Local Life - Wigan - July 2018

81
No excuses –
get gardening !
by Angie Barker
Award Winner
When visiting peoples’ gardens, the two
comments I hear most often are “nothing
will grow there” and “I like gardening but I’m rubbish
at it”. The former comment usually relates to a shady
spot in someone’s garden and because they have
tried to grow something there before which has not
flourished, they assume that this area is doomed to
be boring and unable to support plant life when in
fact nothing could be further from the truth.
A shady spot in your garden is an opportunity to
grow a wonderful range of plants. The first thing
you need to assess is whether your shade is dry
shade or moist shade as this will determine which
plants you can grow successfully. For example ferns
such as Polystichum munitum (Sword fern) and the
Lenten Rose (Helleborus orientalis) thrive in moist
shade. Some hardy Geraniums such as Geranium
nodosum do well in dry shade as well as Dicentra
formosa (Bleeding Heart) and Lily of the Valley
(Convallaria majalis).
Now to address the “I like gardening but I’m rubbish
at it” comment. First and foremost gardening
should be about having fun, about enjoying a
healthy pursuit out in the open air. Just have a go
at it and through trial and error you will be amazed
at how rewarding it can be. There is a wealth of
practical information out there and one of the best
publications is the Gardeners World magazine.
Produced in conjunction with the BBC’s Gardeners
World programme aired on a Friday night during
the summer months, it provides masses of useful
information and tips. And if you subscribe to it,
there are lots of special offers available, including
some free plants – what could be better!
If flowers don’t float your boat (as the young ‘uns say)
get inspired and grow some veg. Potatoes, lettuce
and carrots are some of the easiest to grow and
there really is nothing more satisfying than eating
fresh produce from your own garden. Children love
getting involved too and it keeps them away from
the computer screen and gets them interested in
nature. Even Hubby takes an interest in the garden
– although of course I am firmly in charge !
So there you have it – no excuses – get gardening!
Angie is a qualified
award-winning garden
designer who will
plan your garden to
your needs from start
to finish, supplying
reputable contractors
and the ideal plants.
Call Angie now for your free consultation!
Angie Barker Dip GD
(Inst GD) BA (Hons)
Garden Design For All Seasons
Tel: 01942 522 405
Mob: 07857 008 383
Award Winner
www.angiebarker.co.uk