Winter Pruning Service

/in /by

Get some professional help in the garden and let us do your winter pruning. Your evergreen shrubs and herbaceous perennials are ready for cutting back, so why not put your garden to bed, we can also clear up the leaves. Most of your evergreen shrubs will probably need pruning, there are some exceptions such as Viburnum tinus which will be flowering shortly (if not already) and these will need to done after flowering is complete.

Herbaceous plants will now be looking very untidy and while we recommend grasses are left over winter, it is a good idea to clear off the dead stems of most perennials now so that any new growth in Spring is not damaged when cutting back at that time. It also removes any potential winter homes for slugs and snails.
If you have shrubs that have grown completely out of hand, they can be cut back quite hard in many cases and our team will know if this is the case or recommend a staged approach to cutting back over two or three seasons. They can then grow back into a manageable sized plant.

All the waste arising from the pruning is removed from your garden and taken to our shredding site, where the waste is composted and reused.

Contact Pat on 0114 221 5066 for details on prices.

winter pruning

Regular pruning keeps plants looking their best

A Large Formal Garden

/in /by

 

Gardens this size are not common but it is nice when the chance to totally remodel the whole garden comes along. The clients wanted a simple layout, not too much fuss, but quality materials and lots of colourful planting.

 

A large formal lawn is framed by a York stone slab path which leads to a sunken garden around an old Cherry tree. A circular Teak bench is installed around the trunk of the tree. Mixed borders line each side of the lawn and provide lots of colour from April through to October. The existing terrace was remodelled to allow a larger paved area which was centralised relative to the new patio doors on the house. This leads onto broad steps that pass through a rose garden edged with Lavender.

DSCF0199

A children’s garden was created in another area, with a climbing frame set among a series of mown paths flowing through a wildflower meadow.

DSCF0186

 

 

DSCF0190

 

DSCF0191

The front garden was changed to allow more parking with a large central border that wrapped around the boundary, resin bound gravel drive edged with Yorkstone kerb and Yorkstone tumbled setts forming focal panels of paving in front of the house and at the head of the drive. Subtle lighting spotlights feature planting at the front to make the house more welcoming.

DSCF0178 web

DSCF0212 web DSCF0220 croppped

What to do in your garden in Setpember

/in , , /by

September is generally a cooler month than August, however it is starting off very warm and the forecast suggests it might be drier than August was. If you have been growing fruit or vegetables this year you’ll be kept busy harvest the fruits of your labour. Now is also the time to start planting spring-flowering bulbs for next year. Make sure you make the most of and sunny days and the remaining warmth while you can this month!

General

  • Divide herbaceous perennials
  • Harvest autumn crops
  • Collect seed from perennials and hardy annuals
  • Cover ponds with netting before the leaves start falling from trees
  • Reduce the frequency of houseplant watering
  • Clean out cold frames and greenhouses in preparation for autumn planting
  • Plant spring flowering bulbs
  • September can often be warm so remember to keep watering
  • Keep weeding as most perennial weeds are susceptible to weedkiller this month

Fruit & Veg

  • Harvest fruit and vegetables as they are ready
  • Dig up remaining potatoes before slug damage spoils them
  • Cover leafy vegetable crops with bird-proof netting

Greenhouse
This is the time of year to give your greenhouse and coldframes a good clean out. Once your tomatoes and other crops have finished, thoroughly cleaning your greenhouse helps prevent pests from making a home over winter. It also prepares the space ready for autumn planting.

Lawns

  • Reduce the frequency of mowing
  • Now is a good time to lay turf or plant seeds
  • Aerate and apply a top dressing

    • Trees, shrubs & Climbers

  • Clip hedges before mid September – leylandi, lonicera, privet, hawthorn, beech and yew
  • Prune climbing roses and keep deadheading those still flowering
  • Trim lavender bushes lightly with hedging shears. Don’t be too aggressive, if you need to get drastic, leave it until spring
  • Now is the time to plant or move conifers and evergreens

    • Bulbs & Flowers

  • Now is the prime time for planting spring bulbs
  • If you want indoor bulbs for Christmas plant before mis September
  • Bring tender perennials into shelter
  • Deadhead spent flowers to keep the garden looking tidy
  • Support tall flowers now before the autumn storms arrive