A Beginner’s Guide to Growing Vegetables

One of the most satisfying experiences for any gardener is being able to grow and eat your own vegetables. This can give you a real sense of achievement and also cuts the size of your grocery bill.  

If you are growing your own for the first time, Madingley Mulch has compiled this guide to help fill your dinner plates with your own fresh, tasty produce. We are suppliers of bark much, soil conditioners and other products which will help you to grow great vegetables, all ideal to enhance the soil types in Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex and Hertfordshire.

The Best Location

Most vegetables prefer a bed with plenty of sun, so try to pick an area of your garden which is south-facing. However, you will still get decent crops of some types of vegetables, such as lettuce and spinach, in shady areas.

You should also steer clear of areas which are exposed to the wind; cucumbers and tomatoes in particular like plenty of protection. If planting in a more exposed area is unavoidable, consider putting in fencing panels or wind breaks. It is also a good idea to plant your vegetables well away from any large trees and hedges, as these can deprive them of valuable moisture as well as sunlight. 

Preparing the Ground

If you are digging out a patch for the first time, spend plenty of time clearing out the weeds. Japanese knotweed, ground elder and bindweed are among the likeliest types to appear in UK gardens.

Where your new area is going to replace a patch of grass, then dig out the turf and stack it upside down; this way it will eventually compost into topsoil, which can then be recycled a few months later.

Adding manure, mulch or compost to the earth in any vegetable plot is a good idea; it gives more substance to light soils, while heavier earth with plenty of clay drains much better. If you are looking to enrich your soil, try Denise’s Delight, our exclusive product which contains Black Fen soil, horse manure, wood shavings and plant nutrients, giving it all the advantages of both soil and compost.

The Best Vegetables to Try

Salad leaves like lettuce, rocket and spinach are easy to grow and bring quick results. They are best sown in stages, so you don’t end up with more than you can eat. Radishes are also straightforward to grow and can be cultivated in pots as well as in the ground.

If you want to grow vegetables which require very little maintenance, then consider planting onion sets. These are baby onions which need only a little watering in dry spells. Rhubarb also needs very little ongoing care and attention and hardy varieties can be planted in the autumn and winter months. Broad and runner beans are also easy to cultivate, but you will need to create a frame of wire or bamboo canes for them to grow up.

Keeping Weeds at Bay

It is a good idea to lay sheets of clear plastic on the ground for a couple of weeks in late spring. This encourages any weed seeds in the earth to germinate. Once you remove the sheet, they can easily be removed by hand. It also warms the soil, meaning you can plant any seeds earlier in the year.

A carpet of mulch will also help to suppress weed growth. At Madingley Mulch we are expert bark mulch suppliers, and we supply other mulches such as rustic mulch, pathway chips and decorative mulch, to help keep weeds down and improve the look of your garden at the same time.   Other products to prevent weeds taking hold include Groundtex weed suppressing membranes and Roundup weedkiller,

Madingley Mulch can also supply a comprehensive selection of other gardening products, including decorative stones, turf, paving slabs and fencing panels to gardeners in Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex and Hertfordshire. Click here to browse our product range.

All orders can be delivered free to addresses within 15 miles of our base on the outskirts of Cambridge, and there is a standard £20 charge to all addresses within 24.5 miles. Towns and villages which we offer a regular delivery service to include Comberton, Coton, Hardwick, Ely, Newmarket and Cambridge.

Spotting the Hottest Gardening Trends in 2018

This year promises to bring some exciting new horticultural trends which are suitable for all types of gardens. At Cambridge outdoor gardening supplies company Madingley Mulch we keep abreast of all the latest developments in gardens and garden design. Here are our predictions for what will be popular in the coming months.

Growing Your Own Fruit and Veg

Buying vegetables from your local supermarket or greengrocer is unlikely to get any cheaper during the year. This, coupled with the growing popularity of veganism and vegetarianism, means that more people are likely to devote at least part of their garden to a vegetable plot.

The addition of a greenhouse will give you fresh fruit and veg all the year round. In smaller-sized gardens, French, broad and runner beans all make very efficient use of space as they grow vertically. Using soil conditioners, such as spent mushroom compost and our own special products Denise’s Delight and Tony’s Tonic, or mulches will enrich the soil and ensure you get a good crop of vegetables. Herbs, tomatoes and salad leaves can all flourish in window boxes and on patios.

Adding a Touch of Colour

Gardens are a blank canvas, waiting to be filled, and in 2018 many colourful varieties of hibiscus and petunia are predicted to have a good year, following on from their success at various trade and horticultural shows. Strategically placed potted plants can also give added zest to a patio and other areas of the garden.

However, many gardeners will be going for a more natural look, by planting plenty of lush greenery. Low-level ferns and tufted grasses work particularly well if your garden has plenty of shade.  Another way of achieving this is to letting moss grow over stones and allowing existing plants such as perennials to go unpruned. You can also brighten up your garden by choosing coloured gravels, such as plum or purple slate chippings, or decorative garden stones, for your paths and edgings.

Going Alfresco…

The idea of creating an ‘outdoor living room’ in your garden looks set to continue in 2018.  This can mean laying down a new patio, or improving an existing one by adding attractive patio paving slabs.  Having two garden benches facing one another will let you create an intimate area, and you can add further touches like tables, subtle lighting, and fire pits. You will then be able to wine and dine with your family and friends in the comfort and seclusion of your own garden.

