No, I’m not talking about the #Squirrels, but I do have a heartwarming story before we start. We are expecting our third child in July “O well”, my garden will never be the same again sob!. We are so excited, so I have been busy for the last few months but I have been also missing our moments together so I am back with my first post of #2020.

Henry the hedgehog was told the news as you can clearly see but I’m afraid Sid Squirrel is fed up with waiting for his snack so let’s get right to it!!!

The true winter winddown for me has begun in the garden before the snow arrives for good, a time to organize pots, plants, cuttings “you name it” as the weather is still quite unpredictable with Temperatures rising & dropping by 12° daily. The rise & fall brings more rain than usual and thick ice making it quite difficult at times to complete tasks. Enjoyable though,  Luckily on the coast, we have later snow than the rest of Norway, still time to protect our plants & even plant shrubs & trees. Good time to help those insect friends and prepare some high fatty foods for the gardens #wildlife.

Why so mild?

Glorious as its been, the snow is just a few weeks away. Its been a truly remarkable winter so far as we have never had these high temperatures for years. Seriously counting my chickens for an early spring, I have been pulling out all the stops to provide a safe haven for our tiny friends of all nature & keep them well fed.

check out @chirpybirdfoods on #Twitter

What you can do:

• Make a pile of stones or wood for wildlife to shelter under
• leave a pile of leaves in a corner for hedgehogs & insects to crawl under
• buy/make a hedgehog den
• make openings in fencing for wildlife to pass through
• plant as many plants as possible to bring in a wide range of insects
• leave pet hair out or hair from your comb for birds as nesting
• build/buy bug hotels
• prune some hollow stemmed plants like Digitalis to overwinter insects in
• make fat balls for birds
• put out bird feeders
• put up bat boxes & bird boxes
• leave some apples out for birds
• make water available for wildlife & insects to drink
• plant more tighter hedging for birds
• #compost  & improve your soil by mulching for more worms

Winter wonder

If you even attempt 1 of these you are doing your garden proud, it takes very little effort indeed but it will make a difference for something & they will repay you in kind. For winter, remember to get a head start for spring, the jobs that you do now will count to a great start. Clear out rotting debris, material that will overwintering disease like #BlackSpot on roses. remove the last leaves on all roses, bury or burn. Look out for those newly planted friends, care for them like children until they establish & watch them go. Read up of things to sow, be adventurous & take some risks. Don’t be scared to take a loss or two, life will carry on & it means you get to buy something new. Reach out on social media to people in your interest zone. If rather new to the game they can give you great garden management skills & seasonal tasks to follow. Like myself, I do not possess the time to read but to follow gardeners on daily posts is easy & fast. With heavy snow, care for your shrubs, plants & conifers that will bend under the weight. Have a weekly potter to tap those branches under stress to clear clods. Under heavy rain, stay off the grass until it has time to dry as it will squeeze out the air in the soil & increase compaction. #Compost like a winner, nothing will get kids more involved than making organic matter, kids love getting their hands in & mucky, its a metropolis for all kinds of finds. Never seen them so proud to find so many things, good to teach them about recycling.

WildLife is back

It has never been cooler, with fresh new minds at work like conservationists & trusts doing an outstanding job at educating the new generation about our native species. We can do & make such a difference for species like #HedgeHogs #Bats #Badgers etc.

Check out @SeedBall on social media at what they are doing & follow trusts like @BadgerTrust & @_BCT_ to get up to date news on how to improve biodiversity in your gardens.

Enjoy the sweet songs of the birds in your garden, encourage other species into your #Garden by buying a mixed seed mix. Bird beaks are different in shape & size so not all can cope with just one type of seed but you are doing a wonderful job. If you start to feed them then a big thing is not to stop as they will see you as a helpful source & return. It takes a lot of energy to travel to you so keep up the good work.

It’s not just a bugs life !! there are millions

Bugs & #insects will feed & help to maintain a very healthy balance in your garden, key roles are given out to these lovelies & we need to let them do there thing. Have you ever studied a small piece of earth for a while, get up close for a few minutes & see things I guarantee you have never read about before that just pop up.  They are soil helpers, the key to plant life, roots are helped by them & nutrients gained. We must give them more credit these days, I for one have been inspired more for taking the time to look & get to know them. This is why we need to fill our gardens with drifts of beautiful flowers that give off scent & colour. Ballsy blooms that will attract wildlife & insects to our gardens that have never visited before because they are dull & unloved.

Keep a good lookout for life in your plants & those heralds of #Spring. Happy #gardening

Oh yes & check your grease bands that debris hasn’t stuck to it bridging the gap for insects to cross!

“Part of a £160 million investment programme” 

Before I start, for those who have visited the garden for years, you will have seen quite a change taking place. The focus on investment in the future of horticulture is apparent, the colossal newly opened entrance this year is a sight to behold. As the leading horticultural charity in the world, it needs help from the general public, sponsors & members to maintain its prestigious science & education programs, not to mention the multiple projects it runs. Thus a new welcome center was needed to be able to accommodate the growing attendance to the garden, which in turn opens up new possibilities where the old entrance, shop & cafe once stood.

