gardening tips Tag

27 Oct

Posted at 11:34h in Tips
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October brings beautiful crisp blue skies framed by fiery coloured falling autumn leaves – the perfect backdrop for mid-autumn garden maintenance. The last of the cool sunny days are the ideal time to harvest your remaining crops and prepare your greenhouse for the colder months. As November arrives with windier and wetter weather, protecting your garden against the elements becomes the priority. This article is divided into several sections:       General garden maintenance jobs       Protecting and planting flowers       Harvesting, growing and storing autumn vegetables       Preparing berries and fruit trees for cooler months       Reflecting and forward-planning   Use the entire piece as your autumn garden companion or jump to the areas most relevant to you.   Garden Maintenance Jobs for October and November Give Your Greenhouse an Autumn Clean Greenhouses provide the perfect refuge for your more tender plants over winter, but it’s crucial to keep the area pest and fungi-free. With summer’s bounty well behind us, your greenhouse will probably have ample space come October. Make the most of the extra room to give your greenhouse a thorough clean. A horticultural disinfectant that is antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral will help clear your greenhouse of any unwanted pest that may cause problems in future crops. A deep clean will also clear the glass of any grime and let more light in – essential over the darker winter months. For the same reason, take down any shading that you currently have in place. When you begin to move plants inside, make sure not to undo all your hard work. Check your plants for pests such as aphids and remove any dead or decaying matter. Try to organise them with ample space and good ventilation. You can protect your plants further by insulating your greenhouse with bubble wrap inside the frame. Again, make sure to keep the space well-ventilated. As the clocks go back and the dark nights set in, install solar lights in your greenhouse so you can continue working. The sun doesn’t need to dictate the time you spend outside: some warm clothing and a decent light can help you get your daily dose of fresh air. Protect Your Plants from Frost Plants that won’t withstand winter frosts unprotected should either be brought into the greenhouse or covered with a fleece or cloche. Protect cauliflowers that are producing florets over the winter by pulling their leaves over the top of them and tying the leaves in place with string. A cloche will similarly protect them from frost. Outdoor containers should be moved into more sheltered areas and bubble wrapped to insulate against the cold. It’s also worth raising the containers onto pot feet to prevent them becoming waterlogged during the wetter months. Make Your Own Leaf Mould All of those falling autumn leaves create the ideal hiding place for pesky slugs and snails. Clean up your garden and make the most of this plentiful resource by creating your own leaf mould. It’s a straight-forward process that can require little more than a few bin liners. Leaf mould is your very own homegrown compost - it’s free! It’s packed with nutrients that your ordinary kitchen-scraps compost lacks and you can use it as a soil conditioner all year round. Prevent Soil Compacting With wetter weather, it is easy for your soil to become compacted as you gather the last of the season’s crop and bring things in to shelter. To avoid this, place planks down on your main access routes to spread out the impact, offering some protection from your footsteps. Tie Down Delicate Flowers and Plant Out Hardy Winter Varieties Once they have finished flowering, delicate climbing roses should be tied in to protect them from strong autumn winds. Whilst you’re tying them, clear away any fallen leaves that may harbour black spot. This fungus can stick around over winter and reappear in your spring blooms, so it’s best not to compost it. A few hardier blooms can be sown even at this time of year. Sweet peas can be planted in a cold frame or your greenhouse for early spring flowers. Perennials including foxglove and lupin can also be started off in the greenhouse in November. Spring bulbs can be planted directly outdoors right through October and November. Daffodils, tulips and alliums can all be started now to create a wonderful spring display.  Wildflower seeds will similarly be ready by spring and encourage bees and butterflies. Autumn Vegetables to Harvest Beans and Peas The last of your beans and peas will need harvesting now. As these plants release nitrogen into the soil, clearing the area couldn’t be easier. Simply cut the stem back and leave the roots to completely break down. Avoid planting them in the same spot over consecutive seasons. Instead, make the most of this area for nitrogen-loving plants such as green leafy vegetables and rhubarb. Pick a new spot for next years’ peas and beans. You can prepare this now by digging trenches and filling them with nutrient-rich kitchen waste and manure. Squash and Pumpkins With Halloween fast approaching, harvest your pumpkins before the first frosts hit. If left outside, pumpkins and squashes can become mushy - hardly ideal for carving! Parsnips Unlike pumpkins, parsnips do well in the frost as the colder weather creates a sweeter flavour. Harvest them towards the end of November and you’ll be rewarded for waiting.   