At Madingley Mulch we supply a range of patio paving slabs to create your perfect outdoor space. These include Premier Riven and Indian Sandstone slabs, which come in a choice of colours for a superior decorative finish, while our Rutland Oakham gives you a more natural look.

…and Moving Indoors

The process can also work in reverse, with the garden being brought into your home. Houseplants like chrysanthemums and hydrangeas are likely to be popular in brightening up an interior, while species like aloe vera will improve the air quality by absorbing some of the atmosphere’s harmful chemicals.

Madingley Mulch, (https://www.mulch.co.uk/products-pricing/) supply a wide range of outdoor gardening products to customers in Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. Our staff can provide plenty of helpful advice if you want to keep up with all the latest trends. Follow the link above to see our current range.

 

We offer a regular delivery service to towns and villages in the region, including St Ives, St Neots, Huntingdon, Cambourne and Saffron Walden. Orders are delivered free to all addresses which are under 15 miles of our base on the edge of Cambridge, while a standard £20 charge applies to all deliveries within 24.5 miles. We can also deliver to addresses further afield.

Getting Your Garden Ready for Spring

It may not be the prime growing season, but there are still plenty of jobs you can do in and around the garden now which will ensure it is in pristine condition come spring and summer.

As an experienced garden supplies company, based in Cambridge and supplying customers in Hertfordshire, Essex and Suffolk, Madingley Mulch has compiled these top tips on getting your garden ready for spring..

Keep It Clean

Keeping on top of all the messy jobs will save you time when you do start planting. Now is a good time to clean out your greenhouse and garden shed. Wash the floor and benches, clean out any seed trays, and get rid of any plant debris on the floor. Pests can also get into all sorts of nooks and crannies in greenhouse glass so this should be disinfected as well.

Poorly-maintained tools can also spread disease. Cleaning and sharpening bladed tools such as secateurs now will save you time when you need to do some serious pruning, while applying oil will help keep any rust at bay.

Beware of Weeds

Perennial weeds can still grow over the winter months. Forking these out by hand or removing them with a hoe will keep them under control. Laying down a quality mulch will help to combat weeds, while another option for some areas, particularly under gravels, is to use a weed suppressing membrane. We stock Groundtex, a heavy-duty membrane which is also resistant to any animal activity.

Prepare Your Soil

Before planting your spring plants and crops, it is a good idea to enrich the soil. Madingley Mulch’s exclusive product Denise’s Delight is a mixture of Black Fen soil, horse manure, wood shavings and humus which will add nutrients to your garden soil. We also stock other 

Prune Larger Plants

You can start pruning apple and pear trees early in the New Year to encourage better growth in the spring. If the weather is good enough, you can move some plants such as deciduous shrubs to a better spot, preserving as much of the original root as possible. 

Start Sowing Seeds

Some flowers and vegetables have a longer growing season so now is an ideal time to plant them. Geraniums, begonias, peppers and aubergines can all be started in heated propagators to ensure good growth. Fruit bushes such as redcurrants and blackcurrants can also be planted in February. You can also do some forward planning, working out where you are going to put plants and vegetables in the year ahead, and buying any packets of seeds.

Keep Everything Secure

The weather can be quite severe over the winter months, so it is worthwhile spending some time making sure your garden is as secure as possible. Make sure any fence panels are in good condition, and, if you have a dry day, give them a fresh coat of paint or preservative.

Consider covering any vulnerable plants with netting or mesh to protect them from the worst of the weather as well as from hungry birds and pests.

Madingley Mulch supplies a range of garden products, including mulches, turf, fencing panels and soil conditioners, to customers in Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Bedfordshire. Click on the link above to see our range.

We offer free delivery on all orders to addresses within 15 miles of our base on the edge of Cambridge, and there is a standard £20 charge for all orders within 24.5 miles. Towns and villages we provide a regular delivery service to include St Neots, St Ives, Swavesey and Cambourne.

New Year Resolutions for the Keen Gardener

The New Year is a time for making resolutions, and gardeners are no exception.  As soil improver specialists, Madingley Mulch are experts in helping horticulturalists plan ahead and get more out of their garden. Here we suggest five of the top priorities for the coming year for gardeners in Hertfordshire, Essex, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.

Try Out Some New Plants (and Vegetables)

Although you may not see the full benefit immediately, planting some different small trees and shrubs can add splashes of colour to your garden, provide you with some tasty fruit and support wildlife. Whatever you decide, try to make it a species which is native to this country, as it will have a better chance of flourishing.

Growing some new vegetables, or creating a patch from scratch, will give you some delicious home-grown produce to try, and reduce the size of your grocery bill.

Remember the Wildlife

Installing bird feeders and nesting boxes will add extra points of interest to your garden, particularly for children. For gardens where space is at a premium, roof terraces and window boxes can be used to attract bees and butterflies, which will also help with pollination.

If you have room, you could consider installing a pond; not only can you put fish in it, but you will also attract other forms of wildlife, including dragonflies and water beetles. They are also ideal for birds to bathe in. Make sure at least one side of the pond has a gentle slope, so creatures can get in and out easily.

