If you are looking to save some money on the weekly shop, wanting more organic food or just looking for a new hobby; starting a vegetable patch may be the right thing for you to do. In this article, we discuss how to start your own vegetable patch as a beginner.
Find A Good Site
The most important things to note when searching for the optimum environment for a vegetable patch are:
A level ground
Well drained and fertile soil
A spot to receive 6-8 hours of sunlight a day
Situated far from trees
As a beginner, it may be better to start off your vegetable patch small and expand it as your knowledge grows.
Draw Out A Plan
Drawing out a plan for your vegetable garden is one way of erasing any potential mishaps such as overcrowded plants. Ideally, a growing patch should be split into quarters. These spaces can then be allocated different plant groups such as root vegetables (carrots, potatoes etc), legumes and salads. By splitting up your quadrants, it also makes it easier to rotate your crops around the bed.
Pick Out The Right Crops For You
When starting out, it is better to pick crops that are suited for beginners. However, you still want the vegetables to be something you enjoy! The most common ‘new-starter’ plants are peas, radishes, potatoes, beetroot, tomatoes, and courgettes. Do these sound-like tasty options to you?
If you already have a vegetable plot and your crops aren’t flourishing, then you may have the wrong soil type! To find out if there is a problem with your soil then get in contact today and we can conduct a soil test to identify the nutrient content and composition of your soil.
Why do my plants keep dying?
For many people, gardening doesn’t always go right. Therefore, we have put together a list of reasons as to why your plants wither away and strategies on how to keep them alive. So, why do your plants keep dying?
Daylight
One reason as to why your plants keep dying may be due to a lack of or too much sunlight. The most common sign for a lack of sunlight is dropped leaves and yellowing. Too much light on the other hand is dry and brittle leaves.
A simple solution for this problem is to move your plant from its current position.
Water
Another reason your plants may not be thriving is due to the volume of water it’s given; whether it’s too much or not enough. Overwatering plants can lead to root rot which is a result from poorly drained soil. High volumes of water can also cause the leaves to wilt and turn brown as well as a stunted slow growth. Not watering enough will lead to dry, crispy leaves.
Once again, there is an easy fix for this; if temperatures are high then give the plants a little more water than usual but if rain has fallen, lessen the volume.
Nutrition
Every plant has different requirements when it comes to what nutrients it needs and the soil it should be living in. You must find out what soil type is right for your specific species of vegetation.
Pests and Diseases
If you notice infestations of bugs on your plant, then make sure to give them a wipe with a damp cloth to give it a chance of survival.
This is the most common reason that plants keep dying. Up to 85% of plant diseases are caused by fungal organisms and can be detected by noticeable changes such as colour, wilting leaves and rust as well as powdery mildew.
Do you Plants Keep Dying? Contact Us Today:
If you are still struggling to know why your plants aren’t thriving, then get in contact with us today!
When you are applying for planning permission, ideally, you would like it to be accepted without any delay or setbacks. Here are some things to be aware of about your soil when you want to build on your land. So this is how your soil can affect planning permissions…
How Soil Can Affect Planning Permissions
Contamination
If your land is contaminated with substances such as heavy metals, oils or even Japanese knotweed then planning applications are more likely to be declined. If you engage in early communication with the local planning and environmental health departments, then there may be some proposals on which assessments you can undergo for your planning permission to be reconsidered.
For instance, if you have Japanese knotweed, a site survey and treatment plan is all it may take for you to be able to build on your land once the invasive species has been dealt with.
Clay Soil
Although having clay soil doesn’t mean you won’t be granted planning permission necessarily, you do have to take extra care when building on the land. This is because this soil type can shrink and swell during the various seasons throughout the year, causing the foundations of a building to become unstable. To solve this issue, make sure the structures are at a good depth.
Chalk Soil
Similar to clay soil, foundations built on this land have to be built deep as this soil is very soft and crumbly meaning that the structure will become unstable.
If you want to find out what soil type you have or as to whether it is contaminated, then you may need to have a soil test conducted. Get in contact today to find out how!
The Most Common Trees In The UK
Did you know that there are over 60,000 species of trees globally? However, only about 30 of these species are native to the UK. In this article, we have put together a list of the most common trees that are found in Britain.
The Three Most Common Trees In The UK:
Silver Birch
This tree is most likely to be found on dry woodland areas, downs and heaths. Silver birches most recognisable feature is the white/ silver toned bark- hence the name! Alongside this attribute, this tree can also be distinguished by their triangular leaves. As the tree grows older, the trunk will become much rougher and will develop diamond shape crevices.
English Oak
Did you know that this species of tree can live for over 500 years? As the most common tree in the country, is regularly spotted in woodland areas, reaching heights of up to 40m. Other familiar features on this tree are the large, alternate lobed leaves that have smooth edges. In the early autumn, this species will produce acorns on stalks.
White Willow
Most known to be grown in wet conditions, willow trees will be located near streams and rivers. With long, thin oval shaped leaves, this tree is the fastest growing species in the world! White willow in particular is the largest type of willow tree, growing up to 25m tall. Both male and female trees grow flowers in the early spring. Male catkins grow up to 5cm long whereas female catkins grow to 4cm long.
Will you be keeping your eye out for these species from now on? Or do you have a tree that needs protection? Then, get in touch today!
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