How To Archives - Primrose Blog

Evie, Insects, Pest Advice, Pest Control, Spiders

When is spider season?

It’s the time of year that will make many shudder and sweat – it’s SPIDER SEASON! Spiders have spent the last few months feeding on bugs and insects, and will now be venturing inside to find a mate.

Historically, we’ve seen spider season occuring in the early Autumn. However, in 2018 and again in 2019, we’ve seen spiders beginning their quest earlier than normal – which explains why you’ve found several in your house already. Recent heavy rainfall has not helped the situation, encouraging spiders to make their way inside, and often into our homes.

Why are spiders coming into my house?

Central heating provides the perfect weather conditions for female spiders to lay their eggs before hibernating. Prof Adam Hart, an entomologist at the University of Gloucestershire, explains that 80% of the spiders you’ll see in your homes this season are males looking for female spiders to partner up with.

What to do if you get bitten…

A spider bite typically appears as small puncture marks on your skin which can be painful and result in swelling and redness. The NHS states, “bites from spiders in the UK are uncommon, but some native spiders – such as the false widow spider – are capable of giving a nasty bite.”

If bitten, the NHS advises you to:

wash the affected area with soap and water
apply a cold compress to the swollen area for at least 10 minutes
avoid home remedies such as vinegar solutions or bicarbonate of soda.
Seek medical help immediately if you have any worrying symptoms after a bite.

How to keep spiders out of your home this spider season…

There are numerous made up remedies and unevidenced recommendations that can be found online. These are often a waste of your time and effort, and aren’t guaranteed to work. The most effective way to discourage spiders from your home is to plug in an ultrasonic repeller.

Ultrasound does not harm the spider, it simply causes discomfort through a high-frequency sound that is too high for human hearing. It won’t affect you but for the spider, we compare it to a constant smoke alarm going off – unpleasant and leaving them finding someone else’s home to crawl into. With an ultrasonic device, there is no need for dangerous poisons that could be harmful to pets or children. Our Whole House Advanced Spider Repellent combines ultrasonic frequency with electromagnetic waves, making it even more effective for stopping spiders invading your space.

“I love this product. Mine has worked perfectly for about 3 years now. Bought second one in case this one stops working. Never had any spiders up to now.” 5/5 star rating – Mrs S

“Huge spiders, the biggest I have ever seen, visited daily so I now use these plugs to help. 3 cats uneffected by them and spider numbers greatly reduced.” 5/5 star rating – Trusted Customer

Shop the spider repellent product range here.

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Evie works in the Primrose Marketing Team.
Growing up in the English countryside, she likes nothing more than to be surrounded by nature’s peace and quiet, with the addition of the family pets of course!
Evie is passionate about all things digital marketing and loves the challenge of combining creativity with online content.
When not at her desk, you’ll typically find her in the gym, posting on social media, or watching a popular series on Netflix!

See all of Evie’s posts.

Allotment, Evie, Gardening, Grow Your Own, How To

How To Store Apples This Harvest

Apple tree harvesting has begun! If you’re new to fruit trees, you may be feeling like a complete pomology beginner with far too many apples to know what to do with and not a clue how to store them. The best news is: you don’t have to eat them all now in a hurry or bulk bake enough apple pies to last all year. With the right storage method and environment, you can keep your apples fresh for up to six months or even longer.

To make the process of storing your apples easier, I’ve answered some popular apple storing FAQs below and provided some helpful tips to ensure that you get the most from your harvest this year.

Which apples store the best?

In terms of apple varieties, it is worth noting that thicker and harder skinned apples (e.g. Granny Smith or McIntosh) tend to last longer in storage than the thinner skinned varieties (e.g. Pink Lady). This is because softer skinned apples are at a greater risk of bruising, therefore making them quicker to rot in storage.

Should I wash apples before storing?

You do not need to wash apples before storing, unless they are dirty. In this case, be very gentle not to bruise the apple and ensure that it is completely dry before storing.

Careful handling is essential for the first stage of apple storing. When picking apples for storage, select the best example fruits. Be sure to use up any damaged apples in your cooking, and exclude them in your selection for storage. Bruised apples will spoil quickly and cause other apples to spoil too. It really is true what they say: “one bad apple spoils the barrel”.

Why does “one bad apple spoil the barrel”?

Apples have feelings… Just kidding – it’s actually the effect of ethylene gas. Apples naturally produce ethylene gas as they ripen, but if an apple is damaged in some way, it produces more ethylene gas than it would normally. Apples neighbouring the spoiled fruit are tricked into ripening at a more rapid rate than expected, causing them to over ripen and go rotten. If you’ve ever noticed your fruit bowl banana ripening at a much faster rate when it is placed next to an apple, then now you know why! It’s important not to store your apples in a close proximity to other stored fruit and vegetables, if you’d like them to last.

What are the best conditions to store apples?

