April 2009
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French Beans… Ooh La La!


524972522 bEbAc S French Beans... Ooh La La!

French beans

NOW IS THE time to plant climbing French beans. Before you start sowing, put up your cane supports at a height of 2metres.  These need to be 20cm (8ins) apart in the rows and between the rows.

From the beginning of May sow seeds directly in to the ground or in

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Ravishing roots


524977644 fSCbu S Ravishing roots

Paul sows carrot seeds

CARROTS CAN BE sown outdoors directly in to a moist, well cultivated and riddled soil. A riddle is a garden sieve which will remove all debris and stones from the area – these are available from any good garden centre, and are a vital tool when sowing many varieties of

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May in the borders - rhododendrons, azaleas, hostas.


524972643 939og S May in the borders rhododendrons, azaleas, hostas.

Hostas protected with chicken feed grit

MANY RHODODENDRONS AND azaleas are starting to flower and this is an important time of year to feed them.  You should use ericaceous feeds, high in iron and containing essential trace elements for healthy growth, available from any good garden

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Not so pleasant a pheasant


508327089 SuRS4 S Not so pleasant a pheasant

Pheasant – Photo courtesy www.freefoto.com

THE PHEASANT HAS to be one of the dimmest birds around.

It’s a conclusion based on the suicidal dashes both the male and female of the species insist on making to get across the road and the fact that they just act daft.

Now, I not expecting them to look

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Grow your own vegetables


506821715 mpRxE S Grow your own vegetables

Grow your own potatoes

You do not need a vegetable patch to grow your own vegetables, fruit and herbs.  Many of these plants can be grown in small plots, raised beds or containers, taking up very little space in your garden.  Many benefits can be reaped from growing your own food  – nutritious and organic produce,

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Look to your borders


506751762 cL4iz S Look to your bordersRemove any dead vegetation from over-wintering herbaceous plants ready for spring growth.  Fork lightly around the plant – this will allow oxygen to the roots and stimulate early growth.  This is works particularly well with Hostas.

The dead material that you have removed from the plants should be composted as it contains vital nutrients.  If you haven’t already got one,

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Greenhouse cleanup


507471630 ZMLj7 S Greenhouse cleanupThis is the time to clear out and clean up the greenhouse.  Strip out all old plant material, wash glass, benches and shelves down with garden disinfectant e.g. Jeyes fluid, as well as any pots to be reused.  There is nothing better than a good clean start to the season.  After this the greenhouse should be smoke bombed with a sulphur candle

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We launch with lawn tips for April


507455159 rhWuh S We launch with lawn tips for AprilMow the lawn on a ‘high cut’ for the first cut of the season.  This removes debris and the discoloured ends of the grass after the winter.  2-3 days later apply lawn fertiliser, weed killer and moss killer (bought as an all in one product) – this can be found in any good garden centre.  2 weeks

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