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Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
Gardeners with patchy lawns should do this 'regularly' to stop it dying
Gardening experts are advising people to complete this task 'regularly' during the summer time to ensure fresh growth, as temperatures are set to rise in the upcoming weeks Gardeners struggling to keep their lawns looking green and luscious have been advised to do one thing in June. With summer fast approaching and the temperatures getting warmer and warmer, many of us will be spending quite some time in our gardens. Therefore, gardening tasks have become more important - and there's something you must do to prevent your lawn from drying out completely. With the month of May coming to an end, as well as the 'No Mow May' initiative, gardeners will have to take care of their gardens, now more than ever, to ensure that their grass is looking healthier and thicker before the summer arrives. The 'No Mow May' campaign, started by Plantlife, encouraged gardeners to refrain from moving their lawns throughout the entire month. The whole purpose was to boost biodiversity by allowing wild flowers and plants to grow and fully bloom, as well as providing food and shelter to other wildlife. As shared by gardening expert Fiona Jenkins from My Job Quote, there are a few tips and tricks that will help gardeners ensure that their outdoor spaces are looking greener than ever before. She explained: 'Regular mowing encourages grass to grow through a process known as the 'stimulation effect'. The principle works much the same as how we are advised to get our hair trimmed regularly to enable it to grow faster!' 'When you mow your lawn consistently to a good height you are removing the top portion of the grass blades, which prompts it to produce new shoots and leaves to compensate, resulting in a denser turf. It also has the additional benefit of removing any weeds which may be stealing sunlight, nutrients, and water from your grass.' By regularly mowing the lawn during the summertime, it can prevent it from drying out. However, it's important to adjust the height and frequency, as the job might do otherwise, and affect the growth and overall health of the lawn. The great thing about gardening is that you don't need a lot of expertise but just some interest to keep your outdoor space as tidy and organised as possible. Just in time for the best season of the year, when temperatures are hotter, and there's an excuse to gather all of your loved ones by hosting a barbecue or a simple get together.
The Sun
5 days ago
- General
- The Sun
The 8 hidden garden problems in that could be pointing to a MUCH bigger issue & it's bad news if yours has a weird smell
PATCHY lawns and annoying pests are just two of the problems you might encounter in your garden. But did you know there's a whole host of hidden ones that could be pointing to a much bigger issue in yours? 3 3 According to a gardening expert, one of the biggest signs is a weird smell in your green space - which could be an indicator of decay in your flowerbeds. "A strange smell in your garden can easily be overlooked but is a huge red flag as foul odours may indicate root rot or bacterial infections in your plants," Fiona Jenkins at explained. If you get a whiff of anything unusual in the garden, you should examine your plants for "any signs of disease or decay". "Addressing the root cause is crucial to preventing the problem from worsening, and your gardening habits may need adjusting," Fiona explained. Remove any decayed material, and use "appropriate treatments to stop the spread of infection". "Sometimes, plants may give off a natural scent, but you can never be too careful, and it is important to ensure that it is not indicative of a problem," Fiona concluded. Another sign of a hidden problem in your garden to look out for is yellowing leaves, as it's "an indicator of improper watering or nutrient deficiencies". "Overwatering can suffocate roots while underwatering dehydrates them, both leading to yellow leaves," Fiona said. "A lack of essential nutrients can also lie at the heart of the discolouration issue." To address the problem, have a look at your watering schedule - it might be that it "needs some simple tweaks". B&M launches their children's outdoor range which is perfect for summer - there's a £2 bargain that'll easily keep the kids entertained "If this doesn't solve the problem, it may be worth conducting a soil test to see what nutrients your plants are missing and invest in a good quality fertiliser to restore them to full health," she advised. A similar issue is pointed out by discoloured flowers, which can show that they are "in distress". "Environmental factors such as extreme heat or cold can cause discolouration, as can nutrient imbalances," Fiona said. "Start by evaluating the conditions – it may be as simple as adjusting sunlight exposure or providing more shade to the area. "A soil test will reveal any nutrient deficiencies, which can then be addressed with the right fertilisers to restore vitality." Japanese Knotweed, mould and mildew and annoying pests such as caterpillars and fruit flies can point to a bigger garden problem, as well as plants' stunted growth. The 8 hidden problems that could be pointing to a bigger issue in your garden GARDENING expert Fiona Jenkins at shares the early warning signs to look out in your garden for before the minor issues turn into major ones and prevent yours from thriving. This can indicate a root problem, which you can test for by "gently checking" the root. "Healthy roots should be white and firm," Fiona noted. "If rot is present, reduce your watering schedule and improve soil drainage as well as regularly inspecting for pests that may be targeting the roots. "By maintaining root health, you are ensuring that your plants have a strong foundation to support their growth." And lastly - one of the most obvious problems few gardens avoid - weeds. "Like many other garden plants, weeds thrive in the warm summer weather and could be taking away essential sunlight, water and nutrients from your beautiful summer flowers," Fiona said. "Applying a deep layer of mulch to your soil during the spring months can suppress weed growth by blocking sunlight and conserving soil moisture. "If you do see any weeds start to sprout, remove them promptly by hand, pulling them out or using garden tools to ensure that they do not regrow." 3
