Springing into Gardening

The season has arrived to begin planting and weeding. 

Slow Down! Just don't rush into sowing seeds outdoors, or splurging on summer bedding plants.

The cold winter has dragged on and left us gardeners in a bit of a dizzy spell. But early spring is the most exciting time to be a gardener.

Here are the best jobs to be getting on with now:

1. Tie your trees back to neatness. Conifers that have been splayed by the snow, or weathered by the wind, can be pulled back into shape, by wrapping them in black 1" nylon netting. This will support the branches and let new growth through. It is almost invisible and will last for years. If you need anything else tied back and looking for invisible matter to tie it with, try fishing tackle line.

2. Don't be panicked into sowing seeds outdoors. Wait until the soil has warmed up, then they will have a good start to their cycle and germinate promptly.

3. Plant primulas, polyanthus, pansies, pots of dwarf irises and miniature daffs, they are all hardy enough to be outdoors now. But, be sure to keep them moist and shelter them from drying winds, then, even the harsh frosts will have trouble unsettling these.

4. Garden centres want you to buy summer bedding plants as soon as possible, but a late frost could kill them. Wait to give your plants a better chance. Many garden centres and plants sold at various supermarkets, are sometimes forced growth for early sales, coming from nurseries, under warmth of cover. Any hint of frost will hit these bad, always, best to wait until the frosts have passed.

5. There's still time to plant shrubs and perennials, but, give them a good soak for around 10 minutes before planting them.

6. If you have not thought about cutting your lawn, best to do so now. Put the mower on a high cut for the first few cuts, gradually lowering the height as the grass grows more vigorously. Think about a spring feed if it is looking peaky and it is a good time to knock out any weeds that have popped up in the lawn. Ideally a lawn should be cut a third of it’s height, as too much cut too soon, can stress the lawn and cause it damage.

7. If you get on top of weeds now, while the beds are still empty, you will be ahead for the rest of the year. It’s one of my favourite times of the year in the garden, no dead plants, no weeds and beautifully raked over soil. Very neat and tidy. Bear in mind that we are here in Norfolk and Suffolk and that gardens further south will be a couple of weeks ahead and those in the north a few weeks behind.

8. If your preparing a veg plot, now is the time to rake it fine and level the ground, so no dips are present to hold water, or puddles. Don’t be too eager to plant seeds, again, let the ground warm up for stronger rate from the seeds. 

Spuds don’t want to be set too early, as the frosts can severely damage them when we get late frosts. If you have purchased the seed potatoes and are worried about them shooting, put them in the fridge, as this will prevent them from shooting early. They would of been kept in a fridge prior to being sent to the stores for sale, the difference is that they would of been stored in a dry fridge and yours is a damp fridge, but a few weeks in the fridge, will hold the potato seed up from shooting too early.

 ©Rob Knowlittle, December 2021 @drjohngardening