Gardening

[SteveH]

Gardeners are being asked to help stop the spread of an invasive plant that's causing problems in North Wales. The plant, called Cotoneaster, is pretty and popular in gardens but it's also allegedly damaging the countryside.

The North Wales Wildlife Trust (NWWT) is asking gardeners to remove their Cotoneaster plants and as an incentive to do so they're offering ?20 garden vouchers.

It's against the law to plant cotoneaster in the wild, but birds who love its bright berries are spreading the seeds. If there are fewer cotoneasters in gardens, there will be fewer chances for birds to spread the plant. For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter.

The focus is on areas with limestone grasslands, but gardeners all over the region can get a reward for removing their cotoneaster. The NWWT particularly wants people in Llandudno and Penrhyn Bay in Conwy, and Halkyn in Flintshire, to join in.

Article cont.   https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/welsh-gardeners-offered-20-vouchers-28650812?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589


 Full details of the scheme are here........  https://www.northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk/take-action/plant-swap-scheme?fbclid=IwAR0_JOl3lWPHb59Z3eZxv4K5NEZO9GaCDRa_2STUopDMa5fa9sWnceLdQL0

[Hugo]

Sometimes I feel that the world has gone bonkers.      Sometime ago I paid a lot more than 20 pounds for a number of Cotoneaster Simonsii and I bought them mainly for the birds to feed on the berries so I'm not going to dig mine up.
Where does it stop?   No Rowan trees or any other type of berry bearing plant yet the Government are making farmers plant trees on valuable agricultural land
Llandudno prides itself on having a very unique type of Cottoneaster that grows on the grasslands of the Great Orme so leave them grow in peace.
The best and perhaps the cheapest option if they want to get rid of the Cottoneasters spread by birds is perhaps to rent a Great Orme Goat.    I'm sure that they'll sort the problem out     

[Hugo]

It's nice to see the Daffodils coming up in the garden and it's a sign that Spring is just around the corner.    This morning I couldn't help thinking about the poem written by William Wordsworth and this extract from the poem:-

When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Well this morning we had gales upon these elevated heights and my Daffodils must have been doing too much dancing because they are looking the worse for wear and hanging their heads on the floor.   Ah well, at least there are some late ones coming up that haven't flowered yet.

[Meleri]

We live in a very windy spot too Hugo & had suffered the same problem last year, so planted Tete-a-Tete daffodils for this year. They have come through really well & holding their own, not as big as normal daffodils at 6/7 inches but are hardy & just as beautiful.

[Hugo]

That sounds like a good idea of yours Meleri, I'll remember that for next year.     What actually happened this year is that I went to Talgoed Nursery in Glan Conwy for a breakfast and then ended up buying two sacks of mixed Daffodil bulbs so I've got some of everything,
Early flowering ones, later flowering ones as well as shorter and longer versions so a real mixed bunch.
They are in pots so I can replant them next year in a more sheltered location

[SteveH]

Gardener explains when to cut your grass and how often for a thicker lawn

A gardening expert has shared his top four tips for a perfect lawn, including how often to mow and the direction you should cut the grass each time

Gardening whizz Bo Petterson has shared four key tips to make your grass look its best on TikTok, highlighting common errors that could be sabotaging your efforts.

Bo shared: "In the spring, you need to mow a couple of times a week and you need to cut it short. This teaches your grass to grow outwards instead of upwards, making your lawn thicker."

Adding on he said: "In the summer, you don't have to mow as often, but you should leave the grass longer. This shades the roots from the hot sun."

He also suggests altering the direction you mow each time to avoid the grass growing sideways like a combover. He clarified: "This can include vertical, horizontal, cross pattern, wavy, it doesn't matter. If you don't do this, your lawn will learn to grow sideways like a combover."

cont https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/gardener-explains-cut-your-grass-28724432?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

UNSEASONABLY mild weather has prompted flowering trees and blossom to emerge four weeks earlier than usual, the National Trust has said.

Pockets of blooming trees and shrubs are already starting to emerge in Trust gardens across Wales, South West and South East of England, the charity said, in a sign of the ?rapidly changing climate?.