Autumn Vegetables to Grow While it may be time to harvest the majority of what’s left in your garden, there are still a few vegetables that will continue growing in October and November. Cabbages When you harvest the last of your cabbages, cut them off at the root and make a shallow cut in the stem. This will encourage the last flush of smaller leaves to grow. You can also now plant out your spring cabbages. Hardy Leafy Greens Leafy greens will continue to grow right through autumn and winter. Winter lettuces such as corn salad (lamb’s lettuce) can be grown and harvested all over autumn and winter. Ripening and Storing Vegetables Indoors You may still have green tomatoes and peppers yet to mature. To give them the best chance of ripening, bring them indoors and hang them upside down. It’s common to be left with some green tomatoes even at the end of an excellent growing season. Rather than let them go to waste you can make all sorts of green tomato sauces and chutneys, a perfect addition to your Christmas cheeseboard.   For vegetables that you are already storing, including potatoes, onions and garlic, check for any rotting material. The neck of garlic and onion bulbs is normally the first place to rot. Onion bags and hessian potato sacks will help your crop breathe while in storage. Preparing Berries and Fruit Trees for the Cooler Months Raspberries and Strawberries Most berries require some work before the winter. For your raspberries, cut back this years’ fruited canes to make way for the younger, green canes that you will use next year. Protect these new canes from autumn and winter winds by tying them to fencing or support wires. Clear away any straw from the base of your strawberry plants, this will provide better ventilation in the wet months. As with your raspberries, you also need to cut back old foliage to make room for new growth. Fruit Trees If you have apple trees, your fruit should be ready to harvest now. You can easily check by giving the fruit a gentle pull if it comes away easily, your crop is ready. To avoid caterpillars causing problems in the spring, wrap grease bands around the trunks of the trees. This can be done on any of your fruit trees to stop overwintering pests. Grease bands will trap wingless winter moth females as they attempt to climb the trunk and lay their eggs in the branches. It is these eggs that will grow to become the caterpillars that will cause you trouble later on. Once you have harvested all of your fruit, birds that you previously worked so hard to keep out can now be let in. Remove any netting so that birds can catch any pests that make it past your grease bands. We would also recommend putting out bird feeders and additional bird food. Birds are a gardener’s friend over winter, keeping out unwanted pests. Help them out by providing a little extra food during the sparser months. Reflecting and Forward-Planning  Once your plants are dormant, now is the time to relocate them. When you have decided where your vegetable beds will be, spread fresh manure over the ground. This will rot down over the winter and give your crop a nutrient-rich soil next year.  Now that the flurry of summer activity is most definitely over, the cooler, quieter months are the perfect time for reflection and planning ahead. Between garden maintenance and autumn preparations, take some time to think about what worked and what didn’t this season. Jot down any ideas you have or seeds that you would like to buy ready for next season.    ...

15 Mar

Posted at 16:40h in Tips
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Garden renovations can range from the simple and straightforward to the opulent and outrageous. Here are 12 examples that could inspire you to make changes to your own garden this year. Modernizing a small garden Source: Cateshill.com This project turned an overgrown, under-loved garden into a stunningly contemporary outdoor space complete with seating, a brazier and easy to manage stone chips in place of the unruly lawn. Adding a water feature Source: Mylandscapes.co.uk Another excellent adaptation of a limited garden that should require minimal maintenance, this transformation is achieved in part through the use of a cutting edge water feature which provides its own ambient background noise to drown out the sounds of the city. Wildlife-friendly overhaul Source: Real Homes For larger lawns or meadows, working out what to do when undertaking garden renovations can be a challenge. In this case, the owners chose to take a more natural approach and embrace plants and flowers that would attract wildlife, while also making it easier to integrate the garden with the surrounding landscape. A simple approach Source: Constructionbear.co.uk Sometimes adding greenery to a garden is the best way to bring it back to life. This typical yard space was overhauled thanks to the addition of a lawn, an area for growing vegetables, a simple paved path and a handy shed for storage. The delights of decking Source: LTM Decking might seem like something that was a hit in the 1990s and has since fallen out of favor, but with modern materials, it can be both more attractive and durable as an option. In