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There are many different species of aphid that can flourish in a garden. These little phloem sap sucking creatures can be a useful snack for several creatures but can become a problem if they colonise a plant. Two of the most important things to note are that not all the aphids you may find in your garden are green, they can be orange, red, and black too, and that aphids will not necessarily kill a plant outright, but they may cause it to become disfigured or damaged because of the viruses that aphids can pass on. Though in certain cases, a plant may die or need to be removed and destroyed if the infestation is severe. In terms of aphid control nature can take of that because of the number of aphid predators (as mentioned above) present in your average garden; with ladybirds being a common example of a creature that enjoys an aphid feast. If a small area of a plant is affected, you can spray the aphids with water from a hose or a spray bottle to rinse them off, or flick them off and crush them.&nbsp; Honeydew, a sticky clear secretion aphids leave on leaves that can cause mildew to appear on them is another issue. Aphids are not the only honeydew creating creatures so be sure to look for signs to rule out an infestation of another bug. Once you know that you’re dealing with aphids, prune away any effected growth and clean up any remaining effected areas with insecticide if necessary. And always remember to sterilise your tools to prevent the spread of infection.&nbsp; And that’s it for today’s minute about how to temper the aphid pest problem in your garden.&nbsp;

Where the Aphid Sucks

Summers often bring with them a deluge of flies and this can be an aggravation for those who enjoy dining al fresco. If your garden is generally clean and tidy, and you manage your compost heap properly by aerating, and using the right mixture of organic material in it, and you still struggle with flies you may need to try something else. For extra help with your fly problem that's gentler than chemical treatments, try planting a good number of herb plants, or citronella in your garden. It’s also easy to make homemade traps with something sweet like sugar or honey, and a jar or a plastic bottle.&nbsp; Failing all of this this you can construct a Calliphoridae vomitorium to ensure that flies can exit your garden as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, this only works on flies that wear togas and enjoy terrible jokes.&nbsp; More seriously, on the positive side, flies can be great pollinators especially of some of the fouler smelling plants in a garden. Blowflies have even been used to help with pollination in the production of food crops in some places. Though we wouldn’t recommend creating the conditions in a domestic garden to reap the full benefits of fly pollination. That would be a tad horrifying.&nbsp; And that’s our minute for today, come back for a minute on Aphids, that formidable enemy of gardeners.&nbsp;

Shoo Fly Don't Bother Me

Grass decending in a chaotic pattern repeating dancing and falling

The warmest weather of the year is well on its way which is always great, but not so great for grass. Scorched lawns are a major problem in the summer and one of the easiest ways to avoid this problem is to cut your lawn on a higher setting.&nbsp; 2 inches (5cm) is the lowest you should go for a lush lawn. Combine a higher cut with the correct regime of feeding and watering and you’ll be set.&nbsp; That’s all for today's minute, but if you would like to read another super short post about lawn care here is <a data-mce-href="https://gardensandlawnmowersbyclive.com/blog/utility-lawns" href="https://gardensandlawnmowersbyclive.com/blog/utility-lawns">another one</a> that covers types of grass.&nbsp;

Give Grass a Higher Cut

Versailles was essentially a gilded trap. To distract and thereby defang the nobles who could have mounted a rebellion against him, Louis XIV invited them to Versailles to marvel at its grandeur and fritter their time away being constantly entertained. Versailles, however, like mighty Rome, did not spring up in a day, it and its gardens were a result of years of toil. And a man who perhaps knew most about the pressures of maintaining the glittering image of Versailles was its gardener Andre Le Nôtre.&nbsp; Before taking the project at Versailles on, Le Nôtre had already shown the breadth of his talent in the gardens of Vaux-le-Vicomte the home of politician Nicolas Fouquet. When Fouquet fell from grace perhaps due to Louis’ jealousy, Le Nôtre immediately moved on and started work on Versailles in 1661.&nbsp; Using the expert draughtsmanship he learned under the painter Simon Vouet, and his engineering expertise Le Nôtre transformed the gardens into his signature combination of geometrically perfect parterres, cosy groves, stunning water features, and topiary creations. Though the most impressive thing about Le Nôtre is not his skill but his knack for diplomacy. This is a man that realised the grandest vision in less than favourable conditions and still stopped to make friends along the way.&nbsp;

Monsieur Le Nôtre

When is the best time to book a mower service? The answer may surprise you. The best two times to book a mower service are as the gardening season is winding down, and as the gardening season is starting up. If you can get a service done at both ends of the season, you’ll be even better off. Add <a data-mce-href="https://gardensandlawnmowersbyclive.com/blog/stabiliser-is-essential" href="https://gardensandlawnmowersbyclive.com/blog/stabiliser-is-essential">fuel stabiliser</a> into your service and you'll be much less likelty to break down mid season.&nbsp;Though if you do need your mower tuning up or repairing mid-season, of course it is best to get it done as soon as possible.&nbsp;If you become a Gardens and Mowers customer you'll get a reminder whenever your next service is due, and if you join the Mower Members Club too you'll get cheaper services and repairs year round.&nbsp;

Booking Your Mower Service

If you have a spot in your garden that isn’t up to much, you may want to make it into your own personal meadow. This is great for the bees, and a low maintenance way to brighten up your garden.&nbsp; The main thing you need to consider is how fast you would like your meadow to appear. Wildflower turf is a more expensive way of obtaining a garden meadow but buying turf guarantees that you won’t have to wait long for flowers to show depending on the maturity of the turf. A slightly more cost-effective option that also produces flowers quite quickly is planting plug plants. Just make sure that you mix your species up in each section, so you get a realistic look. Mother Nature, of course, does not tend to plant plants in perfect formation. The last option is to broadcast some wildflower seed. Annual wildflowers in ideal conditions tend to shoot up in 9-12 weeks whereas perennials take their time and often appear a year from when they were planted. Unlike perennials, annuals die off when they’ve finished blooming but if you let them set seed they may come back of their own accord to bloom anew the next year.&nbsp;

Gardens and Mowers by Clive

The Gardens and Mowers Minute

Where the Aphid Sucks

Shoo Fly Don't Bother Me

Give Grass a Higher Cut

Monsieur Le Nôtre

Booking Your Mower Service

Embroidering a Mead