Gardeners world

Meditation classes for health & balance in mind body & spirit this sunday in Overhill road First class free See details in The Lounge Or Call Nigel 07961888253

just 4 places left now.First class complimentary (free) Overhill road

The Big Calm A class teaching the power of meditation using TM (Transcendental Meditation) We will explore the virtues of stillness for health in mind body & spirit.Open philosophical discussions to give our lives meaning,positivity,balance & answers in this very busy, outward looking world. 1 hour classses starting this Sunday morning,9am For beginners, current meditators & the curious! This is a class that it is hoped will lead to further holistic practices at The Big Calm centre overlooking the beach on the beautiful island of Kefalonia this summer. details @ thebigcalm.com Contact Nigel for more information 07961888253

Would be happy to do this for you. We regularly assemble greenhouses & sheds in our garden designs & have a good thread on the forum. Please give me a call if you would like us to quote Thanks Nigel 07961888253

Hi Morgy I would be happy to give you a reasonable free quote & selection of styles. I have good recommendations on the forum & am fully insured & qualified. Ready to start next week. Regards Nigel Exterior Design Gardens 07961888253

Hi Saraswati & PHIL I would be happy to give both of you a free & reasonable quote for your fence replacements. I have good recommendations on the forum & have been doing quite a few fences lately due to the weather. I can advice on a full range of styles & am available next week, fully insured & qualified. Nigel Exterior Design Gardens 07961888253

I believe the pet shop does. I've also found a good selection in Homebase. Would live to recommend more locally but haven't come across them so far.

Quite a frost last night which made me realise, I had forgotten to say cover up your tender plants & shrubs with a gardening fleece or bubble wrap. Our current summer climate encourages these Mediterranean plants, but our winters do not! Nigel

Just a thought. If you're looking for a different & original present this Christmas, why not buy a shrub, plant or tree this year. It will bring long lasting pleasure & remembrance. I'm down at my nursery a couple of times before Christmas if you can't find anything locally. Let me know Nigel 07961888253

Not too cold so far, but remember last year? I do!!! I know gardens are the last thing on your mind at this time of year, but as a gardener I must insist! So; 1.Lawns.As the seasons were late this year the trees are still shedding their leaves, rake, blow or brush them off your lawns if you are to keep your lawn in good condition for next spring. Trim the edges of the borders & keep your lawnmower handy as the grass will keep growing above 5degs. But don't cut too short. Keep off the lawns in the event of frost or snow. I know, what a kill joy! 2. Clear out drains & gutters to avoid flooding when the rain comes. Clear all debris off ponds & water features, put a ball in your ponds & take it out often to prevent a build up of gases. Service electric pumps & stop feeding the fish. 3. Clean up or power wash your wood furniture, sheds, pergolas, archways, trellises & decks,then apply a wood preservative to keep off the moss & verdigris until spring. 4. If it snows, knock the snow off your trees & shrubs to prevent them stressing & breaking. Check ties are secure or tie in new ones to shrubs & especially roses to keep them stable in the wind. 5. Lift terracotta pots off the ground with little support legs to prevent cracking, or if old, take them in or wrap them. 6. Take watering systems off the taps & store them somewhere warm. Put away hoses so they don't freeze & go brittle in the spring. Lag outside taps & turn off the water to them if you can. 7. Prune trees & shrubs with clean downward facing cuts, using a pruning paint for larger branches. 8. Still warm enough to plant fruit trees & shrubs. Prepare the ground well & use plenty of good compost well heeled in. Get your plants from a good reputable nursery. 9. Wildlife care: put out a consistant supply of seeds & lard balls, along with fresh water for the birds, they will reward you with their colours & company throughout the winter. Keep your feeding base away from the cats. Finally to wish you all a wonderful happy Christmas, look after each other, it can be a very stressful time of year. Have a care for those less fortunate than us & a big thank you to all my customers & The East Dulwich Forum for all the work you have given me & my team this year. Please continue to use the well recommended & qualified gardeners on this forum.From your comments, there are some amazing ones.We have some space for work currently, & are happy to offer advice, quotes & designs free of charge Nigel 07961888253

We have around 17 6ft x 6ft fence panels + posts available. Some re-usable, but most good for your belated bonfire party. Can deliver locally for a decent bottle of wine or free if for a charity or local community project. Call me to arrange, as need the space for the new fence & deck we are installing Nigel 07961888253

