Posts Tagged ‘lawns’ < back
24th Apr:
It seems strange that in the middle of this incessant rain I am sat here writing a blog about what we can and can’t do with hoses over the next few months! On April 4th having taken a huge gamble, we finished laying 480m² of turf in one garden. Since then I don’t think it has stopped raining which is great for that lawn and the reservoirs but frustrating for all our other jobs.
I have been asked many times over the last couple of weeks what the general public are allowed to do in the garden so hopefully below are a few helpful guidelines.
- No hoses are allowed to water lawns or plants. However you can fill watering cans and water any lawns or plants. It will just take a lot longer.
- No cleaning of any walls, or windows, patios, paths, garden furniture or any other outdoor artificial surface using a hose.
- You are not allowed to fill or maintaining a domestic pond using a hosepipe (unless it has fish and their welfare is at stake – lucky fish!).
- You are not allowed to fill or maintaining an ornamental fountain.
- However you are allowed to use a hosepipe for cleaning purposes if health and safety is going to be an issue.
Ways to make the most of the situation.
- Plant any new trees, shrubs and plants in well-rotted, water-retaining compost and cover with a heavy layer of mulch (up to 4 inches) to retain moisture.
- While you are at it cover the rest of the beds in a thick layer of mulch.
- Deliver water directly to the base of plants through tree-root watering pipes or trickle/drip irrigation equipment.
- Install a trickle/drip irrigation system.
- Wherever possible, use timer devices to water early in the morning or late in the evening when evaporation is minimal.
- Don’t worry about lawns turning brown. This shows the grass has stopped growing, but most lawns will recover completely when the rain returns
- Install water butts to collect rainwater off greenhouse, shed, garage and house roofs
If anyone is unsure about anything or has any questions please feel free to give us a call and we will try to help in any way we can (legally!!).
Fusarium patch disease
22nd Nov:
Recently some of our clients have brought to our attention a problem that seems to be afflicting people’s lawns at the moment. We have been speaking to our turf supplier and the problem is Fusarium. Below is a link that they have sent to me that explains a bit about it. Although in the article it says there are no chemicals available to the amateur gardener, we do have a treatment that should help get rid of the problem. If anyone has any problems or questions please don’t hesitate to contact us here at Harrington Porter. <a href=”http://http://www.turfgrass.co.uk/index.php/knowledge_base/view_article_details/5/?c_id=1″>
Gareth’s tips for March
14th Feb:
Jobs for the month of March
1. Prune! Prune, prune, prune… Roses, Wisteria, fruit trees, climbers, all deciduous shrubs. Nice and hard – the secret is to ‘treat them mean, keep them keen.’ Do not be hesitant or nervous, just give them a hard cutting back. If in doubt – then please get in touch with us, and we can carry out such work, or offer a professional consultancy and advice service, for pruning, and all horticultural matters. Leave the evergreens alone, unless necessary – definitely avoid Box at all costs; blight is rife when cut at this time of year.
2. Lawns – get those forks in! Spike where growth is poor, and drainage is an issue. Fill in holes with lawn sand. Also get your mower serviced now ready for the spring, and check any other tools that might need sharpening or mending.
3. Think about mulching – March is the optimal time. Applying a generous layer of organic mulch onto the soil in March, will benefit your garden for the entire year.
4. Now is the time to give your garden a good spring clean. Get everything cleared up now – all leaves and debris etc…
5. Plant any summer flowering bulbs before it is too late. March is really the last opportunity to get them in the ground.
6. Start protecting any new spring shoots from slugs by putting down any slug pellets etc now.
7. If you are thinking of transplanting any trees or shrubs do it now while they are still dormant and therefore less likely to go into shock.
8. Fertilise and trees and shrubs preferably with a slow release fertiliser.
9. Weeding your garden well now will save a lot of time later on in the year.
10. Fix any fencing or other structures before they become covered in plants again as it will make your life a lot easier and the job quicker.
August/September Gardening Tips
19th Aug:
August is starting to draw to a close and now is the time to start thinking about what you will need to do over the coming months to prepare you garden for next year. But enough of the depressing talk, summer is not over yet and hopefully we will still have a couple of months of good weather with which to enjoy our gardens. Below are a few tips and tasks that should be carried out over the next few weeks to enhance your enjoyment and prolong the flowering period.
1. Watering is still very important at the moment especially if we get some more warm, dry periods. Make sure you water during the coolest times of the day and water thoroughly and deeply.
2. Perennials, Annuals and other flowering plants. Spend as much time as you can deadheading as this should mean they will continue to flower longer into the summer season. Any spring flowering perennials can be divided and moved now as well but you must sure you water them well after.
3. Any summer flowering shrubs that have finished flowering can now be pruned and shaped.
4. Keep watering the lawn well and start to think about raising the height of the cut towards the end of september. Also if we do have another hot spell don’t cut the grass so short as longer grass offers more shade to the roots and so won’t dry out so fast.
5. Keep on top of the weeds and try to remove them early before they can go to seed again. Weeds will deprive you plants of nutrients and water.
Enjoy the rest of your summer and if we can be of any help don’t hesitate to get in contact with us.
February Garden News and Tips
5th Feb:
Welcome to the latest news and tips from the garden maintenace team. Winter seems to be never ending at the moment and I think everyone is now in need of warm weather and some sunshine, including our gardens.
Anyway here at Harrington Porter we are looking forward to the year ahead and below we have listed a few things to do during the month of February in order to help prepare your garden for what hopefully will be a lovely long hot summer.
- Prune any summer flowering shrubs
- Tie in wall trained fruit trees and bushes
- Finish pruning fruit trees
- Dig any unworked vacant ground
- Keep off lawns in frosty weather
- Ensure that the mower is serviced
- Spike lawns to aid drainage
- Provide food and water for garden birds
- Prune back your Wisteria
This year we are trying to encourage more of our clients to think about their gardens earlier in the year, so any maintenance work booked in during February will get a 20% discount on the labour costs. If you have any questions that you want answered by our maintenance team please get in contact and I’m sure we will be able to help you out.