For me, I will truly miss the original entrance, I favor change but I am very fond of the old and quaint. Though rather small, it had that secret garden feel. Turning the corner through the gate & brushing past the 18th-century laboratory just gave you that little bit extra you know.

The future is still iConic

The jewel of #Wisley, I am very pleased to hear from Curator Matthew Pottage that the new planned gardens will be wrapping around the entire building showing off the rest of its wonder. The investment program has only really begun, frankly, I am too excited. Who knew the garden had so much more to offer us, to think that more inspiring spaces are soon to come is overwhelming indeed. As gardeners, our need for more knowledge, design & landscaping techniques is growing very fast. We have an army of horticultural influencers showing us new & exciting things & it would be nice to have places to showcase them.

New additions

The #BackToNature garden was opened this year by Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge, in partnership with Adam White & Andree Davies. It is perfect and a marvelous addition to the garden, I’ve always admired the hidden wonders for children at Kew Gardens with their tree dens & things to explore. To be able to inspire the next generation, get them dirty & get them asking those growing questions is crucial. With the aid of the new trialing gardens, children can explore lots of new things & possibly want to grow their own at home or at school.

I march to Battleston Hill! for Queen & Country…

Curator Matthew Pottage

Tree ferns all cozy for winter

I have a tradition at Wisley, I enter & immediately head for the hills. I have on occasions thought to change this but I enjoy seeing the crowds trundle off to the glasshouse while I walk off to tree bathe in solitude amongst the conifers & shrubs. A wonderful adventure awaits, tiny paths laden with bark chips tease you in every direction, the vast collection of trees & shrubs are wondrous. The textures, colours of bark, trunks & leaves are lovely. What also is a real treat is that you may be lucky enough to see Curator Matthew Pottage while you are enjoying the sights. He just popped out of a bush and was extremely pleasant to converse with, this picture was taken only 6 months after he became Curator. There are little treasures to be found throughout, I love seeing the Tree ferns ‘Dicksonia antarctica’. They are grouped together like a little family hidden away, you find these just before the Trial Fields. Plants are trialed at Wisley to find the best of the best, aptly named AGM varieties. Its quite a sight, one of the largest open-air trials that visitors have access to. Do take a pen and pad to note down which ones you like, from here I move onto my favorite fragrant hill stroll.

Sculptures adorn the landscape

It’s hard not to miss some of these as they are rather large, like this chair by Henry bruce. Throughout the seasons, sculpture trails appear & are a wonderful spectacle, leading you through the garden in search of wonders with spectacular backdrops. From the trial fields, I head up & over the hill towards the alpine houses, this is my favorite part as I follow a path smothered in Daphnes with the most intoxicating fragrance. With not much time to smell the roses in the rose garden, I head to the Alpine houses looked after by team leader Peter Goodchild

If you are a lover of plants, seeing them in miniature will make you fall in love again. The foliage and flower heads are so detailed it just makes you move in closer to take a greater look. Living art on show for all to admire, I can only imagine being inside the alpine house when it is raining, if only there were a chair & book to read. It is always on my list of must-dos, Peter and the team make it look so easy to keep. I am never not impressed & it makes a wonderful break before reaching the glasshouse.

A tiptoe through the rocks

Step out from the alpine houses & be amazed, the perfect planting, quirky paths & water features are lush. If I may for one-second pick a fault with the rock garden is that there are too many intriguing paths to follow. I find myself going up, down and around because I hate not knowing what I could possibly miss. Wisley has me going around and around like some nutcase. It is fabulous for the thighs and a good work out as well. The routes are very romantic & welcoming, walking a great garden is never a chore I just wish I could stop time every so often.

We made it, but first!

I try to return to my Britishness as much as I can, my morning routine is not without cause of course. I am working myself up to something rather special around lunchtime. Most of you are quite right in saying the #Glasshouse is the pinnacle of the trip but I find that my “Cheese & Branston pickle sandwich” at the Glasshouse cafe by Company of Cooks as the ‘Pièce de résistance’. With a most satisfying lunch, I peer out the window at my

House of glass.

There is just something about an indoor tropical paradise with a waterfall that makes you go wow! we are drawn to it and adore it. The Butterflies in the glasshouse was remarkable, if there were ever a day to visit it would be this as it truly takes away those winter blues. A sensory overload where the air is filled with fluttery colour, I for one loved the experience. All inspiring, immerse yourself in the three temperate zones and find something new.

“Now for a walk in the pines & a pop to the #Prop”

Bernard Boardman

After a luxurious walk amongst the jade vines, coffee & bananas it’s off to the pinetum for a bit of tree bathing. Still, a wonderous garden awaits as you stroll along passed the bamboos which are outstanding. Borders are filled with excitement, winter colours are vibrant and the scents accompanying them. Not to mention a few friendly faces, it is great to meet up with some true legends.

Pine smell & needles, what more can a gardener ask for, I’m a big fan of pines even before I emigrated to Norway. They grow in such an awkward manner it fascinates me, the green & bronze are so striking. What I love about trees is that they remind us who is really in charge, I head to see the giant redwood, oaks & other conifers on my way to the far end of the garden where the newly planted heathers are.

