Gardening

Hedge Fun

February 21, 2022 by beautifybalham

So many of the lovely Victorian houses in Balham are being returned to a modern-day version of their former glory, undergoing a whole host of restorations and improvements.

We are usually asked to restore the downtrodden (and often dug up) front gardens, something we do with great enthusiasm, skill and pride: new mosaic paths, Yorkstone porch steps, low brick walls, railings and gates – all beautifully proportioned and a fitting welcome
into the lovely living space beyond. Perhaps the biggest concession to modern times, though, is the paving that usually goes in front of the bay window. ‘Low maintenance, please’ is the main reason here, coupled with today’s added hassles of dustbins, wheelie bins and ‘somewhere to put the bikes’.

This all looks great but often, in my view, lacks a softness that is easily remedied with some planting. Furthermore all paving is proven to exacerbate flooding in urban environments. There are many, many options here including pots, shrubs, ‘lollipop’ bay trees, formal parterres (if you’ve got the space), specimen trees and loads more.

My top recommendation, though, is the much maligned and massively underrated hedge. Don’t be put off by the woody and overbearing privet relics of the past. A new evergreen hedge, like Yew, Bay, Privet or Lonicera will serve you in so many ways. Situated in the traditional strip just behind the low front wall, they bring softening greenery to your front garden combined with a high degree of privacy from passers-by.

But hedges are so much more than just a lush screen. They soak up excess surface water after rainfall and masses of greenhouse carbon dioxide at night-time. Better still, research has shown that they absorb traffic noise and traffic pollution, filtering many of the harmful particulates from exhaust fumes. More hedges make for much cleaner air at home and in
the wider community.

And the low maintenance? Well, a haircut once a year, two at the most, is all they need. And if that doesn’t represent a great investment, I don’t know what does.

Chris Martin, of The London Front Garden Company Ltd

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Artificial Grass or Real Grass? Don’t Fake It!

February 1, 2022 by beautifybalham

Kirsten Botting, amateur gardener, local community champion, and Beautify Balham committee member discusses her pet hate – artificial grass.

Over the past decade the urban trend for artificial has been growing. Gardens have been dug up, ripped of their natural vegetation and replaced with plastic grass. Roof tops and balconies have been carpeted with it. Schools and nurseries, as well as sports pitches are using artificial grass.

I get it. Modern artificial grass has come a long way. It looks like real grass. It’s cheaper than having your garden turfed. In shady gardens you have a green lawn all year round. If you have dogs or kids, you don’t get the mud in the house. If you are unable or don’t have the time to maintain your garden, it would appear to be the perfect solution.

You don’t have to water it which some might say helps when we have a water shortage. But you still have to clear it of leaves and moss, so it isn’t exactly maintenance free. Fake grass doesn’t require feeding so arguably isn’t pouring chemicals into the soil.

Companies market their artificial grass as environmentally friendly because it’s recyclable or single use plastic! Fake grass might have the look and feel of natural turf, but it’s not grass – it’s fake.

Fake grass is not an eco-friendly alternative to natural grass. It blocks access to the biodiversity above and below the ground. Bees and birds can’t feed from it, and worms and bugs below the ground will be starved of food. Fake grass does nothing for the animals in our gardens.

Furthermore, it has no climate benefits at all. In fact, the processing of the plastic emits carbon and uses fossil fuels. And what about the micro plastics from the finished product?

On the other hand, real grass has real environmental benefits such as soaking up moisture, providing homes for insects and bugs, and food for birds. If maintaining it is a problem, let it grow into a meadow and mow a path through it! And what is more delightful than smelling a newly mown lawn, walking bare footed and feeling the coolness from the blades and the warmth from the soil?

So, I say, don’t fake it! Go natural!

Which side are you on in the turf war? Have you got a beautiful natural lawn to show off? Has your garden made others green with envy? Share your grassy feats on social media with the hashtag: #BeautifyBalham.

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The Benefits of Composting

January 9, 2022 by beautifybalham

What is composting?
Composting is the conversion of biodegradable, organic matter into compost.

