spring YO U R G A R D E N G U I D E TO
Gardening hints & tips so we all feel the joys of spring
www.stihl.co.uk www.vikingmowers.co.uk
YOUR GARDEN GUIDE TO SPRING
spring T H E J OYS O F
I ’ M D E L I G H T ED TO WELCOME YOU TO T H E N E W STIHL & VIKING G A R D EN I N G M AG A Z I N E FOR SPRING
This magazine is full of useful hints and tips from my world of professional gardening. I’m Jane Moore, a professional gardener with more than 25 years’ experience. My 11 year stint at The Bath Priory Hotel has given me my proudest achievements; the creation of a National Collection of plants and last year I won the prestigious International Relais & Chateaux Gardens Trophy. For much of the past 20 years I’ve also been writing for gardening magazines, chronicling my allotment experiences for five years with BBC Gardeners’ World and diarising the kitchen garden at The Priory for The Kitchen Garden, as well as contributing to national newspapers. In my working week I use a wide range of tools and products and STIHL has consistently been my choice for quality and longevity. STIHL really do share yours, and my, passion for gardening, which is why they have asked me to bring you the very best in gardening know-how for spring.
STIHL & VIKING
GE T GR OW ING April is the perfect time to sow seeds both outdoors and indoors. All those stalwart British staples such as beetroots, carrots, leafy chards and spinach are ideal to sow straight into the ground now. Wait a couple of weeks before sowing the more tender French and runner beans directly into the ground or sow them in pots on the kitchen windowsill now and grow them on for a couple of weeks. Don’t plant too many though – it only takes a few plants to feed a family.
F I V E FAV E A N N UA L S TO S OW N OW Easy growing annuals are some of the simplest plants to grow, as you can sow them straight into the ground. These are some of my favourites for filling in gaps in the borders. 1. NIGELLA DAMASCENA or Love-in-a-mist is one of the first plants I remember as a child with its lovely flowers and fantastic seed pods. Go for ‘Mrs Jekyll’ a lovely sky blue, or ‘Persian Jewels’ a sugary pastel mix. Grows to 45cm (18in) tall. 2. QUAKING GRASS or Briza maxima isn’t the brightest of bloomers, but the shimmering seed heads are an absolute delight - especially when combined with other annuals in a vase. Grows to a tidy 45cm (18in) tall.
3. POPPY ‘LADYBIRD’ is that vibrant classic scarlet of wild field poppies with a lovely black splodge at the base of each petal. Combine that with ferny green foliage and it looks great anywhere in the garden, especially as it’s a neat 38-45cm (15-18in) tall.
4. POT MARIGOLD or Calendula is a firm favourite of mine with its bright green leaves topped with bright orange or yellow flowers to a height of 38-45cm (15-18in) tall. Brilliant for bees. 5. POACHED EGG PLANT or Limnanthes douglasii looks just as it sounds, with cheery round flowers of yellow and white on dense mounds of fresh green leaves only 15-20cm (6-8in) tall. It will grow almost anywhere and seeds itself freely so you may only have to sow it once yourself!
3
YOUR GARDEN GUIDE TO SPRING
CLEANERS
C LE ANING D U TIES After this sodden winter, our garden furniture is in dire need of some TLC. I love the lived-in look of silvery teak when weatherworn but sanding and using products can take it back to that bright orangey shade it has when it’s new. Using the pressure washer might not be conventional but it gets the tables back to that silver without lots of elbow grease and chemicals. I’m very careful not to blast joints directly with the jet of water though as it could weaken them. RE 98 High Pressure Cleaner If you’re after a powerful clean with minimal effort then this high pressure cleaner is the one for you. No need to break a sweat scrubbing; relax and watch as the dirt is blasted away – easy-peasy!
£185
A R O M AT H ER A P Y My lavender gets two trims each year. Once at the end of the summer to tidy up all those stalky flower heads so all is neat for the winter and then again in spring to tighten up the shape of the lavender shrubs. English lavender especially tends to open up its shape, becoming leggy, woody and splayed as the years go by. A tough trim with shears or a handy little hedge trimmer will help to slow that process. I’m tougher in spring, cutting back harder to encourage shooting from lower down the stems, hopefully resulting in lovely mounds of silvery foliage topped with those iconic summer flowers. Depending on the size of my plant, I use either my garden shears or my STIHL hedge trimmer. You can treat the curry plant, Helichrysum, and Santolina in the same way.
