Ever wondered why they call it a "Secret" garden? The reason stretches far beyond the mystery of their location. Plants all around us have been acting like humans and remain unsuspecting to the vast majority of us! Of what has been revealed from the dedicated research, there is still complex plant behaviour that just cannot be explained. Despite this, the advantages that certain behaviours bring to plants and their similarities with those of humans, may present opportunities to justify some of our own behaviours, be they good or bad.

According to Plants it's ok to...

...Talk to Yourself, as Long as there are Plants Around

It's no secret that plants possess an extraordinary ability to communicate with each other. In fact the green thumbs of the world, including his Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, have even cultivated the art of conversing with plants themselves. Research has suggested that certain types of sound wave may possibly interfere with the normal activity of some plant genes. Comparing sound exposure and the lack of it to pea plants revealed that the stimulus of sound might actually lead to greater plant mass. While certainly not conclusive just yet, this phenomenon remits the attention of keen gardeners and much more research from botanists.

...Fake an Illness

The "Elephant Ear" plant, which can be found in the everyday garden, mimics being ill to discourage mining moths from eating its otherwise healthy leaves. The process is known as Variegation and is commonly caused when plants lose their green chlorophyll cells, making them appear white. Naturally a plant lacking chlorophyll cells would have its ability to photosynthesise restricted and appear weak. Feigning this sickness detracts insect pests from eating plants and can strengthen their long-term success. So if it's photo day at school and an acne outburst leaves you resembling a variegated leaf, pulling a "sickie" might be an effective course of action.

A leaf damaged by mining moths (left) compared to one faking it (right)

Image source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8108000/8108940.stm

...Be Picky

Plants are very selective when it comes to choosing mates. They have a self-incompatibility system that helps them reject unwanted pollen. Often this is to avoid accepting the pollen of other species that can result in infertile off-spring or in some cases to avoid being fertilised by their own pollen. The tomato, tobacco, and egg plants have been subjected to the bulk of this research. While the reasons for the incompatibility system are understood, the understanding of it at a molecular level isn't. The mechanisms behind recognising wanted and unwanted pollen still remains a mystery. As humans, it seems we can take comfort in the fact that although our reasons for disqualifying someone as a potential mate may appear irrational and inexplicable, it just might serve us well in the long run!

...Be Shy

Mimosa Pudica, also known as the “touch-me-not” plant, is very shy to physical contact. In fact the slightest prod or gentle shake can cause it to close its leaves, and remain closed for up to half an hour! Its leaf cells react to pressure and transfer water to their adjacent cells. Cells with reduced water levels lose their strength in their cell wall causing the leaf to close. It is thought that this shy behaviour is used to surprise pests with their rapid change and scare them off. It just goes to show, sometimes being shy means being safe.

...Reach For the Sky!

If only metaphorically, this is another trait that humans and plants share in common. Plants grow up towards the sun to fuel their ever important process of photosynthesis. The plant hormone, auxin, promotes plant growth. It accumulates on the plant cells that are in the absence of light. Therefore the shaded side of a plant tends to grow faster than the side in the sunlight, causing the plant to grow towards the sun.  Their leaves which reach out to the sun can now photosynthesis and are rewarded with precious glucose, in contrast to fame and riches which humans may be rewarded with from reaching for the sky!

The personification of plant behaviour doesn't stop there either. There are plants that exist which have been known to cry out for help with chemicals, change their appearance to attract pollinators and even establish a neighbourhood watch!

Sources

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-478558/So-Charles-right--talk-plants-scientists-discover.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8108000/8108940.stm

http://www.aspb.org/PressReleases/mate_choice.cfm

http://www.kuriositas.com/2012/04/touch-me-not.html

http://www.vib.be/en/news/Pages/That-is-why-plants-grow-towards-the-light!.aspx

British gardens have had a tough time of it this year with levels of ash dieback reaching epidemic proportions, and things are looking bleak with the emergence of 'killer slugs' in British gardens. According to the Royal Horticultural Society slugs have been the biggest pest problem of 2012, generating almost twice as many enquires to the RHS entomology department as the number two pest, cushion scale.

The 'killer slugs' are actually called Arion vulgaris, or the Spanish Slug, and have devastated crops in regions of Scandinavia. The Spanish Slug has earned the nickname of 'killer slug' as its eating habits include members of its own species, as well as anything else they come across such as dead mice and faeces. 

