<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
    xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
    xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
    xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
    <channel>
        <title>Tools and techniques — BBC Gardeners' World Magazine</title>
        <link>https://forum.gardenersworld.com/</link>
        <pubDate>Wed, 27 Mar 2024 06:19:50 +0000</pubDate>
        <language>en_GB</language>
            <description>Tools and techniques — BBC Gardeners' World Magazine</description>
    <atom:link href="https://forum.gardenersworld.com/categories/tools-and-techniques/feed.rss" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/>
    <item>
        <title>Gardening Boots</title>
        <link>https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1046550/gardening-boots</link>
        <pubDate>Thu, 17 Sep 2020 19:18:58 +0000</pubDate>
        <category>Tools and techniques</category>
        <dc:creator>pugslovesun</dc:creator>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">1046550@/discussions</guid>
        <description><![CDATA[Hi, I’m  looking for recommendations for gardening boots. I want some slip-on, waterproof, ankle height boots size 6. Not fussed about colurs. Have been searching for ages &amp; get put off by reviews!<div>Thanks in advance for help.</div>]]>
        </description>
    </item>
    <item>
        <title>Community growing</title>
        <link>https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1046088/community-growing</link>
        <pubDate>Fri, 04 Sep 2020 14:49:27 +0000</pubDate>
        <category>Tools and techniques</category>
        <dc:creator>Fire</dc:creator>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">1046088@/discussions</guid>
        <description><![CDATA[<div>This is a new thread for community projects such as neighbourhood growing groups, street tree bed planting and 'guerilla gardening'. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div> - - -<br /></div><div>Through the covid lockdown period (since March 2020) we have started a mutual aid group that runs a community gardening club. Based in North London, we support neighbours over four residential streets. Most people in the group are new to growing. We have been giving out veg and flower seed, exchanging cuttings, bulk buying together, helping each other in our gardens, supporting our local GCs. We have also started a little community flower bed where a street tree has been removed and not replaced. Most of our gardens are of small, Edwardian terrace houses and flats, a full mix of social housing, rentals and private owned. Some residents have no gardens and are growing in window boxes, hanging baskets or in their kitchen. We support growing as inclusively as possible, free or cheap, to all levels of experience. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>- - -<br /></div><div>Below are montages of our group harvests in the past few months. Tomatoes have been the big smash of the year. Many of the growers (nearly all first timers) grew Gardeners' Delight cherry toms and had good success. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/kt/a5kjum8rwrcm.jpg" alt="" title="Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/kt/a5kjum8rwrcm.jpg" srcset="https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=10/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/kt/a5kjum8rwrcm.jpg 10w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=300/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/kt/a5kjum8rwrcm.jpg 300w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=800/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/kt/a5kjum8rwrcm.jpg 800w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=1200/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/kt/a5kjum8rwrcm.jpg 1200w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=1600/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/kt/a5kjum8rwrcm.jpg 1600w, https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/kt/a5kjum8rwrcm.jpg" /></div><div><img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/6y/czsgtvhprxh9.jpg" alt="" title="Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/6y/czsgtvhprxh9.jpg" srcset="https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=10/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/6y/czsgtvhprxh9.jpg 10w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=300/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/6y/czsgtvhprxh9.jpg 300w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=800/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/6y/czsgtvhprxh9.jpg 800w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=1200/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/6y/czsgtvhprxh9.jpg 1200w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=1600/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/6y/czsgtvhprxh9.jpg 1600w, https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/6y/czsgtvhprxh9.jpg" /><br /></div>]]>
        </description>
    </item>
    <item>
        <title>a roll of wire that will rust</title>
        <link>https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1080481/a-roll-of-wire-that-will-rust</link>
        <pubDate>Sat, 16 Mar 2024 00:11:30 +0000</pubDate>
        <category>Tools and techniques</category>
        <dc:creator>Fire</dc:creator>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">1080481@/discussions</guid>
        <description><![CDATA[<div>I am looking to bind a structure in the garden with wire  to give it a rusted look. I would like it to last (not rust through) but colour up quickly - a bit like corten steel. It would be the kind of wire that artists use to make rust sculpture.  