Badger Badger Badger

On one of our grounds maintenance sites in Dorset we have had some major problems with naughty badgers. They have ripped up what was once a nicely striped lawn and it now looks like a herd of elephants have been through. I never quite realised what damage could be done by these naughty animals. We have discovered that they have been digging it up to expose grubs that have been living under the surface of the lawn. The lawn is now going through a treatment to kill off the grubs and it will then be re turfed as is beyond repair. We are also installing a small electric fence to deter the badgers from doing this in the future. Sorry badgers - lunch is over!

Caught in the act!!

I visited one of our big clients today in Dorset. We maintain the grounds and the interior office plants at this site. I came across my employees having a Christmas lunch in their machinery yard. They had laid it out with a table, table cloth and tea lights and were sitting down to a...no...not Roast Turkey but a Indian TakaAway. To be fair to them it was their lunch break and they certainly amused me and made my day especially when I walked into see them sitting there with Indian music playing in the background.

Seasons greetings - laugh at the monkey

Firstly, all the very best for Christmas and New Year from our Designers, Construction and Maintenance staff.

Stewarts landscapers always look forward to the New Year because the days begin to get longer and with a bit of luck the weather starts to get more co-operative again. When you look out of your window over Christmas and New Year just imagine how a make-over could transform your garden and make it even more exciting to get out there come the summer.

If you fancy a laugh at the world of gardening celebrity take a look at Garden Monkey
and for a laugh with a message consider Marrow

The main themes for 2008 are:

• an increasing emphasis on plants rather than structures
• low and easy maintenance
• grow your own to eat
• varied outdoor living spaces
• wildlife friendly
• sustainable materials

Try us........we won't let you down.

Autumn Leaf Fall - recycle at home

Autumn fall has arrived. Why not this year recycle your leaves at home rather than burning them. You may take them to be recycled by your local waste company but instead why not recycle them in your own garden?

Here are some tips:

Woodland areas: Trees will love you more if you leave the leave litter alone as it will help to enrich the ground and put nutrients back into the soil and there is nothing better than wandering through the woodland with the sound of crunching leaves at your feet.

If you have lawn beneath the trees you can collect this up and recycle for use for later on.
Shredded leaves make a wonderful mulch for around the base of trees, shrubs and perennials or to dig into the vegetable patch.

If you have a large lawn area and use a ride on mower why not treat yourself to a mower with a mulching kit attached. The mulching kit will chop up the leaves as you mow and these will lie on the surface of the lawn and over time be taken down by the worms which again will increase the soils nutrients.

Why not invest in a compost bin, its much more fun than having to make a trip to your local waste tip. It will save you money in fuel, and you can show off to the neighbours when your mulch is ready to put round your garden.

...and dont forget clearing leaves is a great form of exercise too so what not get the whole family to join in and give yourselves some fresh air at the same time.