the case of this garden renovation, the addition of decking in place of a traditional patio not only provides more choice for outdoor entertaining but also combines well with the artificial grass that has been used to replace the original lawn to make upkeep even easier. Total lawn transplant Source: D Greenslade The longer a lawn is neglected, the harder it will be to revive. Sometimes it is quicker and more cost-effective to replace it outright, adding new turf and turning a dried-out wasteland into a garden to be proud of. This project shows an especially stark contrast between the before and after shot, with the addition of raised flower beds to go along with the newly minted lawn helping to add a bit of structure and symmetry to space, as well as a splash of color. Coping with shade Source: Mike Venables Lawns, plants and flowers need lots of sunlight to thrive. Unfortunately many gardens do not have this luxury, with shade often stunting growth and leaving certain areas looking a little worse for wear. Garden renovations can address this by converting shady areas to keep them looking neat and tidy without relying on regular exposure to the sun. In the case of this job, the addition of irregular slabs along with gravel and plants that are adapted to thrive in shaded positions helped to overcome these issue. Covered seating for all-weather enjoyment Source: LivvyLand For a lot of people, garden renovations may involve the erection of a conservatory. This is the kind of structure that allows you to feel like you are experiencing the best that your garden has to offer while keeping the wind, rain and cold temperatures at bay. However, anyone who has been in a conservatory in the warmer months will realise that it can quickly generate a greenhouse-like atmosphere inside, which means you will be leaving the windows and doors open most of the time. With that in mind, an alternative option is to create a sheltered seating area like the one in this example, turning standard decking into something that is well suited to the changeable climate of the UK. Maintaining neutral wood tones rather than bold colours helps the structure of the roofed deck to feel less of an imposing feature and more of a natural convenience. A little lawn is better than none Source: FF Decking, paving and poured concrete are all well and good from a practical perspective, but garden renovations that go too far and get rid of what little lawn is available can be more of a problem in the long term. Working to preserve the lawn and integrate it with a newly restored, renovated garden is generally the best option, unless you have no other choice. This project provides a compelling example of how this can play out with a raised bed that blends seamlessly with the brickwork of the existing wall, an area of grass that is inviting without being overwhelming and a brick-laid section at the rear which acts as a sun trap for a spot of afternoon relaxation. Scaling back foliage Source: Pinterest When a space is so small that the word ‘garden’ is almost not applicable, you might think that your options for renovation are limited. What you will often find is that you can make much better use of the space that is available by subtracting from it, rather than making additions. In this example, the garden is made to look and feel a lot larger than before because the plants and trees that were previously taking up room were removed and replaced with smaller, less obtrusive alternatives. Eliminating some foliage in favour of a simpler look can have other benefits, such as improving the health of the plants that remain, getting rid of the shade that might have been hampering your sunbathing efforts and making your garden look a lot neater. Reviving ponds Source: RichEarth Millions of people have ponds in their gardens and many will choose to include one as part of a total overhaul. However, if you already have a pond in place it can begin to look tired and unkempt over time, as aquatic plant life flourishes into a tangled mess and the structure of the pond succumbs to wear and tear. There are a number of ways to address this and it is generally sensible to seek professional assistance with any pond-related issues, because it is easy to unbalance this delicate ecosystem if you are not careful. In the case of this pond renovation, the murky water has been refreshed, the plants have been kept at bay, the surrounding walls have been converted to look like natural rock rather than something artificial and many other tweaks have been made to complete the revival. Injecting rural charm Source: CMD There are a lot of ways to put the finishing touches to garden renovations, from the plants you pick to the pots and beds you choose. The designers of this project went one step further and added a rustic-looking fence along one side of the lawn. This demonstrates that the practical aspects of any garden can also be chosen because of their aesthetic impact. If you have a vision for what you want to achieve with your garden renovation, there are lots of ways to go about it and thinking carefully about the fencing is just one of them. Like the other projects covered, this example makes excellent use of the space available, ensuring that there is room for growing, relaxing and playing without having to make many compromises....