Propagation house

As an RHS student, the #RHSeducation qualifications have shown me many wonderful job opportunities within horticulture & also quite a lot of specialized fields like water, soil, and my favorite propagation. With the new investment program, the Wisley propagation department has been relocated to a new, state of the art facility located just off property on Wisley Lane. I was thrilled when I heard that I was going to meet the team, a personal tour behind the scenes.

I give thanks once again to Curator Matthew Pottage for organizing this wonderful experience for me and being able to share with you my tour with Sam Gallivan & Paul on #YouTube (Click on the link for full tour).

I do hope that I have said enough to inspire a visit to RHS Garden Wisley next year, why not become a member & support the future of horticulture then you will be able to visit as many times as you like for free.

(Join today)

Thank you for reading, Have a wonderful Christmas & a happy new year #gardeners !

Grab a pensioner!

I’ve been going to Chelsea for about 14 years now, I truly love #London & revel in my trip every year. I never knew that my first visit would inspire me so much that it would lead me into the world of horticulture. I loved my childhood gardening with my grandfather, those #ChelseaPensioners remind me of him. When I get a chance I grab a picture and have a chat, I highly recommend you do so on your next visit.

James Wong back then

It is hard to explain ChelseaLife but I will try my best to do so, firstly I openly ask you to become an RHS Member. Last year they surpassed 500,000 members which is simply amazing. For such a small yearly fee the benefits are outstanding, one of which is members-only days at RHS Shows & early ticket purchase. Press day Monday opens the event & the Royal family visit so it is closed on this day. #ChelseaTuesday as I call it is the first official open day to the public, it is members day and when medals are awarded. Though busy, it’s outstanding as things are new & fresh. The quicker you can attend the show the better as the show quality is at its best. Also, Designers & garden celebrities are out and about so keep a lookout.

Have a SHOW & PIMS plan! 

It’s not essential of course, a general direction to start is good to have as it can be busy by the main garden entrance. As a quick #Tip, the bulk of the crowd roar off to the main avenue to see the show gardens. You have plenty of time to see them through the day, I relax & head off to the Artisan Gardens first.  Left, right, left & round is my motto, immediately after you leave the crowds you relax, I’m there the full 12 hours so having a no rush agenda is best. I love to soak up the British atmosphere and meet people, I make it a point to Network. I meet up with #gardening friends, talk to my suppliers & hopefully make a few more. Try some culinary delights & sample some summer alcoholic English traditions #PIMS. The sun never seems to disappoint, nothing better than feeling dapper with a glass of bubbles, tell me what’s better?.

The variety at the show is never dull & well-orchestrated, gems seem to be scattered & waiting to be discovered all over the show. I admit, I am so entranced that I hardly eat at all, all day. I favor getting lost in the show then wasting time queuing for food, my choice of course but it is my one & only day to indulge in everything #Horti. To go back a step if I may, If you have a general question about THE RHS or the show please ask the information desk. It is located on your immediate left after entering by the main gate by lost property, I find them extremely knowledgable & willing to help. #TIP You can charge your mobile phone here but bring your own charger, they are fine to watch over it but not obligated to do so so it’s your responsibly if it goes missing but this was fabulous of them I thought.

160,000 people visit The Chelsea Flower Show every year!

Get lost & discover!!

I truly love the randomness of every show, you think you have seen it all then Wham! a green bear or shiny graffitied apple. It borders eccentric but rather intoxicating after a brief spell, it just works. A celebration of pushing the horticultural boundaries, the industry pulls in, in my opinion, the best of all trades & crafts. Outstanding purchases to also be made, order a bespoke forged gate or hand-carved nameplate made from green oak is just a few off the top of my head. This is why I need a full 12 hours there, though a small show, Chelsea has an extraordinary layout with hidden areas. There are also many more small & large businesses then you think surrounding the Great Pavilion, you can get caught up in walking the main avenues and miss the second row of shops by Chilstone & Pavilion way.

The Gardens

The Highlight of one’s day, extraordinary feats of engineering, we revel in the beauty of the planting and message in portrays. The atmosphere is electric at the gardens, it is truly a spectacle to behold & urge you to visit one day.

On a given day the crowds can be 39,000 people, it amazes me still the number of people trying to get a glimpse of the gardens. Usually, 3 people deep at the main show gardens, being tall or having long arms to take a picture from above is my only solution to this flowery mayhem. Gone are the days of strolling such events, it feels a bit overwhelming and frustrating especially if your trip has built up to this moment to grab a glimpse at something of interest to you. Patience & kindness will win in the end but can you wait? My observations thus are, people are more interested in seeing the grouping of flowers up close. Of course the gardens, as one entity, are the main event but people talk most about the chosen flowers when they finally get to the front. I’ve thought about this for a while now, do we go to dream or to escape. Can we possibly manage such a garden ourselves, the choice of materials used are luxuriously priced so what are we looking for? We go to not just inspire our physical surroundings but our minds, are we becoming more aware as a society of our #MentalHealth & Wellbeing?.

