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The Sun
24-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
I'm a gardening expert – why using a kale leaf is a key DIY hack to keeping pests out of your gardens this summer
SUMMER is the perfect for enjoying your garden - but it's also when unwanted pests start to show up. However, former royal gardener Jack Stooks has revealed there are some very simple tricks to keep them at bay, including using a kale leaf. 6 6 Speaking to SEO experts at Big Fat Links, King Charles' former employee has revealed his natural methods that are safe for plants, pets, and people. According to Jack - who worked his gardening magic at Highgrove for over two decades - these easy hacks will keep it pest-free throughout the growing season… 1. Kale leaves Jack shared how a 'useful and cost-effective way of getting rid of slugs is to use kale leaves. Alternatively if you've got any cabbage, brussel sprouts, or anything similar growing in the garden, you can use the leaves off of the bases of those. So you're not wasting anything, you're using leaves that you wouldn't use anyway. The former royal gardener explained: 'You put those onto the surface of the soil in areas where you know slugs are coming. 'And then you put a tile or a sort of large flattish rock over the leaf. 'Then in the early morning you go and you pick up the stone and the leaf will normally be covered with slugs - big and small. 'You can then either get rid of that leaf or obviously pick them all off and, and pop them in compost or use them as animal feed.' Keep It Clean: How to stop pests from taking over this summer 6 2. Torch light Another hack doesn't cost a penny but may take some time. Jack explained: 'At night, another good hack is to go round and look for pests with a torch. 'So you simply go out with a torch and just hand-pick them. 'Slugs and snails are usually good ones to go out and remove.' 3. Beer/yeast traps Another way to hinder pesky slugs is using a beer trap, also known as a yeast trap. King Charles' former gardener shared: 'You simply put a glass jar into the soil, making sure that it's ground level. 'Then you put a little bit of beer into it (usually around a quarter of a jar). 'You can then cover it with a rock to stop any bigger animals like mice or similar from going inside. 'Slugs will tend to go in, through the sides, as well as snails.' 6 4. Soap spray Jack also suggested that you make a soap spray to get rid of pests on flowers such as roses. He added: 'Now is probably the perfect time to be doing this as well. 'For the mixture, you simply mix soap with water, and pop it into a little sprayer. 'Then you can just spray it onto the plants of choice.' 6 6 5. Garlic spray His final tip was to make a spray using garlic. Jack explained: 'For this, you mix garlic and water to make the mixture. 'If you have any rabbits or similar types of animals that are eating your herbs and other things in your garden, you can spray this garlic spray over the plants which usually works to deter animals from said plant or flowers.'
Daily Record
15-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Record
Expert urges gardeners not to cut grass this week
Gardening expert Jack Stooks shared why you shouldn't be getting the lawnmower out As the sun continues to shine, many people will be busy working in their gardens for the summer ahead. It's the perfect time of year to get green-fingered, however experts are now warning that gardening in the heat can actually be harmful to your lawn and plants. So with ' gardening in the sun ' being a popular search term this week, people are being urged to be cautious when taking on outdoor tasks in the hot days ahead. And that includes mowing the lawn when the mercury is high. Former Royal gardener Jack Stooks has shared his top five tips that will ensure you don't do any damage in your garden. Sharing his insights, Jack has told of one mistake you should avoid, clever tactics for gardening that protect your plants, as well crucial steps to prevent damaging your lawn. In an interview with SEO experts Big Fat Links, he also provides vital advice on shielding your indoor plants from direct sunlight, reports the Express. 1. Avoid mowing the lawn Jack advises against frequent mowing during extreme heat. He says: "You want to forgo cutting for a week or two so that the grass keeps growing by itself, rather than depleting it. Wait until you have some moisture back in the soil." 2. Watering plants The gardening experts recommends watering your plants early in the morning or late at night to retain soil moisture and prevent evaporation during the hot day. Jack says: "You don't want to water them in the middle of the day. I always stick to that and water at night. You also won't be wasting as much water. "Roses and peonies will be blooming soon, and you will find that if you water the flowers, they will fall apart." 3. Move your houseplants You want to keep in mind that houseplants shouldn't be in direct sunlight through the windows. You may need to move some of your plants if you moved them in the winter months. 4. Feeding plants When it's dry, Jack says you don't want to start feeding plants because it can also burn them; you want to feed them when it is wet. He says: "You can forgo this for the time being. If you haven't mulched around the ground, this will keep moisture in and is also a weed suppressant, so you can also use this time to weed your garden." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. 5. Avoid planting anything According to Jack, you don't want to put too much stress on the plants by moving them or planting anything if you can help it. He says: "People will be planting bedding plants and potted plants for the summer, but they will constantly need attention and watering morning and night. "So, if you're planting anything right now, it's only bedding plants, and they will need a lot of water. I would suggest not putting them in the borders yet but putting them in pots and checking them morning and night."