Feed Your Plants Organically

Another resolution gardeners should make is to use organic matter rather than liquid feed to nourish plants. Compost and mulch is better for the whole soil, rather than just individual plants.

Madingley Mulch supplies a range of soil improvers and conditioners, composts and mulches, including Denise’s Delight. This exclusive mulch mixture contains Black Fen soil, plant nutrients, horse manure and wood shavings, which is great for growing strong and healthy plants.

Be Creative with your Space

Don’t be afraid to think laterally to give your plants a better chance of surviving. You could create some raised beds, and use plenty of containers and pots. This will spread out your plants and give them a better chance of surviving and flourishing. It will also give protection, reducing the chances of them being trampled down or damaged, and mean you can water them much more accurately and effectively.

Enjoy It

If you set aside time every week for chores such as weeding, then that will help keep your garden looking trim and tidy and you won’t have to spend large amounts of time keeping it under control. Remember your garden is something that should be enjoyed as well as worked in.

Madingley Mulch supply a range of mulches, composts and other soil improvers, to gardeners in Hertfordshire, Suffolk, Essex, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. Our garden, DIY and building materials shop also has a range of helpful horticultural accessories. Follow the link above to see our range of stock.  

 

We offer regular deliveries to towns and villages including Royston, Ely, Huntingdon and Saffron Walden.  All orders can be delivered free to addresses within 15 miles of our base on the edge of Cambridge, and a standard £20 charge applies to deliveries within 24.5 miles. We can also deliver to addresses further afield.

Adding Colour to Your Garden in Winter

With a little careful planning and planting, you can still have a garden which will brighten up the dullest of winter days.

At outdoor gardening supplies company Madingley Mulch, we provide a range of products and helpful advice all the year round from our Cambridge base for gardeners in Essex, Hertfordshire and Suffolk as well as Cambridgeshire. Here are our top tips for adding colour to your garden in winter.   

Small is Beautiful and Colourful

Even though the peak growing season is over, some plants will still flower in the colder months of the year. Winter aconites will produce a vivid yellow flower and do particularly well in wilder, more natural gardens.

Several winter-flowering varieties of heather will also flourish, while winter pansies can flower right through autumn, winter and into spring. You may be better off planting these in hanging baskets or pots and you should make sure that you get rid of any dead flowers.

Larger Plants and Shrubs Can Thrive Too

Herbs like rosemary, lavender and thyme will add colour to your garden and will also help you add some flavour to your cooking.

Conifers can also add plenty of colour to your garden, and if space is limited then consider planting slow-growing varieties. Another plant to consider growing is the clematis, as some types can flower from November right through to March.

Stones and Slabs Can Add Colour

Putting down new gravel or stone pathways or even laying down a new patio can add colour and definition to your garden. We can supply various types of paving stone from our base in Cambridge, such as our Premier Riven slabs which come in four different colours which can form an attractive pattern on any patio.

We can also supply a range of decorative stones, such as our 20mm red granite chippings or Staffordshire pink pebbles, for an additional splash of colour. These will also help act as a mulch to your borders and help your garden drain more easily.

Another hard landscaping method you can use to brighten up your garden in winter is to give any fences a fresh lick of paint.

Celebrating Christmas

You can give nature a helping hand to look even more colourful, particularly over the festive period. Christmas lights can be added to trees and shrubs in your garden as well as being used indoors. Planting additional holly bushes will underline the approach of Christmas and add extra splashes of green and red to your garden.

All orders from outdoor gardening supplies specialists Madingley Mulch can be delivered free to all addresses within 15 miles of our base on the outskirts of Cambridge, and a standard £20 delivery charge applies to all orders within 24.5 miles. Our delivery service operates in towns and villages across the region, including St Ives, St Neots, Longstanton and Saffron Walden. We can also organise deliveries further afield.

Follow the link above to find out more about our current range of stock. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff will be able to plenty of helpful advice on how to add some colour to your garden in winter.

Getting Your Garden Ready for a Cold Snap

Although the winter nights are closing in, there are still a number of jobs you can carry out to keep your garden looking good in the months ahead

At Madingley Mulch, as garden suppliers we know all about preparing for winter and here we have put together some top tips which are ideal for gardens in Essex, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and across East Anglia.

Move Vulnerable Plants Indoors

Temperatures can rapidly plummet in the winter months and frost can kill many plants in your garden. Vulnerable plants like dahlias and begonias can be replanted in tubs and then stored in your greenhouse over the winter months. Giving them a fresh covering of mulch or compost will provide an additional layer of protection.

It is a good idea to give your greenhouse a good clean and get rid of any rubbish to maximise your storage space, and ensure that your heaters are in good working order. Your garage can also provide a temporary home for some of your plants.

Protect Plants Left Outside

If you are leaving potted plants outside, you can raise the containers off the ground using pot feet to make sure their soil does not get flooded with water. You can also cover pots with bubblewrap; even leaving the pots close together will reduce the risk of winter damage.

Netting and straw are also good sources of protection, particularly for shrubs like brassicas, which are often attacked by pigeons and other birds. You can also buy specially-designed fleeces, jackets and blankets for larger plants such as fruit trees.

Dispose of Debris

This time of year is ideal for clearing up leaves, not just off the lawn but from other parts of the garden such as ponds and beds.

