Tag: ask domoney

How to: plant a perfect hanging basket every time

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Hanging baskets are great fun and give you loads of colour and pleasure all summer. They are great for bringing flowers to walls, porches, windows and doorways. They have a reputation for being high maintenance, but I’ll show you some simple tricks to get luscious blooms for months on end!

Choose your basket

There are two main types of basket: containers, which are any solid sided tub, and the traditional wired basket.

The secret is to get the biggest possible basket or container. The bigger it is, the more soil it will hold, meaning more moisture and more nutrients. Moisture is key during the summertime to make sure your plants don’t dry out.

Preparation – containers

The most important thing is to check for drainage. If water can’t drain away, the soil will become waterlogged andyour plants will die.

Some containers, such as wicker ones, come pre-lined with plastic. Make sure you punch a few holes in the bottom of the lining so the water can drain out.

Plastic tubs usually have drainage holes drilled in the bottom, but it’s worth putting crocs in there too. This means a layer of gravel or broken pottery to stop compost blocking up the drainage holes.

Preparation – wired

This type of basket is usually wire mesh with a moss lining. Rounded baskets tend to roll about when you’re trying to line and plant them, so balance it in the top of a bucket or plant pot to keep it still.

Line the bottom of the basket with the moss, bringing it about halfway up the sides. If you leave a gap, you can push some plants and flowers through the metal above the moss, making your basket look fuller.

Now line that with newspaper. This stops compost falling through any gaps in the moss, plus it rots down nicely, adding extra nutrients to the soil.

Filling

It’s best to buy hanging container compost to fill your baskets. It’s more expensive, but you’ll save money in the long run because your plants will last longer.

First, it contains a wetting agent, which means you can water it when it’s very dry without doing any damage. Secondly, it contains extra nutrients to feed your plants as they grow

Add compost to your basket until it’s about three-quarters full. Don’t over-fill it – leave space for your plants’ root balls.

When the basket is finished, there should be a 2cm gap between the top of the basket and the compost level. If it is too full, water will run off the surface and down the sides rather than soaking in when you water your baskets.

Hydration

If you want to be clever, help your plants even more by adding failsafe moisture. You can use hydration crystals to the compost, which are little jelly crystals that store moisture and release it when the soil gets dry.

Or you can put a water slice in the bottom of the basket before your compost goes in. This is like a dry pepperoni slice, but it’s actually a polymer. When it’s soaked with water, it turns to a saucer-sized gel that stores the excess moisture every time you water the basket.

Planting

The best thing to do is to choose three types of plants: one upright central plant, trailing plants that go round the outside and fillers that really give the basket volume.

Start with the big plant. Dig a hole in the centre, put your plant in it and firm well in. For the other plants, think of the basket as a clock face. Plant your trailers around the outside at 12, 4 and 8 o’clock, or 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock. Then add your filler plants in between and top-up with compost. Do not over pack the basket – leave some space for the plants to develop.

Fuchsias or geraniums are classic centre plants – tall and brightly coloured. A typical trailer is ivy, which adds great evergreen colour. Or try lobelia, helichrysum or trailing geraniums for colour. Good fillers include Busy Lizzies or Begonia Semperflorens, which add extra volume.

If that’s too many plants, choose one bulky trailing plant such as Petunia Surfinia, which will run down the sides and underneath – it looks fantastic. Simply bed the plants together as one solid group and they’ll grow outwards.

Maintenance

Once your basket is planted, water it well. The compost may sink down and leave a gap – if so, add a bit more compost. Hang them in full sunlight and water when the soil starts to dry out. Water your plants with liquid fertiliser throughout their growing season, and remember to deadhead flowers to encourage more blooms.

And that’s it! Get great hanging baskets with minimal effort and watering.

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For more garden planting ideas, check out my blog:

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Or check out my Pinterest board for more ideas:

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April 29, 2014
Beekeeping: The day the bees moved into their new hive

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About a year ago, I took a 12 week course at the British Beekeepers Association in Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, to learn about keeping your own bees.

We have a declining bee population in the UK, and I believe it’s up to everybody to do their bit to help. And to be honest, I’d always fancied the idea of keeping bees. And finally, I’ve got a hive full of bees in my garden!