“Gardening will become more important to us, growing our own medicine is the way forward” 

Friendly faces

Adam White

Jo Thompson

It wouldn’t be #Chelsea without meeting the Designers, a great way to follow more closely their work is to follow them on #Twitter. The RHS will be outstanding at keeping us up to date on the gardens as they develop.  A one to one with the designers themselves though, will give a greater look at the work that goes into the project as it happens, to give you a better overview. I make a point of meeting a few, it is wonderful to grab a moment with them & try and extract their energy & drive. I am very fortunate to have made a few great friends, they have been marvelous support & always on hand to give you a morale boost even if they are abroad in Russia! Long story but I’ve been lucky to have connected with a few truly remarkable human beings, good to be bold sometimes. Social media thus far has been a unique tool & very kind, I believe, if used wisely, it can & will improve our #gardening. Thanks #AdamWhite & #JoThompson

The Hall of Fame 

Thanks to #MontyDon #CarolKlein #TobyBuckland #MarkLane #SimonLycett #SueBiggs #AdamFrost #JoSwift #NickBailey #FrancesTophill #JamesWong #MatthewPottage

We say Goodbye but never forgotten! We hope to still see you at the shows Zoe.

Zoe Fontannaz of Garden Brocante

A #Horti haze of wonders

Mr Nuts about Gardening himself

Chito (The Hat Man )

The shows boast the best in horti purchases, its a lavish gardening shopping paradise with beautiful products to tempt your pockets. A sea of friendly faces as you walk down Eastern Avenue, you must take home at least one memory of Chelsea so take a really long look.

Neil Urry of VegePod

Cacoon

I love meeting up with friends & making new ones, keep those eyes peeled as it can be a bit crowded. I’m like a homing beacon of unique characters & Chelsea never disappoints. I do love meeting people and looking for new products to bring back to Norway, it is such a wonderful day networking & making others smile at my fabulous attire. Chelsea is all about the show & I bring it every year, one loves a #London gent. I try to relax but with so many amazing products to try & see I am rather exhausted but I find ways!

Thanks to M&G Garden for sponsoring the event & getting in touch, look forward to seeing you next year!

#hagebrukspesialisten #theenglishgardener #goprogardener

The Joy of Fruit

What gets your horticultural juices flowing? A hedge trim?, an autumn bed clean up ? what is it!!. I have a thing, or can I say it is more of a guilty pleasure and its fruit. Its the look, smell & taste that gets me in a good mood. The smell of a bare root black currant bush is intoxicating. I have more #fruit than you can shake a stick at, being a professional gardener is truly satisfying enough but when you are called in to help manage two full-scale projects, I was like a bear finding a honey stash.

Let’s get the juice :

1. Apple trees 280 ( Grafted )
2. Pear trees 80 (Grafted )
3. plum trees 32 ( Grafted )
4. black currants 30 ( Ribes nigrum )
5. red currents 80 ( Ribes rubrum )
6. Raspberry 600 ( Rubus Glen moy & ample )

Gardener to #Farmer

There are two properties/farms, which I am currently looking after with my client. It has now been just over a year and a half since I started caring for the then 200 grafted apple trees which we planted together, it has further grown to 280 Apple trees & 80 Pear trees since that time.

The main, and first farm is the largest, holding the bulk of the fruit. We have an assortment of fruit which is increasing yearly, due mostly to the client being very excited about the work thus far. We have 280 Apple, 50 pear, 300 raspberry & 50 red currants, but I would not be surprised if he calls me early next year on a further project.

The second fruit #farm, holds 300 raspberry, 32 plum tree, 32 pear tree, 30 red currants, and 30 black currants, it is the new kid on the block and I am rather happy that though large it’s flat. It is hard to tell which is my favorite at this point, both are changing and expanding all the time. I am very much looking forward to as is the client in seeing the finished plan all matured and full of glorious fruit.

Just Juice it!

I should explain quickly that the plan with all of this fruit is for making juice and absolutely nothing else which is astonishing. Purely a hobby to make juice for the family and nothing more, which is beautiful don’t you think. This is the largest scale hobby I have ever seen, it is quite amazing. Fruit is harvested and juice is made, the children pick n play. Its fabulous and life couldn’t be better. I’m in ore of it and really respect my client’s vision. 

I love this job

It’s not very often in this business that you get to see these many number of plants, and not to forget the materials. I believe the scale excites me a little, and scares me at the same time. Tending to each fruit keeps me busy, I enjoy the seasonal tasks as it gives me a good reason to check in on problems such as watering & losses due to soil, pests and animals etc.  Plus seeing the progress of each plant is great, something wonderful as well is seeing the insects enjoying our efforts. Literally buzzing with life, I have a growing interest also in Entomology which makes my job even more worthwhile.

#Kneelo by Burgon & Ball

Do you have the tools?

#Kneelo pads

Let me tell you I am a very happy promoter of fine tools and products which I use, stock, review & trust to get the job done. As you know I am working with some of the best in the business, I want a product to be durable, comfortable to use and enhance my work in the field so to speak. It has been very easy for me to take on most tasks as I know I have the tool for the job. I want to share a few finds with you, what are you using and is it time to get the right tool?

As Christmas is approaching you may want to browse through the Burgon & Ball, Gold Leaf gloves or Felco website, let us know how you got on.

Winter Touch

Nr 2

Dry Touch

To round up, try and plant as much as you can. It will become a real crowd-pleaser, try it in your garden today.