The 'killer slugs' are brown, reddish brown, or bright orange; this colouration can vary but not within the same population, and can grow up to 5 inches long. They were originally thought to be especially large Arion flagellus, or the Spanish Stealth Slug. It is only recent analysis of the male genitalia, which is distinctively different in Arion vulgaris, that has confirmed them as a new established species within the UK.

The invasiveness of the species is down to several factors, one of the major reasons is Arion vulgaris' willingness to colonise environments that are inhabited by humans.

The slugs are most frequently found in agricultural and horticultural habitats with permanent, dense vegetation; such as grasslands and gardens, they are especially abundant in compost heaps. The synanthropic nature of the 'killer slugs' means the possibility of the slugs being dispersed through trade is especially high. The wide variety of food sources available to the slugs, as they appear to eat most biological material, is another contributing factor to their invasiveness.

The 'killer slugs' are thought to have arrived in the UK via imported goods, possibly salad leaves, and have quickly established themselves in the south-east. One of the main reasons the 'killer slugs' have adapted so well to living in the UK is that they are used to living in dry climates where eggs are more likely to dry out before hatching. Because of this the slugs evolved to lay up to 400 eggs in a single summer, but when the eggs are laid in moist climates more of the offspring are surviving. The eggs are laid around September and November before the adults die off, the eggs begin to hatch in March or April and rapidly grow, maturing in June and July. This means come spring the UK can expect to see an explosion of the 'killer slug' population, with further breeding taking place in summer.

Dr Ian Bedford, head of the John Innes Centre's Entomology facility, found hundreds of the slugs in his own garden and believes the 'killer slugs' are going to be a major problem: "We want to look at the environmental impact because we know that where this slug appeared in northern Europe, other indigenous species disappeared. I haven't seen any other species here since probably May time."

One problem scientists are facing is determining the true extent of the slug's invasiveness. Dr Bedford has urged people to contact him if they find an unusually large number of slugs in their garden along with their location, and preferably postcode. Dr Bedford can be contacted by emailing ian.bedford@jic.ac.uk or by tweeting @drianbedford.

If you do find an unusually large number of slugs in your garden and do want to manage them, after contacting Dr Bedford, using chemical control such as methaldehyde or a carbamate containing bait pellet is one of the best solutions. But it is always good to remember to use the bare minimum of slug pellets as they can be toxic to other wildlife. The nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita is a popular biological method of controlling slug populations; this has a high effectiveness against juvenile Arion vulgaris but larger members of the population seem to be resistant, so applying the nematodes to your garden as soon as the temperature increases may be a good idea. However the best method of managing the slug population is still going outside at night with a torch and removing the slugs by hand.

This post has been featured on The Huffington Post

For more information about slugs and other pests, visit Woolly Green 

As it is just the beginning of a New Year it may be too soon to actually get in the garden right now, but there’s nothing to stop you planning ahead and preparing for the up-coming seasons. It may be time to have a change in your gardening routine as well, so here are five New Year Resolutions you could try out this year. 

Plant Native

Plants from your native region find it much easier to adapt to harsh weather conditions, and with the recent history of dramatic weather experienced in the UK this is a major plus point. Native plants also help to sustain local wildlife by attracting local insects that pollinate wild plants as well as the flowers in your garden.

2.       Organise your Shed

Even if you cannot actually do any gardening in the winter months there’s nothing to stop you preparing for Spring and organising your shed. Throw away any unwanted items and store larger items, like bicycles and lawnmowers, in an easily accessible place with no obstacles in the way. Create a tool rack by nailing a piece of wood to the shed wall with other nails sticking out of it. This is a very cheap and easy way to tidy up the shed that shouldn’t take long at all and will make storing your tools far more efficient. 

3.       Replace your Bark Mulch

      Although bark mulch is cheap and easy to install it needs replacing every year or two, by using rock mulch you will not have to replace the mulch as often saving money in the long run. The larger sizes of rock mulch also make it easier to blow away any leaves or debris you don’t want in your beds.

4.       Composting

Compost bins don’t require a lot of space and they can be picked up from any garden centre or online. By turning your garden waste, leaves, and kitchen scraps into compost you are creating a free source of nutrient rich fertiliser for your plants. Not only are you creating vital food for your plants though you are also reducing the amount of recyclable household waste you dispose of, so composting is not only good for your plants it’s great for the environment.

5.       Sustainable Gardening

      Try and add at least one new method of sustainable gardening into your routine. Using at least one sustainable gardening technique will not only reduce the negative affects you may be having on the environment, but it will probably also improve the quality of your soil. There are numerous methods of employing sustainable gardening techniques; such as excluding chemical fertilisers, or installing rain barrels to catch water from your roof that would otherwise be lost to runoff and diverted to streams and drains. 