You can clear leaves off the lawn by using a rake and you could also use a mower on a light or raised setting. This way it won’t damage cause permanent damage to the grass but will shred the leaves which can then be used for compost.

Prune and Weed

Smaller trees and shrubs should be cut back. Consider calling in a professional if the tree is particularly big. If you have time, get rid of as many unwanted weeds as possible and apply weedkiller where necessary.

If this all creates a lot of bulky rubbish that can’t be composted, then one effective way of getting rid of it is to burn it. Bonfires should be kept well under control and it is advisable to avoid upsetting the neighbours with any smoke.

Plant for the Winter and Spring

Annuals can be replaced with winter bedding plants such as pansies, violas, primroses and wallflowers. They will flower during the winter months during milder spells and put on a spurt of growth in the spring.

Other hardy plants will still flower over the winter months. Ornamental and winter flowering heathers should survive the harshest of winters. Bulbs which should be planted now include tulips, daffodils and snowdrops which will then flower early in the New Year.

To give any new plants the best chance of success, consider spreading some compost around your garden or laying down some mulch. This will improve the quality and drainage of the soil, which is particularly important if it is a wet winter. We can supply Denise’s Delight, our exclusive product which combines all the advantages of soil and compost. It contains Black Fen soil, horse manure, wood shavings and plant nutrients.

Madingley Mulch are suppliers of compost, soil conditioners and mulch to customers in Essex, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.

We have a delivery service to towns and villages across the region, including Huntingdon, Haverhill, Ely and Newmarket. Delivery is free to all addresses within 15 miles of our base on the edge of Cambridge. A standard £20 delivery charge applies to all within a 24.5 mile radius, and we can also arrange deliveries to places further away.  Follow the link above to find out more about our wide range of products.

Ways to Make Your Garden Secure

Now the clocks have gone back, many people’s thoughts turn towards garden security, as the additional hours of darkness can be tempting to burglars. An unprotected garden can lead to the loss of valuable plants and equipment and many thieves use it to gain access to your home.

If you are looking to improve your garden security, as fence suppliers based in Cambridge we can advise you on the best products to install and give you extra peace of mind over the winter months. Here are our five top tips for making sure your garden is secure.

Fences and Gates

Having a solid fence installed should deter unwanted visitors, particularly if it is high enough. Adding a trellis at the top will provide additional height and security, particularly if you let a prickly climbing plant grow through it. You should always make sure that your fencing panels are kept in a good state of repair, and replace them if necessary.

Garden gates fitted with locks can be an important deterrent. Fit two padlocks or catches where possible, and keep them locked whenever they are not in use.

At Madingley Mulch, we supply fence panels and posts, including picket panels, to customers in areas including Cambridge, Essex, Suffolk, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. Our heavy-duty trellises can be used on their own as well as on top of fences, and will support a wide range of climbing plants.

Plant a Hedge

Hedges look attractive in their own right as well as discouraging unwanted visitors. You can plant conifers side by side, and they should grow thickly enough to make it difficult for people to get through. Medium-sized hedges like hawthorn, holly and firethorn are particularly good for security because they are so prickly. Lower-growing thorny shrubs can be planted under drainpipes and at the base of fences to discourage people from climbing up them.

You can also use mulch to give your new hedge the best chance of flourishing, as it will help retain moisture in the soil. Don’t let it come into direct contact with the plant, as this could damage it. Madingley Mulch can exclusively supply Denise’s Delight, a mix of Black Fen soil, horse manure, wood shavings and plant nutrients, which gives the benefits of both soil and compost.

Lights Work
Light is a proven deterrent against thieves and burglars. However, you need to ensure that any additional light does not shine in areas which could annoy neighbours or distract road users. Solar-powered lamps are cheap, low-intensity and ideal for use in the garden. Timers and motion sensors can ensure your lighting only comes on when you need it to, as well as keeping the cost down.

For additional protection, you could consider installing alarms. There are a number of systems which work by detecting movement in the garden. Ideally any alarm should cover your sheds and outbuildings.

Lock It or Lose It

Garden furniture should be stored away whenever it is not in use. You should also make sure that your shed or garage is securely locked. It may also be worth having a separate padlocked box or safe inside the shed, for the more valuable items. Larger individual plants and statues can be cemented in place or secured with a form of anchor such as a bolt fixed to a wall or the ground. You can also mark items with a UV pen with your postcode. 

Our store has a large ironmongery section which stocks a range of hinges and bolts, plus night latches and Yale locks. We can also supply heavy duty waterproof padlocks for garden sheds and garages.

Drives and Pathways

It can also be worth investing in a gravel path or driveway to improve security. A gravel surface looks good, and it is also noisy underfoot, so you get plenty of warning if someone is coming.

We can supply a range of decorative stone chippings, including 10mm blue stone, 20mm charcoal stone, and various forms of granite. All our range is low-maintenance and, as well as contributing to security, will also help improve your garden’s drainage and act as a deterrent to weeds.

At Madingley Mulch, we supply a wide range of garden security items from our base on the edge of Cambridge. Follow the link to find out more about our range of products.

We also offer a regular delivery service for orders for Newmarket, Huntingdon, Ely and Haverhill, and many villages, including Houghton, Swavesey and Cambourne. This service is free to addresses within 15 miles of our shop, and there is a fixed £20 charge for everywhere within a 24.5-mile radius. Deliveries can also be arranged further afield.

