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Beat the Winter Blues & look after your lawn in winter!

Beat the Winter Blues & look after your lawn in winter! Oakley Turf Farm

Beat the Winter Blues & look after your lawn in winter!

Beat the Winter Blues

The dark and cold of winter can sometimes leave us feeling a bit gloomy, can’t it?!

So it’s important that we Beat those Winter Blues!

🧣 Wrap up warm and get outside as much as you can, even if it’s only for 10 minutes at a time. The difference a bit of sunshine and fresh air can make to your mood and health is amazing!

🏡 Stroll around your garden to simply enjoy it and/or plan it for the year ahead. To really warm up you could do a spot of light gardening or tidying!

🐦 Keep bird feeders and water baths topped up and clean. It’s a tough time of year for our feathered friends!

🛍️ Go for a browse around your local town or village shops. You might grab a bargain in the sales!

🥾 Pack a hot flask and a spot of lunch and go for a walk in one of your favourite places.

🐦 Listen to the birds sing and watch nature doing its’ thing. It’s just as fascinating in winter!

⛄ If it snows where you are, get out there and build a snowman or two or go sledging!

📷 Take photos to remember your day (if you can bear to take your gloves off!).

☕ And don’t forget to warm up with a mug of hot chocolate afterwards!

 

Winter Lawn Care

There’s a chance we’ll wake up to a few more frosty mornings before winter is out!

❄️ If your lawn is frosty, try to stay off it as much as possible, as walking on it can cause damage.

🌱 When the frost clears, gently rake leaves and debris from your lawn so the sun can reach it.

❄️ Clear any snow from your lawn so the sun can reach it, and the snow won’t damage it.

 

Stay Safe

🧹 Keep paths and patios safe to walk on by removing slippery moss and slime.

❄️ Stock up on De-Icing Rock Salt for your paths, driveway or patio. You can buy yours on our website in small or bulk bags.

❄️ Remove snow from hedges and greenhouses etc to prevent it from causing any damage.

🌲 Lay a good layer of Bark Chippings on wet and muddy gateways or unmade paths. It helps to absorb the water and makes paths easier and safer to walk on.

 

Happy Gardening!

 

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Prepare for the cold of winter – look after your garden and get it ready for winter!

Prepare for the cold of winter! Look after your garden and get it ready for winter!

 

Prepare for the cold of winter – look after your garden and get it ready!

 

As winter draws nearer, the weather’s definitely getting colder (and wetter)!

So while we’re not spending as much time in the garden, it’s still good for us to get outside for the fresh air and exercise.

Whether you simply take a short stroll around your garden, go for a longer hike, wrap up warm and get out there to beat those Winter Blues!

And of course, there’s always something to keep you occupied in the garden!

Here are a few of our tips:

Keep it covered!

Protect the soil in empty vegetable patches or flower beds from losing valuable nutrients, by covering them with weed control fabric, plastic sheeting or flat cardboard boxes.

Stay colourful!

Add evergreen shrubs and winter-flowering plants. Winter pansies are great for this!

Prepare for the cold of winter! Look after your garden and get it ready for winter! Oakley Turf Farm. Winter colour. Winter pansies flowers

Look after the wildlife!

Food is scarce at this time of year for birds, hedgehogs and lots of other garden visitors.

Supply birds with fat balls, seeds and nuts.

Keep water fresh and check it daily to make sure it’s not frozen.

If you haven’t dead-headed seed heads yet – leave for insects to feed from and shelter in!

Make or buy a hedgehog house! Even a safe spot under the shed will do nicely for them to hibernate in. Fill with leaves to keep them warm.

Wrap up!

Wrap plants that are vulnerable in cold weather in cloches, frost fleece or bubble wrap.

If you’re still using your greenhouse for growing, fix a layer of bubble wrap to the inside of your greenhouse to help keep plants warm.

Be Prepared!

