April 29, 2024, by Maartje

Building an insect hotel and pruning bulbs (go go go!)

Conscious, Handy, Kids
April 29, 2024, by Maartje

Building an insect hotel and pruning bulbs (go go go!)

Do you have a garden? Lucky stuff. We love messing around among the greenery, and we are not the only ones. How should all this be done, and when, in particular, to achieve such a beautiful, healthy, green and colorful result? We don't know that either. But luckily there is mothers. Because he does know. And how. Years of hobbying and piles (and piles) of books and magazines have made her a real specialist. So she got her own Green Corner on Barts Boekje. Barts Outside. This round one of her own favorites: the insect hotel. Also very nice for children.

Speaking of which... Also read this: Let's go into the garden with the kids (we think it's a really nice article).

insect hotel

insect hotel

Yes, you can buy an insect hotel ready-made, but it is much more fun to build it yourself! The more insects, the better the conditions for your plants. And besides, it's just very pleasant, that buzzing in your garden.

How do you do that, build it yourself? Simple; with sticks, pine cones, pieces of wood, straws, stones and more stuff you found outside, and then just stack them. The point is that the creatures can crawl into something and nest. Super fun project and can be customized.

prune those bulbs

prune those bulbs

You can prune all bulb trees in April. What then blooms and is therefore at its best, and you don't prune it yet because it is a mortal sin of course, is the Snowball, also called the De Viburnum tinus (who can remember...). This plant has beautiful shiny leaves. Finished? Cut that trade. Then you will have the best results again next year.

You didn't see that coming: plant a kiwi!

You didn't see that coming: plant a kiwi!

Okay, you probably didn't see this one coming, but kiwi plants do very well in our climate! Okay, there's a catch: they have to grow for about 5 years before the first kiwi arrives... But hey, then you have something! You have self-pollinating kiwi plants, which means that there are both male and female flowers on one plant. But you can also choose kiwi plants that are EITHER female OR male - so be careful which one you choose. It will come as no surprise that we prefer to go for the self-pollinated. Whichever you choose: they should be in a sunny place. Successful and five years later? Then one plant can easily produce hundreds of kiwis! And the great thing about the story: you plant it in April. Oh yes, give your plant some space.

Also nice: there is also a kiwi berry, the Issai) and this plant is also self-pollinating. The fruits can be eaten with their peel and are deliciously sweet. It is a climbing plant but can easily wrap around a drainpipe (beautiful!). The plant grows to about 1 1/1 wide and 2 1/2 high. But you can also keep it smaller by pruning, of course. But if you have the spot, let him climb. It's beautiful!

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