Again thank you for joining me & happy horting

#hagebrukspesialisten #theenglishgardener #goprogardener

#felco #burgonandball #goldleafgloves

My name is the English Gardener & I’m a composter, “there I said it”. I’m ready to get you all outside & yes even in winter to give it a go. Especially in winter, it is possible!! the added bonus of seeing the steam generated by the organisms will give you goosebumps I’m sure. It’s healthy, exciting, super for our wellbeing & helps the planet. 

#Composting is trending 

I really believe that #composting is becoming trendy again, the increased awareness of #mentalhealth problems is greater than ever and gardening is the go-to aid to recovery. Its common knowledge that #gardening can heal, physically strengthen us & mentally repair us. Our gardens are our connection to growing & our closest physical playground, so let’s use a bit & #compost!

REALLY!!! Are you not composting?

Modern wormery

I find its one of the most therapeutic tasks in the garden, I get a serious kick out of recycling the most materials I can from my family’s waste. The vision can be obscure, I assure you it can be organised, not messy or smelly. The minimum you need is a 1m2 frame though, to get the temperatures going enough. Don’t be to put off if you only have an apartment with only a small balcony. Of course, space is an issue but there are some great alternatives like a #wormery or a wall-mounted #tumbler to save space.

Tumbler

There is an enormous amount of watchable or written material on “how to compost” but it is as simple as digging a hole where you are planning to plant & drop some waste in for added nutrients. I find that usually, we produce daily far too much to drop in holes on a regular basis but you get my point, it’s only a soil conditioner.

Whats worked for me

1. I control the amount of water going into the pile with a lid, this helps the pile by not being too wet. Secondly, I use it to stop airborne seeds dropping into the pile through the seasons, I try not to spread weed seeds throughout the garden. And thirdly to keep the heat in once those microbes have started the party, a very useful item.
2. I use a #compost thermometer, it lets me know the temperature ranges in the pile, telling me if the microbes are liking what I am doing. It is great to indicate whether or not I need to add water or aerate the pile.
3. I aerate the pile as oxygen will rapidly speed up the process & I do this with my trusty  #burgonandball Flexi compost aerator 

My story

Surprisingly, my love for #composting came about 2 years after I started my first home composting with my first house. Though an amateur gardener at the time, I loved trying, pottering and making some fun mistakes. I enjoyed the idea of making compost as part of my yearly tasks, I attempted 3 large barrels with holes in. It wasn’t a bad start but I now can clearly see my errors. A spark occurred in that moment & it wasn’t until I started my horticultural courses with the #RHS that I discovered a new improved love for #composting. The course that I took explained all about the subject & cleared up some important things I was doing wrong. After this, I was off like a racehorse with a new system & I haven’t looked back so to this I thank The Royal Horticultural Society for igniting the flame.

Book lovers will enjoy

A thought to finish..

A quick message from our friends in the garden, whichever method you choose, try to take care of checking your pile for wildlife. You will be making that area extremely comfy & warm so it may attract some small friends. If you have an open pile up against a wall, before you turn it give it a quick check.

Hoping you will give it a go & do get back to me with your updates

Thanks to #RHS #YOLO #SUPERWURM #FELCO  & #BURGONANDBALL

From

#hagebrukspesialisten #theenglishgardener #goprogardener

 So its that time again, wow how that year has flown. It is October and time to get those grease bands out the shed and get protecting your fruit trees from the Winter moth (Operophtera brumata). The weather here in Norway is already 1c, the seasons change rather quickly here, temperatures have a tendency to plummet so better to be ready to jump into action. The grease bands are only a physical control of the first wave of pests, other precautions shall also need to be in place but we will cover that a little later.

Firstly, the culprit is the female winter moth. She is wingless, lives in the soil and emerges to climb the trunks in Autumn to lay eggs, hence the sticky guard around the base of the tree.

Usually the male is to blame, both are beautiful & quite striking. Those pesky caterpillars can cause a lot of damage. By using grease bands, we disrupt their life cycle. Their biting & munching characteristics can harm the tree’s health by transferring viruses,  can stress & weaken trees further over time.

ITS ALL ABOUT THE JAM!

I love #nature, but in this case, I love jam more. I want a fruitful harvest or at least a jar of jam. For me I am trying to do all I can for my little plum tree, its all alone & it deserves fruit. It’s fabulous for the family & my children love it, there is something special about growing something every year that gets you excited & we can enjoy it together.   

NEW TO GREASE BANDS? Check out my video..

“Limring” is just grease band in Scandinavian, if you maybe wondering about the name. This seems to be the only brand on offer here that I have found, there are other brands to check out like Glue Bands by Agralan or Boltac Grease Band by Bayer Garden

Let’s get stuck in

Are you new to this? If so, then there are three things i think will help you. Get some throwaway gloves for the actual job, I thought as a man, I’ve got this!. But it didn’t go so good, as they are really sticky devils, from holding it & changing tools it becomes a mess. Be gentle with unfolding the sticky paper as it is likely to tear. The smoother the trunk the easier the job, rougher trunks with larger furrowed bark could use some tree glue to make a tighter seal. You may through the winter want to keep an eye on it, as storms can blow debris onto the band bridging the gap for insects to cross but other than that you did it! Good job!!

In the spring as the light levels return, the bark will become active again as the sun’s heat will wake it from dormancy. The bands need to be removed by this time & we can move on to the next step.

