gardening Tag

24 Nov

Posted at 10:01h in Tips
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The colder months of the year bring most things to a halt in the garden. The last roses have dropped, the sedums are turning brown, and leaves cover everything. While it’s too chilly to plant anything apart from the hardiest winter greens, now is the perfect time to plan for next year. Your garden will soon be in bloom again, with seedlings growing throughout the spring and an explosion of colour and fresh produce in the summer.  Planning your Summer Garden If you’re starting a garden for the first time, this article will help you take the first steps towards creating a beautiful outdoor space and help you avoid common mistakes. For seasoned gardeners, now is the time to consider what you have learnt this year and plan for next year. What was most successful? What didn’t work, and why? Think about which plants are producing seeds that you can collect to plant in spring, and which crops will need rotating to replenish the soil. This article will help you decide what you can try out for next year.  -Make a Garden Map - Find the Sun - Jobs to Do Now for Your Summer Garden Make a Garden Map Making a sketch of your ideas is a good place to start. Draw a rough map of your garden, noting which areas get full sun and where the shadows gather. Plan where you want to put new beds, pathways and ponds. Collect images of flowers and gardens you like for inspiration. When you’ve assessed your available space, these clippings and sketches will help you choose where to put your plants. Rotating vegetable crops is important to give the soil time to recover. Don’t replant tomatoes or beans in the same place, as they won’t be successful a second year. Peas and beans release nitrogen into the soil, so their previous patches will be primed for nitrogen lovers like beetroot, broccoli and potatoes. Find the Sun Different plants require different levels of sunshine to flourish. For example, Dahlias, Echinacea and Cosmos need to be in full sun for 6 hours each day, whereas Campanulas and Foxgloves favour shady areas. There are plants available for every garden, and if you’re observant of the sun throughout the year, you’ll get to know which corners are sunny and which stay dark. To find out which way your garden faces, stand facing it with a compass or use the compass app on your phone. The needle will show you which way is North so that you can work out which direction your garden faces. If your garden is south-facing with few trees, you’re in luck. Summer will give you full sun everywhere for most of the day. If you are shaded by trees or high fences, look for plants that prefer ‘dappled shade’, such as Tiarella or Acer. If your garden faces east, your garden will be in shade during the hottest part of the day. Choose plants that favour partial shade and need shelter from strong sunlight. The brightest areas of your garden can support plants that need full or partial sun. White flowers are a good choice for east-facing gardens, as the evening shade can make them appear brighter, attracting pollinating moths. A west-facing garden is shady in the morning and sunny in the afternoon and evening. Choose plants that favour ‘partial sun’, which will be able to withstand the morning shade and enjoy the stronger light in the afternoon. Perennials such as fuchsias can grow well in these conditions. If you’re growing your own vegetables, tomatoes, squash and beans will soak up the warm sun. North-facing gardens are usually mostly shaded, but between May and October, the back wall of your home will receive bright sunlight in the early morning and evening. A trellis for climbing plants that enjoy partial shade, such as Virginia Creeper. Many delicate and beautiful plants love the shade, particularly those that are found in woodland areas, such as violets and clematis. Jobs to Do Now for a Summer Garden Clear Overgrown Areas Blitz weeds and grassed-over beds during the colder months when growth is slowest. Do it now so that you can focus on the fun of planting come springtime.  Remove nuisance plants and trees that don’t add anything to your garden. If a large shrub or hedge is shading your flowerbed, hire a hedge trimmer to bring it down to size before nesting season begins. Coniferous trees can take large amounts of nutrients and dry out your soil. If you’d rather use the space for flowering plants or vegetables, consider having the tree removed. The professional gardeners at Coleshill Mowing can help with bigger jobs like these. Make New Beds If you’re thinking of putting in new flower-beds or raised beds, aim for places that get the most sun. You should remove the turf from these before the ground freezes and cover with a mulch such as a leafmould or well-rotted manure. The nutrients will be drawn down into the bed by worms, so you don’t have to do so much digging and turning. Alternatively, you can simply cover an area of grass with a few inches of compost and mulch to follow radical gardener, Charles Dowding’s ‘No Dig’ method. The compost will smother the grass and weeds and create a nutritious bed to start your plants in the spring. Improve Your Soil Test the soil in a few areas to check the type and quality you have before choosing your plants. Scoop up some soil in your hands on a dry day and rub it between your fingers to make a ball. If it’s gritty and crumbles easily, your soil is sandy, meaning it provides good drainage and warms up quickly in spring. However, sandy soil doesn’t hold nutrients well in rainy periods, so add plenty of organic matter to get the best results. If it is sticky like clay, don’t be discouraged. Clay soil is very fertile and moist, and roses, daylilies and hydrangeas take to it well. Improve your clay by mixing in generous helpings of compost, grit or bark.  