As money gets increasingly tighter, more and more are both saving cash and keeping healthy by using their greenhouses, gardens and windowsills to cultivate and grow food. There has been a huge surge in popularity recently for grow your own produce, and the National Trust has reported that there is massive potential in the UK as there is around 600 aces of windowsills being unused.

These could easily be used to grow various fruit and vegetables under glass by those who don’t have gardens, or the space to put a greenhouse.

But help is now at hand from Pippa Greenwood who will be demonstrating on the tour how easy it is to grow your own. She will explain and demonstrate growing seeds and propagation. She will also show how to pot a plant easily using different sized pots as well as giving a master class on making small and versatile growing beds from large pots, troughs and hanging baskets.

The tour will begin on March 1st at Stewarts inChristchurch, Dorset and then to mark gardening’s own version of Comic Relief, Garden Re-Leaf Day on March 13th, Pippa will be bound for Cadbury Garden & Leisure Centre in Congresbury,North Somerset.

Garden Re-Leaf Day is part of a nationwide programme of fund-raising events aimed at gardeners of all levels of expertise. All proceeds will be donated to Greenfingers, the garden industry charity which creates gardens at children’s hospices.

Pippa will visit Scotsdale Nursery & Garden Centre in Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire on March 24th, Barton Grange Garden Centre in Brock Preston, Lancashire on March 28th, as well as Gordale Nurseries inBurton, South Wirral,Cheshireon March 29th.

She will then head to Webbs near Droitwich, Worcestershire on April 5th, followed by attending the Exeter Food Festival,NorthernhayGardens,Exeteron April 13th and the tour will be rounded off by a visit to the Garden Pride Garden Centre in Ditchling,West Sussexon May 13th.

The tour comes on the back of a recent three-year partnership deal signed last year between Stewart and Pippa Greenwood who will be working together to help consumers improve their understanding of growing fruit and vegetables at home and support retailers in this increasingly popular market sector.

The BBC Gardeners’ Question Time panellist and BBC Gardeners’ World columnist said she was very excited to be working with Stewart, taking part in a very hands-on tour where there will be eight comprehensive information sheets available to visitors explaining everything from propagation to when to use a cloche. These, along with a ‘grow your own calendar’, will be available in garden centres and DIY stores across the country, located next to Stewart products labelled with Pippa’s ‘grow your own’ branding.

“I’m looking forward to chatting about grow your own with people, and using some of Stewart’s wonderful products. Stewart’s product range demonstrates a real and long-term commitment to the grow your own movement – something that everyone knows I am passionate about.

“I believe that, together, we can help gardeners everywhere get the most from their grow your own efforts.”

Pippa will have her own blog on the Stewart website at: www.stewart-garden.com/pippa and she will be selling a wide range of Stewart products with the ‘grow your own’ branding on her own website at www.pippagreenwood.com

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One of the most cited reasons for picking bamboo as a fence material is the fact that it is good for the environment. Being a type of grass rather than a timber it is very quick to grow. When it is harvested, the roots of the plant are not affected, meaning that it can swiftly replenish the shoots.

Despite being a grass, bamboo poles can be incredible strong. Compared with many woods, bamboo is more than capable of holding its own. As a result, a forest of bamboo can produce more than 20 times the material that a forest of hardwood can provide.

Bamboo can provide a very elegant and exotic look to a garden. It has a unique texture, and it can be styled in different ways. If you have a particular colour scheme, you can stain the bamboo to match, or else you can allow it to age naturally whereupon it will gradually turn from tan to grey.

While traditional wooden fences, such as those made from pine, cedar or fir have been popular for generations, people have become more aware of the impact that humans have on the planet, causing bamboo to increase in popularity. As it takes much less time to grow back, a bamboo forest can be used many times compared to a slow-growing hardwood forest.

Minimising the threat to the world’s forests also minimises the threat to the animals that live within these endangered ecosystems. Over-logging is a serious problem, and you can play your part by choosing bamboo for your fencing material. In addition, it can fit into your gardens natural theme, and look wonderful.

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There are so many options available that you will need to spend some serious time looking at the possibilities. Whatever your style or budget there is the perfect fence which will complement your garden. Rather than buying a brand new fence, using reclaimed wood is the environmentally friendly choice. This can also be a very cheap option if you get the wood directly from a salvage yard or similar, and it will be completely unique.