ALL THAT WORK FOR NOTHING! BUT THERE IS HOPE

(SPRING TIME) Like my scout leader always said, “Be prepared”. Around the beautiful blossom time, before the flowers open, be ready with Pheromone traps to attract and capture the next little army of pests.

(Hoplocampus flava) The sawfly

Check fruits in spring for little black spots on the early stage of the fruit. Markings like these will indicate the presents of the pest, check by opening one to see inside. Fruits effected usually fall early, it can really put you off. But the beautiful blooms are also a blessing so enjoy those.

If like me you thought, it wont happen to me, its already too late. Some years are good, for many years its amazing & then that year when it all went wrong. So trust me & always come prepared and start checking out some great new products out there. Agralan comes in handy once again.

Thanks for reading & Happy fruiting all

Thanks to #GoldLeafGloves #Felco #NelsonGarden & #Agralan from #hagebrukspesialisten #theenglishgardener #goprogardener

What is your experience with making leaf mould? is it a little confusing, a pointless excercise or are you a recycling king or queen. I seriously dig #composting but I’ve also a little love for the lonely leaf mould pile and I feel it deserves a little limelight.

WHY LEAF MOULD?

For me it is a necessity, I have 11, 25 metre tall (Acer pseudoplatanus) trees & a 30 metre long deciduous (Crataegus) hedge on my property line. This has tested my patience & stress levels over the years, I came to the conclusion that I need to turn this frustration into a positive benefit for my garden. I turned to making Leaf mould.

WHY BOTHER! Whats it good for!

• Mulching trees & hedges
• Protection for roots over winter
• Retains moisture
• Soil conditioner
• Helps wildlife

We will run through the process of making it very soon, and i will share my personal TIPS for a short cut to a ready product in under 11 months

Small gardens “Say No to bin bags”

So you have a small garden, not a crazy amount of leaves but it is still a hassle for you every year.  Have you seen Jute, Biodegradable leaf bags? Amazing & natural. Natural fibres from the plant, woven together to make the perfect leaf mould bag.

We need to start saying NO to all plastic products in the #garden, don’t you think?. If I were to use black bags every year for my leaves, I would use around 80 black plastic bags which in my mind isn’t a great solution. Looks terrible, uses a lot of time to prepare & is harmful to the planet. Jute is natural, comes usually in a pack of 10. Can be costly but it pushes you to think about better ways of using this fabulous & free material.

Uses of Leaves

1. You can #compost them
2. Can #burn them & add the nutrients to the soil but do check if this is ok in your area.
3. You can use it to build #Hedgehog houses throughout the garden

Large gardens 

I myself use a 1m2 leaf mould cage, simply the best buy for around £20 or under. Its a hard worker & we work wonderful together, year round. Leaf mould can take up to 2 years to become a ready product but I need it under a year, as it needs to be refilled by next years fall. I have discovered a very useful TIP to get this party started but first!

“Did you know that tree leaves are all different in the rate that they decompose” Check which sort you have first and this next part could help you a lot! 

SHREDDING IS THE KEY

Without a doubt the key to rapid success is shredding the leaves before  you add them to the pile, like #composting we are growing a community of microbes to breakdown the material. By shredding we increase the surface area for the bacterias to get to work faster. The leaves from my 500m2 garden fits into this cage which is amazing really, it has been a game changer & I enjoy watching it consolidate as the process occurs.

BEFORE WINTER ARRIVES

I make leaf mould from November to november each year, this is excellent timing for my #conifer hedges as their roots need a little help from the harsh long temperatures in Norway through the winter months. Evergreens will very slowly grow through the winter, unlike the rest of most hedges & trees. We protect the soil around the root area with a good mulch of leaf mould to help retain that moisture deep down over the winter. We use it mainly around trees, hedges & in #compost to improve soil. The benefits of maintaining the health of our garden hedges & native ones will improve wildlife like nesting birds & hedgehogs so our work goes a long way.

I hope you have gained something from this little chat of ours & I ask you to return for more soon.

#hagebrukspesialisten #theenglishgardener #goprogardener

Thanks to #stihl, #burgonandball & #goldleafgloves for your help!

Kelly & Peter of Gold Leaf Gloves at RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2018

Practically perfect in every way and Mary Poppins was quite right, if you haven’t had the pleasure of your gardening hands being pampered by the finest gloves in horticulture, then I recommend popping down to a gardening show soon to see Gold Leaf Gloves.

It is hard not to be impressed by the quality & fit, I have been a huge fan before I had the pleasure of working as a team to promote them on the west coast of Norway as an approved reseller. Most of you have experienced the cheap gardening glove option for years, I present a thought to you. If you could wear something that not only looks & feels amazing but at that very moment enhances your desire to do more gardening then why god why are we still wasting time & money on cheap gloves.

Let’s take a look at what’s on offer, gloves are a must-buy for most amateurs & professional gardeners. Gardeners can suffer Snags, punctures, infections or even more serious issues like Sepsis. Hand Protection is top priority, think of clearing out an overgrown garden full of brambles, roses & debris with no gloves or even that cheap gloves. With a huge increase in cutting blades & tools on the market, it only goes to say that you need something in between your skin & your choice of cutting tool.

