ALTHOUGH I don’t have any hedges at Spring Cottage, because my garden is surrounded by low stone walls, I know how valuable they’ve been in my previous gardens. The long beech hedge I once had was a refuge for birds in winter, and goldfinches always nested there in late spring and summer. Insect-eating birds fed there in the warmer months as well.
The best year for birds coincided with an invasion of woolly beech blight aphid, Grylloprociphilus imbricator. This tiny insect produces waxy, white fluff in warmer months, so it was noticeable, and it caused panic among villagers because many had never seen it before. Most opted to spray with an insecticide and killed all the insects at once and many, like the ladybirds, would have helped them out. I stood back and watched lots of insect-eating birds, including dunnocks, robins and thrushes, clear it away; far more effective than any insecticide.
Bu hikaye Amateur Gardening dergisinin February 13, 2021 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Amateur Gardening dergisinin February 13, 2021 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
To dig or not to dig?
Should we be carrying out a full dig on plots now? Bob considers the pros and cons of the 'autumn dig' debate
The box ball blues
As if his beleaguered box hadn't already taken a beating, Toby now has to deal with some hungry box caterpillars
Save your own seeds
Masterclass on: seed saving
Strange sightings
Three unusual insects turn up in Val's garden in one day
A bolt from the blue!
Cornflowers are perfect for garden and vase
Winter moth prevention
Ruth shows you how to avoid maggoty tree fruits
Create a winter container
There are as many options as in summer
Lightweight gardening tools
AS well as being good for our mental health, gardening is also great exercise.
Autumn price round-up
AG finds better bargains in lesser-known brands
Rudbeckias
Rudbeckias are ideal for sunny summer patios and borders, with some able to survive our coldest winters