Soil & Sun Garden Care

…it’s all about the soil…

Peat free gardening info from RHS...

Making Gardens Peat-Free Peat-free gardening alternatives

Really important...

We know you all like companion planting.
We went seed shopping today for some marigolds and even we were confounded by the choices!
The only marigolds that are good for the insects are 'Calendula Officinalis', if it does not say that on the packet, don't buy it, as they are probably doubles so no nectar or 'tagetes'.

Our gardens are potentially easy ways in which we can have a positive impact on some of the effects of climate change...

Take just one area, biodiversity loss...
- try to keep an area a bit more natural, leave twigs, leaves on the ground to help give homes to small bugs...or build a bug or bee hotel!
- sow some wildflower seeds, not only do they look beautiful, they often smell good too & are needed more than ever for all our wonderful pollinators (which we kind of need for our food!!)

Loads more tips here-
Climate Change Garden chat as part of Fairtrade Fortnight...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HXL2Sq6SahI&feature=youtu.be

The Climate Change Garden (begins 11am GMT) How can we grow sustainably in a climate crisis? Today, Indian Fairtrade tea growers DS Preetham and TSG Pinto are joining Permaculture Association expert C...

💡💡💡Bulbs Bulbs Bulbs 💡💡💡
Buys some bulbs
Get them in the ground
Forget about them
Experience Winter 2020 🤨
Bulbs Bulbs Bulbs
Will become...
Colour
Scent (maybe)
Joy
Fascination
Bees
Butterflys
Picked flowers for the home
Happiness just when it may be needed
Bulbs Bulbs Bulbs
... preferably not Light Bulbs! 😆
🌼💐🌱🌷🏵️🌼💡🏵️🌷🌱💐💐💡🌼🌼🌷🌷

It's not too late to get some bulbs planted.
Tulips can be planted up to January, and Daffodils and Crocus will be fine but may do better in their second year...a bonus of bulbs, leave them in the ground and they'll treat you for years to come! (You don't always have to lift and store!)
Lots of online retailers have them in the sales at the moment, for a great and more varied selection try...
Woolmans
Farmer Gracy

Try it...you won't regret it. 😀

My thoughts exactly...

As gardeners we all already know that gardening helps reduce anxiety & stress, improves our sleep, is good exercise and gives us a great sense of well being, achievement & satisfaction. 2020 has been a time where lots of us have found this out for the first time, so welcome to all those new 2020 gardeners! get out there while you still can, its pretty warm in the sun!!

Grow your own Sunday lunch...

🐝 Want to attract bees to your garden? 🐝

Verbena bonariensis
Bees love it!

Beautiful purple flowers on the ends of long stems (can be 2m).
Gives unusual height & structure to a garden without being overbearing.
Flowers are still going strong now 😁🌸🐝

Zinnia...

As things get back to a ‘new normal’, remember the benefits of getting outside still, taking a walk, hearing the birds, smelling the flowers and seeing their beauty...it can’t help but lift your soul

Courgettes!
Flowers!

If you’re growing courgettes, I imagine you’re getting about one a day at the moment!

I love these flowers in the morning!
They’re a great way to easily see biology at work too...

Separate male & female flowers on the same plant (a monoecious plant).
Pollen needs to get from the male plant to the female...bring on the beneficial insects, bees, etc.
If successfully pollinated, a female flower remains attached & the fruit (yep, courgettes are botanically a fruit) develops.
Then cook (or eat raw) & enjoy!! 🥗

If anyone in Thanet is interested in this offer I would be more than happy to design & plant it all out for you ...

Looks AMAZING!!!!

Flowers Flowers Flowers

How to keep them blooming as long as possible...deadheading

How to deadhead Cosmos & Dahlia

https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-prolong-flowering/

How to prolong flowering In this video clip, Monty shows how to deadhead plants that flower in summer, such as dahlias and cosmos, to prolong flowering into autumn.

Lavender...

Interesting article re hard pruning...

https://herbidacious.calamus.graphics/2019/10/18/hard-pruning-lavender/

Hard Pruning Lavender How hard should you prune lavender after it has finished flowering? Lavenders benefit from annual pruning immediately after flowering to help them remain compact, dense and shapely. If you prefer t…

Beautiful beetroot harvest

Remember you can eat the greens too!!
Full of vitamins, esp iron...cook like spinach / kale.

🌾💐Bring some nature indoors! 💐🌾

It doesn't have to be much, but it can really lift a mood and brighten a room.
It doesn't have to be expensive shop bought flowers either (which may have travelled half way across the world...check the country of origin on product stickers if interested), here some roses from my garden and a selection of wild grasses are simple but work really well together (the pics don't do them justice).

Especially if you're not able to get out much at the moment, or see many people, it's definitely worth thinking about bringing some nature in to enjoy.

Succulent Propagation Part 2...

After trials of different growing mediums, locations around the house and watering methods, its soooo exciting to see the first signs of baby succulents appearing!

The pics aren't the best, but the little new roots appeared first, I drop water from a straw onto them almost daily (only during propagation do succulents need this much water) and I can see the changes on a daily basis. There are now 2 little babies forming, hopefully more to follow from the others that have new roots soon.

For a first attempt, I'm pretty chuffed with this so far. It's pretty spectacular to watch them develop....and hopefully I'll have some beautiful new plants to share in a few months time!

Loo rolls again...

Just come across this top bit of advice so thought I'd share (I hadn't thought of using them as squares before, but makes slot of sense!)

''Talking about sowing seeds etc,time has come again to start saving loo and kitchen roll inners to sow seeds in.....What I do is flatten them then fold them in half length ways,open them up and you have a nice square "pot" to sow into.By making them square they fit into seed trays better and when you fill them with compost you don't lose any between the pots like you do when the inners are round.When you need to plant out put the whole lot in the soil the cardboard will rot down so the plant roots will grow out."

Alliums opening....

Hi everyone! We've got some here, it's a good filler for the base of your flower beds, but we can't use it again, because we are organic and it's now rather lacking in nutrition. So feel free to pick it up if you want it. You just need to add some fertilizer to it and it will be good to go. PS. It's free, but donations towards running Enchanted Gardens are welcome. ;-)

🥳 Happy Birthday 🥳

Please join us in wishing Sir David Attenborough a very very Happy 94th Birthday! Thank you for everything you do to help protect our planet.

Here's a quote from our most eminent supporter: "The Wildlife Trusts are giving countless people the chance to experience wildlife in their everyday lives. It is moving to see the delight on the face of a six year old looking at a pond skater or caddis fly larvae...I would encourage anyone who cares about wildlife to join them." - Sir David Attenborough

You can show us your support here: bit.ly/2y5rfEu

“All the flowers of the tomorrows are in the seeds of today.”
Indian Proverb

Ysabel Lemay

🥰🐣🤩 International dawn chorus day tomorrow....

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/dawn-chorus-day

Dawn Chorus Day | The Wildlife Trusts International Dawn Chorus Day celebrates nature's symphony, the wonders of bird song.

Having a bit of water in your garden is great for wildlife...

How to create a wildlife pond!

Trying my hand at succulent propagation!

Another local garden centre delivery service...

Gardening for beginners - 10 tips New to gardening? Browse our list of growing tips to get you started