Give your lawn the green carpet treatment

April is one of my favourite months things really start to happen in the garden, days get longer, wild life comes alive and plants start to spring into action.

This is a very important month for lawn maintenance; you can get a head start and get your lawn looking fantastic, watch your neighbours go green with envy.

First thing to do is brush the lawn with a stiff brush or besom broom and remove any debris such as leaves and twigs that could impede the growth of the  grass, this also helps reduce worm casts which make an ideal start for germinating weed seeds.

After the first cut, leave for 2 or 3 days then apply a weed, feed and moss killer, I would highly recommend Evergreen complete 4 in 1 this gives fantastic results.

The Evergreen complete contains nitrogen, this greens the grass and stimulates healthy lush thick growth, phosphates that stimulates strong root systems, this can help in prolonged dry spells making the grass more drought resistance, potash that also promotes healthy growth.

Evergreen complete contains ferrous sulphate this kills and controls moss and can help reduce the growth of toadstools in the lawn, it also contains a selective weed killer that will kill off and control broad leaf weeds such as Dandelions, Daisys, Buttercups, Clover and many more, keeping your lawn weed free.

Important hints and tips

Always use a spreader that is correctly calibrated to apply the feed, weed and moss killer, this will help to get an even application avoiding scorching and patching growth.

Avoid walking on the lawn directly after application this can scorch and damage the lawn.

I would recommend watering in after 24 hours this will help reduce the risk of scorching and gives the best results.

Apply evergreen complete 2 or 3 times throughout the growing season every 6 to 8 weeks from April to the end of September this will give you an outstanding lush green lawn free from weeds and moss.

Help your plants spring into Action with the birds and the bees.

After the worst of the winter has past , it’s time to hit the garden and give the herbaceous plants a helping hand by removing all the dead dry vegetation that has helped crowns, corms, bulbs, roots and rhizomes during the cold winter months.

Plants such as Crocosmia die down in the autumn leaving masses of dry dead foliage; this has helped protect the bulbs from any harsh wintry conditions that could have killed the dormant bulbs.

You can help by removing the foliage, this will allow light and oxygen into the base of the plant helping the new shoots to be strong and healthy so that the plant can do what it does best.

This magnificent plant produces flushes of red and orange flowers, which burst out from clumps of spear-shaped, bright green leaves like sparks from an excited bonfire.

Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ will give you an indulgent, tropical plethora of hot colours, giving height with an informal, relaxed feel to any sunny border.

The bright green leaves reach a height of  2 to 2.5 feet; the flower stems fire up through the foliage to a height of approximately 3 feet and bear double ranks of tubular, deep red flowers with a hint of orange like a summer sunset.

Crocosmia like a well-drained, open, sandy soil and prefer to be in a south facing border.

During hot, dry spells they benefit from plenty of water.

They will start to flower from early June and will peak from the first or second week of August.

Not only is this plant a stunning addition to any garden, it requires very little maintenance and also remains relatively pest free.

This plant is also a vital food source for honey and bumble bees.

I have always been amazed how the bees bury themselves inside the flower and seem almost drunk on the delicious nectar.

Its dense foliage is also excellent for nesting birds such as black birds, wrens and robins, and it also offers protection for young amphibians such as frogs and toads.

Remember don’t waste that dry dead foliage its great for composting and fantastic for hedgehog bedding and birds nests, Never waste your garden waste.

Euvue’s North East Gardener Paul Travis Anderson took time out from his busy schedule to present a talk to the members of the Friends of Saltwell Park, Gateshead over the weekend.

Offering advice on gardening preparations for the Spring,and demonstrating how to plant up a spring floral display he also took on a question and answer session relating to getting the best out of your garden throughout the year.

The Friends of Saltwell Park was originally set up in 2005 by a group of Gateshead residents who work alongside Gateshead Council to promote and protect the well being and enjoyment of the park for the local community.

By joing the ‘Friends’ you can receive entry to monthly walks and talks and invites to a regular programme of events including trips to gardens and galleries.

Membership will cost you four pounds per person or six pound per household, or contact Judy Summerson on 0191 488 3597 for further details.

For the full programme of forthcoming events log on to www.ourgateshead.org/friendsofsaltwellpark

Residents in County Durham are being urged to get composting this autumn.

Durham County Council is launching an autumn composting campaign to encourage people to recycle their garden waste.

Rachel Gatland, waste strategy and policy officer at Durham County Council, said: “At this time of year people are thinking about tidying up the garden and it’s an ideal time to start composting.

