The Start of Autumn


GET SMART ABOUT YOUR ENERGY USE THIS SUMMER


Cardiff-based Smart Energy Export, Owen Evans, from British Gas, provides his energy-saving tips to help families make the most of the summer, come rain or shine. DIY


Summer is drawing to a close and Autumn is just around the corner – what a perfect time to think about planting – the soil is warm and the Autumn rains will get plants established before the Winter sets in. It’s also a good time to take stock of your garden and think about any changes or plans you want to make. Keeping colour in borders for as long as possible is top of the ‘to do’ list for September, so you may like to consider incorporating late Summer or Autumn fl owering plants such the Aster. The name Aster comes from the ancient Greek word for ‘star’, although they are often referred to as Michaelmas daisies because of their typical fl owering period in the Autumn.


Asters come in blue, purple, red,


pink and white each with a yellow centre. There are numerous varieties of Aster, from dwarfs that measure less than a foot to tall versions that can reach up to eight feet. All varieties make for good cut fl owers and are easy plants for beginners to try in the garden. They thrive well in drained, fertile soil that retains moisture and prefer full sun or partial shade.


It’s also the time of year that nurseries and garden centres have great offers on big bags of mixed Daffodil bulbs, in all shapes and sizes. They can grow pretty much anywhere, even through the lawn. The easiest way to work out how deep to plant your bulb is to dig down approximately three times the depth of the bulb – but be warned, if you plant Daffodils too close to the surface they often won’t fl ower. You can plant Daffodils, and Crocuses, from September to October – as many as you can get into the ground or in containers. Once planted you need do nothing else to them other than wait for a stunning show in the Spring. If you’re planting in lawns, cut out three sides of a square and lift back the turf, put in a few bulbs and then fi rm the turf back again. As it’s bulb season, you could also plant hyacinth bulbs in pots, by mid-September, so that you have a glorious Christmas display. Once the hyacinths are planted in a pot, put in a dark cool place (a garage or shed) for 10-12 weeks and then bring out into the light so fl owering can start.


September is when autumn begins to creep into your garden, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to let it all go to seed – keep busy with the following jobs …. • Look after your lawn – weed it and seed it • Pick and harvest summer fruits • Bring tender houseplants inside • Continue to sow vegetables • Clear out the greenhouse


• Collect and sow seeds gathered from plants in the garden


• Plant spring fl owering bulbs


National Garden Gift Vouchers can be bought and redeemed at over 2,000 outlets in the UK, with more than 90,000 garden plants and products on offer. Visit www.thevouchergarden.co.uk to view details of all the outlets that sell and accept them or call 0870 2408237 for more information. You can also buy them online.


www.cardiffandsouthwalesadvertiser.com


“Thinking of doing a spot of DIY over the summer? Making your home more energy effi cient is easier than you think, with lots of small changes you can make. For example, swapping your lightbulbs to energy saving bulbs will help you use less energy, and they last longer, too. “Now we’re into the warmer weather, it’s also a good time to do those jobs you’ve been putting off. Clearing your gutters of sticks and leaves ensures they can take water away from your home effectively, which prevents damp. It’s also a good time to think about your loft insulation. Having a well-insulated house keeps your home cooler in summer as well as warmer in winter.” COOKING “If you’re planning on cooking some big family meals, use the kettle to boil water for your pans as it uses less energy than heating it up on the hob. If you’re using the oven, you can also turn it off a couple of minutes before your food has fi nished cooking – ovens stay warm for a long time so the food will continue to cook for a few minutes. “Another good tip for saving energy in the kitchen is not putting hot leftover food in the fridge. This wastes energy as your fridge has to work extra hard, so let food cool naturally fi rst. ENTERTAINING THE KIDS “Don’t let the school holidays be an excuse for the kids to sit on their games console or in front of the TV. Save power by dusting off that old board game that’s been sat in the back of your cupboard. It gets the whole family together and uses no energy. Win, win! “If your family is like mine, there are always lots of


TVs, computers and tablets on in different rooms of the house. Agree on a programme you can all watch together – and give the other gadgets a rest!


HOUSEHOLD JOBS “Drying your laundry outside is a great way to save energy while the sun is shining. But you can also reduce your energy use when washing your clothes. “Always try and do full loads rather than only half fi lling the machine, and using a cool or eco-function will also help to reduce energy. “Defrosting your freezer is another good job to do while it’s warm. It stops ice building up so it runs more effi ciently. Also, try and position your fridge and freezer so they aren’t next to your (hot!) oven. SMART METERS “Having a smart meter installed can help you keep your energy in check. They automatically send readings to your energy supplier which means you don’t have to. “Smart meters also come with a smart energy monitor that shows you how much energy is being used, in pounds and pence, in near real-time, helping to put you in control of your energy.” Join the millions of people already enjoying the benefi ts of smart meters. To fi nd out more visit: www. britishgas.co.uk/smart


Cardiff Metropolitan University Shortlisted for Food Made Good Awards 2017


Cardiff Met Catering team is among three businesses shortlisted for the Feed People Well category at the Food Made Good Awards 2017, the Sustainable Restaurant Association’s (SRA) annual industry leading accolades. The award is one of 17 that will be presented by SRA President Raymond Blanc and Vice President Prue Leith, at a special ceremony on 5 October at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Lindley Hall. Andrew Phelps, Head of Catering at Cardiff Met, said: “We are delighted to nominated for a Good Food Award. The nomination is great credit to the catering team at Cardiff Met for all their hard work this last year and the promotion of healthy eating on campus through the Eatwell food


range.” The Food Made Good Awards


recognise


restaurants and food service businesses whose


extraordinary


accomplishments in the last year have driven progress in the industry and demonstrated that all food can be made


delicious, ethical and sustainable. There are a number of new categories for 2017, including the Good To Go Award which will be presented in partnership with Just Eat. There’s also an award for the new kids on the block; the Open Right award will be


presented to the business which has opened a site in the last 18 months with sustainability built in. Voting for The People’s Favourite


Restaurant


which is the only award decided by the public, is currently taking place at www.deliciousmagazine. co.uk.


Cardiff & South Wales Advertiser – Friday 1st September 2017 - 21


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