All the rolls of wire I can find are galvanised, stainless steel, or zinc plated (in order to not rust). <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Thoughts welcome. Thanks <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/uz/fb95je7pdypw.jpg" alt="" title="Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/uz/fb95je7pdypw.jpg" srcset="https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=10/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/uz/fb95je7pdypw.jpg 10w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=300/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/uz/fb95je7pdypw.jpg 300w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=800/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/uz/fb95je7pdypw.jpg 800w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=1200/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/uz/fb95je7pdypw.jpg 1200w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=1600/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/uz/fb95je7pdypw.jpg 1600w, https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/uz/fb95je7pdypw.jpg" /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img width="292" alt="" src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/67/in9w7csbx6v5.jpg" height="292" title="Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/67/in9w7csbx6v5.jpg" srcset="https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=10/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/67/in9w7csbx6v5.jpg 10w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=300/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/67/in9w7csbx6v5.jpg 300w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=800/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/67/in9w7csbx6v5.jpg 800w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=1200/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/67/in9w7csbx6v5.jpg 1200w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=1600/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/67/in9w7csbx6v5.jpg 1600w, https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/67/in9w7csbx6v5.jpg" /><br /></div><div><br /></div>]]>
        </description>
    </item>
    <item>
        <title>Spring!!</title>
        <link>https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1080487/spring</link>
        <pubDate>Sat, 16 Mar 2024 15:06:38 +0000</pubDate>
        <category>Tools and techniques</category>
        <dc:creator>Johnjoe</dc:creator>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">1080487@/discussions</guid>
        <description><![CDATA[OH comes home and asks me "What have you been doing all day?"... I said "Hoe-ing" Took a minute, until he saw the newly tilled flower <br />beds]]>
        </description>
    </item>
    <item>
        <title>greenhouse doors</title>
        <link>https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1077537/greenhouse-doors</link>
        <pubDate>Mon, 25 Sep 2023 08:20:20 +0000</pubDate>
        <category>Tools and techniques</category>
        <dc:creator>Chris314</dc:creator>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">1077537@/discussions</guid>
        <description><![CDATA[As many will know, greenhouses such as the Halls that I have come with no easy means to secure the door closed. <br />I've tried many home made solutions and trawled the internet but surprisingly nobody seems to sell a simple latch/lock kit.<br />How have you solved this problem ?<br />At the moment the door is secured with bits of wire looped through holes I've drilled in door and frame but that is unlikely to hold the door securely enough to withstand the 60 mph winds forecast for this week..]]>
        </description>
    </item>
    <item>
        <title>Making dyes, inks and paints from plants</title>
        <link>https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1059856/making-dyes-inks-and-paints-from-plants</link>
        <pubDate>Fri, 01 Oct 2021 21:11:22 +0000</pubDate>
        <category>Tools and techniques</category>
        <dc:creator>Fire</dc:creator>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">1059856@/discussions</guid>
        <description><![CDATA[<div>I've been experimenting with extracting pigments from plants, for the last few years. I'm especially interested in using plants I grow or that I can find growing nearby. I have made simple paint washes in the past, simmering berries in water, for example, sieving and reducing the solution down to a usable concentrate with an interesting colour.  This is fun, easy, kids love it and it's quite a fascinating process. You can make a simple cloth dye in a similar way. Easy plants to first try from the garden, might include strawberries, blackberries, sloes, elderberries; dahlia, goldenrod, pelargonium, calendula, buddleja petals, or nettle leaves. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/u5/64cbvdvw7vu9.jpeg" alt="" title="Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/u5/64cbvdvw7vu9.jpeg" srcset="https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=10/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/u5/64cbvdvw7vu9.jpeg 10w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=300/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/u5/64cbvdvw7vu9.jpeg 300w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=800/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/u5/64cbvdvw7vu9.jpeg 800w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=1200/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/u5/64cbvdvw7vu9.jpeg 1200w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=1600/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/u5/64cbvdvw7vu9.jpeg 1600w, https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/u5/64cbvdvw7vu9.jpeg" /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The next step on might be to help the colour stick and stay longer. Adding <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.meadowarts.org/Documents/Natural%20Inks%20_Meadow%20Arts.pdf">gum Arabic </a>(edible) can make pigment last as a ink or a paint. <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gsdye.com/instructionPDF/Guide_To_Natural_Dyes.pdf" title="Link: https://www.gsdye.com/instructionPDF/Guide_To_Natural_Dyes.pdf">Mordanting cloth with something like alum can make it become more colour fast, so the colours don't run and stay how and where you want them. </a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>My current experiments with dye, paint and ink are using gum and alum, in an attempt to get a more professional and usable end result that doesn't fade or wash out. I am also working with my garden clay to this end. