Published: 08/06/2012 12:14 - Updated: 22/08/2012 13:14

Attacking Wasps and Nurturing Lawns

Welcome to Garden King's Plant Doctor Blog, where our experts discuss and answer all your gardening questions. This week I'm talking about wasps, getting the best from your lawns and the clippings your lawn creates.

These are two hot topics which our customers are asking us for advice on and there's no better time to get out in the garden and get cracking.

In the last week we have had no end of customers pop in and ask about wasp killers and traps. Wasps seem to be rife at the moment but hope is not lost, you don't have to suffer at the hands (or wings) of these stinging critters. At Garden King we sell a range of products which can help keep wasps away. We have a range of brightly coloured and highly decorative wasp traps. These glass jars are not only great at luring wasp killer and trapping wasps, but they look great in any garden too! Simply fill the trough with syrup/water solution and the greedy wasps will enter the jar from the bottom and get trapped as they can't physically fly in a downward motion. What's more, these traps are 100% BEE FRIENDLY - the flying patterns of wasps and bees are different, so bees are incapable of getting trapped as they can't fly directly vertical. Destroy wasp nests with Bayer Foaming Wasp Nest Destroyer - this 300ml spray can targets nests from up to 3 metres and can also be used to destroy ant nests. We also stock Kybosh Kills in a 300ml spray which is effective in killing wasps, flies, flying ants, mosquitos and a multitude of other problem insects.

Your lawn has had quite a time of it recently, massive downpours of rain followed by warm spells. It's probably a good time to start mowing more frequently, but don't be tempted to hack away at it (even if it's grown quite tall). By cutting it very short straight away, you can end up scalping it and create bare patches where weeds can quickly take hold. Avoid this by lifting the blades at first and then gradually lower the blades each time you cut the lawn, this gradual process will create a nice neat finish. Don't forget to re-use your grass clippings, you can toss them onto your compost heap and stir them into the mixture 24 hours later to take advantage of the heat they will have created. You could also your clippings as as mulch around your fruit trees. Be careful though, if you've recently used weedkiller on the lawn, put the clippings in the rubbish bin for the next 3 or 4 cuts to avoid weedkiller contaminating your compost.