Hopcroft Dogs DIY and Gardening

10/10/2023

This business is now closed I'm afraid.

15/01/2023

I am a resident of Kegworth. I understand that trentbarton gave notice of the withdrawal of the Skylink bus service in late Summer 2022 and that Notts County Council have supported the current Mon to Fri service financially until April 2023. I want to see this rural Skylink route retained while an u...

23/12/2022

The robin and his friends would love some food if you feel like decorating your garden with a few extra bird dishes for them all.
Don't forget to recycle your old pots and cans as feeders...

20/12/2022

So Christmas is nearly here, then why should the house get all the attention?
Why not put out some ribbons and decorations in your garden.
You can thread through some p**p corn and berries to give the wildlife a Christmas treat too.
Adding lights is also great but do make sure you leave some darker areas for our wildlife.

18/12/2022

Do you want to be the envy of your neighbors next year....
Then why not book a garden design visit..
A change can be as little as a new area or a complete re design...
Call or message me for a meeting or a quote..

14/12/2022

Three essential winter grass care tips to protect your lawn..
1. Where humanly possible avoid walking on lawns on frosty mornings as it will damage the grass and often leads to brown footprint-shaped marks.
2. It is also now too late to sow any new grass seed however if you need to you can still lay new turf as long as the weather is not too cold.
3. Also don’t be tempted to feed the lawn at this time of year, its too late and will stimulate lush growth and this new growth will be vulnerable to diseases. If you want to feed then use an autumn lawn feed, which contains more potassium and phosphorous, to encourage hardiness and root growth instead.

10/12/2022

If you love the wildlife then now is the time to create a log pile for them to hide in and add a few extra well padded nooks and crannies for small wildlife to hide or even hibernate in...

06/12/2022

Feed the birds tuppence a bag.... well maybe its a bit more than tuppence these days but who doesn't love to see some birds feeding in their garden...
Creating some feeders from recycled pots etc doesnt need to cost the earth etierh and can look great.

03/12/2022

The damp weather and mucky surfaces combine to make paths, patios and decking like ice rinks at the time of year. Before anyone has an accident, pick up an autumn leaves, remove moss and then clean the hard surface with a pressure washer to blast off all the muck.

30/11/2022

As part of your winter preparation ensure you have tied any wall shrubs and climbers onto their supports to protect them from wind damage. Any growth that refuses to be trained in this way can be pruned off.

27/11/2022

Here are a few winter lawn tips from the Garden God himself Monty Don
1.Keep cutting the grass for as long as it keeps growing, however it is better to have the grass too long than too short over the winter months.
2.Cutting too close can result in roots becoming exposed to the harsh elements, damaging the lawn.
3. Rake out thatch and moss and add to the compost heap It is important to remove falling leaves and organic debris in order to allow your grass to breath, maintaining a healthy exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
4. It is also recommended that you fork holes in your lawn to facilitate drainage and minimise the risk of your garden becoming waterlogged.

25/11/2022

Now is an ideal time to plant new roses and bare-root plants are readily available now.
They need to be planted promptly, before they dry out. They can be heeled into the soil for a short period if conditions are not suitable for planting.
Avoid planting in areas where roses were previously growing otherwise new introductions may suffer from replant diseases (rose sickness).
And ensure the soil is well prepared with plenty of compost or manure.
Then fingers crossed you will have a beautiful display next year..

22/11/2022

Grass can continue to grow for some time yet and will certainly continue in temperatures above 5°C (41°F).
So depending on the weather you will likely need to mow the lawn for some weeks and in some cases months yet. However do not cut too short as the grass needs some length to help it cope with the colder weather and other winter stresses.

19/11/2022

When it comes to which plant where you are not alone and we don’t always get it right first time.

However that is not the end of the world and now is a great time to transplant trees and shrubs growing that you now realize are in unsuitable positions.

However, this gets more complicated the older the plant or shrub is and if the root ball is large then you may be best advised to either leave it where it is or simply remove and replace.

In order to relocate any shrub it is imperative that the root-ball is intact to ensure the plant’s survival in its new position, and of course prepare that new area with plenty of compost or manure.

New trees will also benefit from a post to help support them but be careful not to fix them too tightly as they must be able to flex a little and have room for growth.

16/11/2022

A great way to make the most of your waste.

Find how to make a composting trench for next year's crops.

16/11/2022

🌍🦋 Today is Biodiversity Day at .

🚨 The diversity of plant and animal species is declining fast due to our misuse of the planet's natural resources and the impact of climate change.

💚 Join our Naturehood community and learn how to take action for the wildlife living in your Naturespace – whether it's a garden, patio, balcony, allotment, communal green space or even a window box – we can all do our bit to help reverse biodiversity loss.