As long as there is no prolonged cold snap, the country could look forward to a drawn-out blossom season with ?ripples? of blooms spreading across the nation, followed by a bumper fruit harvest, the trust said.

In North Wales, in the Conwy Valley, Bodnant Garden?s magnolia collection is blooming several weeks ahead of last year, and rhododendrons are flowering early.

cont https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/24157767.blooms-wales-bodnant-garden-emerge-early-due-mild-weather/

[Hugo]

Wales weather: Rain and high temperatures break records
It has been the warmest February on record in Wales, with temperatures 2.4 C above expected levels, on average.
Some places in south Wales have also had their wettest February on record.
I think that I last cut my lawn in September 2023 and have not been able to do it due to the wet weather.   Even now in March the ground is saturated and needs to dry out more before I can get the mower out but it's nice to see the flowers coming out

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-68442779

[SteveH]

A reminder if in doubt about safety, get someone in.............

How to clear clogged gutters and why it can cost you if you don't

Property expert Thomas Goodman says it will avoid expensive repairs to your home or problems in your garden

Scooping out a winter?s worth of leaf mould from your gutters is one of those mucky but essential spring tasks. They will often become clogged with leaves, twigs and debris and can quickly fall into disrepair.

You might not notice that your gutters are blocked until problems arise, so a spring clean can help prevent costly repairs. Neglecting them can then lead to structural damage, water staining and other expensive issues.

cont https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/how-to-clear-clogged-gutters-and-why-it-can-cost-you-if-you-dont/

[Hugo]

It's good advice about keeping your gutters clean but you can't always do the work yourself.    I have four gutters at various heights and have been able to clean three of them in the past but one is above a large glass sunlounge and I can't do that one
In fact Mrs H and I were sitting in the sunlounge when she saw a large clump of grass growing up out of the overhead gutter.    I didn't sat anything but the next time she went out shopping I got a ladder out and walked on the coping stones and pulled the turf out
I didn't mention it again until she said that "you've been on the roof again" and made me promise not to do it again, which I did promise
Anyway it did me a favour because I think Gwynant  recommended Toby Hughes a local person  who cleans gutters and I used him. I'll use him again and it's lot safer for me and at least I won't get ear if I use Toby

[SteveH]

A reminder if in doubt about safety, get someone in.............

I was actually thinking of you when I posted the above........   

[Hugo]

I'm daft but not that daft Steve       

[DVT]

A couple of weeks ago a flyer came through my letter box for Ben's Gutters - as my gutters needed clearing I called them.  Price seemed expensive for my simple semi dormer house, just one gutter front and back.  The chap who answered the phone said it included checking the gutters, brackets and re-sealing if necessary.

A week later chap turns up with his ladder and pulls out the offending plant growth - both gutters easy access, took about 20 minutes.  I am recovering from operation so did not stand and watch him.  Went out and asked if he'd checked the brackets and resealed the end caps as they continually leak.

No, he had not re-sealed as that was a further ?25 cost - on top of the ?77 I had already paid.

I felt I had been conned and would not recommend them,  The gutter end-caps still drip water but not as bad, probably as the blockage has been cleared.

[Hugo]

My experience with Toby Hughes was really good .  He arrived on time, he was neat and tidy and his van was immaculate.
Toby started by using his camera on a long pole to see where the problem was and then used his machine to extract all the moss and debris in the gutter. Then he checked the down pipe as I thought that there may be a blockage there too.
I'm very grateful to Gwynant for telling me about him and I'll use him again as soon as I need to

On another note I had a coffee morning a few days ago with a retirement group and Arfon who is a volunteer at Bodnant like yourself was there .   He sends his best wishes to you and hopes that you have a speedy recovery after your operation.
He also mentioned your camera and we enjoyed seeing those nice photos of Bodnant that you have posted on here and look forward to seeing some more in the future

[Hugo]

I must be having more senior moments as the person who made a great job of cleaning my gutters is Sion Hughes not Toby Hughes. 
He runs GutterPRO and I've attached a link for anyone who may be interested

https://www.gutterpro.co.uk/