Nottingham Local News » Gardening

NEWS FROM THRUMPTON FLOWER FESTIVAL

admin — Sat, 29 May 2010 19:50:57 +0000

Thrumpton Flower Festival takes place on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th June from 1-5pm each day. There’s plenty for all the family including the church flower display, village gardens, bar and teas. In addition, on the Saturday afternoon there will be various stalls and live music. Free car parking is available for this event for those travelling longer distance. Thrumpton is just off the A453, eight miles south west of Nottingham.

MARCH GARDEN NOTES

admin — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:48:47 +0000

By John Draper
Crocus, iris and some early daffodils will be providing great colour in the garden and new leaves will be emerging from shrubs and trees. The key job is to feed existing shrubs, roses and flowers ready for the rush of new growth. Depending on conditions it’s also time for seed sowing, planting and lawn maintenance.
The lawn
Your lawn is a great contributor to the welfare of the environment. When grouped together with the millions of other grass patches tended in gardens today, they absorb 0.5 tonnes of carbon per acre per year. That’s a net reduction in carbon emissions from a great play area that can look great and that acts as an interesting foil to colour flower borders. A well-tended lawn will also absorb heat and prevent wasteful water run-off.
After a cold, dark winter with plenty of rain and heavy cloud cover, the grass is likely to be in a poor state. Start by mowing the lawn, choose a dry day when frost is not present. You will almost certainly find colonies of moss, especially in low lying and shaded areas. To put it bluntly the grass needs to be fed, the moss killed and try and improve the drainage over the whole lawn.
Beds & Borders
Rose pruning is said by many to be one of the most daunting jobs in the garden, just because they are frightened they may harm the plants. But the alternative of no pruning creates an untidy, shapeless bush that only flowers on the top of tall stems. It’s much better for your garden and your roses to get secateurs and get hacking. Assuming your rose bush is established, you are unlikely to do it any harm.
Feeding your roses and other shrubs in spring is essential if they are to be strong and healthy this year. Rose & Shrub Plant Food will feed your plants with balanced nutrients and magnesium to help produce richly coloured blooms with greener foliage and excellent fragrance.
Patio tubs and Baskets
Sow seeds of tender bedding plants such as busy lizzies, petunia, verbena and French marigolds, so that you have plenty of young plants for use in patio pots, window boxes and hanging baskets in May.
Growing your own
It’s all hands to seed sowing now that spring is on the horizon. For a reliable early crop, some vegetables such as beetroot, broad beans and onions deserve to be sown indoors ready to plant out the seedlings come early April when the soil has become warmer. Sow broad bean seeds in individual three-inch pots using seed and cutting compost.
While most gardeners treat fruits like gooseberries, strawberries and raspberries to a yearly feed in spring, few seem to give apples and pear trees any extra feeding at all, which is why the crop from many trees are intermittent.
More detailed information can be found at www.greenergardens.co.uk

MARCH NATURE NOTES

admin — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:47:42 +0000

By Neil Pinder
Garden Moth Survey
The Garden Moth Survey, which has been running since 2007, aims to pull together the data recorded by hundreds of moth enthusiasts throughout the land. In 2009 there was a push to get more ‘moth-ers’ involved from the East Midlands and there were over a dozen of us who contributed. The beauty of garden mothing is twofold.
1) It’s dead easy – just switch the trap on before dusk and rummage through it in the morning.
2) It’s dead exciting because you never know what it might contain.
Moths have a reputation for being dowdy and annoying and there are some that are just that. Unfortunately, the results of the GMS show that the most frequent visitors to the garden traps fall into this category with the most common being Heart & Dart followed by Large Yellow Underwing.
It is number nine on the list before anything obviously not dowdy appears; the Brimstone moth (as you might expect) is bright yellow and very pretty – “like a butterfly” many will say.
There are so many species of moth; many thousands in Britain alone, compared to the 70 or so British butterflies that it is inevitable that there is greater variety and yes, some moths are stunningly beautiful with even the tiniest worth a closer look through a hand lens.
For it’s not just in colour and pattern that they vary – the biggest moth I get in my garden has a wingspan of nearly 120mm (4¾ inches) and the tiniest is just 4mm. Let me know if you would like to join in with the GMS but otherwise look out for events being arranged on May 15th as this is the 2010 National Moth Night.