Daily Mirror
29-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mirror
Fence trick that will make your whole garden look bigger in time for summer
With the season of garden improvement now upon us and BBQs and outdoor gatherings on the horizon, it's time to consider how even limited garden space can be transformed Did you know that the colour of your garden fence can play a massive role in creating the illusion of a more spacious outdoor area? As we step into the season ripe for garden sprucing, with barbecues and alfresco socials on the cards, it's prime time to think about how even a cosy garden can seem grander with just a dash of paint. It's worth taking a moment to ponder the perfect shade because slapping on lighter, neutral tones can magically make your space seem larger by bouncing back more light, while bold or dark colours might do just the opposite. For green-fingered enthusiasts eager to enlarge their outdoor haven this summer, gardening guru Fiona Jenkins from MyJobQuote has dished out her top five colour picks to help Brits revamp their gardens. Opting for light grey can seriously boost the sense of space. Light grey isn't just a popular choice among British homeowners; it's also a clever trick to give your garden an expansive feel. Fiona advises: "Light grey softens and blurs the frame of your garden, making it look much bigger than it is. Lighter colours such as grey tend to reflect more light than dark colours, making it feel much brighter and open, enhancing the perception of space." If you're more of a green thumb who favours lush greenery over blooms, picking a fence in a light shade could be your ticket to an enchanting garden escape. As one gardening expert explains: "It's a great option if you have more foliage-based plants rather than flowers throughout your garden, too, as the contrast between the light hue of the fence draws the eye outward. This makes the boundaries of the garden appear less constrictive and enhances the sense of spaciousness." In fact, adopting a soft sage hue for fences isn't just trendy, it's practically genius for expanding your outdoor scene visually. It turns out that opting for fencing in gentle greens can meld seamlessly with your verdant borders. Not only does it envelop your space in continuity, but it also plays down those pesky garden walls making everything feel all the more expansive. For those with an artistic flair in their plant choices, tones like beige and ivory might just be the perfect backdrop palette. Garden guru Fiona highlights how these neutral tones are particularly beloved in gardens channelling a Mediterranean vibe, explaining: "Neutral tones, a particular favourite in more Mediterranean-themed gardens, serve as a neutral background that allow other elements such as colourful plants to stand out. "The lack of visual distraction can make the garden appear larger, keeping the focus on other garden features and thus making it feel more expansive." But that's not all – these understated hues can also ooze minimalism and radiate simplicity, encapsulating a modern gardening trend sweeping through current landscapes. Fiona adds: "Not only that, but beige and ivory tones have a minimalist feel which emphasises simplicity and openness, a contemporary garden trend that we're seeing a lot of right now. "By keeping the colour palette as simple as possible, they create a clean and uncluttered look that creates a spacious feel in the garden." And for those aiming to conjure up an illusion of grandeur within their grassy retreats, consider this: a fence donned in light blue may just be the trick to unlocking a seemingly boundless garden Eden. Move over, neutral fence colours - it's time to think blue skies and summery vibes. "Not all fence colours have to be neutral colours, either. Light blue is often associated with the sky on a clear, summer's day and by painting fences light blue, you mimic the colour of the sky, creating the colour of an expansive overhead space. "Not only that, but the contrast of the light blue with any greenery makes vegetation stand out more prominently, therefore casting the eye upward and creating a sense of depth and openness in the garden." Soft pink fences could be your go-to for south-facing gardens, according to Jenkins' advice: "If you're lucky enough to get sun in the garden through all points of the day, a soft pink may be the colour option for you. "South facing gardens boast beautiful sunshine all day long and the soft hues of sunrise and sunset can cause gardens with pink fences to look much bigger. "It can also evoke the sense of natural beauty, creating a serene environment which feels expansive and inviting." "Fences with high contrast colours or include busy patterns and intricate designs can overwhelm the visual space and make the garden feel smaller, as they break up the continuity of the garden space," warns Jenkins. He adds that opting for brassy oranges, red-tinged browns or bold yellows might just squeeze your open air escape, making it appear more crowded than calming.
