Although the days are shorter there are still jobs to be done in the garden.

Having emptied the containers of summer plants its fun to just go to the garden centre with no preconceived ideas and find some plants at random to make a beautiful display to take you through to spring and perhaps under plant with crocus and small daffodils to give an early splash of colour when spring starts. Another idea for a container is to plant tulip bulb, daffodil and crocus bulbs in layers and then finish the planting with winter pansies and then feed in a few winter pansies into the flower beds to carry the colour through the garden. To stop any containers getting waterlogged raise them on feet that can be bought in the garden centre or find some flat stones. The bulbs will give a succession of joy in the first months of spring. Keep sweeping up leaves especially from lawns and ponds, cut off any leggy stems from roses that will catch the wind and keep deadheading if the frosts have not arrived.

The most important job is to feed the birds and hedgehogs if they can access your garden. Our wildlife needs all the help it can get. Enjoy the beauty of the autumn and perhaps start planning new ideas for your garden in 2022.

The Tidy Gardener

We are all trying to cut down on how many chemicals we are exposed to daily.

If this is your aim, read more to find how the undervalued properties of vinegar can help you in the garden and home.

• REMOVE WEEDS.. Vinegar can be sprayed directly on weeds and tufts of grass in walls and walkways. They will dry up and die in two to three days. Beware it can kill your lawn and make soil infertile.
• REPEL ANTS...Ants hate vinegar. Mix equal amounts of water, spray the solution on any ant hills. White vinegar or apple cider vinegar can be used.
• REPEL GARDEN PESTS. Guess what rodents, moles, cats, dogs, rabbits have in common? They all hate the strong smell of vinegar. Soak a few rags in white vinegar and place them hidden around where vandalism is noticed. Keep re-soaking every week for maximum repellent action. 
• CLEAN CLAY POTS. Gardeners love clay pots. Their natural properties keep soil cool in Summer, allow plants to breathe, and look attractive in all kinds of settings. As clay pots age, they absorb calcium and minerals from water and become discoloured. I like this aged look but you can do the following: Remove any surface dirt from pot then soak it in a container with this mixture ONE CUP five per cent acidity white vinegar to FOUR CUPS of water Quantities used will depend on size of container. The less vinegar the longer you will have to soak the pot /pots. Wipe with cloth and leave to dry before storing or potting up again..
• EXTEND THE LIFE OF CUT FLOWERS…Add TWO table spoons of vinegar and a teaspoon of sugar per litre of water for any cut flowers you want to keep fresh for as long as possible.
• CLEANING.. The non toxic properties of vinegar make it perfect for cleaning the following.. rust from garden tools with neat vinegar, birdbath and bird houses with 25% vinegar to 75% water solution

Perhaps gardeners in the past used vinegar for its medicinal properties. It was used as a poultice for sprains and cuts to alleviate inflammation. Do you remember the nursery rhyme, ‘Jack and Jill’? HE WENT TO BED TO MEND HIS HEAD WITH VINEGAR AND BROWN PAPER … I am not suggesting using it medicinally but there are some great uses for vinegar in the garden and home and you may know more.

So when you next buy vinegar, do not think only of CHIPS.

Happy gardening.

Hazel Wyatt