“There’s plenty of garden waste available – such as spent bedding plants, grass cuttings, autumn leaves and prunings – which can all be recycled over the coming months to produce nutritious compost ready for use in the garden next spring.

“Adding waste to your compost during the cooler weather helps to keep the process going at a time when the decomposition will naturally slow down.”

A display containing information about home composting will go to 27 libraries throughout County Durham during the campaign, which runs until early November.

Durham County Council is giving people the chance to get a 220 litre compost bin at the reduced price of £15 as well as a further offer to get a second bin for £7.50, plus £5.49 for delivery. To order a bin people should contact 0844 571 444 or visit www.getcomposting.com

As we head towards colder spells there’s are few things that we can be doing in the garden to prepare for the next few months.

If you’ve been ‘growing your own’ now is the time to harvest your cabbages, spring onions, runner beans, maincrop potatoes ,onions and autumn cauliflowers, and while you’re at it why not pot up those chives, mint, basil and herbs.

When harvesting your potatoes it’s best to do it early in the day, wipe or rinse them off and id possible leave then to dry out in the sun before you store them. When storing always make sure they are in a cool dark place.

If you have a green house then this is also the time to be picking aubergines, cucumbers, tomatoes and chilli peppers.

It is also a good idea to keep feeding your tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers and keep a check on all the side shoots  on the tomatoes.

If you’re a fruit grower then you should be in constant action picking the apples, pears, plums (I’ve already managed to provide a few jars of home made plum jam…delicious), from the trees and blackberries and raspberries from the canes, along with strawberries from the beds.

It is also important to have a stroll among the brassicas to check for butterfly eggs and caterpillars which you will most likely find under the leaves, if you spot them just brush them off or squash them. You should also find that the troublesome pests in the green houses are declining in number but keep a watchfull eye as warm weather can speed their return if the weather is good.

Now is also a good time to plant and move conifers and evergreens, and plant spring flowering bulbs, however with hyacinths and tulips it is probably best to wait until October.

If you’re proud of your lush lawn then this is the time to prepare for the dry weather coming to an end by scarifying, spiking and applying an autumn feed, however if your garden is on top of clay, or sandy soils then it is also advisable to add a top dressing.

Much more information will be found in a four pack DVD which we have produced here at euVue which is shortly to be released in our  ’Grow Your Own’ series.

I’ll keep you informed of the release date, as it might make a great stocking filler for the ‘gardener’ in your life.

Over the months of winter we launched a campaign to feed our feathered friends during the time when their food was scarce.

Naturally the team at euVue participated and have continued to do so through the Spring, and fingers crossed leading into our coming Summer.

It is worth remembering that our varied varieties of birds do need feeding the year through if in the economic climate you can afford it.

There are however various local and high street outlets that do great range affordable bags of mealy worms, mixed seeds, fat balls and suet blocks which would not put a hole in your pocket.

Over the last month or so it seemed the peanut holder was the most popular feeder in our garden as it was the first to be emptied, and to an extent it was having to be filled up again more times than any of the other foods available.

THAT IS…until I got a shout from my wife earlier today to “take a look at the feeding station for the birds”.

There he was ‘cheeky monkey’ ..’ The Squirrel Thief of the Garden’, leaping, twisting, somersaulting, upside, downside, clinging and swaying until he managed to hang on to the peanut feeder and rattle through some of the contents thereof.

A quick run for the camera to capture a fascinating event of ingenuity and determination.

I’m now thinking of buying another feeder and marking it ‘Squirrell’ along side the others marked ‘Birds’.

Surely if he is clever enough to contort himself inside out for a peanut breakfast he can read aswell!

North East Gardener Paul Travis Anderson was forced to change hats when he gave ten different displays of flower arranging in hanging baskets at Dobbies, Birtley over the weekend.

Known throughout the North East for his Western styled or Australian bush type hat (and never photographed without it) he had to put it to one side when he gave the displays of his artistry with flowers and wear a gnome hat.

He was taking part in a Big Garden Party at the store which themed ‘Gnomeo and Juliet’ for all its visitors.

He is pictured (extreme left) with one of his displays with staff and some of the customers who also entered into the spirit of things after watching his demonstrations.

After a busy session he donned his normal headwear and related “There’s no place like gnome!”

Editorial comment (bearing in mind his artistry with flowers)….Gnomeo-care for art now!!!