Patios are for sitting out

In the past few months we have spent a lot of time sitting on our small patio, once the heat has gone from the day. There we enjoy a cooling drink and look around at leisure at our favourite plants and also look at the activity of our feathered friends, which become more active as we become less so.

The patio faces east and shade is provided against the setting sun in the west by the house. At other times of the day shade is provided by Golden Palms, MacArthur palms, tall Ficus, large crotons, and monstera. Sma1l foliage plants such as calathea, orchids and ferns give a sort of jungle effect to this relatively small area.

Every few hours the concrete and the ground around the plants have cans of water poured on them to cool things down and create a buoyant effect for the plants, for it is a fact that such areas dry out very quickly in our climate. This is essential as during the day plants which are allowed to dry will die in the heat we have.

Ferns and orchids grown close together help to provide each other with the right kind of environment. The ferns particularly cut down the loss of water to the atmosphere because of the shade their foliage casts, and this humidity is enjoyed by the orchids and other rainforest plants. Warmth, humidity and a certain amount of shade work their magic. Of this there is little doubt.

Patios are for sitting out, and everyone has their own preference regarding patio furniture. The wooden bench I bought some years ago is now showing distinct signs of wear and tear in spite of regular coatings of linseed oil. The plastic chairs which I bought at the same time and which I tired of very quickly are still in residence though used only rarely, when we embark on a barbeque.

Eventually we will have to extend the patio, which is proving to be too small. It’s all rather like yachtsmen – always wanting a boat three feet longer than the one they have.

As a matter of routine I have the plants in the garden fed every two or three weeks, and perhaps more frequently during the rains as fertilizer gets washed out of the ground very quickly with our rain intensity. I also have the pot plants top dressed with fresh compost after teasing away the old soil around the top of the pot to make room for the new.

Sitting out on the patio regularly I have observed that weeds are noticed quite easily, and it is absolutely no effort to pull them out. The patio has become one of the cleanest parts of the garden.

We also tend to notice pests and diseases more quickly and treat them.

My cattleyas nearby also enjoy being syringed regularly to deter red spider mite. In fact, any plant which has red spider mite should be sprayed with tepid water. It’s a great cure for red spider mite.

Throughout the year, Georgetown and its surrounds get something of the order of two tonnes of rain a year per square yard, and bright sunshine nearly every day of the year. I seem to do a great deal of pruning this month, so I thought it might be a good idea just to state some of the principles I use for general guidance.

In pruning any tree or shrub there are three main objects:

(1) to promote healthy growth of young wood, particularly in young trees;

(2) to create a desirable shape. This means a well balanced plant to allow air and light to circulate throughout keeping it healthy.

(3) and lastly to increase flowering and fruiting by cutting out or by cutting back old and weak shoots. More on pruning later. Meanwhile take care and may your God go with you.