THIS MONTHS GARDENING TIPS

[garden man]

SPRING HAS SPRUNG AT LAST AFTER A VERY LONG HARD WINTER.I'M AFRAID WINTER HAS TAKEN ITS'TOLL & DEVASTATED SOME OF OUR GARDENS & PLANTS,BUT DONT DESPAIR I THINK WE'RE IN FOR A GREAT SUMMER,WELL WE DESERVE ONE!! SO TIME TO GET BUSY,BUT DONT OVERDO IT,I DONT WANT ANY INJURIES OUT THERE!!

1. AFTER A BIT OF WEEDING,(GET THEM NOW BEFORE THEY GET ESTABLISHED & START SPREADING) MULCH YOUR BORDERS WITH A THICK LAYER OF ORGANIC MATTER,HELPS KEEP WEEDS DOWN & CONSERVES MOISTURE IN THE SOIL.IF THE SOIL IS DRY,WATER BEFORE MULCHING.

2. IF YOU HAVENT PRUNED YOUR ROSES IN WINTER NOW IS THE BEST TIME. PRUNE BUSH ROSES BACK HARD & TO A GOOD SHAPE,THEY WILL PRODUCE GOOD GROWTH & FLOWERS.DIG IN A GOOD MEASURE OF WELL ROTTED MANURE.

3. YOU NEED TO DEAL WITH ANY PESTS THAT HAVE SURVIVED THE WINTER.TRY BIOLOGICAL (ECO) SOLUTIONS,SUCH AS BACTERIA OR NEMATODES,THAT KILL SPECIFIC PESTS.YOU CAN ORDER THESE THROUGH THE PRESS,MOST ARE FOR THE GREENHOUSE,BUT YOU CAN GET ONE FOR SLUGS THAT YOU WATER IN.

4. ANY PLANTS IN POTS OR CONTAINERS NEED A TOP DRESSING OF COMPOST & A FEED,YOU MAY NEED TO SCRAPE OFF AN INCH OR SO OF SOIL BEFOREHAND

5.PLANT OUT SUMMER FLOWERING BULBS

6.SOW SWEET PEAS OUTSIDE OR PLANT OUT YOUNG SEEDLINGS.PINCH OUT GROWING TIPS TO ENCOURAGE SIDESHOOTS.

7.SOW HARDY ANNUALS WHERE THEY ARE TO FLOWER

8.LAWNS!!! WHERE TO BEGIN?? RAKE THEM OUT,YOU CAN START MOWING THEM NOW,THEN AERATE WITH A FORK OR AERATOR.THEN APPLY A TOP DRESSING OF COMPOST,SAND,WEED FEED & MOSS KILLER FERTILISER (NOT TOO MUCH OR YOU WILL BURN THE GRASS) & SEED IF YOU HAVE BALD PATCHES (ON THE LAWN!!!!)

9.PROTECT FRUIT BLOSSOMS AGAINST FROSTS WITH A FLEECE (NOT YOUR WIFES' !!)

10.SOW VEGETABLES,PLANT 1ST CROP OF POTATOES & ASPARAGUS

11.RENOVATE CLIMBERS.CUT BACK HARD ANY OVERGROWN CLIMBERS SUCH AS CLIMBING ROSES,HONEYSUCKLE,WINTER JASMINE & IVY.AGAIN DIG IN MANURE AROUND ROOTS.

12.YOU CAN STILL SPLIT UP SNOWDROPS & LATER IN THE MONTH POLYANTHUS PRIMULAS.

TOLD YOU IT WAS A BUSY TIME,SO DONT WEAR YOUR SELVES OUT, GET YOUR BRILLIANT LOCAL GARDENERS TO TAKE THE STRAIN,WE'VE ALL BEEN SLEEPING OVER WINTER WAITING FOR YOUR CALL!

A LOVELY CUSTOMER RECOMMENDED GIVING GARDEN LESSONS IN YOUR OWN GARDEN,SO GIVE ME A CALL IF YOU THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA FOR YOU.

HAPPY GARDENING & AN EARLY HAPPY EASTER

NIGEL 07961888253