For the best storing conditions, look for cooler temperatures that are slightly humid; dark or dim settings; and completely frost-free. If you have a garage or cellar, these are often ideal locations. Apples soften and change texture quickly when kept in ambient temperatures, so it’s best to keep them cool to maintain quality for a longer time period. Covering the apples will keep them out of direct sunlight and ensure a more consistent temperature.

How to prepare your apples for storage

Individually wrap each apple in newspaper to maximise storage life. Wrapping each apple will prevent contamination to others if they did spoil sooner than expected. It will also provide a layer of protection to prevent bruising when containers are moved around or accidentally knocked.

What is the best way to store apples?

Lay the apples in a single layer in a drawer, rack or stand. The Lacewing apple storage collection offers a variety of sizes and drawer capacities – ranging from one tray, up to a unit containing 13 drawers. Units including slotted drawers allow for easy access to your fruit or vegetables, and allow you to maximise on storage capacity in a practical manner. Allow air flow to your apples through slatted racks to keep them fresh and cool whilst in storage. Be sure to keep a check every now and again, removing any spoiled apples from the storage unit.

Most importantly, enjoy your freshly stored produce – even all the way through to winter!

Shop fruit storage and fruit presses now, or find out more information about apple trees and harvesting below.

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Evie works in the Primrose Marketing Team.
Growing up in the English countryside, she likes nothing more than to be surrounded by nature’s peace and quiet, with the addition of the family pets of course!
Evie is passionate about all things digital marketing and loves the challenge of combining creativity with online content.
When not at her desk, you’ll typically find her in the gym, posting on social media, or watching a popular series on Netflix!

See all of Evie’s posts.

Cats, Evie, Pest Advice, Pest Control

Cat Repellent That Works

Cats are great, there’s a reason why there are over 2 million cat videos on YouTube alone! What’s not so great for the neighbours of cats is when they foul in your garden, torment your family of guinea pigs, or attack that sweet little robin that you’ve been watching out the window. If this sounds familiar and you’d like to learn about our purrrr-fectly safe methods of deterring cats from trespassing in your garden, read on…

Are you fed up of worrying about what your neighbouring cat will leave behind after its next visit? Well, our first recommendation would be to prevent cats from entering your garden in the first place.

Prevention with Anti-Climb Strips

An affordable way to do this is to add in PestBye anti-climb strips to your garden walls and fences. These anti-climb strips are easily cut, bent, and attached with glue, nails or screws – making them super easy to install around your garden. Available in a range of colours, you can also disguise the anti-climb strips to match your fencing so that they don’t interfere with your garden decor or design.

These end-to-end strips work effectively to prevent cats from climbing or sitting on your wall, but don’t worry! The anti-climb strips only cause discomfort for the cat, not cuts, scratches, or wounds.

Protect Your Flower Beds With Deterrent Sprays

If you’re a keen gardener who spends time caring for and proudly designing your flower beds, a neighbouring cat can be quite a disappointment when it fouls on or rips apart your delightful display. A simple deterrent spray containing deterring natural oils could be the fast and easy solution that you have been looking for.

You can use the deterrent spray around your garden or allotment and it will not harm any animals or your plants. Cats (and dogs) will be off-put by the scent of the natural oil aromas and leave your vegetable patch or flower bed well and truly alone!

What Is The UK’s Best Selling Cat Deterrent?

Have you heard of ultrasonic frequency repellents?

These are our most effective solution for deterring cats from your garden. When triggered by a motion sensor, this type of repellent emits a high frequency sound that cannot be heard by human or bird hearing. Although the sound is rather annoying for your backyard trespassing cat, it will effectively prevent them from wanting to return to your garden.

As seen on The Alan Titchmarsh Show, the PestBye Battery Operated Cat Repeller has been proven effective with a high product rating of 4.4/5 by Primrose customers.

But hang on a moment, how long can you expect for this product to officially stop your cat problem? Typically, cats that visit your garden every now and again will be stopped within 7 days of the device being switched on. However, it may take between 14-28 days to break the habit of a regular visitor.

Shop the cat repellent range now, or find out more about how to keep cats out of your garden.

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Evie works in the Primrose Marketing Team.
Growing up in the English countryside, she likes nothing more than to be surrounded by nature’s peace and quiet, with the addition of the family pets of course!
Evie is passionate about all things digital marketing and loves the challenge of combining creativity with online content.
When not at her desk, you’ll typically find her in the gym, posting on social media, or watching a popular series on Netflix!

See all of Evie’s posts.

Bulbs, How To, Jorge, Planting, Plants

How To Plant Bulbs

To plant bulbs successfully, it’s important to plant at the right time and depth with the bulb the right way up. You can ensure showstopper blooms by fertilising when planting, and as long as there is vegetative growth in the growing season. Applying mulch in winter will help protect spring-flowering bulbs from frost injury.

When To Plant

If ordering online, plant as soon as you receive the bulb, or store in a dry, dark location if you can’t plant immediately. Leave a bulb unplanted and it may fail to flower or flower poorly. If you forget to plant, examine by touch, and discard soft or rotten bulbs. Others are worth a shot.

