Divide congested clumps of bearded iris after flowering. Dead head bedding plants, roses and herbaceous plants to encourage more flowers. Trim evergreen hedges, including conifers. Feed dahlias and cannas every two weeks with a high potassium fertilizer, such as tomato feed. Prune early-summer flowering shrubs, such as Philadelphus, once they have finished flowering. Cut back flowered growth to a strong lower shoot and thin out up to a fifth of old, woody stems.
Cut back hardy geraniums and delphiniums to ground level after they have had their first flush of flowers to encourage new foliage and more flowers later in the year. Feed after cutting back.
Pinch out climbing beans when they reach the top of their supports. Water courgettes consistently so they continue to crop well and keep picking them to encourage new ones to grow. Keep tomatoes well watered to prevent blossom end rot.
Clear ponds of algae and blanket weed.
Continue mowing lawns, but raise height if we still have a drought. Newly turfed and seeded lawns need to be kept watered
You advise : Trim evergreen hedges, including conifers, I would beg to differ…
As I expect you know wildlife numbers are falling dramatically, birds numbers are in decline and small mammals, like hedgehogs need our help right now. Cutting hedges too early can impact on our wildlife.
So we gardeners need to help them by NOT trimming our trees and hedges too early. Often people think that as soon as ‘Springwatch’ is over it is time to prune their hedges, this is not the case. So I suggest that to help wildlife you could offer different advice.
I would suggest that it is much better to leave trimming evergreen hedges including conifers until August or September, that way the wildlife, birds, insects and hedgehogs are left undisturbed. We started trimming our choisya back the other day and found a young robin taking shelter under the leaves. We always cut our conifer hedge around August or September and it lasts the whole year. Below is advice from the RSPB and a link to the website.
See advice from the RSPB:
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/gardening-for-wildlife/plants-for-wildlife/garden-hedges/hedge-law/#:~:text=Regardless%20of%20ownership%2C%20no%2Done,branches%20which%20overhang%20your%20boundary.
This is advice from the RSPB:
1.Regardless of ownership, no-one can trim or cut a hedge if the action damages active birds’ nests, and hence violates the Wildlife and Countryside Act. If tall hedges or trees put your garden in the shade, you can cut off branches which overhang your boundary.
2. There are certain laws regarding hedge trimming and cutting which you should be aware of to ensure there is no damage to active bird nests.
Hedge trimming and cutting – the law
Some mature hedgerows are protected by law but this wouldn’t normally apply to garden hedges.
We recommend avoiding hedge cutting during the main breeding season for nesting birds, which usually runs throughout March to August each year. This can be weather dependent and some birds may nest outside this period, so it is important to always check carefully for active nests prior to cutting.
It is an offence under Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981 to intentionally take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built, or to intentionally kill, injure or take chicks or adults, or intentionally take or destroy any eggs.
It is an intentional act, for example, if you or your neighbour know there is an active nest in the hedge and still cut the hedge, damaging or destroying the nest or contents in the process.
If someone is cutting a hedge during this period, speak to them and politely mention the risk to birds’ nests, and the laws protecting nests. If they proceed, and you know there is an active nest at risk, contact the police on 101, and ask for a reference number.
If you are unsure what to do, contact RSPB Wildlife Enquiries on: 01767 693690.
Note: The Police have the responsibility for enforcing this legislation and the RSPB do not enforce the law on these cases. We can provide advice to the Police where appropriate.
3. The value of hedgerows for wildlife: Hedgerows provide food and shelter for many species. Because they often link small woods, they are essential corridors along which wildlife can travel.
4. Hedgerows provide A diverse habitat for wildlife:
See website: https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/conservation/conservation-and-sustainability/advice/conservation-land-management-advice/farm-hedges/the-value-of-hedgerows-for-wildlife/
Hedges may support up to 80 per cent of our woodland birds, 50 per cent of our mammals and 30 per cent of our butterflies. The ditches and banks associated with hedgerows provide habitat for frogs, toads, newts and reptiles.
In areas with few woods, many species of birds depend on hedgerows for their survival.
At least 30 species nest in hedgerows. Many of these, such as bullfinches and turtle doves, prefer hedgerows more than 4m tall, with lots of trees, whereas whitethroats, linnets and yellowhammers favour shorter hedgerows (2–3m) with fewer trees. Dunnocks, lesser whitethroats and willow warblers prefer medium or tall hedgerows with few trees.
Wrens, robins, dunnocks and whitethroats usually nest low down, but song thrushes, blackbirds, chaffinches and greenfinches nest well above the ground level. Grey partridges use grass cover at the hedge bottom to nest. It is therefore very important to manage for a range of hedge heights and tree densities and to maintain a grassy verge at the base of the hedge.
Grassy hedge bottoms and field margins provide nesting material and insect larvae for chicks to feed on. Wild flowers and grasses growing up into a hedge also help to conceal nests from predators. In winter, hedgerows can be feeding and roosting sites for resident birds and winter visitors such as fieldfares and redwings.
Which hedgerows are best for wildlife?
Thick hedges with wide bases that provide plenty of cover are best but there should be a variety of shapes and sizes from shaped hedgerows to lines of woods. Hedgerows with large numbers of woody species hold more birds. Trees, particularly oaks, support a rich variety of insects and are good song posts. Old trees have holes where blue tits, owls and kestrels, as well as bats, can nest.
Dead timber is also a rich source of insect food and should be left in the hedge unless it is unsafe. The greater the variety of shrubs and trees, the better. Different species flower at different times, providing nectar over a longer period, and so will support more insects. They will also supply a variety of berries over a long period.
