FREE! Marc h Issue 1 7
SPRING INTO ACTION.
Free packet of salad leaves seeds with every order! Worth ÂŁ4.99
BUDDLEIA Help save our butterflies by planting this habitat improver.
THE BIG QUESTION:
Organic or conventional, which one are you?
SUPER FRUIT! Learn how to crop a brilliant berry bush.
TOP TIPS | HOW TO GUIDES | EQUIPMENT | TOOLS | EXPERT ADVICE
DAVID ALLISON
David Allison is here once again with top tips for March.
PROMO: MAG17
lead the good life welcomes you... Lead the good life welcomes you This time of year is always really exciting. It’s as though the year is born again and I’m sure like me you love buying loads of new seeds, bulbs and plants and getting stuck into planting. To help you get off to a flying start we’ve got some great deals on Buddleia, the plant of the month for March. Some surprising varieties have come to the market and I’ll be telling you about my favourites as well as how to improve the butterfly population in your area on page 4. Flowers are great but personally I prefer growing vegetables and herbs, they always taste so much better than the shop bought stuff. Blueberries have become increasingly popular over the last few years thanks to their high concentrations of antioxidants and their ‘super food’ profile; I’ll be giving you some tips on how to produce the best crop on page 8. Herbs are great because they not only make great plants in the garden but they are also really useful in the kitchen. On page 10 I give you some ideas of what to plant in your herb
It couldn’t be easier. Just hit the
using the plot... The vegetable expert, David Allison gives us some tips on when and what to sow. Page 12-13
garden. Once you’ve got an idea of what to grow you need to ask yourself how you are going to grow them. A hot topic at the moment is whether to grow organically or conventionally a question which has confused many gardeners for years. See page 20 for some advice to help you chose the right method. Now is the time when things in the garden really start to kick off. Remember to keep on top of things so that you can enjoy your garden as much as you can.
save our butterflies
This week our plant portfolio looks at the Buddleia which can help save our butterflies. Page 04-07
Stephen Mackley,
Grow yoouut rto groowwyonur! This month find own delicious blueberr ies. on page 08-09
Editor
to add to your basket.
Design Ideas ful Plus a bliss uffin blueberry m g e 14 recipe on pa
Plus lots of eeds. n d e e s g n i sow
Don’t forget our design ideas. This month we look at Herbs on page 10-11 Plant Portfolio Buddleia 04-05
How to Grow Buddleia 06-07
Tools for the Job
This month we look at the top five products to help your garden thrive in the coming months. on page 16
Grow Your Own Blueberries 08-09 Design Ideas Herns 10-11
Using the Plot David Allison, Vegetable Ex pert 12-13
Recipe of the Month Blissful Blueberry Muffins 14
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Tools for the Job Getting Ready for Sp ring 18-19
TIPS
Top Jobs March: Lawn 15
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The Big Question Organic vs Conventional 20-21 Ask the Expert Stephen Answers 22 P&D Watch Pesky Problems 23
Reader’s Corner March 2012 16-17
Don’t forget! 02 | Welcome
nds Plus all ki to buy. a i e l d d u B of
£
March Bargain
Featured on back page
In this Issue | 03
Plant Portfolio MYTH
Buddleia
Many o f the an cient civilizat ions be lieved that bu tterflies were sy mbols o f the human soul.
We all know the importance of encouraging wildlife into our gardens and there are literally hundreds of plants that are up to this job however when it to comes style as well as function Buddleia ticks all the boxes.
