I have a lovely competition (scroll down ) for you to win a pair of tickets to gardeners world live which is on at at the NEC in Birmingham from 11-14th.
To celebrate summer being around the corner and the garden beginning to flourish we have 5 tops gardening tips for an expert for you today . Gardeners world regular Matt Biggs answers some commonly asked questions for us.
1. How do you get rid of slugs and snails?
Use environmentally friendly slug pellets, or predatory nematodes put copper bands round the top of pots, encourage thrushes, ground beetles, toads and hedgehogs as predators, use traps like a hollowed out upturned grapefruit or hand pick them on damp summer evenings.
2. Why doesn’t my wisteria flower?
Make sure it is pruned properly. Cut the side shoots back to six buds in August, then the same shoots further back to two buds in February. Feed with sulphate of potash in March and don’t use high nitrogen fertiliser as they are vigorous enough already. The also need a warm sunny, south or south west facing wall to flourish; they will grow on North facing walls, but produce fewer flowers.
3 What can I plant against a north facing wall?
Try the Climbing Hydrangea Hydrangea anomala ssp. petiolaris one of the best all rounder’s which is self clinging, has bronze peeling bark when mature, fresh green leaves in spring, yellow autumn colour and beautiful lacy flower-heads in late spring and early summer. It needs moist soil so keep it well watered until established.
4 Which herbs and vegetables grow well in shade?
None will grow in very heavy shade but plenty thrive in part shade. Try tasty herbs like Chervil, rocket, sorrel, parsley and mustard. Vegetables include salad leaves, spinach, lettuce (particularly in summer), chard, beetroot and peas.
5. How do I get rid of moss from the lawn?
Improve the drainage and aeration by spiking the lawn with a border fork in autumn when the soil is moist. Cut back overhanging branches to increase light levels and don’t cut the lawn too short. Apply lawn feed and moss killer in spring, lightly rake out the moss, then over-seed to replace the mossy patches with grass, using a grass seed mix for shade, if necessary.
How useful were they!
BBC Gardeners World Live at the NEC is for all of you who love gardening and is full of fab exhibitors and gardening experts you know and love.
If you would like to win a pair of tickets (for any day cxcept the Saturday) pls just simply tell me you favourite flower in the comment box below.
Comp closes on June 4th
T&C’s:non transferable, over 18’s and UK residents only pls,
Good Luck!
Oh and if you are looking for a family gardening blog I am happy to recommend Growing Family …just lovely!
Original article and pictures take thrifty-home.co.uk site
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