If it rolls into a ball easily but doesn’t hold its shape as well as clay, you have loamy soil, which is easy to work, doesn’t drain too freely but also doesn’t become waterlogged. Loam is just right, and you can plant straight into it in spring   Collect Containers and Cloches for Seedlings In Coleshill and Chelmsley Wood, the average last frost date is between May 1-10. This means delicate seedlings such as sweet peas should be protected until the last few weeks of spring. Prepare space in your greenhouse, or collect cloches and fleece to tuck them in in the ground. A cheap alternative to commercial cloches is to use large plastic bottles, cut lengthways. Order Seeds for Spring Once you’ve mapped out the sunny spots and determined your soil type, you can choose plants to fit your garden. Have a look through seed catalogues and mark summer flowering varieties. Make sure you get your order in before it’s time to start sowing.   Tips for Choosing Plants for a Summer Garden Choose a range of colours to create a stunning visual display. Look for cut-and-come-again varieties such as Cosmos, which will flower longer when you cut a few flowers to bring inside. Choose varying heights to make use of the full depth of your flowerbeds Don’t forget bedding plants to fill the gaps between your showpieces. Plants such as Begonias, Marigolds and Cornflowers will work almost anywhere. Be careful not to overcrowd your beds. Most flowering plants need at least a 30cm square to themselves. Without this, your plants will be stunted and may not flower at all. If you’re stuck for space but have a patio or balcony, choose varieties that do well in pots and containers. Choose flowers to attract pollinators. By creating a bee-friendly garden, you’ll have a beautiful display of insect life including butterflies and even dragonflies, as well as the birds that come to eat them. Native varieties such as cornflowers, comfrey and hollyhocks flower early in summer and will give your garden a country cottage aspect. Plan to Grow Your Own Fruit and Vegetables Growing your own vegetables is becoming popular in gardens around the country, as people move towards sustainable living. You can plan your vegetable garden in much the same way as a flower garden; at the end of the day, plants are plants. Most need sun, water and well-drained soil.  Tips for Summer Harvests By planning early and starting your seeds in March, you can see your first harvests in May and June with fast-growing vegetables such as lettuce, carrots and radishes.  Plant peas straight into the ground as soon as the soil is warm. Build a trellis or beanpole structure for runner beans to climb. Reserve your sunniest spots for tomatoes and courgettes for gorgeous yellow flowers and bright fruits. If you have lots of space in a sunny spot, there are plenty of summer squashes to try. These large fruits can be a whole meal in themselves. Our favourite is the spaghetti squash, the insides of which form long strands that are easy to scoop out and cook like pasta. Don’t forget herbs! Rosemary, sage, thyme, mint and fennel grow fantastically in amongst the rest of your plants and offer great floral displays as a bonus. Coleshill Mowing - Here to Help Our professional gardeners are here to help with the heavy lifting of regular garden maintenance. We offer regular maintenance, lawn-mowing, strimming and hedge-trimming services to keep your garden looking perfect. Resources: Gardener's World - Best Summer Shade Plants First Tunnels - Which Way is your Garden Facing? Gardener's World - Plants for Dappled Shade Garden Design - Summer Flowering Plant List ...

20 Feb

Posted at 10:44h in Tips
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Those first signs of spring are something special. As if by magic, snowdrops seem to bloom overnight and daffodil bulbs begin to push their way to the surface.  As our evenings start to get lighter, it’s time to think about preparing your garden for spring. While those warm, blossom-scented days might seem like a long time away, there are plenty of things you can do now to get your garden ready for the growing season. With the right plans in place, you’ll be able to enjoy your garden throughout the summer months.  Getting ready for the warmer weather doesn’t have to be difficult or complicated. To help you prepare your garden for spring, we’ve put together our top spring gardening tips below.  Clear your garden of leaves and weeds During the winter, many of us leave our outdoor spaces untended. After all, no one likes to spend a cold, rainy afternoon tidying up the garden! However, as spring approaches, it is important to take the time to clear away any debris. Dead leaves, weeds and twigs will get in the way of new growth and may impact your success when the warmer months approach.  You can put leaves and other debris on your compost heap to breakdown. If you remove any weeds, remember to put these in your brown bin. These hardy plants will take any opportunity to germinate if placed on your compost heap, causing more problems when spring arrives. As well as clearing out your flower beds and planting areas, it might be a good idea to tend to the rest of your outdoor space too. If your patio has collected debris, take the time to sweep up now. It’ll be one less job on your to-do list when the weather gets warm.  Prune trees and shrubs Many of us prune our perennial plants in autumn, but it’s not too late to cut back now. Many shrubs, trees and plants are still dormant, giving you time to trim before the spring comes. Shrubs that have finished flowering, hedges, deciduous trees and grasses all benefit from a winter prune. Just be sure to cut back in the right way to promote growth when you prepare your garden for spring. If you want to move plants around your garden, this is an excellent time to tackle that task too. Do your best to take as much of the root as possible to ensure good growth in your shrub’s new location. Don’t forget to water your plant well after moving to keep it healthy.  Like we mentioned above, late winter is an ideal time to cut back deciduous grasses. However, you might want to leave these in your garden until the springtime to ensure wildlife has shelter during the sparse winter months.  