The Gardener's Almanac

Overview ;

The weather is hopefully improving thus allowing the gardener to get on with planting and tidying up the garden.

 

However be warned; do not carry out any of the tasks listed below if the conditions are less than ideal.

 

Be patient! Plants have a way of catching up after late winters.

 

 

At any time this month;

• If not already done; remove the remains of the previous years perennials and tidy the beds / borders and remove any emerging perennial weeds.

 

• Cut back ground cover plants to expose new growth.

 

• Divide established clumps of perennials if necessary.

 

Note; Be careful not to damage emerging spring bulbs.

 

• Feed spring bulbs and perennials.

 

• On completion mulch the beds / borders to deter weeds and retain moisture.

 

Note; Powdered and granular feeds require the right weather conditions to dissolve them, so a liquid feed is often the better option.

 

Week No. 9 - 26th Feb to 4th Mar

 

• Continue with the tasks listed above.

 

Week No. 10 - 5th to 11th

 

• Cut back prune wayward growths and generally thin out Actinidia, Buddlea, Celastrus, Cotoneaster, plants as necessary.

 

• Divide established Agastache plants or take root cuttings to increase stock.

 

• Collect Cistus seeds.

 

• Plant out Camellia, Cornus, if conditions allow.

 

• Feed Galanthus / Snowdrops.

 

• Mulch Althaea.

 

Week No. 11 - 12th to 18th

 

• If not previously; plant out Lonicera and Clematis if weather conditions allow.

 

Week No. 12 - 19th to 25th

 

• Divide Galanthus / Snowdrops if necessary.

 

• Plant out Alyssum saxatile, Oxalis, if conditions allow.

 

• Divide established Oxalis if conditions allow.

 

• Re-pot Brugmansia / Datura,

 

• Lift self seeded Anacyclus seedlings.

 

• Protect flowering Auricula.

 

• Prune Group 2 & 3 Clematis and trim group 1 varieties if necessary.

 

• Prune / Tidy up Passiflora,

 

• Feed Endymon,

 

Week No. 13 - 26th to 1st Apr

 

• If not done previously; plant out Clematis plants if conditions allow.

 

• Similarly; layer Clematis, and sever previous years layers.

 

• Prune / thin out; Abies, Colutea, Hamamelis mollis, Phlox paniculata, if required.

 

• Tidy up Calluna/Heathers by dead heading, weeding, and applying a bark or peat mulch.

 

• Prune out strong new growth of repeat flowering Shrub roses.

 

• Hard prune newly planted, or old neglected plants, and moderately prune established bush roses.

 

Do not prune ramblers and weeping standards.

 

• After pruning roses , tidy the beds and boost growth by applying a rose feed.

 

• Divide and re-plant Hellebores and Pinks if conditions allow.

 

• Tidy up Avena, and Cordalyne plants.

 

• Mulch Agrostemma, Lychnis, Potentilla and Rhodohypoxis.

 

• Be on the look out for slugs & snails around Althaea.

 

• Feed Camellia, Bearded Iris, Climbing / Rambling Roses,