12 Dec

Posted at 11:00h in Tips
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A luscious, green lawn is every gardener’s dream. But all too often, pesky weeds pop up and turn dreams into nightmares. Our customers are always asking us how to keep weeds at bay and make sure lawns stay in tip-top condition. So we’ve put together the following handy guide for lawn weed control… The Issues of Weed Control   For most gardeners and homeowners, the issue with weeds is purely aesthetic. While it’s true that one man’s weed is another man’s wildflower, the majority of people want a lawn that’s lush with thick, green, regular blades of grass – without daisies, dandelions, moss and other common culprits ruining the effect. The problem with weeds is that they are very good at growing! This is really why we have come to think of certain plants as weeds. Lawn weed control can seem like a never-ending battle as repeat offenders pop up time and time again. Another dilemma faced by gardeners is how to remove weeds from a lawn without chemicals. The green-fingered community often cares deeply about wildlife and the environment and are reluctant to use chemical weed killer for lawns. In this guide, we’ll outline some simple lawn maintenance tips you can follow to stop weeds in your lawn from getting out of control – as well as some natural weed killer ideas that you can try if you want to move away from chemical weed killer sprays.   The Best Weed Removal Techniques   If you look at your lawn and see a weed-strewn, patchy plot, it may be tempting to reach for the nearest chemical product and douse the whole area. But if you use follow good lawn maintenance tips throughout the year you can get results without using any weed killer spray at all. Cutting Down on Size How much have you thought about the way you mow your lawn? There’s more to it than simply getting the mower out and running it over your grass. Factors such as the cutting length and frequency of mowing can really make a difference when it comes to keeping your lawn weed-free. If you cut your lawn too short, the grass can be damaged, making it easier for weeds to get a hold in the soil. Too long, and the weeds are able to grow high enough to seed and multiply. When it comes to mowing, you should only remove about a third of the length – which will mean more regular mowing is required during the spring and summer months. Using Your Pulling Power One of the best ways to tackle weeds is simply to pull them up. It may seem like a lot of hard work, but if you’re only tackling a small area pulling weeds up from the root is one of the best weed removal techniques to banish them for good! A useful tip is to pull up weeds after watering or when the soil is wet, as the roots will loosen much more easily. Give Your Grass Room to Breathe by Scarifying Scarifying your lawn in autumn will help rid it of moss and smaller weeds, allowing light, water and air to get to the soil more easily. This involves raking over the lawn with a springy rake to loosen moss and weeds. Edge Your Lawns to Stop the Spread Aside from the look of your lawn, gardeners can also face issues when lawn weeds encroach into neighbouring flowerbeds. A simple solution to this is to add edging such as bricks or wood. Make sure it’s at least six inches deep into the soil to stop roots from crawling underneath. Mulch Neighbouring Flowerbeds Another alternative to edging your lawn is to use newspaper and/or mulch around borders. Place a layer of newspaper on the soil where you don’t want weeds to appear, then add a layer of mulch on top. Just like any plant, the lack of light will prevent weeds from growing. Bear in mind this applies to grass too, so this technique is best used to keep lawn weeds out of borders.   The Best Weed Killer Home Remedies With growing concerns about wildlife and the environment, a lot of our customers want to know if there are alternatives to chemical weed killers. How to remove weeds from a lawn without chemicals is also something that’s high up on the agenda for pet owners, or families with young children. The good news is that organic and natural weed killers are available in many shops and garden centres. Plus there are a few tricks you can try using simple items found around the home. Say 'No' to H20 Say no to garden weeds with the simplest substance of all – water. To be more specific, boiling water. Pouring boiling water onto weeds can kill them off - make sure it’s as closing to boiling point as possible for maximum effect. Beware that this weed control technique can kill grass and other plants so it is best used around edges and paths. The Power of Salt Humble salt can be a powerful weapon in the war on weeds! Mix 1 part salt with 3 parts water to create a natural herbicide solution. Spray directly onto the leaves of weeds. Just be careful not to soak the soil as salt can affect its quality – and keep the solution away from other plants. Vinegar with that? Another useful product from your condiment cupboard is vinegar. It’s often praised for its cleaning properties but what people may not realise is that vinegar is also a natural weed killer. Put simply, it causes weeds to shrivel up and die! As with the salt solution, vinegar should be applied directly to the leaves of the weeds, taking care not to douse any nearby plants or soil.   The Best Weed Removal Tools   Dig Your Lawn If you have one or two weeds in your lawn, a hand fork or handheld weeding tool will see to the job. Spot treat lawn weeds by digging down to the root and pulling them out individually. Spring into action Invest in a springy rake for scarifying your lawn. Rake over the surface of your lawn in autumn to remove moss and allow water, light and air to reach the roots of your grass. If you’re not sure how or when to scarify, enlist the services of a professional lawncare company like Coleshill mowing. Known Your Mow Your mower probably isn’t the first tool you think of when it comes to weed control, but if you get your mowing routine right, you can make big steps to pushing out pesky plants. Cut your lawn to a height that’s neither too short nor too long – for most lawns this is about 2 ½ - 3 inches. Mow regularly and make sure you’re only cutting a third of the blade with each mow.   Useful Resources Effective Weed Tips Organic Weed Control  Weed Control: Essential Tips & Tricks ukgardening-directory.co.uk Home Improvement Companies in West Midlands ...