Golden Spade 2020

The Golden Spade Award 2020

The 2020 Golden Spade Award has been quite different from what we had planned – but nevertheless a worthwhile and enjoyable campaign. Here’s a summary.

The Golden Spade Award 2020

The 2020 Golden Spade Award has been quite different from what we had planned – but nevertheless a worthwhile and enjoyable campaign. Here’s a summary.

After a smaller scale campaign in 2019 we started planning for the 2020 Golden Spade Award in the winter months. We visited Stallcombe House in Woodbury and met staff and residents who have an amazing community which is a life line to adults with a learning disability and autism, and their families. This cemented our resolve to support them with a donation and publicity. We pledged £1 from us at HCT Turf to Stallcombe House for each garden photo sent to us from Devon residents.

A resident of Stallcombe House with produce grown in their garden

With this fantastic local cause to support we planned to reach out to our customers and all types of gardening groups and businesses to get involved in June.

And then Coronavirus happened. Like everyone, this rather stopped us in our tracks.

But after some thought we realised that this campaign would actually be a great thing for people at this difficult time. With many people at home more, clearly gardening was an important activity, physically and mentally, and sharing the results of all this work would be a great pleasure.

So after Lockdown was announced in March and then the beautiful weather looked set to stay we made the last minute decision to open up entries for the Golden Spade Award 2020 earlier than planned in the last week of April, running until the end of May.

 

Entries

Throughout the campaign we had a steady stream of entries and shared the uplifting images of Devon gardens on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. In total around 50 photos were submitted, but through our online community many more people were reached and hopefully took as much pleasure from the glorious views as we did.

 

It was also very touching receiving messages of support for Stallcombe House and the work they do, as well as other messages praising the NHS and dedications to family members.

 

 

The Winner

Once entries closed on 31st May we had the challenge of selecting our favourite for the Best of Devon Hamper and trophy. From a shortlist of 6 beauties we whittled it down to Lee and Kathy’s tranquil looking garden in East Devon to win the 2020 Golden Spade Award. Now that outdoor visits are permitted it was an absolute delight to be able see their garden at first hand with the excuse of delivering their prize.

Lee commented:

“Our garden can be extremely hard work at times, but it’s times like these that we appreciate our garden all the more. When the work is done, we are rewarded with lovely colours especially in the autumn when our winning photo was taken. We are still buzzing after winning the Golden Spade Award for 2020 and would like to thank HCT Turf for their kindness and generosity.”

 

 

Best of Devon Hamper Prize

We were thrilled with the response from Devon based producers of fine foods and drinks to support us with a range of donations for a winner’s hamper.

Dartmoor Distillery at Newton Abbot provided a 70cl bottle of their Black Dog Gin. Otter Brewery near Honiton donated a bottle of their popular Otter Ale. Utopian Brewing at Bow contributed four cans of their local lagers and a branded glass to really enjoy it in the proper style! Waterhouse Fayre at Burlescombe delivered a bagful of goodies: pickled onions, 2 jars of jam and 2 jars of fruit preserve. Our neighbours Good Game in Topsham donated their chorizo and charcuterie platter. And Four Elms Fruit Farm at Newton Poppleford gave bottles of their Devonshire apple juice and Devon Roots cider.

Donation to Stallcombe House

It’s also time for us to send our donation to Stallcombe House. Originally, we set this at £1 per entry but for this year have decided to increase it to £5 per entry, a total of £255 to Stallcombe House.

Amanda Greenaway, Head of Charity at Stallcombe House, filled us in on how they have been affected by Covid-19:

“Thank you so much for your donation, we really do appreciate it. We plan to spend the money on a cuddle curtain for our residents. We went into lockdown even before it officially began on 23 March because our residents are so vulnerable. So they have not been off site in all this time and haven’t seen their families. We hope that next month visits may be possible with the aid of a cuddle curtain so that residents can experience the loving cuddles they yearn for without risk of infection. Seeing their families through a screen just wouldn’t work because they don’t fully understand the situation and why they must avoid contact.