• DRY TOUCH ( Ladies & Gents )

Great for wet regions, after a shower, gardening continues whether it be clearing borders or removing a pile of garden waste. I hate working with wet hands but these have superior water resistance, plus you don’t lose the feel of the task at hand with the super-thin layer.

• SOFT TOUCH ( Ladies & Gents )

My personal favorite of the four, my most of the season glove. It rains a lot here in Norway, don’t get them too wet as the colour can run, so i just switch out to DRY TOUCH. A fabulous general glove for all sorts of #gardening tasks.  Snug fit means you are in control of jobs, they can handle roses but remember that your backhand isn’t that protected from those thorns. We have another TOUGH glove that loves roses 🙂

• TOUGH TOUCH ( Ladies & Gents)

Now you are in safe hands with TOUGH TOUCH, no whisper of a doubt handling sharp, thorny plants. You can climb a ladder made of roses with these, lightweight and also they do wonders in summer conifer pruning tasks. Those branches that irritate & scratch your forearm will no longer be a concern.

• WINTER TOUCH ( Ladies & Gents )

An exceptional glove & a hard worker for me in Norway, cold weather tested & approved here. A joy on the hand & follows me everywhere. The perfect companion when pruning trees in winter.

Its been a pleasure sharing my experience with The Finest Gold Leaves in Scandinavia

#hagebrukspesialisten #theenglishgardener #goprogardener

Photos by Geir Bjørndal Srisoi

My love of #Stihl products is hard to hide, as you already know from my social media posts I’m a little obsessed but only because they have enhanced my business & they are doing exactly what they say on the box. The noise reduction from battery tools is astonishing!!!

So, what I was thinking is that I could give you an honest review from my own experience using them each day in a professional environment. With me so far? I thought of letting you know what I am using & talk a little about transporting, use & tips, etc. Maybe you are also venturing in the same kind of direction & are considering a horticultural career.

Quick #Tip !!! Download the iPhone Stihl App from iTunes 

This App is packed full of useful information & after a while you will be looking for extras/accessories to add to your growing family.

MY GEAR: small to LARGE

• Stihl App (Above)
• AMK 048 Mulching kit
• AP200 Battery
• AP300 Battery
• 2 x AL500 Hi-speed charger
• HSA 25 Cordless shrub/grass shears
• Battery belt with connector
• BGA 85 Cordless blower
• HSA 86 Hedge trimmer
• FSA 85 Grass trimmer
• HLA 65 Long-reach hedge trimmer
• RMA 448 TC Lawnmower

Wow, now that I have made a list it does look rather a lot but I assure you that you get your moneys worth & you half gardening tasks “promise”.

HSA 25

The Cordless shears (Top) have been truly great so far, easy to store & carry, perfect on those hard to reach spots behind objects. Intricate detailing of shrubs is a doddle, and to add quite powerful with good battery life. Interchangeable ends are easy to fit, I do like it & often on discount in sales in registered Stihl reseller stores as most smaller items are, over bigger.

BGA 85

With my choice of tools, it was simple, as a small business, I needed something to just do the job firstly. You can always get the best & the most powerful but it isn’t always needed. The jobs in hand are reasonable tasks, so I started to collect the first in the range of the cordless Pro Series which brings me to my Blower! When you start doing grass trimming jobs you soon realize quickly that a blower is needed for that finishing touch. It’s wonderful to neaten up the garden before you leave and as the seasons turn its just a quick walkabout to clear up after a strong breeze, things that have blown in from surrounding areas. Fits perfect in the boot between mower & tools. You would be surprised at how often you can use it, the top three tools for me. Runs a little while on the AP200 but better with the AP300, even though you have about 20 minutes run time, jobs are quick. A quick blast here & there, job done & charge.

HSA 86

The hedge killer is very good at its job, rather shocked at the thickness of stems it can chomp through. Needs to sit at an angle in the boot on top of the other tools but all goes well in an estate car. It can run for hours on the AP200 battery & can honestly keep on cutting after a 50-metre long hedge top & sides. When tackling long hedges it pays to purchase the Battery belt as it dramatically reduces the weight on your arms holding it for long periods at a time. Battery belt is super comfortable & can hold multiple batteries which still makes it more cost-effective than buying the big AP3000 backpack. As I said only get what does the job. The HSA 86 is the muscle in your arsenal when you are clearing out overgrown borders, clearing a path, something to just hack through. Perfect for maintaining lower long hedges.

FSA 85

My little gem of a machine & I cannot live without this tool, I feel it does the best job of the lot. You can cut a lawn all you want but those little edge, side bits you miss with the mower “irritating”. What an extremely amazing edger to finish as well, you are always left happier after using this. It lasts forever running on the AP200, do purchase extra cord as you go through a lot (2.4mm cord, 43m). Wear the Battery belt again on longer tasks, top 2 on my list of must-haves for pro & amateur gardeners. Works also as an edger for those lawn drop-offs, with a little practice you don’t need edging shears.

