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<p>There is <strong>eco-friendly pest control</strong> available for just about every pest the amateur gardener will find in the garden, so there is usually something that will help you to protect your plants. Generally speaking, the aim of pest control is to prevent pests rather than completely eradicate them, since each and everyone does have a purpose in the garden - even if you would prefer that purpose not to be eating your brassicas!&nbsp;</p>

<p>There is <strong>eco-friendly pest control</strong> available for just about every pest the amateur gardener will find in the garden, so there is usually something that will help you to protect your plants. Generally speaking, the aim of pest control is to prevent pests rather than completely eradicate them, since each and everyone does have a purpose in the garden - even if you would prefer that purpose not to be eating your brassicas!&nbsp;</p>
<h2>The best eco-friendly pest control&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Without a doubt, the best way is to allow nature to take control of pests for you. By creating a biodiverse garden full of plants for pollinators, trees and shrubs making homes and food for wildlife, a pond for amphibians, a wild area and in general a lovely space for all to enjoy - you will find that pests will be eaten by predators and you won’t need to do much about it! Win-win for you and the environment. The best natural eco-friendly pest control is done by your wildlife, such as birds and ladybugs. Welcome them to your garden by hanging birdhouses and bird tables.</p>
<h2>Companion planting is&nbsp;an eco-friendly pest control</h2>
<p>When you plant a different combination of species closely together you will find that one helps the other! Some will attract predatory insects, others will steer away from the pests you don’t want eating your cabbages. Some plants have fragrances that pests don’t like. Nasturtiums for example can be a breeding ground for the cabbage white butterfly, meaning they will stay off your sprouts! Did you know that herbs also make a natural eco-friendly pest control?&nbsp;Herbs are what many consider to be “companion plants” for use in vegetable gardens and throughout the garden. Their purpose is two-fold: attract beneficial insects and deter pests. Try planting these herbs in your garden:</p>
<ul>
<li>Mint,</li>
<li>Basil,</li>
<li>Lavender,</li>
<li>Rosemary and other herbs.</li>
</ul>
<p>These herbs work really well as natural pest control. Planting these in your garden will not only help keep pests away but these herbs can be used to control pests indoors as well.</p>
<h2>Eco-friendly pest control with deterrents</h2>
<p>Remember: the key is that you are not trying to kill all pests, but just deter them. So, use things like:</p>
<ul>
<li>copper tape around pots that snails don’t like,</li>
<li>cabbage collars for root fly,</li>
<li>carrot root fly meshes to keep them off your carrots.</li>
<li>scarecrows, bottles on canes, shining CD’s blowing in the wind can all deter birds away from your crops.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<h2>Get up close for eco-friendly pest control&nbsp;</h2>
<p>One way to control pests is to pick them off yourself! Pick caterpillars, slugs and snails along with others&nbsp;and re-locate them somewhere far away from your plants! If all else fails, a splash of water can get rid of aphids, netting can keep birds off and think about the plants you will grow - such as no Lilies if you suffer badly from red lily beetle - can work well. There are so many beautiful plants to grow, being without the ones that tend to get destroyed won’t be too much of a loss.&nbsp;</p>
<p>There are other eco-friendly ways of pest control such as using essential oils and some of the newer products on the market which are made solely for deterring certain pests. There are many options so there is no need to despair.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In store, we have a range of products to help along with plants for companion planting. Do you want to know more about eco-friendly pest control?&nbsp;Visit to find out more.&nbsp;</p>

Eco-friendly pest control

<p>It is time to decide on <strong>Father's Day Gifts</strong> to treat the special man in your life. Treat your Dad with a special gift to show him how much you care.</p>

<p>It is time to decide on <strong>Father's Day Gifts</strong> to treat the special man in your life. Treat your Dad with a special gift to show him how much you care.</p>
<h2>1. For the Dad who likes the outdoors&nbsp;</h2>
<p>If your Dad is into adventures from camping to hiking, he’ll no doubt be thankful for a cool box, rambler mug or cool bag. For those long days out in the wilds, he can stay refreshed and ready to keep hydrated. Keep his water cool with a new insulated mug or bag, so you know he is always being looked after when enjoying participating in sports.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>2. For the Dad who likes his meals hot</h2>
<p>If your Dad likes to add heat to every meal he makes or is served, how about a pack of spices? This can be a great gift for the Dad who likes it hot! From cumin to cayenne pepper, paprika to chilli powder - a pack of spices is a lovely gift for the man who loves spice. Buy them individually or pre-wrapped in a gift pack. And what about Dad's that like to spice it up on the barbecue? Find yourself the perfect barbecue accessories in our garden centre. We offer all kinds of accessories, such as a pizza stone,&nbsp;BBQ pan, grilling basket,&nbsp;BBQ gloves, grilling stone, rotisserie, grill rack, skewer set. We bet your Dad definitely likes the idea of him lighting the barbecue more often.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>3. For the Dad who likes to relax</h2>
<p>If your Dad loves to sit in the garden with his feet up after a day of mowing the lawn, why not pick the perfect fragrant perennial to plant in a pot right by where he sits? He can admire the flowers and the fragrance, knowing you choose the plant just for him. Roses, Jasmine, Honeysuckle - there are many to choose from. Match your garden plant with an extraordinary plant pot, container or planter. If your dad doesn't have a green thumb, you can also give him a book to relax in the garden.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>4. For the gardening Dad</h2>
<p>With so many gardening gifts available, the options are endless! From hand tools to seed trays, plants, pots, and ready planted hanging baskets, you really can take your pick, but why not look for a plant that brings back a happy memory? A plant in your bridal bouquet or that was blooming during the time of year that you were born.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>5. For the Dad who loves to read</h2>
<p>There is nothing better than a good book on a sunny day relaxing in the garden. If your Dad loves to read, find an excellent book that he can get stuck into. Autobiography of his favourite sporting legend, perhaps his celebrity crush or his favourite gardener.&nbsp;</p>
<p>No matter what you decide to give to your Dad for Fathers Day, he will know you love him, and nothing compares to spending time with him, so make sure you grab a few hours to spoil him.&nbsp;</p>
<p>For tools, plants, and so much more, we have just what your Dad will love for Fathers Day in store.&nbsp;</p>