Does Your Garden Need an Overhaul?

Now is the ideal opportunity to have a rethink about your garden, particularly if it has become overgrown or untidy.

Madingley Mulch, based on the edge of Cambridge, are suppliers of turf and a wide range of products, including paving slabs, decorative stones and mulches, which will help give your garden a new look. Here we have identified some key factors to think about when giving it a complete overhaul.

Starting Afresh

You need to decide what you want to keep and to get rid of. Heavy pruning, which can be done over the autumn and winter months, may give some plants, shrubs and trees a new lease of life, but it may be better to get rid of others completely and start from scratch. Digging out new beds and covering them with mulch will give everything you plant the best chance of flourishing during the growing season.

Smaller gardens, where space is limited, could benefit from items being planted on different levels, whereas wildlife-friendly gardens encourage and require less maintenance. If you have room, a water feature will provide an added point of interest.

Replace Your Grass

If your existing grass is infested with weeds, or just looks old and tired, then laying down new turf, or planting new seeds, may be a better option for freshening up your garden in the spring months. You may also want to create a new lawn in an area which isn’t currently laid to grass, and again turf is the ideal way to do this quickly and effectively.

As quality turf suppliers, we supply a high-quality product grown locally in East Anglia. You can either collect it from our Cambridge base or we can deliver it to you. Alternatively, we can supply different types of grass seed. We can advise you on the ideal type of grass even if you are planting a lawn in an area which is shaded or is likely to come in for a lot of footfall.

Put in a Patio

You don’t need to replace grass with grass. A patio may be a better alternative or an addition, and it is also a great asset for your garden. It will offer an additional outside dining area for the warmer months, and mean you don’t have to worry about so much mowing and maintenance. You can also add planters and garden ornaments to enhance the effect, as well as garden lighting and heating so that you can use it for more of the year.

Madingley Mulch offer a wide range of patio slabs, depending on what type of effect you are looking for. For instance, our Old Grey Courtyard Paving creates a historic, weathered look, while our Premier Riven slabs have a more decorative feel.

Create Some Clear Boundaries

Putting up fencing panels, or low-level picket fences, will help create distinct areas, not just between you and your neighbour but also within your own garden. For instance, you can use a low-level picket fence to mark out a children’s play area, or create a themed miniature garden within a garden. If you already have fences, then as part of an overhaul you should repair or replace any rotting panels or posts, and treat them to protect them from the weather.

Pathways can also help add extra definition to your garden, and can also be comparatively low-maintenance. They can be covered with a range of decorative stones, pebbles and cobbles. We also offer pathway chips and a wood-based decorative mulch which is particularly suitable for recreation areas.

A Waste Collection Service

If you find your revamp has left you with a lot of weeds or garden debris you want to get rid of, our waste collection service in the Cambridge area is the answer. We will collect and dispose of the rubbish for you.

Madingley Mulch supply a wide variety of garden products to customers in Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Essex and Suffolk. Follow the link above to find out more about our range of stock. If you are giving your whole garden a makeover, our friendly, professional staff will be happy to advise you on your requirements.

We deliver free to all addresses within 15 miles of our base on the outskirts of Cambridge, and there is a fixed £20 charge to all places within 24.5 miles. We can also arrange deliveries to locations further away. Our weekly delivery service goes to towns such as St Ives, Saffron Walden, Royston and St Neots, and villages including Hemingford Abbots, Great Stukeley and Longstanton.

Lucky Dip Aids Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust

We had a lucky dip in aid of Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust at the Gransden Show in Great Gransden, near Cambridge. This raised a superb £658, so many thanks to all those who had a go.

As some of you know, we have been raising money for this charity to thank Addenbrooke’s for saving the life of our CEO Steve Lunn’s daughter Hannah, who is now doing really well and was at the Show.

The lucky dip (pictured above) was on the Madingley Mulch and Madmix stand at the show, which featured displays of our landscaping supplies. Prizes included seeds, torches, vouchers, tape measures and many other items.

Hannah (pictured above with Steve) was diagnosed with a severe case of leukaemia in September last year and also suffered a stroke, but is now in remission, only needing bone marrow checks every 3 months. She enjoyed visiting the Show and supporting the fundraising.

The lucky dip has brought Steve’s fundraising total so far to more than £7,000 for the trust. A lot of the money was raised by sponsorship for painting his toenails claret and blue – the colours of the team he supports, West Ham. The aim is to raise a total of £28,200, and we are now more than 25% of the way there! Click here to find out more about Steve’s fundraising

 

Gransden Show – Thanks to All Our Visitors!

The Gransden Show near Cambridge is an event we really look forward to every year, and this year’s show was a great success, with sunny weather adding to the atmosphere. Many thanks to everyone who came along to our stand – it was great to meet you! Pictured above are Chairman Derek Footman (right) and CEO Steve Lunn at the Show.

Our varied display included some of our most popular products, such as our specialist soil conditioners Denise’s Delight, Tony’s Tonic, and Black Fen Soil. We ran our stand together with our sister company Madmix, who brought along one of their concrete mixers. 

Every visitor to the stand received a £5 voucher and we enjoyed welcoming our clients to our hospitality tent for buffet lunches, coffee, drinks and afternoon tea. We also had a lucky dip to raise money for Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust.

