Time to Get Out Into the Garden

The weather over the past week has been nice and sunny, which has got me thinking probably like many others that the time is right to get out into the garden. It is at this time of year that there is a lot of work to do in the garden to sort out after the long winter months.

Although this week (28^th March – 3^rd April) is nearly over there is still time to get some work done in the garden if the weather stays fair. The jobs that you should be focusing on at the moment are to start adding homemade compost to the soil as this will encourage the garden to flourish and thrive. Making your own compost will also mean that you are able to make the most of your kitchen waste whilst being more economical. There is five easy steps that you can follow in order to make your own compost which are:

1.       Clear the area where you want to make the compost bin and level the ground if this is required. The easiest way to level the ground is to use a rake or a spade.

2.       Use a pallet and stand it long edge in order to form the back of the compost bin. Put a stake through the two layers of the pallet at either end and drive them firmly into the ground, which can be done using a sledgehammer. They should be driven into the group to a depth of 20cm – 30 cm.

3.       Use another two pallets at right angles to make the sides of the compost bin. Close the corners tightly together so prevent the compost from spoiling out.

4.       In order to keep the structure stable use wire to tie the pallets at the corners. Trim the top of the stakes with a saw.

5.       Wire the last pallet to the front of the right side of the pallet so that it can be opened to allow entry to the bin when required.

If you are growing plants in your garden then the jobs that you should be trying to get done this week is to:

·         Take cuttings from delphiniums

·         Wash off any signs of greenfly from shoot tips using soapy water

·         Feed rhododendrons. Pieris and Camellias with acidic plant food

·         Several shrubs with low growing stems can be propagated by layering such as mock orange, honeysuckle, magnolia and forsythia.

·         Plant new shrubs and perennials that are hardy.

·        Cut away old foliage

·       Sprinkle fertiliser around shrubs and flower beds.

If you are growing fruit and vegetables in the garden then the jobs that you should be looking at doing include:

·         Cover strawberry rows with cloches to encourage early fruit

·         Plant early potatoes outside in large pots or rows

·         Spray fruit bushes and trees with fungicide in order to prevent any mildew disease attacking them.

·         Pick of any yellowing and fading leaves from Brussels fruit in order to prevent disease spreading.

·         Sow seeds outside or underneath cloches for carrots, broad beans, beetroot, cauliflowers, salad onions, cabbage, spinach, Brussels sprouts, leeks, lettuce, coriander, rocket and mixed salad.

Greenhouse gardeners this week should be focusing on:

·         Planting up bulbs, tubers and corms

·         Sow coleus and other houseplants

·         Watching out for pests

Other jobs that should be getting done around the garden this week are:

·         Move plants from the greenhouse into the cold frame in order to get them used to the climate.

·         Do the digging for any new ponds or water features that you want to create in the garden.

·         Clean and sharpen any garden knives

·         Purchase summer flowering bulbs so that you have a good range of colour.

This is also a very good time of year for seeing wildlife in your garden and this week would be a good time to make sure that the bird feeders are topped up. The nesting season is now getting underway and there will be an increase in the amount of birds that you may see in the garden. Try not to cut any bushes and hedges back until after nesting season to avoid disturbing any nests.