Gardening Tips

January is often a very cold month and your garden will look a little sparse and empty. It is the best time of the gardening calendar to sit back and make plans for the forthcoming year.

February can sometimes be a mild month and bring an early spring, or it may remain very cold. The activities in your garden will be decided upon by temperature.

March sees more activity in the garden and the greenhouse, and there are plenty of jobs for you to roll your sleeves up and get stuck into.

Pick off dead flowers from spring flowering bulbs but leave the green leaves alone as they feed the bulb ready for next year and will die back once they have done their job.

Plant out Begonias, Dahlias and other summer bulbs/corms if you have not already done so.

Hanging baskets, containers and bedding plants will need watering daily also feeding on a regular basis. Even if it rains they still require watering!

Support tall perennials such as Delphiniums and Lupins if you have not already done so.

Watering is a priority especially for new plants and containers.

Harvest your crops. When storing apples choose only sound, unblemished fruit. Either cook and freeze the rest of the surplus or preserve it by making chutney.

October is a wonderful month in the garden with crisp blue-skies and autumnal colours.

Rake up any leaves and compost them. If you are making the last cut set the mower to a higher level.

December is a quiet month in the gardening calendar. If it is a dry sunny day there is always plenty of digging and preparation to be done ready for next year.