Sorry I’m bit late with my garden page this month – have been enjoying a break in London with a visit to Windsor castle. Hence my garden was neglected and this morning I have been deadheading and tidying up the borders. I noticed all my potted plants full of weeds. It’s important you remove them right away to prevent seeds spreading. to use them – spread them around roses, camellias and hydrangeas. They contain high levels of nitrogen. Another use is to scatter them around hosts to chase away the slugs, snails and also ants – another unwelcome pest. Ants do not like the scent and will soon disappear. If you don’t have a coffee machine the local costa coffee shops will gladly give them, so try them. You won’t be disappointed.

The hanging baskets will be looking sorry for themselves now but give them a new lease of life with a dessertspoonful of Epsom salts and teaspoon miracle grow in gallon water – you will notice the difference in 3 days .

The dry weather has not done the lawns much good but the expected rain this week will make a big improvement and should green up the lawns. Then you can scatter some fertilizer high in nitrogen to encourage new growth.

My tip for the month / Use your old coffee grounds in the garden. There are many ways

I am opening the garden next weekend 10am-4pm for prostate cancer research donation to Clatterbridge Hospital,  so please come along and support us and enjoy my semi- tropical delight.

Norman.