David Cheetham

Hi Karrie, The fruit is produced from shoots which are in their second or later year. One of the aims of pruning is to produce a balance (roughly half and half) between side shoots produced this year and side shoots produced last year. This will provide a crop of apples in the current year and sufficient shoots for next year's crop. Second, when you prune during winter (while the tree is dormant), this will invigorate the tree, causing it to grow more during the following season. If you prune during summer this will cause the tree to grow less during that growing season. Spring pruning has an effect somewhere between winter and summer pruning. You can follow similiar pruning patterns for most bush trees inculding the pear. Regards David Cheetham MSGD Dip EGS

As this mini heat wave contiunes and the threat of hosepipe bans are looming, this maybe a good time to rethink your watering techniques; On average a hosepipe uses 1,000 litres of water an hour, so if you are using one focus on watering individual plants instead of spraying generally. If you have large shrubs or plants, then cut the end of some water bottles, stick them in the soil near the roots and use as a mini reservoir - helps to hold water and feed direct to the plant. Soak you plants every 5-8 days (depending on the heat) instead of watering on a daily basis Finally, grey water from the sink, bath and shower if fine for the garden providing it does not have high levels of detergents/chemicals. If you can use it, let it cool and use it on the same day. Avoid the fruit and veg. Happy Gardening

Lawn Enthusiasts, If you have a fair sized lawn and want to take the hard graft our of aerating and scarifying then have a look at the; AL-KO Comfort 32VLE Combi 1000w Scarifier I recently bought one and it's truly amazing. Happy Gardening David Cheetham MSGD

Ok I hope it helps. You can also find an A - Z listing of gardening topics including pruning on my website. Happy Gardening David Cheetham MSGD

Hi, I would leave any pruning now until the autumn when the trees are going into their dormant phase and there is no hard cold spell. As they are relatively new addtions to your garden let them 'settle in' and then focus on shaping and thinning them out later in the year. With regards fertilising, it really depends on how well the trees performed last year. But if you want to feed them leave it till after they finish blooming. Happy Gardening. David Cheetham MSGD

There are a number of local garden centres including; Alleyn Park Garden Centre Dulwich Garden Centre East Dulwich Garden Alternatively if you can wait try ordering online form the major plant companies. I have bought plants this way and was surprised at how well they were packaged and also the fact that they replaced some when they did not take. Here are a few sites worth looking at. www.Thompson-Morgan.com www.VanMeuwen.com www.jparkers.co.uk Happy Gardening David Cheetham MSGD

Hi everyone, Not sure the weather has really been up to much in the way of gardening this Easter and also let's face it we could all do with a break now and again. But, Mick Mac has been filling in for me whilst I've been away and has been doing a sterling job on my behalf and the many lawns of East Dulwich. My advice with regards lawns is you get back what you put in. A new lawn needs loads of loving care not only when it's been put down but also the years ahead. The only real benefit is that you get an instant and consistent look from the off. Established lawns are going to be hardier but as nature takes over, seeds start floating in from all over the place and the birds keep dropping things it wont take long until the problems start. But, I could write pages for you on lawn pests, diseases and problems or just redirect you to the website. Happy gardening! David Cheetham MSGD

Hi All, Many thanks for the questions. With regards the flower beds and double digging it really depends on how much of a sweat you want to build up and also how much clay is in the soil. If the beds have been left for a long time then digging them over will help with aeration, weed control and give you the opportunity to remove stones and rocks. However, after such a long time I would be more inclined to focus on the quality and nutrition of the soil. So, dig in plenty of manure, fertilizer or compost. Leading on to compost, sorry I don't know of any recycling schemes in place locally. May a EDF reader (Swagger)would like to take it off your hands. Happy Gardening! David Cheetham MSGD

Well that's good to hear. Let's all get out in the garden this month and put the green back into those lawns and boarders! And in the tradition of Percy Thrower's Garden Notebook "More cut flowers, make room for strawberries and in every garden large or small there should be a plot or pot set aside for herbs". Happy Gardening David Cheetham MSGD

Would really appreciate feedback on the style of this posting - too much potting shed or not enough garden advise? Many thanks David Cheetham MSGD

