Monkton Elm News, Events and Tips Blog

Protect fruit trees Now is the time to apply grease bands around the trunks of fruit trees to prevent damage later on from wingless winter moths. Carefully rubbing off any loose bark will remove hiding places for other pests. To kill over-wintering pest eggs use Growing Success Winter Wash when all the leaves have dropped. Spray peaches and nectarines to help protect against peach leaf curl. Finally, always pick up all fallen diseased leaves and destroy them. If you need any more help on growing perfect fruit, come and see our plant staff.

We’re inviting greenfingered folk to come along to our recently launched free gardening club.

Here are a few of my top tips on how to cook perfect roast beef:

The nights are certainly drawing in and it’s getting darker much earlier these days. Our Plant Manager, Andrew Pitman, gives us the latest from the plantaria and some advice for autumn gardening…

To celebrate Halloween, we are giving youngsters the chance to carve a pumpkin from Saturday, October 26th until Thursday, October 31st.

(From left to right)   Secret World Wildlife Rescue Centre volunteers, Janet Vinnicombe, Trudi Howell and John Vinnicombe, with a selection of birds the charity has rescued. Secret World Wildlife Rescue Centre will be here on Sunday, October 27th during our normal opening hours.

We will have a variety of animals here, including guinea pigs, rabbits, lizards and spiders for people to meet and learn about the proper methods of care on Saturday, October 26th.

We’re hosting a Let’s Get Fruity Weekend on October 19th and 20th to tie in with the UK ’s annual Common Ground Apple Day (October 21st).

Did you know it’s Apple Day on October 21st? It has been celebrated on this day every year since it was initiated by Common Ground in 1990. October is also a great time to plant fruit trees so why not mark Apple Day by beginning a new venture to grow your own tasty apples? To commemorate the occasion, our Plant Manager, Andrew Pitman, has selected some of his favourite varieties to share with you…

Plant baskets and containers for winter colour To get the best displays from your winter and spring hanging baskets and containers, plant them now. Plants to use include ivy, dwarf conifers and dwarf shrubs, winter-flowering pansies, hardy primulas and polyanthus. Add bulbs to extend the display. Check out our extensive range of plants, containers, baskets, basket liners, brackets and compost and remember to add a controlled-release fertiliser.

Our Pet & Reptile Centre is now stocking Natural Instinct, a brand of raw dog food using top quality meat.  

We’re hosting a Winter Bedding Weekend on Saturday, September 28 and Sunday, September 29 to help people add a bit of colour to their gardens through the darker months.

With bulb planting season rapidly gathering momentum we have decided to choose two plants of the month for September, and they both come in bulb form ready to burst into bloom next spring. Tulip: Hotpants First up we have Taylors bulb of the year: Hotpants. This tulip comes with unusual white and claret stripes, enough to bring a vibrant look to any garden.

Cuttings of summer bedding plants Take cuttings from all your half-hardy bedding plants such as fuchsias, bedding geraniums, marguerites and osteospermums to ensure you have plenty of plants for next year. Take the cuttings just below a leaf, remove the leaves from the lower half of the cutting and dip the end in hormone rooting powder or liquid. Then insert the cuttings in pots of cuttings compost. Cover the pots with a polythene bag or put them in a propagator and place somewhere warm and sheltered. Don’t forget to pick up everything you need for successful cuttings including pots, compost, dibbers, rooting hormone, labels and propagators.

Secret World Wildlife Rescue Centre will be here on Saturday, September 28 during our normal opening hours.

We have a wide range of spring-flowering bulbs in stock now as September is the best time to plant them ready for next year. Our range includes corms, tubers, rhizomes and true bulbs. Most bulbs are adapted to well-drained soils in full sun. However for shady areas, perhaps consider Erythronium and Galanthus.

We’re offering free advice to anyone who would like to learn more about planting bulbs at our Bulb Weekend, which takes place on Saturday, September 21st and Sunday, September 22nd during normal opening hours.

Simon Anderson from the charity Support Dogs will be here on Saturday, September 21 and Saturday, October 12 from 11am until 3pm with his dogs, Miele and Olga.

  Would you like to get some free advice on how to create interest and colour in your garden this autumn and winter? Come along to our Heathers, Evergreens and Conifers Weekend on September 14 and 15.

Fancy getting creative? Our Craft Centre holds regular clubs and classes for both beginners and experienced crafters.