Welcoming songbirds and deterring bugs

* I was invited to the Garden Press Event, a one day show which connects garden product suppliers with garden media, therefore I’m marking my blog posts from the event as 'Ad’ though as usual my views and opinions are very much my own.

We’re all aware of the need to encourage wildlife in our gardens, and to maintain the balance - but I’m also sure that many of us also encounter some of the more annoying bugs too, and need all the help we can get dealing and coping with those. At the event there were companies there covering both of these, and so today I’m sharing some of their messages and products.

SongBird Survival

The clue’s in the name really, SongBird Survival is fighting to change the future for songbirds by funding research into the causes of decline to create and promote solutions, and as numbers have fallen 50% in 50 years that’s very much needed. In that time more than half of our UK songbirds are threatened or already in decline, so they really do need our help.

As part of their awareness for this SongBird Survival have partnered with Nicola Oakey who has designed their garden at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May. The garden aims to show gardeners how they can do their bit to help stop the dramatic decline - so do look out for more on their garden later in the spring.

We’re already in the breeding season, which takes place between February and July - so if you haven’t already make sure your nest boxes are clean and ready for any feathered occupants, though go carefully in case any have already moved in.

If you’re wondering what you can do to encourage a wildlife-friendly garden then SongBird Survival recommends including their five essentials:

1. Shelter - important for escaping predators; trees, hedges and shrubs can provide this.

2. Food - a mix of flowers and greenery will attract insects, and berries and fruit trees can also provide a good source of food.

3. Nesting - nest boxes are a great way to provide safe nesting environments, but also planting long grasses and cardoons supplies birds with good nesting materials.

4. Water - provide a space for water, such as a shallow bird bath, which is cleaned regularly.

5. Be natural - ditch the pesticides to help wildlife thrive.

I’m planning to cover more of their advice in my monthly The Garden Year linky when that opens for this year, so pop back on the first of each month between April and November to read more.

Alfresco, Anti Bug Bite Botanical Blend

Free from DEET, parabens and synthetic chemicals these products by Alfresco feature a unique blend of over 25 essential oils which means a naturally derived mosquito repellent, along with a pleasant long-lasting fragrance - which is a world away from the usual insect repellent smell we’re used to, trust me!

I tried the Power lotion on the day of the show and was pleased with how it smelt and felt on my skin, so I’m looking forward to trying it for real as the year goes on, as I don’t think there’s anyone that enjoys attention from the bugs is there? The spray looks as if it could be useful too - there’s a few different varieties to choose from - Classic, Planet and Power, each with a different fragrance.

Super Ninja Against Plant Flies and Fruit Flies

In the past we’ve experienced both plant flies and fruit flies, and they are very annoying. These products from Super Ninja are also from natural ingredients and claim to provide ‘immediate results, without harmful side effects’ as well as easy to use. And when you’re inundated with bugs, you want something easy don’t you?

The Against Plant Flies, made from recycled plastic (and are recyclable) are the yellow sticky traps which are said to last up to three months. The Against Fruit Flies are innovative and discreet, according to their website. The pack contains two small bottles of liquid which attracts the unwanted pests, and these also come with a sticky pad so you can get the bottle close to the source of the problem.

I’ve not tried either of these, and in some ways I hope I don’t need to! But if I need them, then I know from previous experience that it’s great to have something to hand to use straightaway, so if (when) that day comes again I’ll be hoping they’re as good as their word.

It starts with seeds...

* I was invited to the Garden Press Event, a one day show which connects garden product suppliers with garden media, therefore I’m marking my blog posts from the event as 'Ad’ though as usual my views and opinions are very much my own.

There’s nothing more satisfying than sowing a seed and watching it grow is there - but there’s so many seeds available, so knowing where to start can often be overwhelming. But one thing that’s clear is that the seed companies I spoke to this week at the event are going all out to entice us to buy their seeds.

So whether you want to grow vegetables, herbs or flowers why not take a look at these brands

Stocks & Green

Based in Colchester, Iben and Trevor have built Stocks & Green as a reflection of their deep-rooted passion for the world of horticulture and along with their seeds they aim to fill gardener’s lives with vibrant colour, delightful scents and fresh home grown food. And with a display like this, it was hard to resist.

Their range often features personal favourites to give the home gardener a good selection, but avoiding that overwhelm that I mentioned before. They’ve refreshed their seed pack imagery ahead of the show, and the images on their seed packets are stunning.

The back of the seed packets are equally clear and informative, and including the aftercare information is really helpful for gardeners new and old alike.

Among the new flowers for this year include the fluffy looking Papaver ‘Black Swan’ (Opium Poppy), the arching stems of pink firework like flowers of the ‘Cerise Pearls’ Persicaria, and in their vegetable range they’ve added the yellow courgette ‘Goldena’ and a favourite of mine the ‘Black Beauty’.

I left the show with two packs of seeds - a white Echinacea elegantly called ‘White Swan’ which they advise is ideal for pollinators and the young flowers look equally good in a vas, lasting over a week. I’m looking forward to sowing these (under cover between February and June) when the temperatures are more consistently warm, given that I don’t yet have a greenhouse.

The other packet of seeds is a new to me wildflower, but with a name like Fiddleneck and the bee on the front of the packet, how could I resist? The flowers attract bees, butterflies and ladybirds and the plants can also be dug into the soil as a soil improver. Growth is fast, so they can help prevent weeds, but these need to be sown where they are to grow, but can be planted between March and September, so I’ve a bit of time before I start these ones. I think I’ll grow these in an empty spot in our outside border, but probably away from the buddleia which is good at attracting butterflies to the garden.

Mr Fothergill’s

I’m sure this is a brand that you’ve heard of before, and for me it’s a tried and trusted provider of seeds, but they also have a couple of other ranges which you might not be aware of, but which I think are interesting. Each of these is aimed at a different audience as you’d expect, but each is encouraging people to get involved and grow more from seed, whatever their skill level and whatever their interest.

So if you want to grow flowers for cutting, the Johnsons range is likely to appeal to you - and their seed packs are truly stunning, looking less like a traditional seed pack would.

I love a Cosmos, and am very tempted by both the white ‘Purity’ and unusually for me, the red ‘Dazzler’ shown above.

But if it’s vegetables you want to grow, then the D.T.Brown range could be for you. This offers a smaller selection of vegetables, for example only three or four carrot varieties, but those varieties are ones that can be relied on whatever your experience. Each of these seed packets has a QR code on the back providing more information, and the recipe for the dish shown on the lower half of the seed packet, so it really is a sow - grow - eat approach.

And if you’re new to growing from seed then the Oh Sow Simple range would be a good place to start - these are varieties good for starting off, and can be grown in a container or directly where you want them to grow.

You need very little experience for growing seeds, as they are programmed to grow! Just give them warmth, water, something to grow in - as many growers will tell you watching them grow can be magical, so why not try it for yourself?

As it says on the image above - Sow - Grow - Enjoy!