As the days grow longer and hopefully hotter, gardening conditions are improving so it?s time for getting out and about in the garden and tackling those ever persistent weeds that just love this rapid growing period. But, it?s not all back breaking repetition for this month. Spring has sprung, the lambs are gambolling and we should be ablaze with a sea of daffodils and narcissus. Top jobs for this month PERENNIALS, ANNUALS and BULBS Now is an ideal time for planting summer flowering blubs. There is a vast range available online, from mail order catalogues and down the local garden centre. Just remember to give your bulbs a boost with some good bulb fertilizer when you plant them out. But, remember you get what you pay for when buying bulbs ? so don?t sting! Deadhead your spring flowering bulbs but leave the green foliage as this will continue to grow for a few weeks and provide food for next year. I have also read that once the green foliage has gone over, it?s good to give the bulbs some soluble plant food which will help to boost flowering next season. If you?re a keen rose lover then April is the month to plant new varieties before new growth starts and buds swell. FRUITS and VEGGIES Why not experiment with some fruit trees or berry plants this year? This is month to select them and don?t forget they will do best when planted in full sun. If you have been nurturing ?sow your own seeds? over the last few months either in the greenhouse or in the warm under the stairs, then check them for potting-up and pricking out to encourage growth and to avoid overcrowding. Remember to protect any fruit blossom from late frosts. THE LAWN If you didn?t apply a fertilizer last month an application now should help to perk it up and improve its overall appearance and colour. Aerating the lawn at this time of year will allow the water to penetrate deeper, help with compaction and reduce the need to water during the dryer months ahead. You can use a garden fork or even invest in a set of lawn aerator shoes Before you start mowing just check your lawn mower to ensure that blades are sharp. Blades on most modern lawn mowers are easy to remove and replace if needed. Keep the cut relatively high at this time of the year to avoid scalping. And finally, the gardener?s companion says??.. Anyone who considers gnomes tacky and cheap should take note. In 1997, a garden gnome, know as Lampy and believed to be one of the oldest in the world, was insured for one million pounds. Happy Gardening! David Cheetham MSGD

Have just found a fyler 'Grow your own' - informative, to the point and actually quite useful. So, think super foods this summer (mainly a whole host of berries based on this leaflet) - they are packed with antioxidants and will help to keep our bodies healthy and apparently you can do it in small gardens too! Yes, fill up those containers and window sills with seed trays and propagators brimming with dwarf varieties of fruit and veg. Happy Gardening! David Cheetham MSGD

Hi Sazzle What you need is a determinate variety of tomato plant these will grow very short but bushy. This type of tomato is ideal for containers and small gardens and anyone who is new to gardening. However, keep in mind that you get one large crop as oppose to on-going crops throughout the season. Varities include: Sub Artic Plenty, Tumbling Tom Yellow, Maskotka I hope this helps. If you do an online search you will find a number of seed/plants companines who can supply of take a trip to you local garden centre. Happy gardening! David Cheetham MSGD

There are a number of trailing plants suitable for window boxes in full sun including the liquorice plant (Helichrysum) that has silver - grey foliage and will trail to form a cascade of foliage. And, don't forget Ivy not everones favourite but there are a number with silver-grey/cream variations. Verbena and Heuchera will also add variety and structure. Happy gardening! David Cheetham MSGD

Hi Everyone Well it seems a lot has been happeing since I logged off last night. Anyway... many thanks for the gardening questions. Charliecharlie the mobile shed is spot on though the colour options of red devil's offering are appealing. I'm visualising window boxes, trellis up the walls and even a raised decked patio. Yes, decking is back with a vengenace but has made leaps and bounds since it swamped our screens thanks to the delights of garden force. Speaking of garden force ( I hope you appreciate that subtle link) I was pottering in B&Q today when I noticed that the nation's favourite Alan Titchmarch, is the champion for their 'Let's get gardening' campaign. I swooped in on the literature 'Alan's Top Tips - March' and can now report back that in addition to your existing list of tasks for the month, you can also; Clean the greenhouse, prepare the soil for your veg and herb beds, freshen up pots contaiing winter/spring bedding and tidy up the rock garden, not forgetting to top up stone chippings. If this continues, I could become obsolete!! Steve T very impressed with your container planting ideas - highly ingenious. Please let us all know how they do and watch out for the slugs. Ruffers, window boxes are great and can really make a difference if you choose the right plants. With regards then falling off - have you thought of screwing them down on to the window sill or even quicker use a grab adhesive. Before I can recommend plants I need to know how much sunlight the sills get and also how much time you want to spend looking after the window boxes. Happy gardening! David Cheetham MSGD

Well charliecharlie, Many thanks for the shed research. Torn between option 1 and 2. Option 1 has rustic charm but option two looks like it would be warmer. Sorry but choice three not really doing it for me. Just finished the first chapter of "Percy Thrower's Garden Notebook" which seemed to be all about raspberry canes and rows of lettuce. However, the garden tip of the chapter was; if you want to maintain a steady crop of lettuce throughout the months espically the months when it is expensive, then cover 6-8 young seedlings with an up turned flower pot and place a tile on top. Repeat this the following months with another 6-8. The seedlings will continue to grow but at a slower rate. Never tried this, but going to test it with the carrots this year. Happy gardening! Regards David Cheetham MSGD

Hi ???? With regards the grow bags and tomatoes, yes you are right unlikely there will be enough sunlight down the side return. However, veg for shady areas could include lettuce, broad beans, beetroot. Or what about some berries such as raspberry or blackcurrants and obviously the all time favourite rhurbarb though this does like a bit more space. Regards David Cheetham MSGD