TAT ER S F O R L AT ER
Now is the time to plant your spuds – even if it’s just a handful in a big pot. There are few crops more satisfying than potatoes and they’re easy too. If you’re
mystified by the ‘chitting of potatoes’ you are not alone. First and second earlies (it will say on the label) need chitting which is when you put them upright in egg boxes in a bright, warm place (think porch, conservatory) until they’ve produced some nice sprouts (usually after a couple of weeks) and then you can plant them in the ground.
STIHL & VIKING
GRASS TRIMMERS
cut CLEAN
Nothing beats a good trim around the garden in the springtime. It does wonders to freshen up the whole place, giving a sense of order and good housekeeping throughout. Mowing is great but it takes a strimmer or grass trimmer to get to all those hard to reach places; those little tufty bits of grass around the fence posts and gate, the edges of the lawn and tucked away under the hedge. Don’t get too close to your trees and shrubs though or you could end up with some unplanned pruning.
TO P T I P
G E T T I N G GO I N G
If you find that your trimmer line is breaking a little too easily, revive it by placing it into a bucket of water overnight. The line will absorb some of the water and become much more flexible and long-lasting.
STIHL’s ErgoStart feature has eliminated the need to furiously yank on the pull cord of their petrol machines. A slow, even pull with two fingers will have the machine burst into life with no sweat at all. It’s a truly great feature which benefits everyone. Just look out for the letter ‘E’ in the model name.
GET TRIM THIS SPRING Our trimmers come in a range of guises and sizes but what they all have in common is an ability to restore order to the most unruly of gardens. So if you’re a stickler for tidy edges and well kempt undergrowth, then look no further.
FS 38 Petrol Grass Trimmer As our lightest petrol model, this trimmer is easy to handle and comfortable to use, giving great results round those difficult to reach areas of the garden.
£149
FSA 65 Cordless Grass Trimmer Lightweight and easy-to-use so you get maximum effect with minimum effort. Plus it’s clean and quiet so you can use it wherever and whenever you like.
£195
Tool only. Ask your Dealer about battery and charger options.
FS 56 C-E Petrol (Comfort) Grass Trimmer When the going gets tough, and I mean really tough, this is the model of choice. The bike handle gives excellent control and is comfortable enough to use all day, if you can find enough to cut.
£349
5
YOUR GARDEN GUIDE TO SPRING
bees BRING IN THE
With bees in decline it’s crucial that we gardeners do our bit to support these vital pollinators – I can’t imagine a garden without the background buzz of bees. In spring I’m always surprising sleepy bumblebees as I buzz around the garden tidying up. Only the young fertile female bumblebees survive the winter, burrowing into the soil and emerging on sunny days, sometimes getting soporific again if the weather turns back to chilly. These will be the queen bees this summer so it’s important to look after them, placing them in a sheltered spot among garden plants.
Planting a wide range of flowering plants is the best way to bring bees into your garden. Aim to go through the entire season from February to November and avoid double and multi-petaled plants as they have less nectar and it’s hard for the bees to reach it – simple and single is always best for bees. Plant clumps of nectar rich plants in sunny spots to make a bee garden and go for the classic cottage garden varieties such as asters, poppies and wallflowers, as well as many herbs. It may seem obvious but cut down on using pesticides as much as possible. If you must spray, do it in the evening when the bees are less active, and stick to formulations that are based on fatty acids or plant oils as these are far less dangerous to bees.
PU M PKINS GR OW A T R E AT Kids love sowing and growing things and, once you’ve exhausted the mustard and cress on kitchen paper, pumpkins are the best fun ever. They’ll germinate infallibly given a warm windowsill and you only need a couple of plants. Just follow the steps below and by Halloween you’ll have your very own pumpkins to carve and style.
1
2
3
4
5
Pumpkin seeds are gloriously big and beautiful and easy for even the most fumbling of tiny fingers to handle.
Fill your pot with soil and make a hole with a pencil or a dibber - roughly 2.5cm (1in) deep.