“Activities here have been massively affected; for months now none of our normal pastimes like swimming and visits to coffee shops have been possible. We have had to be creative with new ideas on site to try and keep interest and spirits up.

“Normally our permanent staff are regularly joined here by agency workers. But measures taken in light of Covid-19 mean that is not possible at the moment and together with some self isolation this has meant our team have been working tremendously hard.

“Of course we do have the benefit of a large and beautiful site here where it is a pleasure to live and work. But it is hard to understate how much we long for a return to normality.”

We have thoroughly enjoyed seeing the incredible hard work and talent of Devon’s gardeners that we wouldn’t ordinarily. It’s definitely something that we would like to continue in future years. Hopefully all of this year’s participants plus many more will submit a photo when we come back for the 2021 Golden Spade Award.

Although the unique conditions this year have highlighted the benefits of gardening, of course we desperately hope that 2021 brings a return to normality and we can celebrate that when we reach out to our gardening friends next time.

In the meantime our sincere thanks to everyone involved, all the gardeners who took the trouble to contact us and especially the companies who have donated to the Best of Devon Hamper.

#ILoveMyDevonGarden 2022

Our FREE TO ENTER photo campaign #ILoveMyDevonGarden 2022, raising money to help disabled people in Devon enjoy the great outdoors, has just finished. Want to find out more? Follow the link below:

Contact us

01392 231040
sales@wesellturf.com

Office address

HCT Turf
The Old Stable
Clyst Road
Topsham
EX3 0DB

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Winter Lawn Care

Winter Lawn Care

Winter is one of the quietest times for your lawn, you can now breathe a sigh of relief after all the hard work maintaining it throughout the summer and autumn months. You will be pleased to know you only need to carry out a few tasks before hunkering down and hibernating enjoying all things warm and cosy indoors.

Winter Lawn Care

Winter is one of the quietest times for your lawn, you can now breathe a sigh of relief after all the hard work maintaining it throughout the summer and autumn months. You will be pleased to know you only need to carry out a few tasks before hunkering down and hibernating enjoying all things warm and cosy indoors.

What’s left to do for your lawn in winter?

It’s all about stopping after all, so try not to walk on wet grass as your footprints in soft soil will leave a bumpy surface. But it’s not a big deal if you do.

But before you stop completely remove any final fallen leaves which can rot down and smother healthy grass. Look out for any last remaining areas of maintenance. Do you have any puddles forming?  This may mean you have poor drainage or compaction and will need to look at aeration in the spring, but if you want to get out and put air back into the soil it’s perfectly fine to do it during the winter months.

Don’t despair if your lawn does become water-logged during the winter, you may need to over-seed in the spring. A relatively simple and easy step.

You might want to move any garden furniture to stop it from winter damage and also give the lawn a chance to recover from it’s weight.

Mowing will have almost certainly have come to a halt for some, however, venturing out once a month is a good idea, but avoid mowing if the lawn is too wet.

All applications of fertilisers and weed killers will have to wait until the spring when the grass is growing.

If frost or snow is likely

The great news is that frost and snow don’t really do any damage to your lawn. Damage can occur when there is movement across it, so it is advisable to try and stay off your lawn to reduce footprints in your grass when it is frosty, frozen or after a heavy snowfall. But thankfully there won’t be any long-term damage, grass is surprisingly resilient and any scorch marks will grow out by spring. So don’t be put off building that snowman when the snow comes!

Laying new turf

It may come as a surprise to know that is perfectly fine to lay turf during the winter months, it really is very resilient. Frost and snow will not do any damage. Winter is actually quite a good time to lay turf as it gives the turf time to settle in and take a firm root. It might be worth noting that turf maybe more difficult to locate in garden centres, during the run up to Christmas, but it will be available to order from us by phone any time. (Click here for more information on laying turf in winter.)