Remove unwanted pests Pests are a problem in every garden. The good news is that there is plenty you can do to reduce pests attacking your plants during the warmer months. Many pests hibernate during the winter, making it a prime time to destroy their habitats before they become a nuisance.  To prepare your garden for spring, we suggest taking a close look at your plants for any signs of pest infestation. Aphids, slugs, snails and larvae can all shelter in your garden, so it will be important to remove them before spring arrives. You can buy (or make) specialist winter washes, which are designed to destroy any wintering pests.  If a cold spell is on the horizon, you may want to turn over your plant beds to expose pests to frost. It could be worth doing this anyway, as birds will appreciate the extra snack during the sparse winter months! Prepare your soil While we might not be enjoying the warm weather yet, temperatures are beginning to heat up. That should mean your soil is workable, giving you the perfect opportunity to dig in some organic matter. Doing this will help to make sure your beds and planters have the right nutrients when the time comes to plant. If you have spring bulbs or other perennial plants, adding some nutrient-rich compost or manure will give them a kick start before the growing season.  Scrub your greenhouse If you’re wondering how to prepare your garden for spring, it’s worth remembering that it’s not all about your plants and soil. Garden structures need attention too, and doing regular maintenance can even help your new plants thrive. For example, if you have a greenhouse in your outdoor space, it’s a good idea to use the quiet winter months to spruce them up.  To prepare for spring, wash your greenhouse both inside and out using a garden-approved disinfectant and be sure to get into all the nooks and crannies. It’s a good idea to sweep out any debris and clean your seedling pots or trays to ensure they’re ready for young plants too.  Don’t forget to give your greenhouse plenty of time to dry (it’s usually best to leave the doors open for this). Once thoroughly cleaned, inspect your structure for any damage and undertake maintenance if you need to.  A clean greenhouse will give your new plants the best environment to grow, so it really is worth taking the time to clean yours properly.  Get maintenance jobs done Your greenhouse isn’t the only structure in your garden that deserves attention. At the height of spring and summer, taking care of maintenance jobs often falls to the bottom of the list. That’s why winter is an excellent time to tick off those niggly tasks.  When preparing your garden for spring, check your fence panels, trellises and gates for damage and repair if you need to. Give all of the above a good wash (with a power washer if you have one). Once they’re fully dry, take the time to apply wood stain, paint or preservative. Don’t forget to choose a few dry days to do this; rainy or windy weather could undo all your hard work.  Set up new planters Whether you have a small outdoor space or just prefer to garden in planters, winter is a great time to get your new pots ready for the warmer months. To prepare for spring, remove any dead matter from last year and clear all your planters back to bare soil.  It’s also worth taking the time to check for any damaged pots and replace them as you need to. If you want to invest in more pots and planters, head over to your garden centre to add to your collection. Winter is a great time to construct any new purchases, particularly those that need time to put together.  Prepare your garden beds As well as your pots and planters, it’s important to take good care of your garden beds before spring arrives. This will give your plants the best conditions to thrive within, making sure you are as successful as possible.  Like with your planters, take your beds and borders back to bare soil (unless you have perennial plants in there, of course). Dig in organic matter and be sure that all weeds are taken care of. Now is an excellent time to experiment with your garden design too. Whether you want to add in raised beds or create a new border, you’ll find it easier to prepare your garden for spring now.  Create a planting plan Preparing for spring doesn’t have to be all work and no fun! Creating a planting plan is an enjoyable way to look forward to the warmer months and helps you know what you need to plant when. By doing this, you can make sure your garden is full of colour and interest throughout the summer months. If you enjoy growing fruit and vegetables, it will give your produce the optimum time for growth too.  It is also an opportunity to get creative with your garden. We suggest drawing out what plants you want to put where and colour them in accordingly. That way, you can be sure that your colour combinations work together.  Start some seedlings Preparing your garden for spring isn’t all about the prep phase. There are some seedlings you can start now to get ready for spring blossoming. Of course, most of these will need to be started in a heated propagator, greenhouse or indoors. However, what could be more exciting than seeing the first signs of growth when it’s still cold outside? We suggest starting seeds like lobelia, snapdragons, sweetpeas, chrysanthemums and geraniums indoors. For fruit and veg, you could start cucumbers, tomatoes, peas, brassicas, asparagus and sweet peppers from seeds. Don’t forget that your seeds will need warmth and shelter to grow – inside a greenhouse or on your windowsill is best.   Get ready to enjoy your garden Preparing your garden for spring is a sign of plentiful things to come. Whether you’re green-fingered or a novice in the garden, there are a variety of things you can do to make sure your outdoor space looks its best during the warmer months.  We hope our spring gardening tips have been helpful. For more gardening tips and advice, visit the Coleshill mowing blog.   ...