Visitors could examine samples of our sands, gravels, stones and base materials, to get an idea of what we have to offer – ranging from black slate to flamingo stone and gold shingle.

We also really enjoyed looking at other people’s stands and at the great range of attractions at this year’s show. One of the main attractions was the falconry display, including owls. We also loved seeing all the livestock, including the horses, dogs, donkeys, goats, sheep and cattle, as well as the vintage vehicles, cookery and craft displays and so much more.

Now it’s time to pack away our stand, but we are already looking forward to taking part again next year!

Looking Forward to the Gransden Show

 

It’s nearly time for the annual Gransden Show – a major fixture in Cambridgeshire’s calendar which we at Madingley Mulch love to support.

Our staff are already hard at work preparing our stand for the event, which takes place on Saturday, September 30. It always draws large crowds and this year promises to be no exception, with a packed programme of events on offer throughout the day. 

As garden mulch suppliers based locally near Cambridge, we have strong links with the show, and have exhibited there for a number of years. In 2015 our Indian sandstone paving display helped us win the trophy for the show’s best large trade stand.

We are looking forward to welcoming you at our stand, with £5 vouchers handed to all visitors. Our friendly, professional staff will be able to advise you about all the wide range of gardening products we stock, from soil conditioners and compost to decorative stones to paving slabs to fencing and turf, so pop along and visit us!

Organised by the Gransden and District Agricultural Society, this year will be the 115^th show. Originally a ploughing and drainage competition, the show was officially founded in 1891 and the list of events expanded to include some of the agriculture and livestock classes which are still popular today.

This year’s show promises to be bigger and better than ever. It will include the core classes of cattle, including some rare breed categories, plus sheep and pigs. There will be plenty of fun for all the family as attractions will include a Punch and Judy Show and the first ever donkey display. This year will also see the show’s first poultry classes.

Entry will be £10 for adults, £5 for 11 to 18-year-olds and accompanied under-11s will be admitted free.  The gates to the show, on Caxton Road, Great Gransden, will open at 9am. To find out more about the show, click on the link.

How to Create a Low-Maintenance Garden

However keen a gardener you are, a lack of time or mobility may prevent you from spending as much time as you want tending to your plants.

Madingley Mulch supplies a range of products which will cut down on the amount of work your garden requires, from paving slabs to landscape bark. We provide garden supplies to horticulturalists and gardeners in areas including Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.

Here is our guide to how to create a low-maintenance garden, while at the same time ensuring that it still looks good.

Design Considerations

You can cut down on a lot of the heavy-duty work involved in running a garden by clever use of space. Make sure the plots which will need more work are closest either to the house or the garden shed where the tools are kept. Don’t have a number of small areas with lots of different types of plants in each of them. Features such as an underground irrigation system can help reduce the amount of time you spend watering your plants.

Lay Down Stone Chippings

One popular solution to create a low-maintenance garden is to remove the lawn altogether and replace it with gravel placed over a weed-suppressing membrane. Alternatively, the lawn area can be made smaller so that mowing is less of a chore.

Like mulch, shingle and stone chippings can also help to suffocate weeds and help with the soil drainage. They don’t need any watering or replacing and can help give a much clearer definition to your garden. You can also lay down bigger stones like pebbles and cobbles which form a distinctive landscape feature, are durable and long-lasting, and look just as good in the wet as the dry.

Madingley Mulch supplies a wide range of decorative stone chippings, including gravel, shingle and granite, as well as pebbles and cobbles drawn from beaches in Kent and Scotland. We also stock slate chippings, which look good in gardens with hard landscape features. 

Use Barks and Mulch

Spreading a mulch over the soil can help suppress weed growth and retain moisture in the soil, so it is doubly beneficial as it cuts down on the amount of watering and weeding you need to do.  Mulches can look attractive in themselves, particularly ones like pine bark chippings which Madingley Mulch sell. Although the mulch will eventually need replacing, larger chips like our landscape bark can cover large areas and will take longer to decompose and be fully absorbed into the soil.

Edging and Paving

Edging stones mean you don’t have to spend a long time trimming the edge of your grass for the perfect finish. Also, although patios and paths may require a lot of initial work, once they are laid, then you have years of not having to worry about them and you can use the time saved to enjoy the rest of your garden.

We supply different varieties of paving slabs, depending on the look and texture you are after. Our kerb edging stones are ideal for use on pathways and drives as well as garden borders.

Choose the Right Sort of Plants

Make sure you choose plants which are suitable for your soil, and so will need the minimum amount of care. Try to grow shrubs which require much less maintenance, or are slower-growing, rather than lots of small container pots with different plants. Shrubs like rhododendrons in particular will fill up a lot more space in the garden; you can plant them through a weed-suppressing membrane. 

Madingley Mulch provides a wide variety of products which can help make your life easier in the garden. Based in Cambridge, we deliver edging stones, paving slabs and landscape bark in districts including Saffron Waldon and the surrounding area in Essex, as well as Royston, Huntingdon, Ely and Newmarket.

If you would like advice on how to make your garden easier to maintain, then our friendly staff will be happy to talk to you. We can arrange free delivery of all our products to all addresses within 15 miles of our base.

