Thoughts Archives • Sarah Newton Garden Design

The Benefits of Raised Beds and Mulches

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Sarah

2 years ago

Watering The Wildlife

It has been a strangely long dry period across the UK for the last few months, and thanks to being a potential El Nino year plus other factors large parts of the Globe have also been affected. On a domestic level, this means that animals of all species need a bit of help finding the tap, (especially in the Summer).

Sarah

2 years ago

Something about Foxes

Foxes. we used to consider them as animals of the Countryside, but as our species has so foolishly reduced the natural habitats and general conditions that provide the foxes with their natural dwellings and diet, they have established themselves more amongst the cityscapes.

Sarah

7 years ago

Beautiful Butterflies Grown at home

The very ethereal fairy quality and miraculous transformation that butterflies undergo does not escape the eye or heart of many children or adults. The very speed of it is also quite unbelievable when equivocated with the sheer mass of time it takes us mammalian human beings to even make up our minds about this or that; let alone gestate from an idea to a new born. Perhaps all the more reason to study the amazing life cycle of the butterfly - in the comfort of your own home.

Sarah

7 years ago

Using Calcified Seaweed to improve soil

A lot of people still ask me what on Earth this product is and why on earth would anyone want to use it. It’s simple. It’s a great soil improver. Especially on clay, where not only does it help activate the healthy microbial micro fauna and flora to make the soil a more exciting place for all to exchange energy and better drainage, it also helps break up the cloggy boggyness that can be left over from a wet winter.

Sarah

7 years ago

Don’t dig there, that’s where the cat is buried

I find it fascinating and heartening how frequently people hold garden plants dear to friends / family / dear departed pets.

Sarah

9 years ago

Seed saving for the future

They are all sorts of crazy shapes and sizes those seeds and spores. Of course some plant reproduction is possible without them – by grafting tissue onto recipient stock plants, or splitting perennials, dividing roots, taking cutting and even microscopic tissue culture, but nothing gets away from the fact that seeds and spores were where it all started.

Sarah

9 years ago

Aquascaping

Home Fish tanks aren’t what I remember them to be – a few lonely fish swimming around the fake rock tower, with a hint of algae in the background and maybe a snail for luck.

Sarah

9 years ago

Seed bombs

Yes I can see leaves - and no that is NOT a weird animal poo. It is a seed bomb!

Sarah

9 years ago

Soil. Beautiful Soil

Ok. So I don't mind getting a bit grubby in the garden; in fact I quite like it, but what is this soil stuff we tread on/in/generally take for granted?

Sarah

9 years ago

Our front garden overhaul

The front garden was crying out for a handrail, to stop the postman and other folk from even possibly slipping down the front escarpment. We happily discovered like many houses, ours was built on what was only fairly recently a meadow, and with a strong slope and south facing disposition we felt inspired to embrace a proper sense of place and spirit in a meadow/seascape/alpine theme combo.

Sarah

11 years ago

Gardener’s Question Time

Crystal Palace Overground Festival! A local festival for everyone! 26 – 29 JUNE 2014. Sunday 29th June is triangle day and at 3pm it’s Gardeners’ Question Time in The Greek Orthodox Church of Saints Constantine and Helen, Westow Street. Should be a giggle. ‘Join a specially prepared panel of local experts – Jack from the […]

Sarah

11 years ago

Bug houses

Easter holidays – one afternoon we gathered ourselves at Miche’s plot as variously sized and aged mums and kids from 4 families to have a go at making bug houses. Having made and bought various types of bug houses myself I wanted to make it as open ended and non-prescriptive as possible. We brought containers, […]

Sarah

11 years ago

Spring into the Garden

‘‘Go and play in the garden’’ A sometimes exasperated suggestion offered by many parents in the past – I know mine did. Looking out of the windows today the weather does little to beckon many of us into the great outdoors. ‘‘Its’ too cold.. too wet.. too muddy… it’s boring’’, the reply may have come. […]

Sarah

11 years ago