Year round gardening tips.
I'm adding to these general tips all of the time, so whilst they may seem a bit haphazard at the moment, in time they they will branch off into different sections.
Subject | Tips |
---|---|
Safety |
|
Seeds |
If you have small expensive seed, such as pansy or busy lizzie. It's a good idea to mix the packet of seeds with silver sand (or wallpaper paste) before sowing into a seed tray / pot, as this will provide a much better distribution of plants and make it easier to prick out seedlings. This also gives the added benefit of that you can see where you have sown. |
Bonfires |
Whilst there aren't any laws against when you can have a bonfire*, it's probably going to cause less upset if you wait until after sundown, or wait for an overcast day. Either way check to see if any neighbors have their windows open, or washing out before lighting. * It is an offence to burn domestic/household waste on a bonfire, if it is likely to cause harm to human health or to the environment. If you have them regularly, or they burn for too long, they could be regarded as a nuisance and be dealt with under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. For more information see The Government Services and Information website (Gov.uk) Check bonfires for animals (hedgehogs, frogs, toads, mice etc.) before lighting. |
Animals |
For tips on scaring animals away from your garden please see the pests & diseases page. |
Ponds |
Children seem to be drawn hypnotically to water. Consider filling in the pond with large pebbles (easy to remove when the child has left home :-)), filling with sand to make a sand pit (although make a cover for it so the local cats don't start using it as a toilet) or fit a sturdy 4" steel grate over the pond. |
Paving |
When laying paving next to grass, ensure that it's below soil level to avoid catching the lawn mower blades. |
Fencing |
To reduce the rotting of fence posts, stand them in a container of preservative for a couple of hours before using. |
Potting on |
When moving houseplants into a larger pot, the plant will grow roots rather than produce flowers. So leave the potting on until after the flowers have finished. |
Watering |
When watering plants in the border, make sure that you give them a really good drink. Just giving them a short watering encourages the roots to develop closer to the surface of the soil, making the plant less drought tolerant and more susceptible to be rocked by the wind. |
Herbs |
Tarragon has an aniseed flavour. Always taste some before you use it in cooking, the strength varies dramatically between plants. |