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Beat the Weeds and Save Time

30/7/2020

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​Unsure how to start gardening? Worried that it will take up too much time or money? Let us help you with easy to understand tips and advice. This article will show you how to beat the weeds!
Save Time When Weeding
New gardeners are so often put off gardening at the thought that it has to involve hours and hours of hard work. The popular idea of a low-maintenance garden is one that covers the space with decking and gravel, planted with a few grasses and pots of evergreens.
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However, we’d like to share with you an ideal way to help thwart one of the most time-consuming chores in the garden - that of weeding. 
Garden weed removal
​Of course, there are many gardeners who enjoy the time spent weeding, and I admire them tremendously - there are great physical and mental benefits to spending time outdoors among your plants. 

But for those of us whose time spent in the garden must be limited because of work commitments or perhaps physical limitations, there is a way to enjoy our plants with a minimum of fuss. Of course, time has to be spent on the initial ground preparation and planting, however, this would probably take far less time than laying decking and gravel!
Spending time in the garden removing weeds
Weeds Are Survivors
​Weeds are great survivors and they very quickly take over any bare patch of soil. Once they take hold they can very easily smother existing plants and become notoriously difficult to get rid of.

So the idea is to find plants that form dense clumps or spread via their roots to cover the ground. As with most plants, there are ground cover plants for each season when they are at their best, and some that look good all year round.

One word of caution. Because some of these plants spread quickly - which is of course what we want - they also don't know when to stop! So you may need to cut them back occasionally to keep them within their allotted space.
Manually removing weeds
​What to plant?
Bugles (ajuga) - you can get plants with purple, bronze or variegated foliage; euphorbia - with stunning acid-green flowers in early to late spring; lesser periwinkle (vinca minor); bergenias - commonly known as elephant's ears; as well as small-leaved variegated ivies, all provide year round ground cover. Another advantage of these particular plants is that they are also slug and snail resistant!
Plant Bugles in your garden
Bugle
​In spring and summer, you can use aubretia, arabis, alyssum and candytuft (iberis), which all hug the ground. And particularly useful, and providing some height to a border, is aquilegia - the old-fashioned cottage garden variety - which after flowering retains its foliage in attractive clumps. They also self-seed prolifically, giving you extra plants each year. 
Candytuft are good replacement for weeds in your garden
Candytuft
​Another favourite plant of ours is the hardy geranium. Some varieties do die down in the winter - weeds don't grow much then anyway - but the plants soon romp away in spring and provide ground cover and masses of flowers all summer.
hardy Geranium are good replacements for weeds in your garden
Hardy Geranium
​Other useful plants to use for ground cover are herbs. Among a wide variety to choose from are comfrey, feverfew, catmint, golden marjoram and mallow. 
Catmint are a good replacement for weeds in your garden
Catmint
​So there you have it! Once your ground cover plants are established, you'll no longer have to spend hours on your knees, but can spend quality time in your garden.

​The Bristol Gardening Team is always available to provide you with support in making the best out of your happy place. Call us now for a free quote.
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5 Steps To A Better Lawn And Garden

26/7/2020

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If you’re lucky enough to have a lawn with a good topsoil base, much of the hard work of keeping a lawn beautiful is already done for you. But many of us do not have this luxury, and besides, even with a good topsoil base, you still have to work hard to keep a beautiful lawn and garden.
Step 1 - Mowing the Lawn
The best time to mow a lawn is when it is cool and dry. Wait for the morning dew to dry off before the afternoon heat takes hold. Alternatively, late afternoon or early evening following a watering in the morning is also a good time.
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Step 2 - Hedges are Better than Fences
A hedge is a much better boundary divider than a fence. It will provide better privacy and keep pets and children in ñ or out. It will attract birds to its shelter, and provide a great backdrop for plants and flowers.
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Step 3 - Hyacinths
Bring the beauty of your garden to you; plant hyacinths near walkways and doors. Their magnificent perfume will swamp the spring air and make your garden really come alive.
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Step 4  - Add Non-garden Items
Add non-garden items to your garden, such as lampposts and mail boxes. Surround these items with flowers planted to take advantage of the earliest to the latest flowerings. You could have white snowdrops, purple and gold crocus, blue hyacinths, and various colored tulips. You can also surround the posts with rocks to provide added interest.
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Step 5 - Weed Control
Simple, but effective weed control can be achieved on your lawn by mowing often during spring. This will prevent dandelions spreading by eliminating the yellow blossoms and preventing seed formation. Mow high during late spring and early summer. This will allow grass blades to shade the ground, and will help prevent crabgrass from sprouting.
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The Bristol Gardening Team is always available to provide you with support in making the best out of your happy place. Call us now for a free quote.
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5 QUICK GARDENING TIPS TO SAVE MONEY