A garden shed doesn’t just have to be used for gardening; it can be your own private area of serenity, your little home from home and your ticket out of doing housework. I'd like to explore the standard conventional uses of garden sheds and the wilder more creative sides to this wooden house of fun!

Who says sheds are simply for storage of garden equipment?

Well not Reg Miller, thats for sure. He was voted to have “The Best Shed 2010” - which is really something when he was competing against some really esoteric and crazy designs.

And it’s not just Reg getting involved. People all over the country are having a go and attempting to “Pimp” their shed to really get the most out of it. More recently we've seen John Earl - aptly dubbed 'Shed Zeppelin' - win the 2011 competition with his World War One billet: where he features live bands and films them for his website 'Songs From The Shed'. John even boasts that he's had a "26 strong gospel choir" play his renowned shed!

Picture from The Independent.

Even if you’re not into “Pimping up” your garden shed like Reg or any of the other competitors, you don’t have to conform to the standard conventional method of having to “use the garden shed for garden related issues”. There are many other uses for your lumber dream house. For example: Alan Cook in Market Harborough (UK) has created a really modern and hi-tech shed; Sky HD Television, Games console, Fridge, Lazeeboy Chair, Broadband and now a mini gym are just some of the kit he is packing in his tidy timber hut. He claims his wife was against it at first - but when she realised that she had the run of the house for cleaning etc, she loved the fact that he wasn’t under her feet!

If your needs aren’t satisfied by this, then look toward possibly the family incorporating use of the garden shed, possibly a “play time” area for younger children, or even a homework area for teens revising for their exams. However, not everyone has children - so how about a miniature pub or a miniature library? Get some mates round or kick back with quiet novel.

At the end of the day: it’s your shed, it’s your choice!

With the summer sun well upon us, it's time for the avid green fingered gardeners to prepare their garden.

In order to find the best community base to prepare us for the summer, we have launched a competition to find out the best gardening blog of 2011!

After months of research the following 10 blogs & communities were identified (in no particular order):

1) The Guardian Gardening Blog

The Guardian's Gardening blog has been around for many years, and is regularly updated by popular gardening editors with useful gardening related content.

Find one of their recent posts here.

2) Digging

This United States based gardening resource is owned by Pam, a Texas based gardener. She has developed her garden environment for many years, and regularly posts content on her gardening journey.

Find one of her recent posts here.

3) Veggie Gardening Tips

Veggie Gardening Tips is a gardening portal for useful tips and advice on how to grow vegetables naturally and organically, the blog has some excellent guides on how to grow certain vegetables effectively.

Find one of their recent posts here.

4) Gardeners World Blog

Gardeners World is a BBC owned gardening portal. World gardening experts regularly update the blog with essential tips and advice for gardening related matters, making it a very trusted resource for gardening enthusiasts.

Find one of their recent posts here.

5) GrowsonYou

GrowsonYou is a gardening based community & blogging resource where members can share their gardening tips and tricks with one another.

Find one of their recent posts here.

6) Guerilla Gardening

Guerrilla is an interesting community base, which encourages the creation of gardening in public areas such as on side streets and roundabouts. The blog is frequently updated by members who have come across attractive looking public gardens and flower patches.

Find one of their recent posts here.

7) Cold Climate Gardening

Cold Climate Gardening is a unique gardening resource which offers tips and advice for gardeners who live in cold climates. The blog has a wide range of posts relating to cold climate gardens and how they can be brought to life despite their unfortunate cold temperatures.

Here is one of their recent posts here.

8) Gardening Gone Wild

Gardening gone wild is an internationally recognised gardening blogging community in which aims to 'inspire and inform' its readers with a global perspective on all things gardening.

Find one of their recent posts here.

9) A Way to Garden

A Way to Garden is maintained by garden enthusiast Margaret Roach, she was earlier awarded best garden book of the year in 1998, and her success has continued with her gardening blog, which has a high number of regular subscribers.

Find one of her recent posts here.

10) Garden Rant

Garden Rant is a well known gardening blogging network which has won a number of best blog awards in the past. The blog is regularly updated by four gardening editors who have created a huge following among the gardening network.

Find one of their recent posts here.

To cast a vote for your favourite gardening resource, simply use the form below to vote.

The end date for the competition is  29^th June 2011, so make sure your vote counts! Once the results are collected, the top garden blog of 2011 will be revealed!