Tag Archive for: Gardens

Castle Gardens

Castle Gardens: Scott MacCallum discovers that a successful garden is a key component to a successful Estate.

Kelso’s Floors Castle, in the beautifully unspoilt Scottish Borders, is a place where no two days are ever the same. If it’s a three day event on the equestrian diary; outdoor Shakespeare theatre in the summer; commercial farming; among the finest fishing and shooting to be found anywhere… or even a Michael Bublé concert, there is always something going on at Roxburghe Estate, to give it its correct title.

Castle Gardens

Castle Gardens

The grounds are stunning, stretching across a whopping 50,000 acres and including the Tweed and Teviot rivers. They also boast Floors, Scotland’s largest inhabited castle.

Also, if you listen carefully you might just hear a familiar cry and notice a rustling of the trees in the woods. The reason?

The castle featured in the 1984 movie Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes!

It takes a lot to run such an Estate, but key to much that goes on are the spectacular gardens which provide not just a tranquil sanctuary for those lucky enough to walk among them, but fresh produce for the Duke and the Castle’s residents and guests but for sale in the Castle shop too.

For example, there is a white board in the mess room identifying all the Estate shooting parties so that he can ensure there are flowers, looking their best, in each of the guest bedrooms.

The man tasked with making sure everything is looking as good as it is edible is Head Gardener Simon McManus.

Simon runs the gardens with a team of four who look after the vegetable gardens and the show gardens including the five acre Millenium Garden, which has around two miles of edging all of
which is now cut by strimmers, a task which takes two days given favourable weather and carried out once a week. The walled old garden is another four acres, and also contains a number of glass houses.

The Millenium Garden features two miles of edging, and is cut by strimmer.

“It used to be cut by hand shears and would take five or six of us all day. With a strimmer you can do it all edging in a day, weather permitting and it’s done once a week, but that’s going some.

“The groundsman does it and he’s got a routine. So he’ll start here and hopefully get back to here within the week, and then start all over again. It doesn’t take much to knock them off – an afternoon of rain or a machine breakdown.”

Simon has been at Floors for over 20 years and Head Gardener for the last two. His fellow gardeners have arrived at the Castle, and in the horticultural industry, following careers in anything ranging from grave digging to owning a recruitment business.

“We work well as a team, which is good. On the big jobs, we just get stuck in. Like today we’re picking apples and we’re all on it,” said Mark, adding that this was something new.

“Previously, the apples just went to waste as we didn’t get any revenue for them, Now, as a new venture, a company is going to produce cider for us and we need to collect all the apples we can to provide the juice,” he explained.

Castle Gardens

Castle Gardens

It’s not just the weather that can get in the way of the smooth running of the gardens.

“Breakdowns are a real nuisance. You’ve got a job on and then the machine doesn’t start. Last week, the Kubota machine had two punctures. One step forward and one step sideways!”

They do embrace modern technology and had introduced a robot mower to the team.

“We have a Husqvarna robot mower. It does a very good job because it’s cutting it constantly, it’s not like it gets to grow two inches and then cut back. We also got a new piece of kit last year, called the Foam Stream which uses heat to destroy weeds.”

How does the work fall on an annual basis?

“September is probably the quietest month of the year – everything’s done! Over the next few months we’ll be cutting back herbaceous borders and take them right back.

Then we’ll be on with the pruning, rose pruning, apple pruning, the plums. And that’ll keep us busy. Peaches, that’s quite labour-intensive because they’re all tied in a traditional method which looks great but takes time. It’s always been done like that and it’s nice to keep it going. When you get it done just perfectly, it does look good.

“And that’ll take us right up to Christmas and beyond,” said Simon, who also conducts pruning workshops in the garden.

The Castle gardens are very popular with the many visitors who are attracted to Floors and while many are pleased and interested to see the quality of the work carried out, others can be more critical.

“Sometimes they say that we should have had X or Y harvested by that time in the year. But if we did that they’d have nothing to look at! Also with just four gardeners there is a limit to what we can do and sometimes there have to be compromises made.”

The new year starts with seed sowing.

“We’ll start with leeks and onions,and the like and that will run through sort of into May, April, March and April when we carry our propagation and more seed sowing, bedding plants, veg plants, plants for the castle,” explained Simon, who nets the herbaceous borders.

