Devon Garden Services - Best For South Hams Kingsbridge Totnes Ivybridge

Our Devon Garden Services include budget-priced grasscutting, garden maintenance, weeding, strimming, design advice and all landscape and garden projects. Grounds maintenance contracts and regular gardening/mowing undertaken at prices to suit every budget. Please contact Richard to discuss your requirements. Garden Clearance Devon, Landscape Gardening, Grass Cutting,Fencing, Mowing, Turfing, Ponds, Water Features, Landscaping.Complete your project in stages. Long established and trusted local business-Est.16 years.

TEXT - A - QUOTE or RING on 07973 417 494 for free site visit and consultation. All landscape and garden projects, grounds maintenance contracts and regular gardening/mowing undertaken at prices to suit every budget. Please contact Richard to discuss your requirements. Garden Clearance Devon, Landscape Gardening, Grass Cutting,Fencing, Mowing, Turfing, Ponds, Water Features, Landscaping.Complete your project in stages. Long established and trusted local business-Est.16 years. Covering Totnes, Kingsbridge, Ivybridge , Plympton  and Villages.

Tips On How To Indoor Force Begonias From The Devon Landscapers At Green Grounds

How to indoor force begonias

Devon landscape gardeners have a lovely emerald green backdrop as a foil for very strong fiery colours, such as those of Begonias. These are so useful and reliable for lifting those dull shady corners that most gardens have, and it is much cheaper to start your own bedding plants indoors.

It's easy to learn how to indoor force begonias through tubers indoors, even if you have never tried it before. Begonias can be challenging for beginners to grow, but if you are prepared, follow instructions carefully and do not forget about the begonia tubers even beginners can achieve good results with these fiery-colored plants.


Late winter is an ideal time to learn how to indoor force begonias. Lift the tubers in the Fall before the cold weather sets in and the ground gets frosty. They can come indoors to spend the winter out of the extremes of the weather outside. If the tubers are damp, they need to be dried carefully first, to lessen the risk of any damage resulting from mould or disease. Fungicide should also be used to powder the tubers before they are put into store. Choose a location that is cool but not subject to frost, such as a garage, unheated porch or store-room.
(Or grow your beautiful Begonias from seed through Amazon:)
Begonia F1 Nonstop Mix Seeds (1 Pkt - 50 seeds)

In late February, plant your begonia tubers in compost, but not too deeply. Arrange them so that they are just covered by the growing medium. Lay the tubers out so that they are concave side up. Ensure that the growing medium is moistened and that there is not so much compost on top that the light is drowned out. A thin covering is sufficient.
When planted, move the trays of begonias to a warmer location, still indoors, but too hot a spot! About sixty degrees is good. They like a good, light position and it is sensible to have them where you can see them regularly so that you can see and feel when the compost is getting dry. You can then watch the height of each begonia, ready to remove it to its own pot when it is ready. This should be when the shoots of the new plant have grown to about three inches. Learning how to indoor force begonias is not difficult and waiting for these shoots to show is exciting.



As soon as the weather is warm enough, usually from late May until about mid-June, start to plant out your new begonias with their cool white or hot spicy shades. Choose a spot in shade or a partly shaded area in which to plant them and make sure they have a light, free-draining soil to grow in.
Alternatively, brighten a dull, uninspiring corner in the garden, or welcome visitors, with tubs full of vividly colored begonias.There are many hot shades and hues to choose from from hot pinks, to fiery oranges and scarlet reds - all of which look stunning when accompanied by Bizzie Lizzies as a foil to the planting scheme. If using begonias in the garden, choose a location near to the front of the bed, due to the height of the flowers. No matter what the weather, at least you can be sure of a fiery hot show of garden color if you start your Begonia tubers early! Next year you will already know how to indoor force begonias.
For more Devon landscapers tips from Green Grounds,or for help with projects large and small, call us on

01364 73630
(Devon landscape gardeners covering Plymouth,Plympton,Ivybridge,Totnes,South Brent,Torquay,Buckfastleigh and Ashburton.)

Green Grounds The Devon Landscape Gardeners Can Help You Plan Your Project

Deal With Worm Casts And Other Lawn Problems With The Devon Landscapers - Green Grounds

Those Dreaded Winter Worm Casts!

To smooth out worm bumps in lawns, you first need a dry day. In some zones, these are few and far between in the winter, Worm bumps in lawns can be unsightly, particularly in the winter months, when the spirals of digested slimy earth are wet and where they occur very close together.

In summer too, worm bumps can be a nuisance, as, after a shower of rain, the worm bumps get wet and sticky underfoot.

This can cause the lawn to become muddy and slippery as animals, children, and even lawnmowers pass over them.

If not cleared away before a very long, hot dry spell of weather, the worm bumps can dry out, and - particularly on clay soils - the bumps can become hard-baked little hillocks which affect the smooth operation of a lawnmower.

