From Michael Coulter

Early Spring has arrived with the usual changeable weather typical for this time of the year. This year is no different with the challenge of wet ground from the wet Winter just finished and with the soil at field capacity we will need to be careful when working the ground so as not to damage the soil structure.

As we will need to wait until the ground has dried out we may have to delay seed sowing and transplanting some of the early crops in the open ground.

We can of course carry on with sowing seeds inside to have plants ready for later on when the conditions are better suited for planting.

The pruning of fruit trees should now be completed and any Winter spray programmes finished. With wet ground weeds will always become a problem so keep on top of them and do not allow them to get too big as they always seem to be harder to control under these conditions.

As the weather warms up and dries out moss control on paths and lawns will be more effective. Repotting of container grown plants will give them a good start to the growing season ahead, it is better to use a good quality potting mix for the best results.

For any gardening queries refer through the month you can consult our online facebook group

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Lawns

  1. Aerate lawns after the wet Winter (a garden fork in the ground worked backwards and forwards will do a good job on most lawns).

  2. Cut and catch the clippings but do not cut too low.

  3. After the first 2 to 3 cuts fertilise with a lawn fertiliser.

  4. Treat for moss as weather warms up.

  5. At the end of the month you may spray for weeds in the lawn.

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Fruit & Vegetable Garden

  1. Finish the Winter work of pruning and spraying.

  2. Apply fertilisers around the drip line of fruit trees.

  3. Apply citrus fertilisers around the citrus plants.

  4. Keep strawberries weed free and apply fertilisers.

  5. Plant new fruit trees and give them good support.

  6. Early sowings of vegetables may be started when the ground allows.

  7. Prepare the ground for planting the warmer loving crops, dig in compost, add fertilisers and weed.

  8. Remove any of the Winter crops that are finished and clean up the ground.

  9. Plant the first early potatoes.

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Flower Garden

  1. Keep Spring bulbs weed free and remove dead flowers and apply a bulb fertiliser (one high in potash).

  2. Prune the flowering shrubs as they finish flowering to encourage next years flowers .

  3. Dead head Spring annuals and perennials to help continuous flowering.

  4. Finish rose pruning and Winter spray programme.

  5. Clean up around hostas and treat for slugs and snails.

  6. Prune fuchsias at the end of the month to the strongest new growth.

  7. Sow in glasshouse Summer annuals.

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