A much quicker and easier alternative is to use ready made wood panels. These come with a range of different finishes depending on the style you are aiming for. These can be cheap, and take no time to install.Metal is a material that will prove to be more durable and more secure than even the hardest woods. These will never rot and can withstand a very strong wind.

If money is no object, then bespoke carpentry can provide you with a very sophisticated style of an incredible quality. If you get it right the first time, these fences can stay with you for as long as the garden does.

Privacy is one reason that many people get fences. If you simply want to increase your privacy, consider getting trellis to attach to existing fences and covering it with climbing plants such as honeysuckle or jasmine. Not only does this protect your garden from prying eyes, but it will provide a fragrant addition on those beautiful summer days.

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Before the keen gardener can even think about what to plant this year, there are a few important and very basic checks to make; and there will inevitably be a few tasks to follow to ensure that the garden is in perfect shape before planting is even considered.

This winter has seen some pretty rough weather across the country so the first thing to check is that there has been no hidden damage to bushes, trees or even fences. Garden security is very important as an added precaution against burglars Make sure the fences around the garden have any loose planks replaced; not only does this deter potential intruders, and provide shelter and shade, but the garden will look nicer for it too

Family circumstances may have changed since the last time any major garden maintenance was done. The water feature or pond that was the focal point of the garden last year may now be seen as a hazard if there are going to be young children using the garden some the summer months.

Although gardening is a great hobby, the main reason so many people spend their weekends working hard to maintain their outside areas is so they can be used for barbecues and outdoor drinks with friends and neighbours once the evening start getting warmer. With this in mind, access to an from the house needs to be checked, and if a new barbecue is part of the plan for this year’s garden renovations, pick the spot carefully; too exposed and the smoke will blow everywhere, but too sheltered and it will hang like a cloud over your party.

Lighting is another important part of entertaining in your garden. Luckily there are dozens of options available in DIY stores when it comes to external lighting so it is easy to pick the perfect system for your situation.

Many gardeners are also environmentally aware and this winter is as good a time as any to make some green changes to your grounds. Set up a bird table to encourage feathered friends to visit and if the garden has a suitable out-of-the-way spot set up a compost area – though make sure it is well away from where the entertaining will take place.

Finally, now is not only a good time to get all those annoying maintenance jobs out of the way, but also the perfect opportunity to make some changes to cut down on the amount of repair work needed throughout the year. It is possible to introduce new landscaping features that will cut down on the hard work, such as mowing the lawn, that needs to be done all year round.

Take all these tasks into hand now and by the time spring arrives the garden will be in excellent shape for all the fun stuff to begin.

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There are still a lot of misconceptions about the relative expense and effort involved in eco-friendly gardening as opposed to the use of pesticides and artificial fertilizers.  Too many folks still have the notion that going green is bound to be a lot of hard work and probably a big mess, or just too complicated to bother with.  This is unfortunate, because the exact opposite is true; it’s a matter of working as a partner with Nature, and that’s a powerful partnership.

For starters, plan your new garden or a remodel of the existing one by checking the soil  type in different areas and choosing plants that prefer a wetter, dryer, shadier or sunnier environment, for instance.  If you have the space, add a little pond.  Even the smallest will attract all sorts of wildlife that’s beneficial to your garden, not to mention adding considerable aesthetic attraction.

Water is an essential ingredient, and the very best (and cheapest) source is rainwater.  You can be creative with water-catchers, but a simple rain barrel under a downspout on the eaves of your house will provide a substantial amount of the water your garden needs between rainfalls, and save you money on the water bill.  The more reservoirs you can arrange, the better your garden will grow.

You can enrich and condition any soil with mulch and compost derived from cut grass, fallen leaves, dead branches etc., kitchen waste, manure from grazing animals and other natural sources.  Keep weeds at a minimum with mulch around plants you do want, and take the time to learn which of those weeds might be good to eat – you’ll be surprised.

Fight plant pests with Nature’s weapons such as birds that eat harmful insects and slugs by planting berry trees and shrubs to attract them.  Be sure to plant some nectar-rich flowers and herbs to attract  bees that pollinate (and butterflies that beautify).

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If you are planning to include wooden structures and surfaces in patios, decks, railings or any other place that is open to the sky and therefore to the elements, it makes good sense to use wood that has been pre-treated to withstand the attacks of moisture and wood-eating insects. It makes even better sense to buy pre-treated wood that is not classified as potential hazardous waste, as defined by the UK Health and Safety Executive.

