And so the rains came at last. But, that's enough. I reckon we have had our fair share of rain now and the ground in some places is about as wet as it can be. My lawn has a fair slope on it and the lowest part is almost too wet to tread on, although I did have a chance to get the mower over it last week - but the worm casts left some rather unattractive muddy patches after the mower rear roller had flattened them. Still, the lawn did look better for the cut. The leaves are now beginning at last to look a little on the Autumnal side and the leaves on the Maples in my garden are beginning to turn a wonderful shade of bronze; it won't be too many days before the leaves are all down. A cold snap overnight will remind us that summer is well and truly over. Plant of the week: Thuja Plicata 'Stoneham Gold'
 | | Thuja Plicata 'Stoneham Gold' |
'Stoneham Gold' is a little known Conifer but to me is one of the best smaller Conifers available. This type will grow no more than 2 metres in about ten years. The inside of the plant is almost black green and the outside is a lovely orange yellow tinged with bronze at the tips. Try it, and it won't disappoint. Lawn treatment The lawn can be attended to now if it's not too wet to work on. An Autumn granular Weed and Feed should be distributed over the whole area to boost the grasses and eradicate the ground cover weeds that have plagued the lawn this summer. The feed will strengthen the grass and smother the weeds as it makes a last burst of growth before winter. Most Weed and Feeds also contain a Moss killer and when the Moss looks brown just lightly rake over the area with a wire rake to remove the dead Moss and thatch. This by the way can be put on the compost heap or used to line winter hanging baskets. Once the thatch has been removed the lawn should be spiked using either a garden fork for small areas or a mechanical aerator for larger lawns. If you don't own one then they are cheap to hire for a day or two from the local hire centre. Once spiked the grasses will benefit not only from being better drained but by getting the air down to the root system where much of the active growth is made during the next few months. Conifers for a small garden Now is a good time to plant Conifers and, contrary to popular belief, Conifers can be some of the most rewarding and colourful shrubs in the garden. My four favorites are:
 | | Picea Mariana 'Nana' |
- ABIES BALSAMEA 'HUDSONIANA' - a very prostrate form with glossy green foliage, great in rock gardens.
- CRYPTOMERIA JAPONICA 'VILMORINIANA' - with tight packed foliage which is quite congested in growth, and although the green is very vibrant in the summer the foliage turns to a rich purple in winter.
- JUNIPERUS COMMUNIS 'COMPRESSA' - a tight conical bush which makes a great carpet especially if planted in threes.
- PICEA MARIANA 'NANA' - better known as Black Spruce, forms a tight congested ball of green blue, the blue being more predominant in summer. This a very hardy form.
Take cuttings of your favourite shrubs such as Fuchsia, Pyracantha, Choicya, Abelia, Cotoneaster and many more by cutting sections in 40cm lengths, pushing into pots of multi purpose potting compost with a little sharp sand, then placing the pots in a sheltered place where they can get a little rain from time to time. The healthy cuttings should have rooted by spring and will be ready then for potting on into larger pots then. Happy gardening! | 