Drop two seeds into the hole you’ve just made with the pencil.
Don’t forget to label your pumpkins. Adding your child’s name is a great way to give them ownership.
Smooth over the soil, water and wait. CHECK BACK IN OUR SUMMER ISSUE FOR WHAT TO DO NEXT!
Year after year after year For over 85 years, STIHL has been synonymous with quality, reliability and innovation. The longevity you have come to expect stems from meticulous attention to detail. For instance, our saw chains are precision engineered in Switzerland to perfectly match our guide bars and produce the perfect cut, time and time again. It’s this attention to detail that you rely on, and we’ve made our name upon.
We share your passion. STIHL GARDEN POWER TOOLS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE FROM YOUR LOCAL APPROVED DEALER
www.stihl.co.uk/dealer
YOUR GARDEN GUIDE TO SPRING
CORDLESS POWER SYSTEM
charge W E’ R E L E A D I N G T H E
The cordless power system from STIHL could change the way you work forever. From mowing lawns to cutting firewood, our cordless tools will power their way through everything you can throw at them; effortlessly, quietly and emission free. So not only will you be happy, but your neighbours and the environment will be too.
And if you’re concerned about the power, think again. Our incredibly efficient electric motors ensure every ounce of lithium-ion battery power is used to give impressive, long-lasting performance. So whether you’re a hobby gardener or a professional, with three acres or town house plot, our cordless power system will revolutionise the way you work.
BGA 85 Cordless Blower £235 (Excl. battery and charger)
POWERED BY
STIHL & VIKING
CORDLESS POWER SYSTEM
MSA 160 C-BQ Cordless Chainsaw £279 (Excl. battery and charger)
HSA 66 Cordless Hedge Trimmer £225 (Excl. battery and charger)
FSA 65 Cordless Grass Trimmer £195 (Excl. battery and charger)
C O R D L ESS TO O L S F R O M £19 5 . S P E A K TO YO U R S T I H L A N D V I K I N G D E A L E R A B O U T B AT T E R Y A N D C H A R G E R O P T I O N S . 9
YOUR GARDEN GUIDE TO SPRING
L AW N M O W E R S
lawn LOV E YO U R
S TA R T I N G F R O M S C R ATC H
There’s no better time to start off a new lawn than the mild, showery weather of April and May. Whether you’re using turf to get an instant effect, sowing seed onto bare soil, or even repairing a few worn patches in an existing lawn; the principles are all the same. First start off with a well prepared soil base, one that is weed-free, as level as you can get it and raked to a fine tilth (that’s where you break up the big lumps so it resembles breadcrumbs). If you’re repairing patches it’s still worth raking and scratching up the soil. Next lay your turf, butting the edges up to one another tightly, then scatter and smooth fine topsoil, top dressing or compost into the joins to help them knit together. If you’re sowing seeds, scatter them as evenly as possible over the area, then rake in lightly and fence off to keep dogs, cats and small children away.
A R EG U L A R T R I M April is the month that I start mowing regularly, gradually reducing the height of cut throughout the month. It’s always a bit tempting to go too far, too fast and drop the height as soon as possible but it shocks the grass and gives you way more clippings than your compost bin can cope with. Far better to take it down one notch at a time, week by week and keep cutting it down gradually than scalp the lawn and forget it for a fortnight.
The seed should start to germinate in about 10 days but it’s usually a couple of weeks before I notice a green haze appearing. You have to allow grass a good few weeks to establish, and it will need to be 5-7.5cm (2-3in) tall before it gets a cut and then it’s nothing but a light trim.
STIHL & VIKING
L AW N M O W E R S
A T H O R O U G H GO I N G OV ER
THE PERFECT GARDEN HELPER
This winter has been the worst weather for lawns. I’ve scarified to remove thatch and moss but it’s come back with a vengeance and there’s nothing for it but to scarify again. You can scarify a small lawn by hand with a spring tined rake – look on it as a bit of a workout. Tackle larger lawns with a motorised scarifier. Don’t set it too low – just enough to comb out the moss and rubbish which you can collect with a rake or by running the lawn mower over afterwards.
