New to growing vegetables?
Pro-Grow Peat Free Soil Conditioner is ideal for providing all the nutrients needed for healthy soil on your veggie patch, breaking down clay and adding humus to sandy soils – simply spread 3″ on top of exisiting soil and let the worms and nature do the rest – perfect for organic gardeners as it’s Soil Association Certified.
Eight ways to help encourage wildlife into your garden……….
1. Plant crops that bear fruits and berries in your garden
2. Keep the bird bath topped up (especially in cold weather – break the ice, clean and replenish)
3. All bird feeds, including peanuts and seeds should be kept topped up. Birds like a regular supply of food – if you exhaust your supply, you will get less visits.
4. Leave some seed-heads standing to provide food for wildlife.
5. Leave matured ivy uncut for as long as possible – a great source of nectar for insects
6. Rake up a big pile of leaves in a corner of the garden – for hibernating mammals and ground-feeding birds.
7. Build a hedgehog hibernation box
8. Build a nesting box for birds (away from places where cats can get to)
For more ideas – read this article by the RSPB on encouraging garden wildlife
Peat Free Composts are becomimg a must for environmentally concerned gardeners - launched ten years ago, Pro-Grow was the first Peat Free, Soil Association Certified soil conditioner made from recycled green waste.
This is their advice on how to get the best results from peat free soil, lawn and general purpose composts.
1. Always store bags in a dry place and make sure the compost is fresh, peat free composts have a definite shelf life.
2. Check user instructions carefully – formulations do vary.
3. Wet the compost before use, Peat Free general purpose composts are drier than traditional multi-purpose brands.
4. Water pots and containers little and often.
5. Ensure pots and containers have good drainage.
6. Always leave a 2cm gap between the surface of the compost and rim of the plant pot.
7. Avoid pressing the compost down too hard in containers.
Top 10 Tips for November (For those of you who were lazy or forgetful in September and October!)
1. Clear up fallen autumn leaves – rake a big pile in a quiet corner fo the garden for hibernating animals
2. Cut back perennials that have died down – compost the green wood
3. Divide herbaceous perennials and rhubarb plants
4. Move tender plants, including sensitive aquatic ones into the greenhouse or cold frames
5. Plant out spring cabbages and cover with nets
6. Gather and waste for a bonfire on Guy Fawkes night
7. Prune climbing roses back
8. Sign up for the Creative Garden Ideas E-newsletter
9. Very Last chance to mow lawns (if dry enough) and trim hedges in mild areas
10. Give your lawn mower a good clean up, oil and store away for the winter
The change in weather in October is the key indicator that winter is on it’s way. But don’t be too disheartened, becuase autumn is here! All those gorgeous hues of golden foliage and crispy seed-heads are so inspiring in the morning light.
You may have noticed that the evenings are beginning to draw in and are definitely cooler now.
Don’t forget to change your clocks at the end of this month and start looking out for next year’s seed catalogues and, of course, the 2010 edition of Creative Garden Ideas catalogue!
This will be available early in the New Year so contact us now if you want to be sure of receiving a copy or you can download it using the link above.
October and the summer is officially over, winter is on the way. But don’t be disheartened autumn is here! All those wonderful golden hues of dying foliage and crispy seed-heads can look wonderful in the morning light.
You will have noticed that the nights are beginning to draw in and are definitely cooler. Remember to change the clocks at the end of the month and start looking out for next year’s seed catalogues and, of course, the 2010 edition of Creative Garden Ideas catalogue! This will be available early in the New Year so contact us now if you want to be sure of receiving a copy.
Some Northern locations may see early frosts, so keep an eye on the weather forecasts and protect tender plants with fleece or, better still, move them into a greenhouse if you have one, if not, now is a good time to start looking for one, we often have some bargain buys under our Garden Buildings Section.
September is harvest time for a number of late fruit and veg -
Harvest pumpkins and squashes when ripe – as the sun cools, they can be left in situ for a while before cropping. Once cut, why not leave them out in a sunny spot for a day or so to let the skins harden off before storing them in a cool, dry place.
This is an ideal time to lift carrots and beetroot – plus any remaining potatoes you may have. Remember to only store healthy, intact roots. Parsnips can be left as they are – as they taste better once frosted!
Use this time to pick the last of the remaining runner beans. Any really late and stringy ones are better composted or save them, dry out and use their seeds.
Any late tomatoes that don’t ripen can be used green in chutneys.
Carrots and peas can still be sown in cold frames, but only in mild areas of the country. Plant out your spring cabbages at this time. Remember to net them for protection from birds.
Garden Furniture range improvements
This year, we are also offering a much wider range of garden furniture including dining sets, benches, parasols, swings and picnic tables and chairs.
All home delivered free of charge and all designed to ensure that on those rare quiet gardening weekends we have a comfortable seat from which to enjoy the fruits of our labour – also, look out for some great offers coming soon on our garden furniture range!
With the hopefully, warmer weather now here and the children soon to be on their long summer holidays.
That age old problem of keeping them amused is one faced by families across the country and to help we have introduced a number of new and innovative Play Equipment, including, Sandpits and a range of Activity Centres designed especially for younger children to play and have fun safely in the garden.
Check out the Creative Garden Ideas website for more details.
Make a garden design feature with gravel
June is a great month to replenish gravel on pathways, take a look at our new range of Slate Screes and gravels and for more permanent paths, patios and seating areas we have a new range of Eco-Pave Patio Packs and Circles, which are made with up to 85% recycled aggregates.
We also have some great looking Natural and Rustic Gold coloured slate kits, which are both hardwearing and easy to lay.
Top 10 Gardening Tips and advice for June
1. Hoe borders regularly to keep weeds down.
2. Be Water-Wise!
3. Pinch out side shoots on tomatoes.
4. Harvest lettuce, radish, other salad plants and early potatoes.
5. Replant Grow Bags when first potatoes have been eaten!
6. Cut lawns at least once a week.
7. Stake tall or floppy plants and vegetables such as runner beans.
8. Shade greenhouses to keep them cool and prevent scorching of plants.
9. Keep the children amused with our range of playhouses and activity centres.
10. Dust off your BBQ’s or order a new one from our extensive range…….and remember to order your charcoal from www.coals2u.co.uk or logs and kindling for braziers from www.logs2u.co.uk