GARDENS – MINI NATURE RESERVES

admin — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:57:48 +0000

Gardens are important places for wildlife, as woodlands and wildflower meadows are becoming damaged or disappearing. The UK’s 15m gardens cover around 270,000 hectares – an area greater than all our designated National Nature Reserves put together. In 2005, the Wildlife Trusts and the Royal Horticultural Society conducted a survey to find out more about garden wildlife, as part of the Wild about Gardens initiative. Over 2,000 people responded and the creature which topped the poll of favourites was the hedgehog, closely followed by birds.
The robin came in at number three followed by frogs, butterflies, blackbirds and blue tits. The final places in the top ten went to ladybirds, bees and squirrels. Whilst the hedgehog may have topped the poll, the fact that so many birds were listed in the top ten suggests that they are the most popular group of creatures that visit our gardens. In total, bird species accounted for almost fifty percent of all the votes cast.
Species were chosen because they were considered pretty, colourful or entertaining to watch, suggesting that people connect with wildlife that uses their gardens and like creatures that enhance their enjoyment of the outdoors.
Almost all respondents believed that ‘gardeners should do more to support wildlife’ and that ‘gardeners can come to the rescue of species in decline’. The survey results helped to dispel the myth that gardening for wildlife means a messy and unsightly garden. Small gardens can be just as rich in wildlife as large ones and those in built up areas can be of equal value to those in the suburbs.
Notts Wildlife Trust is promoting ‘Attracting Wildlife to your garden in Rushcliffe’. If you would like a pack of leaflets about wildlife gardening, email your address to Gordon Dyne at
gordon.dyne@mypostoffice.co.uk or write to 29 Westerham Road, Ruddington, Nottingham, NG11 6DP.

FEBRUARY NATURE NOTES

admin — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:57:54 +0000

By Neil Pinder
There are around 30 native tree species in Rushcliffe and on farmland Ash and Oak predominate. These, along with Elms, were planted or grew up along the enclosure hedges that are now around 200 years old. Elms still exist in the hedgerows and grow into tall bushes before being stricken with Dutch Elm disease once more, only for suckering re-growth to return.
Hedgerow elms are mainly English Elm whilst Wych Elm is more a woodland species and is common in Old Wood at Bunny, the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s reserve on the A60, where mature Wild Cherries grow too. Hornbeam is not common but can be found along wooded margins near Gotham and Widmerpool for example, whilst mature specimens of Beech are a lovely feature on the Belvoir escarpment at Barkestone Wood (just across the county boundary). Willows and Sallows dominate in the wetter areas along with Alder and Aspen around Holme Pierrepont.
Native lime trees are not common and one must cross borough boundaries into Ashfield to find good numbers of mature Small and Large-leaved Lime. Scots Pine, though native to the UK has not grown naturally here since the establishment of warm conditions after the retreat of the last great ice advance.
The Yew is peculiar in being an evergreen that bears berries rather than cones. Ancient specimens exist in some churchyards. There are far better botanists than me out there and I for one would love to see our native trees mapped and recorded. Such a map would, I think show Wild Service Tree and Native Black Poplar to be the scarcest. Perhaps someone would take up the challenge.

Monday 1st March

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:53:05 +0000

The Lady Bay Gardening Club meets at All Hallows Church in Lady Bay at 8pm. This month, Sally Cunningham from Leicester, will talk about Organic Gardening.

FEBRUARY GARDEN NOTES

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:28:07 +0000

By John Draper
The promise of spring is just around the corner and your garden should contain interesting flowers, foliage and scents, despite the cold weather. If it doesn’t contain anything of interest you may want to visit your local garden centre to see what’s naturally in bloom at this time of the year.
Beds & Borders
Sunny days will encourage cyclamen, early crocus and snowdrops to open their flower heads to provide a welcoming splash of flower colour. Some shrubs should also be in flower during this mid-winter time, including witch hazel (Hamamelis mollis) and winter sweet (Chimonanthus praecox). Both provide interesting pale yellow flowers and some stunning perfume that on a sunny day will fill the area.
Patio Tubs & Baskets
Potted camellias and rhododendrons will soon be flowering and it is well worth the effort to place them in the right position so that sunny mornings immediately after a hard frost don’t damage the flower buds. The plants are hardy and don’t mind the cold, frosty weather, but prefer to thaw gently rather than warm up quickly in direct sunshine. Find a spot that is protected from the early morning sun rays.
Position bulbs to get the benefit of every drop of sun, they will flower much earlier than those planted in beds and borders.
Growing Your Own
Home grown is extremely rewarding. Gardening at home or on an allotment provides great regular exercise, so we all feel fitter and healthier, even the children of the family. It benefits our immediate environment by providing growing plants that trap carbon dioxide, provide food and shelter for wildlife and fantastic crops of fruit and vegetables that provide food for your table.
Order seed potatoes now or buy from your local garden centre. When you have them at home place the potatoes, rose end up, in a light but cool room, preferably one that isn’t heated. The potatoes will then start to shoot sturdy green stems (it’s called chitting) so they grow faster when planted outside in March or April. The Lawn
If practical keep off when wet or frosty, as the grass plants will be bruised and they will not repair themselves until spring.
Only mow the lawn if it is necessary. Do not mow if heavy frosts are expected or if the ground is very wet.
Worms will improve the nutrient content of a soil and are beneficial to the soil structure, casts are best left to dry and then swept or brushed away with a stiff brush. Left on the lawn they provide the ideal base for weed germination.
More detailed information can be found on our very own website at www.greenergardens.co.ukYou can also follow us on Facebook at Greener Gardens Lawncare Nottingham.

