1st Class Gardens

At this time of the year, it seems as if however long you spend gardening there are still many tasks that need doing to keep the garden looking neat and tidy. With the mixture of rainy days and spells of beautiful sunshine plants, and unfortunately weeds, grow at an increased rate meaning that the garden can quickly become overgrown. So, what can gardeners do to stay on top of the gardening jobs at this time of the year? Regular maintenance is much more effective than leaving the garden for weeks without attention. Doing a little bit of weeding and cutting back once or twice a week does not seem as arduous and prevents the plants and weeds taking over in some areas of the garden. Mowing the lawn every week... Continue reading

One of the more positive things to have come out of the lockdowns is the trend for people to grow their own produce but what if you do not have a garden or allotment to use for your vegetable and salad plants? Recent innovation in micro gardening has given those with only a window box or balcony a way of growing their own produce whether it be salad leaves, herbs or tomatoes and chillies. A micro gardening kit usually consists of seeds, a small propagator and a special medium to grow the seeds in which expands when water is added. Hydroponic growing systems may also have an in built light perfect if your home does not get much natural light. The easiest plants to start with is a mixture of... Continue reading

Roses of many colours and varieties are a common sight in English gardens and if properly looked after and maintained regularly will produce blooms throughout the summer and some varieties will even have a second bloom in the autumn months. Some people however are reluctant to grow roses in the garden because they feel that they need specialist care and pruning but with a bit of research and a good pair of secateurs there is nothing to fear. The key to the successful growing of roses is in the pruning, a task that needs to be done correctly to give the optimum effect and so that an abundance of flowers will be produced. The main reason for pruning roses is to keep the plant healthy and compact because rose bushes... Continue reading

It is a challenging time for us all at the moment and we need to find ways to de-stress and relax in our own homes instead of venturing out to leisure centres and therapists to boost our mental health and wellbeing. For those people fortunate enough to have a garden, finding a way to unwind is easier as time spent in the garden can lead to a calmer mindset. Simply sitting outside in the fresh air can boost positive moods and if some winter sunshine is available this increases these feelings even more whilst also providing much needed vitamin D. Tidying up in the garden such as sweeping leaves or clearing away dead plants and flowers brings about a sense of achievement whilst also doing a worthwhile task. Reorganising sheds... Continue reading

If you are wanting to spruce up your garden a bit this year then you may be starting to plan how you want it to look. Having plants or trees in your garden can really help make it look colourful and help attract nature such as butterflies, birds and squirrels. Gardening has also been proven to be incredibly therapeutic. If you are a bit of a novice at gardening, then you will want to start off with some easy plants and trees. Once you have mastered these you can then try and introduce more complex vegetation. Apple trees, believe it or not, are a great first tree to introduce into your garden. You don’t need to have acers of room as the dwarf options are perfect for borders. Be sure... Continue reading