The common foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
Posted by Susan on Jun 30, 2009
The foxglove is a common biennial herbaceous plant. The flowering stems are quite recognisable and can reach a height of 1 to 2 metres tall. The flowers are soft, bell shaped florets and are usually purple, yellow or white and flowering time is early summer although some secondary stems can be seen to flower later in the year.
The foxglove is a quintessential English cottage garden plant and provides a beautiful addition to any border. The plant likes a sandy loam soil and prefers partial sun to full shade. A staggering fact about the foxglove is that it produces about one to two million seeds before it dies.
Agapanthus
Posted by Susan on Jun 29, 2009
Agapanthus are a type of herbaceous perennial plant that can brighten up any border. The used to be only able to grow in warm southern gardens but recently more hardier versions of the plant have been produced so they can be planted just about anywhere in the UK.
Agapanthus have large rounded heads of flowers that are displayed on a long stem, colours go from blue to violet but there are also some pure white types. They used to be native to South Africa but are now found in gardens all over Europe. They don’t like waterlogged soil or types of soil that dry out quickly during the growing season, in fact they need lots of water throughout the early spring and summer to ensure growing success.
Stradsett Hall Garden Show 2009
Posted by Stefan on Jun 29, 2009
Buying new plants can be quite expensive, especially if they are already well established. There is no better way to buy plants than at your local flower or gardening show and if the shows has good connections to a reputable charity then all the better.
The Stradsett Hall garden show 2009 will take place on Saturday and Sunday the 4th and 5th of July in Norfolk. Set in beautiful surroundings including private garden and lake, the shows highlights include a butterfly barrel competition, an art exhibition, antique valuations and over 75 trade stands.
The show supports a number of local charities including Norfolk Hospice, East Anglia Air Ambulance and the Kin’s Lynn branch of the National Osteoporosis Society.
Watering and planting in June
Posted by Jamie on Jun 27, 2009
Now that June is almost at an end you may have noticed that you need to water your garden more. Even though it seems like it rains every other day your plants will need topping up with water because the soil will feel quite dry just underneath the surface.
If you water really well about once a week the roots of plants will put down longer deeper roots because the soil will be wetter deeper down, this is far better of course than shallow roots that can dry out a lot easier if they are not watered often.
If you are planting any new shrub or tree at this time of year then you should soak the root ball and the bottom of the hole you have dug, this is a far better method than just planting and then watering the surface.
The difference between annuals and perennials
Posted by Stefan on Jun 25, 2009
For the seasoned gardener this may seem an obvious subject, however for the novice the difference still needs to be spelt out.
Annuals
An annual is any plant whose life cycle lasts for only one year. This is from seed to flower and then again to seed. If you are lucky the plant will reseed in the same position it was last year.
Perennials
These plants last for year on year, in the winter they may die back or remain dormant but will return with full aplomb the next year. They can be divided into two main types – herbaceous (plants that die back) and woody (don’t die back but grow larger, for example shrubs and trees).
Gardening tools
Posted by Susan on Jun 24, 2009
There are some tools that the avid gardener can not do without. Everyone has their favourite but here is a list of a few essential items that every gardener should have.
• Spade – More than one spade is always a good idea, choose one that is a good tool for everyday digging and a more heavy duty alternative that can be use for shovelling or lifting plants.
• Fork – As with the spade it is the quality of the item that matters, two piece units can often break and inferior quality items are generally not worth the money.
• Hand trowel and fork – For the delicate weeding and planting these should always be kept close at hand.
• Pruners/shears – Ones with blades that can be sharpened or interchangeable blades are the best as blunt pruners can be difficult to use.
• Hoe – A good quality sharp hoe is a key component in your tool kit. There are backwards and forwards operating hoes, it is a personal choice which to choose.
• Rake – imagine trying to clear up leaves or rubbish without a rake?
• Watering can – An essential item that you can never do without.
Soil Types
Posted by Susan on Jun 22, 2009
If you are a seasoned gardener you may already know how important the type of soil you have in your garden is, and how this type and its pH value can affect the type of plants you want to grow.
Soil pH is a measure of the soils acidity or alkalinity. Most plants differ in their requirements regarding the pH of the soil. As a general rule pH 7 or neutral should support most plants however some prefer slightly acidic conditions and others slightly alkaline.
It is important to test your soil using a do-it-yourself tester kit before you start as this may have an impact on your choice of plants.
As a footnote, many plants foliage or flowers can change colour in relation to pH level of the soil.
A quick note about roses
Posted by Stefan on Jun 22, 2009
The quintessential garden plant is the rose. Roses should feature in every garden and contrary to popular belief they are not difficult to grow.
Roses love a sunny location, so before you plant make sure you position them appropriately. They also don’t like to compete with other plants that take excess nutrients from them. Annuals and perennials are ok but trees and large bushes are not. Avoid planting in windy locations, the petals of most roses are quit delicate and the wind can cause the flowers to dry out quickly. A good idea is to choose a rose that is quit hardy – the older varieties tend to be the best.
Small garden ideas
Posted by Jamie on Jun 12, 2009
If you live in a terraced house and only have a small space to try to create a garden you should not worry. There are many designs that can be incorporated into a small space, so if you need inspiration a few ideas are discussed below:
• Raised beds are a great way to divide your garden up into sections. They are also easier to weed and although they require a little more construction than standard ground level beds they are much easier to look after when they are built.
• A herb bed is always a great idea, or if you are feeling a little more adventurous a kitchen garden will provide you with home grown veg throughout the summer.
• Try to have some sort of sitting area so you can relax on hot summer days, you can get prefabricated stone circles quite cheaply from garden centres. They can provide a centre point for your garden and you can incorporate planting round it once it is laid.
• If you are on a budget, perennial plants will flower year after year so you will not have to go to the garden centre every year to buy new bedding plants.
The start of summer and lawn care
Posted by Stefan on Jun 11, 2009
The month of June is one of the best times of the year to enjoy your garden. The sun is shining (usually) and most of your flowers will either be in bloom or will be just about to flower.
The most important job that you will have undoubtedly already started throughout the summer is mowing the lawn. One of the most difficult things to grow is a perfect lawn. Dandelions and other weeds will see your lawn as an ideal place to take residence. A few tips for a perfect lawn are listed below:
• You should remove weeds using a selective weedkiller (not killing the grass).
• Try aerating the lawn using a fork or an aerating tool.
• Mow the grass every two weeks or so. Try mowing in different directions each time you mow to prevent the grass blades from growing a particular curved direction.
• Don’t cut your grass when it is wet (electric or petrol).
• Use a lawn roller occasionally to achieve flatness.
• If possible mow in the morning after the dew has dried.
• Keep you mower well maintained and make sure it has a sharp blade.
• Feed your lawn about 4 times a year using a lawn feed product (The first after the last frost).
• Water your lawn regularly during dry periods to ensure the grass stays in perfect condition.