Graham Paskett, founder of Paskett PR, loves gardening so much that he has made it his life’s work. But all work and no play make a very grumpy PR practitioner. So, this is his chance to let off some creative steam and share his wealth of knowledge.
Read his blogs below in date order, starting with the most recent.
You can contact Graham direct by emailing grahampaskett@paskett.co.uk
June 17, 2020: The Emperor strikes back!
There is a mystery in the Grumpy Gardener’s vegetable garden that is making him particularly grumpy, and it involves his Scarlet Emperor beans doing a runner!
But at least he’s not brassed off about his brassicas. They’re thriving as the club root disease seems to have died out. Finally!
June 2, 2020: Hot under the collar
I’m thoroughly fed up with this unremitting hot weather. Mrs Grumpy Gardener loves the sun and keeps telling me to come and sit down. No time. As soon as the sun is off different areas of the garden, I’m out with the hose and watering can.
Oh and slugs and grey squirrels are a nuisance too!
May 21, 2020: Pots and panics
There is very little pleasure in washing up very dirty plastic flower pots. Although as tedious and boring as this task is, it really is very necessary.
Also, I’m a worried gardener this month. I have become an avid watcher of the weather on my iPhone to check lowest overnight temperatures. I’m still fearful of frosts!
April 23, 2020: A Coronavirus free zone – but still plenty to grumble about
It is quite ridiculous to have moved from flood to virtual drought in a matter of three weeks.
And be aware of slugs and other minibeasts.
Also, the daffodils are absolutely lovely in the garden but, already, we are dead heading the early blooms.
February 7, 2020: Winter hasn’t done with us just yet
At the risk of sounding even more grumpy than usual, I have to say that this ridiculously warm weather is really not good news for the garden.
But, personally, I don’t think winter has done with us just yet.
February 3, 2020: Hydrangeas and the Grumpy Gardeners
My wife and I both love hydrangeas but disagree about their winter pruning. In 2018 she won the argument and, last year, we had the worst display ever.
The reason? In an effort to make the borders look neat and tidy she insisted that I prune them hard, cutting off all the brown flowering heads, right down at the base.
January 23, 2020: Starting the new year by mowing the lawn
I read somewhere that Staffordshire is reckoned to be England’s overall coldest county so, on that basis, you’d think it would have a slow start to the grass growing season.
I found it surprising, therefore, that whilst many people would be nursing hangovers on the morning of January 1, 2020, I was out mowing the lawns.