Episode 19: Malvern Autumn Flower Show & Gardening Jobs for October

Episode 19: Malvern Autumn Flower Show & Gardening Jobs for October

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Download: Episode 19: Malvern Autumn Flower Show & Gardening Jobs for October
File Size: 14.5 MB, Duration: 31' 13"

In this month’s edition of the podcast we review the 2014 Malvern Autumn Flower show. We also look at seasonal gardening jobs to do in the garden during the month of October and a selection of plants that look good in the garden at this time of year.

Review of the Malvern Autumn Flower Show - 01' 33"

  • No show garden, but lots of of shopping opportunities
  • Impressive fruit and vegetable displays!!
  • Nerine; member of the Amaryllid family (Agapanthus, Allium and Daffodils)
  • Heaviest UK cabbage 56.4kg beating the 1988 UK record
  • World's longest ever beetroot at 6.673m
  • Interview with Luke Whiting from D'Arcy and Everest, specialists in alpines

Plant of the Month - 16' 55"

Our plant of the month for October is Euonymus europaeus ‘Red Cascade’.

  • Euonyme was the Mother of The Furies in Greek mythology
  • Common Name: its wood was traditionally used for making spindles
  • Hardy, deciduous shrub from Europe
  • Likes full sun or partial shade
  • Height up to 3m, spread 2.5m
  • Average growth rate,10-20 years for maturity
  • Flowers: small, yellow-green, May & June
  • Foliage: oval, dark green leaves turn bright red in autumn
  • Fruit: rose-pink, winged fruit 2cm, which remain into winter adding continued interest
  • Soil: any well drained soil
  • RHS Award of Garden Merit
  • All parts harmful if ingested
  • Maintenance: prune young plants in mid to late spring to encourage bushy growth and apply a generous mulch of manure or well-rotted garden compost around its base

Jobs in the Garden - 19' 33"

  • Plant a Hedge
    • Many hedging plants are available to purchase as bare root plants during the autumn months. This makes planting a new hedge at this time of year cheaper than at other times of the year when only container grown plants are available.
    • Prepare the site carefully for a new hedge, dig in plenty of well-rotted manure or compost into the planting trench.
    • Take note of recommended distances between plants; the closer the plants are together the quicker the hedge will fill out. If you want a thick hedge, consider staggering the planting in a zig-zag formation effectively making the hedge two plants wide.
    • If you are happy to, use native hedging plants in your garden to encourage wildlife in to your garden.
    • Water the hedge well, especially during the first year of establishment.
  • Autumn Lawn Treatment
    • The autumn is a good time to scarify a lawn, removing thatch and moss from the grass.
    • Scarification allows the healthy grass shoots to thrive and encourages good air ventilation around the root zone.
    • Autumn lawn treatment can also be applied this month. Specially formulated, autumn lawn treatments are different to those used during the spring and summer because the priority is on strong root growth and development instead of the lush foliage growth aim of the spring and summer treatments.
  • Continue Spring Bulb Planting
    • Spring flowering bulbs should be planted in the autumn whilst the soil is still frost free and workable.
    • Some bulbs can cope better with wet winter soil than others. So refer to the planting instructions and if free draining soil is required add grit into the planting hole and around the crowns of the bulbs. Spread a net over garden ponds to catch falling leaves
  • Lift and divide congested herbaceous perennials, keep the vigorous outer shoots
  • Lift and store tender bulbs e.g. Gladioli
  • Plant bare rooted plants e.g. roses, raspberries
  • Start to move tender pot grown plants into frost free greenhouses or conservatories
  • Plant up hanging baskets and tubs with hardy autumn and winter bedding
  • Start to clear up autumn leaf fall
  • Lightly fork over borders so that they absorb autumn rainfall quickly and efficiently
  • Dead-heading
  • Regular lawn mowing (raise the height of cut in very dry weather)
  • Trim border edges

In the Vegetable Garden - 24' 43"

  • Sow seeds inside of: Lettuce.
  • Sow seeds outside of: Radish.
  • Harvest: Beetroot, Carrots, Swiss chard, Spinach, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Brussels sprouts, Turnips, Lettuce, Sweetcorn, Runner Beans, Tomatoes, Courgette, Swede, French Beans, Aubergine, Peppers, Leeks, Cucumber, Pumpkins and Radish.

Plants of Note - 25' 23"

Two plants that we felt were worthy of note for this month are:

Amelanchier lamarkii

  • Also known as Snowy mespilus
  • Hardy deciduous small tree or shrub
  • Average growth rate
  • 10m tall, 10m spread
  • Full sun or partial shade
  • Soil: fertile, moist but well-drained neutral to acid soil
  • Flowers: snowy White star-shaped, March & April
  • Fruits: redish purple fruits liked by birds
  • Foliage: bronze tinged leaves maturing to orange and red in autumn
  • RHS Award of Garden Merit
  • Generally pest free

Cotinus ‘Grace’

  • Large, Hardy deciduous shrub
  • Vigorous, fast growth rate
  • 6m tall, 5m spread
  • Full sun
  • Soil: moderately-fertile, moist, well-drained soil
  • Flowers: tiny purple/pink in frothy plumes looking like smoke, July & August
  • Foliage: large 10cm long, oval, rich purple turning red in autumn
  • Maintenance: early spring remove any diseased or crossing branches. After pruning apply a generous mulch of well-rotted garden compost or manure around its base

Forthcoming Garden and Flower Shows - 28' 27"

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