Gardening Services

The biggest issue with composting is that it can be a slow process, so many people are keen on knowing how to speed the decomposition up. There are a few tricks you can try to encourage the decomposition process so that you can more quickly benefit from some lovely fertile compost.

1. Think small- be sure to chop or shred items up into small pieces so that they can more easily decompose.

2. Moisture balancing- you want your compost pile to have a similar moisture content to that of a ‘wrung sponge’. In other words it does need a decent amount of moisture, but not too much.

3. Mix it up- you need a mixture of carbon rich (brown) and nitrogen rich (green) ingredients to speed up decomposition.

4. Keep it moving- every 3-5 days you should turn the compost heap over.

5. Microbes- by keeping up with the above tasks, you will develop good microbes that are the biggest key to decomposition.

These five tricks will help speed up the process of decomposition in your compost heap.

Fall is just around the corner and it will soon be time to start prepping your greenhouse for winter. It is important to conduct proper up-keep of a greenhouse to prevent disease and mould. Here are a few steps to consider.

Clean your greenhouse out by:

• Removing seasonal plants
• Sweeping it out
• Disinfecting surfaces and floors with soapy water
• Clean the roof cover with a mild detergent
• Wash the entire structure and all gardening tools and accessories in the greenhouse
• Take inventory of tools and possibly reorganise them
• Clean off any shading paint to allow more sun and heat to enter during winter
• Ensure that after the clean, the greenhouse is thoroughly ventilated and dries out

Inspect the greenhouse by:

• Ensure the roof cover is not cracked
• Examine the insulation
• Possibly add additional insulation on the north facing wall
• Inspect heating system (if present)
• Inspect the ventilation system
• Replace any cracked panes

As humanity consistently expands, we need to ensure we still make room for nature. Bees are an important part of our ecosystem so we need to help look after them, and who doesn’t love butterflies? Try planting these 10 plants to entice bees and butterflies to your garden.

1. Alliums and Chives-all members of the allium family (chives, onions etc) are a firm favourite of the bees and not too fussy on soil conditions.
2. Sedum-these are a butterfly magnet and easy to grow in containers.
3. Cranesbill or Geranium-these are excellent for bees, especially the blue or purple varieties and are quite low maintenance.
4. Cerinthe Major-difficult to find but another bee magnet! It is an annual plant, grown from seed.
5. Buddleia or Butterfly Bush-is very fragrant, has a variety of sizes (some quite large) and very attractive to bees and butterflies.
6. Perovskia/Russian Sage-loves dry, sunny conditions and a large container.
7. Monarda or Bee Balm-not ideal for growing in a container and enjoys a sunny, well-drained spot.
8. Cotoneaster-is a shrub of various sizes and types. Ensure to get a less invasive variety, should it try to take over.
9. Herb Oregano-a very hardy herb, typically used in a border and highly attractive to butterflies and pollinators.
10. Lavender-very fragrant, likes sunny/well-drained spot and good for container growing.

These plants are all easy to grow and could also be put into pots or windowsills if you are short on garden space. They will help you create a wildlife friendly habitat and give you the enjoyment of watching the bees and butterflies appreciate your efforts.

There is no disputing that organic homegrown vegetables just taste superior, fresher, and more satisfying, so there is no surprise that more and more Britons have taken to growing vegetables. Many people are fortunate enough that they have the outdoor space to grow vegetables but if you don’t and are wanting to grow indoors, we have put together a list of vegetables that are easy to grow inside.

1. Scallions – scallions are an easy plant to grow suitable indoors as they do not need as much sunlight to grow. They are also easy to care for so a great option for beginners.

2. Radishes – these are another option that doesn’t require maximum sunlight. They will require a deep large container.

3. Lettuce – Lettuce is another easy to grow indoor plant. Try not to over water, the aim is to keep the soil damp, using a spray bottle would be a wise choice.

There is no disputing that tomatoes are a wonderful and versatile food that is healthy, full of nutrients, and delicious. More and more people are opting to grow their own fruit and vegetables more now than ever before, you simply cannot beat fresh homegrown produce.

If you would like to start growing your own tomatoes, first you must consider which variety you want. If you are looking for salad tomatoes then Sungold is a great option or if you are wanting to make passata or ketchup then Roma is a great choice for you.

Once you have chosen your variety follow these steps.

1. Sow the seeds indoors in March.

2. Keep your seedlings moist and in a sunny spot.

3. Plant out, two feet apart, in a sunny location after the risk of frost has passed.

4. Feed when fruits start appearing

5. Harvest from July as they turn red

So, you have decided that its time to start growing vegetables in your garden. Vegetables provide valuable nutrients to your diet and it can’t be disputed that fresh home-grown vegetables taste amazing! Before you set up there are a couple of things you will need to consider.

You will need to pick the best location for your new veggie patch and will need to consider how big or little you want it to be.

You can easily grow vegetables even if you only have a small amount of space. You can grow them in containers or in a raised bed if you are really limited in space and of course you can have your vegetable patch as big as you like.

For the location you must pick a light airy spot which has limited shade. Most of the grow at home vegetables really love sun and need it to thrive.

Once you have figured out the location and size you can get to work buying the materials you will need to set up and of course your chosen vegetable choice.

Keeping weeds under control in your garden can be a time-consuming task but is essential to keep your garden in perfect shape. Although the initial stage of pulling pesky weeds can be somewhat satisfying it soon becomes a chore. Simply following a few basic steps can reduce weeds and keep your garden looking great.

– Avoid soil disturbance – disturbing your soil can lead to a break out of fresh weeds, if you need to disturb your soil make sure you fill with plants or mulch.

– Cut the source – use a sharp knife with a narrow blade to slice through the roots rather than digging them out.

– Pull when wet – weeds are far easier to remove after a big downpour. If you can’t pull them, or cut the source – remove the heads to buy some time

– Consider your space – closely placed plants will give shade which will reduce weeds

– Draught – only water the plants you need in hot conditions, avoid watering any weeds.

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