Landscape and Urban Design Issue 46 2020 | Page 67

LANDSCAPING SERVICES
TIME TO HOST ! Over the last few months , BBQs and visiting each other ’ s ’ gardens have been our favourite way to socialise , but why should the fun stop now ? Follow these five simple steps to set up your garden as the perfect place to enjoy what ’ s important in life : 1 . Stay Hygge : Hygge is a Danish concept that celebrates cosiness , wellbeing and happiness , and you can transform your garden into a Hygge paradise with some simple additions . When the days and evenings are getting cooler , add cushions and cosy throws to your outdoor furniture to keep your loved ones warm . To brighten up your seating area , string up fairy lights , and voila . Hello hygge ! 2 . Keep warm : While some might choose to invest in outdoor heaters , a more traditional way of keeping your guests warm is to set up a fire pit or even a bonfire from your leftover garden cuttings . Around a warming fire , you can roast marshmallows to make s ’ mores and serve festive drinks such as hot chocolates , or mulled wine .
3 . Harvest your foods : September and October are key harvest months for many crops , including tomatoes , potatoes and courgettes . After harvesting all of your delicious fruits and vegetables , clean your garden of plant debris and decaying vegetable matter . It ’ s really important to keep your vegetable beds or pots clean and free of disease so that you can have another successful year of growing . Before winter you should put a layer of mulch over your soil to prevent a loss of soil nutrients and the impact of rain .
4 . Autumn BBQs : No need to lock the BBQ away for the autumn , you can still dine outdoors – especially with blankets and cushions . You can even set up the BBQ as a cosy conversational place , sit chairs around it so that you aren ’ t left to cook solo ! For a more warming meal , swap out your salad for roast potatoes and roasted vegetables ( perhaps from your own harvest !), and your cold beer for a mulled wine or cider .
5 . Home pride : Now that summer is over , there are still plenty of opportunities to host outdoor gatherings . Enjoy the fruits of your work , and proudly present your home in all of its autumn beauty . When hosting your friends and family celebrate the occasion with autumn festivities and themed decor , including Harvest season , Halloween and Bonfire Night .
MAINTAINING A BEAUTIFUL AUTUMN GARDEN IN 10 STEPS
• Use a high performance , 100 % organic lawn food , such as Miracle-Gro Performance Organics ( RRP £ 12.99 ) that will deliver a greener lawn in just 7 days . Apply after doing your final lawn mow in October / November
• The heatwaves this summer may have left your lawn patchy , simply apply Patch Magic ( RRP £ 11.99 ) to grow thicker grass , with first shoots appearing after just 4 days !
• With Autumn BBQs and evenings by the firepit on the horizon , make sure your patio looks its best with Patio Magic ! ( RRP : £ 11.49 ). It ’ s easy to use to remove and prevent green mould and algae within two to four days !
• Now is the time to feed your plants with a slow release plant food to help them through winter . Miracle-Gro Chicken Manure ( RRP £ 7.99 ) is a completely natural plant food that will enrich your soil encouraging strong and healthy growth .
• If you have moss within your lawn , then make sure you act now ! Use Miracle-Gro Autumn Lawncare ( RRP £ 24.99 ) to kill moss and toughen grass to help it withstand winter weather by strengthening the roots .
• Just like moss , it ’ s important to control the weeds in your garden ahead of winter frost . Roundup
NL Weed Control ( RRP £ 6.99 ) is ready to use and will break down naturally in the soil , while controlling a broad range of annual garden weeds in flower beds , vegetable patches as well as gravel paths and patios .
• Just like animals , your lawn needs food through winter - so apply a slow release formula , like Miracle- Gro Premium + Autumn & Spring ( RRP £ 12.99 ) to feed your lawn for three months . Apply between September to November and again between March to May to ensure the correct balance of nutrients so it can withstand the extremes of cold , heat and drought throughout the year .
• If you find slugs and snails are feeding on your home grown veg more than you , try applying SlugClear Ultra 3 Pellets ( RRP £ 6.49 ). These pellets kill a wide range of surface feeding slugs and snails , is suitable to use on home grown crops and one application lasts up to two weeks .
• If you ’ ve got some areas of your perfect garden overgrown with weeds then give as good as you get with Weedol Gun ! Ultra Tough Weedkiller ( RRP £ 5.99 ). It kills weeds to the roots , including brambles , nettles , thistles , docks , and other deep-rooted weeds .
You may look out at your lawn and think it ’ s beyond repair but try Miracle-Gro Evergreen Fast Grass ( RRP £ 7.99 ). This revolutionary grass seed ensures rapid four-day germination for all lawn types so give it a go now for a healthy , green lawn by Spring !
For more information on looking after your garden in autumn and for any other garden-care queries please visit : www . lovethegarden . com .
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