Calling all green fingered Tavistock People ...
By katef1 | Friday, September 24, 2010, 14:45
If there are any green fingered folk reading this then I’d really appreciate some gardening tips....
I’ll admit it – my garden is a mess at the moment. I’ve spent so long renovating the inside of my house that I’m ashamed to say I’ve completely over looked the outside. Now that the interior is sorted, and we’re all settled in, I’d really like to spruce up the garden so we can use it next summer. I’ve heard that people need to start planting bulbs now. Is this true, and if so is there anything you can recommend? I’ve got lots of mature plants and bushes already in place, but would like to plant some more flowers and shrubs. Any ideas for some low maintenance plants, and where to get them from?
Also, what’s the best way to get a nice green weed free lawn? Does this ‘weed and feed’ work?
When we first moved in I visited a few local garden centres. Focus on Plymouth Road was very handy. They have a pretty impressive garden section and the prices are very reasonable. We’ve had quite a few positive reviews of the store on this site – all giving either 4 or 5 stars. Lawson’s are also excellent for seasonal bulbs and bedding plants. The staff are very friendly and have always seemed happy to give advice.
Endsleigh Gardens Nursery is also well worth a visit. They sell a whole range of garden plants, and specialise in Tamar Valley apple and cherry trees. Click here to view their price list.
Unfortunately I don’t have a pond, but I’m told that Rowden Gardens is excellent for aquatic plants. They’re yet to be reviewed on here, so if you used them then let us know what you think!
If you’re after gardening machinery then Abbey Machinery in the Crelake industrial estate cater for most requirements. They’ve also got a website.
There’s nothing more relaxing then having breakfast outside on a summers morning. Focus often have great discounts on garden furniture at this time of year so it may be worth popping in to have a look if you’re after a new set. You could also check out Walkham Teak near Horrabridge. They offer really top quality wooden tables and chairs. The price range is a bit higher, but the furniture is beautiful and made to last.
I’ve got myself in the mood for a BBQ with all this garden talk. Shame it’s a bit chilly!
Comments
Good tips White Pig :) I'll certainly look into getting one of those dumpy bags. I'm guessing they'd be suitable to use for levelling out a lumpy lawn? Also, if you want a REALLY low maintenance garden then I'd recommend turfing/gravelling the whole thing then using potted plants for decoration.
By tanker10 at 17:10 on 26/09/10
ReportBest thing I can advise is to work with your garden and take time to get a feel of what you have to work with. You'll save a lot of money and heartache - it's so easy to get sucked into buying wonderful looking but completely unsuitable plants - we've all done it!!
Questions to ask yourself before you head out to the garden centre:
When and where does the sun appear in the garden, how sheltered is the garden,is it a damp or free-draining area and most importantly, what's the quality of your soil like!! If your garden is damp and shady, it'll be a waste of time and money putting sun-loving plants in such as Echinacea (Coneflower).
Also have a look at neighbours gardens to see what grows well. It's also a great excuse to go visiting places for inspiration such as Rosemoor or the Garden House....
If you want great quality soil improver, try McLaughlins nr Milton Abbott http://tinyurl.com/24frlq2 - they sell compost by the dumpy bag at bargain price and it is the best stuff ever - course, black and attracts worms like I've never seen before!!
Have a look at this website - http://tinyurl.com/2aftzrs - it's a garden photo website but is an excellent tool to aid garden design. Type in a plant name and you'll be able to access loads of images to give you a context of how a potential plant will look in a garden.
Long Ash Garden Centre nr Horrabridge is also well worth a visit as are the plant fairs in the pannier market. Great variety of quality plants and access to a wealth of knowledge too.
Final word - when the time comes to get plants, don't forget to consider including a variety of heights - so often do you see gardens that are a max of about 2ft - they look flat and not particularly interesting. Be brave and try to incorporate a tree (appropriate to your size garden of course) or 2 if you can.
Have fun and we look forward to seeing pics of your garden....
By WhitePig at 13:29 on 26/09/10
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