Post-holiday priorities

Ruth gets her garden back in shape after a break to new growth

- Ruth Hayes eek

WE had a week’s holiday away from home last month and the combination of (relative) summer warmth and thundery showers turned the garden into a jungle by the time we returned.

The lawns were lush, the beds a tangle, weeds were rampant and there were signs that pests and diseases had taken advantage of our short absence to make inroads into our plants.

Not only that, but we had forgotten to shape after a break net the currants and raspberries before we left and the blackbirds had tucked in with gusto!

So what tasks should you prioritise on your return from a much-needed holiday?

Pests and diseases are the obvious starting point, because left unchecked they will spread. Some of our greenhouse tomatoes are showing signs of virus so sadly they will have to go, and I’ve used an organic bug spray to deal with the infestations of blackfly on our beans.

Plant viruses

A devastating problem