We would be very happy to do this for you. It will probably need a timber or deck treatment to protect it over winter, & would be happy to discuss in more detail. We are working in your area tomorrow afternoon if that's convenient. Nigel 07961888253

Hi. I would be happy to help out. I have many recommendations on the forum & have pruned many a runaway wisteria. They need pruning twice a year & although a little late, should be ok to produce some flowers next year with a good feed. Give me a call if you think I can help. Nigel 07961888253

Hi. Firstly, thank you Dave for the recommendation. I normally suggest to my customers to get 3 quotes for the work, so you get a balanced view of the cost, plus you get to pick our brains for ideas. I would always say, only use recommended gardeners from the forum. At least you know you are getting someone who knows how to do a good job & will not overcharge you. I would be happy to come round & give you a quote & hopefully some ideas to keep the cost down & offer a good job, as we have been doing this for 12 years & offer a guarantee on all our work. Nigel 07961888253

Nearly forgot!! This is the time of year to power wash your decks or patios & apply appropriate treatment or sealant. This will protect them from the rigours of the winter to come. Beware you don't wash out the pointing on patios. This will not only protect your deck/patio but make it far easier to clean come spring & also prolong its life.

A further note: Once you have mown your lawn for the last time, you may need to put your mower in for a service. Good idea to get in early as mower engineers are few & far between. The only one I know & use is on Beckenham rd at Clockhouse. If anyone knows of one in East Dulwich please let me know

It's that man or hippy as one of my customers described me back again to nag you into looking after your garden, so you get the benefits of your care come next spring & the enjoyment of the autumn colours. So here goes: 1. It's that time to start clearing those leaves again, although they're a little late this year thanks to such a wet spring. Trees are very clever things, & they collect all the toxins & pollutants in the air, exchange it for oxygen & deposit their leaves full of these toxins to prevent anything growing & competing with them for nutrients & water. This means your lawn & shrubs are badly affected & you will be asking me or someone else to replace them next year. It's just one of those jobs I'm afraid, but just think of the exercise you're getting & saving all that money!! Mind you, you could get a leaf blower. Drives my dog Barney raving mad!! 2. Talking of lawns, it's a really good time to renovate or replace lawns, as they won't be disturbed too much during winter. If renovating, apply an autumn weed & feed, wait for the moss & weeds to die back, then give the area a thorough raking & forking every 6 inches, it will look terrible, but don't worry, it will grow back. Apply a good quality seed that matches your lawn, usually a rye mix along with some topsoil & dry sand mix. Rake again, then tamp down with your feet. Then keep off for around 6/8 weeks. If re-turfing, try getting one of us ( forum gardeners) to help you. Mow your lawns for the last time, trim the edges & apply an autumn lawn feed. Do not walk on the lawn when the frost & snow arrive, it will kill it! 3. Divide your herbaceous perennial plants into two or more clumps & replant, ( free plants!!) your herbaceous plants always look better planted in odd numbers of 3s 5s 7s & so on, just balances them out. Still time to buy spring & summer bulbs & shrubs to plant up while there is still heat in the soil. Plant with a good compost & heel in really well covering the crown of the roots well. 4. Buy plant fleeces for your tender plants & cover them when the weather forecast says frost is imminent. Take in very tender plants like Bougainvillia or keep close to the house walls & cover in thick fleece. 5. Most fruits, apples, grapes plums should have been picked by now, but again with a late start to the season some will still be hanging around. A deft twist of the fruit in your hand will reveal its readiness. Still not received any pies yet!!! 6. I know I go on a bit, but nearly finished! Prune climbing roses & cut back perennials that have died back. Cut back as hard as you wish Jasmine that is climbing the house or taking over the fence. Same with Passion flower & the thicker growing clematises such as Armandii. Feed them early spring. They will grow back! 7. If you want a bit of colour around the garden or visible through your windows to cheer you up, then plant up some Skimmias, lovely plant, evergreen leaves, nice white flowers at Christmas followed by red berries, lovely. My favourite around this time of year are Hellebores or Christmas roses as they are known, lovely subtle colours & a nice flower on the dining table. If you like a bit of colour & security, then Pyracantha is what you are looking for, very long thorns, but bright red or orange berries. Not a favourite with burglars unless they have masochistic tendencies!! Lastly, Cyclamen provide either bright border colour in clumps or moveable colour if in pots. Buy from a reputable source as they can be temperamental if in the wrong compost, keep deadheading them & feeding them for prolonged flowering. 8. Lastly ( honest) If you don't want foxes in your garden & don't want them culled either, put chilli, preferably a strong sauce around the borders, they really don't like it, it doesn't harm the wild life, local cats or dogs & is much preferable to other extreme remedies, like renting Barney my huge Jack Russell, ( very expensive!)Stock up with fat balls & seeds for our feathered friends as we might just be in for another of those climate change winters. Come to think of it, stock up on soups & chocolates, ( something stronger always welcome!!)to keep your friendly gardeners warm too! As always, if these tasks are beyond you, please make use of the well recommended gardeners on the forum who know what they are doing. ( Important!) I currently have some space for projects, advice ( free ) & garden designs. Happy gardening. Nigel 07961888253