In the heart of winter, it’s almost inevitable that paths and driveways will be icy and slippery. Something that can be really dangerous!

Slipping over on ice first thing in the morning isn’t the best start to the day, is it?! 🤦‍♂️

Luckily for you, we can help!

❄️ We supply De-icing Rock Salt in small and bulk bags. Perfect for keeping garden (and public) footpaths and driveways safe.

Why not club together with neighbours on a bulk bag of Rock Salt to spread the cost AND the safety?!

❄️ We also supply Filled Sand Bags. They are the most traditional form of flood defence for properties.

If your home or business is in a flood-risk area, stocking up on sandbags is a really good idea!

Prepare for the cold of winter! Look after your garden and get it ready for winter! Oakley Turf Farm De-Icing Rock Salt

 

After all, as any good Boy Scout will tell you, it’s better to Be Prepared!

Happy Gardening!

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Should you cut your grass in winter?

Should you cut your grass in winter?

 

 

Should you cut your grass in winter?

It’s pretty much accepted that when the weather gets wet and cold, (and the growing conditions for grass change), you can stop cutting your grass.

And some people look forward to the break! (Although we’re not sure we fully understand that here at Oakley Turf Farm!!😂).

What happens to grass in winter?

The air and soil temperatures cool, and the rate of grass growth slows.

In the depths of winter, grass takes a break and pretty much stops growing altogether!

BUT, here’s some food for thought…

Grass will still grow when the soil temperature is above 5° C.

Hence the Oakley Turf Farm motto…

🌱 “IF IT’S STILL GROWING – KEEP MOWING!” 🌱

In late winter/early spring, the grass will spring into action again and start growing. Often so fast that it seems like you can’t keep up with it!

So, if mowing your lawn isn’t your favourite job, enjoy the break over the colder months!

But, if it brightens your week, hang on in there and enjoy mowing your grass until it stops growing for the winter!

How can you care for your lawn in winter?

Although you won’t be using or mowing your lawn much in winter, you can still limit any possible damage.

❄️ It’s inevitable that at some point in winter your grass will have a covering of frost. Try not to walk on it until it’s thawed!

🍂 Gently rake leaves and debris from your lawn.

⛄ Clear any snow from your grass to avoid disease setting in. Sounds like the perfect excuse to build a snowman or two to us!

 

building a snowman

 

If you want a brand new, lush green lawn, don’t forget that, as long as the ground isn’t frozen, you can still lay turf in winter!

Happy Winter Gardening!

 

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Autumn Gardening Jobs in the UK!

autumn gardening jobs in the UK

Autumn Gardening Jobs!

 

As the nights start to draw in and the days get shorter, some of us might not think about gardening so much!

 

And while autumn is the perfect time to enjoy a hot chocolate, or something slightly stronger, from the comfort of your favourite armchair of an evening…

It’s also the perfect time to spend a few days doing some pre-winter jobs in the garden.

 

Here are our top tips for autumn gardening jobs:

 

🍂 Keep your lawn tidy!

Rake fallen leaves and debris from your lawn regularly.

This ensures that light and air can still get to your lawn and keep it in good condition.

autumn gardening jobs rake leaves from lawn
Rake leaves from your lawn.

 

🌹 Add compost or manure to beds and borders

Clear away any weeds and dead annuals.

Add a layer of compost or manure.

There’s no need to dig it in – the worms will take care of that for you over the winter!

autumn gardening jobs add compost or manure to beds and borders
Add compost or manure to beds and borders.

 

🌱 Scarify and aerate your lawn

Rake away dead grass, moss and weeds.

Aerate your lawn if you think it needs doing. It encourages the grass’s roots to grow deeper, which will give you a healthier, stronger lawn.

Fill in any bare patches with topsoil, seed or new turf if the patches are large!

Now is also a good time to give your lawn an autumn feed.

autumn gardening jobs scarify and aerate your lawn
Scarify and aerate your lawn.