Top 5 ideas for Fathers Day Gifts

<p>With big glossy green leaves, <strong>avocado</strong> trees make surprisingly good <strong>houseplants</strong>, and they’re easy to grow from an avocado stone. Why not pick up a fresh avocado from the supermarket and give it a go?&nbsp;</p>

<p>With big glossy green leaves, <strong>avocado</strong> trees make surprisingly good <strong>houseplants</strong>, and they’re easy to grow from an avocado stone. Why not pick up a fresh avocado from the supermarket and give it a go?&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Where to grow avocados</h2>
<p>Native to South America, avocados like a warm environment with fairly high humidity. In our temperate climate, they do best as houseplants, but they can be planted outside in mild areas and may even produce occasional fruits.</p>
<h2>How to grow an avocado from a stone</h2>
<p>Growing an avocado plant from a stone (the large pip inside the avocado fruit) is fun and makes a great gardening project for children. Here’s how it’s done:</p>
<ol>
<li>Cut a shop-bought avocado in half and remove the stone.</li>
<li>Push a ring of toothpicks around the middle of the stone to make supports so that you can suspend it over a glass of water with the dimpled end of the stone in the water.</li>
<li>Place the glass on a sunny windowsill where it will be at a reasonably constant temperature of between 20-25°C (68-77°F).</li>
<li>Keep the water level topped up.</li>
<li>The stone should start to produce roots in between 2-6 weeks.</li>
<li>Once the stone has produced a stem and leaves, take it out of the glass, remove the toothpicks and plant the seedling in a small pot filled with multipurpose compost, with some sharp sand mixed in to improve drainage.</li>
</ol>
<p>You can also plant an avocado stone in a pot filled with multipurpose compost. Place the pot somewhere warm and dark for a couple of weeks, watering regularly to stop the compost from drying out. When shoots appear, move the pot to a bright, sunny windowsill.</p>
<p>Once your avocado seedling reaches 30cm (12in) high, cut it down to 15cm (6in). This will produce a bushy plant with lots of foliage, ideal for an indoor plant.&nbsp;</p>
<p>When roots start showing through the pot's drainage holes, transplant your seedling into a bigger pot. Use a loam-based compost such as John Innes no 3, with added sharp sand for drainage.</p>
<h2>Caring for an avocado houseplant</h2>
<p>To keep your avocado plant looking good, place it in a warm, sunny spot, with a minimum winter temperature of between 13-18°C (55-65°F)—water when the compost feels dry to the touch. In spring and summer, feed every 2-3 weeks with a balanced liquid feed. Repot in spring if roots are starting to grow through the drainage holes of the pot.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Don’t expect to be picking your own avocados any time soon – avocado trees grown from seed take ten years to bear fruit. When grown as houseplants, they rarely flower, but if yours does, move it outside so that bees can pollinate the flowers. Avocado trees typically last between 2-3 years as houseplants.</p>
<p>Looking for more houseplants with fantastic foliage or flowers? Visit our centre and choose your perfect plant from our exciting range.</p>

