Right tool for job essential in the garden

Paul has become well known to members and always provides us with an interesting and topical evening with lots of useful information about caring for our gardens and plants.

He concentrated this time on how important it is to take care of our garden tools and having the right tool for the right job. Secateurs are a good example.

Always buy the best quality you can afford, preferable with blades which can be sharpened as well as replaced and always clean them with turps after use.

This will stem the spread of any disease. Never overstretch the cutting area of the tool you use, as this could damage the plant, the tool and your muscles.

For example, hand-held secateurs should only be used to cut a branch about the size of your small finger, and for long-handled secateurs a branch about three-quarters of an inch in diameter.

Paul had devised a useful tool comprising a stick of Hazel with a hooked end to pull branches down, thus making them a more manageable height for pruning.

That and the use of the long handled loppers with the swivel head help to save the strain on one's back '“ let the tools do the work.

The blades on a pruning saw cannot be sharpened and will probably need replacing each year, again cleaning with turps is essential to stop re-infection.

Sometimes we can be too drastic when we cut back our trees and shrubs, remember they can grow back at a ratio of five to one, Paul tends to favour the art of Tree Bending, encouraging branches by simple manipulation to arch downwards, this can often result in improved flowering, in fact some fruit trees grown in this way have achieved 40per cent more yield.

To slow down the growth rate simply score around the surface of the stem or branch with secateurs, and of course root pruning is a very effective way to controlthe growth of things like Bay and conifers.

The Autumn colours this year have been particularly stunning, don't be too hasty to tidy up and cut down, as plants covered with the frosts we are promised can look very beautiful.

Well that was our last meeting of2007 so we would like to thank all members and visitors for their support and to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and Good Health and good Fortune in 2008.

Next time we get together will be on Thursday 24th January for Members evening when we will be holding a charity auction. Please bring along your own drinks and glasses, nibbles will be provided. Our meetings are always held in Jubilee Hall Chalcraft Lane North Bersted. Annual membership is 5 with entrance fee of I per meeting. Everyone welcome.