 

🦔 Provide shelter for insects and hedgehogs to hibernate

Just like worms, animals such as hedgehogs and insects are really helpful in the garden. So it’s great to encourage them!

Hedgehogs will love a pile of leaves and twigs in a sheltered place where they can hibernate. Under the shed is a great spot. Or if you’re feeling flashy, you could make your own hedgehog house!

As well as leaves and twigs, log piles are great for insects and invertebrates.

autumn gardening jobs provide shelter for hedgehogs and insects to hibernate
Provide shelter for hedgehogs and insects to hibernate.

 

🔨 Check fences, sheds and greenhouses and make any repairs

Before the wet and windy weather sets in, check your fences, shed and greenhouse for damage. Make any repairs before they get worse!

autumn gardening jobs repair fences, sheds and greenhouses
Check fences, sheds and greenhouses and make any repairs.

 

🌱 Lay a new turf lawn

Autumn is the perfect time to lay a new turf lawn. So if you’ve been thinking of doing it, do it now!

Prepare the area well and lay your turf the same day it’s delivered.

Read our blog on how to lay new turf for tips and advice.

autumn gardening jobs lay a new turf lawn
Lay a new turf lawn.

 

 

Between doing your autumn jobs, don’t forget to stop, look around, and enjoy it!

The changing colours and the leaves falling to the ground (even if you have got to rake them up afterwards!) are a sight to behold.

Happy Gardening!

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SEE OUR TIME-SAVING AND LOW-MAINTENANCE GARDENING IDEAS TO SAVE YOURSELF TIME AND EFFORT IN THE GARDEN. SO YOU CAN SIT BACK AND ENJOY IT!

low maintenence gardening ideas

 

 

Save yourself time and effort in the garden with our low-maintenance gardening ideas!

 

As much as we love our gardens, we don’t all have as much spare time as we’d like to look after them!

So we’ve put together some top tips and ideas. To help you save time and hard work, and keep some parts of your garden low-maintenance.

Then you can sit back and relax in your garden instead!

 

🌲 Bark chippings are great to use in beds and borders, pathways and for topping containers.

They help with weed suppression, water retention and ground cover.

They’re also a brilliant solution if you have a steeper slope in your garden that is difficult to mow or look after.

Our Play Grade Bark and Play Grade Chip are also perfect for children’s play areas. So you don’t have to have the heartache of watching your lawn getting ruined OR repairing or replacing it!

bark chippings flower beds and borders
Bark chippings

 

💎 Decorative aggregates are ideal for all sorts of garden projects.

Use them on pathways, driveways, and beds and borders. Also for topping pots and containers, ornamental areas, fish ponds, or around rockeries.

They add colour, texture and interest all around the garden, as well as being very durable!

But they’re not just for show – they also provide weed suppression and water retention.

decorative aggregates garden
Decorative aggregates

 

🌷 Planting annuals each year can be time-consuming.

Include more low-maintenance plants such as perennials, ornamental grasses, ferns, hostas and evergreens. These don’t need regular deadheading or pruning and pretty much look after themselves.

TOP TIP:  Ferns and hostas are also great choices for shaded areas.

Low-maintenance planting

 

🧱 Edging borders and lawns is a really useful way to stop your lawn from spreading into borders or onto paths.

You don’t have to use plastic edging though – you could use bricks, stone, wood, or steel to add extra interest.

Border edging

 

💐 Create your very own wildflower meadow!

Well, ok, you may not have enough room for an actual meadow! But you could sow wildflower seeds in a corner or the edge of your garden, or just allow it to grow wild and do its own thing!

Wildflowers look amazing, add loads of colour, and are brilliant for pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

wildflowers in garden
Wildflowers

 

⛏️ Stop digging!

The ‘no-digging’ method means adding a layer of mulch to your flower beds. You can use a variety of mulches such as compost or well-rotted manure in spring and/or autumn.

