News - Page 67

We are a nation of pet lovers and spend a lot of time and money ensuring they are well cared for, healthy and showered with love. But whilst the garden is flowering beautifully in the summertime, it is the time of year when fleas, ticks and other pet pests are at their highest numbers.

Colour plays a hugely important part of making a garden. The right combination of colours can create a sense of tranquillity, or add excitement and vibrancy to a dull space. Using colour in your garden is easy to do once you know the principles, and it opens up a whole new way of putting plants together.

From tomorrow, 25th May, to 2nd June National Children’s Gardening Week is a week full of encouraging children to enjoy gardening and plants. It is incredibly important to teach children the importance of gardening, growing your own food and being outside in the fresh air. Gardening can help children learn new skills, understand where food comes from and the importance of wildlife. Also, it can raise self-esteem and confidence and even help with anxiety and social skills. So what can you enjoy in the garden with your children during National Children’s Gardening Week?

Most gardens have shady spaces that can seem hard to fill with lovely, attractive plants but some of the most beautiful garden plants can grow perfectly well in a shady space and even thrive for many years. Make sure you know what your soil conditions are so you can pick the right plants to grow in shade and you can create a colourful spot in the garden even without sunlight. These top 6 plants for a shady space are well worth trying to grow in your garden if you have a shady space.

There is nothing more frustrating than finding pests and diseases on your lovely plants after tending to them with love and attention. Fortunately, there are many ways to minimise the risk of plant pests and diseases, mainly ensuring they receive the care that they need. But even after all of your efforts, they can still sneak up on your plants and be a real pain. Plants that are thriving, indoors or outside will not show any signs of yellowing or brown leaves or dry, curly edges. Whilst many of these could also be a sign of not optimum conditions, which in itself can lead to pests and diseases but this is a sign your plants are in distress. Keep a check on watering levels, light levels and make sure you have the right plant for the right place which will help to minimise any problems. So, if you are concerned about pests and diseases on your plants, this guide will help you to identify them.