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23 November 2009
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how to be a gardener - The complete online guide

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Gardening
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Caring for your garden

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Watering

Feeding

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Problem solving: Test your knowledge

 

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Q1

 

A spade, trowel watering can and secateurs are all good basic tools for gardening. What other three tools do we recommend for a beginner gardener?

 

A hoe, border spade and shears
 

A dibber, trenching tool and strimmer
 

A hoe, rake and fork
 

Q2

 

How can you tell if a plant in a pot needs watering?
There are two correct answers .

 

The plant looks wilted and the pot feels light
 

The pot feels heavy and the compost is stuck to the side of the container
 

The compost has come away from the edge of the container
 

Q3

 

In hot weather, when is the best time of day to water?

 

Midday
 

Evening
 

Morning
 

Q4

 

Why is it a good idea to store rainwater?
There are two correct answers .

 

It's perfect for watering ericaceous plants if you have hard tap water
 

Plants in containers only like to be watered with rainwater
 

It is a good back-up should there be a hosepipe ban
 

Q5

 

Why do gardeners need to add nutrients to the soil? There are two correct answers .

 

Because garden plants are more hungry than those in the wild
 

Because gardeners remove plant bits that normally rot and return nutrients to the soil
 

Because plants take them out of the soil
 

Q6

 

At what time of year should solid fertilisers be applied to beds and borders?

 

In mid-autumn, followed by a top-up dose in early winter
 

In early spring, followed by a top-up dose in mid-summer
 

In late summer, followed by a top-up dose in early winter
 

Q7

 

A fertiliser packet which has N:P:K ratio of 7:7:7 tells you that this fertiliser will be good for what?

 

Encouraging root growth
 

Encouraging flowers
 

Encouraging all round growth
 

Q8

 

How many times a year should you clip a leafy hedge?

 

Once a month
 

Once or twice
 

Three times
 

Q9

 

You are pruning a shrub that has single buds. Where do you make the cut?

 

20mm (2cm) above a bud
 

5mm (0.5cm) above a bud
 

On the bud itself
 

Q10

 

You want to prune a shrub that flowers in August, when should you do it?

 

The previous May
 

September
 

The winter after it has flowered
 





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