stouravonmagazine.co.uk
26 New Stour & Avon, March 11, 2022
Home & Garden
Hannah’s Horticulture... with Hannah Hobbs-Chell Welcome to the monthly Q&A session! We have a few questions from readers that you wanted answering, so here goes: We are over run with ivy. How can I get rid of it? Ivy has a bad reputation, sometimes for good reason as it’s a very ‘successful’ plant! It has long been claimed that ivy kills trees, but in fact that statement is much disputed. In a healthy tree, the canopy blocks out the light enough to limit the growth of the ivy, and both co-exist without issue. It is also one of the best plants and habitats for wildlife because of its evergreen cover and nesting facilities, the number of critters that live in it providing food and a whole healthy ecosystem of its own, the berries are great food for birds, and the nectar is a rich early source of food for bees and pollinators. However, the problem comes when there is wind, and boy have we had some wind recently! As you can imagine, the ivy acts as a sail – not necessarily just in trees – and weak trees, plants and structures will cope poorly with the extra weight and force exerted. Ivy can be controlled by regular pruning, and in places where it’s out of control cut the stems just above the base. Cut a portion of the stems out, about an inch, to leave a gap. If you
Horticulturist and garden designer/consultant Hannah is the gardener at High Mead Farm, looking after four acres of gardens and landscape. If you have a question for her, email:hannah.hobbschell@ outlook.com including a picture if relevant
don’t do this the ivy can heal the cut and keep its nutrients and water supply to the tops. Dig out the roots as and when you can. Is there a cheaper alternative to red cedar panelling that gives the same look? As you are probably aware, the cost of wood has shot up. Cedar is pricier for a few reasons. Although the trees can grow relatively rapidly, the trees require specialist and labour intensive maintenance. Cedar wood is predominately found in the USA and Canada, which over the last few years have been hit badly with devastating forest fires, all but destroying a lot of the crop. Demand is also up, which make the price rise. That being said, cedar is a great and long lasting wood, so an initial investment pays dividends as you won’t likely need to
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which won’t be as durable and would need staining to make it look like cedar, or hardwoods such as oak, cherry or maple, but here you are likely to encounter higher cost than cedar for fencing!
replace it anywhere near as often. Cedar has many other advantages too: Durability: Unlike chemically treated lumbers/plywoods, cedar has a natural ability to resist water and humidity defects over time. With a coat of oil, polish, stain over the surface you can make it even more resistant to water. It’s not easily warped or cracked, and is strong and lightweight. Insect-proof: Not every wood has this anti-insect power that you will be getting with cedar wood. Natural antibacterial and antifungal: it resists pest and diseases Alternatives to cedar are pine, GUTTERS CLEARED Windows fascias, soffits, gutters cleaned. Repairs Free estimates 07788 376752
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What is the best way to get grass to grow? To establish a new lawn, start with the soil: ensure it is well raked and fine with most stones removed, level, and moist but not wet. Then choose your seed depending on your situation, shady lawns, general purpose etc. Grass seed is usually made up of four or more varieties, and these different varieties have different advantages and are more suited to different situations, the combination and percentage makes the seed mix for different situations. Sow grass seed liberally at the rate suggested, never less, for a thick sward, put a board/plank over the seed and tread down lightly. Keep well watered until it’s established – this is the main cause of failure. Also consider netting areas to keep birds from eating the seed! Hold off mowing until the grass is at least 2 inches high, and mow on a high setting for the first cut, and then treat as normal lawn. Please do email me with your questions and queries , you can ask me about things such as design, pests and diseases, plant choice, plant and garden maintenance, trees, etc. Have a great couple of weeks!