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/hb/kiaxs3nkbd1j.jpeg" title="Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/hb/kiaxs3nkbd1j.jpeg" srcset="https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=10/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/hb/kiaxs3nkbd1j.jpeg 10w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=300/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/hb/kiaxs3nkbd1j.jpeg 300w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=800/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/hb/kiaxs3nkbd1j.jpeg 800w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=1200/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/hb/kiaxs3nkbd1j.jpeg 1200w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=1600/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/hb/kiaxs3nkbd1j.jpeg 1600w, https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/hb/kiaxs3nkbd1j.jpeg" /></div><div><br /></div><div>- - - <br /></div><div>Dalhia paint</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/ys/hj824lpqkq8z.jpeg" alt="" title="Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/ys/hj824lpqkq8z.jpeg" srcset="https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=10/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/ys/hj824lpqkq8z.jpeg 10w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=300/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/ys/hj824lpqkq8z.jpeg 300w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=800/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/ys/hj824lpqkq8z.jpeg 800w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=1200/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/ys/hj824lpqkq8z.jpeg 1200w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=1600/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/ys/hj824lpqkq8z.jpeg 1600w, https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/ys/hj824lpqkq8z.jpeg" /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> - - - <br /></div><div>Alum mordanted cloth in <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.peternyssen.com/dahlia-rip-city.html">dark dahlia petal dye (Rip City</a>). I'm learning as I go.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/uk/9kquwr434a74.jpg" title="Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/uk/9kquwr434a74.jpg" srcset="https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=10/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/uk/9kquwr434a74.jpg 10w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=300/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/uk/9kquwr434a74.jpg 300w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=800/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/uk/9kquwr434a74.jpg 800w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=1200/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/uk/9kquwr434a74.jpg 1200w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=1600/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/uk/9kquwr434a74.jpg 1600w, https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/uk/9kquwr434a74.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><div>A remarkable number of plants will yield up their strong pigment. From the kitchen, ones to look out for might be beetroot, onion skins and turmeric. Ingredients to buy in might be indigo, woad or madder bark (woad is not so hard to grow).<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/jenny-dean/wild-colour/9781784725532/" title="Link: https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/jenny-dean/wild-colour/9781784725532/">Jenny Dean has a great, detailled instruction book, covering barks, roots, leaves and petals - called Wild Colour.</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.gsdye.com/instructionPDF/Guide_To_Natural_Dyes.pdf" title="Link: https://www.gsdye.com/instructionPDF/Guide_To_Natural_Dyes.pdf">https://www.gsdye.com/instructionPDF/Guide_To_Natural_Dyes.pdf</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.meadowarts.org/Documents/Natural%20Inks%20_Meadow%20Arts.pdf" title="Link: https://www.meadowarts.org/Documents/Natural%20Inks%20_Meadow%20Arts.pdf">https://www.meadowarts.org/Documents/Natural%20Inks%20_Meadow%20Arts.pdf</a><br /></div><br /><br />]]>
        </description>
    </item>
    <item>
        <title>The make your own compost thread</title>
        <link>https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1068227/the-make-your-own-compost-thread</link>
        <pubDate>Thu, 25 Aug 2022 22:25:48 +0000</pubDate>
        <category>Tools and techniques</category>
        <dc:creator>MikeOxgreen</dc:creator>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">1068227@/discussions</guid>
        <description><![CDATA[<div>I'm a keen composter, I know a bit, I don't know it all, I just think it's important  (as gardeners) to do it.</div><div> It would be good to talk about it here and encourage you (composters) and those who need converting to chat about it. Let me/us convince you that you can make your own, if you do make your own then talk about how you do it and why.</div><div>Home composting problems? Post them up!</div><div><br /></div><div>Am I a compost expert? Absolutely not. I got into gardening for all the right reasons and found that those same ethics applied to DIY compost too so have been having a go for a few years now with great success.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you put your garden waste into the Council bin to be taken away they charge you for it (either separately or it's already included). They then sell it onto compost makers. They make it into compost and sell it back to you.</div><div>So you're paying for it twice, they're making mugs of you.</div><div>Particularly as when you get it back it's often terrible! It can even have traces of weedkiller in it which will effect your plants.</div><div><br /></div><div>Advantages of making your own:</div><div>It's cheaper.</div><div>Less toll on the planet: You aren't buying plastic bags. The bin wagon isn't stopping at your house, the ingredients you need and use aren't being driven around the country before being sold back to you.</div><div>You'll be sure there is no weedkiller in the mix.</div><div>You are in charge of the time, method and ingredients so make it to suit whatever final use it has. Potting compost, general use or whatever.</div><div><br /></div><div>Disadvantages</div><div><br /></div><div>Some weed and grass roots and seeds can survive, but it's not a huge issue and bought compost often has them in anyhow.</div><div>It takes time, a little space and you'll need to put a bit of physical effort into turning it over now and again. The latter can be an advantage of course...</div><div><br /></div><div>Common excuses/misnomers:</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't have the space. Unless you've got nothing but a window box or a balcony you do. A compost bin or heap is part of a working garden, it's like a raised bed, a path, a flower bed. It has it's place somewhere.</div><div>It's too wet/cold. Wrong. If it's too wet then cover it over and no, it never gets too cold for compost. I can show you a Youtube clip of a guy getting a hot shower in the snow. The water was heated by his compost heap. I make successful compost up here on the Pennines.