Bring your garden indoors and create a conservatory oasis this winter

Anglian winter conservatory

Winter tends to be a relatively quiet time of year for many gardeners, but if you are lucky enough to have a conservatory, why not create a lush, tropical indoor oasis and bring plants in from the garden to add bright, natural colours and designs into your home during the winter?

A conservatory, or even a window sill, provides a perfect shelter from frost where you can over-winter your tender plants such as begonias, herbs and heat loving Mediterranean varieties including fig, olive, orange and lemon.

Or take the advice given in Gardeners’ World TV presenter Carol Klein’s new book, where she recommends growing chillies indoors in a greenhouse, conservatory or windowsill in the months leading up to Christmas.

She says, “Chillies look fabulous, with their red, orange, yellow – even purple – fruits dangling like Christmas baubles, and they make very decorative houseplants as long as they can get enough light, but I grow them because I have come to love to eat the fruits.”

Bringing fragrant leaves such as Calycanthus into your home is another way to make your house smell wonderful and keep your spirits up as the winter closes in.

Head of Marketing and Communications at Anglian Home Improvements, Melanie McDonald, says, “Modern conservatories are much better insulated than many of the older designs, which allows homeowners to use them all year round for a wide range of purposes. Many of Anglian’s customers are keen gardeners and use their conservatories as an extension of their garden as well as home throughout the seasons. In addition to providing winter protection for plants and a perfect place in which to start off spring bulbs, the colours and perfumes that can be brought into the house are a real bonus at this time of year, plus you get the benefit of being able to enjoy some of the results in your cooking as well.”

Anglian Home Improvements is the UK’s biggest double glazing window, door and conservatory specialist. Its range of traditional and contemporary conservatories, including an orangery and conservatory verandah, are all made in the UK using the most up-to-date uPVC conservatory manufacturing and construction techniques.

Squrrels driving you nuts?

Haith’s, The Bird Food Specialist - Public Relations

If you feed the birds, Grey Squirrels are probably the bane of your life. They will not only steal all the food, they will probably destroy expensive bird feeders, many of which may claim to be "squirrel resistant". Very few are!

TV Broadcaster and Britain’s favourite bird food chef, Bill Oddie admits, it’s hard – but not impossible - to beat the Grey Squirrel: “A friend of mine once designed and then built a home-made bird table. He was very proud of it, especially when it was almost immediately visited by birds. Unfortunately, it was soon also invaded by Grey Squirrels. He immediately resolved to invent a deterrent.”

“He started by simply moving the table further from his hedgerow. No good. Squirrels can leap a very long way. Then he tried fixing a sort of circular baffle under the table. The squirrels fell off a few times, but soon clambered over it, and then chewed it to bits.”

“Next, he fitted a length of piping over the pole, under the table, suspended on springs. He figured that the squirrels might be able to scramble over it, but at least he'd have the satisfaction of seeing the pipe spring back and whack them on their behinds! The last I heard, the squirrels had stretched the springs so far that they didn't spring any more. They had eaten all the bird food, and my friend decided to build a new Hi Fi cabinet instead!”

So, are any of these squirrel resistant feeders really squirrel resistant?

“Well, I've tried them all,” says Bill Oddie “and so have my garden Greys! I'd say that most of them work, most of the time, but there's no denying the squirrels ingenuity or tenacity, and you almost have to admire them for it.”

“One thing you do have to accept is that many of these contraptions look more like flying saucers, space rockets or pieces of modern sculpture than bird feeders. I can't say they exactly blend in with the concept of an old fashioned rustic garden! But if you do have a squirrel problem, Haith’s the bird food specialist have a range of squirrel resistant feeders and you really have to try them. It's no coincidence, by the way, that many of the most successful squirrel resistant designs come from America, which is of course where Grey Squirrels actually belong (they were introduced into England early in the twentieth century, 'cos someone thought they were cute. Oops!)

Haith’s - the bird food specialist - have a high-quality range of squirrel resistant bird feeders and SUPERCLEAN™ bird foods online at www.haiths.com and Bill Oddie’s Bird Food Recipes can be found in the pet aisle at ASDA, Sainsbury’s, Wilkinson and Waitrose - see www.billsbirdfood.co.uk for more information.

Women prepare Styal-ish garden for RHS Flower Show

Female offenders at HMP Styal, Cheshire, showed visitors to the RHS Tatton Flower Show their journey of rehabilitation in their aptly named ‘Metamorphosis’ garden.

The 14 x 6 metre garden, which gained a silver award at the show, plots the prisoner’s journey from sentencing though to release, using a combination of planting styles and horticultural techniques. The garden focuses on the women’s developmental journey from dark days to brighter future.

