Mowdirect Blog

Hover mowers made to tackle steep banks and ditches

A Country Gardener — Thu, 17 May 2012 06:00:50 +0000

When it comes to steep banks and difficult rougher areas the only machine that can cope is a hover mower.
And among the world’s best are those from Toro used by professionals to cope with difficult areas where ordinary mowers can’t cope.

Toro Hover Pro 400

The Toro HoverPro 400 Petrol Hover Lawn Mower is engineered to float on a cushion of air to cope with banks and ditches.
It has a 14 in impellor powered by a 57 cc Honda engine. The deck is made of a polymer which will not rust and will absorb minor impacts rather than break.
It has a nylon wire cutting system and the cutting height can be adjusted between 18 and 30 mm to suit most gardeners’ demands.
There is an optional high rise kit for more challenging tasks.
It costs £429, £50 less than the manufacturer’s recommended price, there is a two year manufacturer’s guarantee and it is delivered free the next working day.

Toro Hover Pro 450

The Toro HoverPro 450 Petrol Hover Lawn Mower has a powerful Honda 4-stroke engine which will give plenty of power.
The impellor makes it light and easy to use and will also mulch the cut grass.
It is designed for a long life with anti-vibration protection built in.
It is lightweight with a long handlebar so you can reach the difficult parts on banks and ditches.
It has three adjustable working heights and a transport wheel will make it easy to move around
It costs £449, £50 less than the maker’s recommended price and a high-rise kit is also available for longer grass.
Delivery is free the next working day and there is a two year manufacturer’s guarantee.

Toro Hover Pro 550

But if you are looking for a real professional grade machine then the Toro HoverPro 550 Petrol Hover Lawn Mower is the one for you as it will tackle the most demanding conditions and tasks.
It has a 5.5 hp Honda 4-stroke engine which makes it easy to start and advanced engine lubrication protects it from excessive wear.
This machine has a 53 cm metal blade to give a good clean cut and a neat finish.
With strong steel handlebars and a polymer deck to absorb impact and resist rust, it is easy to use for longer periods
Three cutting height options are available and you can buy a handlebar extension, high rise kit and transport wheel.
This machine costs £519 and that’s £50 less than the manufacturer’s price. There is free next working day delivery and a two year manufacturer’s warranty.

Brits ‘will spend more on their gardens in 2012′

Sales Team — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:56:29 +0000

| More

New research from HSBC reveals that Brits expect to spend more money on garden tools this year than they usually would. The Gardens Survey – which the banking firm conducts every year ahead of the Chelsea Flower Show – specifies that the national spend is set to hit £3.9 billion. This trend is attributed to Read more ...

Allett lawnmowers for a traditional look to the British lawns

A Country Gardener — Wed, 16 May 2012 06:00:31 +0000

The chattering Allett mower moving across beautifully manicured lawns in front of a country house symbolises a true British sight and sound.
Allett have a wide range of mowers to suit every need from smaller town gardens up to the rolling lawns of larger estates.
British made, green and gold livery and delivering a cut second to none they are an absolute must for a traditional striped finish.

Allett electric cylinder mower

The Allett Classic 12E Electric Cylinder Lawn Mower is for smaller lawns and has a dial to control the cutting heights from 32 mm right down to a really short 6 mm.
The 230 volt electric motor has lots of power but is plenty strong enough and needless to say very quiet in running.
The rear steel roller will give that perfect striped finish and there is a 32 litre grass box.
It has 22.5 metres of cable and is very light to use – total weight is only 22.5 kg.
The cutting cylinder can be easily replaced with a scarifying cassette so you can keep the dead grasses and moss to a minimum.
This cassette costs £104.50 and the mower itself is £309.
Delivery is free the next working day and there is a one year manufacturer’s guarantee

Allett classic cylinder mower

The company makes a wide range of petrol powered mowers and the Allett Classic 17L Petrol Cylinder Lawn Mower has a reliable 87 cc engine which is ideal for perfect for lawns up to a quarter of a hectare.
It has six cutting heights right down to 6mm and works without scalping the lawn. This is the height you would expect on a bowling green or cricket pitch.
The mower is propelled by the rear rollers leaving the wonderful traditional striped finish.
It has a 17 in cutting width and a grassbox which can take 40 litres.
The handlebars are adjustable to make it more comfortable to use.
Again there is a scarifying cassette available to keep the lawn in top notch condition and this costs £142.50.
The mower itself costs £615, there is a one year maker’s guarantee and delivery is free the next working day.

