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Gardening during lockdown

Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 100: be mindful of the pollinators

Alison Murray

Jun 30
1 min

Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 100: be mindful of the pollinators

100 days of lockdown: time for mindful reflection, with pollinators

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Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 97: go wild for poppies

Alison Murray

Jun 29
1 min

Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 97: go wild for poppies

You can't beat a good corn field full of poppies. It is also amazing to see interlopers in the countryside seeded from cultivated plants.

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Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 96: pick the redcurrants

Alison Murray

Jun 28
1 min

Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 96: pick the redcurrants

It's best to pick currants after the rain so the fruit is plump and juicy

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Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 95: hunt for chicken of the woods

Alison Murray

Jun 27
1 min

Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 95: hunt for chicken of the woods

Hot and humid weather is fab for fungus like chicken of the woods

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Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 94: get the box back in shape

Alison Murray

Jun 26
1 min

Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 94: get the box back in shape

Mid summer is an ideal time to trim box bushes.

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Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 93: cut back perennials to encourage more flowers

Alison Murray

Jun 25
1 min

Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 93: cut back perennials to encourage more flowers

Cutting back perennials as their flowers fade encourages more and keep the plant blooming all summer.

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Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 92: scout out the hollyhocks

Alison Murray

Jun 24
1 min

Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 92: scout out the hollyhocks

Hollyhocks are cottage garden stalwarts and at their best in June.

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Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 91: prune the apples

Alison Murray

Jun 23
1 min

Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 91: prune the apples

Summer pruning apples will improve next years harvest and the quality of this years crop.

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Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 90: see how hot your hot lips are

Alison Murray

Jun 22
2 min

Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 90: see how hot your hot lips are

Salvia 'Hot Lips' varies the degree of red on its lips, but how? And why?

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Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 89: go peacock caterpillar spotting

Alison Murray

Jun 21
1 min

Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 89: go peacock caterpillar spotting

Peacock caterpillars are almost as spectacular as the butterflies. Going peacock caterpillar spotting is easy - just look on the nettles.

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Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 88: enjoy the garden of someone you love

Alison Murray

Jun 20
1 min

Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 88: enjoy the garden of someone you love

Being able to pod with someone we love has the extra bonus of being able to share their garden, or go to a green space and enjoy the plants

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Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 87: spot the shield bugs

Alison Murray

Jun 19
1 min

Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 87: spot the shield bugs

Shield bugs are sap suckers, but only the European interlopers do damage.

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Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 86: pop that colour in damp shade

Alison Murray

Jun 18
1 min

Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 86: pop that colour in damp shade

Smatterings of colour can really brighten a shady corner.

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Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 85: pick pak choi

Alison Murray

Jun 17
1 min

Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 85: pick pak choi

Pak choi is a cool vegetable and needs picking before the dry summer weather really kicks in and it bolts.

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Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 84: deadhead the roses

Alison Murray

Jun 16
1 min

Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 84: deadhead the roses

Snipping off the spent blooms throughout the summer will encourage the rose to produce more.

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Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 83: eat strawberries

Alison Murray

Jun 15
1 min

Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 83: eat strawberries

Eating home grown strawberries is one of the highlights of June.

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Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 82: remember black agricultural pioneers

Alison Murray

Jun 14
2 min

Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 82: remember black agricultural pioneers

George Washington Carver, pioneered crop rotation.

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Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 81: sow foxgloves

Alison Murray

Jun 13
1 min

Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 81: sow foxgloves

Foxgloves seeds are minuscule, planting direct and thinning later on is definitely the best option.

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Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 80: prune spring flowering shrubs

Alison Murray

Jun 12
1 min

Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 80: prune spring flowering shrubs

Cutting back spring flowering shrubs will encourage new growth and pave the way for another great display next year.

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Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 79: discover how some plants avoid getting wet

Alison Murray

Jun 11
2 min

Things to do in the garden during lockdown day 79: discover how some plants avoid getting wet

The leaves of some plants are expert at repelling water. Being hydrophobic is their superpower. So how do they do it? And why?

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