Landscape and horticulture expert

Gardening is a very fluid pastime

"Doesn't anyone point out to their clients that gardens continue growing, needing maintenance, and it's not like having a new kitchen or bathroom?"

Part of a message that new member Andrew Faraday has just left on the thread titled "New landscaping design companies" - started by Richard Boyd - Juice Garden Network and is Andrew absolutely spot on.

Many a garden or planting scheme have we provided and presented to our clients that is a 'polaroid' image at handover.

Creating a good a brand

Very early on, I decided that I would ditch my scruffy T shirt look and replace my ex army olive green lightweight trousers with a proper corporate uniform. The result was astounding and it quickly set me out from the rest.

I went on to employ sixteen people at one point and by then, a proper company image was essential but you do not need to employ people to take pride in how you look.

Support in Sport clinches Champions League final spot

Whilst the Wembley pitch continues to cause concern for English football fans, there will be no such worries for the Russians after they called in Support in Sport to re-turf the Luzhniki Stadium pitch in time for the Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea on the 21st May.

However, despite the consideration that the UK climate is ideal for growing grass, the turf, which had been grown in Slovakia, was transported via refrigerated lorry and laid in time for the final.

Harrod Horticulture discount for Landscape Juice readers

Great news for all Landscape Juice readers! It may be something that you do not want to even think about with the rain returning but plants and shrubs will need to be topped up when they get parched and last weeks warm sun will serve well to remind us all that things can change very quickly.

I am delighted to say that Harrod Horticulture have offered all of you Landscape Juice readers a 10% discount on any watering equipment that you purchase before the end of June.

Why garden networking should not be a secret

I am delighted at the rate that new members are joining my garden network and I can see, within six months, it will be 'the' place for any interested parties to come and share their knowledge and experience, have some fun and of course - network.

I have added a note on the front page about my interpretation of how a network should be run and the most important point I feel I could have made is the one of trust.

Association of Professional Landscapers invade Chelsea under stealth

The Association of Professional Landscapers will be having a busy time at the moment preparing for the International Chelsea Flower Show.

Generating Gardens, Landform Consultants, New Ground Landscapes, RG Landscape and Construction Ltd, Nascentia Landscapes Ltd to name but a few of the APL companies representing the association at this years show.

Is Horticulture Recruitment facing a crisis

There is no doubt in my mind that the gardening and landscaping industries are starting to experience some tougher trading conditions.

New contracts that are being tendered for are being scrutinised closely in an effort to keep costs to the absolute minimum. The result of this commercial suicide, is a loss in quality and poor conditions for those employees on the ground.

Preparing tree planting holes but let the worms do the hard part

The best of the planting season has already passed and it would be ill advised to plant any new trees or shrubs en mass unless you are able to give them your closest attention to avoid wind damage or lack of water.

You may be interested in this little tip, that can be planned now, to ensure your trees establish themselves so much faster and stronger in their early development.

Final result - Hunter nil, Tesco won?

I suspect that the relationship, whilst shaky at best, between Sir Tom Hunter and Tesco has gone past anything that may be salvageable after Hunter lost his court battle to put the brakes on the rights issue to raise £150 million to shore up the Dobbies balance sheet.

Severin Carrell, Scotland correspondent for gaurdian.co.uk, reports how exchanges between the two parties amounted to accusations that the attempt by Hunter to thwart the deal would mean that his investment vehicle, West Coast Capital - the owners of Wyevale,would gain a commercial advantage.

The Lawn Society launches interactive network

If you wanted to find information on gardening in the United Kingdom you will be spoilt for choice if you searched through one of the major search engines.

The internet has become saturated with gardening blogs and older less dynamic sites, but if you wanted to locate a resource that is dedicated to maintaining lawns, you would be hard pushed.

Where not to lay turf

Laying turf is a quick and easy way to realise a grass covering over an open space. Laid properly, with butted edges and tamped firmly then watered in, it is possible to have a nice strong rooted sward within two weeks

Unless you do decide to turf over the common room floor as the sixth formers at Banchory Academy did on their last day of term.

The Garden Network refuses to 'network'

I was hoping to keep you up to date with exciting developments over at the Garden Network site, but, unfortunately I have been banned and my membership has been revoked.

I am yet to receive an explanation as to the reason but I can only assume I have made some remarks - I call it constructive comments - about the functionality of membership.

The National Trust plant archive

Thirty years after they first attempted it, the National Trust is to archive all of the plants and trees within the boundaries of the properties on it's register.

Back in the seventies, the National Trust wanted to collate a map of every specimen that has been collected by the great plant hunters of the Victorian era and before, in order to establish what existed and where it came from.

However, using just paper and the Royal Mail, the task proved too difficult and the scheme was abandoned - Run the time clock onto 2008 and we have a different story.

How to contact Landscape Juice

I really hate reading a blog or website and not being able to find the contact details of the administrator or company that runs it.

So that is why, in a bid to be totally accessible to my readers or to anyone who has an interest in the gardening or landscaping scene in the United Kingdom, I am publishing the following information.

don't be shy, if there is something I have written that you would like to discuss whether it is because I have irritated you or pleased you, then I will be happy to have a chat.

Which garden tools are the best of breed?

I received an email yesterday from a Landscape Juice reader who needs some help with identifying what tools to buy.

It looks like Mr Jolly has had a frustrating experience thus far - I will print the question here and again in the network.

Can anyone help?

"Dear Landscape Juice,

Help!

I need to invest in some decent hand tools for gardening - ones that will not bend or break after a couple of uses. In the last two weeks of normal garden use I have managed to bend or break the following :