Vegetable Garden

Clean out all weeds and destroy them. If the area, is small, hand cultivation may be successful. Where there are troublesome weeds or the area is ' large and perennial weeds are a problem applica-

tion of weed-killers, In conjunction with cultivation, will be more successful. Should the area be particularly badly infested with weeds,, it may pay to allow it to remain fallow. for a year during which time it can be worked and applications of suitable weedkillers applied until a control has been achieved. The ground should be dug over and organic matter worked in. Shrub Borders These will probably resemble a thicket of branches so the first task is to produce some order here. Take a pair of secateurs and cut out all dead and diseased wood. Next, thin out the remaining stems, beginning with. thin shoots, and crossing branches. Regular and correct pruning can take place, later in the appropriate season. Do not take a pair of shears and try to trim each shrub into a formal shape. Apply a clean-up spray to all permanent plants and maintain a regular spray programme. Hedges Trim these into shape, but fairly lightly at the first trimming. Do not attempt to trim hard back otherwise there is the tendency for the hedge to become bare or brown in places. Feeding of the hedge with a general fertiliser will prove beneficial.