Top Tips on Preserving Moisture in Your Garden

Keeping your garden’s plants healthy can be a challenge. Not only do they compete with weeds for their valuable nutrients, but they also may have to cope with a dry summer when water can be at a premium and hosepipe bans are often brought in.

Madingley Mulch supplies a range of products which will help with moisture retention, from soil conditioners and composts to bark chips, for gardens in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Essex and Suffolk as well as Cambridgeshire. Here are our five top tips on ways to keep moisture in your garden.

Keep on Top of Weeding

Weeds can not only be unsightly, but can rob your plants and garden of valuable moisture and nutrients. So make sure you don’t allow them to thrive.  How you combat them depends on the type of weeds you are dealing with.  You can remove annual weeds such as chickweed with a hoe, and perennial weeds like dandelions with a fork. Weedkiller is an option for the most stubborn of unwanted invaders, but you can also use a variety of organic materials, as described below.

Use a Mulch

Mulches work by giving the soil a protective covering. They decompose over time, releasing valuable nutrients into the earth, and, as they effectively suffocate the weeds, are a particularly useful tool for retaining moisture in your garden. Bark, chippings are particularly good at trapping any moisture. We supply a wide variety of bark mulch products, such as composted, landscape and premium bark for gardens.

Improve the Soil

Garden compost can help break down heavier soils as well as boosting moisture retention. Soil conditioners will also help improve the health of the ground as well as the look of what grows on top of it.

Madingley sell a range of conditioners and composts which will help keep your soil in fine health. Denise’s Delight, available exclusively from us, consists of Black Fen soil and well-rotted horse manure plus humus, plant nutrients and wood shavings.

Choose the Right Sort of Plants

Certain types of plants retain their moisture better than others.  For instance, if you have a vegetable garden, then cabbages, leeks, parsnips and carrots require very little attention.

Certain perennials like rosemary and sage, and shrubs like lavender and hebe, will also do well in dry summers. In fact, any plants with silver or grey-green leaves tend to reflect the sun’s rays better and so won’t need such regular watering.

Give Nature a Helping Hand

There are other ways in which nature can be given a helping hand. Installing a water butt will help keeping your garden’s moisture levels topped up, and you can also use so-called ‘grey water’ recycled from kitchens and bathrooms. This is particularly useful if there is a hosepipe ban in force, although it is best to avoid using it on your vegetable patch or anything in your garden you might end up eating. You can also use water-retaining granules, which are particularly useful in cutting the number of times that thirsty hanging baskets and potted plants need to be watered.  

Madingley Mulch, based on the outskirts of Cambridge, stock a wide variety of products which will keep your gardens water levels high, even in East Anglia’s relatively dry climate. Soil improver, mulch, mushroom and loam based compost and bark chips and are among our range of supplies. We deliver to towns including Royston in Hertfordshire and Saffron Walden in Essex, as well as Huntingdon and Ely in Cambridgeshire and Newmarket in Suffolk. Click on the link to see our full range of products.

Ideas to Make Your Garden Look Stunning

There are plenty of ways you can make your garden look gorgeous, and you don’t always have to wait until the next growing season for new plants to bloom.

Of course, stunning displays of flowers, trees and bushes, and a smooth green lawn, will all give your garden that wow factor. But it’s equally vital to have the right elements in place to show off your cherished plants to the best advantage, and make your garden somewhere to linger and relax in comfort. 

Madingley Mulch supplies mulch products including decorative bark to gardeners in Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, as well as a range of other items which will help transform your garden into something you can really be proud of. Here are our top tips to achieve a great garden.

Perfect Paths and Patios

Footpaths and patios can breathe new life into an old garden. With the addition of a few seats, you can relax outdoors in the summer months, and it is the ideal place to serve and eat a barbecue. Paths can plot a course through the garden to its most attractive features, and protect areas of grass that get the most use.

Madingley Mulch offers great-looking paving slabs suitable for any style of patio. For instance, if you want a modern look, our Textured slabs provide a contemporary feel, while our Old Grey courtyard paving produces a more historic, weathered effect. Our Premier Riven slabs come in a choice of colours so you can mix and match them. We would be happy to advise you on what would look good in your garden, and also on any sand and cement you will need to give your patio that permanent, professional look.

Our paving slabs are also ideal for other, more individual uses, either as part of a footpath or to highlight individual garden features, such as a sundial or a particular potted plant.

Stones Provide an Ideal Finish

Small stones and stone chippings provide a low-maintenance, natural look to your garden. You can use them as the main material for a path or driveway, or an edging material. They will also enhance the look of your garden by discouraging weeds and improving drainage. Madingley Mulch stock a large variety of decorative stone chippings, from 6mm horticultural grit to 20mm red granite.

If you want something larger, then slate chippings are another way to add colour. Slate is ideal for producing a minimalist look in a garden where there are just a few carefully-chosen plants. We supply blue, plum and green slate chippings in 20mm and 40mm sizes.

Pebbles and cobbles can provide a more permanent, weathered look. Their uneven surface means they are ideal for edging for patios and paths. They can also form a distinctive backdrop to other items in your garden such as water features. We stock pebbles and larger cobbles drawn from beaches in Scotland and Kent for a truly distinctive look.   

