Gardening BlogGardening Advice and Tips

Shrubs, Trees, and Climbers:

*Rose pruning should be completed by the beginning of the month.  Mulch with mushroom manure or well-rotted compost.  Check for aphids and rub off or use insecticidal soap.

*Shear winter-flowering heather after flowering.

*Continue planting trees and shrubs.

*Prune early-blooming shrubs after flowering.

*Evergreen and conifer hedges can be clipped now.

*Check vines growing on the house to make sure they are not invading window frames or working their way under gutters and shingles.

Perennials, Annuals, and Bulbs:

*Deadhead daffodils but leave seed pods on squills and grape hyacinths to seed themselves.  Don’t remove foliage until it has started to yellow.  Feed with fish fertilizer.

*Divide up primroses and polyanthus after flowering.

*Stake perennials that need it, and mulch perennials if not already done.

*Continue to sow seeds of hardy annuals in ground.

*Edge flower beds, weed well and check carefully for invading pests and diseases.

Fruits, Vegetables, and Herbs:

*In first half of month, sow early potatoes, green onions, bulb onions, leeks, kohlrabi, and cabbage.

*In last half of month, sow beets, carrots, broccoli, Swiss chard, parsnip, cauliflower, kale, and lettuce.  Set out earlier-sown vegetables from coldframe.

*Sow zucchini, cucumbers and tomatoes indoors in a sunny window or a coldframe.

*Keep vegetable garden well weeded, and keep a lookout for signs of pests and diseases.

*Plant new strawberry plants.

General Gardening:

*Continue preparing new lawns and repairing worn patches on existing lawns.  The first three lawn mowings should be done with the blades set higher than usual.

*Aerate lawn if not previously done.

*Stat planting water plants in ponds.

*Turn compost and keep it moist.