Spring is nearly here (Hurray). Days are getting longer, but the risk of frost has not passed. There’s starting to be plenty to do in the garden.
Here are some things to be getting on with over the next 2 weeks:-
Plants maintenance
- Cut back last years dead growth from perennials – let the new shoots emerge.
- Hedges – time for final tidy-up, if not already done. Birds will start building their nest in hedges soon (It is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981 to intentionally take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built.)
- Shrub roses – Remove any dead or crossing stems. Cut back remaining stems by a half to outward facing bud.
- Shrubs – Remove dead or diseased stems. Deadhead Hydrangeas, cutting stems back to first pair of health buds. Prune early flowering shrubs, like Forsythea, after flowering to strong young shoots – remove 20 % of old stems to keep plant vigorous. Buddleja that flower on this years growth, prune hard back last years growth to new buds.
- Seeds – sow hardy annuals under cover
- Cuttings – pot on any rooted cuttings taken last year.
General garden jobs
- Weeds have started to grow, so keep on-top of them.
- Ponds – clean out any old leaves and dead growth from aquatic plants (leave by side of pond for any wildlife to return to water). Keep on-top of any pond weed.
- Compost heap – get ready for this year. Turn heap and make space.
- Lawns – reseed any bare patches. Get mower ready. Wait a till mid March for first cut. Lay any new turf to get it established before summer..