See website: https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/conservation/conservation-and-sustainability/advice/conservation-land-management-advice/farm-hedges/the-value-of-hedgerows-for-wildlife/
5. Perhaps you could also give advice to help protect hedgehogs: Strimmers can kill and maim hedgehogs
The Hedgehog street Website gives lots of useful advice, so if you could promote that too it would be great: Hedgehog street tips: Help hedgehogs in your neighbourhood:
Follow our top ten tips to help hedgehogs: According to the State of Britain’s Hedgehogs 2022 report, urban hedgehog populations appear to be stabilising and showing signs of recovery, following decades of decline. This highlights the importance of gardens and green spaces, and local action, in ensuring a future for hedgehogs.
There are plenty of simple ways to help hedgehogs in our gardens and greenspaces. The best place to start is to follow our top tips for a hedgehog-friendly garden.
see website: https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/help-hedgehogs/
6. Link your garden: Ensuring hedgehogs can pass freely through your garden is the most important thing you can do to help them: https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/help-hedgehogs/link-your-garden/
============
7. Dangers for Hedgehogs: Strimmers: See this article about strimmers:
Hedgehog Champion Dylan’s campaign success 7th May 2022
15-year-old Hedgehog Champion Dylan has been working tirelessly for the last two years to raise awareness of our struggling hedgehogs. His incredible efforts include creating the below award winning film, giving community talks, rescuing hogs and fundraising for his local rescue, all alongside his school work! He has also raised the matter of strimmers:
Power products: Sadly every spring and summer hedgehog rescues all over the UK report horrific injuries and even fatalities caused by garden strimmers and lawnmowers. Dylan decided he wanted to do something about this, encouraging companies to place hedgehog aware stickers on equipment. He contacted Genpower Ltd, a UK distributor of Hyundai Power Products, who have agreed to include ‘Hedgehog Aware’ stickers on their lawnmowers and strimmers.
See website: https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/dylans-campaign-success/
==========
8. Other Garden hazards for hedgehogs including garden ponds and netting:
See website: https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/garden-hazards/
1. Ponds & swimming pools
Hedgehogs are good swimmers but they often drown through sheer exhaustion as they are unable to get out of ponds or swimming pools. If you have a garden pond, make sure at least one side slopes gently to allow any hedgehog to get out, or you can form a ramp out of chicken wire or something similar to create an escape route. With swimming pools, ensure they are either securely covered or that there is an exit ramp for any hedgehog who may fall in. Make sure that ponds and pools are checked on a daily basis.
2. Bonfires: Any pile of wood or brush is going to be an attractive prospect for a hedgehog looking for somewhere dry and cosy to make a nest for sleeping or for hibernation. Check any piles of wood or garden refuse for a nesting hedgehog before burning.
3. Netting: Due to their spines and their tendency to curl up, hedgehogs are very prone to getting tangled up in netting. This can lead to the netting acting like a snare causing damage, sometimes fatal, to the hedgehog. Make sure any unused netting (including sports netting) is stored off the ground and that pea netting is high enough from the ground to allow hedgehogs to pass under safely. On the website there is a photograph: Hedgehog caught in netting by Hedgehog Champion Penny Oakley from Staffordshire
[See also: RSPCA website about Netting and Wildlife including hedgehogs:
https://www.rspca.org.uk/-/news-tangled-fox-cub
4. Chemicals: Slug pellets are the most well-known chemical hazard to hedgehogs. However, other pesticides are also thought to affect hedgehogs; herbicides can lead to a decrease in the number of earthworms in lawns resulting in less food for hedgehogs and other insecticides can reduce the amount of other invertebrates available for the hedgehogs to eat. Wood preservers can also be harmful to hedgehogs as they will often lick freshly treated fences. Try to use a water-based environmentally friendly treatment instead. See website: https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/garden-hazards/
===============
9. For more information see Frequently asked questions:
https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/help-hedgehogs/faqs/?utm_campaign=Hedgehog%20Street%20Champions%20enews%20May%2022&utm_source=emailCampaign&utm_content=&utm_medium=email
NOTE 1: PTES has lots of information about habitats for wildlife:
See: Key species and habitats: https://ptes.org/campaigns/
PTES: Peoples Trust for endangered Species say: We focus where the need is greatest and where we can have the most impact. These animals and habitats can often be overlooked but they’re vital for a healthy environment. https://ptes.org/campaigns/
NOTE 2: PTES: Wild Places: Some habitats contain such a richness of life that we need to protect them at all odds. We are working to preserve ancient woodlands, orchards and wood pastures and parklands, as well as the countless species they support. See Website: https://ptes.org/wild-places/
============
10. Wildlife Trust says: How to make a hedge for wildlife: Hedges provide important shelter and protection for wildlife, particularly nesting birds and hibernating insects. Hedges are a better choice of boundary for wildlife than fences or walls, especially if native trees and shrubs are used. Hedges allow wildlife to move about between gardens and other spaces, and provide feeding and breeding opportunities. Hedges offer food in the form of leaves, nectar-rich flowers, berries, fruits, seeds and nuts, and are also good hunting grounds for predators seeking insects and other invertebrates. They make natural windbreaks, creating sheltered areas in the garden, which is particularly important for butterflies. They also create areas of shade, increasing the range of habitats within the garden for wildlife and people! Informal hedges and trees are better than those that are regularly clipped; for instance, hawthorn, holly and privet will produce few or no flowers and berries if kept trim. see website for more information:
https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-make-hedge-wildlife
===========
Please include more tips for gardeners that help them do better gardening for wildlife.
Please do get in touch if you would like further information
Many best wishes
Chris
Chris Lassam
chris.lassam@tiscali.co uk