NATIONAL GARDEN EXHIBITION CENTRE COUNTY WICKLOW

For more information http://www.gardenexhibition.ie/


Horticultural.

CLEAN DRIVEWAY

I have a shady asphalt driveway and moss is building up on the surface. How can I get rid of it without using chemicals?

Reply
A pressure washer could be used but you might find that it does more damage to the asphalt surface. Jeyes fluid could be used too but it’s a petrochemical product and will kill anything else in the area! The safest and most environmentally sound idea would be to mix a 50-50 solution of white vinegar and water. Spay on the affected area and a week or so later use a stiff brush to clean up.

Environmental,horticultural.

LIME SULPHER

Would lime sulphur be a good organic alternative to spray on my fruit trees?

Reply
Lime sulphur is believed to be the earliest synthetic chemical used as a pesticide and is used in organic gardening. It is sold as a spray for deciduous trees to control fungi bacteria and insects living or dormant on the surface of the bark. Lime sulpher burns leaves so it is not as useful for evergreen plants (It also burns skin too! So use with extreme caution with full protecive clothing). If you do use it then it needs to be applied in the dormant period.

Horticultural.

LICHEN

Photo: Lichen growing on the rocks at Linsfort beach

It looks as though we should get a bumper harvest of our fruit crops this year. I have seen currant bushes, and all manner of fruit trees falling over with fruit. If you have planted fruit trees this year keep an eye on them to make sure that they are well supported and the roots have plenty of water.

I have some pear trees and they are covered with a silvery growth. What is this and will it damage my crop?

Reply
The silvery growth is lichen. Lichens covers about 8% of the earth's surface. There are about 30,000 species known in the world and between five and ten new lichens are discovered in Ireland and the UK each year. They are important to us because they are part of the nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur cycles and they are also vital in the early stages of soil formation. The fact that you have them on your tree is a sure indication that we have clean air around us on the peninsula. They will do no damage to your crop.

Environmental.

HOUSEHOLD TOP TIPS

FRIDGE SMELLS
To get rid of unpleasant smells in the fridge, put a saucerful of charcoal left over from the barbeque onto a shelf overnight. The small will be gone in the morning

STOCK CUBES
Store stock cubes in the fridge and they will be far easier to crumble.

Household

EPA

EPA LAUNCHES 24-HOUR PHONE SERVICE

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled details of a confidential telephone service designed to encourage reporting of illegal dumping of waste or of abandoned illegal dumps. As part of a campaign entitled ‘Dump the Dumpers’ members of the public can report illegal dumping via a 24 hour lo-call telephone number 1850 365 121. Local authorities, the gardaí and the EPA will follow up on the information provided by the public, as appropriate.
The focus of the campaign will be to identify large scale dumping sites that may still be operational or any remaining abandoned illegal dumps. However, the new phone service will also allow members of the public to report larger fly-tipping activities such as sites used for habitual fly-tipping of waste, which have become a scourge of many rural communities in particular. The ‘Dump the Dumpers’ campaign is the latest initiative by the Environmental Enforcement Network, which includes the EPA, all local authorities, the Gardaí and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The service compliments current local authority litter phone lines, which are being actively used by the public to report littering and small-scale fly-tipping activities.The ‘Dump the Dumpers’ campaign is being launched on a pilot basis for six months. A national and regional press and radio campaign will support it over the coming

Environmental.