Hi Pinocchio Sounds interesting. I would love to come & have a look for you. Will you be using new timber, as much more practical plus I have a good supplier at competitive prices if needed. I have a good thread on here & have done a lot of landscaping using decking & sleepers for steps, walls & borders. Give me a call when you have time & I'd be happy to talk through it Nigel 07947119161

As a then local who spent 3 years with interested parties discussing the prospect of the park being renovated & the sports facilities being upgraded with Ken Livingstones LDA, I'm delighted to hear this news. Boris wasted all these costly, lengthy negotiations & knocked the plan on the head. But he's obviously found a rich pal to revive the the plan. He'll need to get past some strong local opposition, as Bromley council tried to get a cinema complex & car park built there with funding & alleged backhanders from Kuwait without reffering to locals. Very proud to say my 87 year old Uncle was arrested for protesting! It was always said, that if anything was to be built there, it was to be rebuilt in the spirit of the old Crystal Palace which promoted the products, skills & wonders of the Empire, for the education & entertainment of the people. Personally, I would love to see it as a new design,promoting the best of British design,art, engineering & manufacturing, at which we have excelled for many many years. Why else would foreign companies buy up all our top branded manufacturing companies? They appear to have been replaced by the financial industry as our number one earner. It has more recently been thought the fire was started by the underfloor heating breaking through the wooden floorboards. Further, as a biased gardener, I would love to see wonderful gardens incorporated in the park renovations, as it is this countries favourite pastime.

Hi. I am a garden designer & builder. I specialise in low maintenance gardens & have been doing this for over 12 years. I have some lovely recommendations on the forum & would be delighted to come & have a look & offer some creative ideas without charge. Please pm me if interested & we can sort a time that suits. Nigel

Please be aware! On two occasions now we have had supposed scrap men caught unloading equipment from our van claiming it was at the side of the road & left for scrap!!! It only takes a few seconds & there seem to be quite a few of them these days. Please keep a look out for your tools & put a good lock on your sheds.

To Deborah, many thanks for your call re new patio & lawn. Can you call me back, as didnt realise your number was withheld. Many thanks Nigel

What a lovely recommendation. Thank you Mark. I guess my passion for putting people & their families in this great big city in touch with nature is a bit hippyish. I love what I do & the ideas seem to come from listening hard to my customers needs. My self,my son & our small team will always do everything we can to make our customers happy. I like this forum & it's usefullness to the community & it's artisans. Right now, I am just finishing off a really interesting project & have space for new work from next week. I refer you to my gardening tips for the month if you want something to do in the garden when it stops raining! I'm always available to answer any questions about your gardens or offer solutions to problems by phone or a quick visit without charge if needed. Once again, thankyou Mark to you & your lovely family for the work & recommendation. Nigel 0208 289 6983 [email protected]

Hi *Anna* I'd be delighted to come & give you a quote for the work. We have an excellent supplier of turf & have laid many lawns in the area over the years. I'm in the area around 10:30 in the morning if any good for you. You can call me on 0208 2896983 to arrange, or pm me. Nigel

I should have looked at the weather forecast before putting in the bit about watering your trees & shrubs this weekend!! I think probably best to leave it to nature this weekend. Remember to put away your electronic watering systems at the first sign of frost, or they will freeze up & not work again. Keep dry