One such product is wood treated with Tannalith® E preservative, approved by both Health and Safety and the Biocidal Products Directive as environmentally safe.  The trademark preservative also offers a 15-year guarantee against termites/insects and decay.  For all practical purposes  Tannalith® E provides an ideal treatment to save you time and money in the long run.

The manufactures suggest that once installed, the wooden surfaces and inserts should be washed down about once year to remove accumulated dirt and mould, but you will not need to re-apply preservative. They also warn that any shavings or pieces of the treated wood should not be used for mulch or as bedding or litter for animals, as they do contain biocides.  Also, after handling the treated wood wash your hands thoroughly before eating, drinking or smoking, for the same reason.

Given all the advantages, using properly treated wood for garden and lawn purposes is the most practical way to go.  It will look great and help protect the environment whilst saving you money and time in repairs and replacement.

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Not everyone has the time or the ability to mount a major conservation project in their back garden, but it only takes few seconds to check the labels on gardening products to ensure they are as environmentally friendly as possible and that they don’t contain any potentially harmful chemicals.

Even city dwellers with no back garden can do their bit for the environment. Sign up for an allotment with your local council or set up a window box and plant a few flowers to attract bees and other insects.

If sorting out the garden was already one of your resolutions, you might want to consider building a small pond. Amphibious creatures are losing vast amounts of their natural habitat due to construction and development, and even a small water feature in a back yard can encourage frogs and toads to return to the area.

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Organic food still needs protection from pests and disease, but how can the green gardener achieve this without pumping their precious home-made vegetables full of damaging chemicals? Even so-called “organic” pesticides that can be bought in supermarkets and garden centres actually contain some questionable ingredients, if you examine the labelling.

This means there is only one answer if you are determined to be 100% organic and that is to create your own organic pesticide. It’s actually a lot easier than it sounds; no qualifications in chemistry or household laboratory are needed in order to protect your produce from insects. Most of the ingredients can be found in the average kitchen and take just a few minutes to prepare.

The first method is to make a kind of soap which can be sprayed onto the plants, driving bugs away without damaging the produce itself. Once you’ve made a batch it will keep in the shed for several weeks, allowing you to top up when necessary.

The first step is to mix two spoonfuls of dish detergent and a couple of drops of olive oil into a gallon of warm water. Insects such as earwigs, aphids, mites and caterpillars can’t stand the soap in the spray, and the olive oil keeps the whole mixture a bit sticky, so it doesn’t just drip off the leaves and onto the floor. Once you’ve poured the mixture into a spray bottle, give your garden a good soaking and keep it handy in case you spot any more unwanted visitors.

An alternative organic pesticide is to make your own garlic spray. As you can imagine, many of the common pests in British gardens are put off by the strong smell of garlic, but as a natural ingredient it won’t harm your plants.  This takes a little more preparation than the soap, the first step being to cut and crush several garlic bulbs. Add them to a container with a couple of spoonfuls of mineral oil and leave the whole mixture to soak for 24 hours before adding tap water and fish emulsion.

Again, the finished product can be added to plastic spray bottles and used liberally, all over your organic and environmentally friendly garden.

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If you are fortunate enough to have the space and the time to establish a small pond in your garden, take the time to learn about the plants that are most suitable for your purposes and the climate they’ll be growing in.

Oxygenating plants are a good choice, as they help keep the water clear of algae and provide cover for fish and other wildlife.  Most grow underwater and do not root in the bottom, so it’s easy to control their growth.  A couple of the best options are hornwort and curly pondweed, both hardy native plants that can survive a British winter, and the curly pondweed even blooms with delicate pink and white flowers in early summer.

Water violets are also oxygenators, and though they’re a bit harder to get started, it’s worth the effort.  Besides producing lovely flowers that grow up to ten inches above the surface, they can thrive in water up to two feet deep.  Water lilies, on the other hand, are an established favourite but not always the best choice for a small pond, as they require a lot of light.  Others that do well in deeper water and can handle shadier conditions are Brandy Bottle (common pond lily) and Golden Club.

Floating plants like water hyacinths and fairy moss are notoriously invasive, but in small garden ponds they are easily controlled and add a lot of character.  Marginal plants that grow in the very shallow water along the edge of a pond can be wonderfully decorative.  Yellow Flag and Harlequin Blue Flag Iris, Marsh Marigold and many others are all good options, but note that most of them tend to be invasive so you have to watch them closely or they can take over the pond.

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