Plants used to clean up soil pollution

Common garden plants are to be used to clean polluted industrial land, with scientists aiming to use the waste produced to further medical research.

The BBC have an interesting article on their website http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-21655111?goback=%2Egde_2368048_member_219777631 which shows how plants such as Alyssum and ferns will soak up metals from derelict land previously occupied by factories, mines and landfill sites. Researchers will then test a method of extracting chemicals from the plants. Some former industrial sites contain high levels of harmful metals like arsenic and platinum.

This could be an amazing step forward in both the conservation of resources and the protection of the environment. Bacteria have been used in the past in order to ameliorate soils but plants could be much more beneficial if they can be used cheaply to extract useful minerals. Maybe they could be used to extract small, previously non viable mine deposits? 

Killer slug invasion!

Millions of ‘killer slugs’ set to take over gardens

Posted by ProLandscaper on Wednesday, January 16, 2013 ·

After the worst year on record for slugs, things are about to get even worse with millions of a new species of ‘killer slug’ expected to take over gardens this spring.

The monster slugs, from Spain, that can grow up to five inches long, have been found eating dead mice, dog mess and even each other.

The species have already caused havoc in Scandinavia where slugs feasting on road kill caused so much slime it became a road hazard.

The new species, Arion vulgaris, was first identified in East Anglia at the end of last year.

However it has taken until now to confirm the new species is new to the British Isles.

It is thought the new species came into the UK via imports of salad leaves.

Ian Bedford, of Head of Entomology at the Government-funded John Innes Centre in Norwich, who found 300 killer slugs in his own garden, said that millions of the slugs are set to emerge this spring. The baby killer slugs and eggs are buried under leaves, just waiting to emerge.

“There are almost certainly millions out there,” he said. "It's obviously of great concern that we now have this species here. There's been lots of reports from around the county of massive problems with slugs, which I'm sure are now going to be Arion vulgaris.”(our native slug)

Killer slugs eat popular garden flowers like allium as well as vegetables. They also eat potato leaves and could decimate the oilseed rape crop, worth millions to the UK economy.

Dr Bedford said the killer slug can even thrive in dry conditions.

"There are reports of oilseed rape having problems this year which we think could well be because of this Spanish slug. I've actually seen them in a potato field in the middle of summer sliming across dry, sandy soil. The agronomist with me couldn't believe what he was seeing, because slugs don't usually do that. It's a hardy species," he added.

Dr Bedford is now leading research into the killer slugs.

He is collecting information on sightings of large slugs, crops that have been damaged and “unusual incidents relating to slugs”.

He is also looking at whether killer slugs are breeding with native species and whether the species can be controlled using ordinary slug pellets.

“We are using the genome analysis centre at the John Innes Centre to investigate the species and whether we have hybrids. Also whether it is susceptible to sprays and other ways of controlling them.”

A survey by the Royal Horticultural Society found that the most common complaint last year was slugs and snails.

Andrew Halstead, RHS Principal Scientist Plant Health, said many of the sightings may well have been invasive species. But he said most gardeners will concentrate on extermination, rather than identification. “For gardeners a slug is a slug,” he added.

Second wettest year on record!

YES it has been a wet year. It is official. Not that we needed to be told! Who declaired a drought order?! So what can we do about it and what should we do about it. The Met Office say that we are due more extremes of weather due to global warming. This can mean more extreme wet and dry spells to come. There are lots of measures that I feel we as a nation could and should implement such as:

• Making sure that all new build properties have permeable or soakaway drained paving at the rear as well as the front. The recent SUDS (Sustanable Urban Drainage) initiative only currently covers the fronts of properties.
• On the continent many new build properties have to have living green roofs in order to slowly reduce run off. This could be introduced here which, once more people use this system, would quickly reduce the added costs.
• Not build on flood plains! - these are flood plains for a reason! Let them flood and not use them for building new homes and businesses on.
• Maybe come to terms with the fact that some low lying areas such as parts of the Somerset levels should be left to return to nature and not used for farming or households since they cannot be protected from flooding.
• A lot of our Water Authority drainage is what is called combined sewerage. This is when surface water and Foul water both run in the same pipework. Incentives could be given to households to have stormwater running into soakaways and not down the drains. You can currently get a small rebate for this from the water boards but it is not enough to make it worth while.

Closer to home we can implement our own measures such as:

• Plant some plants with drainage around them to lesson the damage caused by saturated/ flooded ground to their roots. This can be done by adding horticultural grit to the beds, adding land drains and raising the beds in mounds to lift them up. By incorporating organic matter and mulching the ground as well will help retain moisture when we have dry spells.
• Keep lawns aerated by spiking the ground to aid drainage and reduce compacted areas which form a hard crust on the surface or below ground.
• Reducing hard surfaces or making them permeable - We are rapidly paving over our green and pleasant land which exacerbates the flash flood scenario and reduces ground water storage in dry spells.
• Store the water now for when we need it - set up water butts and underground tanks ready for the dry spells.
• Invent a micro hydro generator to go into downpipes to save on electricity bills!

On a lighter note I am looking forward to the hotter dryer weather! Mind you I will believe it when I see it!

We are now on Twitter as well!! All this new fangled technology. All I need now are some followers!

Movember growth

I have delayed posting that I am supporting Movember as I thought that my efforts would be dismal and not worth the effort. However my under nose growth has pleasantly surprised me!! A little unconventional but all in a good cause. I will let you know how it progresses!

Autumn Fireworks

Its that time of year when we think of bonfires, toffee apples and roast chestnuts. Nature is creating it's own spectacular display and this year is proving to be particularly stunning with a spectacular swan song to the end of the (wet) growing season. From butter yellow through to coppery and rich plumy purple, the City and countryside is being lit up in a beautiful display. Its not just the trees that are major players either. Climbing hydrangea are a lovely yellow at this time of year and the ornamental grape vines are a deep purple. And who could forget the classic fiery red of the Virginia creeper! There are still some perennials still flowering their socks off as well. These include the Asters and Penstemons which are still going great guns in my garden. Us gardeners have to plan a long time in advance so if you want a spectacular display for next year then now is the time to start planning. We are also nearly in the bare root tree season when there is a larger choice of trees available and you get more bang for your buck!

Well what a fine mess!

After dealing with the constant mud today, I read an article in the Garden Design Journal about Rammed earth and Cob walling. This ancient method of building is making a slow revival and it makes a great deal of sense.

Why not use the resources around us instead of imported or man made products. Cob walling using clay/subsoil, straw and sand was used extensively in my home county of Devon in the past to make walls for buildings. I have seen a show garden at Chelsea some years back where a bench was made using polished rammed earth in different coloured layers which looked fabulous. I think we should think more about using the resources to hand for building structures in the garden and this method of construction is one of the ways that we can utilise the subsoil and create less of a carbon footprint.

Bring on the mud!