<br /><br /></div><div>I don't like the look of it. Buy a compost bin and paint some flowers on it, hide it. Heck, make it into a Dalek or whatever. </div><div>You could even create a composter in the ground. Yes really! Dig a hole, put the ingredients in, soil back over the top and walk away. In maybe 3 months uncover it and turn it over before leaving it another 3 months. Then dig it up, if it's ready then use it.</div><div><div><span><br /></span></div><div>Types of composters:</div><div><br /></div><div>As per above, a simple hole in the ground could do. That aside:</div><div>Some pallets used to form a square is cheap and simple (pallets are often free if you have a car big enough or can carry them home). Simply screw them together at the corners with some cheap angle brackets and/or tie a rope or strap around them.</div><div><br /></div><div>The common 'compost dalek' or simple bin is cheap, or often even free.</div><div><br /></div><div>Rotating composter. If it's in within your budget then theses are great and available in many different sizes.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hot composter. We're getting into expensive and pro territory here...</div><div><br /></div><div>Bokashi Bin. I have no experience of these, but if you have a small output of waste and a small space they may just suit you.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you don't want to buy new, then buy used or for free, Facebook marketplace and Freecycle are just two places which are good for this.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ingredients.</div><div>You need somewhere around equal amounts of 'brown' &amp; 'Green' waste.</div><div><br /></div><div>All kitchen veg scraps, nothing else (no meat, dairy etc) are green.</div><div>All your waste cardboard and paper are brown. Throw it in whole, unless it's a book or too big to go in there is no need to shred. In fact, the more air pockets in there the better. If your cardboard has tape on it then either pull it off or put it in as it is, the cardboard will rot away and you can pull the tape out of the compost later. I tip our whole wastepaper bins in the compost, it's better for the environment and it's better for security, no-one can read our personal details.</div><div>Lawn clippings are green</div><div>Leaves, twigs and chipped twigs, bark etc are brown.</div><div>Tea leaves, coffee grounds can go in too. I've found T bags don't rot down so well, so tear them open and just compost the tea leaves.</div><div>You can put eggshells in, but i'm not a fan as they don't break down. Same goes for Avocado and peach/plum stones</div><div>Manure and bedding from horses, cows, alpacas, chickens, rabbits. Basically anything which eats grass and green stuff.</div><div>Used, old and tired compost.</div><div>Old plants from the garden.</div><div>Soil.</div><div><br /></div><div>Weeds? Leaves and stalks will go straight in. Personally I would dry out any roots or seed pods (or just the whole lot) and burn them in Winter. If you don't have a chipping or mulching machine then burn dried tough stuff too. Put all the ash into your compost.</div><div><br /></div><div>Unless it's a rotating composter the basics of it are pile it all in, leave it a month or two and adjust the water content by putting a cover or the lid over to regulate the rain, sun and wind. It needs to be damp or wet. Not dry or dripping/soaking wet.</div><div>After that time it needs turning. Everything at the top and the sides needs to go to the bottom or the centre and vice-versa.</div><div>If your heap is big enough (1m cube or more) then you can keep an eye on the core temps to tell you what is going on. Mine goes up to 65c then drops off. When it's got down to about 30 in Winter I know it's time to turn it and it'll heat up again. When it stops heating up much after being turned it's about ready. Once it's cooled the compost worms will move in and do their bit.</div><div>There are a lot of claims of compost being produced in 6 weeks which I don't really believe or think it's possibly not great compost. Personally I would say it takes about 6 months, but it does depend on conditions, type of composter, ingredients etc.</div><div><br /></div><div>Once it's complete it should smell earthy and resemble soil.</div><div><br /></div><div>They are the very brief basics of composting and it's amazing (if not a little sad) how often the modern gardener doesn't do it anymore. </div><div>If you don't then have a go, it's really quite satisfying, has many positives and no negatives. There are loads of guides online and in books on how to do it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Do your bit for the environment, make your own compost.</div></div>]]>
        </description>
    </item>
    <item>
        <title>Seed compost</title>
        <link>https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1080378/seed-compost</link>
        <pubDate>Sun, 10 Mar 2024 15:20:52 +0000</pubDate>
        <category>Tools and techniques</category>
        <dc:creator>dangermousie</dc:creator>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">1080378@/discussions</guid>
        <description><![CDATA[Do I need to mix anything into my shop bought seed sowing compost? There are lots of mixes and recipes online, but surely the bag of stuff that says seed sowing compost on it is ready to use? <img src="https://forum.gardenersworld.com/resources/emoji/smile.png" title=":)" alt=":)" height="20" /> I ddin't have the most success with it last year, but I probably made other newbie mistakes.<br />Thanks]]>
        </description>
    </item>
    <item>
        <title>Do these have a name?</title>
        <link>https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1080189/do-these-have-a-name</link>
        <pubDate>Thu, 29 Feb 2024 15:23:27 +0000</pubDate>
        <category>Tools and techniques</category>
        <dc:creator>Tanty2</dc:creator>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">1080189@/discussions</guid>
        <description><![CDATA[Hi all - I'm looking to buy some 8 inch long round wooden sticks - as pic - with the notch at one end.  They're incredibly useful for hanging plant labels away from the plant.  I got this one out a houseplant (it had the label hanging off it) but can't seem to find any online.  I'm sure I could spend my summer whittling dowels, but I'd rather just buy a job lot of these if I can find them <img src="https://forum.gardenersworld.com/resources/emoji/smile.png" title=":)" alt=":)" height="20" />  Anyone any insight?  Thanks!<img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/lu/4tqohqnt6g7l.jpeg" alt="" title="Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/lu/4tqohqnt6g7l.jpeg" srcset="https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=10/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/lu/4tqohqnt6g7l.jpeg 10w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=300/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/lu/4tqohqnt6g7l.jpeg 300w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=800/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/lu/4tqohqnt6g7l.jpeg 800w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=1200/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/lu/4tqohqnt6g7l.jpeg 1200w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=1600/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/lu/4tqohqnt6g7l.jpeg 1600w, https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/lu/4tqohqnt6g7l.jpeg" />]]>
