Tulips!

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Now is the time to start planning for a colourful and bountiful spring! Tulips are a fabulous addition to any bed, formal or informal and pack a welcome punch huddled in pots. They can also be naturalised in grass.

The general rule (given there is diversity in variety and size) is aim for full sun, sheltered from strong wind. Incorporate organic matter into the soil (they ideally like neutral to alkaline if you’re being pernickety). Plant the bulb at least 2-3 times the depth and twice the width apart.

Whilst bulbs may not need (and indeed our team often wait until Nov/Dec to plant tulips due to the risk of ‘tulip fire’) to be planted immediately, the demand is high.

Here is the big news - we have had several reports from our suppliers that this year, there is a shortage of tulip bulbs so we urge you if you do nothing else in your garden this weekend - order those bulbs to avoid disappointment! You will be so grateful when they punch through the soil - after another long winter!

A slug affair

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Our maintenance team here at Charles Hoare are all too aware that snails and slugs are a gardener’s nemesis but the truth is that they have every right to roam our gardens and we have to somehow learn to live in harmony with them.

Slugs and snails are important food for numerous birds, mammals, worms and insects - a vital part of the natural balance of a garden. The issue is that they also love to eat fresh young leaves of plants we have lovingly nurtured. They come in droves. Managing them so your garden isn’t obliterated is a delicate balance and there are various tips and tricks to try to live in harmony with them..

1. Keep young plants in pots/greenhouse for longer until they are stronger to withstand a little munch. Young leaves are the tastiest.

2. Grit, coffee granules, crushed egg shell or fire ash. They don’t like clambering over rough surfaces. If using crushed eggshell, bake for 5 minutes so they are extra sharp.

3. Sacrificial planting. Have some nasturtiums, kale or lettuce near your favourite plants. The slugs might deviate to those and leave your tender plant babies alone.

4. Beer traps. They love the aroma of beer and although you are killing them, there are worse ways to meet your fate. Then throw them on the lawn for the birds.

5. Nematodes can be bought online or in garden centers and are biological control with no adverse effect on the environment. Again leaving them to other critters to eat.

6. Encourage blackbirds, thrush, frogs, hedgehogs and beetles to do the hard work for you. Make a mini pond or put sunflower seeds and mealworm out and these creatures will come flocking.

7. Grow your favourite ornamentals in pots with copper tape around the edge.. to make access more difficult. Slugs and snails don’t like copper.

It can feel like a futile effort against this much maligned garden ‘pest’. But isn’t this half the beauty of gardening?… constantly battling and playing a dance with and around all the crazy natural elements that make up the gorgeous habitats on your doorstep.

Easy way to look after your soil

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A really easy and fantastic way of getting some quality, effortless, free mulch for next year is to collect your fallen leaves to make leafmould.

1. Gather leaves from your own garden or public places. They are easier to collect when the weather is dry and still. Mowing them up is the best option because grass clippings add nutrients to the mulch and shredding the leaves hastens the rotting process.

2. Grab a black bin liner, stuff the leaves in, pierce some holes and add a little water if they aren’t already moist.

3. Stack the bin bags at the back of a shed and leave for a year or two.... et voila!

Tulip Time

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Seasonal gardening tips from Head Gardener, Rosie…

The time has come to plant your tulip bulbs. The next few weeks are perfect as the colder weather starts to creep in, the soil is still maleable and risk of ‘tulip fire’ has diminished.

Tulips are a fabulous addition to any bed, formal or informal and pack a welcome punch huddled in pots. They can also be naturalised in grass.

The general rule (given there is diversity in variety and size) is aim for full sun, sheltered from strong wind. Incorporate organic matter into the soil (they ideally like neutral to alkaline if you’re being pernickety). Plant the bulb at least 2-3 times the depth and twice the width apart.

Most bedding bulbs will need to be replaced every year for maximum impact. So get to your local nursery or search online and get planning and planting - future you will be SO grateful in the Spring!

A big thank you!

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Fi and bobbie

It has been a busy year here at Charles Hoare and we have a lot things to be proud of, one of which is our amazing Gardener, Fiona.

Fi joined us in July 2022, immediately immersing herself in some of our biggest and most complex gardens. Her work ethic is phenomenal. That, coupled with a deep passion and breadth of knowledge in horticulture, makes her a huge asset to the team. Thank you Fi, it is excellent to have you on board!

Introducing...

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Rosie Willcock, Head Gardener

Rosie Willcock, Head Gardener

…Rosie, the Head Gardener at Charles Hoare Landscape & Garden Services Ltd. She joined at the beginning of this year with a wealth of passion, knowledge and enthusiasm about gardening and nature. 

Our Maintenance team pride themselves on taking all our clients varying horticultural requests and executing them with professionalism, punctuality and passion. There isn't a job too small or complicated we won't consider and we are fundamentally reliable.

Your garden, is our garden. We will not disappoint!

Get in touch to find out how we can help you in your garden.

Approved Installer for Jacksons Fencing

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Jacksons fencing

We are proud to be an Approved Installer for Jacksons Fencing, a family run business since 1947.

One of the reasons we like them? Their quality product… they use premium timber that not only enables them to offer an unrivalled 25-year guarantee, but it is also fast-growing, which benefits the environment with a low carbon footprint.

Do get in touch with Charles to discuss all your fencing needs.

Hedgehog S.O.S.

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Why not help our endangered friends this Spring and let Charles Hoare landscape & garden services make your fencing hedgehog-friendly, for no extra cost?* We will even throw in a free hedgehog house to encourage those prickly visitors.

We are supporting Tiggywinkles, the world's leading wildlife hospital, to find out ways we can help our local Oxfordshire hedgehogs. In the Spring, hedgehogs can travel up to a mile each night, and having access to our gardens is crucial. 

We are happy to discuss the various ways you can make your garden a haven for hedgehogs and other British wildlife.

To find out more about Tiggywinkles and how you can help, please visit www.tiggywinkles.com

* In addition to existing work.