At FWC we know about gardening and understand that alot of our customers like to get their hands dirty. So we thought we would offer you some free advice on how to ge the most of your garden all year round.
Spring is one of the most exciting seasons to be out there gardening, the ground is warming up and the showers are keeping the plants fresh, Buds are opening and spring flowers like Tulips and Pulsatilla are out in force.
Planting
Spring is the best time to plant an evergreen, such as laurel or box. You should also plant lily and gladioli bulbs in 4in (10cm) deep holes. Cover with soil or compost and gently firm down the soil to ensure that there are no air pockets as this may cause the bulbs to rot.
It's time to get broad beans, peas, mint and radish in. If you have been forcing rhubarb, take off the covers and lightly stew your crop. Now is the best time to plant lavender. Widely grown for its scent and foliage, lavender is ideal for borders or a low hedge
Deviding
If you have clumps of perennials that need dividing, this is a prime time to do it. Use garden forks, back to back, to prize the roots apart. Replant in a suitable site and make sure you use plenty of organic matter, keep the ground moist and mulch the surface afterward. This will give the plant the best start for the growing season. Perennials that will grow tall should be staked now, again to prevent wind damage to the stems and it will be far easier to access your borders before they mature.
Tidying up
Tidy up any remaining leaves and general garden rubbish. It's home to slugs, snails, vine weevil and woodlice and can introduce disease and infection into your garden. Remove the dead heads of spring flowering bulbs. This will encourage the plant to store energy in the bulb rather than wasting it on seed production.Vigorous climbers should be tied into the framework, this will help to keep the plant tidy and prevent wind damage to the stems. Remove algae and moss from patios and paths with a proprietary patio and path cleaner or tar-oil winter wash.
Pests
Be vigilant with pests, as they will be on the increase since the temperature is rising. Many of these can be removed by hand, but if you must spray, ensure that the weather is calm and always follow the product instructions. Ensure that young growth is protected from slugs, patrol your borders and remove our slimy friends.If you tend to get blackspot on your roses, it would be prudent to spray with fungicide as a preventative measure. Regularly water, feed and tidy your roses to keep them healthy.
Ponds
Your pond may have started to turn green and cloudy due to a rapid increase in algae, which flourish in the warmer spring temperatures. To speed help clearing of the water, drop a string bag of barley straw into the pond, this will reducing the amount of algae and also blanket weed. Remove the barley after about six months, before it completely rots down, polluting the water.
We hope you have found this useful, come back in summer for more tips.
If you have any question or would like to add some of you own advice
Call Ian on 01244 534402 or email ian@fwc.me.uk |
