Here I am again, back to bring you some pearls of gardening wisdom! It’s been a while as I have been busy moving house among other things! Haven’t we had some ‘interesting’ weather! Floods, cold, and then a welcome quieter period a challenge indeed for gardeners. But then, we gardeners relish challenges and usually we can manage to find that all important work-around!
CHANGES ARE COMING!!
You know already about the changes that have come into effect with peat, but there are also changes afoot with the importing of plant material from abroad as new rules come in post-Brexit. We already have to passport all (and I mean all, every single plant!) that we buy and keep records for 6 years. This is to help fight plant diseases from being brought into the country. Two years ago, I stopped buying Dutch houseplants, and now only purchase British-grown stock (actually from Lincolnshire or Dorset). These are now 98% grown in peat-free compost too, the only one’s not in peat-free will be larger plants that need several years to achieve a saleable size. I have found the quality of the British-grown plants to be every bit as good as those from Holland, and in some cases much better, and also supports our own UK horticultural industry.
Mothering Sunday
March also brings with it Mothering Sunday on 10th. This is the perfect time to remember and spoil our mothers who invariably put the rest of us before themselves. We have a lovely range of cards and gifts, together with beautiful houseplants which will ensure your mother is spoiled this year.
Sue
THINGS TO DO IN MARCH
I am hoping that the weather has improved by the time you read this, so here are a few jobs that we can get on with in the garden this month … however, if your lawn is still squelchy, try not to walk on it to much as the ground will get compacted and the grass will struggle to grow.
JOBS for March
Mulch bare soil in borders and beds using composted bark or your own from the compost heap. Or shred the trimmings from shrubs etc and use this.
Prune bush and shrub roses.
Prune shrubs with colourful winter stems. Shred and add to your compost heap.
Renovate climbers and plant new ones. Check that any wire and fixings are solid after the winter onslaught.
Lift and divide overgrown clumps of perennials. Use two forks back to back to separate. Add compost or a handful of farmyard manure when replanting to get them going well.
Split polyanthus after flowering.
Move evergreen shrubs if required. Try to take as big a root ball as possible, and ensure that it doesn’t dry out by wrapping in an old bag (the ones multipurpose compost comes in are perfect. Encourage stronger root growth by sprinkling some mycorrhizal fungi into the bottom of the planting hole.
Reseed bare patches on the lawn. Placing sprigs of holly over the top will deter cats from doing what they do naturally!
Mow lawns regularly (only if the ground is not saturated!)
Retrieve pumps from store and put them in the pond.
Plant summer-flowering bulbs, tubers and corms. We have bulb fibre and some fabulous stock available now.
Sow hardy annuals where they are to flower. Mix fine seeds with a little sand to get an even sowing.
Sow sweet peas outdoors or plant out young plants.
Pinch out tips of young sweet peas to encourage sideshoots.
Water indoor plants regularly, now the weather is warmer. Start to feed, but gently at first.
Protect young, tender plants from slugs. We have a variety of methods available in the Shop, both organic and chemical.
Cut down old growth left over the winter.
Sow vegetables outside. Consider covering with fleece if very cold though.
Plant early potatoes.
THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO….
Finish planting bare-root trees and shrubs, and new fruit trees and bushes.
Plant snowdrops and winter aconites. Please ensure these come from a reliable source and not the wild.
GET IN FRONT….
· Put stakes and other plant supports in before the new growth really needs them.
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King Street, Colyton, Devon EX24 6PD
Email: admin@colytongardenshop.co.uk
Tel: 01297 551113
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