Gardening expert Monty Don issues urgent warning to anyone with garden paving stones
Gardening expert Monty Don has issued a urgent warning to anyone with slabs in their garden.
Gardeners' World TV presenter said there are some dangers to watch out for in your garden during the cold winter months. In his recent blog, green-fingered Don urged anyone who has brick or stone paths in their gardens to watch out in case they fall over.
He explains: "At this time of year brick and stone paths can be very slippery and dangerous. This is due to algae that grows on the surface, especially if wet and shaded and at this time of year they may stay wet and slippery for months."
READ MORE: Covid bombshell as scientists discover major issue with booster jabs
READ MORE: People on PIP or ADP could be due £251 before Christmas to help with winter energy bills
He believes the most effective way to remove the algae and banish the slipperiness is by using a pressure hose, reports the Mirror.
He notes: "The best way to reduce the slipperiness is to wash off the algae with a pressure hose (which can be hired by the day). When this is done brush in sharpsand. If the path is brick or stone the porous surface will absorb some of the sand."
However, there is a quicker method you can try if don't own a pressure hose and don't want to hire one. "A quicker - but still quite laborious - alternative is simply to work sand in with a stiff brush without the washing. Either way you have a very effective way of making a path safe without resorting to chemicals," he says.
Join the Daily Record's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
Elsewhere, Monty also urged gardeners to plant garlic bulbs before Christmas. He said that now is the time to plant the tiny vegetable we love to use on a regular basis in our dishes. The expert added that garlic bulbs are easy to buy and just as straightforward to grow.
He noted: "I start planting garlic bulbs in September but it can be done at any time before Christmas to have a good harvest next summer. The garlic you mostly buy is almost always ‘soft neck’ which has a flexible plaitable stem, stores well (which is why shops stock it) and is often excellent.
"But many think the best garlic are ‘hard neck’ varieties which have a stiff, upright stalk and tends to have smaller bulbs. However it is just as easy to grow and get hold of from good suppliers and because it is much harder to buy, it makes sense to grow it yourself."
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
