In this episode, Dan and Julia discuss whether no-mow May is good for our gardens and discover the many magical properties of copper tools. Julia advises on how to look after tomato plants while waiting for the weather to warm up, and Dan highlights Calycanthus, aka Carolina allspice, an increasingly popular shrub that produces exotic-looking flowers and a culinary spice.

The pros and cons of not mowing in May

Pros:

• Reduces time spent mowing
• Requires no fertilisers, pesticides or watering 
• Allows some wildflowers to bloom freely
• Encourages insects, birds and mammals that like to shelter or feed in longer grass
• It can look attractive and even romantic
• It Increases the cooling of the surrounding air and locks up more carbon dioxide than short grass

Cons:

• It may take a while to restore the neat appearance of a lawn, depending on the weather in June
• Reduces space to play and walk in a small space.
• It doesn’t increase biodiversity long-term. It's a gesture rather than a long-term commitment.
• It may increase the number of weeds, especially dandelions, that appear in adjacent beds and borders.
• Some birds, insects and flowers prefer a habitat with shorter grass.

Our conclusion - a mix of grass lengths maintained all year round is probably better than not mowing for a month. However, No Mow May is a good reminder to take steps to balance what we need from our gardens against what wildlife needs.

Jobs to do in your garden this fortnight

1. Tie in sweet peas
2. Deadhead tulips
3. Sow runner and French beans
4. Continue to sow salads, radish, and beetroot for succession crops
5. Continue to earth up potatoes to protect from frost
6. Place citrus trees outside in a sheltered spot
7. Net gooseberries & strawberries as fruit forms to keep birds off
8. Watch out for lily beetles and remove them fast!
9. Ventilate greenhouses
10. Pinch out growing tips on broad beans when 3-4 ft tall

Dan's upcoming events:

Saturday, 4th May - Plant Fair and Open Garden at Saltwood Castle near Hythe, Kent

Sunday, 5th May - Chiswick Flower Market, London

Monday, 6th May - Spring Plant Fair at Belmont House, Throwley, near Faversham, Kent

Sunday, 12th May - Rare Plant Fair at Salthrop House, near Swindon, Wiltshire

Website links:

• Dan Cooper Garden
• Parker's Patch

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