GARDENING
tree in the corner will provide a home
for worms, invertebrates, blackbirds and
thrushes. The more habitats you can
provide though – from hedging, trees,
nectar-rich flowers, log piles, bird boxes
to humus-enriched soil and a pond – the
more biodiversity is supported.
Garden lighting and patio
heaters
Solar powered garden lights are a
fantastic green way to create evening
ambience in your garden, require no
wiring, and conveniently just push into
the soil. Burning wood in a trendy brazier
or chimnea to keep warm during chilly
evenings is a far better alternative to patio
heaters, as you’re burning photosynthetic
material, not fossil fuel.
sustainably coppiced UK forests will
cut your carbon emissions even though
ironically, charcoal is mostly carbon.
life
Jobs for
April/May:
Plants
Buying British or locally grown plants
supports the UK horticulture industry
and reduces ‘plant miles’. If the plants
you are buying aren’t labelled with this
information, ask where they’ve been
raised. Alternatively, increase plants in
your garden by swapping cuttings with
your neighbour, collecting seed, and
division.
Organic pest control
The serious reduction in chemicals
available to the amateur gardener has
forced the issue on organic alternatives.
There are a number of safe biological
controls available, from nematodes to
ladybirds, as well as other methods such
as companion planting, netting, sticky
traps and natural fatty acids solutions.
Barbequing
90% of the charcoal we buy comes from
non-UK forests that aren’t replanted
after they are chopped down. Making
sure the charcoal you are buying is from
The Island's most loved magazine
Thickly mulch around shrubs
and hedges with homemade
compost or well-rotted
manure. This will conserve
any moisture in the soil, help
keep the weeds down, and
will eventually be dragged
down into the earth by
worms helping to improve the
condition of your soil.
April is a busy time for
sowing veg seeds in unheated
greenhouses, so get tomatoes,
peppers, chillies, salads and
herbs going. Cucumbers and
melons should be sown late
April. Second early salad
potato ‘Charlotte’ has a good
flavour and firm texture, which
can be planted out in April.
See Island Life Feb/March
issue for pointers on planning
the veg garden this year.
Hard prune Buddl V