Stable Barrow

Author: katie

  • Its time to tidy up the garden

    For the majority of people who have a garden, autumn is the time when it can start to look untidy as summer plants become faded and past their best and shrubs need a good pruning. If the weather is still dry then it is a good idea to get the jobs done in the garden before the winter arrives when it is harder to motivate ourselves to move outdoors.

    The first task is to remove any plants that have died or have become overgrown. It can be tempting to think that perhaps they will come back next year but apart from hardy geraniums the majority of bedding plants will not survive the winter and if they do they will take a long time to flower so be ruthless and clear the pots and beds of any plants that are past their best.

    If you want to have some spring flowers now is the time to plant bulbs. Add some new compost to the pots or dig it into the flower beds then plant your selection of bulbs to give a welcome colourful display in spring.

    Pruning back shrubs that are looking overgrown can also be a task for this time of the year but if done correctly will result in new healthy growth next spring.

  • How to attract birds into your garden

    There is something very peaceful about sitting in your garden or living room and watching birds flying around. You may want to attract more birds or other animals in to your garden but are not sure exactly how to go about it. If you have a cat or a dog which is good at catching animals then you may want to think carefully before trying to attract them. Most birds are quite used to having to contend with other animals but if you encourage them to nest then you may have baby birds around who are not quite as good at getting away!

    Firstly, a bird table is a great addition and the first step in welcoming in wildlife. There are a number of different types of bird tables you can opt for or if you don’t have room for a table then you may instead choose to hang bird feeders from the branches of a tree or from your fence.

    A bird bath is another item that can look beautiful in your garden but also gives birds another reason to come back. If you do opt for a bird table, be sure to try and top up / change the water often.

  • Create a stunning display of succulents in your garden

    Succulents can add a wonderful touch of the tropical to any garden whether in pots or rockeries and are very easy to grow and care for. They can be grown as an indoor plant or as an outdoor plant on a sunny patio.

    Choosing the right pot for your succulents will depend on the size of the plant and whether you want just one specimen plant in the pot or whether you want a few plants that complement each other in one shallow pot. Once planted, it is good to top the soil with fine gravel as this will make an impressive display and show off the succulent more effectively.

    Succulents come in a variety of colours, shapes and sizes and can create a wonderful display on a rockery in the garden. They need very little maintenance and can survive in dry conditions with very little water. These hardy plants can even be planted to grow on gravel paths where they spread rapidly to create a carpet of colour.

    Particular varieties to look out for are the deeply coloured Semponium “Destiny” which won plant of the year at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show and Houseleeks with their brightly coloured rosettes which change colour with the seasons.

  • Does your lawn need attention?

    During the autumn and winter months we often forget about our lawns but when spring arrives and we start to spend more time in our gardens, we realise that the lawn desperately needs some attention. Weeds such as buttercups and plantains sprout up in the middle of the lawn and prevent the grass from growing in those areas or the lawn is overtaken by moss which again kills off the turf.

    There are many products available that proport to bring your grassed area back to a lush, green lawn but take care as some products kill off the moss leaving blackened areas on the lawn which need to be removed by scarifying. Although these treatments have something in them which should encourage the grass to grow, it can take a while for the lawn to recover.

    A better solution to revive a worn or dilapidated lawn is to dig out large weeds, scarify with a pronged implement to get rid of some of the moss then reseed the whole area with a good quality, fast growing grass seed that will grow and fill in the bare patches. Regular watering and feeding will soon have the lawn looking green and lush again ready for the summer.

  • How can I make my garden more low maintenance?

    Lots of people enjoy having a nice outdoor space to enjoy, especially as the weather starts to get warmer. However, with most people working many hours throughout the day it can be hard to find the time to put into maintaining your garden.

    So, how can you make the most of limited time and make your garden as low maintenance as possible? Large flower beds can take quite a lot of upkeep as you’ll get weeds growing in between your flowers and the soil needs to be regularly turned over and aerated to keep your plants growing well. An easier alternative would be plants in pots instead. These can be easily maintained and moved around to suit your outdoor space.

    Area’s of grass can be easily tidied up if you are able to mow it fairly regularly and can really soften an outdoor space making it more usable for all the family.

    For patio areas a super-low maintenance option would be poured resin either over your existing slabs or over concrete as this gives an attractive wet-look to the area and ensures that weeds cannot grow up between your slabs.  This option is very low maintenance but can be quite costly so you may want to shop around to ensure you get the best price.