Latest news with #MorrisHankinson
Daily Mirror
22-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Lavenders grow 'masses of flowers' thanks to expert's one yearly task
Pruning lavender can be confusing - but gardening experts have shared all you need to know about when and how to prune lavender for the best possible results Trimming lavender can be baffling, particularly with so much conflicting guidance out there. Fortunately, horticultural specialists have revealed when and how to trim lavender for optimal outcomes. Morris Hankinson, managing director of Hope Grove Nurseries, explained why lavender plants require trimming. He said: "Unless you are going to treat your lavender plants as a short-term project to be replaced in a few years, you will need to prune them so they thrive. Unpruned lavender plants can quickly become straggly and leggy, liable to sprawl and open up to reveal unsightly gnarled looking branches that bear few flowers. Once this stage is reached they can be very difficult to rejuvenate as they seldom respond to very hard pruning," Morris added. Gardening specialists at Sky Nursery agreed, saying: "Pruning is the only regular care most lavenders will need so your lavender doesn't get too leggy." When to trim lavender Nevertheless, any time after a flower spike has completely bloomed out, it can be cut off at the base where the flower stalk meets the body of the plant. This will encourage robust, healthy growth and maintain the plants in excellent condition. Extra trimming during early spring might prove worthwhile if the shrub has flourished extensively the previous summer. Spanish lavender can be cut back to half its height if you wish to alter the plant's form, reports the Express. English and French lavender types can be trimmed back more severely, to a third of their flowering dimensions. Nevertheless, spring trimming might postpone the plant's blooming period. Lavender struggles to regenerate from aged timber, so avoid cutting old, brown, bare stems - or the plant will perish. Mature, abandoned plants are better off being replaced. Regular annual trimming should help avoid this occurring. What to prune Garden enthusiasts should watch for spent blooms, flower heads that have faded and lost their vibrancy, plus any dead or rotting matter that needs removing. During initial pruning, eliminate any weak or overlapping branches as this helps shape the plant without stems interfering with its natural growing pattern. As a basic principle, the more severely a plant gets trimmed, the more vigorously it will develop and the opposite applies. It's crucial to bear this in mind when cutting plants as it influences their future development. How to trim lavender "If you grow French lavender, prune hard to approximately 23cm - or nine inches - after the first flowering then deadhead throughout the season." For those keen to keep their lavender flourishing, the specialists have a tip: "Being ruthless with your pruning will pay dividends. In fact, cutting the shoots back by a third, or to around 22cm - or nine inches - into the foliage is ideal to encourage masses of flowers." The lavender experts emphasised that even young plants require pruning. They explained: "This slows the growth of the wood at the centre of the plant. However, rather than cutting it, prune it by pinching the tips." When it comes to trimming lavender, experts from garden retailer Thompson and Morgan stressed: "What is critical when pruning, is that you need to cut to just above a group of new shoots. Go any lower and the lavender will die." Post-pruning, green-fingered enthusiasts can propagate new lavender from the clippings. This is an excellent method for replenishing any lavender hedges or specimens that may have underperformed or needed removal.
The Sun
20-07-2025
- Climate
- The Sun
Aldi's 75p staple owned by new parents will keep plants thriving WITHOUT a hosepipe
A 75P staple for new parents is key to helping your plants thrive during the hosepipe ban. Following an incredibly dry spring and summer, hosepipe bans are being introduced by Yorkshire Water, Thames Water, Southern Water and South East Water. 2 While the bans are in force, homeowners are not allowed to use hosepipes for activities such as watering plants or filling up paddling pools, with fines of up to £1000 issued to those who flout the rules. With the weather remaining relatively dry, gardeners will be concerned about how their precious plants will cope with the heat. However, Morris Hankinson, Director of Hopes Grove Nurseries has revealed how you can keep your plants blooming without flouting the ban. Unused nappies Morris revealed that unused nappies are great for placing in the soil around plants, as they retain soil really well. "They retain water like crazy and release it slowly to the roots during any dry spells", he revealed Nappies are super cheap, and can be picked up from Aldi for just 75p. Waterbutts With storm warnings in place for parts of the UK this weekend, now is a good time to invest in a waterbutt to collect rainwater in. You can water your plants with the water you have collected, meaning you don't need to use any mains water to keep your plants hydrated. Morris added that you can even use your own bathwater to water plants. "It doesn't matter if it looks a bit scuzzy, as the traces of skin cells and mild soap can actually act as a natural fertiliser, so long as you use it within 24 hours", he revealed. How to look after your plants in a heatwave, according to a plant doctor KELLY Dyer, the Plant Doctor at Patch Plants is warning plant lovers about the adverse affects of unseasonably strong direct sunlight, and how to best look after both your indoor and outdoor plants during a heatwave. Indoor plants: Don't mist your plants as water will evaporate and could scorch them Don't use aircon as it dries the air out Don't let plants touch glass as they could get scorched Monitor moisture levels to see if you need to increase watering Outdoor plants: Water your outside plants in the morning and evenings when it's cooler When you water your outside plants, water the soil, not the leaves If you have outdoor plants on a veranda, patio or balcony, you can keep them cooler and increase the humidity by wetting the hard surfaces Pests are on the move so regularly apply natural bug control spray to indoor and outdoor plants Recycle pasta water Another cheap hack is to reuse the water you use to cook your pasta in. "It's rich in starch and a great natural fertiliser. "It's rich in starch and a great natural fertiliser", the expert explained. Sink a flowerpot next to your plants Another simple trick is to sink a flowerpot in to the soil, next to your plants. Morris explained: "This will help the water you apply sink down to the roots instead of evaporating on the surface." Water plants in the evening During the summer, it's best to water your plants in the evening, when it's cooler. This gives the plants time to absorb the water before it is evaporated. Mulch beds and containers Morris recommended mulching beds and containers, as this helps to keep roots cool. He explained: "You can use many different materials from bark chips to coir, even old newspapers, straw or lawn mowings. "Climbers like clematis or passionflowers will even thank you for a paving slab covering their roots. "
