The Garden Minute ⏰: Tuesday 7 May 2024
☀️Good morning Gardeners. Here is today's gardening round up :)
23 stunning ground cover plants to create a tapestry of colour in difficult-to-plant areas
Ground cover plants are low-growing plants that spread easily to cover areas where nothing much wants to grow.
For example, do you have bare patches under trees? Are you tired of weeding them and trying to keep them clear?
Ground cover plants will help prevent weed seeds germinating in the soil. And they’re more beautiful to look at than bare earth. The Middle Sized Garden.
‘Pesticides by stealth’: garden soil conditioners killing worms, experts fear
Even products marketed as ‘organic’ may be toxic, say campaigners, with risks for the wider ecosystem. The Guardian.
The ‘Garden Minute’ is today sponsored by ‘Agriframes’.
Established in 1970, Agriframes have been specialists in creating stylish, high quality garden structures for over 50 years - With unrivalled experience as leading designers of classic garden structures we are experts in helping our customers create their perfect outdoor space.
Upton Wold: a garden aged to perfection
When Ian and Caroline Bond first came to Upton Wold, they knew it would be years before they would see the garden as they envisioned it
The surprising health benefits of dirt
Exposure to microbes in early life can help set up our immune systems. The Daily Telegraph. Subscription may be required.
How to grow pumpkins for a successful harvest in time for Halloween
Most of us many not think about pumpkins outside of autumn, especially around Halloween. But the fact of the matter is that it takes a while for pumpkins to grow, so if you want your own crop of gourds come fall, then you need to start thinking about how to grow pumpkins right about now. Ideal Home.
When she isn't designing gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show, Ann-Marie Powell looks after a beautiful garden at home.
Lockdowns during the pandemic were times of professional uncertainty for garden designer Ann-Marie Powell, but they let her focus on her own neglected garden and rediscover a passion for planting.
5 unusual veg to grow in the UK
Lucy Hutchings from heirloom seed supplier She Grows Veg shares her top unusual veg to grow in the UK so you can add something a little different to your plot. Grow Fruit & Veg.
How to grow hebes
Hebes are popular evergreen shrubs, mostly native to New Zealand although some are native to Australia and South America. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and are suitable for growing in a range of sites and planting schemes. Hebes are excellent in shrub borders, used as ground cover or low-growing hedging, and are relatively low-maintenance. Gardeners World.
JOBS FOR MAY
Ben Vanheems shares some essential tasks to carry out in your garden and allotment for May. Kitchen Garden.
The poisonous plant that can ‘run riot’ in your garden, was a favourite of Elizabeth II and is more beautiful than a rose
Repairing The Lawn After Winter
A few simple steps make all the difference, says Ruth
After months of seemingly incessant rain, it’s hardly surprising that for many of us, our lawns are resembling the end result of the Battle of Bosworth Field. We live at the top of a hill and our soil is free-draining and chalky and even our grass is looking the worse for wear so I feel for gardeners who have to contend with heavy clay soils in low-lying areas. Amateur Gardening.
Bathwater reuse is a growing trend for gardens, says RHS
We're being urged to reduce water usage by 20% ...Country Living.
Four myths about vertical farming debunked by an expert
Vertical farms look hi-tech and sophisticated, but the premise is simple – plants are grown without soil, with their roots in a solution containing nutrients. This innovative approach to agriculture is growing in global market value and expected to reach US$23.23 billion (£18.55 billion) by 2029.
⏰ Thank you for reading my gardening round up :) Do you have a local gardening story you would like to share? Leave a comment and I will get back to you right away.