Landscape Juice

Growing Out of Trouble with Monty Don

Last night was the last program in the series with Monty Don and a group of recovering drug addicts who, through the therapeutic power of gardening are trying to stay clear of their previous trappings.

Andreas, who I mentioned in a previous post has been amazing and I really, really hope that he can continue in his recovery.

Kissing under the Mistletoe

Common Mistletoe or viscum alba to the Latin lovers amongst the horticulturists is a parasitic plant usually found clinging to an Apple Tree although it can grow on a variety of trees.

Why do we kiss under the mistletoe?

Druids regarded it as sacred plant warding off evil spirits whilst In medieval times it was thought of highly as a fertility symbol or aphrodisiac. Women would wear a band around their wrist prior to conception and this is probably the reason it is light heartedly used at Christmas to lure the one you fancy for a quick kiss.

Planting Garlic after Christmas

If you are one of those traditional March planters of Garlic then it might be time to start thinking about setting the cloves in October instead to allow the Garlic to gently establish itself whilst the soil is still warm.

Most people would be forgiven in thinking that Garlic was of Mediterranean origin and only likes the warmer climate but I have learned recently that Garlic is like a Tulip or Daffodil and that it responds better if it is exposed to cold weather. Interestingly it is believed that wild garlic from Siberia was adapted for domestic use.

Monty Don helping troubled youngsters kick drugs

Watching Monty Don last night was a mix of emotions again.

I do wonder if Monty is going to need therapy after all of this?

Some of the people featured on the program are now starting to respond and Andreas is positively revelling in it.

Is digging ruining our soil

The very early part of any Horticulture course module is learning about soil and its essential participation in plant life - Can you remember analysing soil at horticulture college?

We observed a honeycomb pattern in the soil structure, if worms and natural weathering were allowed to happen and we learned how impermeable and ineffective the soil became when the poached by excessive traffic.

The Good Gardeners Association, which has advocated for forty years a 'no dig' policy, claiming that digging destroys the relationship between soil micro-organisms and the plant, seems to have had its stance vindicated by the Surrey University who have been analysing vegetables from its plots.

Never take your eye of your Brussel Sprouts

As Christmas gets dangerously close and the final preparations are made you would be wise to set watch on your vegetable area.

Rumour has it the foreigners are flooding the market with cheap imports and throwing the great British sprout on the compost heap.

The wormery might be happy but will you enjoy having Bulgarian sprouts for the best dinner of the year?

Advertising standards and registered trademarks

Making a claim that cannot be proved in advertising is a risky business. This turned out to be the case for Turf Supplier North West Turf LTD at a recent court hearing.

On its website, North West Turf claimed to be the UK's leading turf grower. Unfortunately, Rolawn took issue to this and complained to Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) who ruled that North West's claim cannot be substantiated.

Research Verdict says gardening is in recession

It appears, from recently published statistics, all is not well in the garden. Maybe more to the point, all is not well in the Garden centre.

A recently published report by Verdict Research, a retail analyst company, finds that the UK DIY gardening market has gone into recession.

After many many years of exponential growth, data proves that the gardening and DIY sector has declined 3.2% in 2005 and a further 0.02% in 2006 making it only the second sector (music and video the other) in retail to decline.

Is the Christmas Tree hype, artificial?

It seems Roger Hay of the British Christmas Tree Growers Association(GTGA) is a busy many these days.

There is a war raging about the ethics of using a farmed Christmas Tree and as the official spokesman for CTGA Roger is at pains to defend the associations reputation.

I wrote only last week about how Kew, the famous botanical gardens in London, have decorated a mature Cedar tree in the grounds stating it is an attempt to encourage sustainability.

Monty Don growing out of trouble

Did any of you watch the program last night 7pm BBC2 about Monty Don and his quest to help young drug users find a way out of their trouble using gardening as a therapy?

I sat there riveted with a mix of emotions from pity through to sympathy and anger.

On the one hand these young people are selfish and lazy and only seem to be intent on living a life of crime to service their lifestyle but looking deeper into their personalities it is possible to feel the despair and loneliness that they must be feeling.