This really is a revolution in the way you’ll tend your lawn, because you’ll no longer have to tend it! The new iMOW cuts the lawn automatically and always cuts your lawn to the same height. It’s fast, efficient and intelligent, and adapts to weather conditions and grass cover, leaving you free to enjoy your lawn without lifting a finger.
www.viking-imow.co.uk POWERED BY
WA L K I N G O N A I R Aerating your lawn will help to drain away all this winter wet. Use a garden fork and press in about 7.5cm (3in) deep, wiggling the tines to open up holes in the lawn and allow air to reach the roots of the grass. Be particularly thorough in areas of ‘high traffic’ – the bottom of steps, gateways and so on – as these get very compacted. I try to do these areas several times a year if possible to give the grass the best chance of growing well. MB 248
MB 545 VR
MA 339
This push along petrol mower is incredibly durable and easy-to-use. Mowing your lawn couldn’t be any easier, enabling you to spend less time mowing and more time relaxing.
£259
Lawn care is a doddle with this lightweight, compact machine. So manoeuvrable, almost anyone could use it. The brilliant cordless design provides more than enough power, just pop the battery in and you’re up and running in an instant.
For bigger lawns and for gardeners that like stripes, this is the one to have. Height adjustable handlebars save your back and self-propulsion makes mowing large areas a walk in the park.
£669
£309
Mower only. Ask your Dealer about battery and charger options.
11
YOUR GARDEN GUIDE TO SPRING
HEDGE TRIMMERS
T H E S W EE T ES T S C EN T I’m a sucker for a sweet pea. I don’t mind what colour: pink and frilly, pale and classy, whatever, as long as it’s got that knockout scent it’ll suit me fine. Happily they’re terribly easy to grow and, although I know you get lots of seedling plants in the garden centres, growing your own gives you access to more colours and more scented varieties. You can sow directly into the ground but small furry critters
P OT T ED S P R I N G Is there anything more cheery than a potful of daffodils in the spring? I love playing with pots and containers, especially springtime ones filled with primroses, tulips, pansies, whatever I can get my hands on. Early bloomers have often faded by now and it’s a great time to get to the garden centre and put together a couple of late spring pots to see you through to the summer. I’m a fan of keeping it simple with a cheap-as-chips terracotta stuffed with apricot pansies combined with a purple leafed shrub of some sort – ideally a tiny cut leafed Japanese maple if the budget will stretch. Use perennial plants and grasses as well as shrubs to give your pots some height and ‘oomph’.
have a penchant for peas and you may never see a plant come up. Far better to sow indoors: five seeds to a 13cm (5in) pot about 1cm (1/2in) deep. Chip the seed with a knife before sowing as this will help them to germinate and stick to two or three pots – that will be plenty for a couple of twiggy tripods which you could easily knock up yourself if you’re feeling a bit Ray Mears.
H EDGING YO U R B E TS After such a mild winter, a lot of my hedges have been in need of a gentle trim to get them back into shape before the summer months. For smaller hedges, a good pair of shears or a lightweight hedge trimmer will do the trick, but for larger, taller hedges I need something with a bit more reach. STIHL’s KombiSystem is just the thing. The extra reach and rotating head of the hedge trimmer attachment means I can tackle even the tallest of hedges. And with another 11 tools to use with the engine, the KombiSystem has every corner of my garden covered. HSA 66 Cordless Hedge Trimmer Unite convenience with performance for neatly trimmed hedges. Fully portable, easy-to-use and with impressive power, this will transform your hedges in no time.
£225 Tool only. Ask your Dealer about battery and charger options.
S T I H L H ED G E T R I M M ER S F R O M £12 2. 5 0
Q&A WITH JANE
Q A &
STIHL & VIKING
W I T H JA N E
I get asked for gardening advice from almost everyone I meet when I tell them what I do. So here are some of the frequently asked questions I receive.