Not digging means you’re not disturbing the worms etc. that help to keep soil and plants healthy.

This method of gardening improves soil drainage and stops many weeds. AND your borders won’t need watering as much.

What’s not to like about that?!

mulch borders in spring and autumn. No dig gardening
No-dig gardening

 

 

We hope this helps! If you’ve got any time-saving or low-maintenance gardening tips, do let us know!

Happy Gardening!

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ARTIFICIAL GRASS – IT’S NOT AS GREEN AS IT LOOKS. WHY FAKE IT WHEN YOU CAN HAVE THE REAL THING?

ARTIFICIAL GRASS - IT'S NOT AS GREEN AS IT LOOKS. WHY FAKE IT WHEN YOU CAN HAVE THE REAL THING?

 

Artificial grass isn’t as green as it looks. Why would you fake it when you can have the real thing?

 

While artificial grass might be a tempting option for some, it’s not as great, or green, as we’re led to believe.

It’s advertised as low-maintenance:

You don’t need to mow it; there are no weeds; it will always be green and won’t suffer from dry, brown patches.

BUT, you will need to clean it to eliminate stains and smells and water it to cool it.

You don’t need to wash real grass and it cools itself through transpiration!

What’s so bad about artificial grass?

The clue is in the name – it’s FAKE GRASS!

❌ It’s plastic, so it’s definitely NOT environmentally friendly. It’s made using fossil fuels, isn’t easily recycled and contains hazardous substances.

❌ It does nothing for biodiversity.

We’re losing so much of our natural landscapes and wildlife habitats as it is.

We need to hold on to and protect as much of them as we can for the sake of wildlife and ourselves.

And the easiest place to start is our own gardens.

❌ It gets HOT!

In fact, in high temperatures, it gets hotter than concrete. It’s reported to have burnt the paws of pets – so it will burn your feet too!

We know not to walk our dogs in the heat, especially not on hot concrete. So why would you want something that gets even hotter than that in your garden?!

❌ It doesn’t give the endorphin-enhancing benefits that walking barefoot on real grass does!

What can you do to help?

Don’t have fake ‘grass’ in your garden!

🌱 Real grass is great for the environment. It traps carbon dioxide and releases oxygen. It also provides homes and food for wildlife including worms, bugs, bees, birds and mammals.

🌱 Encourage and help pollinators, invertebrates and birds by letting some of your lawn grow long and do its natural thing. Your very own country meadow! Keep some of your grass short aswell so that birds can find food such as ants.

🌱 Have as many trees and plants in your garden as you can. They’re great for biodiversity and will brighten up your garden!

 

Take a look at our top-quality turf, and for best results, add a layer of our topsoil before laying your new turf.

We only use the real thing at Oakley Turf Farm!

 

Happy Gardening!

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What is the best way to look after your lawn in the summer? Leave it alone, relax and enjoy your garden!

how to look after your lawn in summer

 

The best way to look after your lawn in summer?

Leave it alone!

 

As much as we love the summer, it puts our lawns under pressure.

The heat from the sun and less rainfall take their toll.

 

And that’s before we even get to how much more we USE our lawns in the summer!

What’s the best way to look after your lawn in summer?

Well, the best thing you can do is…

RELAX!

It makes sense that your lawn will be dry and not looking its best at the moment.

It’s tempting to try and revive a tired-looking lawn at first sight of it. But it’s best for your grass to let nature take its course and wait until autumn before you get to work on it.

That way you’ll have the cooler, wetter weather on your side!

So what can you do?

🌱 You can mow your lawn around once a week. Set your mower blade high (about 5-10cm) and make sure it’s sharp.

🌱 Add a summer feed if you wish. Try to do it just before rain is forecast so it gets washed right down to the roots.

🌱 Reseed any bare patches. If the patches are large you can dig them out and replace them with new turf.

🌱 Don’t forget to water a few times a day!

