Spring gardening advice from Gavin and Doreen Bunce
After the cold, wet start to the year we hope you are now enjoying the beautiful spring flowers and blossom and that the soil has dried out and is getting warmer ready for planting summer crops.
You may have already started a general tidy up, cutting back shrubs, lifting and dividing overgrown perennials, preparing seed beds and dealing with your lawn.
Be aware of any late frosts as you will need to protect fruit blossom, camellia/magnolia flowers and tender plants. Continue to collect rainwater for use in the warm, dry summer.
If you have any nesting birds, wait until fledglings have left their nests before cutting hedges etc.
We need to protect all of our garden’s wildlife. You may have frogspawn in your pond and see tadpoles hatching and becoming frogs. Sightings of dragonflies and damselflies are lovely and numbers have increased apparently due to our hotter summers.
Hedgehogs will be coming out of hibernation so leave food for them overnight (they should not be put in during the day). To attract a variety of birds, provide clean feeders containing mealworms, peanuts, sunflower seeds, suet balls or mixed seed.
Sunflowers are very easy to grow with the bright flowers/nectar attracting bees and the seeds from the dying flowers eaten by birds. Nectar is also needed by butterflies and there are many plants you can grow, even in pots, such as nepeta, salvia and daisy for them.
Creating habitats for invertebrates involves log piles, open compost heaps or bug hotels. These will give food and shelter to earwigs, beetles, woodlice, centipedes etc.
So when deciding on your plans for your garden this year, consider how you can attract and protect wildlife as it’s so important for pollination, pest control and interest.
Vegetable and flower seeds can be sown now. Some can be put straight into prepared soil but less hardy varieties would benefit from being sewn into seed trays/pots and put in the greenhouse or on a window sill.
Keep them well watered and pest-free, protect from the cold and open the greenhouse on warm days. Wait until it’s warmer, usually the end of May/beginning of June before planting tender plants out in the garden. Consult seed packets for specific growing information.
Spring is a delightful time in gardens, parks and in the countryside with beautiful blossom, flowers and new shoots emerging.
With the clocks going forward, we gain an hour and with the extra light in the evenings we have more time to enjoy our surroundings and to continue the gardening tasks which also provide us with extra health benefits.
We wish you a successful, productive gardening year.