M y f r ui t t r e e s did n’t How can I grow tender seedlings C a n I r e p la n t s p r in g f r ui t w ell la s t y e ar, without a greenhouse? b ulb s f r o m p o t s in t o h o w c a n I g e t a b e t t e r A light, bright windowsill is perfect for growing m y g ar d e n? young plants, as is a frost-free porch. Try to c r o p t his s e a s o n? This is a great idea for daffodils Most fruit trees flower in spring and these blooms and their pollination is what gives us our summer crop. Last spring the weather was very cold and fruit blossom suffered damage and lack of pollination as few bees were about. This year already looks to be much milder but you can help by covering your flowering fruit trees with fleece on potentially frosty nights. This is only do-able for wall trained and dwarf or patio trees – don’t attempt it with a full grown Bramley apple tree.
choose a spot that is not in direct sunlight, ideally, but is still bright and not draughty.
and narcissi. These will often settle down and naturalise very well in the border or even the lawn. Lots of the smaller bulbs such as crocus and scilla will do well too but tulips are trickier and are less likely to succeed.
H o w o f t e n s h o uld y o u f e e d in d o o r p la n t s? I’ve heard you should use bone meal and compost when planting trees and shrubs, is it true? Current thinking is that both of these are unnecessary and you should just use plain old garden soil. Bone meal contains calcium and phosphorous, both of which are usually present in any decent garden soil, and compost can make the soil too ‘puffy’ when planting and will then rot down allowing the plant to end up below its ideal planting level. Best to plant and then top dress later on once everything has settled.
As a rule of thumb, feed once a week between April and October and use a foliage feed as most houseplants are leafy rather than anything else. Be careful not to overwater though – drain away any excess from the pot or saucer after a couple of hours.
If you have a question that you would like me to answer, email me at:
jan e.m o o r e @ s t ihl.c o.uk 13
YOUR GARDEN GUIDE TO SPRING
C H A I N S AW S
mustard CUT TING THE
After 85 years, we’ve learnt a thing or two about making chainsaws. If the anti-vibration system doesn’t grab your attention, then the inbuilt chain tensioner will.
MS 170
BEST BUY
Light and easy to handle, perfect for sawing firewood and pruning. New engine technology delivers cleaner emissions without compromising performance. It may be our entry-level model but it’s quite capable of holding its own in almost any garden.
£169
Each cutter tooth is electrolytically chromium-plated to increase wear resistance and our inductively hardened rivets create a super strong collar.
MSA 200 C-BQ All the power and torque you’ll ever need for some seriously heavy duty cutting. And what’s more it’s cordless too. So no noise, no emissions and no upset neighbours.
This attention to detail is just one of the reasons why we’re the world’s number one chainsaw brand.
MS 181 C-BE You’ll be amazed by the anti-vibration system, cutting out the harshest of feedback, so you can keep cutting and cutting and cutting...
From £305
£289
Tool only. Ask your Dealer about battery and charger options. POWERED BY
Published by STIHL GB. ANDREAS STIHL LIMITED, STIHL House, Stanhope Road, Camberley, Surrey GU15 3YT Telephone: 01276 20202 www.stihl.co.uk www.vikingmowers.co.uk © STIHL 2014
All prices quoted are accurate at time of going to print and are manufacturer’s RRP inclusive of VAT. No claims can be made based on the specifi cations, declarations and images in this catalogue. The design, technology, colours, features and prices are subject to change.
WIN a luxury STIHL TIMBERSPORTS ® is established worldwide as the major league of lumberjack sports, with a massive fan-base following competition events live and on TV. The STIHL TIMBERSPORTS ® British Championship will be held at the CLA Game Fair at Blenheim Palace from the 18th-20th July.
glamping weekend AND WE’RE OFFERING YOU THE CHANCE TO WIN A LUXURY GLAMPING WEEKEND, COURTESY OF HONEYBELLS, AT THE CLA GAME FAIR, INCLUDING A FREE LUXURY HAMPER AND FREE ENTRY FOR 4 PEOPLE. Scan the QR code to enter, or visit stihl.co.uk/win Full terms & conditions available at www.stihl.co.uk/win
Knowledge is power We take enormous pride in the knowledge of our hand-picked Dealers. Their years of professional experience allow you to make informed decisions and find the right tools for you. Empowering you to get the job done, and done well. We share your passion.
STIHL GARDEN POWER TOOLS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE FROM YOUR LOCAL APPROVED DEALER
www.stihl.co.uk/dealer
Part No. 7009 871 0033
Rebecca Briant Briants of Risborough Proudly selling and servicing STIHL since 1964