I like my trees!

As I write this article we are getting drowned on again!

I mean I know that we should be watering our gardens, and evergreen trees and shrubs until it freezes. But for goodness sake I'm wet through!!

Been looking at my trees today.

I've been pruning my elms and oaks and as my pines get older I think they are shedding more -a bit like yours truly to be honest!

With those strong winds last week, I had a load of damaged branches that needed to be cleaned up and removed. The problem is that breaks in the branches allows insect and disease to get into them. That's why the broken portions should be properly pruned to branch collars or other appropriate points.

Trees are important you know - and I don't think we take too much care of ours in this country. Certainly I seem to be surrounded by people who see a tree as an opportunity to take out their axes and chainsaws.

But look after your trees and they'll look after you!

A cold 'un!

By the left it's nippy out there!!

I've just come back in from a little session and I can hardly feel my fingers.

With winter well and truly on its way - another frost this morning, I decided to sort out a couple of fruit trees in the garden. You see I used to get a bit of bother from caterpillars - the little buggers used to lay their eggs on the branches and that plays havoc with the foliage, blossom and fruit in the spring.

Then I found a cracking way to spike their fun!

I just apply some glue and grease bands to the trunks of the trees - and that sorts them. You can buy ready-to-use glue or grease bands from your local garden centre - and it really does the trick.

I've also been out giving my roses a last once-over - cutting the climbers back and tieing in any growing tips. Finally, after a bit of nagging from the long-suffering I finally got round to lagging my greenhouse. The boss at Rootgrow let me 'borrow' a whole load of bubble wrap and that should save me a bob or two on my heating bills!

Mind you, there ain't no such thing as a free lunch with old Septic Knuckles - he'll probably squeeeze an hour or two extra out of me for the privelege!!