Simon’s team are experienced in years but have arrived in the world of horticulture via previous lives. For example Kate McClorey, Assistant Head Gardener and current Scottish Garden Designer of the Year worked in the world or recruitment, while Mark Baldwin was a grave digger.

Claire Nicho also had various jobs before finally arriving at the Castle.

Prior to taking over as Head Gardener, Simon used to be in sole charge of the glasshouses.

“That was my thing. All I did was the glasshouses. Now managing the garden and the glasshouses is hard going, particularly when you’re hands-on.”

His ambition when he took over his new role was to make his mark.

“I wanted to raise the standard up to the sort of next level. And the feedback we’ve had this year from the visitors is all very positive. Many saying that this is probably one of the nicest gardens that they’ve seen.“

But he is aware that without bigger budgets, a dream to all but the very few, there are compromises that have to be made.

“If I had more staff, I’d have the lawns weed free and cut with a cylinder mower so we’d get beautiful stripes.”

It’s fair to say that in the last two years Simon has earned his own stripes and is delighted to be working as such a special place as Floors Castle.

“It’s a good place to work and it’s certainly not a drudge getting out of bed in the morning to come here.”

Simon and his team are a key cog in the whole Roxburghe Estate operation and the dedication and hard work shown by them show ensure that the Estate and the iconic Floors Castle will remain as one of the country’s foremost tourist destinations.

Let gardens flourish with Wilkinson Sword

Let gardens flourish with Wilkinson Sword: In the summer, gardens are at their most beautiful, but it is also when they require the most attention.

Maintaining a vibrant and healthy garden during the hottest months of the year can be a fulfilling but challenging task and the right tools can make all the difference. Wilkinson Sword, a brand renowned for its precision and quality gardening tools, offers a range of products to help gardeners handle summer tasks with ease.

Let gardens flourish with Wilkinson Sword

Let gardens flourish with Wilkinson Sword

  1. Deadhead to encourage more blooms

Deadheading is a vital task for summer gardens. By removing faded flowers, you can stimulate your plants to produce more blooms instead of setting seed. This not only prolongs the flowering period but also keeps your garden looking neat.

Look for flowers that are wilting or have brown petals and use quality tools to make sharp, clean, and accurate cuts. The Wilkinson Sword Deadheading Snips are light, pocket-sized snips which make quick work of deadheading and are ideal for precise trimming, cutting herbs, flower collecting and arranging.

Trim off the faded flowers just above the first set of healthy leaves or buds being careful not to disturb the rest of the plant. Make deadheading a weekly routine to keep your plants blooming continuously. Summer heat can be harsh on your garden, making proper watering crucial. Ensure your plants receive enough water after deadheading, especially during dry spells.

  1. Prune to keep plants healthy

Summer is also the perfect time to trim and prune shrubs, climbing plants and perennials. Trimming helps in shaping the plants and promoting healthy regrowth by removing dead or diseased branches.

Identify areas for trimming such as overgrown stems or bushy sections. Use Wilkinson Sword’s Bypass Pruners to carefully cut lush new growth and unruly stems. The pruners feature precise and durable carbon blades and a soft grip handle, perfect for clean, comfortable cutting. Trim back overgrowth and shape the plants strategically to ensure better air circulation and sunlight penetration.

  1. Trim hedges to keep the garden tidy

Trimming hedges is an essential task to keep your garden looking tidy and well-maintained. Regular trimming not only shapes the hedges to enhance the overall aesthetic appeal of your outdoor space but also promotes healthy growth by removing dead or diseased branches. It prevents hedges from becoming overgrown and disorderly, which can overshadow other plants and reduce sunlight penetration.

Use Wilkinson Sword’s Telescopic Hedge Shears to cut and trim tall and difficult to reach hedges with ease. The lightweight aluminium handles can be independently adjusted through four stages to ensure a safe and comfortable cutting position and the non-stick coated blade provides a defined, crisp cut.

  1. Weed to keep garden bed’s looking pristine

Weeds can quickly overrun your garden, competing with your plants for nutrients and water. Regular weeding is crucial to maintain a healthy garden.

