Kneelers and Knee Protectors

I use a Hozelock kneeler in the garden when my knees want a rest. That is quite frequently particularly when planting out.
The sponge offers protection but the handles help me get up when I am a bit stiff!
Stood on it’s end the kneeler converts to a seat, saw bench or portable table.

There are a range of metal and plastic kneelers available from Amazon for between £10-£20.

Helly Hanson and Rolson sell gel filled ‘Knee Pads’ that can protect gardeners who spend a lot of time kneeling. They cost about £5 per pair and make a good stocking filler for the gardener in the family.

Good Gardening Website Guide

We are biased with this first selection as our sister site offers tips for top gardeners on a wide range of garden matters. Check out the 20 categories where old post are filed such as the House Plant selection. Alternatively search for the plant, or gardeners tip you are looking for amongst the 1500 pages in the archive.

‘Royal Horticultural Society’ (RHS) says it in the name and the web site has truly regal pretensions. The public can access a wealth of information and databases but may be encouraged to become a member of the society to get even more benefits.

Garden.com is a humongous retailing site for all that are garden products. Use it to check what is on the market then shop around for a local supplier. As with most sites if you are lost click on the name or logo to go home.

The National Gardens scheme is a national institution with its comprehensive list of gardens open to the public for charity. An NGS garden will have had strict quality control and you are likely to find a location on the site that you can’t wait to visit in person.

Specialist and enthusiast create some great sites with founts of knowledge and good photography. You wont go far wrong with the Alpine Garden Society

A magazine magazine on the web can be found on Gardeners World. a spin off from the BBC TV programme and monthly magazine of the same name. If you want a virtual magazine this is the site for you

For those who what to Garden Organic then the old HDRA site is now spruce vibrant. I am not sure what Henry Doubleday would make if it but have a look for yourself.

Farmyard Manure in a Package

Horse manure comes out of horses so why does a plastic bag contain Farmyard Manure?

Well the guys at Levington’s sterilise and package their manure for gardeners to use on Roses and Flowers, Fruit and Vegetables. I am not sure what ‘Organic Blend’ means! However you can also buy Top Soil with this brand if you wish.

Manure is good for improving soil structure and adds humus. It also tops up nutrient levels and helps your garden to perform next year. I will be spreading more horse manure from local stables shortly and will have to do my own weeding.

I might try some Levington’s as part of the compost for my containers and hanging baskets next spring.

Leaf Collectors and Leaf Collecting

There has been a rapid fall in our autumn leaves after the cold and wind on bonfire night. I want to make leaf mold and will be collecting the fallen leaves in a variety of ways.

Collecting Leaves

• I have or had a pair of plastic grippers similar to the one photographed. They are useful for picking swept leaves off a hard surface like my drive.
• I also have a vacuum designed to strap over the shoulder for leaves to be collected in a bag.

• There is now a combined collector and shredding version that helps compact the leaves and speed the rotting process (see above).
• The rake and multi tined plastic leaf collector is also brought into service

• After collecting the leaves keep them in a wire cage or punctured plastic bags and let the worms do their job.
• Many local authorities now collect  roadside leaves in large sweepers for composting. They may take away your unwanted leaves as garden waste.

Disinfectant for Gardeners

Jeyes Fluid is an old gardeners favourite that can be used for a multitude of outdoor cleaning tasks.  It is perfect for clearing fungi, mould and algae from paths, greenhouse windows and patios as well as cleaning and disinfecting pots prior to planting. It is also used for cleaning animal housing.

