END OF MONTH BLOG – OCTOBER

We find ourselves at the end of another month, we can hardly believe there’s only two months left of the year! This month has flown by and we are really seeing the seasons changing. As autumn turns to winter, we can see the nights drawing in and urge to keep warm and cosy becomes greater, however there is still plenty to do in the garden and outside. This month has...

We find ourselves at the end of another month, we can hardly believe there’s only two months left of the year! This month has flown by and we are really seeing the seasons changing. As autumn turns to winter, we can see the nights drawing in and urge to keep warm and cosy becomes greater, however there is still plenty to do in the garden and outside.

This month has been full of fantastic autumn colours, we have had a fantastic display of beautiful trees and lots of photo opportunities to highlight the stunning landscapes around us. With half term it’s been the perfect opportunity to get out and about and really take in the fresh autumn air.

So, let’s have a recap of the month; We started the month of October excited to have been awarded a new site, Cross Trees Park, in Shrivenham for Legal and General Homes. This is a fantastic contract and we are extremely excited to be working in partnership with Legal & General Homes, enabling sustainable communities in a carefully landscaped setting whilst ensuring the development integrates with the surrounding green areas.

On World Mental Health Day, we raised awareness with a video on our Facebook page from Manging Director Paul Lynch. We wanted to remind you that looking after your mental health is just as important as your physical health.

During October we updated our website to include a new section containing a portfolio case study of our work at Bear Walk. We also updated our blog as we wanted to highlight a fantastic project, we have been working on for Holly Hedge Animal Sanctuary and we added to our testimony page too after some feedback from one of our customers. If you haven’t already seen these changes have a browse of our website and see the updates for yourself.

We also purchased a ‘Motor Sherpa 940RC Ride On Mower’. A fantastic piece of equipment that is a huge benefits to our workforce, allowing us to cut grass on steeper slopes more safely and not having to work on steep banks with strimmer’s. Not only will this eliminate risk of injury, but it also reduces fatigue meaning more energy to carry out other tasks! Remember, if you have any steep banks that need cutting, we would be happy to provide a quotation or and discuss your requirements further.

As we roll into November, we see the leaves really dropping from the tress and the weather getting colder and wetter. The signs that winter is on its way. In November we begin to put the garden in order for winter. Clearing the last of the fallen leaves, planting tulips and composting the last remnants of summer from the borders. It is also a time to start afresh in the garden, review horticultural successes and failures, and plan for the next gardening year before our heads are filled with festive season.

Tender plants will need protecting from frost, gales and freezing rains so we suggest moving plants into the greenhouse, or into a sheltered spot, but if you can’t, it is worth wrapping plants or pots. Winter can be a tough time for birds in terms of water and food, so keep supplies well topped up.

Our Top Ten November Tips:

• Clear up fallen leaves
• Raise containers onto pot feet to prevent waterlogging
• Plant bulbs for spring display next year – tulips are our favourites! The ground should be cool enough but try to avoid planting after a heavy frost or in waterlogged areas of the garden.
• Plant out winter bedding
• Insulate outdoor containers from frost – bubble wrap works well!
• Prune roses to prevent wind-rock
• Put out bird food to encourage winter bird into the garden.
• Don’t forget about indoor plants; heating dries out the air in your home so keep house plants alive by misting them or placing the pots on a filled water tray to ensure adequate humidity and moisture.
• Clean your garden tools for winter storage as well as any empty pots that have been hanging around in the garden before storing them in the shed over winter.
• Pot up some prepared flowering bulbs for indoor colour and scent during the winter. Store the pots in a cool, dark place, until new growth emerges from the soil and then move them to a bright window. Hyacinths, amaryllis and narcissus are easy to grow.