Well I've had a bit of a lazy day gardening wise - more of a very long lunch for most of the day. But, pleased to report that the potting shed door was banging backwards and forwards yesterday as I tried to get some sort of order in my garden. It was mainly gathering up the last remnants of dead leaves, sorting out an array of frost broken pots and planting out some sow-direct veggie seeds. I'm not trying to be self sufficient veg wise especially with a growing area 3ft x 3ft, but very impressed with last year's crops regardless of the somewhat limited yields. And, if you too have limited space invest in some grow bags. There is a whole online world dedicated to growbag gardening. Regards David Cheetham MSGD

Thanks HAL9000 but not sure who Mary Stevenson is??? at www.msdg.co.uk MSGD stands for Member of the Society of Garden Designers Regards David Cheetham MSGD

Hi *Bob* Having birds in the garden is beneficial as they eat unwanted insects but they can be destructive as you have exeprienced. There are a number of things you can try; 1. If it flaps or flickers then hang it in the tree. Basically, hang anything shiny and reflective such as pieces of perspex mirror or temporary barrier tape (the pastic red and white one is good) in the trees. The birds don't like them. 2. You could put bird netting over the trees 3. You can invest in a range of gadets including an electronic owl and a motion sensor that sends out hawk sounds And finally, this one was told to me but I have never tried it. Try hanging plastic Christmas baubbles in the tree. Apprantly the birds/piegons will go for these first instead of the fruit because there are bigger but soon get bored when they can't peck into them. I hope this helps. Regards David Cheetham MSGD

W**F Thanks for your message. I must admit I like the 'sheddy feel' to the thread as well. So much that I have actually tracked down and ordered a copy of Percy Throwers' Garden Notebook - so hoping to share more nostaligic gardening moments and advise next month. I know we all have hetic lifestyles to juggle but for me gardening was always about my dad in the greenhouse or shed and my mum complaining about the lawn being to long - happy days. Regards David Cheetham MSGD

Yes Mic Mac you are right about top dressing smoothing out the hollows and bumps. The combined mix I put down of seed, sand and peat will do the same. With regards paint pots karter - I did see a load there the last time I went And, woofmarkthedog, thanks for the comments - I think/hope!! Quite like "From the Potting Shed, with David Cheetham " as a title, so maybe next month. Regards David Cheetham MSGD

I would leave any revival plans to early April as any treatments should have a greater chance of success as the weather warms up and hopefully stays drier. Replacing a lawn can be expensive so it's probably worth tackling the existing lawn. But don't expect an immediate success story as good lawn work takes time. You can either tackle the project yourself or there are a number of specialist lawn service companies. If you have excessive moss then start by applying a good weed/feed treatment. Readily available from a garden or DIY centre. Leave this for 7-10 days before you tackle the dead and yellowing moss/thatch. A metal spring-tined rake is ideal for raking out the dead moss and thatch, hard but rewarding exercise as well. However, there are also mains powered versions available to buy or hire. Once you have raked over the lawn and removed the moss and thatch then it is worth aerating it as a well-trodden lawn, or grass on heavy clay soil can quickly become compacted. I prefer to then give the lawn a chance to recover before reseeding with a combination of seed, sand and peat. Top dressing the lawn is best left till Autumn. I hope this helps. David Cheetham MSGD

Many thanks for PM's. In answer to the question, hoping to post the tips every month. Also, thanks for all the individual questions and queries, making good use of my reference library. Regards David Cheetham MSGD

March is a guessing game in the garden. Will it warm up soon? Will it stay warm? Will the rains start/stop? About the only thing we can count on is that March will soon turn to April when hopefully we can all get out and about in the garden. Planting This month roses will begin that first bloom. Azaleas and camellias are best planted while blooming. They began their blooming in February, so March is right in the middle of their blooming season. Please don?t feed your camellias until they have completed their blooming. If you do, they will drop all remaining buds. Fertilise to reward the plant after the blooming ends. Spring colour plants are arriving! Brighten up your gardens with perennials and annuals. Look for perennials such as campanula, columbine, coral bells, delphinium, foxglove (digitalis), diascia, penstemon, salvia, yarrow and so much more. Great annuals to pick from include celosia, coleus, dianthus, linaria, lobelia, marigolds, nicotiana, petunias, salvias, and verbena. There is still time for planting bulbs! And, don?t forget to start your vegetable gardens! Veggies as the cabbage family (cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli), squash, lettuce, spinach, peppers, and cool season tomatoes will be in this month. This is also a good time not only to prune back herbs from last year, but also add in new plants such as chives, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon, and thyme. Maintenance Duties Fertilise your lawns and roses. Snails will coming be out to munch on the tender new growth. So stay alert. Now is also the time to divide perennials such as agapanthus, callas, daylilies, rudbeckia, and daisies. Those with fuchsias can cut them back two-thirds toward the main branches. Remember to leave 2-5 leaf bud/scars for new growth. You can begin pruning your ornamental shrubs (pittosporum, boxwood, etc.) for hedges. Wait to prune spring-flowering shrubs and trees until their blooming is over. And if anyone has any specific gardening questions they would like answering, please feel free to email us;[email protected] Happy Gardening!! Regards David Cheetham MSGD