        </description>
    </item>
    <item>
        <title>propagator mat</title>
        <link>https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1080330/propagator-mat</link>
        <pubDate>Thu, 07 Mar 2024 19:36:18 +0000</pubDate>
        <category>Tools and techniques</category>
        <dc:creator>REMF33</dc:creator>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">1080330@/discussions</guid>
        <description><![CDATA[Just a quick question... (and maybe if I order one the answer will be in the instructions) but does it matter what surface I put one of these on, beyond it being flat? If I buy one, I want to put it on a melamine-coated shelf.<br />]]>
        </description>
    </item>
    <item>
        <title>Supporting roses</title>
        <link>https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1080265/supporting-roses</link>
        <pubDate>Mon, 04 Mar 2024 12:09:31 +0000</pubDate>
        <category>Tools and techniques</category>
        <dc:creator>fcs</dc:creator>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">1080265@/discussions</guid>
        <description><![CDATA[What kind of metal supports are best for rose bushes? I've been told that supports with a 'rustic' rust finish are not suitable for roses because there's a risk the stems will rub and be damaged and this could introducing infection. Does anyone have experience of this?]]>
        </description>
    </item>
    <item>
        <title>Greenhouse heaters</title>
        <link>https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1080285/greenhouse-heaters</link>
        <pubDate>Tue, 05 Mar 2024 12:57:49 +0000</pubDate>
        <category>Tools and techniques</category>
        <dc:creator>Luckynumber13</dc:creator>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">1080285@/discussions</guid>
        <description><![CDATA[I'm looking for advice on greenhouse heaters. I just want something that I can use to over winter plants like Geraniums. I have electricity to my greenhouse but i dont want it to cost me an arm and a leg, but also don't want everything to get frosted 🥶 <br />I have always been to scared to use my greenhouse due to really bad arachnophobia. I have been having hypnotherapy which has really helped me and I'm determined to make the most of my garden this year. ]]>
        </description>
    </item>
    <item>
        <title>PH Testing</title>
        <link>https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1080276/ph-testing</link>
        <pubDate>Mon, 04 Mar 2024 22:31:23 +0000</pubDate>
        <category>Tools and techniques</category>
        <dc:creator>DaveGreig</dc:creator>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">1080276@/discussions</guid>
        <description><![CDATA[Hi all. I’m having a go at making my own potting compost this year and I’m looking for an accurate PH test. The reviews on line are so mixed and the market looks to be flooded with a great deal of rubbish so I wondered if anybody here had a tried and trusted meter or kit they would recommend?]]>
        </description>
    </item>
    <item>
        <title>Gloves</title>
        <link>https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1080254/gloves</link>
        <pubDate>Sun, 03 Mar 2024 17:49:44 +0000</pubDate>
        <category>Tools and techniques</category>
        <dc:creator>debbie3umJtmYG</dc:creator>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">1080254@/discussions</guid>
        <description><![CDATA[Hi - can anyone recommend any gloves; bought cheap ones which obviously didn’t last; bought moderately priced ones - Gold Leaf - and they lasted a little bit longer, but not by much. <br />So any recommendations for a pair of gloves that will last a single season or more?]]>
        </description>
    </item>
    <item>
        <title>horticultural potting grit</title>
        <link>https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1080243/horticultural-potting-grit</link>
        <pubDate>Sun, 03 Mar 2024 11:47:55 +0000</pubDate>
        <category>Tools and techniques</category>
        <dc:creator>hi2u_uk</dc:creator>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">1080243@/discussions</guid>
        <description><![CDATA[Hello  i have half a bag of horticultural potting grit. It claims to improve drainage of potted  plants and the instructions say that it should be mixed in with the compost that you are going to put in the pot.  I am going to plant a fig tree in a pot soon, can someone confirm that the  horticultural potting grit actually works  and that it wont do any damage to the fig tree in the pot <br />]]>
        </description>
    </item>
    <item>
        <title>Council garden waste collection</title>
        <link>https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1079818/council-garden-waste-collection</link>
        <pubDate>Fri, 09 Feb 2024 14:34:54 +0000</pubDate>
        <category>Tools and techniques</category>
        <dc:creator>kate.james58</dc:creator>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">1079818@/discussions</guid>
        <description><![CDATA[My LA have recently started charging for this.<br /><br />I just want to mention, as it may be helpful for somebody, that if you share a bin with your neighbour, and pay half each, if either of you receive any council tax discount, they may get discount on the collection charge, so it is better for them to apply, so that you can also share the discount.  <br /><br />]]>
        </description>
    </item>
    <item>
        <title>Fertilising flower and veg beds</title>
        <link>https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1079976/fertilising-flower-and-veg-beds</link>
        <pubDate>Sat, 17 Feb 2024 16:11:49 +0000</pubDate>
        <category>Tools and techniques</category>
        <dc:creator>Salsmithy</dc:creator>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">1079976@/discussions</guid>
