The Best Guide for the SK8 Area

Gardening

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  Berries on Shrubs in Autumn and Winter

  Published: Sun, 30/11/2008 12:52

  Sometimes a shrub with its berries in full colour is a stunning sight and this plant, Callicarpa Bodineri is certainly no exception. This plant drew the eyes as they made their way along the path. In addition to making an attractive addition to any garden, a berried plant such as this is a magnet for hungry birds. I have spent an enjoyable....

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  Lawncare - Construction and Maintenance

  Published: Fri, 03/10/2008 15:49

  In most gardens, lawns are an integral but sometimes neglected part. They are the largest form of groundcover and can complement the flowers and shrubs grown in a border. As with any form of planting, a well-tended, neat lawn is a major asset to a garden. Conversely, few things look worse than a neglected, brown and patchy area of lawn

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  Free Leaves Leave Allotments Blooming

  Published: Wed, 01/10/2008 16:24

  Autumn leaves collected by Stockport Council's Street Cleansing team are being offered to allotment holders to use as compost on their plots, as part of the Stockport Community Pride programme.

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  Down the garden path with Martin Horne

  Published: Wed, 13/08/2008 21:47

  There is always time in a busy gardener's year to sit back and assess progress or otherwise in the garden and this year has been no exception. On the few pleasant, dry evenings, I have sat in a strategic part of the garden and looked around me. One of the blessings is to observe the wildlife.

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  F1 Hybrids

  Published: Tue, 17/06/2008 19:35

  We often see the term ‘F1 Hybrid' on seed packets or in catalogues but what does it mean? F1 stands for ‘Filial 1 - the first filial generation seeds or plants.

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  Down the garden path with Martin Horne

  Published: Tue, 10/06/2008 10:05

  How can we best describe the weather of late? ‘Mixed' is probably the best word! One day we have scorching sunshine, the next the heavens open (Mother Nature's tears, as I heard it

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  Starting seeds

  Published: Mon, 31/03/2008 11:09

  Starting seeds indoors is really enjoyable. Some seeds require darkness to germinate and should be covered with soil, such as corn, other seeds require light to germinate and shoul

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  Hard Landscaping - Surfaces

  Published: Fri, 15/02/2008 16:03

  
  We have seen how vertical hard landscaping features may have an effect on the garden. There is a range of surfaces which may be used in the development of hard landscaping.....

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  Hard Landscaping - Vertical Elements

  Published: Sun, 30/12/2007 19:30

  What is hard landscaping? Put briefly, it is the ‘non-living' aspect of a garden's plan.

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  Gardening Advice by Martin Horne

  Published: Mon, 15/10/2007 17:59

  Martin Horne has studied at the Berkshire College of Agriculture and also teaches the Royal Horticultural Certificate Courses.

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  Organic Gardening Part 2

  Published: Mon, 15/10/2007 17:49

  Soil fertility:This has been covered briefly before in the topical article on soils and composts but the following may complement those notes:
  
  
  
  

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  Organic Gardening Part 1

  Published: Mon, 24/09/2007 21:54

  In recent years, thanks to the late Geoff Hamilton and the charity 'Garden Organic' www.gardenorganic.org.uk , there has been an increased interest in Organic Gardening.

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  Herbaceous Perennials to Cherish - Part 2

  Published: Mon, 03/09/2007 12:07

  As mentioned before, my love of herbaceous perennials knows no bounds and I love nothing more than propagating, nursing and handling border plants

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  National Allotments Week 13 - 19th August

  Published: Sat, 11/08/2007 12:19

  National Allotments Week 13-19 August promoted by National Allotment Gardens Trust, in association with National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardens, will see much activity

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• Slug Resistant Plants

  Published: Tue, 24/07/2007 16:35

  We have covered control of slugs and snails but it is also possible to grow and place some plants which are perceived to be a deterrent to slugs and snails...

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  Molluscs! (slugs and snails)

  Published: Tue, 24/07/2007 16:00

  The recent constant wet weather has seen an apparent increase in the predominance of the notorious garden pests, slugs and snails and many gardeners have experienced devastation

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  Herbaceous Perenials

  Published: Mon, 16/07/2007 22:43

  My love of herbaceous perennials knows no bounds and I derive endless pleasure from propagating, growing and proudly showing the various plants.

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• A Garden for your Pet Cat by Syd Graham

  Published: Wed, 11/07/2007 11:07

  Cats enjoy roaming around in gardens, investigation and getting into mischief. Why not set aside a piece of garden to bring pleasure to your cat(s).
  
  

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  Lavender - A most enjoyable plant by Martin Horne

  Published: Wed, 11/07/2007 11:03

  As I write this, it has started to rain yet again. I took this image of the lavender garden at BCA (Berkshire College of Agriculture), Maidenhead a few days ago, on a rain-free day

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  The Damp Garden by Martin Horne

  Published: Wed, 11/07/2007 11:00

  I knew it! I wrote an article on dry conditions and plants which thrive in and adapt to dry conditions and - lo and behold! - the rains came and have hardly abated since..

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  The Dahlia - our expert Martin Horne

  Published: Sun, 08/07/2007 02:01

  This half-hardy tuberous plant was named after Dr. Anders Dahl, a Swedish botanist, although it could very easily have been called ‘Georgina', after the botanist Johann Georgi.

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  Compost Making by Martin Horne

  Published: Sun, 08/07/2007 01:58

  Put simply, compost is made up of anything organic which can rot. If it can rot, it will compost. To be honest, however, some items are best avoided for composting.
  
  

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  Herbaceous Plants

  Published: Sun, 08/07/2007 01:55

  Herbaceous plants are non-woody perennials, which are grown generally in flower borders.
  
  

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  Perennials for Dry Soil in Sun

  Published: Sun, 08/07/2007 01:52

  On a slightly different topic, here are a few examples of perennial plants -those which die down to a basal rosette in autumn and winter but the whole plant remains and re-grows..

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  Drought Tolerant planting

  Published: Sun, 08/07/2007 01:41

  If, as we are led to believe, climate change will involve hotter, drier summers in this country (not true in 2007), we may need to look a closer at the type of plants we plant

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  Soils - a pleasure or a pain?

  Published: Sun, 08/07/2007 01:33

  We gardeners are never fully satisfied! It has rained too much or there has been no rain for too long!

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  Vegetables, Salads and Protected Crops by Martin Horne

  Published: Sun, 08/07/2007 01:29

  As a gardener, my greatest love is to grow ornamental plants but, as a friend pointed out to me: "You can't eat flowers!"
  
  
  
  

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  Sunflowers with tips by Martin Horne

  Published: Sun, 08/07/2007 01:25

  The sunflower has been used for generations as a flower with impact. Its botanical name is helianthus, from the Greek word helios, meaning ‘sun'.

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  Half -Hardy Plants Propagated by Seed by Martin Horne

  Published: Sun, 08/07/2007 01:21

  New entrants to gardening may find propagating half-hardy plants - those susceptible to damage by frost - by seed both productive and exciting. The process need not be daunting, ho

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  Double Digging by Martin Horne

  Published: Sun, 08/07/2007 01:17

  Double digging is a process which requires great effort and preparation and, because of its labour-intensiveness, has lost its attraction to many gardeners!
  
  

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• Surfing the net has replaced gardening

  Published: Sun, 08/07/2007 01:15

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  Hardwood Cuttings by Martin Horne

  Published: Sun, 08/07/2007 01:09

  Hardwood cuttings are taken during the dormant season, using the fully mature stem of a deciduous tree or shrub. By the dormant season, the stem should have shed its leaves but, oc

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