Crowther Landscapes

Monday 20th May – Gardening Plus: 2-4pm

ken — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:15:51 +0000

It attracts 157,000 visitors each year, takes 15 months to plan, with a showground covering 11 acres and last year served up more than 30,000 cups of tea! It’s the Chelsea Flower Show – now in its 99^th year. Ken will be catching up with a number of Essex based exhibiters – including a life size topiary Formula One racing car, and you never know, maybe even the odd celebrity or two! The Chelsea Flower Show Special with Ken Crowther – Monday from 2 on BBC Essex.

Saturday 18th May – Gardening Phone-in: 9-11.30am

ken — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:14:32 +0000

May is the time of year to cut the lawn, prune spring flowering shrubs and check plants for any pests and diseases. So whether your Clematis isn’t flowering or your Red Robin is losing leaves – there’s one place you can get some expert answers! Join Ken and guest expert Tom Cole – for the gardening phone in – Saturday morning from 9 on BBC Essex.

May Diary: Week 3

ken — Sat, 12 May 2012 23:02:04 +0000

This year the shortage of water is possibly going to make it difficult for bedding plants, so the initial watering in of these new plants is best done with a soluble plant food so you can feed and water at the same time. By applying the plant food over the leaves and around the roots you will quickly help the plant get over the root disturbance and shock of transplantation.

Monday 14th May – Gardening Plus: 2-4 pm

ken — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:59:17 +0000

With all the wet and dry weather in Essex this year – Darren Tansley from the Essex Wildlife Trust drops in for a chat about the effect this is having on our river wildlife. There’s been a resurgence in Water Voles … and Ken looks ahead to the Chelsea Flower Show! Join Ken from two on BBC Essex

Saturday 12th May – Gardening Phone-in: 9-11.30 a.m.

ken — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:58:17 +0000

Gardening journalist and writer Steve Bradley joins Ken to offer green fingered advice and answer all your gardening questions. Don’t miss the gardening phone in with Ken Crowther – Saturday mornings from 9 on BBC Essex.

May Diary: Week 2

ken — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:21:48 +0000

Don’t be fooled by any plant label that claims it is ‘half hardy’. That is gardening speak that really means ‘not hardy at all’ – so beware! After you have bought your bedding plants, keep them for a week or more outside in their pots or trays to harden off.

Waterlilies

ken — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:19:08 +0000

Q: Dear Ken, Where we live there are four houses surrounding a large natural pond over which we have joint responsibility. A few years ago we planted waterlillies which have spread in an impressive fashion. Unfortunately last year the leaves grew to significant proportions and the hundred flowers ended up hidden behind them. Have you any idea why this is or what could be done to curtail the process so we can benefit from the blooms? John Talman.
PS If you wanted to see for yourself ours is one of the gardens open on June 10^th as part of East Bergholt Open gardens day.

A: Hi, Ken Crowther has passed me your email about the waterlilies. I think the description you give is when the leaves stand upright from the water instead of laying flat. Generally this is a sign the lily crown has become overgrown and the solution is to lift the lilies and split them into smaller plants, which should solve the problem. Best time to do it? Now! Afraid you’ll need to get your waders out. Kind regards, Bernice Brewster, Aquatic Consultancy

Monday 7th May: Gardening Plus: 2-4pm

ken — Thu, 03 May 2012 08:37:37 +0000

Despite all the rain that’s fallen in the last month – Essex remains in drought. Join Ken from 2 on BBC Essex for a special programme looking at how our gardens can survive dry weather conditions. There’s also details of another open garden in Essex you can visit.

Saturday 5th May Gardening Phone-in: 9-11.30am

ken — Thu, 03 May 2012 08:36:56 +0000

Tom Cole from Writtle College joins Ken as they tackle your gardening problems and offer expert advice between 9 and 1130.

Monday 30th April: 2-4pm Gardening Plus

ken — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:19:58 +0000

Lucy Halsall, Editor of an Essex based gardening magazine, will be answering your questions about growing your own food.
Find out how can we attract more wildlife to our gardens; Bug Life, The Invertebrate Conservation Trust, will tell us. And do you fancy being a garden centre apprentice? Don’t miss your slice of Monday gardening - every Monday from 2 with Ken Crowther on BBC Essex.