SAVE OUR BUTTERFLIES Even though a single garden may be small, combined they produce a collective, forming urban green spaces which make a bridge to the surrounding countryside. There are an estimated 16 million gardens within the UK signifying an enormous natural area across the country; what we plant and how we maintain them can have an important impact on wildlife. Gardens are becoming more and more imperative for wildlife as countryside habitats are being reduced and becoming disjointed. There’s no getting away from the fact that Butterfly populations are in decline. A 10 year study conducted by the Butterfly Conservation and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology showed that 72% of the species of butterflies showed a reduction in population numbers, the reason? Loss of appropriate habitats. Numbers of species such as the Small Skipper, Common Blue, Small Tortoiseshell, the Pearl-bordered Fritillary, the Duke of Burgundy and the High Brown Fritillary fell by as much as 69% However it’s not all doom and
04 | Plant Portfolio
gloom. The Large Blue which was extinct in the UK was re-introduced in the 1980s and is continuing to do well. In addition populations of The Marsh Fritillary and Small Blue have also increased. It is our responsibility as gardeners to reduce wildlife population losses and increase suitable habitats in UK Gardens. BEAUTIFUL BUDDLEIA Buddleia come in a wide range of colours and forms so you’re bound to find one that’ll suit you. Here are my top 3. ‘LILAC CHIP’ DRAWF VARIETY ‘Lilac Chip’ is incredibly attractive to butterflies. Being miniature they’re versatile too; perfect for pots and tubs in the smallest of gardens! Relax on your patio this summer, surrounded by the gorgeous scent of thousands of sweetly fragrant flowers, each smothered with beautiful butterflies. ‘Lilac Chip’ is everything you love about a regular Buddleia, but in miniature form. Gone is the tendency to grow too tall and fast and take over your garden instead, ‘Lilac Chip’ remains naturally compact & easy to grow too!
‘FLOWER POWER’ After years of painstaking plant breeding a totally unique Buddleia has been brought to the market in the form of ‘Flower Power’. This show-stopping variety is relatively compact, hardy and like all Buddleia is easy to grow. All summer long it produces dazzling displays of colour and sweet scent turning your garden into a haven for bees and butterflies. ‘BLUE CHIP’ DRAWF VARIETY ‘Blue Chip’ is beautiful, hardy, free-flowering and miniature. This striking variety will cheer up your garden with its limitless flowers of scrumptiously sweet honey scent. It has vivacious eye-catching, short racemes of lavender flowers from late spring to summer and it’s dwarf too, reaching only 1m tall making it compact enough for patio planters or other containers. With all the charisma of a large Buddleia but with none of the bother. ‘Blue Chip’ is easy to maintain and encourages butterflies, bees and bird.
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“It is our responsibility as gardeners to reduce wildlife population losses”
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Plant Portfolio | 05
How to Grow
did you know...
£9.9928
ist named Carl Linnaeus the Swedish botan Adam Buddle the Buddleia after the Reverend ced Britain’s (1660-1715), a parson who produ
ITEM: 8005 3x Buddleia Blue Chip
first her barium.
How to Grow...
buddleia
Everything you need to know to grow your own Buddleia... Difficulty:
Hardiness: Fully hardy down to -15°C Full Sun
Partial Shade
Hardy
Half Hardy
Flowering Season
The majority of Buddleia species are deciduous shrubs meaning that they will become dormant during the colder months and lose their leaves. They are grown for their beautiful flowers which attract all kinds of wildlife including bees, birds and butterflies and are therefore perfect for wildlife gardens. That’s not to say that they don’t look great in beds and borders in fact they make fantastic specimen plants and now with dwarf varieties you can even containerise them.
9 £12.9
SITE & SOIL Buddleias love full sun so pick a spot which gets lots of sunlight during the day. They are not picky about the type of soil they are planted in so long as it is well draining and relatively fertile.
11.69 £ : P C 693 : 800
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:£ Item 13.49 : 40 198 3x 8 B Lila uddlei c Ch a ip
06 | How to Grow
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WATERING & FEEDING As with all newly planted trees and shrubs you will need to water them in on planting. Buddleias are very tough plants and after they have become established they’ll not need to be watered at all. Up until
this point water occasionally over long periods of prolonged drought. Containerised species such as ‘Blue Chip’ and ‘Lilac Chip’ will need a little more watering as container plants tend to dry out faster than those planted into the ground. Some feed, such as blood, fish and bone, might be beneficial on planting but I would recommend incorporating a small amount of well rotted compost and a horticultural grit into the planting hole.
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PRUNING Buddleias are one of the easiest plants to prune. You can cut them all the way back and they’ll send up loads of shoots. For the best results at the end of March cut back last year’s growth to about 3-4inches above the old wood. This encourages lots of new healthy growth and promotes strong flowering later in the season. Don’t forget to remove dead flowers to encourage new flowers and to stop seeding.
