Copper snail and slug tape
This is a great way to keep both slugs and snails off your potted plants without having to resort to using chemicals....
Buying vegetable plants
If you just want to grow a few vegetables or have suffered losses with early sowings, buying plants is a great way to play catch-up. Buying plants also allows you to grow vegetables if you do not have the facilities to raise them from seed yourself or whe
Read full articleDealing with common pests and diseases
One of the first things you learn when you start gardening is that plants are not alone in the garden. There is a whole host of bugs that set up home in your beds and borders as well as an alarming range of microscopic bacteria, fungi and viruses that are
Read full articleHow to deal with slugs and snails
Slugs and snails seem to lie in wait for the unwary gardener. No sooner have the first tender young shoots emerged in spring or new bedding been planted, than the tell-tale signs of feasting slugs and snails are noticed: irregularly shaped holes in leaves
Read full articleJune Week 1
If you do nothing else...water new plants. Make sure new additions do not suffer during dry spells. Plant up summer containers bedding once the threat of frosts has passed. Feed container plants about six weeks after planting. If it’s a nice day...trim he
Read full articleHostas
The hosta, commonly called plantain lily, has become established as a garden favourite. They are best known for their sumptuous, sculptural leaves ranging in colour from the cool silver blues to the vibrant yellows and greens.
Read full articlePlanting bedding
The secret to success when planting tender young bedding plants is to plant them at the right stage of development into well-prepared soil so that they don't suffer a check in growth. Always plant tender bedding after the last expected frost date in your
Read full articleSlug watch
Stay one step ahead of slugs and snails by protecting susceptible plants now. Herbaceous plants that are starting to regrow are now extremely vulnerable. As the new tender, juicy leaves push through the soil, you can guarantee the slugs and snails will b
Read full articleHarvest soft fruits
Cover rows of ripening fruit with netting to keep off birds and other animals. Pick off and discard any fruits with grey mould and protect the last of the harvest from slugs and snails. After all the fruits have been picked, trim back all the leaves and r
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