KING Charles senior gardener has revealed the four gardening jobs you should do this holiday to prepare for summer.
Jack Stooks, who has worked at the monarch’s Highgrove House for 20 years, revealed what to do now that the weather is hopefully warming up.
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And if you haven’t already, it might be time to mow the lawn, as long as it hasn’t rained.
Speaking to Fabulous, Jack shared: “No springWhen the grass starts to grow you usually know it’s warm enough at the roots so you can make the first cut.
“Ideally, you don’t want to do this when it’s very icy or cold, as you’ll create these stains and end up with a horrible mess.
“The grass has to be very dry and the soil like you don’t want to compact it.”
Besides mowing the lawn, here are four jobs Jack recommends this weekend…
Scarify your lawn
The royal gardener shared: “If you haven’t already, you can scarify your lawn, remove all the old, dead grass.
“By doing this you are also removing the moss, you are getting rid of any old materials like late autumn leaves that have gone into the soil.
“The best thing to do is use a metal wire rake as you can use the soil.”
Jack said sometimes people are surprised at the “state” of their lawn after he rakes it, but said it’s the key to sorting out the old “mess.”
Add fertilizer
The holiday weekend can be the perfect time to add fertilizer to your lawn to increase the “nitrogen” content.
Speaking to Fabulous in association with Alt Index, Jack revealed that a nitrogen fertilizer or plant food helps you get “super green” grass.
He explained: “Adding nitrogen to the soil [is key].
“You can get a mixture, it’s more like a water-based mixture that you can put in a watering can and in proportion to whatever is in the can.
“Ideally, you want to start adding this when you know it’s going to rain, when it’s not too dry, because otherwise it will also kill the grass, kind of burn it.”
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Start adding plants
Jack shared how garden centers will start to welcome new flowers at this time of year and some will have already started to bloom.
And luckily, you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a garden fit for royalty.
Speaking about his favorite thrifty plant, the royal official advised: “I always recommend it for height, you want a clematis that’s really, really good.
Royal Gardener Jack Stook’s Top Tips for Green Lawns
JACK, who has worked at King Charles’ Highgrove House for 20 years, shares his top tips.
- Scarify the lawn with a rake to remove old leaves and moss
- Add nitrogen fertilizer to the soil
- Alternatively, place granulated feed over the lawn or a ‘plant soup’ of plant material over the lawn
“Montana Clematis — they normally like pink or white — and once you get them and they climb up and over a wall or fence, they do amazing and keep showing up year after year after year.
“I mean, they’re very generous and cost about £8 to £10 depending on where you get them.
“In a supermarket you sometimes see them with really good deals for around £6, so they are very, very reasonably priced.”
Give your garden a spring clean
As well as tidying up your lawn and borders, Jack advised that now is the perfect time to think about sprucing up your garden furniture too.
Anything that’s “green” and “dirty” can be cleaned with a jet washer to give it new life—or you can add a few bits and pieces to transform your space.
He added: “With your garden you are the king of your own castle, it is what you want and want to show what your garden is.
“You can add sculptures – you can find all kinds in garden centers and supermarkets – and decorations.
“A friend of mine weaves willow and makes willow sculptures.
“You could add an arch where you could put peas, you can do a lot on a budget.”
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Inside Highgrove House, where King Charles lives
HIGHGROVE House is located in the Cotswolds, just a few miles from Tetbury in Gloucestershire.
The Georgian house dates back to the 1780s and was purchased by then-Prince Charles from Maurice Macmillan, a former politician, in 1980.
Each of the gardens reflects the interests of King Charles, who has long maintained a deep commitment to environmental efforts and a sustainable lifestyle.
The King even planted rare trees and heirloom seeds to ensure these varieties continue to flourish for future generations.
Highgrove is located in 347 acres of extensive countryside, with the Royal Gardens often open for tours, including group tours of the gardens and champagne and tea tours.
There is even a shop that sells artisanal products such as ports and chutneys.
All profits from produce for sale, garden tours and events are donated to the Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund, which supports physical and mental health activities, the arts and the environment.
Highgrove House itself is closed to the public, as it is the private home of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