The Sun
24-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
List of 5 summer pests and diseases you need to be on the lookout for & the tricks to stop them destroying your garden
KEEPING your garden free from pests can be tricky if you're not sure what you're looking for. That's why Morris Hankinson, Director of Hopes Groves Nurseries, has shared his top tricks to keep your space clear and plants happy. 2 2 According to the pro, there are certain pests you should be on the lookout for all summer long, these include aphids, red lily beetles, carrot root flies, slugs, snails and vine weevils. But here are some others you might not know can harm your garden. Cabbage white butterfly "First thing I remind myself if I find munched brassica leaves is that without caterpillars there would be no butterflies and wouldn't that be such a shame! "So as with all 'pests' the best way to limit damage to plants is to create a biodiverse space meaning natural predators will do what they do best," the pro explained. He suggested covering brassicas with butterfly netting, which will allow insects to fly in and out but keep butterflies out. Powdery mildew "Many plants get powdery mildew at this time of year, especially if there is wet weather and overcrowded plants," the pro said. "Plants such as squash, cucumber, melon, calendula and many more are susceptible and I get this on something most years! "If you keep a check regularly you will be able to simply cut off any affected foliage to stop the spread. You will notice white patches on foliage that look powdery." Blackfly Black fly, is usually found on the tips of plants like broad beans. The gardening whizz suggested encouraging ladybirds into your garden as they'll help out by feeding on the aphids. "Usually heavy rainfall will knock them off your plants, or if you really want to - use a hose to spray them," he noted. Blight "Black and brown spots, often on lower and older foliage to begin with but that will soon spread to stems and will kill off all of the foliage really quickly! "If the potatoes haven't developed yet, that'll be the end of that! But if the tubers have developed, they can be harvested straight away and fine to eat," the pro said. You should remove the foliage as soon as you spot blight and dispose of it. "That way the spores will not be able to travel and the heat used at council waste is high enough to kill them off," he explained. Ants "If ants are a problem, mix some peppermint oil with water in a spray bottle and spray around the boundary edges which can work. "Keeping your soil moist is also helpful because they tend to prefer dryer soils and don't forget the best way to help is to create a biodiverse garden so natural predators do the job of controlling ants for you," the pro explained. IF you want to ensure that your home is pest free this summer, here's what you need to know. Hornets and wasps - hate the smell of peppermint oil so spraying this liberally around your patio or balcony can help to keep them at bay. Moths - acidic household white vinegar is effective for deterring moths. Soak some kitchen roll in vinegar and leave it in your wardrobe as a deterrent. Flying ants - herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic act as deterrents. Mosquitoes - plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mozzies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass.
The Irish Sun
24-06-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
List of 5 summer pests and diseases you need to be on the lookout for & the tricks to stop them destroying your garden
KEEPING your garden free from pests can be tricky if you're not sure what you're looking for. That's why Morris Hankinson, Director of has shared his top tricks to keep your space clear and plants happy. 2 The gardening whizz shared some must-know tips and tricks Credit: Alamy 2 Keeping your garden happy this summer doesn't have to be such a chore Credit: Getty According to the pro, there are certain pests you should be on the lookout for all summer long, these include aphids, red lily beetles, carrot root flies, slugs, snails and vine weevils. But here are some others you might not know can harm your garden. Cabbage white butterfly "First thing I remind myself if I find munched brassica leaves is that without caterpillars there would be no butterflies and wouldn't that be such a shame! "So as with all 'pests' the best way to limit damage to plants is to create a biodiverse space meaning natural predators will do what they do best," the pro explained. READ MORE ON GARDENS He suggested covering brassicas with butterfly netting, which will allow insects to fly in and out but keep butterflies out. Powdery mildew "Many plants get powdery mildew at this time of year, especially if there is wet weather and overcrowded plants," the pro said. "Plants such as squash, cucumber, melon, calendula and many more are susceptible and I get this on something most years! "If you keep a check regularly you will be able to simply cut off any affected foliage to stop the spread. You will notice white patches on foliage that look powdery." Most read in Fabulous Blackfly Black fly, is usually found on the tips of plants like broad beans. The gardening whizz suggested encouraging ladybirds into your garden as they'll help out by feeding on the aphids. "Usually heavy rainfall will knock them off your plants, or if you really want to - use a hose to spray them," he noted. Blight "Black and brown spots, often on lower and older foliage to begin with but that will soon spread to stems and will kill off all of the foliage really quickly! "If the potatoes haven't developed yet, that'll be the end of that! But if the tubers have developed, they can be harvested straight away and fine to eat," the pro said. You should remove the foliage as soon as you spot blight and dispose of it. "That way the spores will not be able to travel and the heat used at council waste is high enough to kill them off," he explained. Ants "If ants are a problem, mix some peppermint oil with water in a spray bottle and spray around the boundary edges which can work. "Keeping your soil moist is also helpful because they tend to prefer dryer soils and don't forget the best way to help is to create a biodiverse garden so natural predators do the job of controlling ants for you," the pro explained. Keep pests out all summer IF you want to ensure that your home is pest free this summer, here's what you need to know. Hornets and wasps - hate the smell of peppermint oil so spraying this liberally around your patio or balcony can help to keep them at bay. Moths - acidic household white vinegar is effective for deterring moths. Soak some kitchen roll in vinegar and leave it in your wardrobe as a deterrent. Flying ants - herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic act as deterrents. Mosquitoes - plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mozzies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass.
