Do it!: Jobs for the week

Sunday Mirror, Aug 3, 2008

EASY

FEED tomatoes (right) with a high-potash tomato fertiliser. When small tomatoes have developed on the fourth truss remove the tip at two leaves above the truss.

USING sharp shears, lightly trim lavender hedges taking care not to cut into the older wood.

CUT gladioli for indoor use as soon as the first flowers on the spike are open. But leave at least four leaves on the plant otherwise the corm will fail to flower next year.

EFFORT

PICK ripe flower seed heads (right) on a dry day and store in paper bags until they are ready to be shed. Separate the seeds from any dirt and chaff then package in labelled envelopes and keep in an airtight tin until ready to sow.

PICK off faded fuchsia flowers - if they fruit they will stop flowering. Feed plants with a high potash fertiliser to encourage more blooms, which will last until the frosts.

LIFT and divide large clumps of bearded iris that are more than four years old.

TOUGH

PRUNE blackcurrants (right) when all the fruit has been picked. Cut out branches that have fruited to make way for new growth that will bear next year's crop.

IF the compost bin mix is too wet mix in woody material such as shredded shrub prunings and cabbage stalks. If the mix is dry, lightly water and add a handful of nitrogen fertiliser.

CUT back perennial shoots overhanging the lawn and replace any worn edges with paving.