1st Class Gardens

Page 6 of 25

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

If you want spectacular roses you need to get pruning

April 9, 2021 / George / Comments Off

Roses of many colours and varieties are a common sight in English gardens and if properly looked after and maintained regularly will produce blooms throughout the summer and some varieties will even have a second bloom in the autumn months. Some people however are reluctant to grow roses in the garden because they feel that they need specialist care and pruning but with a bit of research and a good pair of secateurs there is nothing to fear. The key to the successful growing of roses is in the pruning, a task that needs to be done correctly to give the optimum effect and so that an abundance of flowers will be produced. The main reason for pruning roses is to keep the plant healthy and compact because rose bushes... Continue reading

Is it worth having a herb garden?

March 12, 2021 / George / Comments Off

Many people have become more adventurous with their cooking recently as various cooking programmes have become popular viewing. As part of this interest in exciting meal preparation the use of herbs and spices has become more prevalent. Although most herbs and spices can be bought from the local supermarket in dried form using fresh herbs is preferable in many recipes and growing your own supply is a rewarding challenge. Growing your own herbs to use in recipes is easy to do and plants can either be in pots on a sunny windowsill, in planters on a patio or planted in the garden. Be aware that herbs can spread and take over a whole area in the garden especially a herb such as mint so if you want to restrict this... Continue reading

It is time to tidy the garden

February 8, 2021 / George / Comments Off

In February we can begin to see signs of spring in the garden. Snowdrops may start growing in sheltered spots and daffodils and crocuses may be beginning to poke their heads through the soil. The garden often looks very drab at this time of the year so now is a good time to wrap up warm and venture out to do a bit of tidying. The first task is usually sweeping up any leaves that have gathered in some areas and either composting them to make mulch or taking them to the nearest recycling centre if there are too many to compost. Many garden plants die back in winter so now is a good time to cut back plants taking care not to cut back any hydrangeas as the new... Continue reading

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