Allett Buckingham Cylinder Mower

But if you have large lawns to mow, say for a large country house or playing fields and cricket pitches, then the Allett Buckingham 30H Petrol Cylinder Lawn Mower is one for your shortlist.
Allett’s Buckingham range are truly magnificent machines, the sort you often see chattering across country estate lawns.
It has a 196 cc engine and a 3.1 litre fuel tank to allow for longer periods of use.
The front roller is zinc plated to keep the machine level and true, then comes a rake to remove thatched grasses and moss and lift the grass for a better cut.
The rear roller is in three sections with bonded rubber covering and provides excellent traction.
The cutting width is adjustable from 5mm to 35 mm and the grassbox can hold 118 litres of clippings.
There is a trailing seat available for £519 so you can mow in comfort if you have large grounds to care for.
The mower costs £2915, there is a one year manufacturer’s warranty and delivery is free the next working day.

Mountfield lawnmowers at very special prices

A Country Gardener — Mon, 14 May 2012 06:00:27 +0000

That odd yellow thing in the sky at the weekend has certainly made the grass grow quickly and many of you will have realised that what you really need is a new lawn mower.
We have a special relationship with Mountfield, as we are their official on-line partner able to secure some excellent deals.
So here are three from our web pages which you should consider.

Mountfield SP536 lawnmower

The first, the Mountfield SP536 Self-propelled Petrol Lawn Mower is an exclusive special offer, in fact we don’t think you will be able to beat it for its really high specifications at this price.
It has a cutting width of 51 cm and a 160 cc easy to start engine which uses very little fuel.
There is a 60 litre grass box and cutting heights between 25 and 75 mm so you can mow smooth lawns and tackle the rougher grassy areas.
Large ball bearing mounted wheels help you move around more easily and the steel deck is powder coated for a longer life.
You would normally expect to pay £449 for this machine, but we have it for sale for £299, an exceptional price for such a high quality machine.
It has a two year manufacturer’s warranty and comes delivered free the next working day.

Mountfield SP465R lawnmower

Another mower at a great price is the Mountfield SP465 Power Driven Petrol Lawn Mower.
This machine has a powerful 135 cc Honda engine, one which has a high reputation for reliability and for being fuel efficient and easy to start.
The steel chassis means it will have a long life and there are six cutting heights from 25 to 75 mm. Cutting width is 46 cm making it ideal for a medium sized lawn.
As an added feature it has a dead man’s handle device for stopping quickly.
This machine is product tested before despatch and there is a £40 reduction on the manufacturer’s recommended price of £539.

Mountfield SP505 lawnmower

But if you have more challenging tasks have a look at the Mountfield SP505 Power Driven Combi Lawn Mower with a Honda engine.
This is a truly rugged machine and offers you the option of collecting the grass in a 70 litre grass box, mulching it or discharging it at the back.
The Honda engine is very easy to start and very reliable. And the 48 cm cutting width makes it ideal to tackle larger lawns.
It has nine cutting height options and there is an aluminium deck which has a 20 year guarantee against corrosion.
This mower has a two year manufacturer’s warranty and is delivered free the next working day.
It costs £400, and that’s £60 less than the maker’s recommended retail price.

Great value for money garden tractor attachments

A Country Gardener — Mon, 14 May 2012 06:00:21 +0000

Garden tractors have a hundred and one uses throughout the whole year and we have a range of attachments at great prices to make best use of the this valuable machine throughout the whole year.

Garden trailer

The first you will want to buy will be a really good trailer to tow around the garden during the year.
The MD 272PT Tow/Push Dump Cart is currently on special offer and can be used with any make of garden tractor and comes with a hitch pin.
It has a polypropylene body and can be used around the garden for carting loads of wood, manure, waste to the compost heap, gravel, earth, almost anything.
It has large wheels and a strong axle and can carry loads of 500 lb. Internal measurements are 30.5 in by 41 in long.
It can be easily pushed around as it is light and easy to handle.
This trailer is currently on special offer at £129 – you would normally expect to pay £199 for a trailer like this.
Delivery is free the next working day and there is a two year manufacturer’s warranty.

