Plant Tissue Culture PPT

Winter is quickly approaching, that doesn't mean that all your hard to work has to go to waste, don't let it beat your garden. Keep yours in tip top shape by following these winter gardening tips.

Clean up

For your winter preparation, the first thing to do is remove any weeds and any diseased leaves should be removed from trees and shrubs.

Cut back any perennials in preparation for spring, these should be cut to around 6 to 8 inches above ground.

As winter approaches any annuals need to be dug up and put on the compost heap, as they will be soon past their best.

The Lawn

Fertilise the lawn in preparation for the winter weather. Fertiliser will help your lawn to battle the cold and frost. Using a fertiliser without a herbicide in it, is preferred for winter care and one with nitrogen and slow release is a good choice.

Your lawn will also benefit from the removal of autumn leaves as a build-up of these can smother the lawn. Smothering can create disease conditions and invite insects and other unwanted pests to your garden.

Only mow the lawn if necessary, depending on conditions and temperatures. Do not mow if the lawn is very wet or bad frost is expected.

Winter Mulch

Mulching over the winter protects plants from the drastic temperature changes that winter brings, as it insulates them against the cold. Mulching is best done after the first frost.

Mulch can be made from dried leaves, pine needles, shredded bark. This will provide a good layer of protection. 4 to 6 inches of mulch will be enough.

Mulch can also be used on plants in containers, perfect if you don't have room for them indoors. Cover the soil with a large amount of mulch and wrap the container in bubble-wrap!

Cleaning and storing tools and furniture

Winter is the time to give your tools some TLC. Give your tools a good clean and sharpen and oil if necessary. Store them in a cool dry place during the winter. Garden furniture should also be stored undercover during the winter weather. A weatherproof garden shed is the perfect place to store your gardening items and furniture during the winter, as they will protect your items from the elements. A range of weatherproof metal garden sheds are available from Asgard, just what you need to see you through the winter months.

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With more people getting allotments the need for soil cultivation tools is growing, as is the height of the population. Taller people can greatly benefit from tools made specifically for them as it will make activity easier with less bending.

Are we getting taller as a species?

We have all been in historic houses and cottages and had to stoop to enter through doorways. This shows us the inhabitants were not as tall as we are today. Modern humans are clearly taller than those from the 18th and 19th centuries. In fact, over the last 150 years the average height of people in industrialized nations has increased approximately 10 centimetres or 4 inches.

Nutrition is a key factor and examination of skeletons showed no significant differences in height from the Stone Age through the early 1800s. It has been documented that the heights of vagrant London boys declined from 1780 to 1800 and then rose three inches in just 30 years, an increase that paralleled improving conditions for the poor.

Also, during World Wars I and II, when hunger was common place the heights of the children actually declined but recovered soon after.

Digging Today

For taller people bending while digging over extended periods can be at best uncomfortable and at worst very painful. Tools that have longer handles and allow the taller person to remain more upright are the ideal solution, but not readily available in many high street stores.

Bulldog Tools, made in Wigan, have addressed this problem and produce several ranges of tools to suit the taller person.

Longer Shafted Standard Tools

For soil preparation a basic tool set on allotments will comprise the spade, in the digging or border form, and the fork, also in the digging or border form. The standard shaft length for bulldog and many manufacturers is 28 inches.

Bulldog Tools manufacture all four with 32 inch shaft lengths in the forged Premier range.

Long Handled Tools

Another solution for tall people is the changing of the standard 'D' or 'Y' shaped handle to a straight long handle. These typically are 42 inches to 54 inches long allowing the tallest person to stand upright and work comfortably.

These long handled tools from Bulldog are available in the following forms:-

Spades

Long handled digging spade- the head size is the same as a standard spade with a 48 inch handle

Long handled shrubbery spade- the head is a little smaller than a border spade with a 42 inch handle

Irish digging spade - the shaped head size is larger than a standard spade with 48 or 54 inch handles

West Country digging spade - the shaped head size is larger than a standard spade with a 54 inch handle

Forks

Long handled shrubbery fork- the head is smaller than a border fork with a 42 inch handle

Rakes and Hoes

The standard hoe or rake handle is 54 inches in length and can easily be replaced with a longer one if required. Straight handles up to 72 inches can be purchased and provide some extra handle length for the taller person when hoeing or raking allotment plot beds.

In Summary

Taller people need not suffer while on the allotment, a range of tools that are perfectly adapted to an upright stance are available and will make the more energetic aspects of cultivation more of a pleasure than a chore.

Author: Ray Richardson
See the range of Tools for Tall People- here
MyAllotmentPlot - Your one stop shop for information and allotment supplies
http://www.myallotmentplot.co.uk/

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