I’m a Gardening pro – 10 ways you can break the law in your outside space

Three winners will get one box of Nemoslug, one Fruit and Veg, one Leatherjackets, one Ants and one Vine Weevil – in a prize totalling £69.95. Here’s a few helpful tips to keep you on the right side of the lawn – just make sure you check your local regulations.

Trampolines can be an invasion of privacy - be careful where you place them.
Trampolines can be an invasion of privacy – be careful where you place them.Credit: Getty
Ponds can cause problems too
Ponds can cause problems tooCredit: Getty

This annual event supports the charitable work of London Parks and Gardens to protect the capital’s city parks. He added: “There are also regulations on how high treehouses can be, how close they are to boundaries and other properties, and whether they will cause any damage to trees.”Trampolines should not be placed anywhere that people using them can see into neighbours’ gardens or homes when they are bouncing – that is because it is an invasion of privacy.
Or try the Argos version for just £35.Visit https://londongardenstrust.org/log2024 for more information. The Downing Street ballot is open until midnight on May 7th“It all depends on the size of your pond, but larger ones with deep excavation may need permission. You also need to consider how close to a boundary or other building your water feature is.”The theme for the 2024 National Gardening Week –  which starts on Monday through to Friday, is ‘Knowledge is Flower.’Tickets  for two tours on June 8 at Downing Street, as well as various other gardens in London, will be issued through a random public ballot system.

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Q. We have lots of Camelia blooms but they are now turning brown,what can be causing this? John Odell, via email.
And never, ever, remove an active bird’s nest.

Quick and easy ways to get rid of slugs and snails in your garden

Time to deadhead your tulips.PROTECT your precious plants with a collection of beneficial nematodes from Nemasys.

Allan Jeffrey from Ultra Decking has lots of advice on law breaking in your garden
Allan Jeffrey from Ultra Decking has lots of advice on law breaking in your gardenCredit: supplied

FLOWER POWER

“Garden buildings can transform your space but certain areas have restrictions on the size and location of these buildings – so check before you build.Leave them to die back naturally to give them more of chance of returning next year – and you can give them a cheeky feed with something like Tomorite to help them for next year. Now is a good time to paint your fence – and black or dark grey is the new trend.All week, experts at the RHS will be on hand myth-busting, debunking and demystifying the wonderful world of gardening.The British Beekeepers Association has launched an app to help track the dangerous yellow-legged Asian Hornet wreaking havoc across Britain. Download the Asian Hornet Watch app to report sightings. Visit www.bbka.org.uk for more information

Glow up your garden with tons of RHS advice in National Gardening Week
Glow up your garden with tons of RHS advice in National Gardening WeekCredit: Getty

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

It’s a criminal offence to allow a non-native invasive species to spread into the wild – which carries penalties of hefty fines.It really invigorates the wood and makes your flower colours pop.But if you haven’t seen any of that recently, it may be due to underwatering when the buds were forming – make sure they get plenty of water in late Summer and early Spring. Or write to Sun Nemasys competition, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP.

This is Downing Street gardens.
This is Downing Street gardens.Credit: Alamy

TRACK THE KILLER HORNET

If a window has received light for more than 20 years then it is against the Rights of Light Act to plant a tree and block it.

Yellow legged hornets decimate bee populations and a real menace to nature
Yellow legged hornets decimate bee populations and a real menace to natureCredit: Getty

THIS WEEK’S JOB

For extra details and to enter, visit www.thesun.co.uk/NEMASYS or fill in this FORMGet your hedges in order (first checking for birds nests) with this swanky Stiga hedge trimmer for £169If its flecks of brown it could be Camelia Flower blight or grey mould.

Tulips can look quite battered by now, but a bit of help will bring them back next year
Tulips can look quite battered by now, but a bit of help will bring them back next yearCredit: Getty

THIS WEEK’S TIP

From how to avoid common pitfalls with your plants, to dig or not to dig, fertilise or not fertilise and whether vinegar makes good weedkiller – the RHS has it covered.I’ve also discovered planning permission is needed if you wish to erect or add to a fence, wall or gate where: it would be over one metre high and fronting a road used by vehicles, or over two metres high elsewhere.

Painting your fence black can really transform your garden.
Painting your fence black can really transform your garden.Credit: Alamy

SAVE!

A. Usually frost is the culprit – especially if it’s followed by direct early morning Sun.

This Stiga hedge cutter is battery powered and perfect for tackling tricky hedges
This Stiga hedge cutter is battery powered and perfect for tackling tricky hedgesCredit: Stiga

THE Prime Minister’s garden at Downing Street will join over 100 unique places, not normally open to the public, taking part in London Open Gardens weekend on June 8 and 9th.

This Argos hedge cutter is a steal at just £35
This Argos hedge cutter is a steal at just £35Credit: Argos

WIN!

Any sign of Japanese Knotweed and it will affect the sale of your house and your mortgage. And there’s a ban on growing giant hogweed, Green Alkanet, Broad Leaf Dock, Rhododendron Ponticon and Himalayan Balsam.
Make sure you dispose of the fallen blooms, don’t compost them. For more information on events, and ideas on what you can do at home, visit www.rhs.org.uk/get-involved/national-gardening-weekYou can be fined hundreds to thousands of pounds, and even be told to rip down your latest installation if it breaks planning laws.Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Ends 23.59GMT 11.05.24. Full T&C’s HERE

This Nemasys Nematode collection should see the end of slugs in your garden
This Nemasys Nematode collection should see the end of slugs in your gardenCredit: supplied

LEARN!!

The week begins with the RHS Big Seed Sow where thousands of packets of free seeds will be on offer with tips on how to grow them, and with experts, friends and show-class growers sharing their top tips and myths throughout the rest of the week. Simply nip off the seedhead in order to save the plants energy. IT’S around now that a lot of gardeners are planning big changes to their outside spaces.

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Gardening expert Allan Jeffrey at Ultra Decking told me: “If your decking is higher than 30cm above ground or covers more than 50 percent of your total garden space, it’s likely that you need planning permission.But did you know that there’s laws, rules and regulations around what you can and cannot have outside?

Camelia's can go brown if they haven't been watered while the buds were forming
Camelia’s can go brown if they haven’t been watered while the buds were formingCredit: Alamy

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