HLA 65

My long-reach hedge trimmer is a head-turner, for those long tall & formal hedges. It could possibly be enough for those who dislike using ladders. Some tasks need a ladder or steps but I manage ok without “so far”, the long-reach gives you a better judgment of cuts. A better line of sight for detailing, one of those tools you don’t really want to put down after the job is finished. Fits ok again in the car, I’ve added a new addition which I haven’t yet spoken about “my ski box”. Allows better storage for longer tools & I can say it is working a treat. With the shoulder strap, it helps on long projects, if you combine it with the Battery Belt you can take off the strap & actually hold the end to get a longer reach for those little irritating bits, it’s very well balanced & very powerful, lasts a long time.

RMA 448 TC

Last but not lea.. my star performer. I love this machine, fits remarkably in my car boot. If you take out one headrest & raise the mower to the 6 height setting it just slides right in perfect, I feel like it was made just for me. It’s large but surprising compact when you drop the arm forward, do bend those knees as its a little heavy. Eco mode is great, reduces power outgo when needed to maximize cutting time. I’ve switched out the cutting blade & have installed the AMK 048 Mulching kit, its not that enjoyable emptying the clippings & driving them away every week. With weekly short visits, I can quickly manage the area with ease & not exert too much strain on the motor & battery. Ive found with fortnightly visits the grass can be a little too long & drain the battery a lot faster. Not a problem as I can charge battery on-site & get back to it after. If the grass is damp it struggles again but Ive the option of charging on property. The best result is to buy a further AP300 battery to complete the task. The only other consideration is heat, if you are interested in the range but live in a climate range of 25c & up you may need to do jobs early morning or late evenings as that heat drains battery & may take longer in the chargers to cool down first before recharge. The battery will indicate this but other then that its the King.

I really hope you have enjoyed this little piece of Stihl love, further people to watch on @twitter is

Just a few people enjoying some days with #Stihl

Thanks for joining me today

#hagebrukspesialisten #theenglishgardener #goprogardener

Photos by Geir Bjørndal Srisoi

Welcome new followers to my Garden blog first of all, are you interested in knowing more about what it is like to be an (RHS) member & the benefits that it holds?

I am a member with an annual automatic renewal set up with my bank via direct debit, this means that I don’t need to worry about applying every year plus you get a huge discount as well, so enough said.

• Unlimited entry to our four RHS Gardens for the member and a family guest or 2 children
• Free member access to more than 200 RHS Partner Gardens
• Members’ Days or savings on tickets to RHS Shows
• Monthly subscription to The Garden magazine
• Personalized RHS Gardening Advice
•  Contact membership@rhs.org.uk or calling 020 3176 5810 (open weekdays 9 am to 5 pm, excluding bank holidays).

Sue Biggs (Director General of the RHS)

Even though I reside outside the UK it doesn’t matter, you receive your membership card & The Garden magazine in the post “The magazine can take up to 1 to 2 weeks to receive it in the post in Scandinavia” so keep that in mind.

The Garden magazine:

A very thorough look at Horticulture & gardening in general, A fine read & very up to date with new plants, pest control, garden management, and packed with inspiration. For sale without membership but a wonderful membership benefit.

THE (RHS) Website www.rhs.org.uk

What not to miss:

Plant Finder This is simply amazing, what a great tool to commemorate friends or family members on special occasions. Going the extra mile to put the final touch to make it even more memorable. I love this! Plant Finder

Soil Testing Fantastic, have you ever wondered about pH or soil nutrients for your new planting project. Before you start planting up, take a soil test & send it into the RHS for testing. Every plant is different & has different needs, plants can be a big investment so give them the best start by checking their new home first. Email: soiltestpack@rhs.org.uk

Seed Scheme RHS members seed scheme is a unique benefit, a broad range of seeds harvested every year from the gardens & offered to members for a very small cost from an annual seed catalog that is sent to every member. Could it get any better, YES! Seed Scheme

Growing VEG?? No need to look anywhere else, use the website for every possible growing need. New to vegetable growing or looking to grow more but have no clue, the site offers little gems like this: Veg planner

Ok so you get my point about the website, much more if you have a little rummage, I myself use it weekly to ID check plants, look up plant suppliers & keep up with top advice from the best in the business. It is an all-round needed tool for amateur as well as professional gardeners, anyone with a slight interest in horticulture will find it most satisfying flicking through.

Top advice: Email the gardening team

Wow and double wow, for a yearly fee of just 47.25 GBP ( Join ) you get the added bonus of sending a direct gardening question straight to the team at RHS Garden Wisley. A direct line to a team of Pathologists, entomologist & scientists with PhDs in all matters of horticulture. Best to send also an image of the problem as it speeds up the process, fungal problem or insect Identification isn’t a problem. So, I think you are covered & in good hands to solve all of your personal gardening needs. The advice that I received was extremely helpful, they can advise on specific plant literature & send you recommendations. Soil or water questions, no problems as they have both scientists on-site to ask, there isn’t a question they cannot answer really. Probably the best benefit of all the benefits you receive from your membership.

My Personal favorite: Grow Your Own App from iTunes

From the RHS Web team & renewed in 2017

Your own personal gardener in your pocket, keeping you up to date with jobs needed doing in your garden or your fruit & veg allotment. A great tool for Children gardening, a wonderful addition for Campaign for School Gardening

Check it out!!!!

Thank you again for your time & I hope you have discovered something new today.

#hagebrukspesialisten #theenglishgardener #goprogardener