George | 1st Class Gardens

Author: George (page 3 of 18)

Are you cursed with chalky soil?

September 30, 2021 / George / Comments Off

If you live in an area with a chalky terrain you may have chalky soil in your garden which can be a problem. Chalky soil is usually deficient in certain nutrients and some plants will not thrive in this type of soil. However, all is not lost and with some hard work and plant knowhow a flourishing garden can be achieved. It is essential that any new beds are well dug over with well-rotted compost and possibly bought topsoil. Try not to dig down too deeply as this will just bring the chalky soil up to the surface which will not be helpful. Regular mulching of beds and borders will be beneficial in autumn to prepare the ground for planting in the spring. As chalky soil is so porous routine... Continue reading

Install a fountain in your garden to really impress

August 23, 2021 / George / Comments Off

There are many different types of water feature on the market from small cascading bowls right the way through to large ornamental fountains and your choice of water feature will very much depend on the space you have in your garden and the impression you want to create. Installing a fountain in your outdoor space will certainly give the garden the wow factor and can be quite easy to set up. Positioning the fountain will need to be carefully thought out as it is better to situate it so that it is accessible from each side for cleaning. Many people site them in the centre of a lawned area or alternatively on a gravelled surface. Fountains do not necessarily have to be of the traditional classical style if this does... Continue reading

A busy time for gardeners

July 15, 2021 / George / Comments Off

At this time of the year, it seems as if however long you spend gardening there are still many tasks that need doing to keep the garden looking neat and tidy. With the mixture of rainy days and spells of beautiful sunshine plants, and unfortunately weeds, grow at an increased rate meaning that the garden can quickly become overgrown. So, what can gardeners do to stay on top of the gardening jobs at this time of the year? Regular maintenance is much more effective than leaving the garden for weeks without attention. Doing a little bit of weeding and cutting back once or twice a week does not seem as arduous and prevents the plants and weeds taking over in some areas of the garden. Mowing the lawn every week... Continue reading

Micro gardening is the new trend

June 23, 2021 / George / Comments Off

One of the more positive things to have come out of the lockdowns is the trend for people to grow their own produce but what if you do not have a garden or allotment to use for your vegetable and salad plants? Recent innovation in micro gardening has given those with only a window box or balcony a way of growing their own produce whether it be salad leaves, herbs or tomatoes and chillies. A micro gardening kit usually consists of seeds, a small propagator and a special medium to grow the seeds in which expands when water is added. Hydroponic growing systems may also have an in built light perfect if your home does not get much natural light. The easiest plants to start with is a mixture of... Continue reading

Is the wet weather spoiling your spring plants?

May 28, 2021 / George / Comments Off

This month we have had an extraordinary amount of rain, windy weather and unseasonably cold temperatures following a previously dry month and this is causing havoc with our gardens. Tulips are being blown about so much that their petals are falling, and bedding plants are refusing to grow because it is too cold. Is there anything that can be done to save our young plants and shrubs until the weather improves? If at all possible bedding plants and seedlings need to be kept either in a greenhouse or on a sunny windowsill until the weather warms up as it is possible to have frosts right up until the end of the month. If this is not a possibility then covering them with some polythene sheeting is another alternative. A simple... Continue reading

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