1st Class Gardens

During the winter months we are able to see our trees in all their bare glory and it is then that we may realise that they need some attention. The first decision to make is whether or not the tree is healthy or whether it should be replaced by a new one. This is especially true with fruit trees that actually have a certain life span before the fruit quality begins to deteriorate. No amount of pruning can save some trees and a diseased tree can spread the disease to other trees in the garden. There are treatments that can be used but mainly these are for commercial rather than domestic use and may not be effective. If you are confident that the tree is healthy but just needs some... Continue reading

Gardening as a hobby is enjoyed by people of all ages. It has many advantages to offer such as physically helping you to keep fit and mentally encouraging a feeling of wellbeing when working outdoors. Even when the weather is inclement, getting outside in the fresh air for a couple of hours can lift your mood and the satisfaction that is gained from looking at the results of your hard work is tremendous. Planting seeds or small seedings and watching them grow is a rewarding experience and growing fruit and vegetables that can be harvested and eaten by you and your family is satisfying. The cost of buying seeds is relatively inexpensive as a small packet of seeds will usually produce lots of plants so financially growing your own produce... Continue reading

If you live in an area with a chalky terrain you may have chalky soil in your garden which can be a problem. Chalky soil is usually deficient in certain nutrients and some plants will not thrive in this type of soil. However, all is not lost and with some hard work and plant knowhow a flourishing garden can be achieved. It is essential that any new beds are well dug over with well-rotted compost and possibly bought topsoil. Try not to dig down too deeply as this will just bring the chalky soil up to the surface which will not be helpful. Regular mulching of beds and borders will be beneficial in autumn to prepare the ground for planting in the spring. As chalky soil is so porous routine... Continue reading