How to Grow | 07
Grow Your Own
Grow Your Own...
Blueberries
Fantastic in pots and a reasonable cropper you should consider planting this unusual super fruit in your garden. Difficulty: Blueberries (Vaccinium corybosum) have delicious flavour whether fresh from the bush or cooked. The plants make attractive additions to you fruit garden and can be contained to a size no more than 1.5m high.
Soil preparation You need to get the soil right if you want a good crop of blueberries. They require a light, well-draining acidic soils, rich in organic matter. If your soil has a high pH consider growing in a container or try to lower the pH to between 4 and 5.5 by adding sulphur chips or dust three weeks before planting. Check the pH every year to check the soil acidity. For an easier option grow your blueberries in a container filled with ericaceous compost. Feed with lots of potash during the growing season.
How to plant Blueberries require multiple bushes to ensure pollination and fruit production. A single blueberry plant will not produce the quantities of fruit you would find from a group. Our blueberry
08 | Grow Your Own
collection contains 3 varieties meaning you’ll increase the chance of receiving a huge crop. Plant your bushes in full sun or light shade. Ideally you should plant them in autumn or winter but you can plant them all the way up until late March if you containerise them. Leave about 1.5m (5ft) between bushes and add a mulch such as peat, wood chippings or pine needles to keep the soil acidic. When possible use rainwater to water because tap water causes the soil to become less acidic.
Aftercare Birds are a nuisance when your bushes start to fruit so use nets to protect your fruit. Each spring mulch your plants with chipped pine or pine needles or other acid materials. Water frequently especially when the buds start to form during spring. You should stop watering when leaves drop around autumn time.
Harvesting and storage The clusters of fruits ripen sporadically meaning that
you can pick regularly over a long period of time. Pick the fruits when they turn a deep blue and are easily pulled away the bush. For a stronger flavour you can leave them on the bush for a while longer but they must be picked before they drop.
Pruning blueberries Fruit is produced on previous year’s growth therefore, apart from keeping them tidy, you don’t need to prune your bushes for the first two or three years. After the third year regular pruning should be carried out to preserve vigour and quality berries. Ideally you should prune them between November and March during the dormant season. When pruning remember to take out the 3 Ds (dead, dying and diseased wood) and remove the oldest canes and a few of the basal stems each year to coax the bush into producing young and vigorous new canes. Low branches that are overloaded with fruit and hence get dragged to the floor should be pruned out too.
A few quick serving ideas 1
dd frozen blueberries to your breakfast A shake. If the blender container is plastic, allow berries a few minutes to soften, so they will not damage the blender.
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CP: £11.69
ITEM: 500354 Blueberry 3 x 9 cm Potted Plants (Northland, Bluecrop and Jersey)
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2
For a deliciously elegant dessert, layer yogurt and blueberries in wine glasses and top with crystallized ginger.
3
Fresh or dried blueberries add a colorful punch to cold breakfast cereals.
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Grow Your Own | 09
Design Ideas
Herbs
Difficulty:
Imagine garnishing a home-made pizza, sprinkling rosemary onto your roasted vegetables or using freshly picked oregano in your meatballs; herb growing is one of the most rewarding aspects of gardening. They look, smell and taste great and are easy and fun to grow so why not give them a go? Herbs are one of the most popular plants to grow and for good reason. They can be used in cooking, medicine, perfume or just as an ornamental and depending on the herb several parts can be utilised. It’s not just the leaves that you can use but also the seeds, flowers and even the roots. Many herbs come from hot dry regions such as the Mediterranean but you
might be surprised to learn that some can be grown in shade as well as full sun; sage, thyme rosemary and oregano are good examples.
Rosemary
Sage
If you were to pick just one herb for your garden then Rosemary must be it. Rosemary is a beautiful bushy shrub with delicate blue flowers and an intoxicating scent of the Mediterranean with versatility in the garden and kitchen. The perfect accompaniment for lamb and roasted vegetables.