I use Armillatox but ‘Under European legislation the active ingredients of all pesticides have to be reviewed, the cost of raising the data for the review is estimated to be £3 million – to a small company the cost is prohibitive. Therefore as from 25th July 2003, Armillatox has become ‘Armillatox Soap Based Outdoor Cleaner’ so taking it out of the pesticides regulations – the formulation remains the same. Armillatox is useful as a patio cleaner and for a wide range of other applications
Successful Missions according to Armillatox.com

1. Moss on lawns
2. Moss & algae on hard surfaces
3. Fairy rings
4. Fungal disease in roses
5. Fungal disease in onions
6. Cleansing and sterilising
7. Honey fungus
8. Clubroot
9. Toxocara canis eggs
10. Vine Weevil

Citrox is a newer disinfectant made from concentrated organic citrus extract   for cleaning greenhouses, pots, staging, tools, seed trays, bird feeders and bird baths. Citrox is harmless to plant material so greenhouse need not be cleared.

• Use all round the greenhouse, potting-shed and garden
• Clean pots, seed trays, capillary matting, staging and tools
• Effective against a wide range of bacterial and fungal diseases
• Dilute Citrox can be used to wash bulbs, corms and tubers
• Effective on pond accessories and bird tables
• Can be added to water butts to keep water sweet and free from disease

Citrox from amazon
Large Jeyez fluid from amazon

Perlite Lightens Compost

Perlite is a neutral non-toxic volcanic rock that has been heated to high temperatures to produce a lightweight porous material with  a high surface area.
It is used when sowing seeds, rooting cuttings or potting on to improve aeration, moisture retention and drainage.
Perlite is usually graded to produce particles up to quarter of an inch diameter.
Perlite is stable and long lasting.
100 litres of J Arthur Bowers perlite can be ordered from Amazon for less than £20.

Tips for Using Perlite

• Mix perlite with an equal part of compost for leaf or soft stemmed cuttings.
• For rooting harder cuttings increase the proportion of perlite.
• Perlite optimises the proportion of air and water in a compost and makes water logging almost impossible.
• Roots are not damaged when transplanting from a perlite mix.
• Water perlite before using to avoid dust

Artificial Grass

Did you know there are over 50 different Artificial Grasses. Well I suppose there are that many real grasses and certainly that many situations that need grass.

Groundcare Solutions landscape suppliers have many years experience in the management of grounds and gardens and they supplied the sample of artificial grass for photography.
They carry many varieties of artificial grass in stock and have advice and experience for gardeners and lanscapers to draw upon.

It is hard to tell the two grasses apart. My lawn is at the bottom and is the one that needs cutting. I particularly like the artificial straw coloured thatch on the ‘plastic’ grass, perhaps they will include moss and weeds in future.

I can’t resist the old sore about the famous sportsman who was asked if he preferred Astroturf or Grass and replied ‘I do not know I have never smoked Astroturf’.

Garden Art by ‘New Shoots’

‘Wild Wild Meadow’ is an interesting Artwork combining Garden photography, Digital art and top quality Giclee fine art reproduction.

This signed, limited edition of   ’17′ is available as a 20″ wide by 16″ deep box-framed, top quality fine art canvas ready to hang on your wall or give as a gift.

To place your order send your details and a cheque for £85 to New Shoots Garden Art 7 Fairfax Road Menston Ilkley LS29 6EW or place your order via the web with Digital Sunrise our Fine Art Supplier.

99% of the  photographs on our sister site Gardeners Tips are available for conversion into unique artworks. Please contact us for details.

Below is another unique one off artwork available in a similar format to our ‘Wild Wild Meadow’.

These works and many others are available to view at an interesting new Art Gallery Unit 7E, Old Station Mill, Cononley, Skipton, Yorkshire, BD20 8LN.

Artistic Garden Hangings

Trees are a great places to locate art in your garden. RHS Hyde Hall has a series of these woodland nymphs in various strategic locations around the garden.

An explanation of each wood nymph is provided alongside the sculpture. Both enhance the experience of walking through the woodland glade and do not detract from the natural beauty of the trees.

Garden Art by Iron Stop

Our sister site Gardeners Tips was contacted by Iron Stop the American makers of artistic garden spinners. I was interested enough to show case a couple of products on these pages. This is just a sample of the range of long lasting metal, powdered coated garden ornaments.

‘Iron Stop creates custom metal art and other ornamental features for the home and garden.’ Contact them through their web site Iron Stop .