👉 http://ow.ly/yZML50LExOL

14/11/2022

Fallen leaves are such a valuable resource, it would be a shame to waste them. If they're in the way, stuff them into old compost bags, pierce the sides and within a year, you'll have the most amazing soil improver for your borders! 🍂🍂🍂

14/11/2022

Ponds and water features need some pre-winter TLC now too.
Remove all old leaves and dead foliage by placing them on the side of the pond and leaving for 24 hours to allow any wildlife to leave them before disposal.
Prune any over hanging branches that may prevent light getting to the pond during the winter.
And finally keep the water oxygenated by making sure the water fountain is on every now and again, there is sufficient oxygenating plants and by addibg a ball or something that will float to ensure the entire surface doesn't freeze.

12/11/2022

Tender plants may now be needing some additional care or even moving inside a greenhouse or conservatory. But if you don't have that luxury then there are some other things you can do to help them see out the winter.
1. Put all pots on feet to prevent the roots getting too soggy.
2. Insulate pots or even stems of plants with bubble wrap or fleece.
3. Or create mini green house / cloche using old plastic bottles.
4. Or if you have multiple plants then create a small storage space using old bricks or blocks of wood for a base and a polystyrene top.. This is like a mini cold frame and can help insulate whilst still allowing sunlight and air circulation.
Even if you can not do any of this raise pots onto something to prevent water logging and move them to a ore sheltered spot.

10/11/2022

Now's a great time to think ahead and plan any changes you might fancy for next year. This might be some new plants or even a complete re design… There are lots of wonderful inspirational ideas out there on the internet or in gardening magazines...
Either way you can look through magazines for ideas or of course hire a garden designer like myself if you want some help.

06/11/2022

As winter approaches we can often be tempted to think that the garden is no longer a place of beauty or colour but this does not have to be true...
You can create some delightful pockets of colour using cyclamen or other bedding plants such as winter pansies or voila. Or if you fancy something a bit different why not try some ornamental brassicas...

04/11/2022

To avoid winter moths damaging your fruit trees you can apply barrier glues or horticultural grease bands.
They stop and kill the wingless females from climbing up tree trunks and laying eggs in the spring

01/11/2022

The garden may feel cold and uninviting but it will still need a little more love before winter sets in.
Raise any pots onto feet or just a few bricks to prevent flooding during the rains.
Remove the last of the debris out of the pond.
Plant your tulips for spring.
Trim any perennials not yet tidied
More to follow in our next post...

Remember the fresh air is good for you but do rap up as it gets colder..

30/10/2022

Now most of the gardening jobs are coming to an end and you are sitting cosy inside it is the perfect time to think through any of those changes you would like to make in your garden.
How to add interest to that sad corner, whether or not to re-lay that tired old patio.... Maybe it s small section or or even a complete transformation..
Think about what you really want from your garden next year....
And if you are serious remember that I am qualified in Horticulture and Garden Design and so offer garden design services too and now is the time to start planning ready for the spring so everything is ready and plan are ready to put into action.

29/10/2022

Halloween is nearly here so don't forget to add your pumpkins to our porch in readiness.
For those of you who are curious we started carving pumpkins in Ireland with demonic faces to ward of Jack Frost.....

26/10/2022

It can be sad to say goodbye to those balmy days of summer but now as October draws on Autumn is really here.
Whilst it is often colder it can be a beautiful time of year.
However as the trees drop their leaves it will keep us busy raking up the leaves and however tedious it may feel it really is a good idea to do as it tidies things up and allows you to create some beautiful leave mulch for the new year.

22/10/2022

There has been a re-emergence of the herbaceous border with perennials taking center stage. However whilst they are not demanding they do need deadheading and trimming them after flowering finishes in autumn. This autumn trim helps improve their appearance and flowering. However, you can leave some stems over winter to provide homes and food for wildlife, and then trim back in spring.

19/10/2022

October is the perfect time to plant any new trees or large shrubs or even move some existing plants.
You can get both green and bare-root plants but the bare root plants so now is the time to prepare your ground and order your shrubs. Bare rooted plants may not initially look as appealing but they are considerably cheaper and will be just as good given a little time.

16/10/2022

This is really the last window of opportunity for pruning much until spring.
Any deciduous trees and shrubs, especially fruit bushes will need a good prune now and other late flowering deciduous shrubs will need a hard prune in the spring but will benefit form a half trim now to take them through the winter.
If you are unsure give me a call.
Generally the earlier it flowered the more it needs pruning now, unless already done. If in doubt give me a call.

14/10/2022

This month is our last opportunity to scarify, aerate and top dress lawns. This process removes layers of thatch/ moss and can be done with either a spring-tine rake or a powered scarifier.
To do this you need to mow first and then scarify, then once all dead material is removed apply a top dress of compost and seed.

Toad stools and fairy rings may look cute but they are a sure sign that scarification is needed.