Some gardeners fear that numerous hard-baked worm bump areas in the turf will cause the lawn to become patchy, as moss, clover and other weeds will grow there in future, instead of fine grasses.

Spring and Fall are the most likely times for worm bumps to appear, as the weather is milder and wetter then. The worms come up to feed when the temperature climbs a little. The earthworms feed on decaying organic matter and excrete the surplus as slimy soil in worm bumps on the surface.

The best way to deal with worm bumps is to try to remove them when they have dried out a little. Wait for the first few dry, warm days of spring and use a light grass rake to scratch the worm bumps into a dry earth powder that will either soon blow away, or filter harmlessly down into the turf. This could ideally be carried out before the first cut.

An effective technique is to methodically treat the area with a light grass rake in a 'cross-hatch' pattern until the whole area has been fine-raked right down to the soil surface. This technique is known as 'scarifying.'

An added benefit of scarifying the lawn is that the thatch of wet damp moss and the remains of last year's grass-mowing clippings will also be removed, leaving the lawn clean and refreshed and ready for a smooth run with the lawnmower.

Serious 'lawn purists' whose aim is to produce a show lawn fine enough to grace any croquet lawn or lawn tennis match, may not be satisfied with this partial remedy however. Such lawn enthusiasts may want the worm population exterminated all together or at least culled! . In the past such zealots may have resorted to Ph lowering treatments such as sulphur powder in attempt to deter the worms by raising acidity.

Unfortunately, chemical worm-treating agents are now frowned upon for safety and environmental reasons and are even banned in many countries. If, on a show lawn of closely-cropped fine grasses, the worm bumps are a serious blot, then the only recourse might be to consult a qualified landscape gardening professional. These operatives often have licenses to use more powerful chemicals. However, there are safety issues with chemicals and of course, cost issues too.

It is worth remembering at this point that earthworms are worth keeping in the lawn for other reasons. They are a beneficial presence in the soil as their constant mining helps to aerate the earth, and they also digest and recycle organic matter such as dead leaves and moss from the surface. They play an important role in lawn drainage too.

It is possible that for the fine green sward spreading before the gardener in summer he has the worms to thank. A healthy lawn might be worth the headache of a minor worm bump issue that can be safely raked away.

Many thanks to Net_Efekts of Flickr for the worm image!

JJAE Web Directory

Totnes Garden Services from Green Grounds the local Deven Landscape Gardeners

Totnes Garden Services from Green Grounds runs an affordable local garden maintenance list right through the summer and beyond, from Totnes to Kingsbridge and Plymouth. You can get a quick quote for your lawn mowing, strimming,pruning, hedging,turfing, fencing and weeding headaches from Richard on 07973 417 494. All South Devon and Totnes garden services and types of job considered - or give us a ring on 01364 73630. Click on the title for more info - this week we are planting spring bulbs:

Tips for growing the pretty little Tete-a-tete daffodils are very easy as these petite golden flowers are simple to plant and need very little fussing over in return for their cheerful presence. Because they are little daffodils in miniature though, they need careful consideration when it comes to positioning.

Choose either a drift of Tete-a-tete in sets of twenty or so ,which will look pretty and natural in the distance, or specimen planting closer to the areas nearer the house which get more use in late winter and chilly early spring. Tete-a-tete also looks pretty growing in wall-top beds or rockeries.

Drifts of Tete-a-Tete look particularly natural in lawns under semi-wooded areas. The first tip for brightening your woodland area or flower beds, is to plant the pretty yellow-trumpeted miniature daffodils in the Fall. Bulbs become available to buy from mail order companies or garden stores in the later summer months.

It is a good idea to plant bulbs that are to grow in cooler areas earlier in the Fall, to give the little golden flowers more time to establish before the cold of winter. In temperate zones such as the UK it is common to leave them until October.

Tete-a-tete, like most Daffodils, should be grown either in full sun or dappled semi-wooded light shade. To grow healthy,flourishing blooms choose a planting area that has fertile soil which is free-draining.

To plant in drifts, scatter the bulbs first on the lawn surface, ready to plant each bulb where it falls. This random effect will look more natural. Have ready some organic matter such as garden compost or manure which has rotted down completely and some fertiliser mixed with soil. Add a little to each planting hole (three or four inches down) to enrich the soil.The bulbs may need spacing slightly, if they have fallen together too closely - three or four inches is about right.

After planting, cover the bulbs with some mulch to conserve warmth and provide a little protection. In the spring, you will soon have the nodding heads of little yellow Tete-a-tetes in the semi-shade of your 'woodland garden.'

Another growing tip for miniature daffodils is to have them grow closer to the house too, so that they can be enjoyed by those who don't care to venture out in zones where the weather is chilly in late February or early March when these plants bloom.