🌱 Keep the edges tidy using long-handled shears.

🌱 If you can, it’s good to move toys and garden furniture around regularly. This helps to keep the grass underneath them in better condition.

 

And as we said above, RELAX! It’s summer, so enjoy it! 😃

Happy Gardening!

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GET THE KIDS GARDENING SO THEY CAN SEE THE FRUITS OF THEIR LABOURS!

Get the kids gardening!

 

Get the kids gardening! It’s not just for grown-ups!

 

It’s so rewarding to pass on your skills, knowledge & passion for something to your children or grandchildren.

And what better than gardening?

 

Show the kids that they can grow their own flowers, plants, fruit & veg.

Then show them HOW to do it & let them loose!

Give them their own special plot in the garden or allotment to grow whatever they choose.

 

Don’t worry if you don’t have a garden. A balcony, windowsill or patio is great for growing in pots & containers.

Get them excited about spending a few hours a week outdoors & away from technology at the weekends. And especially in the upcoming summer holidays!

 

The fruits of their labours!

Kids will love watching their plants grow, caring for them & seeing the end results.

Being able to collect a posy of their very own flowers to give to mum or grandma.

Pulling up vegetables & helping in the kitchen to prepare them for dinner. Not to mention eating them as part of a family Sunday roast!

Or seeing how much nicer the flower beds look after weeding.

Picking flowers.

 

You don’t need to be a pro!

It doesn’t matter what level of gardening you enjoy.

Whether it’s growing plants & flowers or fruit & veg for yourself. Or even for taking part in local shows & competitions.

There will be so much you can pass on to children that they will enjoy.

Pass on your knowledge.

 

All the gear!

Kit them out with their own set of tools, gardening gloves & wellies. As well as pots, containers & plant markers.

Having their own gear will make it more exciting for them.

 

More than growing!

It’s great fun to grow things such as pumpkins 🎃 for Halloween that the kids can carve.

But there’s so much more they can do in the garden.

🦔 Bird boxes, bug, butterfly & bee hotels, hedgehog houses…

Children will love watching the wildlife come & go.

You can buy them ready-to-use or ready-made to paint & decorate.

Or have even more fun by making your own together!

Bug hotel.

 

 

📖 Borrow from your local library, or buy, some nature books. See what might be lurking in your garden or near where you live.

Then go on a nature ramble together to see what you find.

 

🌹 Arrange their flowers in vases to display for the family.

 

🌱 Make a mini garden in a seed tray or container.

 

 

Everyone needs a hobby & gardening is a brilliant one – no matter how old you are!

And it’s a great hobby to pass on to children.

It gets them outdoors, helps keep them healthy, shows what they can achieve with a little work, care & patience… the list goes on!

Another bonus is that it won’t cost you much! 🥳

And who knows where it might lead? You could have the next Alan Titchmarsh, Carol Klein or Monty Don in the making!

Happy Gardening!

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Fed up with seeing a lumpy, bumpy, uneven lawn? Find out how you can repair your lawn to make it level and lovely again.

How to repair a lumpy bumpy uneven lawn

 

Is looking at your lumpy, bumpy, uneven lawn making you feel a bit queasy? Find out how to make it level and lovely again!

 

Over time, dips and dents can appear on your lawn, that you’ll probably want to put right.

How you fix the problem really depends on the severity.

You might have just a few small dents.

Or larger sunken patches.

Roll with it?

Your first thought might be to use a roller.

BUT…

While using a roller on your lawn won’t damage the grass first-hand, it will cause the soil underneath to compact.⁠

⁠And compacted soil isn’t good for grass!⁠

⁠To grow and stay strong and healthy, grass needs air from the soil.⁠

⁠Compaction squeezes the air from the soil and stops water from draining into the ground.⁠

⁠So it’s a good idea to only use a roller if you really need to!⁠

⁠

So how DO you repair bumps on your lawn?

