Landscape Juice

Be wary of ticks carrying Lyme Disease

Gardeners clearing or walking in long grass or bracken around the garden should watch closely for ticks when they undress at the end of the day.

At first, a tiny tick can be as small as a speck of soot and not easily noticeable but the longer the tick remains unnoticed, the greater the risk to the host from Lyme disease.

Risk for a carrier of tick is heightened if the tick remains un-detection. A tick bite can be painless and if the tick is left to feed on a carriers blood then the risk of disease increases and infected ticks can pass the bacterium, Borrelia burgdorfer, into the bloodstream.

Could Garlic control casting worms in turf?

Garlic is renowned for its health giving properties over thousands of years. Sheep farmers mix garlic juice with vegetable oil and feed it to their flock to control intestinal worms.

It is thought also that garlic will repel insects. A clove of raw garlic a day, or the equivalent supplement may provide a barrier to midges when sitting out. Garlic doesn't just give you bad breath; the odour oozes from skin pores too thus creating an unpleasant barrier for the insects.

Garlic can repel pests both in the air and in the soil, deterring fruit flies, mites and beetle. Garlic or onion odour is known to repel carrot fly and cabbage butterfly. Raspberries can protected against grubs if rows of canes are randomly planted with garlic.

Garden blogs in unchartered waters as defamation issues rear up

Garden blogs are suffering an identity crisis this evening with comments being pulled from blogs in fears that libel and defamation may have taken place.

It all started after comments were left on The Garden Monkey site by someone purporting to be journalist Annie Gatti.

The comments, which were of a lewd nature were quickly removed after Annie complained, and as I understand it, an apology was quickly offered by GM and a promise to seek removal of the Google cached pages.

However, Annie Gatti, who feared damage to her career and integrity, seeks to discover the true identity of The Garden Monkey and the commenter.

There was no way of knowing if the two were one and the same.

Golf course recruitment, specialist placement required

Greenkeeping Jobs has been charged with looking for the right placement by a client who wishes to start on the golf course ladder.

At this moment in time he does not wish to be too picky about the job, however, he wishes to put his skills, gained in agronomy, irrigation and agriculture to good use.

My client has just qualified as Sports Surface Technologist.

For further information please pop over to Greenkeeper Jobs.

Treating Honey Fungus with Armillatox

Treating Honey Fungus - Armillaria mellea - is considered impossible in today's anti chemical world.

Most people seem to think that Armillatox, once the stalwart for gardening use, is not available for eradicating the bootlace fungus, which has been the scourge of gardeners forever.

I have to admit to being in the same stable as the non believers until this week when Sue Loader asked a question about Honey Fungus control in the Landscape Juice Network.

A call to Armillatox soon put me on the right track. While it cannot be claimed as a Honey Fungus treatment, I am advised, that because it is exactly the same formulation as it was in the days when it was called a Honey Fungus treatment (in fact, Armillatox was invented for this purposes - hence the name), they can advise, that as a side effect of using the chemical as a soap based garden cleaner, Honey Fungus is treated.

TVG Landscaping installs its first Resin Bound surface

TVG Landscaping of Worthing has installed its first driveway using resin bound materials. Blogging about the event on the Landscape Juice Network, Stuart Marler says that it was a visit to the Hampton Court Flower show that introduced him to Resin Bound surfacing and following further research which included Resin Bonded surfaces, he decided to launch his own service.

Stuart defines the difference of the two surfaces: "The resin bound surface (there is a difference in bound and bonded - BONDED is aggregate literally scattered onto a resin layer and sometimes a final coat of resin on top - where as BOUND is where the aggregate and resin are mixed together and then trowelled down to a smooth finish. The BOUND system is more hard wearing.)"

A macro profile of a garden slug

I am dying to show you this brilliant close up photograph by LJN member Vanessa Langford of a garden slug. I don't know about you, but I feel that I can almost feel its slime by touching the screen.

I am assuming that this is a close up with a macro lens rather than a giant slug that is just about to devour Vanessa and all of her photographic equipment.

Weather forecast predicts snow and ice

Frost proof terracotta pots and hardy plants will survive but any porous planters that may not be able to defend against ice expansion, and tender plants, should be stored away because the temperatures are set to fall dramatically by this weekend.

According to forecasters, the North, especially Scotland, will see snow while the South will suffer with wintry showers.

Don't be fooled by the mild air in the first part of this week because, as the wind turns, the temperature will fall and the wind chill increase dramatically.

Are you looking for a head greenkeeper?

If you are looking for a head greenkeeper then this could be your lucky day. I have received a CV from a senior greenkeeper who is currently employed at at a top British European tour venue.

My client is looking for a position where he can demonstrate his extensive experience and management skills.

Below is an extract from the candidates CV - personal details have been omitted to retain client confidentiality.

Who is the owner of blog comments?

Who is responsible for or who retains ownership of comments after they are left on a gardening blog?

The day has long since past when anonymity has allowed a blog owner to hide behind wild and inaccurate allegations and libellous comments and this is proving to be the case with commenter of forums and blogs too.

I am aware of legal investigations into a UK garden blog, where a comment was posted that purported to be from a certain person but this person, who I have spoken to this week, denies all knowledge and is seeking to discover the true commenter's identity.