Kick start your garden into action this spring – it's time to prune shrubs and roses, divide perennials, mulch fruit trees and sow tender plants. Here's how...
1. Spring has sprung
The sun is beaming down and little buds are beginning to bloom. The days are getting longer and the spring solstice arrives at the end of the month so pay your garden the same attention as your interior. We love the all-weather 'rattan' furniture at OKA which unlike, real rattan, can be left out all year round. After all the digging and pruning, you'll want somewhere to put your feet up. Now, where's the homemade lemonade?
2. Live off the land
Want to grow your own veg this year? Gardening expert John Cushnew recommends, ‘covering the area with clear polythene for a week before sowing. This will warm the soil up and get the seed off to a good start.’ Then you should be ready to begin cultivating your choice of vegetables including carrots, chard, lettuces, peas, spinach, summer cabbages, salad leaves, leeks, summer cauliflower. Order your carrots (£3.29) today from Crocus.
3. Order bedding plants
Plant bedding plants now for a bright burst of life in late Spring and early summer. Think gorgeous geraniums like this soft, blue variety (£7.99) from Crocus. 'Check that the plants you buy have strong, green shoots and plant them into well–prepared soil,’ advices The Royal Horticultural Society.
4. Clean up your act
From greenhouse windows to paving stones, make sure you remove all the grime built up over the winter months with a pressure hose. This isn't just for aesthetics – greenhouse plants will also benefit from new light passing through the windows. Don’t forget to give the watering can a good scrub out to prevent fungal disease. Is yours looking a little rusty? Pick up one of these stylish watering cans (£32.50) from notonthehighstreet.com, which match function with good looks.
5. Weed it out
‘Weeds such as bitter cress, and one which is a smaller version of the broad–leaved willow herb, are best picked out as early as possible by hand,’ says BBC gardener Adrian Walsh. Get one of these handy garden tools and trug set from Garden Trading (£28) to help you around the garden. We like the fun drawstring bag that comes with it.
6. Revive pond life
The life of your pond will have gone into hibernation over the winter months so now is the time to start bringing it back to life. 'Remove netting coverings placed over the pond to protect it from autumn leaf fall, clean out the pond filters and replace pumps, lighting systems and water features,’ suggests The Royal Horticultural Society. If you want your pond to make a style statement, intall this solar powered water fountain (£79.99) from Crocus.
7. Make cut backs
'Most roses can be pruned mid–winter or early Spring, when they are dormant or semi–dormant,’ suggests gardening guru Alan Titchmarsh. Be sure to remove any dead, diseased or damaged stems. Make the job easy with these ashwood secateurs from notonthehighstreet.com (£16.95) and aim to prune at a slanting angle about 5mm above the bud.
8. Space-saving devices
If your garden consists of more concrete than lawn, bring it to life with pot plants and window boxes. Plant things like ferns or spider plants in this sleek elegant zinc window box (£21.95) from notonthehighstreet.com and replace individual plants throughout the seasons for a pretty display all year round.
9. Turf over old ground
Has your lawn suffered from winter wear and tear? Now’s the time to turf, but make sure the ground is not too damp or frozen before you start. 'Work from planks, to avoid compacting the soil,' suggests The Royal Horticultural Society. Alternatively, you can prepare the ground for sowing seeds later on in the month by levelling it out with this garden rake (£12.99) from Greenfingers.
10. Check your tools
A poor workman always blames his tools. Make sure you're not a culprit by checking that mowers and gardening machinery are in good working order and dedicate some time to tool maintenance. Discover all you need to know about caring for your tools in Gardening Secrets (£5.99) from Garden Trading.
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