Well, you have several options, so you can choose the best to suit you and your lawn!

🌱 You can even out your lawn by filling in any small ‘dents’ with a thin layer of topsoil over the grass. ⁠

⁠Don’t worry, the grass will grow through the dressing!⁠

🌱 If the dents are bare of grass you can fill them with soil. Either leave the grass around them to cover the patches or add some grass seed.⁠

🌱 You can remove sunken ‘sod’, level the area underneath with topsoil, add some water then replace the sod. Remember to keep it watered until the roots have re-established in the new soil.

🌱 If you want to fix it in a hurry, you can lay new turf. Just make sure you prepare the area well and remember to water while the roots establish.

Happy Gardening!

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Wondering how to lay turf for a fabulous new lawn? Don’t risk turf troubles – read our handy guide here!

How to lay turf

 

 

How to lay turf for a fabulous new lawn!

 

So you’re taking the plunge & investing in a new lawn! Exciting stuff!!

Although it’s a fairly simple job, there are a few things to consider.

Which type of turf do you need?

There are several types of turf & you should choose yours depending on how you plan to use your garden.

Read our blog to help you decide which you need.

And if you’re unsure, give us a call and we’ll be happy to help you!

You can see our turf here.

When is the best time to lay turf?

The good news is that you can lay turf at any time of the year.

But it’s much easier on you when the weather is fine and the ground isn’t too hard!

What do you need to do before you lay your turf?

As with many things, preparation is key, so don’t get tempted to rush the prep!

🌱 Clear the surface of the area you are going to turf as much as possible. Remove rocks, stones & plant matter (especially weeds!).

🌱 Dig over or rotovate the area. Again, remove rocks, stones & plant matter.

🌱 Rake the area to level it.

🌱 Firm the area by walking over it with your feet close together (known as the Gardeners’ Shuffle!).

🌱 Rake again to level & perform your best shuffle again!

 

Read our blog, How To Prepare For Laying Turf for more information.

Take your time with the preparation!

 

When should you have your turf delivered?

Ideally, you should have your turf delivered the same day you’re going to lay it.

Once cut & on the pallet, it generally has a shelf life of 24 hours AT THE MOST.

In the height of summer, it will be far less.

You’ve got your turf, now what do you do with it?!

It’s easy to think you can just unroll your turf in any old fashion! But there are a few ‘rules’ you should follow for best results:

🌱 Use laying boards (or similar) to avoid damaging your new turf.

🌱 Start laying the turf along a straight edge, laying the rolls in a brickwork pattern.

🌱 Push the ends & edges close together – remember to PUSH, not PULL as this will damage the turf! (If the rolls don’t fit together perfectly, you can fill any gaps with soil).

🌱 Gently press the turf into the soil beneath. Using a piece of wood for this is helpful!

🌱 If you need to cut the turf, use a saw, lawn edger or long sharp knife.

🌱 When you’re finished, if there are any exposed edges, sprinkle a layer of soil over them. This stops them from drying out & you can remove it once the turf has established.

When ‘joining’ your turf rolls, remember to push not pull!

 

How should you look after your new turf lawn?

After all that hard work, caring for your new lawn to keep it in the best condition is really important!

🌱 Once you laid your turf, water it until the water soaks through to the soil beneath.

🌱 Remember not to use your lawn for several weeks, except to water it.

🌱 Over the next 1-2 weeks, if it doesn’t rain, you’ll need to water your lawn every day. In the evening is best, when it’s cooler.

🌱 After a couple of weeks, check your lawn to make sure the turf has established (rooted). To do this, lift a corner and check that the roots have grown into the soil underneath the turf.

🌱 Once your grass has established you can give it its’ first cut. Remember to keep the mower blade high to avoid damaging the grass.

Make sure your new grass gets plenty of water!

 

We hope this guide helps you! Please feel free to share it with anyone it might help!

Happy Gardening!