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Now’s the time to really enjoy your garden! Whether you intend to sit back and relax or potter in your garden, Armitage’s Garden Centres in Shelley & Birchencliffe have everything you need to ensure you make the most of your outdoor space!
Watering
Make sure your plants produce a display to be proud of by giving them just the right amount of water they need. Well-established plants may not need watering but newly planted, bedding plants and plants in containers will need regular watering. Using a hosepipe with a watering gun is quicker and easier than using a watering can and can help prevent water wastage.
If you have a lot of plants in containers, in the greenhouse or large areas of the garden that need watering, consider installing a drip watering system. This will evenly water your plants whether you're at home or away.
Outdoor Living
Gardens are for enjoying – and the summer is the best time to do it. So make sure you sit back, relax and enjoy your garden in comfortable garden furniture. Alternatively, entertain friends and family with a delicious barbecue. And if you plan to stay out late why not treat yourself to a chiminea and patio heater, and add some easy to install garden lighting, such as Gardman solar garden party lights?
Pond Life
During periods of hot dry weather, the water in ponds can be very short of oxygen which will affect the fish and plants. If your fish are gulping at the surface it’s a sure sign they need more oxygen! So make sure your pond contains plenty of oxygenating plants and add a pump,and waterfall or fountain. The constant movement of water is one of the best ways of aerating a pond. Don’t forget, fish will be very active now, so feed them little and often with a high protein fish food.
Weeds
Weeds can soon take over the garden and not only do they look unsightly, but they can smother your prized plants, steal valuable water and nutrients from the soil and become hosts to pests and diseases. Now’s the time for an all-out assault on them using a hoe for annuals and small weeds, mulches and planting membranes to keep beds and borders permanently weed free and weedkillers to stop even the most persistent weeds taking over. Use a weedkiller based on Glyphosate for persistent, deep-rooted perennials.
Pest watch
During the warm, dry days of summer, pests like red spider mite, aphids and whitefly as well as diseases like mildew can really take hold and get out of control. Check plants regularly – daily if possible – for signs of trouble and deal with them quickly. One or two pests can soon become a major outbreak during warm weather. Ready-to-use sprayers are the quick and easy answer to your problems. Slugs and snails will also become busy after a cooling summer shower, so make sure you have controls ready to hand.
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