MD towed lawn roller

Another great attachment especially useful at the moment that the lawns are damp is a garden roller.
Our own MD 36T steel towed lawn roller is another great attachment from the MD range ideal for flattening down established lawns or levelling newly laid turf.
It has a width of 36 in and will give a really impressive finish. It comes with a pin and hitch and is suitable for any make of garden tractor.
It comes with free next working day delivery and a two year manufacturer’s warranty.
The cost is just £139 compared with the maker’s recommended price of £229.
With the leaves only just forming on many of the trees a leaf sweeper may not be the top of your mind but the sweeper will save you a lot of back breaking work in the autumn.

Tow behind leaf sweeper

The MD 48T Tow-behind Leaf Sweeper is another top machine in the MD range and is easily fitted to any lawn tractor.
It has been designed to work on more or less any surface so as well as cleaning leaves from the lawn it can give a spring clean to barns, parking areas or shingle.
It is simple to change the working height of the machine to take account of this. The working diameter of the brushes is 25 cm and the working width is 122 cm.
This great little attachment can easily deal with larger areas of more than two acres and has a collection box of 500 litres and there is a simple lever to pull while still seated to empty it.
Big wheels mean it can handle rougher areas.
The special price for this really handy machine is just £219, there is free next working day delivery and it comes with a two year manufacturer’s guarantee.

Towable broadcast spreader

You’ll need to keep your grounds healthy and looking their best and this is where the MD 80T Towable Broadcast Spreader comes into its own.
The hopper can hold 29 litres and has an even spreading width of 3 to 3.6 metres.
You can adjust the rate of spread via a lever which you can use from the seat of your lawn tractor.
Solidly built with a steel frame and polypropylene hopper it has a rain proof cover which fits over the cover.
As well as seed and fertilizer it can also spread salt melt and grit.
This very handy little attachment is only £79.95, comes with free next working day delivery and a two year manufacturer’s warranty.
And another really handy attachment is the MD 40T Tow-Behind Dethatching Rake to remove the rubbish from your lawn.
This keeps your lawn healthy and promotes fresh growth. It is 40 in wide and has 20 steel spring tines.
This really handy machine costs £69.95 including free next working day delivery and a two year manufacturer’s guarantee.

Gardening can get kids eating healthy foods

Sales Team — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:40:38 +0000

' class='alignleft' />Encouraging kids to reach for the garden tools on the weekend can have a huge number of benefits for them.

Not only will it allow them to get plenty of exercises and fill their lungs with fresh air – it will also teach them numerous lessons about food.

In fact, cultivating a veg patch can get children eating more healthily.

Speaking to the Denver Post, Mike Ferraro, an expert in getting children into the garden, said: "If a child grows herbs or vegetables, they will try them at least once."

"When they're done, [they'll be] so proud of [what they have grown] they [will] want to eat it," he told the news provider.
And a vegetable patch doesn't even need to take up that much space.

According to Tim Rumball, editor of Amateur Gardening magazine, growing veg can easily be combined with the cultivation of other plants and flowers.

Gardening in a small space also makes the process infinitely cheaper.

Ten top ride-on mowers and garden tractors to suit all types of challenges

A Country Gardener — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:03:36 +0000

This is the time of year when lawn and garden tractors really come into their own as the grass is growing quickly and there are a host of jobs to be done in all quarters.
For many of you, a ride-on mower with a rear engine is quite sufficient to cope with a good sized garden, not only keeping a large lawn in trim but tidying up rougher areas like small paddocks and orchards.
In general terms these have less power.
But a lawn tractor has more uses throughout the year and has the power to tow more garden devices like trailers and leaf sweepers and can prove a great help throughout the whole year not just when the grass is growing.

McCulloch ride on mower

The simplest little ride-on is the McCulloch LRV 2-in-1 Ride-on Mower, a great little machine at a really good price.
It’s easy to drive, easy to manoeuvre through garden gates and the like and has a cutaway design which lets you mow more accurately. The height of cut can be set to between 38 and 102 mm.
It has a Briggs & Stratton tried and trusted engine and a key start to make firing it up easier.
Three forward and one reverse gears, a cutting width of 66 cm and side discharge (a collector is available as an optional extra) all contribute to making this a great value little ride on.
Plus there is a mulching kit for recycling the clippings back to the lawn.
This mower at just £899 is £200 less than the manufacturer’s price, is delivered free within three to five working days and has a one year maker’s guarantee.

