Because rain is limited watering is needed to help spring gardens along, moisture is not far down but top soil holding new plantings will dry daily. Plant cells that are plump with water will be stronger against cold night damage in early Spring so early watering is best allowing time for plants to absorb moisture. However, slight drying out before watering promotes root growth of plants so water is not needed everyday.
Spring is the time to choose the type of blossom tree you want, take a photo along to a garden center to be identified. Blossom is only on the tree for a short time so it should not be the only reason for choice. Height and spread should be thought about as some prunus grow very large and spread wide and low. Fortunately today we have choice, thanks to the grafting done by growers we can purchase trees on a short, or a taller graft to suit a situation. A 1.8 mtr trunk before branching will allow clearance along a drive or walk way right from planting. Large spreading trees have large spreading roots! keep this in mind when planting near concrete and the house. Also the leaf and blossom drop should be taken into consideration, thick blossom on paved walking areas is a slippery problem, it sticks to feet and is tracked inside. Leaf drop near pathways and roof guttering is a pain as well, but a spreading tree over grass is lovely and everything dropped can be taken up with the lawn mower. Ask the right people about the right trees because there is a tree for every spot, to create the over grown look without the problems.
I have been busy with the hoe moving the small weeds around before they get a hold, you will only have to blink from now on and they will be up around the ankles! pull them now before they make seed. Plant pretty annuals in exposed soil now to beat the weeds,
Seeds: sow directly into the ground or into trays, they will be up in no time to prick out and plant on into punnets to form strong roots. Be sure to leave punnets of newly bought bedding plants outside for a few nights in a sheltered place to harden off before planting out. I use my own mix with a layer of seed raising mix on top which makes the seed raising mix go a lot further.
Lavenders are starting to make new growth, they like a dressing of lime and some liquid or slow release fertiliser to help them along. If they look a bit scruffy you can trim them now and they will soon grow back and bud up. If a lavender is looking really woody with new growth yellowing dig it out and put in another one, they do not go on for ever.
We are lucky enough to have a mature bourgainville growing, it was effected badly last year and this winter with frost even though it has been covered with frost cloth. New growth is happening now below the damage so I trimmed the dead wood off and will flood it at the beginning of next month to simulate the rainy season of it's origins. Then leave it alone from then on. If feed and water through summer they will produce more leaf than flowers, Bourgainvillea needs to be stressed to flower their best.
Put in stakes for delphiniums, peony roses, asters and tall phlox now before they shoot up anymore.
Vegetable garden:
Keep planting your veg before the end of September, they should then be ready for Christmas. Corn and the pumpkin varieties need a long growing season, I planted both into punnets this week, protection will be needed when germinated until days are warmer.
Fruit: If you have not pruned your currant bushes yet do it asap because they are coming into leaf.
blackcurrants. Fruit forms on young wood, remove older wood, leaving the young shoots,remove weak, wispy shoots, retaining a basic structure of 6 to 10 healthy shoots.
Red and white currants bear their fruit on old wood. prune bushes by removing diseased or very old branches, then prune new growth back to two buds in early summer to keep plants compact.
Cheers, Linda.
1 comment:
How wonderful to experience another beautiful Spring. (:
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