Mint
Mint is a classic garden herb but many people are anxious to grow it in their garden because of its invasive characteristic. I would urge you to give it a go and plant it in a container to restrict its growth. Mint has lots of use in the kitchen and works great with peas, lamb, new potatoes, chocolate and in teas.
Coriander
Coriander is one of those herbs that have multiple functions. Both the leaves and seeds can be used and work really well in India cooking. You can even add the dried seeds to chocolate, I know it sounds strange but trust me it’s fantastic! Like basil coriander is a great plant to grow indoors and loves being grown in containers as well as beds. To get you off to a flying start we’ve put together new selections of seeds, plugs and plants which will not only add to your garden but also to you cooking.
10 | Design Ideas
There are hundreds of herbs that you can choose from and it might seem a daunting task to pick the ones that are right for you. I’ve picked 6 of my favourites which I think you’ll love.
Sage is another great addition to you herb garden. It’s not a big plant so even if you don’t have a lot of room sage is a good choice for you. The leaves are soft and furry so it would be an excellent selection for a sensory garden. Sage works really well with pork and when used with onions makes a delicious stuffing to be served with poultry.
Tarragon
“If you were to pick just one herb for your garden then Rosemary must be it.”
When it comes to flavouring chicken then Tarragon is an obvious choice. Tarragon is a tall elegant herb with slender leaves and yellow/white flowers which sway in the gentlest breeze. Another great use is infusing the flavour with oils which can in turn be used with fish.
Basil
Italian cuisine wouldn’t be the same without Basil. Add it to tomato sauces to transform a dish into pure delight. Basil is a tender plant but this is in no way a disadvantage. It’s small and compact enough to grow it on your windowsill and in fact will thrive in any bright part of your house making ideal for a kitchen plant.
£14.99
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£13.99
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ITEM: 470116
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Rosemary in 5 Litre Pot
Kitchen Herb Collection
Aromatic Italian Herb Collection
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Design Ideas | 11
Using the Plot by David Allison
start to sow.
Is your garden ready for a few new members? Heres some ideas...
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900485
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e le Bar p p A urn ee Braeb ruit Tr F t o o R
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500007
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r Dwarf Pea Suga out Seeds T e g n a M
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s ft (Hurst) Seed Pea G reensha £1.45
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ITEM: 500003 Conference Pear Bare Root Fruit Tree
CP: £1.21
using the plot with david allison
The vegetable expert gives us the must do’s of March... for planting out later. This This month is when the is to encourage the eyes season really gets going. to sprout. Ideally you want Sowing peas in March about 10 to 20 mm of growth will give the first crops in prior to planting. The June/July however this number of shoots can be is when the pea reduced if too many moth is likely This eyes sprout resulting to cause the month in fewer, larger most damage is when the potatoes. Keep as it is very active during season really well ventilated in good light levels to these months. gets going prevent long spindly Put seed shoots and watch for potatoes into aphid attack. trays/egg boxes etc, to commence the Now that winter rains “chitting” process ready should be behind us
12 | Using the Plot
consider testing soil for nutrient levels, (NPK) and acidity/alkalinity levels (PH). Soil testing kits are relatively cheap or you can send soil samples off to a laboratory for professional testing and more accurate readings. They will usually tell you how much of which fertilizer you need to correct any deficiency. As light levels and daylight length improve you can start sowings a number of vegetables which can be considered for an early crop.
Whilst the weather can spoil the best laid plans it is worth a risk especially if your garden is on a sheltered site and can provide some protection if a cold snap is forecast. Wait a while before sowing runner or dwarf French beans. Use garden planks or scaffolding boards to walk on the soil if it’s wet to avoid over compaction. Plant roots need air in the soil to survive. Talk to other growers and arrange “plant swaps” to avoid a glut of one type.
