How to Harvest Herbs for Drying

Now's a great time to harvest herbs for drying. It can save you money, plus it's nice to know where your food ingredients come from. The best time to harvest herbs for drying is in late summer, before flowering, when plants are starting to flag. You want to make sure that the plant has enough foliage to keep growing after harvest so try not to take any more than 50% of the current season's growth at any one time. Try to harvest in the morning, after the dew dries, but before the heat of the day. MATERIALS NEEDED: – Sharp scissors, knife, or small pruners – Twine, string, or rubber bands – Paper bags (optional) 1. Harvest: Use sharp pruners to cut your plants, making sure to cut when leaves are dry and free from dew or rain. 2. Prepare: Remove any discoloured or damaged leaves. Wash in cold water. Make sure to thoroughly dry the herbs, they can mold and rot if left damp. 3. Air Dry: Bunch the herbs together, making sure there is enough space for air to circulate around the branches. Use twine/string/rubber bands to hold the stems of your herbs together. Turn your herbs upside down and hang in a warm, dry place that is out of the sunlight, for example a closet or shed. If you don’t have a dark place to hang herbs, you can place them upside down in a paper bag, but you make sure cut holes for ventilation. Wrap the opening of the bag around the stems, securing the closure with rubber bands or string (this will also help to keep dust off). Hanging upside down allows the essential oils to flow downward from the stems to the leaves. 4. Storage: For the best flavour, put leaves whole (leaves retain more oil when stored whole) in labeled airtight containers stored in a cool, dry place, then crush before using. Though they will keep for a long time, dried herbs are best used within a year as they start to lose flavour around that point. But you'll be able to repeat the process next year to replenish your stocks.

Tip for Patching Lawn/Turf

Lawn Care: Tips for patching small area of turf. Patch small areas of turf by taking a bit from a less visible area. Cheaper than buying new, and colour will match. 

Do you need help mowing your lawn or with lawn care? Contact us today at 07906483550 and we can help you get your lawn looking great!

Time to Aerate Your Lawn

Has your lawn and soil become compacted certain areas? North London's clay-based soil is especially prone to compacting so most local lawns benefit from aerating in early-spring and early-fall. Aeration can be done by spiking with a garden fork, machine or aerator sandals, giving grass roots needed air, water and nutrients to grow thick, deep and strong. Contact us at 07906483550 or email us at: Thehampsteadgardener @ gmail dot com to have us mow and aerate (and generally look after) your lawn.

Contemporary Look with Bamboo

Bamboo looks much better and stronger if you thin out the canes. Get your hand right in there and cut all the old, dead canes and any weak/spindly ones right at the base. Then thin out the remainder to allow a little space between each. If you're after a contemporary look, you can cut all stems out below a certain height to create an almost topiary-like look with the bamboo.

Time to Plant Winter Brassicas, like Broccoli

Now is the time to plant out your winter brassicas, like broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage.

Secateurs At The Ready

Keep a bucket and secateurs ready for a little dead-heading whenever you can be bothered. It will keep the garden full of flowers for longer. Dead-heading especially benefits bedding plants like petunias, marigolds, nasturtiums and argyranthemums. Contact us if you need help in your garden.

Last chance to fill gaps in borders

Do you have any gaps in beds and borders? Now is your last chance to fill in gaps with new bedding plants before the season starts to turn.

Harvest Herbs for Drying

Now's a great time to harvest herbs for drying. It can save you money, plus it's nice to know where your food ingredients come from. The best time to harvest herbs for drying is in late summer, before flowering, when plants are starting to flag. You want to make sure that the plant has enough foliage to keep growing after harvest so try not to take any more than 50% of the current season's growth at any one time. Try to harvest in the morning, after the dew dries, but before the heat of the day. MATERIALS NEEDED: – Sharp scissors, knife, or small pruners – Twine, string, or rubber bands – Paper bags (optional) 1. Harvest: Use sharp pruners to cut your plants, making sure to cut when leaves are dry and free from dew or rain. 2. Prepare: Remove any discoloured or damaged leaves. Wash in cold water. Make sure to thoroughly dry the herbs, they can mold and rot if left damp. 3. Air Dry: Bunch the herbs together, making sure there is enough space for air to circulate around the branches. Use twine/string/rubber bands to hold the stems of your herbs together. Turn your herbs upside down and hang in a warm, dry place that is out of the sunlight, for example a closet or shed. If you don’t have a dark place to hang herbs, you can place them upside down in a paper bag, but you make sure cut holes for ventilation. Wrap the opening of the bag around the stems, securing the closure with rubber bands or string (this will also help to keep dust off). Hanging upside down allows the essential oils to flow downward from the stems to the leaves. 4. Storage: For the best flavour, put leaves whole (leaves retain more oil when stored whole) in labeled airtight containers stored in a cool, dry place, then crush before using. Though they will keep for a long time, dried herbs are best used within a year as they start to lose flavour around that point. But you'll be able to repeat the process next year to replenish your stocks.

Keep late-season plants well watered

Many of the late-season plants are getting into their stride now. Make sure they do not dry out or flowering will stop sooner than necessary. Hydrangeas, heleniums and helianthus, for example, will stay looking good for far longer if you never them it dry out.

Time to Trim Conifer Hedges

Now is a good time to trim conifer hedges and take cuttings if you'd like to grow new plantlings. Need help? Give us a call today at 07906 483550.

Dalia Care

If you grow tall dahlias make sure they are properly staked so they do not crash down under rain and their own weight. The combination can be extremely heavy and they are hard to pull upright once they have hunched over. Dead-head them to keep the flowers coming.

Time to prune summer-flowering shrubs

Now is the time to prune shrubs that flowered in early summer, like hydrangea, spirea, lilac and buddleia.