23/7/2020

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​It ís easy to spend a fortune every year creating a beautiful yard. These five tips can help save you money for both this and future gardening seasons.
1. Plan your vegetable garden according to what your neighbors are planting so you can share your vegetables when theyíre ready for eating. Often Iíve had too many of one kind of vegetable I couldnít give away because my friendís were ripe at the same time. ​
Vegetable garden
​2. Select perennials rather than annuals for your flowerbeds. As they multiply each year, cut them back and exchange with your friends so you both have lovely gardens and save money at the same time.
Perennials rather than annuals
3. Compost your kitchen scraps, as well as your coffee grounds. The end result is much better than any potting soil you can ever buy from a nursery or hardware store. The price is right, and this is definitely recycling!
Compost Your Kitchen Scraps
4. Instead of using mulch, try pebbles or small rocks in your garden as ground cover.  This will save you lots of cash since you wonít need to buy mulch in the spring and fall of every year.
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​5. Spend more money now by purchasing better quality gardening tools and you will save in the long run.  They will last for years, saving you dollars because you don't need to replace them every planting season. The same goes for gardening gloves - make sure you buy the best you can afford so they last all season.
Gardening Tools
Happy Gardening!
​
Our team at Bristol Gardening is always available to provide you with support in making the best out of your happy place. Feel free to give us a call. 
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How To Care For Your Plants: 6 EASY TIPS

19/7/2020

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Many people worry a lot when it comes to caring for their plants. When talking about house plants, there is no need to worry. There are just a few things you need to consider. 
1. Watering
A watering can is a must-have in every garden. It is recommended that you purchase one with a narrow spout to ensure adequate watering. But that does not always apply, so the finger test may come in handy. Insert your index finger up to the first joint into the soil. If you feel that the soil is damp, don't water it. Otherwise, do.

2. Feeding
With foliage plants, they always need to be high in nitrogen. For flowering plants, on the other hand, K2O is needed. Fertilizers such as the slow release ones can be mixed with the compost. However, some plants like cacti and orchids need special care. Feed plants at the height of their active growth. 
feeding your garden with the right compost
3. Lighting
Plants like Sanseveria and Aspidistra require no shade. They can be placed away from a window. Spider plants need semi-shades. You can put plants like these near a window that does or does not get sunlight. Others need sun or no sun at all like cheeseplants.

4. Temperature 
With houseplants, they can survive in temperatures a little bit higher than 15 - 250 C or 55 - 750 F. But drastic fluctuations in temperature may not be good for them. 
ideal light and temperature for plants
5. Humidity
Some houseplants require a humid environment. One tip to maximize humidity is to put the pot inside a larger pot and fill in the gaps with stones or compost to keep in the moisture. The compost will not dry out. Plants are capable of creating their own climate if grouped together. This tip can also be used for keeping the soil moist. If you want, you can spray them with water once or twice a day depending on the day's temperature. 

6. Repotting
Other plants require repotting for optimum growth but some plants may not be suitable for this idea. They would not want their roots to be disturbed or other plants' root system to be small. One way to check if your plant needs repotting is to turn it upside down. Tap the pot to release the plant and check its roots. If roots are all you see, then repot. 
repotting plants
You just need to have a little care for your plants and in turn, you'll reap its benefits. You don't only have a garden that can add to your house's beauty you can also learn how to respect and nurture life in its varied forms. 

Our team at Bristol Gardening is always available to provide you with support in making the best out of your happy place. Feel free to give us a call. ​​
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