With your feet firmly up, and with that log fire burning, it’s the ideal time to draw up a spring time maintenance plan and get your garden tools in working order (maybe even ask Father Christmas for some new ones) and don’t forget to include any mower repairs, so that by the time spring is on the horizon you will be lawn ready.

If you would like any further advice on winter lawn care or would like to talk to us about your order, please contact us on 01392 231040 or email sales@wesellturf.com

#ILoveMyDevonGarden 2022

Our FREE TO ENTER photo campaign #ILoveMyDevonGarden 2022, raising money to help disabled people in Devon enjoy the great outdoors, has just finished. Want to find out more? Follow the link below:

Contact us

01392 231040
sales@wesellturf.com

Office address

HCT Turf
The Old Stable
Clyst Road
Topsham
EX3 0DB

Social media

Autumn Lawn Care

Autumn Lawn Care

As summer dissolves into autumn and the evenings draw in, our gardens appear quieter, with diminished child’s play as children return back to school and BBQs are packed away. However, September is actually a great time for you to continue to enjoy your garden, and to roll up your sleeves and prepare your lawn for next year before the winter months set in.

Autumn Lawn Care

As summer dissolves into autumn and the evenings draw in, our gardens appear quieter, with diminished child’s play as children return back to school and BBQs are packed away. However, September is actually a great time for you to continue to enjoy your garden, and to roll up your sleeves and prepare your lawn for next year before the winter months set in.

The extra maintenance and nurturing now, will help restore your lawn back to full health, so that come next spring it will bounce back with vigour and strength.

We’ve prepared a few pointers to help you on your way. 

Clearing

Remove fallen leaves and debris from your lawn so that light can still reach the grass evenly and doesn’t leave patches whilst still allowing the grass to breathe.

Weeding & Moss Removal

Early autumn is a good time to get to grips with the weeds and removal of any seeds that have germinated. It’s also a preferred time for lawn treatments to prevent weeds from over wintering, or simply remove the weeds by hand if you only have a few problem areas (remember to get the roots though).

Cooler, wetter conditions can increase moss growth. It may be worth considering a moss treatment. Ideally, mow the lawn first, rake out the moss and then apply a moss killer to the remaining moss.  If you apply a moss killer wait a couple of weeks before raking out moss.

Raking and scarifying

Rake off (scarify) dead moss, old grass stems and any debris (thatch) vigorously to enable fertilisers to penetrate and for water to access the root system. If you need to apply chemical weed control do it at least a month or two before scarifying. Don’t apply any weed killer afterwards but wait until the following spring. 

Aeration

Aerating your lawn will allow for better movement of air in the soil and root system, therefore good preparation now gives it a better chance of recovery in extreme conditions. You can hire a aerator or spike manually depending on the size of your lawn.

Remember to fertilise the lawn after aerating to produce deeper rooting.

Feed

It’s also a perfect time to add fertiliser to your lawn in September and October. Autumn fertilisers are high in potash and phosphates, enabling recovery from the summer’s heat and protection from disease and the harsh winter conditions ahead. It also ensures your lawn remains a beautiful healthy green.

Warmth, moisture and fertiliser allows the grass to recover, so September really is the optimal time for maintenance. For treatments to take effect it’s good to start before temperatures dip and growth stops.

Over- seeding

The soil is still warm in September so this is a perfect time to sow new seed and perk up a tired or damaged lawn. Wetter months are ideal conditions for seeds to germinate. But do be prepared to water them if the weather turns dry and keep off the area until they have established. Ideally, prepare the area first by mowing and raking to give the seeds a better chance of taking root.

It’s important to fertilise and over-seed your lawn after raking or scarifying. If you don’t you’ll risk a slow recovery and patchy lawn with lots of weeds. So it really does pay to invest in your lawn in the autumn.

Mowing

Mowing can continue weekly as the levels of moisture continue to keep grass at it’s best. When the temperature cools and the growth rate decreases raise your mowing height on your mower a couple of settings at least until spring time. The last cut will probably be between October and November.

