Seyrico Horticulture is based in The United Kingdom and specializes in offering for the UK only, a fast, value for money, Professional standard, Soil Testing Service through Online Ordering. Also Lawn Care Advice, Local Lawn Care Services, and Free Gardening Advice by Email or Incoming phone call. SEE THE NEW GARDEN GALLERY
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This page was last updated: July 3, 2008
Seyrico Horticulture is the gardening division of SeyricoTrading. Proprietor: Colin Seymour (sole trader). Seyrico Horticulture works in association with others in the Horticulture trade to provide the information, products and services offered. 28 years experience in Horticulture.
Seyrico Trading Est'd 2005. Seyrico Horticulture Est'd 2007
+44 (0)1738 560688
+44 (0)790 4462587
office hours
9.00am to 11.00pm
GMT +1
7 days a week
SEYRICO HORTICULTURE. PERTH. SCOTLAND. UNITED KINGDOM. PHONE 01738 560688. MOBILE 07904462587. EMAIL admin@seyrico.com
order SOIL TEST by
NOCHEX FAST CHECKOUT
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HOW TO ORDER A SEYRICO HORTICULTURE
1. Have your debit or credit card ready and click on the Nochex logo on the right. This is a safe and secure encrypted checkout.
2. Make payment to admin@seyrico.com (this line is prefilled). Type the total you are paying into the next box. In the 'Further instructions' box, type 'Soil Test' and any other instructions that are relevant.
3. Click on the 'Make Payment Tab. A form appears for your card details and the address the card is registered to. (For security reasons the Name and Address the card is registered to is the only Name and Address the Soil Test Package can be sent to. This is now normal practice for online ordering and helps to ensure that the card is not being misused.)
4. For a multiple sample discount, email 'Admin' at the address admin@seyrico.com to find out how much discount can be offered, before going through the checkout.
5. When 'checkout' has been completed you will receive, within a few days, a package including, instructions, bag, labels and pre paid return envelope.
6. Return your soil sample(s) as soon as your'e ready. Once received the soil is queued and tested in turn, but usually within a few days. An email showing the test results is then sent to you straight away.
7. A full printed and detailed report is then produced for you, and posted to your address. The whole soil testing process from making payment to receiving your printed report is normally complete within two weeks, if your send your sample(s) back immediately.
8. Special arrangements and alternative methods of payment can be requested by emailing admin@seyrico.com
The soil testing service as shown is for the UK only. Soil originating from overseas must be sent from within the UK after careful screening and with a UK address.
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FREE GARDENING ADVICE FROM
SEYRICO HORTICULTURE
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SEYRICO HORTICULTURE'S GARDENING TIPS (Ref SHGT No10.07)
Seed Sowing
Seeds in Seed Trays
Before sowing any seeds into the trays, give the trays a good wash, if they have been used before. There is no sense in transfering last seasons diseases over to this years seedlings. Trays may be of wood or plastic. Some gardeners like to think that wood is best, but in reality, the seedlings can't tell the difference. A standard or half size tray of the usual depth is perfect for most seeds. For larger seeds like Runner Beans, it is better to use small pots or modules.
The type of compost chosen should be dependant on the size of seed being sown. Very small seed requires a finer grade compost. Even if it means giving the surface of the compost a few mm's through the flour sieve. There is no point sowing seed the size of dust onto a coarse chunky Bark Multi Purpose, only to have it all disappear down the gaps. Larger seed will be very happy in such compost however, and where appropriate a coarser compost is preferable, as it is better airated and therefore better drained.
When filling a tray, loosely fill to above the rim and then strike off with a flat piece of wood. Firm the corners with fingers ( because it always sinks in the corners) add a little more compost, again to above rim level and then strike off to rim level. With a suitable piece of flat wood (ideally made for the purpose, with a handle on the top and exactly seed tray size) firm the compost evenly so it is depressed by approximately 5 to 10 mm. Do NOT water the compost before sowing. After sowing, give a light sprinkle with a fine rosed can. If recommended cover with a sheet of glass, and also a newspaper or similar if dark is required.
Whether seeds are covered, and to what depth is dependant on the seed. A covering 4 times the diameter of the seed is a good guide. Some seeds require light to germinate and others require dark. Sowing instructions on the packets or in the catalogue will give the appropriate advice. Placing over some bottom heat will give quicker, and more reliable germination. 20c is enough.
Always sow thinly, even if this means using an extra tray. Thinly means the seed should not be touching. give each seed a bit of space around it. The amount of space will depend on the size of the seed. Use your judgement. Not only does this produce better seedlings, it makes pricking out a far less precise and tedious task. It also allows for some delay, should that happen. Sow thickly and you will not be able to put the pricking out off until the following week.
The following types of compost are recommended :-
Tiny Seed - Fine grade, Peat based, Seed and Cutting Compost
Small Seed - Peat based-Multi Purpose or John Innes-Seed and Cutting
Medium Seed - As Small Seed, also Bark based-Multi Purpose Compost.
