How to protect plants from frost and what to do if they’re damaged.
A winter frost can be such a beautiful thing. White and sparkling like little diamonds. It can also be deadly for your plants. When plants freeze, the water in the cells expand causing the cell walls to break. Since the cells of the plant carry the nutrient rich sap the plants require to live, the […]
Which is better for plants, chipped mulch or shredded mulch?
Neither. Don’t use chipped mulch OR shredded mulch. Both of those will rob the precious nitrogen from the ground that your plants need. Nitrogen is vital for healthy plants because it’s a major component of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is the compound by which plants convert sunlight into sugars from water and carbon dioxide. Nitrogen is also […]
So what do professional gardeners do in the winter months?
“So what do professional gardeners do in the winter months?“ It’s a question I get asked all the time. A lot of people assume there’s not a lot that can be done in the garden during the winter, however this couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact I have a little saying “what you […]
Do I need to clean my pruning shears? How Do I prevent rust and bacteria from developing on my secateurs?
Do I need to clean my pruning shears? How do I prevent rust and bacteria from developing on my secateurs? From cutting away branches and pruning shrubs to gently snipping a beautiful flower to display in a vase, your shears can be one of the most important tools in your garden. The one thing you […]
Helpful tips for easy gardening with hassle free plants
Some plants are high maintenance and even though they may be beautiful, they are not always worth the time and money you may need to spend on them. There are many great plant choices for a low maintenance garden or patio. Try to avoid plants which require stakes, netting, support strings, etc. Delphiniums are just […]
Should I add diseased plants to my compost?
That’s a great question. According to gardenorganic.org.uk, some diseased plants can be added to your compost, however, plant materials suffering from soil-borne diseases such as clubroot and white rot should not be added to a compost heap. Anything else can be safely composted in a hot heap. Diseases that don’t need living matter to survive, such […]
What are adelgids and how do I get rid of adelgids?
Conifers are a tree that bears cones and evergreen needlelike or scalelike leaves. If you have conifer trees you may have to worry about Adelgids, which are are aphid-like insects that suck the sap from conifers. Adelgids can cause distortion of shoots, affecting the appearance of trees. Yellow, winged adults leave galls in late summer and lay eggs on […]