Eight offenders from Styal womens prison were chosen to participate in the RHS garden project – a joint partnership between The Manchester College and the prison. Most of the women are currently studying for a City & Guilds Horticultural qualification from the college, which supplies offender learning services at the prison. Elements of the garden were supplied by prisoners from other courses; the butterfly was designed and painted by offenders from the Painting & Decorating course and the signpost and Beehive made by prisoners on the Construction course.

Some 11,000 women offenders go to prison each year in the UK – more than half of those are likely to reoffend without intervention from offender learning programmes like those supplied by The Manchester College.

Kelly, a female prisoner from Styal who took part in the RHS Tatton project, said: “I’ve never had the opportunity to do anything like this and it’s given me confidence in myself, something that I’ve never ever had. I’m really proud of the garden and what I’ve done. It’s been a real team effort, which has showed me that I’m not on my own, that help and support is out there, I just need to ask for it.”

The Manchester College runs offender learning services at prisons across the UK, providing prisoners with the opportunity to learn new skills as part of their rehabilitation programme; from hairdressing and catering to horticulture and decorating. The college focuses largely on helping prisoners with key skills, which are often missing from prisoners’ lives, as well as vocational skills that will help them into work on release.

Richard Heys, The Manchester College Horticultural Trainer at the prison, explained the benefits: “If we invest in offenders, reskilling them, improving their self esteem, health and wellbeing, they are far more likely to return to society and make a successful contribution. While some people may be concerned that educating and skilling prisoners means that they will take jobs from ordinary hardworking people, the hard fact of the matter is that without it prisoners are far more likely to reoffend.

“We’ve seen the women as well as the flowers thriving during this project, which has been an incredibly successful collaboration between HMP Styal and The Manchester College.”

The zero-cost project was partly funded by the Big Lottery Fund and sponsored by local businesses – John Wood Nurseries, Four Oaks, Newgate Nursery and Newbank Garden Centre – who provided materials for garden.

No Bacter sales good at garden centres

DJ TURFCARE launched a new 7.5 kilo bag for the award-winning MO Bacter earlier this year, specifically for the garden centre marketplace.

And garden centres in Scotland, the first to try it, found the product flying off the shelves in this year’s wet summer months – perfect conditions for the moss-eliminating organic lawn fertiliser.

Now the award-winning product, in bright attractive packaging, is being targeted for autumn sales at garden centres in the south of the country

MO Bacter is an organic granular lawn fertiliser that destroys moss and eliminates debris by bacterial action, avoiding the need to rake.

It has recently been featured on BBC TV’s Beechgrove Garden series in Scotland where it received much praise for success in trials on their moss-infested lawns.

The new size bag will treat up to 75 square metres, while a regular 20 kilo bag treats up to 200 square metres.

“This year’s wet summer months have created the perfect environment for continued sales of MO Bacter,” said managing director David Jenkins. “Because the product needs damp and warm conditions to operate effectively we have not been hit with the usual slower sales that would have been caused by a drought.”

MO Bacter, from Viano of Belgium, is a totally organic product which eliminates moss and fertilises lawns without the need for raking debris.

It won the Turf Professional ‘Product of the Year’ at a national golf industry show and has since received much praise from both professionals and amateur gardeners alike.

MO Bacter is an organic slow-release granular fertiliser which eradicates moss, feeds grass and improves the soil. Scarifying after treatment is not necessary. Lawns are fed for six weeks with one application.

Moss dies as a result of excess potassium but leaves no black debris. The dead moss is then digested by the bacteria in MO Bacter (npk: 5-5-20). The product does not stain stonework, patios or paths.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has seen remarkable results in which two inches of moss at one cemetery in Oxfordshire was virtually eliminated in six months, with no need for scarifying to remove debris. And headstones are completely unmarked.

Renowned tennis head groundsman Eddie Seaward tested MO Bacter and said he found it to be “very effective and very efficient.”

The product is harmless to animals and wildlife and will not damage border plants.

“This product is revolutionising the way moss is treated on grass near stonework,” says David Jenkins.

DJ Turfcare is the sole distributor in the UK for Viano fertilisers.

Own a garden centre and wish to stock MO Bacter? Call them on 01483 200976.

DETAILS: DJ Turfcare on 01483 200976.
www.djturfcare.co.uk

FACTFILE:

What is MO Bacter?

MO Bacter is an organic slow-release granular fertiliser based on the NPK formulation 5-5-20 (Nitrogen 5percent Phosphate 5percent and Potassium 20percent). It also contains a natural bacteria (Bacillus sp.).

What does it do?