Among the blossom

I decided to situate the bees in the corner of my garden where I had recently planted a little micro orchard of mini fruit. It includes apple, pear, cherry and almond trees, and makes the perfect home for my new bees.

My first step was to get a little a beehive. I had it made by a local hive maker out of beautiful red cedar wood.

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The hive surrounded by orchard blossom

Now I just needed some bees. My friend Brian, who’s been a beekeeper for 50 years and is mentoring me, helped my find somebody who was selling a nucleus. This is a little bee colony with a queen and her brood which needs a new home.

I actually have two beehives: one with the nucleus and another empty one. Rather than buying bees to fill it, I’m leaving it available to a swarm of bees that naturally finds itself looking for new home.

Here come the bees

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The bees arrive!

I was beside myself with anticipation, and the bees finally arrived this week in a little box. In fact, the owner had driven over with the box on his front seat. I can’t tell you how excited I was to see my bees! It was just like being a kid again.

The guys who came to help me settle the bees in took the box over to the hive and opened it. They used a little smoke from a canister to calm the bees down.

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Smoke from the canister stops them getting agitated

Then they took out the individual frames and slotted them into the beehive.

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A frame on the way to its new home

It was a marvellous feeling to see the bees settling into their new home. The best thing was seeing some of the bees immediately set off to explore the orchard and heading straight for the fruiting cherry blossoms!

Once all the frames were in, the beehive lid went back on the top. Then we put a little green mat down as a ramp to help some of the stragglers crawl up and into their new home. They seemed very happy with it!

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The stragglers catch up!

Suited up

There is that initial trepidation, if you’ve never been so close to a beehive before, of suddenly getting caught in a swarm of bees. And the sound of them flying about is as alarming as it is fascinating!

The swarm of bees suddenly appears all around you, and you really have to trust in your suit and gloves and just keep calm.

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Trying out my new beekeeper’s suit

I’m still trying to get used to these bee suits – they look a bit cumbersome but they’re very easy to use.

It helped that I’m a scuba diver, and have taken part in hundreds of dives, so I’m comfortable in the suit and trust that it will keep me safe.

Exploring the orchard

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The bees wasted no time finding tasty pollen!

It was an amazing experience to see the bees settling into their new home and getting used to the area. And now that corner of the garden, full of bees and blossom and fruit trees, just has so much more personality. It’s really come alive.

They are just getting used to the neighbourhood, and we could have our own honey by this time next year!

I’m officially a beekeeper. And I can’t tell you how excited I am! I’m looking forward to writing more blogs to keep you updated on how the bees are getting on!

Get your own bees

Keeping bees isn’t as difficult as you think! For those of you interested in having a go, try the British Beekeepers Association – they do a very good comprehensive training session. For more information, check out their website.

If you want to help the bee population but don’t want a hive, check out how to create a bumblebee house or solitary bee nest here, and find plants to attract bees and pollinators here.

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For more garden planting ideas, check out my blog:

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Or check out my Pinterest board for more ideas:

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April 26, 2014
How to: integrate patio furniture into your garden design

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The Liana Furniture Range

The birds are singing, the plants are growing – even the sun is shining! It’s finally starting to feel like spring, and your garden is coming back to life. So let’s get outside and make the most of it! After a long day at work, there is no better place in the world to relax than your own garden.

Easter is usually the time of year when people start visiting the garden centre looking for new plants and shrubs to revamp their garden. Then you’ve got the rest of the summer to get outside and enjoy it. And for that, you need good patio furniture.

Often, people spend loads of time planting the perfect garden, but don’t put a lot of thought into finding the right furniture set. One that complements your garden style and design, and works best for you. Here are my top tips for integrating your outdoor furniture into your garden.

Sizing decisions

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The Celtic Rectangular Table

It sounds obvious, but make sure you take into account the right size table and chairs for the space available. If the set is too big it will make your garden look cluttered, but too small and it will feel awkward and out of proportion.

Before you go shopping, measure the space, building in extra room to comfortably pull out the chairs without falling off the edge of the patio.

If you have any doubts about a furniture set you’re thinking of buying, take the table and chair measurements home with you. Then cut the same shapes out of old cardboard or newspaper and place them on the patio so you can see the set dimensions. Et voila, no expensive mistakes!

