Gardening

 Nice one Maureen

I heard today that slug pellets are now banned

They have been used against the slimy vandals of the vegetable patch since the 1940s.

But from today gardeners are banned from putting out slug pellets to tackle the pests.

Instead, they will have to rely on beer to kill the slugs that are targeting their prized vegetables and flowers.

To make a slug beer trap, dig a hole in the garden, fill it with a container full of beer (preferably lager) and wait for the slugs to slip in. Don't forget to empty the trap regularly

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10674503/Slug-pellets-outlawed-today-gardeners-advised-kill-BEER-instead.html

"Don't forget to empty the trap regularly"

No point in wasting good lager, is there?

Is there such a thing as good Lager?

You have a point.

I've tried copper wire for getting rid of slugs and that seemed to work. I dont know what happened to what was inside the slug shell, I was left with shed loads.

Connect the wire to 240v and you can decorate the shed walls with shells

April
Flowers to plant in April
Sunflowers
Sunflower seeds are easy to grow, and great gardening projects for children.

They are fanaditc for local wildlife, providing food for birds, bees and other pollinating insects.

Fruit and Vegetables to plant in April
Peas and Broad Beans
April is a great month to sow peas and broad beans outdoors.

When it comes to peas, it's a good idea to stagger the sowing, putting a few seeds in the ground each week.

This will result in a longer harvest period and avoid a glut.

Onions and Shallots
Onions and shallots are really easy to grow as you just push them into the earth until only the tip is showing.

Sometimes the odd one can pop out of the soil, but will just need popping back in.

The harvest will be ready towards the end of summer.

Jobs for May

https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/gardening-through-the-year/article/gardening-through-the-year/gardening-jobs-for-may-ac4RS0h6BwRX

A friend is having problems with dandelions in her lawn, does anyone have tips on how 
to get rid of them?

Lilly,I have never known a year like it for dandelions,they're everywhere..I've used weedol everywhere but be aware that the watering can that you use for weeds must be cleaned thoroughly..I leave mine under the outside tap with the tap slowly seeping into it for a full day,..and of course it's lolly not Lilly.

Ta Maureen, would that not kill the grass as well? she's fearlessly proud of her lawn. You have to
take your shoes off to walk on it  Just kidding

Yes Lolly,I'm not thinking,it would kill the grass..I don't have a lawn ..its all flagged and the weeds I get in between the cracks is ridiculous..including scores of dandelions,everywhere I've been seems to have them everywhere...I think the only solution would be to try to get the root out but of course that would probably leave a gaping hole in the grass..I'll have a toot on Google.

Google says wait until a heavy downpour or water really well,then with a pointed garden tool just prise out ..and should come out easy...if it was me I would also sprinkle some gases seed in the gap that it's left.

I suppose the reason there are so many could be that  councils haven't been mowing the grass 

to save the bees. Hence the dandelions are having their seeds blown all over the shop. Where

 would we be without bees

Yes I read that the bees love them which does seem a shame to destroy every dandelion that we see..I have some right at the bottom of my garden that only I can see,and I'm going to leave them for the bees...some years ago I had a visitor that stood stroking a massive bee that was on a Rhodi shrub in the garden..and it let her.

You can buy weed killer for lawns

Resolva lawn weedkiller, kills the weeds and not the lawn. Providing you follow the instructions.

someone once told me they sprayed them with vinegar

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Give it a Grow Wigan
@growwigan
·
9h
Are you going to try #NoMowMay this year? Not only will you be giving wildflowers a chance, providing food for pollinators, but it can actually make the grass grow stronger and healthier by cutting it less often

Is there an easy way to cut/shape box bushes like this. Mine are ready for a cut and shape.

If I'm honest they should have been done a couple of years ago,

You need some topiary clippers and some patience.

Thanks MMB I found these and they look like something that would do the job easy enough

Sorted, all you need now is the patience.

I spotted some frothy substance on my roses, anyone know what it could be?

Froghoppers.

They blow the bubbles out of their arse bottom.