on Wednesday 27th June 2012 – 2.30pm-4.30pm.

In aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care

All money taken from teas and coffees during the afternoon will be donated to the charity.

Look forward to you joining us.

Calling all local schools …                                  

To celebrate the Olympic Games being held in London we thought it would be fun to hold a Scarecrow Competition between local schools at our garden centre.

 I am therefore asking to see if your school would be interested in taking part, it is FREE to enter.

 All that I ask is that you make and display a scarecrow that represents The Olympic Games.

Extra props etc can be used to set the scene and the area allocated will be approximately 1.5 metre square. The skies the limit for your design and we hope you will have fun creating and making your display.

 The scarecrow will need to be in place by 12 noon Saturday 30^th June (you may start assembling your scarecrow from Wednesday 27^th June) and this will then be on display until Sunday 8^th July, giving plenty of time for visitor’s to admire and judge your creation.

 The winning school will receive £50 of Barn Farm Plants Gift Vouchers.

 I do hope you will be able to take part and join in the fun.

 I shall be grateful if you would complete the application form attached indicating that your school will be taking part. These forms need to be returned by Friday 25^th May 2012 

Olympic Games Scarecrow Competition

 Saturday 30^th June- Sunday 8^th July 2012

 Our school would love to take part in your scarecrow competition

School———————————————————————————— 

Address———————————————————————————–

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 Tel Number————————————————–Contact Name————– 

Please return by Friday 25^th May

Please return to

 Mrs D Page

Barn Farm Plants, Barn Farm, Wardington, Banbury, Oxon, OX17 1SN

Wednesday 30th May 2012

Here is your chance to create your own waterfall of colour this year at our Hanging Basket Workshop.  The only charge will be for the materials and plants you use.

So why not come along and join in the fun – Pre-booked places only – so hurry to save disappointment -call 01295 758080!  

Deborah

May

May bank holiday and warmer weather gives us all a tonic, hopefully summer is just around the corner.

 Summer bedding can be planted towards the end of the month, but be patient everything depends on the weather -don’t forget we can still have frosts in May!

Vegetables -You can purchase vegetable seedlings now which can be planted out providing the ground is warm. Even the smallest garden can accommodate fresh vegetables with a plot as little as one metre square giving great results, so no excuses! Carrots, spinach, peas and beans are as easy to grow from seed as purchasing seedlings so if you’re a novice why not give these a go. 

 Sow salad leaves in short rows fortnightly to ensure you have a fresh supply all summer. Plant tomatoes, peppers, aubergines and cucumber plants under glass now if you have not done so already.

Roses -Spray your roses with a good fungicide to prevent blackspot and mildew appearing. Repeat this regularly throughout the season.  Remember to dead head finished flowers this will encourages new flowers to form quicker.

Watering -With a hosepipe ban now in place it is very important to conserve rain water (especially as we are getting lots at present).  Put in place water retaining methods, such as using capillary matting on your greenhouse staging, this absorbs excess water which the plants can draw from when required. Using trays or dishes under your plant pots will also catch valuable water. Choose the best compost to avoid it continuously drying out, I recommend using water retaining crystals in your compost.  A water butt connected to your down pipes can catch and store precious water that your plants will adore and it is much better for them than tap water too. The space sava butt is both slim line and attractive in olive green and stores 100 litres of water.

Remember to mulch your borders with bark too this will keep the moisture in the ground. You can also use cold washing up water and bath water to give borders and lawns a drink, just ensure there is not too much detergent in it..

Slugs and Snails

You will need to protect any leafy plants such as delphiniums, tulips, and vegetable seedlings such as salad leaf, brassicas and herbs from nasty slugs and snails, applying a barrier such as slug off can be effective if applied correctly.

Pruning and Plant Support -Now is the time to prune the deadwood out of your acer, trim back to the last healthy shoot.  Also tie in all new stems from previously hard pruned clematis. Cut back as hard as you require your forsythia and flowering currant bushes now these have finished flowering. Dead head narcissi and tulips but avoid cutting down the foliage. Use plant supports for herbaceous perennials such as peonies, delphiniums and hollyhocks, there are numerous types to choose from including the versatile link stakes, these can be used in various formations and are available in several heights.

Plant of the Month – Nemesia  Aromatica – This stunning bedding plant really does flower all summer I can assure you. I planted one myself in the centre of my summer basket last year and with no need to dead head it flowered continuously until early autumn. We grow it in purple or pink and the flowers are fragranced, it has a compact spread and habit making it ideal for tubs or baskets.