Make it intimate

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The Heritage Double Hanging Chair Beech by Hartman

Unite the different areas in your garden by creating an intimate seating area for dining and relaxing. This works well in big gardens with room for multiple seating areas. But if you have a small garden, be a little creative!

Nestle a bistro table and chairs at the foot of a tree or large shrub for atmospheric privacy. Or create your own instant hideaway by arranging large pots of tall evergreens around a bench. Simply half-hiding your garden furniture will make it feel like part of your garden, rather than an add-on.

Illusions of grandeur

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The Celtic Bistro Set designed by David Domoney

You can also create the illusion of more space by choosing a furniture set with an open design. This directs the eye through the furniture rather than to it, making your garden feel bigger. It will also subtly harmonise the set with your garden plants and flowers by allowing their colours to show through.

Storage solutions

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Artemisa Aluminium Set

Storage space is at a premium for most of us, so outdoor furniture should be fully weatherproof. This means you can leave it outside all year round, rather than bundling it into a shed when the weather turns. You also won’t need unsightly covers that turn your furniture into an eyesore!

Choose something waterproof like resin weave, which fits in with wooden garden features like trees and fence panels. Or try a rust-proof metal like aluminium, which blends in with any garden style.

Secondly, if you’re garden is small, look for stackable or foldable chairs so you can reduce the amount of space your furniture takes up. And make sure all soft furnishings like cushions and covers are neutral-coloured and detachable, so you can wash them.

Furniture heaven

Follow these tips and find your perfect furniture set. One that fits in with your garden and even makes it look bigger! After all, outdoor living should make your life easier, not harder.

Now get out there and enjoy it!

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For more garden planting ideas, check out my blog:

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Or check out my Pinterest board for more ideas:

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last=”false” border_position=”all” border_sizes_top=”0″ border_sizes_bottom=”0″ border_sizes_left=”0″ border_sizes_right=”0″ first=”false” spacing_right=””][fusion_imageframe image_id=”43061|large” max_width=”” style_type=”none” blur=”” stylecolor=”” hover_type=”none” bordersize=”” bordercolor=”” borderradius=”” align=”none” lightbox=”no” gallery_id=”” lightbox_image=”” lightbox_image_id=”” alt=”” link=”” linktarget=”_self” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]https://new.daviddomoney.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/pots-and-planters-500×750.jpg[/fusion_imageframe][fusion_separator style_type=”none” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” sep_color=”” top_margin=”30px” bottom_margin=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”center” /][fusion_button link=”https://new.daviddomoney.com/quick-guide-to-pots-planters-containers/” text_transform=”” title=”” target=”_self” link_attributes=”” alignment=”center” modal=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” color=”custom” button_gradient_top_color=”rgba(1,149,51,0)” button_gradient_bottom_color=”rgba(1,149,51,0)” button_gradient_top_color_hover=”#0e540f” button_gradient_bottom_color_hover=”#0e540f” accent_color=”#0e540f” accent_hover_color=”#ffffff” type=”” bevel_color=”” size=”large” stretch=”yes” icon=”” icon_position=”left” icon_divider=”no” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” border_color=”#0e540f” border_hover_color=”#ffffff” border_top=”3px” border_right=”3px” border_bottom=”3px” border_left=”3px” border_radius_top_left=”0px” border_radius_top_right=”0px” border_radius_bottom_right=”0px” border_radius_bottom_left=”0px”]Pots and planters[/fusion_button][/fusion_builder_column_inner][fusion_builder_column_inner type=”1_6″ layout=”1_6″ spacing=”” center_content=”no” hover_type=”none” link=”” min_height=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_position=”left top” background_repeat=”no-repeat” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”” padding_right=”” padding_bottom=”” padding_left=”” dimension_margin=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” last=”true” border_position=”all” element_content=”” border_sizes_top=”0″ border_sizes_bottom=”0″ border_sizes_left=”0″ border_sizes_right=”0″ first=”false”][/fusion_builder_column_inner][/fusion_builder_row_inner][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_2″ layout=”1_2″ spacing=”” center_content=”no” hover_type=”none” link=”” min_height=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” 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April 22, 2014