OCTOBER NEWSLETTER
(Click here for our September newsletter.)

At last I have managed to plant out the bulbs and pansies etc and can hopefully put the garden to bed for the winter. All my tender plants are safely tucked up in the cold frame and greenhouse until the start of next season and I can sit in the warm indoors planning for next year's plants and seeds. Gardening never ends does it, but we are nearly always repaid with a wonderful display that makes you feel it is all worthwile.

Bloom of the Month
The winner of September's bloom was Irene Lonsdale with her Kaffir Lily.

GardenTips of the Month
Make sure you remove and burn all diseased leaves from the garden, especially rose leaves that have blackspot. The spores from the dead leaves will remain in the soil otherwise and affect your roses again next year.
Put up sticky grease bands on fruit trees to protect them from female winter moths. Tree stakes will also need grease-banding if they provide a route up into the branches.
Sow overwintering broad beans. Cover the trench with fleece or cloches to provide insulation in colder areas, as well as protection from pigeons.
Finish planting autumn onion sets for a crop in early to mid-summer next year.

General
A local lady has been in touch with me who has a compost bin approximately 30 inches x 28 inches and 32inches in height. She is offering it free to any member of the club, but you will have to collect the bin. The bin can be dismantled into sections quite easily. If you are interested please let me know.

Next Meeting
Our next meeting will be held on Thursday 26th November and will be our ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. We will try to keep the business part of the evening as short as possible and there will be a buffet supper and entertainment. If you would like to bring along something for the buffet it will be greatly appreciated. This will be our last meeting for 2009 and meetings will start again on Thursday 25th February 2010. Speaker to be advised.

Out and About.
Lawsbrook, Brodham Way, Shillingstone: 6 acres with over 200 tree species, varied and spectacular autumn colour. Relaxed and friendly - Sunday and Monday 1st and 2nd November (10-2) Open for the first time for the NGS. Admission £3.50
Click here for the "yellow book" of gardens to visit, online. It covers the whole of the U.K.

If you require any information on the above, Please contact our club secretary at secretary@lmugc.org.uk