Hard Economic Times Extend Into The Garden

It is easy to stuff flowerbeds with newly purchased plants from the local gardening centre but you can make your current selection look good.

Forking the soil over (especially) around the roots and removing weeds will boost plants dramatically. Weeds compete for light, water & nutrients and thus depleting your favourite plants of these resources.

Clipping.

Clipping the odd branch sticking out too far, or a bunch of leaves that stick out can cause plants to release growth hormones and thus stimulate growth.

Dead heading

Dead head flowers as they die, the plant will produce more flowers. If you leave it too late until all the flowers are finished..the plant will "retire" until the following year.

Composting

Grass cuttings, leaves, vegetable peelings. Dig these into the soil to give plants in your garden a much needed nutrient boost. Lay seaweed on soil surface rather than digging into soil as decomposing seaweed can deplete soil of nitrogen.

Watering.

Drench plants upto 3-4 times per week with water from a watering can or bucket. A light sprinkling will NOT be good enough.

Learn To Propagate.

Propagation is a big subject so I will not detail it here. It will save a lot of money. Basically, sticking cuttings from your plants into the soil or pots.