And finally, to Turf

This is the optimal time of year to lay turf. It has the best chance to establish quicker as the soil is still warm enough to stimulate root growth, and the summer heat has gone so the autumn rains don’t have chance to evaporate, providing much needed hydration.  From October onwards the speed of growth will slow down, but don’t let that discourage you: lawns can be ready for use within 4 weeks, that’s the beauty of autumn.  As the winter sets in you will be reassured that your new lawn is nicely established and it can go to sleep whilst nature takes its course, ready to be woken anew in the spring.

Click here to find out more about laying turf 

We supply quality turf all year round.  If you would like further advice on lawn care this autumn or would like to talk to us about your order, please contact us on 01392 231040 or email sales@wesellturf.com

#ILoveMyDevonGarden 2022

Our FREE TO ENTER photo campaign #ILoveMyDevonGarden 2022, raising money to help disabled people in Devon enjoy the great outdoors, has just finished. Want to find out more? Follow the link below:

Contact us

01392 231040
sales@wesellturf.com

Office address

HCT Turf
The Old Stable
Clyst Road
Topsham
EX3 0DB

Social media

Selling Your Home – The Perfect Lawn

Selling Your Home – The Perfect Lawn

Are you looking to sell your home? Did you know having the perfect lawn can help? According to the National Association of Estate Agents a well-maintained garden can boost the value of a house by up to 10 percent. After all the garden is an extension of your living space, so investing time in making your garden look its best is a wise move for any home owner.

Selling Your Home – The Perfect Lawn

Are you looking to sell your home? Did you know having the perfect lawn can help? According to the National Association of Estate Agents a well-maintained garden can boost the value of a house by up to 10 percent. After all the garden is an extension of your living space, so investing time in making your garden look its best is a wise move for any home owner.

The front garden and exterior of the house will form the vital first impression for viewers. Within minutes of arriving at your home, they will have made some sort of opinion and decision. An unkempt, patchy and tired looking lawn can instantly leave a negative impression.

Simon Cooper, partner at Stags, the region’s leading estate agent says, “Present the property as best you can: first impressions are so important. The outside space is crucial to this. If you get it right potential buyers will leave with good, lasting impressions.”

A tidy, low-maintenance garden with enough space, will have the widest appeal to potential buyers. Even just mowing the grass will have great visual impact on the overall appearance. It’s important to think of your garden as another room of the house with the lawn as the carpet.

We have a few simple tips to ensure your lawn looks in tip-top condition when potential buyers come to view your property:

Condition

To establish lawn health, spring is one of the optimal times to feed your lawn. To help prevent weeds and moss forming, feed with an all-in one feed, weed and moss killer up to 6 times a year (but especially in the spring and autumn). If you are an organic gardener a daisy grubber can lift out the weeds and feed the lawn with a mixture of blood, bone and fishmeal.

Aesthetics

To give the illusion of space: extend the lawn by grassing over any unwanted flower beds; narrow the borders and trim back any over-flowing plants to open up the space.  It also enables the garden to be easier to care for and has the potential to be more adaptable to the new buyer’s needs.

MAINTENANCE

Mowing

Keep the lawn in shape by regular mowing. It doesn’t just cosmetically alter the appearance of your garden but it keeps it healthy and removes any pests and potential diseases.

In the spring and summer months, it’s a good idea to mow your lawn just before the viewers arrive. It will help draw attention to it and the smell of fresh cut grass might just woo them over.

So, where possible, between April and September, mow the lawn every seven days or so.

And if you really want to go the extra mile, to get those quintessential lawn stripes you’ll need a rear roller on the back of your mower.

Raking

Clear any fallen leaves from the lawn in the autumn and winter. Raking allows lawns to breathe, prevents grass damage, pests and disease. Autumn is also the ideal time of year to attack any moss growing in your lawn before it takes hold in the winter months.

Investing time in your lawn will not only make it easier to maintain and be cost-effective in the long run it will be more aesthetically pleasing for you and any potential buyers.  What bigger return could there be? An eye-catching, lush, healthy green attractive lawn will pay dividends.