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Don’t grow on more than back of seed packets is a you need, space these days guide only there is quite a is at a premium, and whilst difference in temperatures it is tempting to from the north to the south sow and grow of the country and the on the whole seed packets, with the Talk to packet in one other growers same instructions, go consider and arrange are sold nationally. sowing in “plant swaps” In the fruit garden succession. plums, cherries and This is blackcurrants will particularly true all appreciate a highof F1 Hybrid seed nitrogen fertiliser such as which tend to mature at the sulphate of ammonia or same time. chicken manure. Sulphate In March gardeners up and of ammonia can also be down the country will have added to your compost heap their feet in the starting to effectively speed up the blocks ready for the sowing rotting process. Sprinkle season to get into full swing. a little on your heap every However, remember that twelve inches or so. the sowing dates on the
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From early March you can plant untreated onion sets just as soon as the soil starts to warm up as long as it isn’t too wet or alternately plant heat treated sets; this reduces the risk of the plants bolting in April. When planting any onions or shallots never push them into the soil, always dig the hole with a trowel otherwise the soil becomes compacted. Sow tomatoes for the cold glasshouse in a temperature of 50F to 55F. A good tip is to cover the seedlings with a thin layer of sand to help remove the seed coat as the seedlings germinate. A word of caution to anyone
that uses the remedies such as old carpets to suppress weeds. Old carpet patterns were made up of vegetable dye as opposed to modern day carpets that are made up of chemicals and also treated with more chemicals to make them stain resistant. These could filter through onto your garden when it is raining. Soot is not the same with all the modern fuels that are available, so if you are using soot make sure it originates from coal. Mothballs are also made with a different recipe so just be aware before you resort to some of the old fashioned methods.
Using the Plot | 13
Recipe of the Month Recipe of the month
Blissful Blueberry Muffins PREP: 20 mins
Top Jobs Blueberries are delicious as they are but if you want to really make the most of them why not try this simple blueber ry muffin recipe...
COOKING : 20 mins
You will need...
Makes: 12 Muffins
• Plain Flour (100g/4oz) • 2 Eggs aking Powder (½tsp) • B • Butter (110g/4oz) • Caster Sugar (65g/2½oz) • Blueberries (125g)
Method
Mix the butter and sugar together until they form a creamy texture then add the eggs and mix gentle. Add in the flour, baking powder and a pinch of nutmeg. Spoon in the mixture into muffin cases so that they are half full and the pop several muffins on to the top. Place in a pre heated oven (200°C/gas 6) and bake for 20 minutes or until golden. Serve with cream or as they are.
Turf Laying in 3 easy steps
1
• Nutmeg
WOW!
£2.96 From ll per ro
Preparation is key! After marking the area you want to turf remove any old turf, large stones and weeds. This is vital because stones will hinder the establishment of the turf and any weeds that are left are likely to come up again at a later time. Once all of the ‘junk’ is gone level out any humps and hollows then fork over and level with a rake ensuring that there is a fine tilth. Walk over the site with you heels to find any soft spots then rake level again. Apply a fertiliser such as blood fish and bone and water well.
2
£10
0
CP: 20 r £90 Se olls o ITEMed Tu f : 58 rf 4 584
Lawns are a focal point in many of our gardens. They make a great space for entertaining, for your children to have a run around and to bring areas of the garden together. They’re relatively low maintenance and in the summer you’ll only really need to cut it once a week. Sowing a new lawn takes time and can often end up looking patchy but with turf you get an instant impact. Think of it as laying carpet in your garden!
Slowly unroll the first strip of turf against a straight edge. Make sure that the first roll is as straight as possible as you’ll be lining up the rest against this one. Butt the subsequent strips up close to each other by staggering them in a brickwork style firm down with the back of a rake to ensure good contact with the soil.
3
It’s good practise to lay turf so it overlaps the boundary of your lawn this way you can trim to size and form curves with clean sharp edges by using a half-moon cutting tool. To prevent it drying out make sure the edges of the lawn are kept moist and are not exposed to the air. Use a sprinkler system and water regularly to help the lawn become established. Try to avoid walking on the lawn for the first few weeks but if you have to lay some temporary planks down to spread your weight.
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ITEM: 300129 Oscillating garden spr inkler
14 | Recipe of the Month
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Top Jobs | 15
anagram
Reader’s Corner
READER’S CORNER
Puzzles and Trivia for when you’re not gardening... CROSSWORD
How many words can you make? Give yourself 2 minutes to find as many as you can...
