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Category: Gardening

General gardening tips and hints

Kids Plants to Make Them Gardeners

Kids Plants to Make Them Gardeners

Book Cover

Kids can have fun in the garden and on a windowsill. It can give them an understanding of food and green issues in a fun environment. Help them grow plants that are easy, reliable and develop quickly to maintain interest. Give them good soil, a sunny location and help so they are not put off  gardening in the future.
Kids can be turned into enthusiastic gardeners from an early age and with luck it will stay with them for life

Plants for Kids

  • Mustard and Cress are quick germinators and growers and produce an edible crop in days not weeks.
  • Sunflowers are very popular with children, the seeds are easy to handle and the growing plants look bigger every week.
  • Nasturtiums are quick growing and even if they do not like the peppery tasty the flowers and leaves are edible. The three seeds per flower show how plants reproduce year after year whilst providing food for other creatures.
  • Plants from tubers or bulbs such as Dahlias and Lilies are popular for the flowers. For indoors as a present for Mum try a Gloxinia
  • Seed potatoes. Peas or Courgettes are reliable croppers.

Indoor experiments that we tried as children …

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Ant Pest Control in the Garden

Ant Pest Control in the Garden

Ants and aphids on weed in our flower garden

Ants can be an unsightly nuisance and inspire concern. However they do not directly damage plants but are more a sign that you have another pest problem.

Ants eat the honeydew secreted by aphids, scale insects and other pests. So ant go where there is food and are clever enough to farm aphids by carrying them from one plant to another to increase their food supply.

Ants can burrow into the soil of seedlings disturbing roots.


Prevention and Control

  • Ant Killer Gel contain a specially formulated d-phenothrin gel to destroy both ants and ants nests. Ants carry this insecticidal gel deep into the nest to destroy it from within.
  • Generic insects Killer sprays for Fleas, Bed Bugs, Moths, Ants, Wasps, Mosquitoes are available.
  • micro-emulsion formulations  provide a fast and effective way to kill ants and other crawling insects.
  • Amazon range of ant controls
  • Remember no aphids, no food, no ants!
  • Aphid killer and controls from amazon. or read organic control for aphids

 

Photo credit Martin LeBar creative commons license on flickr

Garden Wind Problems

Garden Wind Problems

wind swept

Trees shrubs even small plants react to wind. The example of this Yew tree is a bit extreme but you can see the effect of a strong prevailing wind.

Problems Caused By Wind

  • Plants may grow on a slant, leaning away from the wind. This inhibits growth and plants will not reach their full potential.
  • Shrubs and trees  may be distorted not growing  leaves or branches on the windward side.
  • Intermittent wind can cause plants to bend, then grow straight giving stems a twisted or crooked appearance.
  • Wind can be energy sapping for gardeners, so too for plants that have to live in the conditions.
  • ‘Wind rock’ making plants sway at ground level loosens the roots of shrubs like roses and can kill.
  • Strong wind can ‘burn’ young foliage.
  • Strong wind can uproot or blow down trees and plants.

wind swept

Prevent and Cure Wind Problems

  • It seems easy but do not plant in windy locations. If you must, be prepared for wind problems when choosing plants. Opt for low growers, hardy plants and shrubs with an open habit that allows wind to blow through.
  • Use natural barriers as wind breaks. Use hollows, walls, hedges and buildings to create a wind shadow.
  • Stake and tie plants.
  • Protect with barriers such as netting
  • Accept the results of wind damage, it is natural after all.

 

bee lavender
How to attract wildlife into your garden

How to attract wildlife into your garden

Attracting wildlife into your garden can help deal with types of pests and increase the diversity of life in the garden. Some methods for increasing wildlife are quite easy.

Bucket of water

frog

This bucket got left under a shrub and was forgotten about until a few years later, when I saw frogs using it as a base. It had filled up with rainwater and  was colonised by a few slug eating frogs. Because it is in shade, it doesn’t lose too much water, but in dry conditions, I top it up with water to keep the frogs happy. I also have put a few dead twigs around the bucket, to make it easier for frogs to climb in. …

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Tips for Growing Ipomea – Morning Glory

Tips for Growing Ipomea – Morning Glory

ipomea

Ipomea indica the blue form of Morning Glory is a cool clear blue, a startling colour in the garden. As you would expect from a member of the Convolvulous clan it is a strong twisting and binding climber.

Uses of Morning Glory

  • The plant was originally used to produce cloth die.
  • The seeds should not be eaten as they produce hallucinations
  • In the garden they are very good for screening walls and ugly sites during summer.
  • They do not last as cut flowers.

Morning glory
Growing Ipomea Morning Glory.

  • Grow from seed and collect your own seed for next year.
  • Pick off dead leaves.
  • Try some of the other colours including rose and red plants.
  • Do not allow white Convolulous to grow as it spreads and throttles other plants

ipomea

  • Thompson & Morgan search for Morning Glory seeds and plants
  • Morning Glory ‘Carnevale di Venezia’ Ipomoea purpurea, Convolvulus purpureus,
  • A half-hardy annual which climbs to 6′ tall and flowers through summer with striped blue and pink blooms with intricate markings.

Credits
Morning glory by Arenamontanus CC BY 2.0

Soya Bean Superfoods ‘Glycine max’

Soya Bean Superfoods ‘Glycine max’

Grow and Crop your own Soya Beans

  • For a little grown vegetable Soya are an easy and attractive crop to grow.
  • Sow in a propagator or into warm soil May or June if sowing direct outside.
  • Plant in well-drained, moist rich soil, 6 inches apart. Keep well watered, particularly as pods are setting.
  • You will get 3-4 beans to a pod but you get lots of hairy self pollinated pods at the top of the plant.
  • Plants are virtually pest and disease free.