The Sun
27-04-2025
- General
- The Sun
Sprucing up your fence with £10 buy can make your garden look twice the size – here's how the experts do it
A SIMPLE step can help make your garden look twice the size this summer. Sprucing up your fence this spring can elevate your outdoor space in time for the good weather. 2 While spring is often a time for cleaning the interior of your home, many people take it as an opportunity to carry out projects in their garden too. And with the season of garden improvement well and truly upon us, one expert has revealed the ways you can level up your fences. With barbeques and garden parties on the horizon, you can now host to transform your limited outdoor space with a simple fence painting project. And for those looking to maximise their outdoor area this summer, gardening expert Fiona Jenkins from MyJobQuote has shared five colours that can help. First, the pro explained that light grey enhances the perception of space. As one of the nation's favoured fence colour options, light grey is a sure way to create the illusion of more space in your garden. 'Light grey softens and blurs the frame of your garden, making it look much bigger than it is," Fiona explained. "Lighter colours such as grey tend to reflect more light than dark colours, making it feel much brighter and open, enhancing the perception of space." She added that the colour was a "great option if you have more foliage-based plants rather than flowers throughout your garden". According to the expert, this creates a contrast, drawing the eye outward from the light hue of the fence. "This makes the boundaries of the garden appear less constrictive and enhances the sense of spaciousness," she said. Fiona also revealed that natural colours such as sage green visually extend the landscape. According to the pro, soft green fencing creates visual continuity, especially if your garden contains plenty of green border plants. Adding more green not only visually extends the landscape but makes garden boundaries look less conspicuous, creating a feeling of expansiveness. Neutral tones such as beige and ivory are also ideal colours for a garden face, as they allow colourful flora to stand out. Top 5 Spring Gardening Jobs *If you click a link in this boxout, we may earn affiliate revenue Nick Grey, Gtech Inventor and CEO shared the tasks to crack on with as Spring arrives. 1. Clean your garden Make sure to clear away all leaves, soil and plant debris from your patios and flower beds; this creates a healthier environment for new growth, especially as we get into the summer months. Gtech's Garden Safety Kit includes durable gardening gloves and safety glasses; perfect for comfortability whilst tackling those outdoor tasks. 2. Weeding Early Spring is the best time to tackle weeds; if you can introduce some regular weeding into your routine, you can guarantee a tidy garden all year round. 3. Hedge maintenance Spring is the ideal time to tidy up overgrown hedges and shrubs, as regular trimming ensures healthy growth and reduces pest issues. Using a tool like the Gtech Lightweight Hedge Trimmer can help to keep your greenery looking sharp and neat. 4. Composting Starting a compost heap this spring is a pro-active, cost-effective way to harness nutritious soil for your plants and recycle organic waste that will benefit the overall health of your greenery and foliage. 5. Look after your lawn Lawn care is hugely important in assuring your garden stays looking beautiful. Make sure to rake away any excess leaves and trim your grass routinely. 'Neutral tones, a particular favourite in more Mediterranean themed gardens, serve as a neutral background that allow other elements such as colourful plants to stand out," Fiona said. "The lack of visual distraction can make the garden appear larger, keeping the focus on other garden features and thus making it feel more expansive." She added that beige and ivory tones create a "minimalist feel" in your graden. "[This] emphasises simplicity and openness, a contemporary garden trend that we're seeing a lot of right now," the pro continued. "By keeping the colour palette as simple as possible, they create a clean and uncluttered look that creates a spacious feel in the garden.' You can also add illusion of a bigger garden by painting your fence light blue, the expert said. 'Not all fence colours have to be neutral colours, either," Fiona explained. "Light blue is often associated with the sky on a clear, summer's day and by painting fences light blue, you mimic the colour of the sky, creating the colour of an expansive overhead space. 2 'Not only that, but the contrast of the light blue with any greenery makes vegetation stand out more prominently, therefore casting the eye upward and creating a sense of depth and openness in the garden.' Finally, for those with a south-facing garden, opting for soft pink could be the best move. 'If you're lucky enough to get sun in the garden through all points of the day, a soft pink may be the colour option for you," Fiona said. "South-facing gardens boast beautiful sunshine all day long and the soft hues of sunrise and sunset can cause gardens with pink fences to look much bigger. "It can also evoke the sense of natural beauty, creating a serene environment which feels expansive and inviting.' And there are also fence colours worth avoiding as they make your garden appear smaller. 'Fences with high contrast colours or include busy patterns and intricate designs can overwhelm the visual space and make the garden feel smaller, as they break up the continuity of the garden space,' the pro said. 'Other constricting colours include bold or vibrant warm tones such as oranges, red-toned browns and yellows as they can cause the area to feel overly 'busy' and cluttered.'
