Garden Tips

[The March Hare]

marmaris98 said:

i borrowed my mams jet wash and it kept comming off the tap and the bloody bathroom was soaked

Ooops

[The March Hare]

juicyjude said:

Yes and our Marc came over to jet wash his car and I said, "oh can you just give my car the once over" He did that allright, the b***** thing was that powerful it took some of the paint trim off as well. Words like bunny, happy, not, sprung to mind.

If you hold it to close it will, I have done that to

[jj]

Me too...... looked as though I'd been mud bath fighting!!! ;D

[marmaris98]

i bought some really cheap bleach and scrubbed it with the hard brush then rinsed it away. the yard has come up a treat.............gleaming

[jj]

Great , bleach is good for anything really

[marmaris98]

i didn't want to use domestos, i thought it might have been too strong

[jj]

I use the strongest I can get, doesn't harm!

[marmaris98]

oh well i will try the next time

[The March Hare]

.

If you make a concrete path or patio, do not leave surface smooth. Pat with the edge of a length of timber thus creating grooves in the surface, this will prevent it becoming slippery when went and causing accidents

[jj]

Gardeners Diary for the week of May 15th 2006

*Pots, planters and hanging baskets can be planted up now, although keep them covered at night until all chance of frost has passed. See the hanging basket project for further information.
* Earth up the first early potatoes that were planted in March, to stop the tubers being exposed to light, turning green.
* Cut runners from strawberries (unless trying to propagate more plants). Runners will divert energy away from crop production.
* Spread compost over the borders, this adds valuable nutrients to the soil and acts as a mulch, to retain moisture and reduce weed growth. Ensure that the soil is moist before adding mulch.
* Remove spring bedding plants and lift and store spring flowering bulbs (with the exception of snowdrops).
*Prune helichrysum and artemisias shrubs to encourage bushy plants.
* Prune plum trees, paint fresh cuts with Arborex to prevent infection.
* Plant out greenhouse grown runner beans or sow them at the base of wigwams 5cm (2in) deep. Keep well watered.
* Trim hedges to encourage the branches to ‘thicken up’ and to keep them neat and tidy.
* Spray roses with ‘Rose Clear’ to kill aphids and protect from blackspot.
* May is an ideal time to create ponds / pools. Click here to see the pond project page.
* Support herbaceous border plants with canes, where they will be needed in late summer. It's easier to do this now while the plants are still small, this also reduces the risk of damaging the roots later in the season.
* Fuchias flower from the ends of their branches, nipping out the growing tip will encourage more shoots, creating a bushier plant with more flowers.
* Take soft wood cuttings from thyme. Thyme cuttings take easily, so they can be stuck in the soil or in pots. Remember that thyme likes full sun and hates to be grown in the shade.
* If becoming boisterous, prune spring flowering clematis including alpina and macropetala after flowering. Use cuttings to propagate new plants.
* The Adult Vine Weevil, the number one garden pest, will be emerging from the soil as the temperatures rise.
* Control weeds in lawns with a selective weedkiller. Don't cut the grass for at least a week after applying. Don't put these grass cuttings on the compost heap.
* Protect plants from slugs and snails with slug pellets, course grit or traps. Alternatively try to encourage birds, hedgehogs and frogs to your garden - all prey on slugs and snails.
* Regularly water trees and shrubs that were planted last autumn and winter. Their root won’t have had a chance to fully develop yet.
* Thin out seedlings, leaving the strongest growing plants. Water the soil gently beforehand to reduce soil disturbance.
* Cut grass weekly, long grass takes more nutrients out of the soil. It is also harder to cut and may leave yellow patches in the lawn.
* Apply a weed and feed to established lawns. Water in with a hose after a few days if it hasn't rained.
* Remove the dead heads of spring flowering bulbs. This will encourage the plant to store energy in the bulb rather than wasting it on seed production.
* Lift, divide and replant chives.
* Begin regular cutting of your lawn. If the grass is long increase the height adjustment of the mower to the highest setting once this first cut has been done, go back over the lawn and cut it again on a lower setting.
* Your pond may have started to turn green and cloudy. This is due to a rapid increase in algae, which flourish in the warmer spring temperatures. Once the pond plants start to grow again, especially the oxygenating plants, these will use up the nutrients and create shade, reducing the amount of algae. To speed up the clearing of the water, drop a string bag of barley straw into the pond. As it begins to breakdown, it will use up the excess nutrients, reducing the amount of algae and also blanket weed. If you have a fountain or waterfall, try to position the barley underneath this, in still ponds weigh it down so it floats just below the surface of the water. Remove the barley after about six months, before it completely rots down, polluting the water.
* Remove algae and moss from patios and paths with a proprietary patio and path cleaner or tar-oil winter wash.
* Take blackcurrant cuttings. Cutting should be 10' long - the size of a pencil. Plant upright in a 'V' shaped trench with sharp sand in the bottom, then back fill with soil.

[The March Hare]

FALL IS THE TIME TO WINTERIZE YOUR DECK



If the summer has taken a toll on your deck – or if you’ve just invested in a new one – now is the time to clean, restore and protect the wood from possible moisture damage during the winter months ahead. Here are some tips for “winterizing” your deck from the experts at Wolman Wood Care Products:

· Clean the deck thoroughly to remove dirt, fungus growth and gray surface wood with a formulated deck cleaner like Wolmanâ Deck & Fence Brightener. Weathered gray wood, rust spots and stains from mildew, moss, algae and tannin bleed can ruin the look of your deck. Even newly built decks can require cleaning to remove invisible surface barriers that prevent the adhesion of stains and sealers. Wolmanâ Deck & Fence Brightener, removes surface barriers, ground-in dirt, gray wood surfaces and even the toughest of stains and restores the wood to its natural beauty without bleaching or yellowing, like chlorine bleach can.