Wilkinson Sword’s Carbon Steel Dutch Hoe makes it simple to remove weeds without disturbing your plants. Expertly crafted from high-quality carbon steel, the tool is reinforced in key areas for maximum strength and durability. The smooth, natural weatherproofed wooden handle provides a comfortable grip, while the strong, traditional carbon steel head removes weeds with ease. It’s best to weed straight after rainfall as the soil is softer, making it easier to pull weeds out by the roots.

To find out more about Wilkinson Sword and to explore the product range visit www.wilkinsonsword-tools.co.uk.

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Rolawn supplies winning gardens

Rolawn supplies winning gardens: The UK’s leading turf and topsoil supplier has supplied its Medallion® Turf to multiple award-winning gardens at this week’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.  

Rolawn’s Medallion Turf is currently being used in multiple show gardens and stands at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show – many of which have been awarded coveted RHS gold medals.

Rolawn supplies winning gardens

Rolawn supplies winning gardens

The company has seen its turf incorporated into schemes by some of the country’s leading garden designers at this year’s show, including the gold-winning design by leading Garden Designer and Plantsman, Chris Beardshaw, who also incorporated Rolawn’s topsoil and compost into his “A Life Worth Living Garden.”

Rolawn’s partner stockist, London Lawn Turf Company, were also involved in supplying product to exhibitors at the show.

Along with RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Rolawn is the chosen supplier for some of the country’s most prestigious events, gardens and garden designers, including to The Royal Parks and Palaces.

Jonathan Hill, Rolawn’s Sales Director commented “Our products are trusted by gardeners and garden designers because they know through experience that they can have confidence in them, that their gardens and planting schemes will meet gold medal standards – at the point of judging and for the duration of the five-day event.”

He added, “We understand the pressures of curating a show garden, so we always go the extra mile to be sure that the products designers request are delivered when promised and in prime condition.”

RHS Chelsea Flower Show is one of the highlights of Rolawn’s yearly event schedule, but the market-leading turf and topsoil supplier will be continuing to supply its products to show gardens and events throughout the 2023 season, including the full calendar of this year’s BBC Gardeners’ World Live events.

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STIGA brings Artificial Intelligence to gardens

STIGA brings Artificial Intelligence to gardens: March 1st 2023 will see the dawn of a new innovative mowing age with STIGA’s new autonomous robotic lawn mowers.  At the heart of these machines are the ease of use, benefits both to lawns and nature, and the energy efficiency of the design.

The three fully autonomous, CABLE FREE, robot mowers, the first to bring predictive AGS technology to the garden, are:

  • A 1500
  • A 3000
  • A 500
STIGA brings Artificial Intelligence to gardens

STIGA brings Artificial Intelligence to gardens

AGS RTK GPS using cloud based 4G signals

The patented STIGA Active Guidance System (AGS) enhances the GPS RTK signal reliability by using 4G to transmit the vital course correction data. This means the link between robot and base remains reliable, no matter what obstacles or distance lies between the base and robot. The system learns satellite blind spots throughout the garden at various times of the day, ensuring that the robot has an unbroken link to the infrastructure that allows it to navigate with the high accuracy required.

No-Cable

With no need to lay cable in your lawn, you can simply use the App to drive the robot mower around the perimeter of your lawn and any obstacles within it. You do it once and it remembers every detail. Because it is virtual, it is hassle free to adjust if the layout of the garden should change should you add a pond, bush, or garden furniture.

Caring for the lawn

By using accurate navigation, the robot can cover the lawn significantly more efficiently. This means less cutting time when compared to a random navigation robot. Less cutting time allows the plant time to heal between cutting schedules. This way the grass stays healthier.

The carbon steel pivoting razor blades are strong and flexible, making them safer and more resistant to impact and results in them staying sharper, for longer. Spinning at 2850rpm they will perform a neat cut without tearing the grass. The height of cut can be adjusted between 20 and 65mm and can be controlled remotely via the smart phone app, STIGA.GO. This means you have complete control of your robot, even when away from home.

Caring for nature

By designing high efficiency robots that are able to manage cutting session during daylight hours, STIGA have ensured that nocturnal animals such as hedgehogs can safely occupy the garden overnight.