Raw vegetable or fruit waste, garden waste, and shredded paper make up some of the “raw materials” used for composting, resulting in nutrient-rich fertiliser. Composting is an entirely natural process, and can be done in a compost bin or in a corner of your garden.
In Wandsworth the council subsidizes compost bins, and you can purchase one for a reduced price. You can go to the Get Composting website for more information to start composting in Balham: https://www.getcomposting.com

Composting can be done in most gardens – though smaller gardens may benefit from a wormery instead – a system of converting organic matter into compost with the help of earthworms. The Urban Worm Community Interest Company recently featured in The Guardian with their mission to #wormup the country – giving worms to people & organisations across the country for use in their own DIY worm farms. They provide guides on how to build DIY worm farms on their website: https://theurbanworm.co.uk/wormup/#Videos

Another cheap and cheerful way to recycle and add goodness to the soil is to collect fallen leaves! Bagging up leaves in black bin bags, tying them up then making holes in the bags allowing the leaves to rot down into a mulch can also help your soil. This mulch can be stored behind a shed or at the bottom of the garden until use the following year with the compost, or on its own.

What are the benefits of composting?

You reduce your household waste and, by extension, landfill waste.
In reducing household waste you also reduce the costs and carbon emissions it takes to transport and process the waste.
You benefit from free compost full of nutrients that can be used as an excellent soil improver for your garden and pots.
It reduces the need for chemical fertilisers.
You actively participate in reducing your carbon footprint.

My composting experience

I started composting in August 2019 and although I find the worms, small bugs and tiny flies which sometimes appear in the summer rather disturbing, the process of composting never ceases to astound me. We are a family of 5. I add all the suitable waste we produce to the compost bin on a daily basis, and every day the waste gets absorbed and decomposes overnight. The composting magically occurs and results in beautiful, dark, nutrient-rich soil that I then add to my garden. What is there not to admire?

However, there are a few things I’ve picked up that I’d like to share with anyone who may start composting for themselves:

Avocado stones and skin take forever to decompose.
Mango stones are also very slow to decompose.
Egg shells should be crushed before they go in the compost bin or they make perfect little homes for worms.
The tiny stickers on apples should not be added as they sadly do not decompose:

Do not hesitate to give composting a go – it has numerous benefits, is relatively easy to do and can really enrich your garden & plants!
Have you got any tips for composters? Have you recently started composting yourself? Let us know how you get on using social media with the hashtag: #BeautifyBalham.
Happy composting!

– Justine and the Beautify Balham Team

If you want to write to us and have your own blog post & thoughts placed on this website to help others, please reach out to us via our Contact Us page!

Planting in Autumn: Now is the Perfect Time for Bulbs

October 7, 2021 by beautifybalham

Autumn is officially here and sadly the days are quickly getting shorter. With the recent downpour the ground is wet and perfect for bulb planting. Planting now is ideal as it will allow the bulbs to take root and establish themselves before the winter.

Plant now to make the most of the seasons

There are certain plants which thrive when planted during these months. You can grow daffodils, hyacinths and alliums, which are all due to be planted in September and October. Tulips should be planted from late October to early December, so hold off a little while longer for them. To ensure the bulbs grow back year after year, be sure to plant the bulbs deeply in the ground or pot – preferably twice the depth of the bulb.

Gardening in Balham over Autumn can produce great flowers. Here is what we’d recommend to get the most out of your bulbs:

Dig a hole or trench, and spread a thin layer of compost over the bottom
Push the bulbs in the base of the hole, pointy end up, and leave a gap of about 3 times the bulb’s width between each bulb
Cover them with compost (peat free of course!)
After planting, pat the soil down with your hand to avoid air pockets, and water them a little

If you’re worried about squirrels digging the bulbs up, you can always sprinkle some pepper or chilli flakes over the soil. It will deter the squirrels without harming them. Laying chicken wire over the pots or planted areas is also an option.

