Devon


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1007" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/bees.jpeg" alt="bee on a cornflower " class="wp-image-53461" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/bees.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/bees-794x800.jpeg 794w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/bees-993x1000.jpeg 993w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/bees-768x773.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/bees-521x525.jpeg 521w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Encouraging nature into our gardens by growing insect-friendly flowers and following eco-friendly practices is very on trend (The Rewilding Garden designed by Lulu Urquhart and Adam Hunt scooped best in show at last year&#8217;s Chelsea Flowershow) and of course it&#8217;s better for the planet than sloshing chemicals about and pulling out every last weed. </p>



<p>Plus, it&#8217;s not just altruistic &#8211; the more friendly wildlife you have in your garden, the fewer the plant-guzzling pests spoiling our pots and borders. Win-win!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-watch-the-birdie">1/Watch the birdie</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/robin.jpeg" alt="robin on a branch " class="wp-image-53450" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/robin.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/robin-800x800.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/robin-1000x1000.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/robin-400x400.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/robin-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/robin-525x525.jpeg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/robin-500x500.jpeg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/robin-1100x1100.jpeg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Encourage slug and snail eating robins, blackbirds and thrushes by leaving an unpruned corner of dense twiggy growth for the birds to nest and roost. Bird baths and feeders are good but, for birds to make your garden their home, they need cat-safe places to perch. Good bird-friendly plants include sweetly-scented honeysuckle, <em>Clematis montana</em> and Felix-proof rambling roses, such as &#8216;Rambling Rector&#8217;.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2/Flower-power your veg</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/veg.jpeg" alt="orange marigolds with purple cabbage " class="wp-image-53454" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/veg.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/veg-800x800.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/veg-400x400.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/veg-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/veg-525x525.jpeg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/veg-500x500.jpeg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Add cottage-core charm to your veg patch by partnering scented sweat peas with climbing beans. <a href="https://www.mr-fothergills.co.uk/Calendula-Pot-Marigold-Nova-Seeds" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pot marigolds</a> (above left) and the lacy yellow umbels of herb dill and nasturtium amongst rows of veg add zing and attract hoverflies and lacewings to help keep your vegetable crop aphid-free.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">3/Sow a mini meadow</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="960" height="1280" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/meadow.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-53460" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/meadow.jpeg 960w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/meadow-600x800.jpeg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/meadow-750x1000.jpeg 750w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/meadow-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/meadow-394x525.jpeg 394w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></figure>



<p>Meadows don&#8217;t have to be in lawns, you can create the effect in a sunny border. Sow a nectar-rich annual meadow mix (check out&nbsp;<a href="http://meadowinmygarden.co.uk/">meadowinmygarden.co.uk</a>.) and you’ll have months of bee-friendly flower-colour from annuals, such as cornflowers, oxeye daisies, cosmos and godetia. Most mixes do best in sun but there are blends for shade or around existing shrubs. Just scatter the seeds, gently rake and sit back. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">4/ Bare necessities </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/phacelia.jpeg" alt="bee on a blue flower " class="wp-image-53456" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/phacelia.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/phacelia-800x800.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/phacelia-400x400.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/phacelia-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/phacelia-525x525.jpeg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/phacelia-500x500.jpeg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Try not to leave bare soil in borders or on the veg plot. If you&#8217;ve pulled up crops and left gaps, sow a green manure of <a href="https://www.sarahraven.com/products/phacelia-tanacetifolia" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">phacelia</a> (above). The roots will improve the soil and the flowers have the delicious scent of a Bakewell tart and will feed the bees. When you’re ready to plant a new crop, they’re easy to dig in or clear out to the compost heap. &nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">5/Ditch the mower</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/lawn.jpeg" alt="shaggy lawn with daisies and buttercups" class="wp-image-53458" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/lawn.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/lawn-800x600.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/lawn-1000x750.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/lawn-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/lawn-700x525.jpeg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Give your mower a break and leave part of your lawn uncut. Long grass is a haven for butterflies and moths and even a small area can make a big difference to the numbers of these endangered species. For practicality, mow around the edge so that you can reach your borders and make a romantic meandering path through the middle. Give it a try this year as part of <a href="https://nomowmay.plantlife.org.uk/what-is-no-mow-may/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">No Mow May 2023</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">6/Weeds can be just dandy</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/dandy.jpeg" alt="dandelion clock " class="wp-image-53453" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/dandy.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/dandy-800x800.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/dandy-400x400.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/dandy-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/dandy-525x525.jpeg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/dandy-500x500.jpeg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Don’t think of dandelions as weeds. Although they look like single blooms, each yellow pom-pom is made up of hundreds of nectar-filled flowers making them one of the best natural pollinator plants for early flying bees.&nbsp;If you do want to minimise their spread, say in paving gaps, use a trowel to ease them out &#8211; they&#8217;ve got deep roots and make sure you dead-head before the &#8216;clocks&#8217; appear.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Want more green-fingered tips from Tobe? </em></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1333" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/Arit-Anderson-talk-working-the-audience-2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-53459" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/Arit-Anderson-talk-working-the-audience-2.jpg 2000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/Arit-Anderson-talk-working-the-audience-2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/Arit-Anderson-talk-working-the-audience-2-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/Arit-Anderson-talk-working-the-audience-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/Arit-Anderson-talk-working-the-audience-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/02/Arit-Anderson-talk-working-the-audience-2-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px" /></figure>



<p><em>Tune into his Sunday morning gardening phone-in every Sunday on <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p053xrkm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BBC Radio Devon</a>, 10am-2pm or catch him on BBC Gardener&#8217;s World. Even better, grab your tickets for <a href="https://tobygardenfest.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Toby&#8217;s Garden Festival</a> (above) on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 April at Powderham Castle, Kenton nr Exeter. Here&#8217;s your chance to <a href="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/reader-treats/win-vip-tickets-tobys-garden-festival/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">win a pair of VIP tickets</a>, worth £160!</em></p>


Grow wild! 6 ways to style your garden naturally

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