Spring has Sprung!

GARDENING IN MARCH

Spring usually arrives by mid-March and the frequent sunny days provide the opportunity for an increasing range of gardening tasks. It’s time to get busy preparing seed beds, sowing seed, cutting back winter shrubs and generally tidying up around the garden.

THINGS TO DO IN MARCH

1 Prune bushes and climbing roses

2 Plant shallots, onion sets and early potatoes

3 Plant summer-flowering bulbs

4 Lift and divide overgrown clumps of perennials

5 Top dress containers with fresh compost

6 Mow the lawn on dry days (if needed)

7 Cut back Cornus (dogwood) and Salix (willow) grown for colourful winter stems

8 Hoe and mulch weeds to keep them under control early

9 Start feeding fish and using the pond fountain; remove pond heaters

10 Protect new spring shoots from slugs

GARDENING IN APRIL

Spring is finally in evidence as daffodils and flowering trees start to bloom. Expect the inevitable April showers this month but with sunny days too, when you can turn your attention to the lawn. It’s an exciting month, with indoor-sown seeds well into growth, and it’s also time to start sowing outdoors. Just watch out for frosts…

THINGS TO DO IN APRIL

1 Sow hardy annuals, herbs and wild flower seed outdoors. Sowing seeds outdoors is an easy, inexpensive and fun way to grow new plants.

2 Protect fruit blossom from late frosts

3 Tie in climbing and rambling roses. Rose pruning ensures that plants grow vigorously and flower well each year.

4 Keep weeds under control

5 Start to feed citrus plants

6 Increase the water given to houseplants

7 Feed hungry shrubs and roses

8 Sow new lawns or repair bare patches

9 Prune fig trees

10 Divide bamboos and waterlilies

 

NorthernLife Mar/Apr 23