MO Bacter applies the three essential nutrients to the turf on lawns and an extra dose of potassium, which moss cannot survive. The moss dies as a result of the secondary action of this potassium overdose, while grass strength is greatly improved.

Within three to four weeks of application, under ideal conditions, you will see the moss go brown. A short time afterwards this dead moss will start to disappear, the bacteria in MO Bacter digesting the dead material.

The slow-release granules will continue to supply nutrients to the grass plants for up to three months, ensuring a healthy lawn.

How do I apply it?

By hand or spreader at the rate of one handful (about 200 grammes) per two square metres. A 20 kilo bag will treat up to 200 square metres. 7.5 kilos will treat up to 75 square metres.

It does not matter if it rains afterwards. MO Bacter works best when the soil temperature reaches 5degC so warm damp conditions are ideal.

When do I apply it?

MO Bacter can be applied from early March through to August for healthy grass and moss elimination and is also very successful when used in early autumn (September-October) for acting as a moss control throughout the winter.

How do I store it?

Keep MO Bacter in cool dry conditions, stored in the plastic bag and secured at the top. You can continue to use the product for up to 12 months after the bag has been opened. It should keep well if you ensure the bag is not in damp conditions.

What are the advantages of MO Bacter?

There are five main advantages: MO Bacter is Organic; Slow-release; Does not mark stonework; Does not harm children, animals or plants; Destroys moss, eradicating debris – thus resulting in no raking.

Last chance to win garden makeover from Anglian Home Improvements with David Domoney

If you’ve ventured out in the garden this week you’ll notice that all the rain we’ve had lately has really taken its toll and the weeds have gone into overdrive. Well luckily for you, help is at hand from Anglian Home Improvements, who are running a free prize draw for one lucky homeowner to win a garden makeover with TV garden expert David Domoney, valued at £10,000.

Courtesy of the UK’s leading conservatory, door and window double glazing specialist, David and his team of Garden Angels will help transform the winner’s garden, advising on the best plants and layout, tidying the existing plot and spending up to £2,500 on new plants, trees and ornaments to fit in with David’s garden design advice.

Recently seen on ITV’s Love Your Garden with Alan Titchmarsh, green fingered expert David Domoney regularly appears on television gardening shows and also creates garden designs for the RHS shows. He explained why many of our gardens have grown out of control this summer.

“The weeds have flourished this year due to all the rain we’ve had, while the more tender varieties that are a favourite in many British gardens like bedding plants and exotics have suffered from lack of sunlight, an excess of water and low temperatures. The damp conditions have led to an explosion of slugs and snails too, which have been wreaking havoc all over the garden. It’s been almost impossible for most of us to get outside and tend to the borders, so this prize draw from Anglian will give one lucky person a great opportunity to sit back and let me and my team do all the hard work to get their garden back in shape.”

Launched by Anglian Home Improvements and David Domoney at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show last month, the prize draw deadline has been extended and it now closes at 3.30pm on Monday 6 August 2012. To be in with a chance of winning the garden makeover, simply enter your name and email address here. More information and full terms and conditions can be found on the Anglian Home Improvements website.

Anglian Home Improvements’ Grapevine Theatre sees celebrities turn out in force

 
Sally Gunnell visiting Grapevine Theatre

It’s been an eventful week at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show’s Grapevine Theatre with a multitude of gardening personalities and celebrities stopping by to chat and join in the fun.

Sponsored by conservatory, door and window double glazing specialist Anglian Home Improvements and hosted by TV garden expert David Domoney, the Hampton Grapevine Theatre is proving the place to be at this year’s show. And if you haven’t been along yet, there’s still time to visit this weekend when John Craven and Bill Oddie will be topping the bill and answering gardening questions.

BBC Countryfile’s John Craven proved a popular presenter at the Grapevine Theatre on 3rd July, the opening day of the show, where he was a huge draw for the crowds. John gave visitors an insight into how he got into journalism and broadcasting, before talking in more detail about his favourite gardening topics including wild flowers, his great respect for David Bellamy and a series of other entertaining stories and recollections.

TV garden expert David Domoney, who is presenting a series of live, interactive shows from the Hampton Grapevine Theatre, has also been joined this week by another Countryfile favourite, Adam Henson. Current holder of the title for the fastest hanging basket in the Hampton Grapevine Theatre Hanging Basket Challenge, Adam completed his display in front of a live audience in an astounding 12 seconds!

On Thursday, a surprise visit from international athletics champion and sports presenter Sally Gunnell caused some excitement at the Grapevine Theatre, and qualified horticulturist, TV broadcaster and author Toby Buckland also joined David Domoney to chat about his love of gardening.

A stunning verandah conservatory provided by Anglian Home Improvements in the centre of the marquee has proved particularly popular as more and more people are looking for garden tips and hints on how to use their conservatories and window sills for growing plants all year round.