Tip- Hanging Baskets – You can plant your summer hanging baskets and tubs but grow them on in the greenhouse until the end of the month, once established they can be transferred to their final position within the garden. Remember certain plants prefer certain positions for example if it’s a dry position in full sun choose geraniums. For advice call in and we will help you choose your ideal plants from the extensive range we grow at our nursery. Don’t forget to include a slow release fertiliser in your baskets to help prolong their performance over the warm summer.

 Enjoy your Gardening and don’t forget be patient!.

Craig

Barn Farm Plants – Wardington, Banbury, Oxon OX17 1SN

 (01295) 758080

www.barnfarmplants.co.uk

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Make sure you plant these near to your patio, so you can enjoy the lovely evening scent!

* If watering, water early morning or late evening when evaporation is minimal.

* Be sure to deliver water directly to the base of the plant.

* Don’t worry about established lawns turning brown. This shows the grass has stopped growing, but most lawns will recover completely when rain returns.

* Don’t cut your lawn too short. as longer grass sends down deeper roots and provides more shade.

* Collect any rain water off greenhouse, shed, garage and house roof in water butts.

* Collect and re-use grey water from bath or kitchen sink to water plants.

* Mix water storing granules in with potting compost when planting up tubs and hanging baskets.

* Keep borders well weeded as weeds compete for moisture.

* Use a bigger pot and more compost to cool the soil and conserve moisture.

 Enjoy your garden this summer!

April

Easter’s arrival signals that spring has sprung

Spring means many jobs in the garden can now be tackled, but don’t be tempted to purchase summer bedding plants it’s far too early, so be patient.

Beware of late frosts! Keep vulnerable plants and flower buds protected with fibre fleece.

Vegetables and Fruit

Sowing of vegetable seedlings will be on the agenda this month. Carrots, salad leaf, spinach, leeks, beetroot and parsnip are to name but a few. If purchasing ready germinated plants please remember to harden them off before planting in open ground.

Good Friday is ‘our’ recommended time for planting first early potatoes, with second and main crop planted by mid to end of April.

Tomatoes and Pepper plants will need to be started around now but protect them from the cold as they are easily chilled or frosted, grow under glass or polythene with a little heat if cold outside.

Check your rhubarb as this will soon be ready to harvest, remove the forcer if you applied one. Plant new strawberry plants and think about covering other fruit bushes to keep birds from eating your produce.

Roses Trees and Shrubs

You can feed ‘Woody’ plants such as trees, roses and deciduous shrubs with a good all round fertiliser such as granular growmore. Ericaceous plants such as Rhododendrons, Camellias and Pieris can have an acidic feed such as sequestrene.

Slugs

If delphiniums and other tender perennials are emerging now is the time to deter slugs and snails. Apply a child, pet and wildlife friendly pellet which are both shower resistant and certified organic, this will all but eradicate those hungry slimy pests.

Lawns

You can mow regularly but start off with a higher blade. Rake out any moss that has appeared over winter and if mild enough over sow the area with grass seed. Don’t mow over daffodils! These need to die down naturally to ensure flowering next year, you can dead head and feed with a sprinkling of bonemeal.

Birds

Provide nesting boxes in your garden as birds will be looking to nest, continue feeding with seed mixes but cut down on peanuts as young birds can easily choke on these.

General Tips

Sweet Peas & Nasturtium seeds can be planted outside this month

Top dressing your borders with bark will help keep the weeds down

Treat your garden fences and sheds to a new lick of paint if warm enough to apply, this helps prolong the life of the wood, treat wooden garden furniture to a teak oil or hardwood stain.

Use cabbage collars round brassicas to protect from root fly.

Use strawberry mats under your strawberry plants to avoid fruits becoming dirty and less likely to be eaten

Replenish your herb planter replace annuals that didn’t survive the winter such as tarragon, coriander and dill.

Plant of the Month

Senetti – a gorgeous early season bedding plants that flowers its heart out! Hardy down to -5 it is ideal for adding early colour to your pots and containers, available in colours of purple, blue and magenta.

Lets hope April brings mild weather and you’re able to enjoy your Easter egg hunt in the sunshine. Wishing you all a very Happy Easter

Craig

You will find we have a wonderful selection of planted containers and baskets along with lovely gifts and cards.

                                          These fantastic chimeneas are fun, fashionable and practical, they come in either clay or cast iron, they will help to keep those chilly nights at bay. The cast iron chimenea also comes with a cooking rack.