Taken from Lynne’s weekly column ‘Green Scene’ for the Western Mail
29th June 2019
Duck the Weed
As well as creating tropical growth in our gardens, the recent humid weather has created a determined ‘green bloom’ on one of my client’s ponds. Common duckweed (Lemna minor) is a rapidly spreading aquatic plant that deprives ponds of oxygen and can lead to the death of fish and beneficial algae in still waters.
The invasive weed prefers to grow in older ponds and those in quiet, undisturbed areas; it doesn’t like moving water. The best way of controlling it involves removing it physically with a pond or swimming pool net. I have found it is quite useful to wait for a windy day when the duckweed will often be blown to the edge of the pond. Manual removal alone is not enough to get rid of duckweed, but it can help with reducing the amount. I have also learned that it needs to be repeated.
Duckweed prefers nutrient rich water so if you can prevent autumn leaves blowing in and decaying, that will help in the long run. Another method I have discovered is the introduction of water mint. Introducing a few plants as marginal’s helps reduce the weed forming, but also throwing bunches of cut water mint into the pond, once you have removed as much of the weed as possible, seems to slow down it’s return considerably. Tie the bunches with a stem of water mint too, rather than string or plastic – for obvious reasons.
And for the record, a rather exuberant Westie (see pic) didn’t help the removal at all, but provided excellent entertainment value.
Smart Phones and Smart Soil
I have had a real had ache this week, not because of the oppressive and humid weather but because of my well meaning, geeky, visiting cousin advising me to upgrade my mobile phone.
And all instigated by the fact that as he responded to a reminder from his Apple watch, I was writing my own reminder on the back of my hand with a pen.
I have a good relationship with my phone, (and my cousin, I hasten to add), which has been nurtured over three years. I don’t ask much from it – mainly that it takes photos and sends texts. In return it fits snugly in my pocket and I can use it with one hand. And that’s because it’s an SE (apparently) – the smallest iPhone and one that Apple have stopped making, as ‘everyone wants a thin phone with a big screen.’ No they don’t. I don’t. That’s an ipad.
So despite my well meaning, techy cousin insisting that I need to ‘upgrade’, I flatly refuse unless I can get a phone the same as the one I have. I did the same with my truck. When my last truck ‘rusted through’ I searched high and low for the exact same model. Minus the rust. I know what I like and more importantly I like what I know works.
So imagine my disquiet when I read about the growing (pun intended) trend for ‘Robogardenning’. Yikes.
Apparently technology is creeping into the garden, from smartphone apps that ID plants, to automated lawn mowers (or dog entertainment!), to in-garden wireless monitors that beam soil-nutrition and watering information to the gardener’s gadgets.
The trend toward ‘robogardening’ is headed to new levels with this year’s American launch of a little wheeled robot that weeds the garden for us. Franklin Robotics‘ new Tertill is being called the ‘Roomba for the garden.’ I’d like to see it try in my garden – I don’t think Robocop would stand a chance, let alone ‘Roomba’.
Researchers are also developing robotic bees that pollinate flowers, and plants that glow, with the aim that one day glowing trees could replace streetlights.
Double yikes.
Landscapers and garden designers are increasingly employing drones to shoot overhead images of gardens to aid in designs. I still advise using a bedroom window.
And due to an increased interest in growing herbs, micro-greens, and other small edible plants indoors, numerous kits are available to make it accessible to as many as possible with as little effort as possible
Kits usually include a version of a self-watering pot, seeds, “designer” potting mix, and a built-in lighting system, with one kit even boasting “NASA-inspired smart soil.”
Smart soil? Really?
Back to smart phones and a quote from my brother, “There are too many smart phones and too many stupid people …”
Be Smart – Be There
But there are still smart people about. The owners of Clytha Park, near Abergavenny, when realising that their Garden Open Day fell on Bastille Day, have been ‘tres clever’ and declared their National Garden Scheme Open Day a Bastille Day Special.
Having ‘carte blanche’, they have embraced the theme of tricouleurs and sans-culottes with a touch of gilets jaunes – and yes, I had to Google it too. Helping visitors celebrate France’s national day will be the usual ‘bon vivants’ and stall holders, with ‘cordon bleu’ cream teas and trees bon activities. Even the flowers will be red, white and blue. Sacre bleu!
Clytha Park is situated between Abergavenny and Raglan on the A40 and the garden is open on the 14th July from 2-5pm. Dogs on leads are welcome. No need to RSVP, just come along and contribute to the joie de vive. More details at www.ngs.org.uk/find-a-garden/garden/6875/.
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