Page 21 - link magazine

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HOME & GARDEN
ROOTS & SHOOTS are a three Co-op ready to take Freshbrook. Karen Clark of
woman co-operative based in Newark Close has had the back
Swindon which aims to perk up on your garden garden tidied up and shrubs
neglected gardens and bring life backing of Bootstrap Enter- Both Joanne and Sophie planted. The team will be return-
to tired trees, shrubs and lawns. prises, a specialist agency which worked in garden centres for ing to concrete the drive and
Joanne Patterson, Sophie Hill helps co-operatives off the some years before launching build some fences.
and Carole Tarrant started work- ground with interest free loans their venture. All three women "I'm very pleased with the
ing together in June with the and business advice. have no regrets about going on work and I particularly like the
Below: Satisfied customers Pat Derry, left, and Karen Clark, right, their own. fact that it can be done in stages
with, left to right, Joanne, Carole and Sophie of Roots & Shoots "I was fed up working for and priced by the job. It helps the
other people and Bootstrap has bank balance."
given us the chance to be our own Pat Derry of Worsley Road has
bosses," said Carole. "We've had a wilderness cleared by the
improved our working condi- Roots & Shoots team. "They've
tions and its good to earn equal done a great job in tidying up the
pay." place."
They had a few anxieties be- Roots & Shoots are planning
fore they started working for their winter work programme
themselves. "We thought there and are looking for any kind of
might have been a some prob- garden and outdoor work.
lems being three women as the Joanne, Carole and Sophie can be
bosses, but that's not been the contacted on 513362.
case," said Sophie. "People are They apologise for the answer-
taking us seriously and our name phone machine which covers for
is starting to spread." them when they are on site.
Roots & Shoots have been Leave a message and they will
working on two gardens in get right back to you.
After I had cleared and dug
Lawn Revival the back garden I thought I
would invest in best quality turf P B PLUMBING SERVICES
Clair Beaton in the hope it would provide me Boilers Serviced
considers one of the with a showpiece lawn; a thick, Pump Fitting Service
tasks for autumn richly green piece of velvet. Water Softeners Fitted
So I hoped. The turf arrived
When we moved into our house in great strips 1 x 2m; about 8 Washing Machines and Dishwashers Fitted
here in West Swindon, the front were enough for the entire lawn. Telephone: (0793) 642995
garden was 'laid to lawn'. I It was very easy to lay and looked
thought it looked terrible, proba- good immediately. I have not
bly ripped off some old cow pas- been so pleased with it since.
ture. However I regarded it as a Finally, I asked a profes-
challenge and started mowing it sional groundsman for advice. A
carefully, and applying 'Weed Was there something I should
and Feed' mixes to it. One job I do? Was digging it up the the
did enjoy was removing the best solution? After scratching at
coaster-mat tuffets of daisy it with a rake and poking through
plants. I had found a well de- it with a garden fork, the verdict
signed daisy grubber with a was - Fusarium. The straw-col-
cranked prong at the end. When oured thatch that seemed to be
fidgeted beneath the centre of the choking the few grass blades that
rosette, a gentle press of the did show green was caused by
handle would lever the long wiry this fungus attack that thrived in
roots out of the damp soil like my badly drained back garden. EASY PARKING - COLLECTION/DELIVERY SERVICE
MON-FRI. 8am - 6pm; SAT. Bann - 5pm
spaghetti out of bolognese sauce. So this Autumn sees me Unit 9, Marlborough Road Industrial Estate, .
Unfortunately, I became so en- working through an intensive Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire SN4 8AX
thusiastic that Iran out of daisies; cycle of lawn care; spiking with a Tel: Swindon 854821
they have never re-appeared. solid tiner to four inches mini- U
The back garden like most mum, spraying with benomyl,
new ones was an unmown pas- spreading an autumn weed/
ture; foot high grass on rough feed product. lam considering a Entrance at the junction of
Lady Lane and Westfield
bumps and hummocks. Mysolu- top dressing with sharp sand, to Way, Haydon Wick.
tion was keep watering glypho- try to improve drainage. I think Tel: Swindon 721221
sate over the grass, nettles, I would have a more satisfactory
thistles and other nasties; effec- lawn had I chosen the normal VISIT YOUR
tive, but expensive as three to utility turf. LOCAL GARDEN
four applications were needed.
Were I moving into a new house CENTRE
now, I would cover all the rough Open Day at Lackham Carpet your garden with
area with black polythene. Six Lackham College of Agri- HEATHERS.
months absence of light is reck- culture has its final open day for Immediate effect,
oned to kill most perennial the year on October 2nd. Four year round pleasure.
weeds and saves all worry about miles south of Chippenham, LARGE STOCK OF
use of weed-killers. Then in signposted north of Notton on SPRING FLOWERING
Spring, the ground should be the A350. Greenhouses, gardens BULBS NOW AVAILABLE
ready to dig over free of vigorous and woodland, demonstrations
top-growth and protected from of apple varieties. Admission £1, _1ALaJTUMNJ;.
waterlogging. children free.