Monty Don, the gardening guru, has sounded an urgent alert for those with stone or brick paths in their gardens. The Gardeners’ World host highlighted potential hazards that could lurk in your garden during the chilly winter months.
In a recent blog post, the horticultural whizz advised garden owners to be cautious of slippery surfaces. He warned: “At this time of year brick and stone paths can be very slippery and dangerous. This is due to algae that grows on the surface, especially if wet and shaded and at this time of year they may stay wet and slippery for months.”
To combat the risk, Monty suggests using a pressure hose to remove the algae. He detailed: “The best way to reduce the slipperiness is to wash off the algae with a pressure hose (which can be hired by the day). When this is done brush in sharpsand. If the path is brick or stone the porous surface will absorb some of the sand.”
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For those without access to a pressure hose, Monty offers a quicker solution: “A quicker—but still quite laborious—alternative is simply to work sand in with a stiff brush without the washing. Either way, you have a very effective way of making a path safe without resorting to chemicals,” he added.
Monty Don has shared some timely advice for gardeners, suggesting they get their garlic bulbs in the ground before the festive season. He highlighted that now is the perfect moment to plant this commonly used vegetable to ensure a bountiful harvest come next summer.
The gardening guru pointed out: “I start planting garlic bulbs in September but it can be done at any time before Christmas to have a good harvest next summer. The garlic you mostly buy is almost always ‘soft neck’ which has a flexible plaitable stem, stores well (which is why shops stock it) and is often excellent.”
Monty also mentioned that while ‘soft neck’ garlic is the type most commonly found in stores due to its long shelf life and pliable stems, the ‘hard neck’ varieties are considered by many to be superior. “But many think the best garlic are ‘hard neck’ varieties which have a stiff, upright stalk and tends to have smaller bulbs. However, it is just as easy to grow and get hold of from good suppliers, and because it is much harder to buy, it makes sense to grow it yourself.”