yardz

GARLIC IN POTS

Garlic is best planted in the ground in autumn when bulbs are available in garden centres but if you really want to try growing garlic in your yard or on your balcony you can grow it in containers.

Hunt around and you should be able to buy pots of already growing garlic bulbs for around £2.99 a pot.
Using a large container, about 40cm in diameter, fill with John Innes No.3 compost with added grit to make sure it drains well and place in a sunny position. Do not overwater and do not overfeed or the bulbs will become soft and will not keep well.  Once growth slows down in the summer reduce any watering to allow the bulbs to mature.

Varieties to look out for includes Albigenston Wight, Purple Wight and Solen Wight.

WINTER CONES SPRING INTO LIFE

A few days of sunshine this week has brought the crocus into flower in the hanging cones. The evergreen winter flowering heathers and grasses have given some colour and interest through this hard winter, but now these bright crocus have given the hope that springs here.

 

RIVIERA STYLE FROM SABZ

The Riviera range of pots and holders from www.sabz.fr exude style. They are available in three styles and three finishes - burnished steel, lacquered steel and stainless steel. Though they can be used inside or out, yardz feels that they need space around them to get the best effect.

Simple shaped planting would show them off using evergreens such as Buxus, Hebe Green Globe or Lonicera nitida Maygreen. 

 

GROWBAGS DRESSED TO KILL

 
The wonderfully named www.thehungrysnailcompany.com produces the Growbag Glove which is an innovative way to disguise an ugly growbag in the yard.

They are available in a selection of designs and are well constructed to last at least two seasons.

http://www.thehungrysnailcompany.com/moreinfo.html

HELLEBORUS THE NEW SPRING BEDDING

Sometimes over looked as a plant for spring containers (though I have seen them used as bedding at Canary Wharf, London), Helleborus are looking amazing this spring. Not only are their flowers stunning, their dark green cut leaves also provide a wonderful backing for the flowers. They are not cheap but a good sized plant in full flower should be around £15.00.

There are some super varieties of Helleborus niger about and available for cheering up containers that are looking rather ragged after the hard winter. Look out for the pink flowered H.Winter Sunshine, the brilliant white H.Josef Lamper and the pretty freckled white. H.Cinderella.

After flowering they can be left in containers or moved to a shady part of the yard for the summer.

 

MINI LIVING GARDEN IS A GIFT

Is this the easiest and smallest garden kit on the market? www.postcarden.com supply these wonderful gardens that you can send in the post as the 'perfect' gift for those who have no garden space. You basically just moisten the card base, sprinkle the provided seeds and in a few days you have your own mini garden.

They are available in three designs City, Allotment and Botanical and are all £7.50 each

SPRING HAS ARRIVED IN THE YARD

After the long cold winter spring us at last here in the yard. The crocus are starting to flower in the hanging cones mixing there bright colour with the muted colours of the winter flowering heathers and grasses. Well worth the trouble planting the bulbs in the autumn when planting the baskets.

FUNKY LIME GREEN PLANTERS

The Geo Lisbon Planters from www.capital-gardens.com are shown in all their glory at The Terrace, Knightsbridge, London. The planters are available in stock in Classic Black and Chinese Red, other colours are to order only.

 http://www.capital-garden.com/product.php?cat=GEOMETRIC&product=LISBON

FUN WATERING CANS FROM BOTTLES

Swiss designer Nicholas le Maigne has designed these colourful adapters that turn any bottle with a PET screw top into a stylish and fun 'eco friendly' watering can. Available in a choice of five funky colours @ £9.50.

Look out for them on one of yardz favourite web sites www.thebalconygardener.com.

 http://www.thebalconygardener.com/shop/gardening-tools--aids/watering-cans/eco-watering-can-bottle-adaptor

WHITE MAGIC CONTAINERS

As spring starts to take hold in the yards, the early spring bulbs start to show above the ground and flower. Some of the earliest are the Grape Hyacinths or Muscari. These low growing charming bulbs are normally seen in their blue form but one of the best varieties is the white form, Muscari White Magic.

White Magic has pale green flower buds opening to white. Initially the buds are quite pointed but becomes more rounded when in flower. It is not as vigorous as some varieties which make them perfect for growing in containers.

They are planted as small bulbs in the late autumn.

 http://www.avonbulbs.co.uk/muscari-aucheri-white-magic_414_416.htm