If you decide to plant your bulbs in pots, follow the same depth principles as when they are grown in the ground. It may be more of a challenge for bigger bulbs.

Be sure to plant alliums, hyacinths and tulips in full sun and in well drained soil. Daffodils are happy in the sun but will also thrive in partial shade.

Happy planting! Feel free to comment with your own planting experiences, or share your tips and photos with us on social media with the hashtag: #BeautifyBalham

– Justine and the Beautify Balham Team

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Front Gardens – What is the point of them?

May 21, 2021 by beautifybalham

I often wonder what people think about their front gardens. They are a valuable bit of real estate, but are often overlooked in the rush to get to the front door. Invariably they are just a place to put the dustbin or from which to collect the Amazon parcel.

Home owners value the front of their house for various reasons. Some will spend a lot of money paving over the frontage to make it easy to sweep and clean. I have seen some impressive marble tiling akin to an exotic palace courtyard but do feel this is out of keeping with a South London street. On a positive note, it is lovely to see residents bring their front paths back to Victorian glory with the traditional black and white tiles and metal railings.

Others look upon the front space as a very valuable place to park the car. This saves them money in paying annual parking charges but needs an application and payment for a pavement crossover. I can’t help thinking this is not what was originally envisaged when the house was built. The front of the property becomes sterile and unless paved in an ecological way causes water run-off and overflowing gullies.

As basements have become more ubiquitous for growing families, the front garden has been eaten into to accommodate the light-well. In some cases front gardens have a strengthened metal grill so you can have light to the basement and a car parked on top. The front garden is sacrificed for more space for busy families.

In my opinion the best front gardens are those that introduce a bit of greenery and nature to our city streets. Little lawns and flowerbeds need attention but not only are a real pleasure to the householder but also perk up the neighbourhood. When passers-by see gardeners tending pots, window boxes or hanging baskets, it is not unusual for them to stop and chat – so rare in the hustle-bustle of city life. I have had some very interesting discussions on varieties of carrots, the risk of frost, what sort of grow-bags to purchase and the best plants for shade/sun – all over my garden gate. Front gardens are a precious resource for us city dwellers. Let’s make the most of them to bring the local community together and green up our urban living.

Don’t forget to enter Balham in Bloom!

– Sarah McDermott

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Front Gardens & Why We Love Them

April 20, 2021 by beautifybalham

The vast majority of London homes have front gardens and they used to be the pride and joy of residents. Often they featured a mixture of hedgerows and rose bushes but also flowers and lawns. Sadly, today, owners want minimal effort gardens or a place to park their car. Consequently front gardens are being paved over at an unprecedented rate. Every year London loses the equivalent in size of two and a half Hyde Parks due to this growing trend.

The consequence of this loss of green space has mounting repercussions. With less bare earth, rain water can no longer penetrate the ground and feed water tables. Instead the water washes down drains in large volumes and inevitably this creates flooding. In direct contrast, in the summer, the paving stones, concrete or impermeable surfaces retain heat. This accentuates temperature rises in urban areas and with global temperatures due to increase this will only worsen the situation.

Encouraging people to plant hedges in front gardens means pollution levels are reduced as the plants sequester co2 from the air and improve air quality close to houses.

A greener front garden is also beneficial for wildlife and increases biodiversity. We need to encourage birds to nest and insects to feed off berries from hedges and flowers. Without this we will lose the precious wildlife left in our urban environments.

There is also scientific evidence that clearly shows that time spent in a green environment and engaging in gardening, even on a sporadic basis, will improve our wellbeing. Humans feel happier when they are surrounded by vegetation and trees. We inherently respond to green spaces and benefit from them, mentally and physically.

All these points should hopefully encourage you to plant in your front garden either straight in the earth or in pots and whilst you’re at it, do sign up to our wonderful competition “Balham in Bloom”. To encourage the beautification of Balham front gardens, hanging baskets and window boxes can enter the competition and the winner will be revealed on the 26th of June.

By working together we can protect our biodiversity and combat climate change.

– Justine McNeil from Balham Street Gardeners