SUMMARY

  • When selling your home, think of your lawn as an extension of the internal space, ensure it looks neat and tidy.
  • Low maintenance lawns offer the widest appeal – keep it simple!
  • Feed and water your lawn to keep it in the best condition during the spring and summer
  • Mow your lawn just before potential buyers come to view your property

If you would like more advice about selling your property please visit Stags.

If you are considering investing in turf for your garden to sell your property please contact us for further advice on 01392 231040 or email sales@wesellturf.com

#ILoveMyDevonGarden 2022

Our FREE TO ENTER photo campaign #ILoveMyDevonGarden 2022, raising money to help disabled people in Devon enjoy the great outdoors, has just finished. Want to find out more? Follow the link below:

Contact us

01392 231040
sales@wesellturf.com

Office address

HCT Turf
The Old Stable
Clyst Road
Topsham
EX3 0DB

Social media

Turf V Seed

Turf V Seed

One of the dilemma gardeners face is whether to lay turf or to sow grass seed to create that lush green lawn. Of course you’d think we are likely to say turf is the best option, but we’ve looked at both sides of the coin. One option may be better for you than the other….

Turf V Seed

One of the dilemma gardeners face is whether to lay turf or to sow grass seed to create that lush green lawn. Of course you’d think we are likely to say turf is the best option, but we’ve looked at both sides of the coin. One option may be better for you than the other….

AT A GLANCE, TURF V’S SEED…

Turf vs seed HCT we sell turf Devon

Laying new turf will give you that instant wow factor, it is both convenient and practical. And if you have an event or a date in mind that you want to achieve that ‘instant lawn’ look by, then turf is the very grass for the job. It’s not a martyr to the seasons and can be laid at any time, unlike seed.

Of course the expense and hard labour may not work in it’s favour but it depends entirely on your budget, muscle and whether you are in a hurry.

Naturally, turf will give you a much faster, completed and useable lawn just 2-4 weeks after laying. Whereas, the length of time it takes for seed to get established is dictated to by temperatures and hours of daylight, so it could take 2-4 months to achieve similar grass coverage. And it’s also worth considering the amount of time it takes to prepare the area for both options, but seed beds will require more labour prior to sowing.

Turf has the added convenience of being able to be laid at any time of year, as long as the ground is not frozen. Seed has a much smaller window of opportunity, with ideal sowing times March – May or September and October.

If budget is the driving factor and time is not an issue, then seeding is the cheaper way to go, especially if you are intending on doing all the work yourself. (Do consider any labour costs if you are paying someone else to do it for you).

It’s also worth considering risk factors when looking at the two options. There are more potential problems with sowing seeds, than there are laying turf (as the turf is already established) whereas the seeds have to go through many stages of development and have to contend with extreme weather conditions (torrential rain can wash away the seed and lack of sun can mean the seeds just won’t establish). 

However, it’s possible to use a mixture of turf and seed successfully, especially if the area has more diverse location or soil issues. 

In broad terms, you might turf:

  • The areas to be used soon and heavily
  • Areas which would be harder to grow seed on such as shady, steep and poorer soil quality

And seed:

  • Areas not being used as much and further from the house, especially if not visible from windows and seating areas
  • At the best time of year to get the fastest growth (spring and early autumn) – turf is fine to install all year round for instant lawn

There are many factors to consider and each garden project is unique. If you have further questions on whether to choose turf or seed for your garden, we would be more than happy to advise.  Please contact us on 01392 231040 or email sales@wesellturf.com

#ILoveMyDevonGarden 2022

Our FREE TO ENTER photo campaign #ILoveMyDevonGarden 2022, raising money to help disabled people in Devon enjoy the great outdoors, has just finished. Want to find out more? Follow the link below:

Contact us

01392 231040
sales@wesellturf.com

Office address

HCT Turf
The Old Stable
Clyst Road
Topsham
EX3 0DB

Social media