Generally, spring flowering bulbs need to be planted by the end of September, which will allow time for the bulb to root before the ground freezes. Tulips are planted in October and November, depending on whether you are in the North or South respectively, which helps reduce problems with disease.

Hardy summer flowering bulbs are to be planted in September and October, while tender summer flowering bulbs in early spring. Autumn flowering bulbs need to be planted by late summer.

Bulb	Season	Planting depth	Planting distance between bulbs	Position
Allium	Autumn	10cm (4″)	10cm (4″)	Full sun
Begonia	Spring	1cm (1/2″)	30cm (12″)	Full sun, semi shade, dappled shade
Crocus	Autumn	10cm (4″)	7cm (3″)	Full sun, semi shade
Daffodil	Autumn	10cm (4″)	10cm (4″)	Full sun, semi shade
Dahlia	Spring	15cm (6″)	45cm (18″)	Full sun
Bluebell	Spring/Autumn	10cm (4″)	10cm (4″)	Dappled shade
Gladiolus	Spring	10cm (4″)	15cm (6″)	Full sun
Hyacinth	Autumn	10cm (4″)	8cm (3″)	Full sun, semi shade
Iris reticulata	Autumn	10cm (4″)	8cm (3″)	Full sun
Lily	Autumn	20cm (8″)	15cm (6″)	Full sun, semi shade
Narcissus	Autumn	10cm (4″)	10cm (4″)	Full sun, semi shade
Ponerorchis	Spring	2.5cm (1″)	7cm (3″)	Dappled shade
Ranunculus	Autumn	8cm (3″)	25cm (10″)	Full sun
Snowdrop	Spring/Autumn	10cm (4″)	10cm (4″)	Dappled shade
Tree Lily	Autumn	20cm (8″)	15cm (6″)	Full sun, semi shade
Tulip	Autumn	15cm (6″)	13cm (5″)	Full sun
White Egret Orchid	Spring	2.5cm (1″)	7cm (3″)	Dappled shade
Winter Aconite	Autumn	5cm (2″)	5cm (2″)	Full sun, semi shade, dappled shade

Position

As always it’s best to look at a species habitat and flowering time when deciding where to plant. Early spring bulbs such as snowdrops are used to harsh conditions, and will thrive in cold pockets. Forest dwelling species such as the bluebell are used to dappled shade, and will thrive under any deciduous tree. More exotic species such as dahlia, originating from Mexico, are suited to full sun.

It’s not the end of the world if you plant in a sub-optimal location as bulbs are a storage organ and the plant already has a large reserve of energy. Bulbs rarely thrive in deep shade and output will be poor in the second year after planting.

It’s possible that southern exposure can lead to early emergence and freezing injury. You can moderate temperature extremes by applying 3 inches of mulch after the first frost. This will help prevent injury from the constant cycle of frost and thaw. Remove the mulch if you think the shoots can’t penetrate it easily.

Mulch will help protect bulbs from frost injury.

Soil Type

The key message is to avoid waterlogged soils, which can starve a bulb of oxygen, causing them to rot. Clay soils usually have poor drainage, and can be improved by adding organic mulch. Ensure you don’t compact the soil, but firm with the back of a rake.

Right-side Up

Most bulbs have a tip, which should be pointing upwards when planted. Some will arrive with roots on the bottom, opposite to the tip. Begonia bulbs do not have a sharp point, but you can sometimes detect the tip emerging out of the concave (indented) side.

Planting Depth & Distance

A general rule of thumb is that bulbs can be planted three times their height, although begonias are an exception to this.

Bulbs in containers can be spaced a bulb width apart. In the ground, 2-4 inches is common for small and 8 inches for large bulbs.

Apply phosphorus when planting as it doesn’t travel well in the soil. This essential nutrient helps with root growth.

Aftercare

Water immediately after planting, unless you are planting in autumn and the ground is already wet.

Sometimes, small mammals will dig up bulbs, but this can be prevented with wire mesh.

Plants in containers are vulnerable to drought and under fertilisation, so water and feed regularly once the growing season starts.

As nutrients are absorbed through roots, it’s important nutrients reach the depth the roots are located. Liquid fertiliser will penetrate the soil, and can remedy deficiencies quickly, but is liable to leeching. Other inorganic fertilisers will fertilise the soil over time, so need to be applied in advance. Organic fertiliser takes far longer as it’s insoluble and first needs to be broken down by microorganisms, before becoming available for uptake by plants.

Removing seed pods, but maintaining foliage, allows a plant to put more energy into its bulb, for larger blooms thereafter. Watering and feeding will help with this. Remove foliage once it yellows.

After this, bulbs can be lifted, sorted, washed, left to dry and then stored in a cool, dry, airy place. Small, rotten or diseased bulbs are best thrown.

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Jorge works in the Primrose marketing team. He is an avid reader, although struggles to stick to one topic!
His ideal afternoon would involve a long walk, before settling down for scones.
Jorge is a journeyman gardener with experience in growing crops.

See all of Jorge’s posts.