        <description><![CDATA[I’m pretty inexperienced at gardening, but I do try. Is there any difference to using fish blood and bone on my veg and flowerbeds in spring as opposed to manure? It just seems as if it would be much easier and cheaper so was wondering if I could switch on my plants Would still be well fed and happy?]]>
        </description>
    </item>
    <item>
        <title>Water meters?</title>
        <link>https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1079988/water-meters</link>
        <pubDate>Sun, 18 Feb 2024 10:28:16 +0000</pubDate>
        <category>Tools and techniques</category>
        <dc:creator>debs64</dc:creator>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">1079988@/discussions</guid>
        <description><![CDATA[Hi, like many of us I am trying to reduce my bills and I pay over £700 a year to my water company. Would it be a saving to go onto a meter I wonder? I do water my garden a lot during the summer but with only 2 adults in the house our usage otherwise isn’t too much. What has been the experience of other forum members? ]]>
        </description>
    </item>
    <item>
        <title>Does this have a practical use?</title>
        <link>https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1079871/does-this-have-a-practical-use</link>
        <pubDate>Mon, 12 Feb 2024 18:29:09 +0000</pubDate>
        <category>Tools and techniques</category>
        <dc:creator>RM98</dc:creator>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">1079871@/discussions</guid>
        <description><![CDATA[Evening all,<br /><br />I spotted this fork along with another one in an antique shop today and ended up buying both. The other is more ‘conventional’ in that it’s the type of shape you typically see in the GC (but I suspect these are hand made and made to last a long time).<br /><br />The metal work on this one below though is different in that there are 4 prongs and they’re much thinner - I’m new to gardening so it might be that it’s common and I just haven’t spotted them anywhere before but I’d like to use both forks in the garden if I can so wondered if these was actually a practical use for this one or it’s best to just hang up in the potting shed as a display item!<br /><br /><div>Any insight into what this type of fork is called and what it’s typically used for would be greatly appreciated!<br /><br /><img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/sa/z22nxj3gh3sj.jpeg" alt="" srcset="https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=10/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/sa/z22nxj3gh3sj.jpeg 10w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=300/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/sa/z22nxj3gh3sj.jpeg 300w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=800/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/sa/z22nxj3gh3sj.jpeg 800w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=1200/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/sa/z22nxj3gh3sj.jpeg 1200w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=1600/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/sa/z22nxj3gh3sj.jpeg 1600w, https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/sa/z22nxj3gh3sj.jpeg" /><br /></div>]]>
        </description>
    </item>
    <item>
        <title>Newly planted deciduous hedge pruning?</title>
        <link>https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1079862/newly-planted-deciduous-hedge-pruning</link>
        <pubDate>Mon, 12 Feb 2024 12:52:57 +0000</pubDate>
        <category>Tools and techniques</category>
        <dc:creator>SmallYellowDot</dc:creator>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">1079862@/discussions</guid>
        <description><![CDATA[Wonder if anyone can help with advice on pruning a newly planted Hornbeam.  <br /><br />From internet research I believe I should be cutting side shoots back by about a third but leaving the leader to grow until it reaches the desired height and cut back in later years.    But have seen some advice saying both sides and top should be cut back now?  <br /><br />If anyone has any experience of what worked for them I'd love to hear and learn from that. <br /><br />I'm assuming what works for Beech or similar would also work for Hornbeam. <br /><br />Thanks. ]]>
        </description>
    </item>
    <item>
        <title>Is this bonkers</title>
        <link>https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1079847/is-this-bonkers</link>
        <pubDate>Sun, 11 Feb 2024 13:14:28 +0000</pubDate>
        <category>Tools and techniques</category>
        <dc:creator>SonnieB</dc:creator>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">1079847@/discussions</guid>
        <description><![CDATA[I bought one of those heated airers to dry clothes but haven't really been using it.  I wondered if I could use it as propergator if I rest a seed trays on it.  I tried to check Google but couldn't find anything.  Is it a bonkers idea..... don't laugh...... ]]>
        </description>
    </item>
    <item>
        <title>old (but unused) seed compost</title>
        <link>https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1079829/old-but-unused-seed-compost</link>
        <pubDate>Sat, 10 Feb 2024 08:26:34 +0000</pubDate>
        <category>Tools and techniques</category>
        <dc:creator>REMF33</dc:creator>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">1079829@/discussions</guid>
        <description><![CDATA[Quick question: can I use last year's seed compost to sow seeds in? Well obviously I <i>can</i>, but is it fine to do so or better not? I know one is not supposed to use old potting compost for new plants in pots as the nutrients leach out, but given seed compost is quite low in nutrients I would guess it doesn't matter.]]>
        </description>
    </item>
    <item>
        <title>Gardena Battery Lawnmower - missing safety key</title>
        <link>https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1079795/gardena-battery-lawnmower-missing-safety-key</link>
        <pubDate>Thu, 08 Feb 2024 17:26:11 +0000</pubDate>
        <category>Tools and techniques</category>
        <dc:creator>Jack1974</dc:creator>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">1079795@/discussions</guid>