The Benefits of Bark

Decorative bark can be used as a quick, simple alternative way to create a garden path. Because they can act as a mulch, most bark products can make flower beds look much tidier and they also have the beneficial effects of improving the soil, deterring weeds and retaining moisture in your garden.

Madingley Mulch’s decorative mulch is wood-based, and is particularly suitable for play areas. Our pine bark chips, with their reddish-brown colour, are also very attractive and will certainly stand out in your garden. East Anglia’s dry climate means that bark is ideal for gardens across the area.

Decking Out Your Garden

Looking for an attractive alternative to a patio, or a way to extend your area for sitting out? Decking could be the answer. You can use it to improve the overall look of your garden by laying it over a less appealing area, or by levelling off uneven surfaces. Choose some garden furniture and some striking, colourful potted plants to put on it and you will have the ideal place to sit and relax and have a drink on a summer’s evening.

Make Fences a Feature

Fencing is not just a functional item, but an asset in its own right. A trellis makes a striking support for climbing plants, including wisteria, clematis and roses, while picket fences can mark off areas but still allow plants to grow between the panels. We supply heavy duty trellis, picket panels and a variety of lap panels.

Light Works

Like patios and decking, garden lighting will enable you to get more use out of your outdoor space. Targeted lighting can spectacularly highlight individual plants, or cover whole areas like patios, so you can eat out later in the evening. You can choose between floodlights, spotlights, garden wall lights and even deck lighting. They are all usually controllable from inside the house and have the beneficial side-effect of offering extra security too.

The Power of Water Features

There are a wide range of water features on the market, from fish ponds to spectacular  fountains and waterfalls. Water features can add another point of interest to the garden and attract additional wildlife. Water lilies and other water plants can also enhance a pond. Letting the light play on a fountain or water feature will ensure your garden still looks stunning well into the evening. 

Madingley Mulch can offer a wide range of products to make your garden look glorious. We supply decorative stones or cobbles, barks and mulches, paving slabs and fencing and offer delivery to customers in Essex, Suffolk, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire from our base in Cambridge.  Free delivery applies on all orders within a 15-mile radius, and there is a £20 charge on deliveries within 24.5 miles. We run a regular delivery service to destinations including Ely, Newmarket and Haverhill. Click on the link for all our products and prices.

Five Good Reasons to Use Bark in Your Garden

Bark chips can help transform your garden, whether by improving the quality of the soil which will help your plants to thrive, or by providing a distinctive, eye-catching feature in their own right.

Madingley Mulch supplies bark for gardens to customers in Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Essex and Bedfordshire. Here are our top five reasons why you should consider using bark in your garden.

Improving the Soil

Bark, when it is broken up into chips, can act as a mulch or layer added on top of soil. The bark chips will eventually decompose, releasing nutrients into the ground, improving its fertility. All bark-based mulch will eventually need replacing, although bigger chips take longer to break down.

Bark chippings will help your soil retain moisture, which is particularly useful during long, hot summers, and also in East Anglia’s largely dry climate. Bark-based mulch can also protect the earth from too much water; erosion following a period of heavy rain is less likely to happen if you have that extra layer over your soil.  In addition, mulches like bark will attract earthworms, which are known as the gardener’s friend because they benefit the soil structure.

We supply medium bark for gardens, which is ideal for soil protection, while our mini bark chips are perfect for smaller areas and make for a faster mulching process.

Protecting Your Plants

Putting down a layer of bark acts as a barrier against the extremes of the British climate. So as well as protecting your plants in a heatwave, it can also help avoid frost damage, as any plant roots are well insulated. You can also use bark chips in combination with other materials; for example, they can cover up any gaps left in sheet mulches laid down in new flower beds.

Deterring Pests and Weeds

Bark chippings limit the amount of sunlight that weeds are exposed to, reducing their chances of survival. In addition, some types of bark contain natural oils which deter certain types of insect. You will need to take care over choosing barks for this purpose, as some bark-based mulches may attract certain pests. 

We at Madingley Mulch will be happy to offer advice if you’re not sure what type of mulch is most suitable for your garden, or for the particular project you have in mind.

Looking Good

Bark pieces can give your garden a distinctive look, and not just as a covering for flower beds. Bark is a simple, convenient way to fill in any area of your garden, but particularly any patches where you have trouble growing plants, such as shaded areas. Laying down bark is also far less time-consuming than creating a permanent feature such as a pathway.

We supply landscape bark, which is suitable for large areas of your garden, or pine bark chippings, which look particularly eye-catching.

Keeping Children Safe

Are you thinking of creating a play area in your garden, but feeling concerned about the risk of injury if your child falls off their climbing frame or swing? There is no need to worry, since putting down a layer of bark chips can offer protection against grazed knees, because they have rounder, softer edges than other forms of bark or other alternatives.

We sell special play area bark which is so versatile it can also be used as decorative bark or mulch in other parts of the garden.

Madingley Mulch can supply a wide variety of bags of bark for gardens in Hertfordshire, Suffolk, Essex and Bedfordshire, as well as Cambridgeshire. We offer a free delivery service if you are within 15 miles of our Cambridge base, and a standard £20 charge applies to all destinations within 24.5 miles. We provide regular deliveries to a number of nearby towns and villages, including St Ives, St Neots and Huntingdon. Click here to find out more about the range of bark products we supply.