Spring is on its way. Some of you may not feel it yet, especially with snow expected this week in some parts of the county, but things are starting to grow and the days are getting longer.
General jobs to do in the garden:
- Resurface paths before plants grow over them.
- Jet wash patios and driveways to remove slim and moss.
- Prune winter-flowering shrubs that have finished flowering.
- Put up nesting boxes for birds.
- Top up raised flowerbeds with compost and topsoil.
- Move plants from greenhouse to cold frames preparing them for planting out.
- Install/Maintain water butts ready to catch rainwater ready for summer.
Jobs to do in the flower garden:
- Dig compost or fertiliser into the soil.
- Prue summer-flowering Clematis before growth begins.
- Deadhead daffodils once they finish flowering.
- Feed trees and shrubs with a slow releasing fertiliser.
- Plant summer flowering bulbs.
- Put supports in early for any plants, you feel may need propping up later in the year, while there is less foliage.
Jobs to do in the vegetable garden:
- Start sowing early broad beans and peas.
- Towards the end of the month look to plant potatoes.
- Continue to harvest Parsnips, Brussels, Sprouting broccoli, Turnips and Leeks.
- Start to plant carrots and lettuce but make sure to keep covered.
- Weed and fork in plenty of compost to vegetable beds ready for seeding.
Jobs to do in the fruit garden:
- Now is a good time to plant apple trees.
- Cut back autumn fruiting raspberry canes to stimulate new fruit in the autumn.
- Protect blossom on apricots, nectarines and peaches.
- Prune Berry bushes to maintain productivity.
- Mulch rhubarb with a thick layer of manure to keep health.
- Cover strawberry plants to keep frost from them.
In the greenhouse
- Invest in an electric propagator, this will help seeds germinate better.
- Soaking seeds in tepid water overnight before planting to increase germination.
- Do not sow too many seeds early in the season as low light levels can cause floppy or leggy plants.
- Start sowing bedding plants to plant after the last frost.
- Put bags of compost in the greenhouse to warm up before sowing seeds.
What to do with the lawn:
- Keep clearing leaves off the lawn to let the light in and prevent dead patches appearing.
- Spike lawns with a garden fork to improve drainage and aeration especially if snows likely.
- Install lawn edging to make maintenance easier and keep the lawn neat and tidy.
- New turf can be laid if the ground is not frozen or waterlogged.
