Archive for June, 2011

Trends Gardening 2011

Posted by admin in Home Garden, Organic Gardening, Vegetable Gardening on June 10, 2011

With summer just around the corner, it is time to start reflecting on current garden trends. Gardening trends, just like fashion trends, change with every year and season. Whether it’s colouring, garden furniture, textures or customisation, gardens certainly require significant changes throughout the seasons. In order to accommodate for these changes, it’s good to have a few respected companies on gardening speed dial. For example, for garden furniture, Capital Gardens have a selection that change both with season and fashion. Let’s have a look at a few of the current garden trends taking root across the UK.

Keeping it organic

Going organic has been a strong trend since the days of 2009. Maybe because of the economic downturn, maybe because of other factors, but growing our own vegetables took off. This trend has continued into 2011 and doesn’t look to be going anywhere. With a recent Which? study professing that more Brits are finding 2011 economically tougher than 2011, there is no wonder growing edible flowers, fruits and vegetables in our own gardens is still ever-popular. And after all, a garden full of home grown edibles is every gardener’s dream.

Customisation in 2011

Every gardener loves customising their garden. Beautiful gardens take a lot of work, all year round. This year, Zen is the main theme. This means creating an area of tranquillity, full of fragrances and textures that are calming and promote spiritual wellbeing. In order to create a quintessential Zen garden, think of Japanese-style influences. Keep chairs to a minimum but make sure the style of chair you do choose is appropriate to your Zen aura. Styles like Alexander Rose garden furniture are great for their versatility and often cutting edge look. Also think about lighting. Soft lighting at night, by means such as far eastern looking lanterns can be really effective. Just don’t leave them outside at night or dew and British summer time rain will soon damage them. Read the rest of this entry »

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How to Grow Heavenly Herbs in Your Garden?

Posted by admin in Organic Gardening, Vegetable Gardening on June 10, 2011

A recent blog of mine talked about creating a cottage garden, which can include a range of herbs. Many of us will grow herbs for their culinary use; however they can be grown for pot-pourri, medicinal or even ornamental reasons.

If you have children and a small space in the garden, then encourage them to plant and look after the herb garden, they will also be slightly more inclined to eat what they have grown themselves, thus expanding their food variety.

Herbs can range from plants grown annually from seed, such as Basil, to more permanent perennials, like Tarragon and then shrubs like Rosemary, Lavender and Bay.

Herbs grown from seed should be sown in the spring. Perennials, including Chives and Marjoram, should be planted in the spring and summer.

Shrubby herbs, Sage for example, can be planted all year round. If you’re a lazy gardener go for the perennial varieties!

For the best results plant herbs in a South or West facing border. This protects from cold and and frost and sunshine will light up the ornamental foliage of many varieties to wonderful effect. Good drainage, compost, feeding and watering will keep them healthy and vigorous.

Pruning: Herbs such as Garden Lavender, Rosemary and Sage benefit from a hard pruning in early to mid spring. Others such as Bay can be clipped into shape.

Feeding: With all plants where foliage is an attraction, an annual feed in the spring with a general good fertiliser will give good results.

Now: – How to use your heavenly herbs

Here are some suggestions for you:

In cooking - an obvious place to start: Basil, Chives, Mint, Rosemary, Tarragon, Chervil, Marjoram, Thyme, Fennel, Coriander, Bay and Rocket – are all wonderful additions to a wide variety of dishes. My absolute favourite is Coriander which I find excuses to use frequently.

In making Pot Pourri Bergamot, Camomile Flowers, Rosemary, Lavender and Sage

Some herbs like, Sage and Mint make wonderful ground cover and Rosemary and Lavender can make wonderful low hedging.

Here are some extra herbal delights: The flowers of some herbs have a milder and sweeter taste than their leaves, so try adding basil flowers to a tomato salad or basil, chives and salad rocket flowers can be added to soured cream, yoghurt or creme fraiche to make an unusual dip or accompaniment to baked or new potatoes. Read the rest of this entry »

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