Lawn Care: Questions & Answers

Q. How can I stop badgers from digging in my pots disturbing the plants and how to stop deer eating the plants?

This Month in Your Garden - April

‘Spring makes everything young again except man.’ Richter

In these unprecedented times, social distancing and isolation at home can have negative effects on mental health. Gardening is known to help and while it’s not a panacea, anyone who is feeling anxious may find the garden a therapeutic respite. At the time of writing this month’s journal the garden centres were closing, but ordering online and keeping a safe distance between you and the courier is still an alternative.

The Lawncare Guide - April

Keep Off The Grass

Once a familiar sign in public places the command equally applies to newly sown grass which shouldn’t be walked on or mown until it reaches a height of at least 5-8cm (2-3in). April into May is the time to seed a new lawn on a prepared bed or overseed patches, providing it’s not too wet or frost is persisting.

Lawn Care: Questions & Answers

Q. We have a lot of bare patches on our lawn after the winter and where we’ve scraped out the moss. What should we do to to get the grass back?

The Vegetable Plot - April

Sow here we go

Succession sowing will see you in vegetables through to autumn and that means a riot of planting on your patch if you have space. Well, a controlled riot at least. Carrot, turnip, beetroot, spinach are favourites along with lettuces and peas. The latter will need supporting with pea sticks when they appear. On with radishes, Brussels sprouts and, not needing support: broad beans.

The Big Glut Recipe - April

Lamb kefta with herb salad and spicy yoghurt

A variation on Moroccan street food that takes 5 minutes to prepare. From House and Garden magazine.

Ingredients

For the kefta

• 11/2kg minced fatty lamb
• 1 medium white onion, grated
• 3tbsp ground cumin
• 2tbsp ground turmeric
• 1tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2tsp chilli powder
• 10g mint leaves, finely chopped
• 10g parsley, finely chopped
• 2eggs