Appleby Landscapes & Gardens Ltd.

How to start a garden?

What really makes a garden is what you choose to plant, and this should be determined by your soil type. There are 3 main soil types: Sand, Silt and Clay, however other factors such as the soils pH, the soils water retention and exposure to the elements will affect which plants will thrive in your garden.

How often should I water my plants?

You should always water your plants in after planting, to a depth of 10cm. After that as long as you have used plants compatible with the soil and environment they should thrive without much intervention. We recommend watering plants in summer but only if they are starting to wilt. Over watering can cause permanent damage whereas plants can easily bounce back from a slight drought.

When should I plant bulbs?

We all know that most bulbs appear in spring, but you should actually start planting your bulbs 6 months in advance. In the south-east of England we would usually recommend planting spring flowering bulbs such as Daffodils (Narcissus), Tulips (Tulipa) and Hyacinths (Hyacinthus) in late autumn.

How to encourage local wildlife into my garden?

Our native bees and butterflies are losing their habitat due to our love of a perfectly mown lawn. Installing a perennial wildflower meadow is the best thing to encourage them back into your garden. Other ideas such as installing a pond to encourage birds and frogs or creating log piles for hedgehogs and insects will help increase biodiversity in your garden.

How to remove weeds without chemicals?

There are no fail safe ways to control weeds, however we recommend scratching the soil with a gardening hoe and then covering the bed with a mulch to prevent them regrowing. Once you are on top of your weeding it is a fairly quick task, however you must be vigilant as one year of seed means 7 years of weeds.

Why aren't my plants growing?

A common cause for stunted growth or yellowing leaves is overly compacted soil. Compacted soil reduces a plants ability to access vital water and nutrients. You can combat this by preparing the ground well before planting or sowing. You should dig the soil over, removing weeds and large stones as you go, then add organic matter to it.

How to get rid of moss in my lawn?

Moss is often caused by tree roots growing underneath the lawn. Feeding the lawn heavily where tree roots are present will discourage it. Alternatively yearly scarification as part of your lawn maintenance schedule will help reduce moss and dead grass, keeping your lawn looking green and healthy.

When is the best time to plant a tree?

The best time to plant a tree is 10 years ago. The second best time to plant a tree is now!