        <description><![CDATA[<span>Hi all,<br /><br />I have an un-used Gardena Battery Lawnmower PowerMax 32/36V P4A Ready-To-Use Set.</span><div><br /></div><div>I bought this a while ago, and just stuck with my electric mower as our lawn is very bumpy and thick.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am now looking to sell the mower and realise I am missing the safety key, please see photos attached of one from Amazon.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here is the part number too (63), from the Gardena website - they helpfully just call this part a “knob”: <a href="https://www.gardena.com/uk/products/lawn-care/rotary-lawnmowers/battery-lawnmower-powermax-3236v-p4a-ready-to-use-set/970522701.html#sp-product-img" rel="nofollow">https://www.gardena.com/uk/products/lawn-care/rotary-lawnmowers/battery-lawnmower-powermax-3236v-p4a-ready-to-use-set/970522701.html#sp-product-img</a></div><div><br /></div><div>I’ve had a good google, and check of Gardena, and Ebay etc.</div><div><br /></div><div>Might anyone know how to get hold of one of these keys please?</div><div><br /></div><div>Many thanks in advance.</div><div><br /></div>Jack<span><img alt="" src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/qy/2y5igigfmnkt.jpg" title="Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/qy/2y5igigfmnkt.jpg" srcset="https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=10/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/qy/2y5igigfmnkt.jpg 10w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=300/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/qy/2y5igigfmnkt.jpg 300w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=800/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/qy/2y5igigfmnkt.jpg 800w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=1200/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/qy/2y5igigfmnkt.jpg 1200w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=1600/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/qy/2y5igigfmnkt.jpg 1600w, https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/qy/2y5igigfmnkt.jpg" /><img alt="" src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/3r/1o62xg303amc.jpg" title="Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/3r/1o62xg303amc.jpg" srcset="https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=10/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/3r/1o62xg303amc.jpg 10w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=300/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/3r/1o62xg303amc.jpg 300w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=800/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/3r/1o62xg303amc.jpg 800w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=1200/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/3r/1o62xg303amc.jpg 1200w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=1600/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/3r/1o62xg303amc.jpg 1600w, https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/3r/1o62xg303amc.jpg" /><br /></span>]]>
        </description>
    </item>
    <item>
        <title>dry gardening, gravel gardens and drought-tolerant planting</title>
        <link>https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1068112/dry-gardening-gravel-gardens-and-drought-tolerant-planting</link>
        <pubDate>Sat, 20 Aug 2022 21:20:02 +0000</pubDate>
        <category>Tools and techniques</category>
        <dc:creator>Fire</dc:creator>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">1068112@/discussions</guid>
        <description><![CDATA[<div>Does anyone have garden areas that are specifically planted to be drought tolerant - beds that are designed so as never to be watered? I hope this thread can be an investigation into various 'tough  garden' techniques. As others have noted elsewhere, there are many different challenges in the UK to these kinds of approach. Temperatures are one element, low rainfall/water are another consideration, but so are high (winter) rainfalls. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Different designs and intentions behind planting areas might include <br /></div><div>- low maintenance public areas with limited budget or staff time allocated <br /></div><div>- ornamental beds at home</div><div>- <a rel="nofollow" href="https://eastrustonoldvicarage.co.uk/gardens/desert-wash">'desert-style' explorations </a></div><div>- planning for low cost <br /></div><div>- wild areas of low soil nutrition to encourage flora and fauna diversity <br /></div><div>- vegetable growing <br /></div><div>- low, solid ground cover <br /></div><div>- non-grass, drought-tolerant "lawns"<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>or a various mix  <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>------ </div><div>There can be a wide variety of ways of going about building low watering regimes, as well as a variety of motivations. Two examples of different approaches are <br /></div><div><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJxiE6gtqWqAqYgRlTRaRQA/videos">Beth Chatto Gardens:</a> which has one portion of its land (six metres down of sandy gravel) given to gravel gardening (1991). They do not water much after planting but use gravel as a mulch. Interestingly, the Head Gardener describes the soil under the mulch as warm and damp; so it's not so much a "dry garden" as a "no watering garden" which is not the same thing.  Asa Gregers-Warg notes that the staff team spend most of their time on the gravel garden as they are constantly battling weeds - such are the damp growing conditions. They site their new  raised plants into home-made compost. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" src="https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/z8/hx4dwhr6txk0.png" width="211" height="76" srcset="https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=10/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/z8/hx4dwhr6txk0.png 10w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=300/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/z8/hx4dwhr6txk0.png 300w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=800/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/z8/hx4dwhr6txk0.png 800w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=1200/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/z8/hx4dwhr6txk0.png 1200w, https://us.v-cdn.net/cdn-cgi/image/fit=scale-down, width=1600/https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/z8/hx4dwhr6txk0.png 1600w, https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/z8/hx4dwhr6txk0.png" /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIF2hpMC3ZI" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIF2hpMC3ZI</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Designer John Little has a very different way of doing things. He uses substrates like pure builders' sand, crushed concrete, toilets, sinks and glass. His main interest is planning / seeding for greatest diversity of flora &amp; fauna (particularly for pollinators), low cost and low maintenance in public growing spaces such as housing estate and schools. He promotes growing without any soil at all - getting substrates with as low nutrition as possible, in some cases, mimicking UK chalklands, particularly good for supporting rarer native plants. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>(2020)<br /></div><div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esayaHNOZCk" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esayaHNOZCk</a> <br /></div><br /><div>(2021)</div><div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m_nShilC18" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m_nShilC18</a></div><div><br /></div><div>---</div><div>Other approaches might be <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2007/sep/01/homes">East Ruston Gardens in Norfolk that imported 300 tonnes of Norfolk flint to create a desert garden, featuring exotics.  </a>And the <a rel="nofollow" href="http://danpearsonstudio.com/delos-at-sissinghurst/">Delos garden at Sissinghurt, designed by Dan Pearson. </a>(2020) <br /></div><br /><br /><br />]]>
        </description>
    </item>
    <item>
        <title>Welcome to tools and techniques</title>
        <link>https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1420/welcome-to-tools-and-techniques</link>
        <pubDate>Mon, 22 Feb 2016 12:46:27 +0000</pubDate>
        <category>Tools and techniques</category>
        <dc:creator>Daniel Haynes</dc:creator>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">1420@/discussions</guid>
        <description><![CDATA[<p>Are you mystified by terms such as pollarding, pleaching or stool pruning? Don&rsquo;t be embarrassed to ask for explanations of strange garden jargon. Also, swap tips on double digging, seed sowing and a hundred other gardening tasks.</p> <p>Daniel Haynes</p> <p>Editor, gardenersworld.com</p>]]>
        </description>
    </item>
    <item>
        <title>Belt broken on sit on mower</title>
        <link>https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1079747/belt-broken-on-sit-on-mower</link>
        <pubDate>Tue, 06 Feb 2024 11:17:03 +0000</pubDate>
        <category>Tools and techniques</category>
        <dc:creator>floralies</dc:creator>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">1079747@/discussions</guid>
        <description><![CDATA[We have an old sit on mower and the belt has broken, it's in pieces and frayed. How on earth do we know what size to order when the site on line gives us three options?]]>
        </description>
    </item>
    <item>
        <title>Something to shred kitchen waste</title>
        <link>https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1079622/something-to-shred-kitchen-waste</link>
        <pubDate>Wed, 31 Jan 2024 20:28:58 +0000</pubDate>
        <category>Tools and techniques</category>
        <dc:creator>katar8394119</dc:creator>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">1079622@/discussions</guid>
        <description><![CDATA[Hi All,<br /><br />Was just wondering if anyone has ideas on shredding a mix of green kitchen waste and garden waste into smaller pieces. We have a smallish garden here and produce enough green kitchen waste to turn it into very nice compost every spring. Problem is I've mixed it with some garden twigs and what not and would rather not wait 3 years for them do decompose and use the compost this spring. Its not the end of the world and it can certainly be used as is but if I can somehow shred it, I'm sure it would work much better for this and future compost piles. Does such a thing exist in a price range that can be justified for a smallish garden or should I just try running my mower over it a few times and hope for the best?]]>
        </description>
    </item>
    <item>
        <title>University Project: Indoor Gardening Survey</title>
        <link>https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1079624/university-project-indoor-gardening-survey</link>
        <pubDate>Wed, 31 Jan 2024 23:50:55 +0000</pubDate>
        <category>Tools and techniques</category>
        <dc:creator>moymoycr102337918</dc:creator>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">1079624@/discussions</guid>
        <description><![CDATA[<div>The purpose of this survey is to investigate the demands and current trends in indoor gardening for a university project. Please note that all responses are strictly confidential and will not be shared externally.  The link is provided below.<br /><br />I would highly appreitate if you have the time to fill out the survey as it will be a great help to help aid me in conceptualizing my project.<br /><br /><br />Link :  <a rel="nofollow" href="https://forms.office.com/e/6NAupihvGc" title="Link: https://forms.office.com/e/6NAupihvGc">https://forms.office.com/e/6NAupihvGc</a> <br /></div><div><br />Thank you very much for taking part!<br /><br /></div>]]>
        </description>
    </item>
    <item>
        <title>Leaf vac fan replacement</title>
        <link>https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1079617/leaf-vac-fan-replacement</link>
        <pubDate>Wed, 31 Jan 2024 15:06:02 +0000</pubDate>
        <category>Tools and techniques</category>
        <dc:creator>Rekusu</dc:creator>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">1079617@/discussions</guid>
        <description><![CDATA[<div>What ho one and all,</div><div><br /></div><div>I have a Flymo Sirocco 300W leaf vac and need to replace the fan.  It is not difficult to find on the internet but I am unable to discover how to release the existing fan.  There is no nut visible, and and I therefore assume it screws to the motor shaft.  If that is the case, how do I lock the motor to undo the fan?</div><div><br /></div><div>Many thanks and toodle pip</div><div><br /></div><div>Rex<br /></div>]]>
        </description>
    </item>
    <item>
        <title>A quality Min Max thermometer.</title>
        <link>https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1050975/a-quality-min-max-thermometer</link>
        <pubDate>Wed, 17 Mar 2021 22:57:22 +0000</pubDate>
        <category>Tools and techniques</category>
        <dc:creator>BML</dc:creator>
        <guid isPermaLink="false">1050975@/discussions</guid>
        <description><![CDATA[<p>I'm looking for a quality Min/Max thermometer but there are&#13;
so many on the Internet so could somone please make a recommendation? </p>&#13;
&#13;
<br /><br /><br />]]>
        </description>
    </item>
   </channel>
</rss>