Lawnflite mini rider

Another great little machine which represents outstanding value for money is the MTD-Lawnflite 76SD Mini Rider.
A perfect choice for anyone buying their first ride-on mower, it has a 76 cm cutting width and 46 cm turning circle.
It is easy to drive around obstacles on the lawn like small trees and through gates and it has Transmatic transmission making it easier to control the speed through the foot pedal.
You can either mulch the clippings or discharge them at the back but you can buy a large grass box for £180.
There are five cutting heights and because of the way it is designed it is possible to mow right to the edge of borders and paths.
The cutter deck actually floats so that it can better follow the undulations of the ground.
An 11.6 hp MTD engine provides the power and there is key start to make it easier getting underway.
This machine costs £1119, compared with the maker’s price of £1269, it arrives delivered three within three to five working days and there is a two year manufacturer’s warranty.

MTD lawn garden tractor

Next comes the MTD 125-96B Lawn & Garden Tractor, an excellent and really versatile machine with shift on the go transmission making it a top value purchase.
There are a host of optional extras for this garden tractor, which has a Briggs & Stratton engine and gives plenty of power to use the attachments like trailers, rollers and sprayers. You can even buy a snow plough to go with it.
It has side discharge and the change on the go transmission gives a much smoother ride through the five forward and five reverse gears.
Large wheels give excellent manoeuvrability.
This machine costs £1199 compared with the recommended price of £1799 and, as a special offer, buy this machine and you can purchase a steel tipping trailer for £99 and a towed leaf sweeper for £150 – just think of the time that will save in the autumn!
Delivery is free within three to five working days and there is a two year manufacturer’s warranty.

MD 2 in 1 ride on mower

We think our own machine, the MD 2-in-1 Ride-On Mower (CJ30RM12) is another well-priced machine with plenty of power and easy to drive.
You can either cut and collect the clippings in the 160 litre grass box, even when it’s wet, or mulch them and return them to the lawn. Power comes from a 12.5 hp Briggs & Stratton engine which sips fuel and makes little noise.
There are six forward and one reverse gears.
Cutting width is 75 cm, enough to cope easily with medium sized lawns yet small enough to get through most garden gates.
But as another special offer you will receive absolutely free of charge £100 worth of garden tools from leading company WOLF-Garten.
Delivery is free within three to five working days, there is a two year maker’s warranty and to price is £1249.

Wolf-Garten Expert ride-on mower

WOLF-Garten is a major European of quality garden machinery and their WOLF-Garten Expert 76E Ride-on Mower is a cracking little machine with a very tight turning circle and a 76 cm cutting width and six speed Transmatic transmission making it very manoeuvrable and easy to drive.
This means you speed up just by pressing the foot pedal – no need to stop to change gears.
There is a very large 200 litre grass collector – a deflector means you can remove the box if the grass is too long.
The five cutting heights are between 38 and 95 mm and the power comes from a 11.6 hp ThorX engine.
The floating cutting deck means that the blades follow the contours of the ground to give a better finish.
A steel chassis gives great strength and a longer life and the steering column is adjustable to make driving more comfortable.
This machine costs £1299, £200 less than the manufacturer’s price. There is a two year maker’s warranty and delivery is free within three to five working days.

Mountfield Lawn Garden Tractor

Next comes a machine from one the country’s favourite brands.
The Mountfield 1430M Lawn Tractor is a departure from other similar machines as it has twin blades to give a smoother and better cut but still at an affordable price.
The twin blades also give better collection of the clippings.
It has an 82 cm cutting width with heights from 25 mm for the smarter country lawns to 80 mm for the rougher areas.
Another handy feature is the audio alarm which sounds when the grass box is full.
Mountfield’s own 7500 series engine gives loads of power and
is engineered for a longer life. There are five forward and one reverse gears and the deck is electronically engaged.
It is designed with several comfort features so it can be driven for longer periods and there is a 240 litre grass box, unusually large, which can be emptied from the driver’s seat.
Also when purchasing this tractor you can buy a steel tipping trailer for just £99 as well as other optional extras.
This mower costs £1399, £200 less than the manufacturer’s recommended price, and delivery is free within three to five working days. There is a two year manufacturer’s warranty.

