HOW TO AVOID COWBOY LANDSCAPERS | 20th August
The answer is to deal with firms that have TrustMark status. TrustMark is a Government-endorsed scheme which requires high standards of everything from technical competence to customer service. We are one of the first firms in the country to be a TrustMark business. For more information go to www.trustmark.org.ukRubber Chippings | 26th July
Rubber chippings made from recycled tyres are a green alternative to bark chippings as a mulch. Dunweedin' Ltd produce rubber chippings in 5 fade resistant colours. Apart from being a recycled product they last much longer than bark. Go to www.dunweedin'.co.uk to find out more.Help kids, recycle | 4th July 2007
The charity National Childrens Homes runs a recycling scheme for Lexmark, HP, Dell BT, Olivetti & Canon BC01, BC02 & BC05 cartridges BUT NOT EPSON inkjet cartridges plus all mobile phone (remove the sim card). To participate phone 0870 890 5667 or email recycle@original-ink.co.uk They provide Freepost bags for you to send stuff.Go wild | 15th June
'Let some parts of your lawn go wild and see what comes up. Two square metres of uncut grass produces enough oxygen to provide an adult with a year's supply' - Cleve West,garden designer and TV presenter.New strain of turf | 18th May 2007
A new strain of turf has recently come on to the market with significant advantages over other turf. It is called Rhizomatous tall fescue (RTF for short). It is drought resistant, shade and frost tolerant and does well in any sort of soil. How does it do this? The answer is that its roots penetrate the soil to a depth of up to 1.5m (approx. 5ft) compared to 15 – 20cm (8in.) with other grasses. Thus RTF gains greater access to moisture and nutrients in the soil and saves you water. We have started using RTF in clients’ gardens and our turf supplier reckons that it won’t be long before its use is widespread. In our experience the roots of RTF get established in about 5 days - much quicker than conventional turf. Worth looking out for given the likelihood of dry summers and further hosepipe bans.
A Google search for conservation gardening throws up over 690,000 results. We're not anoraks so we haven't trawled through them all. The following sites will give you a good start.
www.rhs.org.uk - Part of The Royal Horticultural Society's site. You can download 18 leaflets on various conservation and environment topics.
www.gardenorganic.org.uk - Has loads of information about conservation gardening.
www.greenchoices.org/gardening - A bit 'eco warriorist' but plenty of useful links.