How to grow an avocado as a houseplant

<p>These <strong>lawn tips for June</strong> will help you to keep your lawn in great shape for the summer ahead. As the months warm up and you spend more time outside in the garden, you might find the lawn being used much more. Perhaps BBQ’s with family and friends, children playing ball games and dogs running around might make for a messy lawn, but there are ways and means to keep it looking great with these tips.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These <strong>lawn tips for June</strong> will help you to keep your lawn in great shape for the summer ahead. As the months warm up and you spend more time outside in the garden, you might find the lawn being used much more. Perhaps BBQ’s with family and friends, children playing ball games and dogs running around might make for a messy lawn, but there are ways and means to keep it looking great with these tips.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>1. Keep on top of mowing</h2>
<p>With warmer weather and heading into summer, you will see your lawn growing really fast during June. If you’d like a nice neat lawn, keep on top of it with a weekly mow. Don’t forget to leave some areas for the grass to grow. You never know what will pop up, and your garden wildlife will be thankful.</p>
<h2>2. Clean your tools</h2>
<p>Before you get started, make sure your mower blades are sharp and clean. Check over any tools you will use to make sure they are in good condition and ensure any electrical cables are intact and safe.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>3. Feed your lawn&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Using an organic lawn fertiliser to provide all of the nutrients needed to keep it growing lush and green is important now. Some will be applied just during spring and then autumn, but others, especially liquid feed, can be used monthly as you water.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>4. Watering&nbsp;</h2>
<p>With warmer and dryer weather, the lawn will need to be watered. Rainwater is, of course, best and early morning or early evening is much better than during the day. Daytime watering, especially in the heat, means it will evaporate much quicker. Try to water at the base of your plants so the water can be absorbed directly into the roots rather than sitting on the foliage.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>5. Aeration&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Use a rolling aerator or wear some aerator sandals to allow your lawn to breathe. Generally, the whole lawn will benefit but focus on the areas most used. You can also sprinkle some grass seed and fertiliser to any badly worn down areas after you have aerated, and then don’t forget to water afterwards.</p>
<h2>6. Pests and diseases&nbsp;</h2>
<p>Keep a check on your lawn as much as you possibly can so you can spot any pests and diseases that might occur. By spotting issues early on means, you can take action to halt their spread when possible. Moulds, rust and fairy rings, plus many others, can be seen if the weather conditions are right for them to thrive. If you spot any changes, find out what they are and the treatment needed to repair your lawn immediately.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Don’t forget to take a walk barefoot on your lawn too!&nbsp;</p>
<p>We have a range of lawn care products in store, come in and visit us.&nbsp;</p>

Lawn tips for June

<p>Anyone who’s ever tried to grow a plant will have come up against the question of <strong>plant food and fertilizer</strong>. With so many different types of fertilizers available, how can you tell which one is best for your plants? We’ve tried to answer some of the most common questions below.</p>

<p>Anyone who’s ever tried to grow a plant will have come up against the question of <strong>plant food and fertilizer</strong>. With so many different types of fertilizers available, how can you tell which one is best for your plants? We’ve tried to answer some of the most common questions below.</p>
<h2>Is plant food the same as fertilizer?</h2>
<p>Strictly speaking, plants make their own food, using the elements available in the atmosphere and the soil. Fertilizers are products that we add to the soil to increase nutrient levels. However, in gardening books, websites, and garden centres, you will see the terms ‘plant food’ and ‘fertilizers’ used to mean the same thing, and in this article, when we talk about ‘plant food’ or ‘plant feeds’, we mean a fertilizer.</p>
<h2>What do fertilizers do?</h2>
<p>Fertilizers add nutrients to the soil that plants need for healthy growth. They don’t do anything to improve the soil structure. However – for that, you need to add organic material such as compost, leaf mould or well-rotted farmyard manure.</p>
<h2>What’s the difference between organic and inorganic fertilizers?</h2>
<ul>
<li>Inorganic fertilizers are manufactured using chemicals. They are generally faster-acting than inorganic fertilizers.&nbsp;Growmore, Tomorite and Miracle-Gro are all examples of inorganic fertilizers.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Organic fertilizers are made from plant or animal material. Seaweed feed, bonemeal, and chicken manure pellets are all organic fertilizers. These are usually slower-acting than inorganic fertilizers because they take longer to break down in the soil.</li>
</ul>
<h2>What is an NPK ratio?</h2>
<p>Fertilizers contain three key elements: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. These three elements are essential for healthy plant growth.&nbsp;</p>
<ul>
<li>Nitrogen (chemical symbol N) promotes green leafy growth.</li>
<li>Phosphorus (chemical symbol P) is important for the development of roots and shoots.</li>
<li>Potassium (chemical symbol K) promotes the development of flowers and fruit.</li>
</ul>
<p>Different plants need different amounts of these elements. Leafy vegetables like spinach may need a nitrogen-rich fertilizer to encourage good leaf growth. A high-potassium (usually called high-potash) feed will help plants such as roses and vegetables like tomatoes to produce more flowers and fruit.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The proportion of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in fertilizer is called the NPK ratio and is listed on the packaging of each fertilizer.&nbsp; A balanced fertilizer will have roughly the same percentage of each element. In contrast, a high-potash feed such as tomato feed will have a higher potassium percentage than the other two elements.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Top tip</strong>: Remember that plant roots can only take up nutrients that have been dissolved in water, so when checking NPK ratios on the packaging, look for the figure that shows the percentage of each element soluble in water.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Advice on applying fertilizers</h2>
<ul>
<li>Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.</li>
<li>Don’t overfeed plants, as this can harm them.</li>
<li>Water plants well before applying liquid feeds to avoid burning their roots.</li>
</ul>
<p>Do you need help to decide which fertilizer is best for your plants? Visit our centre, where our staff will be happy to help you.</p>

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 Spray with glyphosate-based weedkiller, but several applications may be needed to totally eradicate it. Or dig through the soil, lifting all traces of root. To truly tackle the problem without chemicals you may need to remove border soil and sift through it before replacing.