David Domoney explained, “Gardeners are becoming more creative and ambitious about what plants to grow in their conservatories and window boxes. Tropical and Mediterranean house plants such as Bird of Paradise and the Bat Plant tend to be firm British favourites and flowers such as jasmines and gardenias not only look beautiful but also bring delightful fragrances into the home. What’s more, in many towns and cities where space is at a premium in small gardens, herbs, chillies and peppers are becoming an essential addition to the contemporary kitchen window sill.”

Located in the heart of the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, the Grapevine Theatre is an ideal place to shelter from the erratic British summer and watch a studio-style TV show with audience participation and live presentations from green fingered celebrities. While there, why not find out about Anglian Home Improvements’ exciting prize draws too? You could win £1,000 in cash by visiting the stand or a garden make over by David Domoney, worth £10,000. More information and full terms and conditions can be found on the Anglian Home Improvements website.

John Craven and Bill Oddie will both be back over the weekend and you can send in your [gardening questions|for David to ask them during the Celebrity of the Day feature via Twitter using the hashtag #HCgrapevine.

Other celebrities spotted in and around the Hampton Grapevine Theatre Marquee this week include John Hurt; Michael Buerk; Moira Stuart; John Humphrys; Miranda Richardson; Maggie Smith; Ben Sheppard; Nick Knowles; Lee Mack; Rob Brydon; and Jessica Hynes. More expected this weekend!

To keep updated on what’s happening at the Grapevine Theatre, please visit http://www.anglianhome.co.uk/hampton-court-flower-show or follow #HCgrapevine or @anglianhome on Twitter.

National Trust heritage gardens benefit from new plant conservation centre

Rare plants from National Trust gardens across the country will be propagated at a new Plant Conservation Centre that will improve the way one of the most important plant collections in the UK is cared for.

Opened by international plantsman Roy Lancaster, the new 2.5 acre facility at a secret East Devon location will bring together plant propagation facilities, plant collection management expertise and facilities for training National Trust staff on all aspects of caring for the important plants in the gardens they look after.

The opening of the new facilities comes at a time when the spread of new plant diseases in the UK, in particular 'Phytophthora ramorum' which causes Sudden Oak Death, have required an acceleration of emergency propagation to ensure the survival of threatened specimens and the supply of disease-free replacements.

The £700,000 Centre's immediate focus will be to build on existing plant conservation work at Knightshayes Court, also in Devon, to help staff and volunteers record and identify the special plants that require priority propagation at National Trust gardens throughout the country.

Mike Calnan, Head of Gardens at the National Trust, said: "The National Trust's portfolio of plants is of immense importance and is one of the most significant collections in the UK.

"The aesthetic, historic and botanical value of the plants is what makes the gardens we look after so special and give pleasure to more than 12 million visitors each year.

"This is the most important plant conservation initiative from the National Trust for more than 60 years and will have a legacy for decades to come."

The charity cares for over 20 major collections of trees and shrubs including thirty National Plant Collections and hundreds of plants that were first raised or collected in the wild around the globe and planted in National Trust gardens over past centuries.

Roy Lancaster said: "The new Plant Conservation Centre is a hugely important development for the National Trust, creating for the first time a single facility dedicated to the vital work of conserving the important plants in its properties."

In addition to the Centre's work for the National Trust, a new bespoke propagation service for major private plant collection owners will be offered for the first time. 

Propagation services are also available to Trust countryside properties wishing to save or bulk-up rare native species. 

The National Trust gardeners who will be working at the Centre recently propagated and helped save over 300 old Cornish apple varieties now successfully established in the 'Mother orchard' at Cotehele in Cornwall.

Charlie Port, who worked for the National Trust at Knightshayes and is now one of the volunteers that will be working at the new Centre, said: "Working in the propagation unit is extremely rewarding.

"I've been involved with propagating plants for the Trust for 25 years now and during that time we've had thousands of successes.

"I get huge satisfaction from the idea that some of the plants I have handled will be around for hundreds of years to come."

FACTFILE:
With more than 250,000 hectares of countryside and 710 miles of coastline across England, Wales and Northern Ireland there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy days out with the National Trust. The charity is one of the most important countryside conservation organisations in Europe. It promotes environmentally friendly practises and carries out conservation work on the diverse and rare wildlife that lives on its land. It also looks after for more than 300 houses and gardens, from workers cottages to stately homes, preserving not only buildings but the stories of the people who lived there. The National Trust also offers a range of holidays and gardens to visit. These spaces inspire the Trust's 4 million members, 61,000 volunteers and 5 million other visitors every year.