Alcohol in August?

August was the coldest recorded here in Ireland for 25 years and also a very dry month with rainfall well below average. We seem to be already seeing a start to autumn here in the grounds, with certain trees showing early colour.

The herbaceous borders are starting to fade in places and we are dead heading and tidying as required. Overall it has been a good show this year and we are very pleased.

It’s the time of year for pruning hedges, mulching beds and general tidying up in the vegetable garden. We have been cutting back our old raspberry and loganberry canes and tying in the new ones for next years crop. We have dug up the last of the potatoes. Lifted shallots, garlic and onions and planted out brassicas and leeks. Now is the time to sow spinach, winter lettuce and rocket to take you through to the autumn.

Late summer is the right time for taking a lot of shrub cuttings and we are starting to look at propagating some of our more unusual specimens. It makes sense to have some ‘up and coming’ stock plants to replace possible winter losses.

It’s also the time of year for wine making! The wild blackberries on the estate have been combined with some pears (generously donated by an interested acquaintance) to make a few litres of mixed fruit wine. Next it’s the Black Hamburg grapes. Reports to follow!