· Strip any deteriorating or unwanted finish. If the colored stain on your deck has seen better days, now is the time to strip your deck’s finish. Products like Wolmanâ DeckStripâ Stain & Finish Remover remove both oil and latex solid or semi-transparent stains and clear finishes and prepare the wood for the reapplication of protective finishes and stains. For really stubborn, hard-to-strip acrylic or latex stains and paints, Wolman makes a product called DeckStripâ A&L, which can strip multiple layers in as little as 15 minutes.

· Seal your deck with a water repellent finish before the onslaught of winter. Water repellents stop rain, sleet, snow and ice from penetrating the wood surface, which can cause warping and cracking. Look for products like Wolman RainCoatâ or F&Pâ, that offer a guarantee on water-repellent longevity, as they will provide longer lasting protection so you won’t have to apply a new coat every year.

[The March Hare]

Subject: garden

Restore and Protect Your Deck

Have the long months of winter taken a toll on your deck? Is it dirty, mildew-stained and wearing a coat of gray?

Don’t worry. It’s easy to restore your deck to its natural beauty so you can enjoy it during the warm months ahead. And, it’s just as easy to protect your deck so it stays beautiful for years to come. Here’s some advice from the experts at Wolmanâ Wood Care Products:

Step 1:

Clean away dirt and gray weathered wood with an acid-free, biodegradable deck cleaner, like Wolmanâ Deck Briteâ (formerly Deck & Fence Brightenerâ). Deck Brite is tough on ground-in dirt, mildew and algae stains, yet it’s gentle to handle and safe to use near grass, plants or shrubs. Its fast-acting foaming action loosens and lifts dirt, stains and weathered-gray discoloration in 10 minutes or less. And unlike chlorine bleach, which can actually degrade the structure of the wood, Deck Brite’s oxygen bleach formula cleans and restores the wood to its original, like-new look without whitening or damaging the wood surface. Protective finishes will adhere better and last longer.

Step 2:

Protect your deck against mildew attack, water damage and graying with a powerful finish and preservative, like Wolmanâ F&Pâ Premium Wood Finish and Preservative. As a preservative, F&P contains twice the mildewcide of other products to prohibit decay-producing fungal growth including mildew and mold – other leading products simply resist mildew on the coating film. It also contains a water repellent that exceeds national standards, thereby minimizing wood damage such as splitting and warping. In fact, F&P is guaranteed to repel water and protect against wood rot and decay up to four years. F&P is available in four one-coat, easy-to-apply finishes – golden pine, natural, cedar and redwood – that beautify wood with long-lasting, transparent color that reveals natural wood grain and protects against graying.

Step 3:

Bring out your patio furniture and enjoy your deck this spring – and, for many seasons to come

[The March Hare]

SPRING DECK PREP TIPS



It’s finally spring! Time to move out the patio furniture and get ready to enjoy the great outdoors.



But, before you do, make sure you clean, restore and protect your deck so you can get the most out of it during the spring and summer months ahead. Here are some deck prep tips from the experts at Wolman Wood Care Products:

· Clean the deck thoroughly to remove embedded dirt, fungus stains and gray surface wood with a formulated deck cleaner like Wolmanâ Deck & Fence Brightener. The weathered gray wood left behind from last year’s sun exposure, black or green stains from mildew, moss and algae, or brown-black tannin bleed common on new Cedar can ruin the look of your deck. Even newly built decks can require cleaning to remove invisible surface barriers like mill glaze on new Cedar or excess wax on pressure-treated wood. These invisible barriers can prevent the adhesion of protective coatings, including colored stains and clear sealers. Wolmanâ Deck & Fence Brightener, removes surface barriers, gray wood surfaces and even the toughest of stains and restores the wood to its natural beauty without bleaching or yellowing, like chlorine bleach can.

· Strip any deteriorating or unwanted finish. If the colored stain on your deck has seen better days – or if you want a different look – now is the time to strip your deck’s finish. Products like Wolmanâ DeckStripâ Stain & Finish Remover remove both oil and latex solid or semi-transparent stains and clear finishes and prepares the wood for the reapplication of protective finishes and stains. Deckstrip works fast, and can strip years of multiple coatings buildup in 15 minutes.

· Once the wood is restored and your deck is rid of any surface barriers or unwanted finishes, it should be sealed with a protective water repellent finish. You may want to apply a semi-transparent stain to enhance your deck’s appeal, or a transparent finish to let the natural wood color and texture show through. But, even if you are undecided on whether or not to stain – or on the deck color – it’s important, at minimum, to protect it with a clear water repellent. Water repellents stop spring showers from penetrating the wood surface, which can cause swelling, shrinking, warping and cracking. Many water repellents, including products like Wolmanâ RainCoatâ, also contain a mildewcide that will impede the growth of mildew on your deck during the warm months ahead. Look for products like Wolman RainCoat, that offer a guarantee on water-repellent longevity, as they will provide longer lasting protection so you won’t have to apply a new coat every year.