The Green Gardener

Why Use Smokeless Fuels? Why should you use smokeless fuels? Our aim is to answer that question, because you really should be replacing traditional coal for the new, better, cheaper alternative, that is Smokeless Coal. Before we get into this, we have setup a website dedicated to Smokeless Fuels, Smokeless Coal and Hardwood Logs. As you're reading this article and taking the time to learn about smokeless fuels, we hope the website will be of use to you.  Here's Why You Should Use Smokeless Fuels: Smokeless Fuels are the superior product for you to use this coming winter. We encourage the...

We now offer an extended range of winter products to warm your home in our new House Fuels range. We have four new quality products available in the form of Coal alternatives and Smokeless Fuels, availble in pack sof 25kg bags, from 10 to 40 bags per pallet.  These are availble here on our website or at our new dedicated low cost house fuels website https://www.fuels4less.co.uk. Smokeless Fuels We supply two smokeless fuels which are both fully Smoke Control Area Approved, these are: Smokeless Ovals - a great low cost and top quality smokles fuel suitable for use in open fires...

Reduced Prices As spring quickly approches, the QGS team have been busy putting together our new product ranges for year ahead. We've got some exciting new products as well as reduced prices on many of our exisiting products and our turf farms are already busy cutting turf to order (and its looking great!). We've cut the prices on many of our products, including our topsoils and some of our bark mulches.  We always strive to offer our customer very best garden supplies at the lowest prices without compromising product quality. New Growise Composts We have increased our compost range with the award...

September's arrival heralds the onset of Autumn, colder nights and misty mornings and the bright and beautiful summer flower displays have faded. Just around the corner though,  a riot of autumnal foliage, flowers, berries and shrubs is waiting to burst into bloom! Things to do in the Garden This Month Lawns need a bit of pampering at this time of year, replacing turf and lawn treatments such as... autumn lawn feed, high in potassium, will make sure your lawn recovers and rejuvenates for the Spring.It's time to move any evergreens and perennials and top up the bark mulch in flower beds.Collecting and...

When to buy your Christmas tree? Wait until two weeks before Christmas to get the tree (if you possibly can). Choosing Your Tree & What to Look Out For Check it out: The tree shouldn't look wilted or have brown needles.Bend the needles: If the tree is fresh, the needles will bend instead of breaking.Shake the tree: It's natural for some needles to fall, but not too many.Measure: Get a tree that's at least a food shorter than the ceiling that will eventually be above it. Remember that the stand will add height. And since you pay by the foot, you...

November’s Checklist So shortly winter will be here and there will be a few things to prepare in the garden. Here are some simple tips to get you ready: Improve your soil – Improving the soil with plenty of organic matter in the form of compost helps drainage and aeration on heavy soils and conserves essential moisture on light ones.Clear up fallen leaves – especially from lawns, ponds and beds.Raise containers onto pot feet to prevent water logging.Prune roses to prevent wind – rock.Plant out winter bedding.Insulate outdoor containers from frost – bubble wrap works well.Don’t forget about the birds! Put...

What to do with left over pallets? Not sure what to do with your left over pallets? Don’t throw them away! There are many ways to make the most of your pallets, which are effective and cost effective. Whether it is making furniture, shelving, decorative wall art or flowerbeds. We have had a lot of calls asking what to do with the pallets after delivery, and thought it would be a great idea to suggest to you, a fun alternative, other than a trip to the local tip. There are many ways you can turn a few simple planks of wood...

The Green Gardener looks into the facinating life of a butterfly. As part of butterfly month, I thought to myself that although I aguely remember my school days when we learnt about life cycles, I want to know more about the life of a butterfly. Their life cycle is a very structured one consisting of four stages, each of which are totally different from the next, the butterfly taking a completely different form in each stage.   It's quite magical!   Stage 1: THE EGG The first stage is a tiny egg which are laid on leaves, they are little spots...

Butterflies. In the British Isles we have 56 species of these stunning insects full of colour and enchantment and are seen as a representation of freedom and peace, they are also considered a measure of health on the environment but the number of species is rapidly declining. So, here at QGS HQ we decided to celebrate these wonderful in-vertebrae by having a butterfly month to raise awareness of the importance of saving our butterflies. Even our most familiar butterflies are becoming harder to find and are at desperately low numbers, so it is critical we do something NOW to start looking...

Things to do with Elderflower Its that time of year again when we see that beautiful, creamy white hedgerow favourite, the Elderflower has always been one of my favourites. It’s a wild shrub which grows all year rounds but producing an edible flower which can be used in many creations. The ancient shrub which can be found throughout the country, flowers from May to July every year, later turning into elderberries. With large blooming heads and a beautiful fragrant smell, this shrub is one I have grown up knowing and loving. From an early age I have harvested Elderflower to make...