1 – 5 terrible
b l
6 - 11 poor
u
12 – 19 average
20 – 23 good
e b e r
24+ excellent
r y
Complete the crossword, fill in the shaded squares to reveal a part of a plant that are commonly found in high altitudes and email your correct answer to editor@ltgl.co.uk: the first correct answer will receive a year’s free membership ACROSS 1 A style of gardening that uses no synthetic chemicals 6 Use this to cut the grass 8 A member of the Lepidoptera order but not a moth 9 Sage, Rosemary and Thyme 10 Use this to improve the quality of your soil.
LAST MONTHS ANSWERS ACROSS 5 Tillia 6 Robinia 8 Horse 10 Aphid
Final Word: Alpine
DOWN 1 Broccoli 2 Lirope 3 Garrya 4 Lawn
your letters
7 Anemones 9 Rakes
DOWN 2 A delicious curry to use in curries, seed & leaf 3 Butterflies love this plant 4 Common pest whose larvae attack the roots of many plant species (4,6) 5 A small blue fruit, high in antioxidants 7 A great place to grow vegetables if you don’t have a garden
feature in the next issue
The winner of the lifetime membership, Edwina Sykes, got in touch to let us know what she has planned for the coming year...
It’s a wonderful feeling. I can stack the garden full to busting now with plants and shrubs when before everything was out of my reach!! I enjoy growing flowers only because I cannot get to grips with vegetables yet, but now I can. I will be buying all sorts of veg to grow and I have got ideas for a veg patch in the garden.
16 | Reader’s Corner
GOODLIFE & TRU #03
Without a doubt the best things I have bought from garden bargains have been the hanging baskets. They are so easy to do its unbelievable and the results are outstanding. I enjoy being a member of the club because if you are like me you can call upon the club for help and advice.
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This pictur e was sent in by Di Brown . G reat use o f container s and baskets. 08719 77 55 55 | www.gardenbargains.com
Send us your photographs and letters and they could appear in the next issue. Send them to Stephen Mackley, Lead the Good Life Ltd, Ideal Home House, Newark Road, Peterborough, PE1 5WG or email editor@ltgl.co.uk Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to receive regular hints tips and seasonal advice, updates on offers and bargains plus loads more!
Reader’s Corner | 17
Tools for the Job
FIZZY FEED - Plant Pick me up!
our top five products... Everyone loves big blooms, luscious foliage delicious fruit and veg and with these top five products you can achieve perfect plants with ease ever y time.
We have found for you a BRAND NEW plant ‘Pick me up’ product. Drop one tablet into 1L of water, watch it dissolve and bring to your plant the absolute nutrients required for superb growth and vibrancy. If you have had a tough night out, you reach for a well known product to help you through the day, we have found the plant equivalent. No mess, no fuss, no measuring, easy to store. • NPK 5 - 12 - 6 • No mixing needed. 1 tablet to 1 ltr water • 20 tablets per tub, making 20 litres of feed • Re-sealable tube
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Fizzy Feeds
Garden Boost Super 17 Flower & Fruit Fertiliser Just like a vitamin pill for plants, ‘Super17’ is ALL you’ll need for bumper crops of fruit, vegetables, and flowerpacked displays!
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At last a professional formulation, concentrated ‘High Potash’ complete flower and fruit feed.
‘Super17’ contains optimum levels of Nitrate, Phosphate and Potassium, eight trace elements, eight essential micronutrients and seaweed extract, to guarantee strong and healthy shoots, roots, flowers and fruits!! Just one 1.5kg tub of ‘Super17’ will make 330 gallons of feed, that works
Garden Boost Swell Gel plus Feed 500g
out at just 5.5p a gallon – enough for an entire season, at a tiny fraction of what you’d pay for ‘ready to use’ liquid feeds! It’s easy to use too, simply dissolve 1 scoop of granules per gallon of water and apply liberally. You should begin to see the exceptional results in just a few days!
Super 17 1.5kg
Using Swell Gel & Feed is the easiest and most effective way to ensure the plants in your hanging baskets are always well-fed! Swell Gel & Feed ensures that any container has incredible water retaining properties - simply mix the Swell Gel & Feed with the potting compost prior to planting.