Daily Mirror
14-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
Brits 'shouldn't be cutting their garden grass this week'
Many Brits may be keen to given their garden grass a trim as the sun comes out. However, ex-Royal gardener Jack Stooks has explained why you should avoid doing that As Brits soak up the glorious sunshine, there's been a noticeable spike in people searching for ' gardening in the sun' tips. However, green-fingered enthusiasts should beware that working on your garden during hot weather can sometimes cause more damage than good. Fromer Royal gardener Jack Stooks has disclosed his five golden rules to ensure your garden flourishes despite the warm weather. As we're expecting temperatures to increase past 20C across most of Britain this week, Jack unveils the major blunders to sidestep under the blazing rays, smart tactics to shield your greenery, and vital actions to prevent harm. Speaking with SEO specialists Big Fat Links, Jack further imparts wisdom on how to keep your indoor plants happy away from the harsh sunlight. 1. Let the lawn rest Jack stresses that when the mercury climbs, it's imperative to resist the urge to incessantly trim your lawn at its customary short height. He says: "You want to forgo cutting for a week or two so that the grass keeps growing by itself, rather than depleting it. Wait until you have some moisture back in the soil." 2. Water intelligently Jack believes in watering your garden during the cool early morning or late evening hours to allow water to seep into the ground instead of being lost to evaporation. He states: "You don't want to water them in the middle of the day. I always stick to that and water at night. You also won't be wasting as much water." 3. Safeguard your indoor greenery Jack advises that houseplants should avoid direct sunlight through windows, which might mean relocating some of your greenery, especially those placed during the winter months. 4. Feeding plants The expert warns against feeding plants when it's dry as it could harm them; he recommends feeding only when conditions are moist. He suggests: "You can forgo this for the time being. If you haven't mulched around the ground, this will keep moisture in and is also a weed suppressant, so you can also use this time to weed your garden." 5. Don't plant anything Jack points out that moving or planting new things puts stress on plants. He notes: "People will be planting bedding plants and potted plants for the summer, but they will constantly need attention and watering morning and night. "So, if you're planting anything right now, it's only bedding plants, and they will need a lot of water. I would suggest not putting them in the borders yet but putting them in pots and checking them morning and night."
Edinburgh Live
14-05-2025
- Climate
- Edinburgh Live
Former Royal gardener explains one reason you shouldn't cut grass this week
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info As the UK is finally enjoying some warm weather, many people are looking to revamp their gardens, with a surge in searches for 'gardening in the sun'. However, doing gardening tasks during hot weather can often do more harm than good. To help you keep your garden healthy, former Royal gardener Jack Stooks has shared his top five tips for gardening in warm weather. With forecasters predicting temperatures over 20C in most parts of the country this week, Jack points out the biggest mistake to avoid in the sun, clever ways to care for your plants while protecting them, and vital steps to prevent damage. Talking to SEO experts Big Fat Links, he also gives crucial advice on shielding your indoor plants from direct sunlight. 1. Hold off on mowing the lawn In hot weather, the last thing you want to do is keep cutting the grass to keep it short. Jack advises: "You want to forgo cutting for a week or two so that the grass keeps growing by itself, rather than depleting it. Wait until you have some moisture back in the soil." 2. Timing is everything when watering plants Jack recommends watering your plants early in the morning or late at night, so the moisture stays in the ground instead of evaporating in the heat. He says: "You don't want to water them in the middle of the day. I always stick to that and water at night. You also won't be wasting as much water. "Roses and peonies will be blooming soon, and you will find that if you water the flowers, they will fall apart." 3. Relocate your houseplants Jack says you should ensure your houseplants not exposed to direct sunlight through windows, and consider moving them if you had rearranged them during winter. 4. Fertilising plants The expert advises against feeding plants during dry spells, as it can cause them harm; instead, wait until the soil is moist. Jack recommends: "You can skip this for now. If you haven't mulched around the ground, it will help retain moisture and suppress weeds, so use this time to weed your garden." 5. Refrain from planting Jack suggests minimising stress on plants by avoiding transplanting or new plantings whenever possible. He advises: "People will be planting bedding plants and potted plants for the summer, but they will constantly need attention and watering morning and night. "So, if you're planting anything right now, it's only bedding plants, and they will need a lot of water. I would suggest not putting them in the borders yet but putting them in pots and checking them morning and night."
