Search - Articles

will release nitrogen into the soil very, very slowly.Spent mushroom compost consists of horse manure and straw and is a very useful soil conditioner. You will also get an unexpected crop of mushrooms for a few weeks after application.Urine (whether belonging

strong indication that the time has come for a bit of division. (Although this sort of behavior doesn't help!)To divide a plant, dig it up and discard the centre, as it is only fit for the compost heap. The healthy bits can then be split and replanted

issue of Gardeners' World magazine, I advised readers to collect and dispose of snails found in compost bins, I didn't imagine this would upset anybody.But apparently by recommending the disposal of snails I am personally responsible for the demise

, leading to flooding. If every building had a green roof - be it an office block or garden bin store - much of this water would be absorbed before it even hit the ground.My shed has a tiny, steep roof, so we needed to make sure any soil that was added

, chairs and the climbing frame… Even the compost and the foliage of some evergreens are covered.Algae is harmless, but it’s beginning to depress me. Its seemingly unstoppable spread is caused by the super-soggy weather we’ve had over the last few months

I know that gardeners in other areas of the country have been blessed with proper, sustained downpours, but no such luck here. My only experience of rain in recent weeks was during a (very enjoyable) visit to Garden Show Ireland at Hillsborough

of Gardeners’ Question Time, talks endlessly about his apple press. His evangelism has converted me to presses, which are a wonderful way to use up those less-than-perfect fruits.You can press the whole apple, but I always chop mine in half, to check

through the raspberry canes, forking out dandelions and couch grass as best I can. It all looks great. I've also forked over under the currant bushes in preparation for a lovely top dressing of blood, fish and bone and home-made compost - what a treat

. Unsurprisingly, there are blogs covering every aspect of gardening, from seedlings and compost to design and garden history. These are not just British, but encompass the gardening lives of people all over the world. Many happy hours can be spent jumping from one

can join fungus forays around the country, going out with an experienced guide to marvel at these essential organisms that play such an important part in the natural composting cycle. Perhaps I should join a group and find out whether the fungi in my