How to Use Your Soya Beans

  • You can pick pods whilst beans are still green and boil them in the pods with salt. Butterbean & Envy are good varieties for this purpose available from organicseedsonline.com
  • Shelled the green beans can be treated like broad beans
  • When pods turn brown harvest the dry beans and they can be stored in an airtight container. Soak them for 12 hours before using.
  • Good varieties include Ustie, Butterbean and Elna.
  • Commercially grown Soya is often GM but produces oil, Soya milk, Bean Curd or Tofu and can also be fermented to make Soya sauce.

Japanese Beans

  • Azuki beans are a hairy annual similar to Soya beans. They have yellow flowers and longer pods.
  • Daizu is the Japanese Soya rich in oil and protein. Flowers are violet or white and pea shaped.
  • Miso is a bean paste made from Soya beans rice and salt.
  • Tofu is an easily digested protein made from soaked and curded soya beans.
  • Natto is fermented Soya beans often eaten at Japanese breakfasts.
Wild Plant Habitat Classifications

Wild Plant Habitat Classifications

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Vegetation of open habitats can be an interesting form of study for the keen gardener. Knowing what grows where in the wild, inform us about our own harden habitats.

Develop an understanding of ecology and wild plant development to augment your gardening interests.

Plant Habitat Classifications

Plants growing in the wild are found in several types of location that have been classified below.

  • Mires and heaths
  • Woodland and scrub
  • Grassland
  • Aquatics
  • Maritime

The authoritative texts are written by J S Rodwell provide a framework for a wide variety of teaching, research and management activities in ecology, conservation and land-use planning.

Book Cover

There are sub-classifications including geological, geographical and environmental.
These situations include:-  Height above sea level, rainfall, wind direction and strength. Soil fertility, cultivation practices now and in the past all can play a part.

 

If you want to develop an area then chose an appropriate classification and research what grows well in similar areas and circumstances. Try not to fight nature (you know who will win). Work with the climate and landscapes and try not to force plants into an unnatural habitat.

Flowers Grown for Your Vase

Flowers Grown for Your Vase

My perennial Phlox have been a good stalwart flower for cutting and filling a vase this last few weeks. I found the pink colours had more scent but all the Phlox seemed to drink copious amounts of water (I wondered if water and scent were related). The Penstemon in the same vase as the Phlox was not as successful as they had a far shorter life. Another successful long lasting cut flower is the Alstromeria. The Reds performed better than the yellows but both lasted over a week.

Our local garden center has been selling off Gerbera plants at £1 and I bought some just for the flowers that I could cut and put in a small vase. Even one flower in a bud vase looks good. There are now more buds to open and I think I got a good deal even though I will not bother to over winter the supposedly perennial plants. Gerberas come in a wide range of colors from light to dark yellow, orange, pink, brilliant scarlet and deep red ray flower centres.

The variety and colour of the Peruvian Lily or Alstroemeria, makes a colourful and long lasting display. Once established the plants continue to provide a good supply year after year. Pull the stalk up from the plant to encourage more flower stems. I grow my Alstroemeria in large pots.

 

Dahlias tend to flop a bit for me but Chrysanthemums can’t be beaten for longevity and impact.

Tip – Grow flowers that are easy to cultivate and flower in profusion but also last well when cut. Spray Chrysanthemums can give maximum pleasure for minimal outlay.

Gardens not Goals Wales

Gardens not Goals Wales

After the Euro football in France it is back to the Gardeners day job – planting leeks & daffodils.

The National Botanic Garden of Wales – Middleton Carmarthen

The worlds largest single-span dome bigger than the Eden project and lots of Lottery funding investment. Well worth seeing where your investment has gone.

Doubled walled garden creating several micro climates and themed borders with a cool oasis at the centre are the key aspects of your visit. There is a strong ecological approach within the garden and several ideas for you to consider when you return to your own environment.

Other Garden Features to See

  • Bog Garden & Japanese Garden,
  • Bee Garden & Tropical House
  • Welsh Rare Plants & Physicians of Myddfai
  • Nursery Glasshouses and The Great Glasshouse
  • Mediterranean Garden
  • Organic Farm, bio-mass furnace & Estate Walks
  • Kitchen Garden and activities for children
  • Lakes and Dipping Ponds

Other gardens in Wales can be found by clicking here

Lawns are not Eco Friendly

Lawns are not Eco Friendly

January Lawn

The green swards in front gardens throughout the UK are not as environmentally friendly as you may think.

Environmental Issues with Lawns.

  • 3 million lawns are mowed several times a year – that must be equal to 250 million miles. Petrol mowers, particularly old mowers, produce more greenhouse gas than cars. Electric mowers are not a lot better but who uses a scythe these days. Even a mechanical push style mower has used natural resources in its manufacture and delivery.
  • Feeding lawns with chemicals should be an environmental no-no. Leave clippings on the lawn to rot down instead.
  • Watering the lawn is unnecessary but is still undertaken by many at the height of the summer when resources are scarce.
  • Weed treatments, even if following organic guidelines, are likely to kill off the food and natural habitat of some creatures.

Environmental Tips for Lawns

  • Do not cut the grass too short. Longer leaves shade others and thus save moisture.
  • Short lawns weakens the grass and scalping encourages moss.
  • Wild flower meadows look good, need no feeding and provide seed and habitat for a variety of wildlife.
  • Clover is too be encouraged in lawns, it feeds the soil and the flowers provide food for bees.

wild flowers