The Feed is gradually released ensuring a constant supply of plant nutrients for 3 - 6 months. Each 500g container is sufficient to feed and keep watered over 30 hanging baskets. Kept in the container provided they have a virtually unlimited shelf-life.
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Osmocote Slow Release Fertiliser Tablets As any knowledgeable gardener will tell you the secret to bigger, better, stronger plants is in the feeding. This can be a tricky task - too much can damage your plants and too little and they are left starved... take the guess work out of it - use Osmocote.
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ITEM: 300052 Osmocote
18 | Tools for the Job
Osmocote tablets are simple to use - just push them into the soil or compost near the roots of the plant and Its advanced patented coating controls the release of plant food accurately, releasing
it exactly when your plants need them, ensuring you get beautiful blooms, strong roots and a deep, rich leaf colour. It makes it easy to make your garden grow all year round and can be used at any time of year - the special coating will release the food for up to 6 months so for best results use them in spring to get the full benefit of the spring and summer growing seasons. it’s ideal for feeding almost all plants - summer bedding, baskets and tubs, fruit trees, bushes and shrubs,
perennials and climbers. Use whenever planting or moving flowers, shrubs and trees to encourage strong new growth. Osmocote is clean and easy to use and comes in an easy seal pouch of 33 tablets. Use around 6 tablets for a large hanging basket or tub for beautiful blooms and strong healthy growth. It remains intact during the growing season giving you the confidence that your plants are being fed every day as and when they need it.
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Swell Gel 500g
Blood, Fish & Bone Organic Fertiliser - 1.25kg This general purpose organic fertiliser is ideal for use all around the garden, and is perfect for soil improvement as well as planting and feeding established plants. For best results work it thoroughly into moist compost or soil and water generously after application. During dry weather, water before and after planting. For brilliant results, apply throughout the growing season from February to the end of October, every 4-6 weeks. This is an organic fertiliser that
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contains a rich source of natural plant nutrients including:• Nitrogen for healthy foliage and active leaf and stem growth • Phosphorus for strong root development • Potassium to promote strong, healthy flower and fruit development and disease resistance. The formulation contains a healthy balance of fast acting and slow release nutrients to supply your flowers, fruits and vegetables with nourishment during the vital early stages of establishment.
Tools for the Job | 19
?
“you can save money by growing organically”
The Big Question
Organic Vs. Conventional Gardening Organic and conventional gardening has a few main distinctions, mainly in their chemical applications. Asides form this organic and conventional gardening methods are very similar. As a gardener your decision shouldn’t be forced and in fact many gardeners use an integrated technique which fits their life style. To help you choose which is right for you I’ll be covering some of the pros and cons of these gardening styles.
Pros of Organic Gardening
Pros of Conventional Gardening
Environmentally Friendly:The organic method doesn’t cause any damage to the surrounding soil, water sources or flora and fauna. Organic methods do use fertilisers but they are not synthetic and in many cases improve the soil condition.
Less intensive: Growing in the conventional way takes up less time and effort mainly due to effective pesticides and fertilizers adding almost instant results.
Nutritional benefits: Although a controversial point there are numerous studies that have shown organic food has a higher nutritional content over conventional foods; in some case as much as 27% more nutrients. Money Savings: We all know how much money you can save by growing your own crops but you can also save by growing organically too. It’s much cheaper than using synthetic fertilisers and chemicals and homemade compost is compost is free. Insect control can be very cheap (soapy water in a spray bottle is an effective method of aphid control). No Synthetic Chemicals: There is evidence to suggest that synthetic pesticides can remain on fruits and vegetables and although the amount of the chemical might be very small surely it’s better to be safe than sorry. Organic growing is the only sure way to avoid exposure to unwanted chemicals.
Cons of Organic Gardening Very Intensive: The key to organic gardening is planning and maintenance. Methods such as crop rotation, companion planting, composting and manual weeding leave those people who have little time or energy in a tricky position. Lower Yields: Fertilizing enriches the soil in which plants grow. However organic compost is released slowly occasionally leading to smaller yields. The lack of intensive pesticides means that some of your crops will be attacked by insects, further reducing your yield.