Summer is the time of year that children should be outside playing, getting fresh air and lots of excerise. They love running around, climbing and playing on swings and climbing frames. All parents want their children to play safely, so what can we do to ensure that they are as safe as posible but without restricting their activities and fun? The answer is to build a play area; slides, swings and climbing frames are great fun but always think about the area surrounding the play equiptment. Are there any sharp edges or hard surfaces? The answer is probably yes, (even grass...

Earthworms are an essential ingredient for healthy soil structure and composts providing a number of great benefits for your garden. Often referred to as “ecosystem engineers” or "nature's ploughs" they burrow through soil providing easy access for oxygen and water to circulate whilst pushing out unwanted carbon dioxide. Even the earthworm’s faeces is high in nutrients which allows bacteria and fungi to feed on it creating a fantastic foundation for plant growth. Earthworms are highly underrated, yet they play a vital role in the success of any garden. Healthy, fertile soil can have around 430 earthworms per square meter. Here’s my Top...

Working out how much topsoil you need can be a bit of a daunting task, is it just a case of guessing? Most people do just guess and often get it wrong! Follow our guide below to hopefully eliminate the guess work and save you alot of hassel and money. Topsoil is usually sold in tonnes, but for now we are going to forget about weight and concentrate on volume. Step 1 - Measure the Length & Width of the Area Firstly, work out the area you want to cover with topsoil in metres by measuring the length and width of...

My first introduction to sloe’s came when helping my father to make his sloe gin, which was an annual thing in our house, to be done after the first frost each and every year without fail. I had to laboriously prick every tiny berry several times with a pin, before throwing it into a large kilner jar with what seemed like millions of other dry and bitter sloes. Needles to say my young, spindly fingers also suffered the same pain that the sloe berries went through! My father would then cover the berries with sugar and gin, leave the jar to...

Your Ash Dieback Questions Answered We had a customer question our tweet about Chalara; they wanted to know just what exactly Chalara or Ash Die back is? Chalara or Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidusis a tree fungi which causes Ash dieback, which symptoms include leaf loss and dyeing of the crown. Only discovered in 2006 this new disease was first discovered in Poland then spreading by 2008 to other parts of Europe such as Scandinavia, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland. Then by 2012 it was discovered in Belgium, France, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Russia, Ireland and of course Britain. So it didn’t...

As the autumn months approach and we start to think about having a clear up of our garden space ready for winter months; it’s a great time to think about your soil. "Soil?" you say! Well yes, soil, this simple (or so we think), garden medium needs to be cared for just as much as the plants we grow in it. The better the soil the better the quality of vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers and other plants we get out of it. Soil is made up of many different elements, including nutrients, which over time get used up or leached out...

Well, as Helen won our last inter office cocktail competition with her Lavender and Lemon Cooler; we thought we would make the most of her whilst her boastful head still fits in the office. We sent her to make the most of the autumn gathering / scrumping season whilst it is at it’s most "fruitful!" (Only from hedgerow’s my we add and not neighbors garden’s as the true definition suggests). I have come up with this beauty; making use of my favorite berry the Wild British Blackberry, don’t go to your local supermarket, get yourself out for a walk and you...

One of the nations favorite plant’s, the rose is a great way to add crazy colour and sultry scent to your garden.  Why not try getting a sense of accomplishment by growing some from a cutting on an existing plant. Here is our 4 steps to propagating roses from cuttings: Pick which rose you would like more of. Choose a long and healthy stem, which has grown this season.Take a cutting by cutting to a length of 25cm long, cut above a bud at the top and below a bud at the base.  Leave a leaf at the top and remove...

September in the Garden "Misty starts, dewy toes, and the thud of windfalls" September, the ninth month of the year, in roman times it was the seventh month which is how it got it’s name, Septem in latin means seventh. Anyway we need to discuss what we should be doing in the garden right now: Divide your herbaceous perennial’s now, this will not only give you more plants but will maintain a healthy and happy plant next year.Collect and sow seeds from hardy annuals and perennials’, which you liked seeing in your garden this year.Now is the time to plant your...

How To Give Your Garden a Makeover The weather is just starting to get out nice enough for us to enjoy a bit of time in the great outdoors. If your garden has suffered a little over the winter and needs a bit (or a lot) or TLC, don’t worry! We are here with some easy steps to help you get your outdoor space in order. Step 1: Tackle The Borders and Flowerbeds Chances are you have a couple of unwelcome weeds that have crept in. If you haven’t already attacked them, start now, ensuring you get the roots by loosening...