The bright heads of Tete-a-tete can be used to lift the color in window boxes for example, or doorstep containers. Their compact height (to ten inches) means they won't dominate the displays. Senior relatives and friends will appreciate being able to enjoy these mini daffodil trumpets from inside the house, or being able to admire them in containers and pots while gardening around the back door. In this way their scent can be appreciated too,because Tete-a-tete is a fragrant daffodil - a cheering experience after the dull grey days of winter.

Other features to enjoy about the Tete-a-tete cultivar (N.cyclamineus) are the distinctive color of its trumpet blooms, and the way in which the buds develop and open so sweetly. At first the buds point skywards, but just before they open, they start to point straight down to open up like little bowing heads. To follow, bright orange trumpets darken as the blooms mature.The golden lemon of the petals lifts the spirits by reminding us that the warmer days of Spring are coming.

For gardeners venturing further afield in the garden, Tete-a-tete daffodils can be grown close to paths too, or try growing them in the lawn, naturalised through the grass. Rock gardens and larger flower beds are suitable planting locations too, for this versatile little bulb. Your local garden services contractor can help with planting large quantities of bulbs.

Kingsbridge Gardener Services From Your Local Devon Landscape Gardener

Kingsbridge Gardener Services

From a Garden Tidy to a full Garden Makeover, from Kingsbridge to Kingskerswell and beyond, Richard (Text Quotes on 07973 417 494) offers most gardening services in between including:

Lawn Mowing
Green Waste Solutions
Strimming
Pruning
Lopping
Tree Stump Grinding
Weeding
Tree and Shrub Planting
Regular Garden Care
Garden Clearance
Turf Supply/Lay/Deliver
Grass Seeding
Garden Design
Paving
Patios
Decking
Ponds

and more.

We have a regular list from Kingsbridge to Totnes,and Plymouth.

Our Devon Garden Clearance Services cover a wide area from Exeter to Plymouth and down to Torquay, encompassing all the towns and villages in between. Our reasonable prices (enquire on 07973 417 494 0r text-a-quote) mean we are kept busy with our regular lists for property maintenance, landlord clients, holiday cottages, pensioners, house movers and proud new property owners. We always have room for one more garden however, and can help with garden clearance projects, one-off makeovers, regular mowing and maintenance, rubbish removal, tree work and shrub pruning. When funds allow, we can help you plan and implement your new garden plot.

Just contact Richard on 01364 73630 for a site visit or text for a quote to 07973 417 494

Ivybridge Lawn Services From Your Local Devon Landscape Gardener

Ivybridge Lawn Services, Totnes Lawn Services and Plymouth Lawn Services, we cover a wide area over the whole of the South Hams from Exeter to Plymouth and south down to Kingsbridge, Dartmouth and Torquay. Our local family lawn services company has been established for 20 years in the South Hams and we have lots of happy loyal customers.

Our modestly-priced lawn services include:

Regular Lawn Mowing/Strimming/Treatment

Green Waste Solutions

Lawn Turf Supply/Delivery/Laying

Lawn Makeover

Garden Makeover

Lawn Grass Seeding

Groundworks/Levelling/Grading/Rotovating/Digger Driving

Sports Ground Maintenance

And more:

All landscape and garden projects, grounds maintenance contracts and regular gardening/mowing undertaken at prices to suit every budget. Please contact Richard to discuss your requirements. Garden Clearance Devon, Landscape Gardening, Grass Cutting,Fencing, Mowing, Turfing, Ponds, Water Features, Landscaping.Complete your project in stages. Long established and trusted local business-Est.16 years.

TEXT - A - QUOTE or RING on 07973 417 494 for free site visit and consultation.

Devon Garden Clearance From Your Local Landscape Gardeners

Our Devon Garden Clearance Services cover a wide area from Exeter to Plymouth and down to Torquay, encompassing all the towns and villages in between. Our reasonable prices (enquire on 07973 417 494 0r text-a-quote) mean we are kept busy with our regular lists for property maintenance, landlord clients, holiday cottages, pensioners, house movers and proud new property owners. We always have room for one more garden however, and can help with garden clearance projects, one-off makeovers, regular mowing and maintenance, rubbish removal, tree work and shrub pruning. When funds allow, we can help you plan and implement your new garden plot.

Just contact Richard on 01364 73630 for a site visit or text for a quote to 07973 417 494

or email:

greengrounds@btinternet.com

for help with:

Devon Garden Design –Devon Garden Services – Devon Grounds Maintenance – Devon Lawn Care – Devon Tree Planting – Devon Garden Clearance – Devon Turf –Devon Grass Cutting. Affordable Rates Let You Budget Your Project In Stages. Let Green Grounds bring the Devon landscape to your garden or grounds, no matter what the garden or budget.01364 73630-Ivybridge-South Brent-Totnes-Plymouth-Newton Abbot- greengrounds@btinternet.com