20 | The Big Question
Money: Synthetic chemicals might be more expensive than natural organic methods but even so they are not so much more expensive and the results speak for themselves. Yields: Because of the huge advantage in growing conditions conventional crops have very little struggle when it comes to producing a high yield plus the synthetic fertilisers often have extra plants nutrients.
Cons of Conventional Gardening Environmental impact: Synthetic chemicals have a habit of moving from the area of application and some are washed in to rivers and lakes by the rain causing build up of algae and reduction of oxygen thus upsetting the natural balance of the ecosystem. More worryingly synthetic chemicals can pollute ground water; eventually leading to contamination of our tap water. Fewer Nutrients: Studies have shown that conventionally grown foods are lacking in nutrients. Pesticides could possibly reduce the absorption of those already depleted nutrients. The pros and cons to both organic and conventional gardening are long and convoluted and perhaps you’re still unsure which way to go but remember that you don’t have to go 100% organic or conventional. You could include both types in your own system as long as you are happy with the outcome. Keep in mind that at the end of the day gardening is about growing your favourite flowers, fruit and vegetables, enjoying nature and connecting with the great outdoors.
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The Big Question | 21
Ask the Expert
P&D Watch This is the world ’s on ly climbing
ask the experts
fuc hsia!
Having problems with your prized pansies, struggles with you star Streptocarpus or troubles with top tomatoes? We’re here to help!
This Months P&D WatchTalks VineWeevil...
MIKE ASKS: I ordered 6 plugs of this plant last year and trained it to climb up some trellis. By September it had grown around 2 ft and had a mass of beautiful flowers. As I’m a bit of a newbie to gardening I thought I should leave it over winter. We have had a great winter so far here in Aberdeen however my plant is looking dead with leaves withered and just hanging. It’s in a sheltered spot and on a south facing wall. During the summer there were many aphids but I bought a spray and it didn’t seem to be affected later on. Is it just like some plants which look dead over winter and will come to life again in spring or should I have done something to look after it better?
Symptoms of vine weevil tends to start with inexplicable yellowing and wilting of your plant foliage...
STEPHEN SAYS: Don’t fear. Most Fuchsias including ‘lady Boothby’ are deciduous plants. This means that during the winter months it will lose its leaves. It’s a perfectly natural process and new growth will re-establish during the spring. I’m pleased that it did so well and that you’re enjoying your new plants. Aphids can be a problem on Fuchsias and you did the right thing by spraying as they can spread viruses. I’d love to see some pictures of your fuchsia when it flowers again. Keep up the good work.
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22 | Ask the Expert
eevel W e Vin ae Larv
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Vine Weevil Vine weevil is a beetle that affects a large variety of containerised ornamental and fruit plants both indoors and outdoors. It’s very common and can be devastating to many garden plants. During spring and summer the adult weevils attack the aerial parts of the plants specifically the leaves however it’s the larvae that
cause the most damage. During autumn and winter they feed on the roots causing the plants to wilt and eventually die. It’s the plants that are containerised and under cover that are at most risk and those grown in open ground are less likely to be affected however strawberries, primulas and polyanthus can be severely affected. Other plants that are at risk are Rhododendron, Euonymus and Hydrangea.
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Symptoms Vine weevil symptoms are easily recognised. The adults eat out notches along the margins of the leaves during the summer. Plump white grubs are about 1cm (3/8in) in length with light brown heads and appear around the roots in the compost. They cause wilting during autumn and spring. What to do To control this pest inspect the plants during spring and summer evenings and kill the adult weevils you come across. Vine weevils
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are nocturnal so you will need a torch to find them. Try shaking containerised plants over a large sheet to recognise the extent of the problem. Check the underside of pots during the day to find sleeping beetles. Vine weevils have numerous natural enemies and both the adults are eaten by predators such as birds, frogs, toads, shrews, hedgehogs and other beetles. You can also use a biological control in the form of a nematode, a very effect method of controlling this pest.
Sure sign of Wine Weevil.
P&D Watch | 23
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March
26 look out for the april issue
In next month’s issue we get expert advice on Fuchsia, plus everything you need to know about Summer Bulbs. For questions & ordering details contact us on:
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