Alf's Home Improvements

Having a garden is wonderful. Maintaining it is sometimes not so great. But learning a bit more about gardening and getting to know what your garden likes and dislikes will go a long way in helping you not only maintain it but love doing it too.

A lot of garden maintenance is about having a routine and sticking to it. Once you have mastered this you will start to see the rewards. So let’s look at the basics.

The first bit of maintenance you can do any time you are in the garden and happen to notice old, dying flower buds. These need to be removed to allow the rest of the plant a chance to grow more. All you need is a sharp eye and a good set of garden pruners.  Pruning will also rejuvenate many plants that are looking tired or worn.

You should pinch off the stems of some plants early in the season to stop them from growing too tall and not being able to stand upright. This should only be plants that have thin stems that may not be able to hold too much weight if allowed to grow too tall.

If your garden is starting to look a bit shabby and overgrown you need to cut back on the overgrowth. Not only does this promote new growth of plants you had thought were about finished but is also a great way to get thin, straggly plants to start growing in a more full shape.

Watering your garden regularly, weeding and staking taller plants are also important regular tasks. If you feel you don’t have the knack, know-how or time for proper garden care, you should consider getting in a professional gardening service. They will come on a regular basis to maintain your plants and can also advise you on how to keep your garden growing at its best.

Try the Association of Professional Landscapers website for more info.

Steve Walker offers garden maintenance in Leeds. We would like to thank him for his part in writing this page.