Landscape Juice

Collecting and sowing flower seeds

As the summer draws to a close, gardeners countrywide start ferreting through the Mr Fothergills and Suttons seed catalogues in search of new delights and old favourites for the following season.

But how many, who seem more than happy to part with their spare cash, know that seeds in abundance are freely available?

The biased BBC Golf Blog

Hello again BBC.

Further to my comment above about taking an interest in the course preparation I am flabbergasted that the BBC just continues to talk about transport problems, Tiger Woods' wife's fake nude photos, and the weather etc.

I review the Ransomes GS55 mower

I have had the opportunity to try out the Ransomes GS55 Greensmower in the last few days and I would like to share a few thoughts.

Lets start with the good bit. The Kubota engine is a dream! To start it is a case of a flick on of the choke, pull the start cord and off with the choke. From cold it is easy peasy. There is no pulling your guts out.

How to treat Leatherjackets - Thats daddy long-legs to you an me

I was interested in this story by Richard Alleyne in the Telegraph.

Thousands of homes have been invaded by swarms of daddy long-legs after two of the hottest months on record combined with sporadic rainfall to create perfect breeding conditions.

The combination of hot summer weather with some rain over recent weeks is thought to be behind the "plague" of daddy long-legs."

They are completely harmless and only live for around three days as adults but are a little bit frightening because they look spidery and they fly in your face and don't have much direction.

The Ryder Cup

I have been a long time fan of the BBC and its coverage of Golf.

I was none too pleased though when they continued to ignore the professionals who present the golf course to the player See Golf's British Open Disaster .

Today I aired this view on the BBC Ryder Cup Blog and it will be interesting if they do anything about it.

Fusarium

Gardeners beware!

September is one of the most pleasant months of the year. From a gardening perspective there is usually relief as the long hot dry days of July and August gives way to the cooler misty and shorter days.

Autumn maintenance will be on your mind and the scarifier should be in action and combined with the aerator the top dressing and seed this yearly makeover will ensure quick recovery from summer stresses and you can look forward next year to a fine sward.

Allotments and their resurgence

I read only this week that allotments all over Britain are disappearing at an alarming rate due to Councils selling off the land for development or lack of interest by members.

Allotmenteering (is that a proper phrase?) I suppose has changed its role in life over the years. Self sufficiency was a way of life way back then and during the war years a necessity.

Now it is a combination of a wish to grow and eat fresh organic produce and for many a retreat from the daily grind to get away, indulging in an earthy hobby.

Using Sarsons Vinegar so sterilise your sprayer

How many of you, hands up, have used Cooper Pegler or Allman Sprayer for killing weeds with something like Roundup or Pathclear, washed the contents out and then used the sprayer again to spray the greenfly in the greenhouse or selective weed herbicide on the lawns?

It a dangerous activity and it could end in disaster but a little known tip can help you avoid killing the tomatoes or the prized sward.

Fill your sprayer to three quarters full with warm water. Add one egg cup of Sarson's vinegar and one egg cup full of Fairy Liquid (in fact any washing up liquid) and then top up with water.

Rod Perch or Pole

I have been reading quite a few allotment blogs in the last few weeks and I must say that I have been impressed by the work the gardeners that rent them put in.

I am also aware from reading the daily toils of the allotmenteer that the allotment is more than a place in which to grow vegetables in. It conjures up a feeling of being a sanctuary, meeting place and swap shop. The sort of place man or women can retire to after a hard days work or to let off steam after a heavy week, where stress and frustration is lost as life is diverted into production.

Billy Goat

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Of course apart from hedge cutting and chopping back the herbaceous borders, Autumn is leaf season.

Its true, raking leaves can be quite a therapy. If you have several hundred square metres the therapy quickly turns to heartache, backache and then a big headache.

But help is at hand if you want mechanical assistance in the form of the new Billy Goat lawn vacuum.