The Easy Guide to Watering & Feeding.
Hurrah! Three water companies have lifted their hosepipe bans thanks to all the glorious rain! (See, every raincloud DOES have a silver lining…!)
So….where do I start on getting my garden looking lush again?
If you’re desperate for a garden with a stunning array of flowers and pretty plants, then there’s nothing more important than watering and feeding. Its simple, without water, your plants and flowers will die, and all that back-breaking work weeding and planting will be for nothing! A complete fertiliser or adding specific nutrients to your plants is essential, especially for borders with plants growing close together, all fighting over the soil’s yummy bits.
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The easy way to manage your soil.
Everyone thinks that soil doesn’t need much looking after as it’s so robust and self-serving. Well, in actual fact, it’s a fragile living environment that needs protection and cultivation by mixing with organic matter at least twice a year.
Organic Matter? Compost of course!
Making your own compost is rewarding, good for the environment and really easy!
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A guide to choosing the correct compost!
There are many different types of compost available to help you grow a range of plants that are unsuitable for your ordinary garden soil. Compost is full of nutritional balances for specific plants and growing purposes.
Plants in hanging baskets, for example, need suitable potting compost that’s specially formulated to attend to their growing needs, by providing the correct balance of nutrients, helping along healthy root growth, and allowing the plant to anchor it well. The compost needs to be open enough to allow air to the roots and surplus water to drain, yet sufficiently binding to keep enough water in.
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Chelsea Flower Show 2012.
With all the excitement built around one of the most magnificent shows in horticulture, we thought it was only right to write about the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2012!
Congratulations go to all the winners of medals, awards of the year, and especially to the best in show winner: Cleve West for his Brewin Dolphin Garden.
This year’s Chelsea incorporated Jubilee Fever- to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. With stunning arrangements throughout the show to acknowledge the landmark event, the Queen’s visit to Chelsea, her 48th, was an extra special one this year.
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Writing Competition!
We want to hear from our gardeners! If you have some interesting stories, hints, tips, anecdotes, jokes, or experiements which have gone right or wrong in your garden or allotment, we wanna know about it! Maybe you’re into photography too, and have some stunning photographs to show off? Or maybe you’ve just received a plant or product from us and would like to share how you’ve used it? Won an award? Tell us!
Whatever it is, we’d really love to hear from you.
The best stories* will be posted here on our blog and the authors will receive a £15 voucher to spend on www.crowders.co.uk!
*Stories must be of your personal experience, in the case of plants you may review the plant and comment on its uses, growth or suitability etc.
*Stories must be unique and not copied from other websites. Plagiarism checkers will be used and all stories will be disqualified if found to be copied.
*By submitting a story you agree to allow us to publish it and use it for promotional purposes.
*This promotion may be withdrawn without notice at any time.
We’re really looking forward to hearing from you. Send us your name, telephone number, address and birthday (which will not be published)! along with your story and photographs to orders@crowders.co.uk and you could be in for a reward!
How to create beautiful hanging baskets.
Be the envy of all your neighbours this year and show off with stunning hanging basket displays! Hanging baskets add colour, height and interest into any garden display- so why not make yours stand out from the rest?
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Growing your own way to a tasty summer!
It’s a well-known fact that fruit, vegetables, salads and herbs taste even better when you’ve grown them yourselves! If you fancy giving it a go this year, then let us guide you through our outdoor kitchen…..
So…what to grow?
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Pretty Patios
Spring is finally here! Add instant colour and character to your patio by planting up pots and planters. Add a controlled-release fertiliser and water-retaining gel to compost to make life easy when feeding and watering. Our range of self-watering planters and hanging baskets are the perfect solution for keeping plants healthy whilst you’re away over the summer months, see our range here.
Bulbs
During April, it’s important to remove the faded flowers and seed heads of spring-flowering bulbs- summer is only around the corner! Remember to feed the plants during and after flowering too. We recommend a soluble plant food applied over the foliage and around the roots to ensure maximum nutrition, which will help to increase the size of bulbs, and ensure another pretty display next year!
April Garden Tips and Snips
Clean Up Your Act
By now you should have checked for and carried out any necessary repairs around the garden so it’ll be ready for summer! Get cleaned up this month if you haven’t already with a good path and patio cleaner. We recommend Algon, our best-seller. Not only will it keep working on your paths and patios, and ensure they remain looking clean, you can use it on greenhouses, glass, and plastic furniture and even on your guttering!
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Water Saving Hints & Tips: Getting ready for the Hosepipe Ban!
It was announced this week that water companies across the South East of England are to enforce a hosepipe ban as of 5th April 2012, due to drought conditions caused by the lowest rainfall records over the past two years since records began 128 years ago. Water companies to introduce the ban are: Anglian Water, South East Water, Southern Water, Sutton and East Surrey, Thames Water, Veolia Central and Veolia South East.
But have no fear….Crowder’s are here! Luckily, we’ve done all the hard work for you and come up with some great solutions to keep your garden looking fresh as a daisy during the drought….and help you save some money on your water bills too!
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Plant the seed!
March makes for the perfect time for gathering in bedding and patio plug plants and seedlings, to give you the biggest and best bedding displays ever! We stock a wide range of varieties, guaranteed to include all your favorites. Pot up and plant out after the frosts have disappeared over the next few weeks to give you the best results this summer. Don’t forget all the essentials you’ll need: pots, seed trays, labels and the all-important compost!
Houseplant Heaven
Give your houseplants a little TLC this March leave them feeling rejuvenated! Start by re-potting those that needs more room into bigger pots, and give them all a good feed. We know it’s easy to forget to feed them regularly, so we recommend a controlled-release fertilizer- simply feed and forget! Pesky pests will be lurking around at the minute, so keep your eyes peeled and kick them out! Check our range out, and find everything you’ll need for giving them a spring treat. From pots to compost, fertilizers to insecticide sprays, you’re sure to find it at www.crowders.co.uk!
Cut back!
Plants such as dogwoods and rubus are grown for their famed colorful stems, injecting vibrancy and life into your garden. See even more intense results later on in the year if you cut back the stems this month. If you’d like to add a colorful shrub to your garden, take a look at our range online! Read more »
