Gardening Tips
February 2012 Hints & Tips
Climbers
Plant
climbers now to provide colour, height and interest for clothing walls, fences,
arches and arbours. As well as for screening compost heaps and other unsightly
objects. Fast growing plants like clematis, ivy, honeysuckle, Virginia creeper
and roses are perfect choices. If your soil is too wet and sticky, wait until
conditions improve before planting.
Weeds
Keep
those annoying weeds at bay and you will enjoy your gardening a lot more. Small
weeds are best dealt with by hoeing them off. Beds and borders can be kept weed
free by applying a 2-3inch thick mulch; and weed suppressing planting membranes
ensure the perfect start to new beds and borders.
Annuals
Now's
a good time to make a start on sowing summer bedding indoors, as long as you
can provide the right heat and light conditions. You can sow sweet peas,
dianthus, lobelia, ageratum and bedding geraniums. Don't forget to pick up
everything you'll need such as propagators, compost, pots, seed trays and
labels.
Check Garden Structures
Now's
the perfect time to check your fences, trellis' and pergolas before climbers
burst into growth and make the job more tricky. You can make any repairs or
improvements as necessary as well as install any new features you want for the
coming year. Just ask a member of staff for details of what we have in stock.
Pruning
Now's
the time to prune a number of garden shrubs. These include winter jasmine after
the flowers have faded, bush and climbing roses, many summer flowering shrubs
and most clematis; apart from the spring flowering Montanas, alpinas and
macropetalas. After pruning feed with a controlled release or slow-acting
fertiliser to ensure healthy regrowth and more flowers. Don't forget to pick up any tools you'll need
such as secateurs, pruning saws, loppers and gloves. If you need more
information, just ask any of our friendly, knowledgeable staff.
Pestwatch
Don't
let garden pests and diseases get you down this year. By looking at your plants
now and dealing with the problems that may be present, you’ll prevent them from
getting out of control. Be especially vigilant on plants in the house,
conservatory and greenhouse. Slugs can be controlled with a wide range of
products, just ask our staff for more advice on the slug control products we
stock. Many pests over-winter as pests on the stems of plants, so any pruning
now will remove them. If the dreaded peach leaf curl affected your peaches and
almonds last year, then give them a protective spray with a copper based
fungicide to ensure a healthy start to the year. If the trees are wall trained,
you can protect them further by erecting a protective tent of polythene over
them.
Buy Summer Flowering Bulbs
Now's
the time to buy begonias and dahlia tubers together with the huge variety of
summer flowering bulbs we have in stock. Although it's too early to plant them
in the garden, buy them now to ensure we have the range of varieties you
require. Begonias and dahlias can be started into growth indoors now and the
resulting shoots used for cuttings. And don't forget to stock up on pots,
labels, twine, compost and all the other sundries you'll need to get the best
out of them.
Top Dress Trees & Shrubs
Get
your trees and shrubs and beds and borders off to a flying start this year by
mulching and feeding with a controlled release fertiliser. Mulches should be
applied a couple of inches thick and good choices include bark chips, composted
bark, manure and compost.
Plan & Plant Your Flower Borders
You can still plant hardy trees, shrubs, roses, fruit and perennials, and nearly all other outdoor plants we have in stock; providing the soil isn't frozen solid or waterlogged. Remember to improve the planting area first with a good soil improver such as composted bark or compost.
Hard Landscaping
This
is the perfect time to lay new paths, paving, patios and other hard standing
areas. Just ask one of our friendly staff for advice and ideas. Also check
existing paving and relay and repair any that is uneven or damaged.
Plant of the Month
Check
out our Planteria for plants that are looking good now. And if it's instant
impact you're after, then consider Viburnum tinus, the contorted hazel - that's
Corylus Avellana Contorta, the silk tassel bush Garrya Elliptica, winter
flowering heathers or the Kilmarnock willow - that's Salix Caprea Kilmarnock.
And don't forget you can have instant colour from any of the evergreens we have
in stock.
Vegetables
Now's
a perfect time to make a start on producing tasty vegetables for the summer.
Don't be too impatient to start sowing outside, but instead warm the soil ready
for sowing by covering it with clear polythene or plastic cloches. You can
plant shallots outside; although in cold areas start them in pots of compost in
a coldframe or greenhouse. And sow summer cauliflowers in seed trays in warmth.
Borders
A few minutes spent on your beds and borders now will reap huge benefits later in the year. Lightly trim winter flowering heathers when the flowers fade to improve flowering next year. Lift, divide and replant snowdrops after flowering. Cut back the dead stems of herbaceous perennials to ground level and lift and divide congested clumps that didn't flower well last year.