MD Sprint Lawn and Garden Tractor

Another machine with a really top spec at a keen price is the MD Sprint Lawn & Garden Tractor designed for dealing with grassy areas of around two acres.
There are also a wide range of attachments for this tractor which makes it a true labour saving device around larger gardens.
A Briggs & Stratton engine provides plenty of power and it has a variable speed change through its seven gears. The engine produces less vibration and is quieter when running and it is comfortable to drive too as it has a spring assisted seat.
The grass collection is excellent due to the clever design of the deck and a fan to blow the cuttings into the box.
But remove the box – when you are cutting rougher areas and there is a deflector flap to move the grass to one side.
Twin headlights make it possible to mow when it gets a bit murky.
Normally you would expect to pay £1899 but we have this great little tractor on sale for £1499.
Plus there are special offers on a steel trailer, roller, leaf sweeper, broadcast spreader and dethatcher obtainable when you buy this garden tractor.
There is free delivery within three to five working days and a two year manufacturer’s warranty.

MD Master Cut

Another machine offering amazing value for money is the MD Master Cut Lawn & Garden Tractor, a machine with loads of power with an extra wide cutting width for those of you with larger areas of lawn and grass to keep under control.
It is especially handy if you have not only lawns to cut but orchards, paddocks and longer grassy areas.
To cater for this, cut grass is discharged to the side but there is also a mulch plug available and a grass box for the lawns.
The drive system combines clutch and brake in one foot pedal and there are six forward and six reverse gears so you can mow at the speed which suits you best.
The front axle pivots to even out uneven ground and give a better cut.
Steel construction, twin headlights and large wheels give a real sturdy feel to this garden tractor.
There are special prices on a grass collector, mulch plug and steel tipping trailer, delivery is free within three to five working days and there is a two year maker’s warranty.
This garden tractor is just £1599 – you would normally expect to pay £1999 for such a machine.

Lawnflite lawn tractor

Lawnflite is a company with a great reputation for manufacturing top notch garden machinery and their Lawnflite 703 R Lawn Tractor is full of excellent features.
Made for lawns up to two acres with a 92 cm cutting width it has a unique Direct Collect system for dealing with the cuttings in a really efficient way, wet or dry.
The grass box can be simply removed in seconds and it has a seven speed highly advanced Transmatic Drive for a smoother ride.
It has an amazing 46 cm turning circle contributes to really great manoeuvrability.
There are a host of optional extras, some only available when you buy this tractor.
The price is £1749, £250 less than the manufacturer’s price. But as an added incentive you receive £100 worth of WOLF-Garten hand tools absolutely free which you can chose from a catalogue.
There is free delivery within three to five working days and a two year manufacturer’s warranty.

MD Estate lawn and garden tractor

And finally there is a really tough machine at an amazing price.
The MD Estate Lawn & Garden Tractor is designed for large lawns and grounds not only to give an excellent finish to the lawns but to be a real workhorse with a wide range of tasks.
It gives an excellent finish to lawns with a special ejector chute which can cope with even wet grass.
A Briggs & Stratton engine gives plenty of power and is engineered for a longer life.
The cutting height can be adjusted by a special lever for raising or lowering the cutting deck.
There are seven forward and seven reverse gears, strong disc brakes and a very tight turning circle. Both clutch and brake are combined in one pedal.
This machine has been designed with larger gardens and grounds and challenging conditions in mind and offers unrivalled value for money.
A steel tipping trailer can be bought for just £99 when ordering this machine plus there is a mulching plug for £89 and a rear deflector for £119 which are also available.
Delivery is free within three to five working days and there is a two year manufacturer’s warranty.
This garden tractor costs £1999, and that’s £600 less than you would expect to pay for such a machine.

Gardener takes on Olympic challenge

Sales Team — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:24:17 +0000

' class='alignleft' />A gardener in Hull has embarked upon an Olympic challenge of epic proportions by creating a floral tribute to the 2012 Games.

David Heath is overhauling his front garden in the shape of a Union Jack and will be superimposing the Olympic rings over the top of his patriotic design.

The flower bed will cover a whopping 30 sq m.

Speaking to the Hull Daily Mail, Mr Heath said he had the idea during the Beijing Olympics and when the UK was chosen to host the Games, he was over the moon.

Concerns were raised that Mr Heath would be in breach of copyright for misusing the Olympics logo, but he has received a letter of authority from the events organisers.

He is carrying out the work for Cancer Research UK and told the news provider: "I'm not looking to raise thousands and thousands but I like the thought of putting something a bit different in my front garden.

"People just stand and admire things when something is a bit different."

Last month, Wokingham Borough Council launched an Olympic gardening competition, which the local authority hopes will have people reaching for their garden tools and improving their local areas.

Great Hayter mowers designed to give that traditional striped finish.