Energy efficiency

At the heart of every STIGA robot mower is an ePower battery built on premium lithium-ion batteries, which contain chemistry optimised for reliability and durability.  The new STIGA robots optimises the battery usage as they work within organised cutting patterns ensuring that there is no chance of over mowing. But don’t worry, there is also the option to programme the mower to create straight line patterns so you can still enjoy quintessential British stripes if you wish!

They cut the lawn in two mowing cycles – these are performed consequently. It will re-start any cutting cycle from where it stopped on the previous cycle and can be programmed to work in multiple mowing zones, always returning to the charging station by the fastest route.

The new STIGA autonomous range of robot mowers starts at £3086 including installation and will be available for purchase online and in selected retail locations on the 1st of March 2023

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Makita tools create new gardens

Makita tools create new gardens: Landscape and garden specialist, Landform Consultants has used a wide range of Makita tools on the creation of three new gardens at RHS Garden Wisley, which surround the new state-of-the-art RHS Hilltop – The Home of Gardening Science, the UK’s first dedicated horticultural scientific centre of excellence.

The new Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) facility, RHS Hilltop, is the UK’s first scientific centre of excellence dedicated to horticulture. The three gardens, which form an integral part of the new centre, have been developed by leading and award winning garden designers Matt Keightley and Ann-Marie Powell.

Makita tools create new gardens

Makita tools create new gardens

The ‘Wellbeing Garden’ designed by Matt Keightley was the first to be built. It consists of a series of garden rooms that showcase the role of gardens in health and wellbeing including how they can provide physical and psychological therapy as well as natural healthcare. This area also aims to inform young people about the importance of plants in health.

The Wildlife Garden, designed by Ann-Marie Powell, demonstrates the link between gardens and nature in the British Isles and highlights the importance of plant diversity in supporting wildlife, especially declining species. Also designed by Ann-Marie, the World Food Garden aims to provide a ‘plot to plate’ experience for visitors. Adding a contemporary and innovative angle to a traditional kitchen garden, it aims to inspire and educate with features such as an outdoor demonstration kitchen and ‘edible maze’.

Mark Gregory, Managing Director at Landform Consultants, who began his career at RHS Garden Wisley, explained: “This multi-million pound project spans all the disciplines we offer as a business and encompasses a wide range of different elements. The task of bringing these inspirational garden concepts to life required everything from preparing the nearly four acre site to creating paths, ponds, walkways and seating in addition to the extensive planting and landscaping.

“Having the right tools for the job was essential and the Makita range of both mains-powered and cordless machines provided exactly what we needed. On this highly demanding project we have used everything from drills, impact wrenches and impact drivers to breakers, angle grinders, masonry cutters, wood saws and multi-tools.”

By removing the need for cables, cordless tools offer improved safety by eliminating a potential trip and snagging hazard. Cordless power also provides greater flexibility and freedom for users – something that was important on this project. To minimise disruption to the team on site and help boost productivity, Landform Consultants utilised Makita’s PDC01 Pack Battery power units. The pack, which can be free-standing or backpack-mounted, contains four Makita 18V LXT batteries to provide two to four times longer runtimes for cordless tools. The batteries in the pack can also be changed quickly when the charge levels are low to further minimise lost time.

Mark Gregory added: “One of the big advantages of Makita cordless machines is the ability to use the same 18V batteries across a wide variety of tools and other cordless products. This includes the Twin 18V machines that offer 36v power for the tasks that need it.”

All Makita cordless power tools are driven by one of three battery platforms: the 12VMax CXT, 18V LXT or 40VMax XGT. The LXT batteries can be used on more than 270 different products, which includes lights and job-site radios as well as power tools and garden machinery.

“Having worked at RHS Garden Wisley at the start of my career I understand its horticultural and educational importance, especially with the creation of the new research and learning facilities.” Mark commented. “It has been a privilege to have worked on such a high profile and prestigious project as this. The Makita tools, as well as the support from the Makita team, have really contributed to our success on this project.”

Mark Earles, Business Development Manager for Outdoor Power Equipment at Makita said: “We have worked with Mark and the Landform team for many years now and we are always keen to help them find the right tools for any job. The RHS Garden Wisley project truly demonstrates the strength and versatility of cordless technology. I’m proud to say our tools played a part in creating these remarkable gardens.”

To find out more about the Makita range of power tools, garden machinery and accessories visit www.makitauk.com.

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