SILVER FOR KEYWORTH IN BLOOM AWARDS

admin — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 12:00:23 +0000

Keyworth has collected a scattering of silver awards in the Royal Horticultural Society Britain in Bloom Awards. Having gained a bronze award, at its first attempt in the competition last year, Keyworth collected its first silver award from the judges in the ‘town’ category and a special judges award for its well designed and managed town cemetery. A silver gilt award goes to Joyces, the Plumtree Road hairdresser in the village. This is a very narrow miss on a gold award.
Silver awards also went to Crossdale Drive Primary School and Keyworth Primary and Nursery School for their entries into the School Garden competition. Councillor David Roos, who has pioneered our entries into the competition, helped by an enthusiastic group of volunteers, collected the award certificates at a regional ceremony, recently held in Cleethorpes.

JANUARY GARDEN NOTES

admin — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 14:11:43 +0000

By John Draper
While there is plenty of time left before we feel that spring is really with us, you can use this time to write down the good and the bad points of your 2009 garden. Make a note of the pleasing plants, good combinations of colours and successful fruit and vegetables you have seen in other peoples gardens or in a magazine that you would like to try growing.

Beds & Borders
You can now start to plant the garden for the future. Remember that a garden is three dimensional, so a flat plan is okay to plot out a pleasing mixture of shapes and curves, so long as you then bear in mind the height of the plants you have or the vertical space that is available.
Clothing walls, fences and other vertical surfaces with flower and foliage colour is very fashionable and well worth the effort. Unless you have a large garden, forget tall trees and bushes, because they take up valuable soil area as well as shade the other plants around them. You may find you have been growing some traditional plants that take up a lot of room for the flower power they offer.

Growing Your Own
Get digging bare ground to be used for vegetable crops. Add a good layer of well-rotted garden compost or a proprietary soil improver and mulch to the surface before you dig it over and leave in rough clumps.
Frost will work during remaining winter months to break down the heavy lumps of clay and they should be crumbly by the spring.
Just as it is a good time to plant roses, it’s also a good time to plant fruit trees and bushes. Talk to the staff at your local garden centre or nursery to learn of the advantages of modern varieties

Patio Tubs & Baskets
Gone are the days when patio pots were used to display just summer flowering bedding. Plant breeders have developed shrubs, fruit bushes and even small trees that are suitable for permanent cultivation in containers. Look for dwarf conifers, topiary box or Pieris and Skimmias of various shapes and sizes to provide some permanent foliage interest or ericaceous plants such as camellia, rhododendron and azalea to provide spring colour.
Remember that the roots and compost of plants growing in patio pots can freeze solid if the containers are not given enough protection. The roots of even hardy plants can be killed in a prolonged spell of really cold weather. For more details visit the website www.greenergardens.co.uk

DECEMBER GARDEN NOTES

admin — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 11:43:25 +0000

By John Draper
It’s time to review the plants in your garden that easily survive hot, dry summers and those that struggle. Dig out shrubs that have died and consider their suitability for the position and the soil. Replace with more suitable species after you have enriched the soil with plenty of organic matter to hold onto as much moisture as possible. Make a note of the successes in the garden and vegetable patch that are worth repeating and the failures that need avoiding.
Beds & Borders
Tidy up between shrubs and trees getting rid of all the weeds that are present. Doing the job in December is very opportune if you have spring bulbs between your established plants, you can kill off the weeds before spring bulbs break through the winter soil.
Using the leading weed control product Weedol Max® will make this project really easy. It’s completely inactivated on contact with the soil, is rainfast just ten minutes after application and works at all temperatures at all times of the year. Weedol Max can be used around flowers, shrubs, fruit and vegetables without leaving harmful residues’ and its safe for children and pets.
Patio Tubs & Baskets
Maintain winter interest and colour with tubs, baskets and window boxes planted with winter pansies, variegated ivy and purple flowering heather.
The Lawn
With the recent warm weather the grass has continued to grow and it may still need a cut to keep it looking good and the envy of the neighbourhood. The increase in rainfall has also seen a dramatic increase in worm activity. Worm casts play havoc, making lawns look messy and ultimately encourage weeds and weed grasses.
A wire rake is good for removing casts, alternatively use a brush. A recent application of an Autumn dressing will have helped to increase the acidity of the soil which will help deter earthworms, but you can give extra help by collecting up fallen leaves as this will remove surface food which encourage worms to cast. If finding a dry day to cut the lawn is a problem drag the reverse side of a brush over the lawn, wait 30 minutes or so and then the lawn should be dry enough to cut.
Grow Your Own
It’s still not too late to plant bare root fruit trees and bushes before the ground freezes solid.
Telephone 0115 846 5113 or more detailed information can be found at greenergardens.co.uk
Weedol Max® contains pelargonic acid. Always read the label. Use pesticides safely.
®Trademarks of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company or its affiliates (www.lovethegarden.com).