What common tree diseases should you report to tree surgeons in the UK?

The most destructive tree diseases shattering the UK in past years are actually non-native. In their natural habitats, the fungi and pests causing them have natural predators that keep the ill-wishers intact. Here, however, the suppressors are absent and there is no balance established.

You will see that, without their native ecosystem’s control, they can almost obliterate whole species of trees here in the UK. Fighting off such organisms takes years of studying and persistence. Nowadays, a timely announcement of the issue may be the key to eradicating it from the plant in question. In order to preserve our woods, a responsible Briton from the capital, for example, should take the matter of a sick tree to a tree surgery London company. From there, the surgeons can estimate the future of the tree and the current development of the disease. These are the most common tree diseases in the UK:

Ash dieback disease in progress.

Potatoes In Barrels – save space but keep the productivity

Let’s say you really want to grow potatoes, because let’s face it – who doesn’t. Potatoes are a great part of man’s menu because they can be cooked in many varieties, all of them delicious, they are nutritious and last but not least – rich in vitamins. But there’s a small problem with urban gardening – you are poor and lack enough space for a fabulous potato garden. Worry not, because great gardening minds came with the idea of container gardening to avoid such issues and still make your potato dream achievable.

Being a potato is sometimes stressful.

What is container gardening and why should you give it a try?

Container gardening is not only effective for successfully spacing your plants on small limited areas, making way more production per square foot possible, but it also keeps your plants well protected from weeding , unfriendly fungi and pests. Not to mention there is no more damaging your potatoes when trying to collect them but rather you just tip containers over and voila! It’s easy and upon reading further you will be convinced that it has numerous advantages over normal potato growing(Boring!)! Here is what you’ll need to do:

Peculiar oddities inhabiting your rain gutters

Often the most talented fortune teller won’t be able predict what will end up in your gutters. Leaves, branches, and sometimes a squirrel, find their way up there and eventually stop every future flow of rainwater. This does sound like a neat place for animals to lurk right? What do you think you can find up there? A bird, or a raccoon, perhaps? Correct, but that is far from the full length answer. There are mysteries up there you’ve never imagined to encounter in your otherwise peaceful gutters. See for yourself:

Squirrel looks smug.

Aquaponics greenhouse

Aquaponics greenhouses are becoming more and more popular among merchants and buyers. People are looking to buy “Aquaponics veggies” and when there is demand there is also supply. A clear reason behind that:

If you look up “ingenuity” online “Aquaponics” pops up!

So pure.

Both aquaculture(the cultivating of aquatic creatures, for example…um, fish) and hydroponics(growing plants with no soil) have some drawbacks.

Hydroponics requires lavish supplements to sustain the plants, furthermore obliges occasional flushing of the system which can prompt waste transfer issues.

Re-circling aquaculture needs to have over-abundant supplements expelled from the system, typically this implies that a rate of the water is evacuated, for the most part consistently. This supplement rich water then needs to be discarded and supplanted with clean crisp water.

While re-circling aquaculture and hydroponics are both exceptionally effective strategies for acquiring tons of fish and vegetables, when we take a gander at what happens when adding the two up, these negatives become positives.

Toxic plants to die for. Literally.

Not sure if Michael Jackson thought of these toxic plants while coming up with Dangerous, but it’s a well known fact that even harmless-looking organisms like plants can be mean and hostile. Ten of them seem share-about worthy, because they stand out with their deadly defensive mechanisms, that you will see sometimes apply to humans only. Which is kind of insulting.

#1 Deadly nightshade

Just look at how deadly and nightshady this plant looks.

I guess by the female super villain name you have already concluded this plant is evil. And you’re right! It is highly poisonous from the bottom to the top(berries AND foliage). No wonder people have been poisoning each other(on purpose) with it for many, many years in the past. Nowadays you just go and pull the trigger, not a biggie. Back then it was art to murder someone. Especially if that’s Emperor Augustus(who is rumoured to have been poisoned by his own wife, which I am not going to say anything passive aggressive about in relation to women behaviour). In ancient times archers used the deadly nightshade to make poison arrows as well. But hey, here’s a fun fact – familiar vegetables and fruits such as tomatoes, potatoes and eggplants are part of the same family(nightshade). So it’s not a surprise they all have toxins present in their foliage as well. Death awaits around every corner.

Quirky Carnivorous Plants Facts

Carnivorous plants have been populating children’s cartoons(you’ve been secretly watching) since forever. Knowing a catchy fact or two about them can be an easy ice breaker in awkward situations. But is there more valuable information about them? Do they eat human babies? Do they hunt in prides? Do they poop? Truth is carnivorous plants mostly feed on insects, be it crawling, foraging or flying. I said mostly because some plants have been reported to capture rats, frogs, a bird here and there(although these animals were most likely already dying or sick). This being said there’s no danger for you whatsoever. Not because you are at home, reading this, but in general for humans.

Here, in this shot, you can witness the ambush stance of a wild predator.

500 words of winter home preparation – short and clear

Winter is what happens to your home during December. For most of the world. Nature wants to kill everything in sight every once a year with its cold and snowy hug. Being prepared for the annual wipe-with-frost attempt is part of surviving. See, that’s the difference between us and dinosaurs. We survive things. So how should you prepare for the rough reality?

Here’s a simple guide to ensure your home protection and well-being during the winter.

Rain gutter history – from gargoyles to Voltron

Imagine what would happen if rain gutters didn’t exist. Voltron would’ve rusted from the inside the first time they formed it to dramatically fight monsters in the rain. Essentially rain gutters have been reported of being used thousands of years ago. Voltron on the other hand never existed.

Here, in this shot, you can clearly see Voltron’s steel rain gutter on his right shoulder.

Indicator Plants Will Help You Nurture Your Other Plants With Precision

What are indicator plants?

No matter if you are an experienced gardener trying a new type of flower or a newcomer in the art of gardening one of the most common mistakes you can make is either overwatering or not water your plants enough.

Disclaimer: Some plants DO require less watering because of their nature, such as succulents, let’s say, or, perhaps, cacti. This article is exclusively for non-extreme condition-loving plants.

These are Impatients. Use them as a watering indicator.

So let’s assume you’re not looking after the tough-guys of the plant-world and you are just trying to maintain something alive for awhile in your garden.

Actual Jungle-like Exotic Plants you can Grow in the UK that Tolerate our Climate

Exotic garden plants used to be the preserve of stately gardens such as Kew, with huge glass houses and an army of staff to pamper these tender plants. Well, times have changed and there are a wealth of plant suppliers that specialise in exotic plants now. There are more and more varieties being discovered and bred that are quite hardy and can tolerate the UK climate very well. Growing them at your own house would be almost as impressive and innovative as when this dude grew a flower in space. Here are some choices that would transform your outdoor space.

Starting with some lilies a particularly nice one is Crinium x powellii ‘Album’ commonly known as Cape or Swamp lily. Why it is known as swamp lily is a mystery as it requires good drainage. Planted in a sunny spot, in fertile soil, it will provide you with sweet smelling, large, trumpet-shaped white flowers.

Swamp Lily