[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Well, we are over a month into 2019 and many of us will have made resolutions to try and get fitter and healthier over the coming year. But, how many of us have made resolutions that incorporate our environment, wildlife and green spaces?
Tag: gardening
The Big Garden Birdwatch – Go For Gold!
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]You may have seen my earlier posts about this weekend’s Big Garden Birdwatch and hopefully you are all set with bird book and notepad to hand. Well before you start, here are a few more tips that will make it even more fun and interesting:
Winter is coming. Spare a thought for the wildlife in your garden.
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A few weeks ago, Tim and I were planting up a mixed hedge of pretty-much full-size trees to replace a Leylandii hedge for a lovely couple in Benson. When the client was explaining the reason behind the job, Tim and I stood aghast; the hedge (belonging to the neighbouring property) had been removed without warning by developers who were building new houses in the field next door. Our client had literally walked out into his garden one morning to find he no longer had a 20ft hedge screening his garden from the neighbouring field.
Continue reading “Winter is coming. Spare a thought for the wildlife in your garden.”
Six seasonal jobs for the winter: prune, feed and plant!
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Seasons greetings and felicitations to one and all, from everyone here at GreenArt!
As gardeners, like our agricultural ancestors before us, we become in tune with the changing seasons. And, when observed more closely, soil and plants give us helpful indicators of what we should be doing in our garden and when.
Continue reading “Six seasonal jobs for the winter: prune, feed and plant!”
The grass is always greener – or is it?
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Over 10 years ago, the RHS noted the impact of climatic change on our lawns in their Encyclopedia of Gardening (2007). This year we have seen temperatures soar to dramatic highs and are no doubt still seeing the impact on the grassed areas in our gardens.
Whilst a lush green lawn may be the aim, you may be surprised to read that it is really important to give established lawns little or no water during drought periods. Lawns will turn brown during a drought and it would be easy to assume they had died. However, did you know that many lawn grasses go into a dormant phase during extreme heat and when it does rain again, as you are probably noticing, most lawns will recover well?
A rose by any other name…
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When I had the idea for this blog, it was just after the first flush of summer blooms covered the rose bushes, and now in some places, we are onto our third flush of blooms, which doesn’t look set to finish any time soon. I have to confess that rose care is probably my favourite gardening task. I am also not ashamed to admit that it is rare that I can walk past a rose in bloom, without sinking my nose into its petals to inhale the heady perfume. Is it just me?
Saving The World, One Tree At A Time
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The latest report from the government’s advisers on climate change made many people sit up and take notice – and so it should. Climate change is definitely NOT fake news; it is happening and will continue to happen. With what level of speed and consequence, however, is still up to us – just!
A Halloween Harvest…
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Hello lovely people and seasonal Samhain greetings to one and all!
This weekend I’m making a few Halloween preparations with my girls. The origins of Halloween can be traced back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced Saa-ween).
Bring on the bulbs!
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It’s the time of year that we begin to look around at the bare patches in our beds and borders. We start thinking about how to add in some extra colour to make sure have something to look forward to after the dormancy of winter in our gardens. And that’s where bulbs come into their own.
Bee Kind
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Bee kind…
The careful insect ‘midst his work I view,
ow from the flowers exhaust the fragrant dew,
With golden treasures loads his little thighs,
And steer his distant journey through the skies.
(John Gay, Rural Sports)