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August 11, 2022
Gardening Tips for Late Summer
Depending on how green-fingered you are, at this time of year your garden might be experiencing a late-summer drop in colour. The combination of the July heatwave and severe lack of rain in many areas is not a good combination for many traditional British gardens. But there’s no need to threat, there are plenty of things you can do to bring your garden back to life.The Importance of Deadheading
Regular removal of dead flower heads can help to prolong the life of your plants. Most of our common British plants such as geraniums, roses, salvias and lavender will produce more than one batch of flowers throughout the growing season. However, they will only continue to flower if you remove the dead flower heads. If you don’t regularly cut them back, then the plant will start to produce seed heads, which whilst still adding interest, won’t add much colour to your garden.
Deadheading doesn’t have to be too time consuming either. You will be amazed at how much you can achieve with just half an hour of walking round your garden with a pair of secateurs.Feed Your Plants
As well as ensuring your plants are getting enough water, especially during the summer months, you should also continue to feed your plants on a regular basis to ensure they get all the vital nutrients they need to remain healthy. This is particularly important if you have lots of pots and containers which you planted up at the beginning of the summer. Our ecofective Organic Pour and Feed is suitable for both indoor and outdoor plants and is perfect for containers and hanging baskets.Be Creative With Pots and Containers
At this time of year you might have gaps appearing in your flower beds as single... -
July 28, 2022
How to Create a Bee Friendly Garden
Bees are one of the most important pollinators in our gardens, therefore it is vital that we provide as many plants as possible to help look after them. You don’t need to have a large garden to provide flowers for bees to feed on. There are plenty of plants which will grow happily in window boxes, hanging baskets or containers. So whether you live in a house or flat, we can all do our bit to help the bees.Why do bees need our help?
Bumblebee populations have been in decline for a number of years due to loss of habitat as a result of changing farming practices; the development of land for housing and road verges being mowed frequently.
As bees are amazing pollinators, it is vital we do all we can to provide as much food for them as possible. Many varieties of fruit and vegetables such as strawberries, apples, raspberries, broad beans, peas and courgettes rely on bees for pollination. If bee populations decline then growers will have to rely on other methods of pollination which will increase the costs of these foods.What can we do to help bees?
Did you know that there are 24 species of bumble bee in the UK and only 1 species of honeybee? Bumblebees can feed from a variety of different flowers as they have varying tongue lengths, whereas honeybees have short tongues so prefer open flowers.
To help provide enough nectar and pollen for all bees to remain happy and healthy, it is important to grow as many different types of plants as possible.Perfect Plants for Pollinators
If you’re looking for some gardening inspiration to encourage more bees into your garden, then here are some easy bee friendly flowers for you to try:Erysimum...
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July 15, 2022
How To Be A More Sustainable Gardener
Let’s talk about plastic waste. Since the UK government introduced a levy on plastic bags back in 2015, many of us have got in the habit of bringing reusable bags with us when we shop. You might also bring your own reusable mug for your takeaway coffee or carry your own water bottle when you’re out and about. However, do you think about your plastic use or carbon footprint when you’re working in your garden or allotment?How to be more eco-friendly in your garden:
1. Choose British!
When you’re shopping for plants, try to choose plants which have been grown in Britain rather than imported from abroad. This is particularly important if you’re buying large shrubs or trees as they have been known to carry pests and diseases into the country which could harm native species.2. Go Organic
Check the packaging on any plant feeds or bug sprays before buying them - make sure you are only choosing products which are free of harmful chemicals and fertilisers. Where possible buy organic products and make sure the packaging can be easily recycled. All of the products in our ecofective range come in recycled and recyclable packaging.... -
June 28, 2022
June is Perennial Gardening Month
In this month’s blog we will be focussing on all things perennial. A perennial plant (or shrub) is one which grows for at least two years, with most of them flowering between spring - autumn. Although there are some winter flowering varieties such as Hellebores, Winter Jasmine and Snowdrops.
As the spring bulbs die back, now is the perfect time for the perennials in your garden to shine. You might not realise it, but many of the plants that form the backbone of your garden at this time of year fall into the perennial category such as roses, poppies, dahlias and lavender. -
May 23, 2022
Following on from last month’s National Garden Month, May is National BBQ month. If you spent April cleaning your furniture and feeding your plants, then this month you might be ready to tackle some of the problematic areas of your garden making sure it’s the perfect spot to host a BBQ.
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April 27, 2022
This month at myproductstore we’ve been celebrating National Garden Month. Running throughout April, National Garden Month aims to encourage you to get outside and enjoy using your garden. If your garden is feeling a bit neglected following the long, wet winter months, then we have a range of products to help get things back on track. Is your path, patio or decking in desperate need of some TLC? Our Ecofective Natural, Path, Patio and Decking Cleaner Concentrate is just the product to bring these areas back to their best again. Simply dilute with hot water, apply using a watering can, scrub into the area and then rinse off after 5 minutes, leaving you with a grime, dirt and algae free patio or deck! The cleaner is also antibacterial and will remove 99.999% of bacteria. Even better, because it is part of our ecofective range, the cleaner is safe to use around children and pets.
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March 24, 2022
Spring officially sprung on 20th March and we’re so happy to be back out in the garden!
It’s a great time of year to tidy up and start getting ready for the longer evenings in the sunshine. Let’s take a look at what we can be doing out in the garden at this time of year.
Tidy up!
Your first step is to have a generally tidy round. We’ve had some unbelievable weather recently and if your gardens are anything like ours, they are in need of a good old spruce! Check your fences and furniture, it will have taken a bit of a battering over the last few months.
Grab your gloves and your garden bin and start clearing out those broken branches and leaves. Remove any weeds from your flower beds to give those Spring bulbs space to thrive!