I’ve just been sent timely details of a  simple but brilliant new product that will help you keep your gutters free of leaves and debris.  Called the hedgehog gutter brush it most closely resembles a continuous length of bottle brush that you install in your gutters (£15 for 4 metre lengths).  Leaves and other debris are deflected by the bristles keeping your gutters clean and flowing. www.hedgehoggutterbrush.com

Pirate Day Hastings

Nothing garden related, but Hastings has comprehensively trounced the previous world record for the most pirates in one place at one time.  Nothing the locals like better than a bit of dressing up with the result that the previous record was beaten by over 4000!

Your blogger was one of 6,200

Forewarned is forearmed  so last month I registered with the website www.potato.org.uk/blight . You put in your postal code and they let you know if there is blight reported in your area.  Earlier this week I received an sms message telling me there had been reports locally, so now I’m keeping a careful eye on my potatoes and will whip off the foliage at the first sign of problems.

Despite steady rain in the morning, the visitors proved themselves to be a hardy lot and by the end of the day over 730 enthusiasts had been to inspect the garden. Gradually the weather improved and eventually the sky was a cloudless blue.  The visitors said many lovely things, a substantial amount of money was raised for the Hospice and we  were happy that our efforts had all been worthwhile.  With our many narrow paths in the garden we again used a one way system which meant that there was none of the damage that happens when people are pushing past one another in different directions. A tip to remember.

Japanese gardeners traditionally keep protect their gardening tools from rust with oil made from the seeds of the camellia.  It leaves a deep, non-oily finish and as it is edible, odourless and tasteless it can also be used on kitchen knives.  Should you have ambitions to be a Sumo wrestler in your spare time it’s what they use on their hair! £6.50 from www.niwaki.com which also supplies fine tools for topiary.