Medium to Large Seed - Bark-Multi Purpose, Peat-Multi Purpose, JI No1
Large to Very large Seed - As medium to large seed.
For Pricking out - Peat or Bark-based Multi Purpose or John Innes No1
Seeds in open ground drills
Sowing into open ground can begin in April. It isn't often the case that the soil will be suitable for outdoor sowing in March, even though advice in Gardening books etc often recommends outdoor sowing then. It may be possible in very mild areas, but in most areas of UK, April is more realistic.
The soil preferably will have been dug well in advance of sowing and left to settle. At sowing time apply whatever fertilizer is appropriate and work it well into the top 5 to 10cm with a 3 or 5 pronged cultivator. At the same time this cultivating will break the lumps down.
To firm the soil and break down lumps still further, the ground should be trod. Work either up and down the plot, or go round and round, ending up in the middle. Keep feet together and shuffle along rather than stamp the feet.
The next task is to rake the soil to a fine tilth. Use a wide wooden rake. the type which has a line of pegs about 4cm apart. These rakes are light and easy to use. Move over the soil in a back and forth motion to seperate the stones from the soil. The only heaps being barrowed away from the plot should be stones and any debris that was left. Anyone ending up with heaps of good soil and heaps of soil lumps, is doing it wrong. Narrow metal rakes are heavy and difficult to use precisely. They are best used just for very firm seedbeds needing a very fine tilth. They tend to go too far in, and rake off the good soil as well, unless the user is highly skilled at raking the wooden type is better.
The best conditions for treading and raking is on the day after some light rain. Just enough to leave the soil slightly moist. It is almost impossible to tread and rake a bed to a fine tilth if the soil has been baked hard by hot dry weather. Neither is it possible on soil which is like a bog. The timing really is important.
When sowing in drills a garden line which can be pulled taught is the best guide to drawing out a straight drill. Short drills of less than about 2 mtrs can be drawn against a straight plank of wood or a cane. Another good way is to lay a broom handle (without its brush attached) down and tread along it, to make a neat depression. The plants will not mind if the drills are perfectly straight or not, but it certainly does look better if they are. It also makes managing the rows easier. Messy untidy gardening reflects badly on the Gardener, even if the Gardener is an expert in all other respects.
Broadcast sowing which is occasionally recommended by Garden Writers is best avoided. It is seen as a way of making the most use of available space, but can be a nightmare to manage. Anyone who has tried this method will know that it is impossible to seperate the weeds from the plants (assuming the gardener can tell which is which) Hoeing is not possible either, and also if a large area is broadcast sown, then there will not be anywhere to walk. In drills you know what is what and where it is. walking between rows is easy and hoeing can be carried out with no difficulty.
To backfill the drills the best way is to use the feet, heals together and toes at 11.05 on the clockface. Carefully going left forward, then right forward along the row will fill the drills and leave a slight ridge. This ridge can then be tamped down with the back of a metal rake to firm the seeds in and mark where they are. It's quite skilled, and beginners and the less confident can always fill in drills with a mix of sieved soil and multi purpose compost. Adding perlite to this mix is a good idea, as it serves as a marker for the rows. After filling tamp down with the back of a rake in just the same way.
If required give the newly sown rows a watering with a fine rosed can. Protect from Birds or Cats or any other seedbed nuisense, if they are known to be a problem.
TO READ MY GARDENING TIPS, SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE.
I hope you find them useful
Colin
Advice is offered unconditionally for free, however anyone wishing to make a donation can do so through the Nochex checkout. Idendify your payment 'donation'. Send only what you can comfortably afford. It will be gratefully received.
SEYRICO HORTICULTURE'S GARDENING TIPS (Ref SHGT No09.07)
Soil Preparation for Vegetable Gardens
It cannot be stressed enough just how important good thorough soil preparation is. No dig gardening has been promoted by some people, but for the most of us the only way to do gardening properly is by digging the soil.
Autumn and Winter is the best time if possible. The vegetables that crop throughout the Winter and Spring, and even into early Summer do get in the way of proceedings, but we can't complain, as the vegetable garden is there to provide us with vegetables all the year.
Where long term crops prevent us from Winter digging then we just have to do it when the crop is cleared. It is not ideal, but neither is it such a problem. Just fork over the area when the crop is cleared in the Spring or Summer and plant or sow the next crop.
Autumn and Winter digging does provide the best chance for some really good serious digging. A time to double dig where needed and to get the manure or compost in well in advance of sowing and planting.
Even though it is important to do the job right and keep the ground level, there is no need to break down the soil. far better to use a spade and leave the ground lumpy. Winter weather will have a greater surface area to work on this way and in the Spring the soil can be knocked down to a tilth, without any need for more forking.
Where Lime is required to raise the pH then Autumn is the best time. After digging, spread the lime over and leave on the surface to wash in. Lime only ground which is not having manure added. It is important not to mix the two.
