The Spork™: a review
“Every year you need to lightly fork over the herbaceous borders in spring. This loosens the soil and gives the plants a better chance to soak up any nutrients.” My mum explained 18 years ago. I had just moved into the cottage and she had come to stay to help me the garden. It was more of a field with long thin borders down the sides. There were infestations of ground elder on one side and a lot of buttercups on the other. I only had one trowel and one hand fork and as far as I remember we took turns to use the fork as it was far more...
read moreDe Wit garden fork and spade: a review
My De Wit ladies fork and spade arrived this week. Yes I went really wild and ordered a spade too. And I am thrilled with them. Having broken yet another fork I’d decided to invest in some deluxe tools. As I generally like to handle tools before I invest I was a bit concerned that they might not suit me. I liked the look of the T handles but would they be difficult to use? As Crocus has a good returns policy and these tools are not available locally I took a chance. I was so pleased that I blogged about the possibility of investing in a...
read moreBiodynamic gardening update: the importance of harvesting on the correct day
“It’s amazing. I don’t care if everyone thinks we are mad. By gardening this way we will be growing food with the best flavour.” “Do you think that I should mention our tests on the blog?” “Definitely. These are not laboratory tests but they have convinced me. Surely everyone would be interested in growing food that tastes better.” Danny had just done a blind tasting on some biodynamic flat leaf parsley that I’ve grown this year and some French flat leaf parsley that was already growing in the herb bath. They looked...
read moreCheap gardening tools can be an expensive mistake
Our ground is stony but gradually we are removing the stones. In some areas it’s compacted, were dealing with this by adding loads of organic matter. We are digging 3000 litres of good manure and topsoil mix into two thirds of our borders. The other third will get the treat next year. We are taking turns in barrowing Denise’s Delight from the giant bags on the front drive, through the tightly packed barn and into the garden. Dull but satisfying work as I know the plants will welcome this deluxe spar treatment. All was going well. We had...
read moreBarrow love
“Danny, I’ve fallen in love.” Resigned. He’d heard it all before. “Last time it was a mini roller. What is it this time?” I asked him to close his eyes and led him into the garden. “Wow – I can see where you’re coming from. He’s a very handsome beast” Danny picked up Barrow’s yellow handles and tested his turning circle. “Can I share him to shift my boxes?” I bought my first wheelbarrow from a garden centre. As far as I can remember it was quite expensive. I assumed that it had been designed for horticultural...
read moreWhat’s the best time to plant seeds in spring in the UK?
Fuelled with optimism I sowed a lot of seeds in January – hoping to get a head start. Most of them germinated and a few thrived. But the seeds that I sowed in February did much better and March sowings have really taken off well – developing much faster with the longer days – they have overtaken the weedy January and February sown cousins. I suppose if I was seriously into growing plants all year round it would be worth investing in one of these – or construct my own using daylight lamps. Magic Cochin mentions on her blog that her...
read moreHoping for a greener lawn
Examining the lawn the other day I was horrified to find it full of weeds and moss. We also have a problem with large bare muddy patches. This is where the dogs and I rampage up and down the garden. I tried reseeding the bare patches last autumn and the seed failed to germinate. The painting and decorating job paid off big time. I learnt so much for my clients. One couple I worked for were particularly interesting. I shall call them The Phloxs. Mrs Phlox kept a spotless, beautiful house while Major Phlox had created a wonderful garden....
read moreHow to make temporary cold frames out of old windows, bricks and bubble wrap
“It’s best to make things from stuff that you find hanging around. That’s what it’s all about.” Last spring S had made a new chicken house out of bits and bobs he had found in his sheds. He was pleased with the final result. It’s a great chicken house – roomy and low. A bit like the sort of chicken house that a Hobbit might have made. As it was constructed from recycled materials it didn’t cost a bomb. Sometimes I’m so pleased that I’m a hoarder. In the past I hoarded and bought new. Now I am gradually making the...
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