A Country Gardener — Thu, 10 May 2012 06:00:57 +0000

With the grass growing strongly at the moment many of you are seeking to renew the old faithful model for a top brand lawnmower with the latest engineering for a top performance and excellent fuel consumption.
The Hayter Harrier range is a very popular range, British made, designed to give an excellent cut and the traditional striped finish and there is one suitable for every size of lawn.

Hayter 41 Harrier mower

The New Style Hayter Harrier 41 Autodrive Lawnmower with Variable Speed is ideal for the smaller lawn with a Briggs & Stratton 190 cc engine which is easy to start and has top spec engineering.
It manages to deliver a really excellent cut with seven pre-set cutting heights from 13 to 60 mm and has a cutter blade friction disc which stops the crankshaft bending if you hit something solid when mowing.
The variable speed drive means you can mow at a pace to suit yourself and the conditions and if you glance behind you will see that perfect striped finish thanks to a ribbed rear roller.
A 53 litre grass box means more time mowing the grass and less emptying the cuttings and it also has a dead man’s handle device as an added safety feature.
Delivery is free the next working day, there is a five year manufacturer’s warranty. The mower costs £519, £130 less than the maker’s recommended price.

Hayter Harrier 48 lawnmower

If you have a larger lawn then you ought to consider the Hayter Harrier 48 Autodrive Lawnmower with Variable Speed.
This model has a 48 cm cutting width and has a 190 cc Briggs & Stratton engine.
Easy to start, quiet to use, there are seven cutting heights from 13 to 60 mm and it too has the cutter bat friction device – Hayter offers a lifetime guarantee against the crankshaft bending.
It has a strong aluminium chassis and the wheels are mounted on proper ball bearings. The handles fold down to make it easier to store and to move around in the boot of a car.
The grass box takes 70 litres.
This model costs £699, a massive saving on the manufacturer’s recommended price of £899, delivery is free the next working day and there is a five year manufacturer’s guarantee.

Hayter Harrier 56 lawnmower

And the top of the range is the Hayter Harrier 56 Autodrive B.B.C. Lawnmower with Variable Speed, one of the best mowers available in the country- and it’s British made.
Designed with the larger lawn in mind it gives a traditional striped finish across its 56 cm cutting width.
This mower has a blade-brake clutch so you can stop the blade revolving when crossing gravel or tarmac paths, a great time-saving device.
It is very easy to start first time and very quiet when running with fewer harmful exhaust emissions.
It has a strong cast aluminium deck and a finned undercarriage to improve both the cut and collection of clippings.
The rear roller which gives that wonderful traditional striped finish is power driven and has a split differential so it won’t damage the lawn when turning.
You can set the cutting height to as low as 13 mm for a finish like a bowling green.
The manufacturer’s recommended price for this mower is £1179, but we have it for sale for £949, another massive saving.
Delivery is free the next working day and there is a five year manufacturer’s guarantee.

Recent wet spell has pros and cons for gardeners

Sales Team — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:40:29 +0000

' class='alignleft' />Gardeners were probably among a very small minority of people who welcomed the recent wet spell.

With most of the UK being buffeted by heavy rain throughout April, there has been no need for people to raid their shed for the watering can. Those who have water butts can also rest assured that they will have plenty of water to last them through the summer. It's crazy to think that hose pipe bans were being enforced just a few weeks ago.

However, it seems that even gardeners have now tired of the constant precipitation. According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the wet weather has caused a few problems for green-fingered people. The cold temperatures and constant cloud cover has restricted the amount of light getting through to plants and flowers, resulting in slow spring growth.

Nutrients have also been washed too deep under the soil for new plants to get to and the frosts in early April have certainly not helped matters either. Chief horticultural adviser at the RHS Guy Barter said the conditions have been far from perfect for gardeners.

"The dry and warm conditions in March were ideal for sowing, planting and maintaining lawns. But the wet April and now May has caused concern," he remarked.

"What gardeners ideally need are conditions for good early root growth so that plants are able to seek out water throughout a dry summer," Mr Barter added.

Homeowners who have been dismayed by the poor progress of their plants will be hoping that the UK brightens up soon so they can get to work with their garden tools. The RHS advises that keeping your lawn trim is vitally important and you should be looking to mow the grass as soon as it is dry enough.

Amazingly, despite all the rain, the RHS says water supplies in the long term will remain tight and drought orders will stay in place.