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Greensdale's Advice
January
Tender plants need protection
Plant such as Cordylines and Fuchsia should be kept out of frost, so
bring them into the green house or conservatory.
Brush heavy snow off trees
Brush shrabs and conifers with a broom to prevent branches getting damaged.
High winds - Don't put this job off
At this time of year strong winds are expected so archways,fence posts
and panels need to be secure including young trees.Young trees should
be staked. Also check climbing plants are fastened back.
Clear debris from the borders
Clear Flower borders of debris.Remove all debris from flower borders.Dig
out annuals and turn over the soil as you go. Cut perennials back down
to ground level.
Buddleia
The Butterfly bush-Buddleia give it annual hard prune.
February
Thinking of seeding a new lawn in spring??
If you're thinking of seeding a new lawn in spring then you need to be
preparing the ground now.Dig the area over making sure you remove all
perennial weeds.Leave the soil clumpy and rough as the weather will
break this down.
Scarify-Spike the lawn
Unless your lawn is very new,scarify and spike now.Clear any leaves off,as
in damp weather,they can harbour fungus underneath,and you end up with
a yellow lawn.
Grapevines
Prune vines while they are still dormant.Cut off last years canes which
fruited and tie down the new ones.
Move potted shrubs into greenhouse
Shrubs in containers can suffer from root death and dehydration in freezing
weather.Move them into a unheated greenhouse.
Take cuttings
Propagate shrubs & perennialis by taking hardwood or root cuttings.
March
March is a good time to divide and re-plant your perennialis like hardy
geraniums, crocosmia, hostas, astilbe & peonies. Snow drops can be
divided too.
Dahlia Cuttings
Start taking cuttings of dahlia and outdoor Chrysanthemums this month.
Pruning
Prune back large flowered clematis,roses &early flowering shrubs.
The Pond
Check your pond for debris, suchas dead fallen leaves and clear them
out. Take out over crowded water lilies, split, divide & re-pot.
Tidy your borders &feed
If you haven't already done so,then clear away any debris from the borders,turn
the soil and add some compost or fertiliser.
Roses
Sometime this month spray &feed your roses to help then get off to
a good start &to prevent pests.
April
Dead Heading
Remove all faded flowers from your daffodils, pansies & violas. Let
your daffodils die back naturally so put energy back into the bulbs.
Next year your daffodils will produce a better display.
Prune back forsythia
Once it has finished flowering. You can also prune & trim: Spiraea,
Buddleia, Cornus, Hardy Fuchsias, Cotoneasters, Potentilla, Mahonia.
Divide Hostas & Snowdrops
Dig up and divide large clumps of hostas.Snowdrops can be divided and
re-planted ready for next springs display.
Prune Jasminum
Prune Jasminum nudiflorum and Ribes (flowering currant) after the flowers
have faded.
Roses
Cut last years stems back by about half.
Summer Hanging baskets
Start to make up your hanging baskets in the greenhouse this month.
May
Plant bedding plants out
In the last week of May as long as there is no forecast of frost, you
can start planting your summer bedding out that you have just purchased
from the garden centre. An hour before planting water the plands in
their containers and remember to water after planting. If you have
grown bedding plants from seed in the greenhouse then slowly harden
them off before planting.
Weeding
Keep weeding by hoeing or hand weeding with a trowel.
Roses
Keep bugs away with a regular check and a systemic insecticide spray.
Apply weed killer
Apply weed killer to paths and drive ways during dry weather. Trim winter
flowering heathers with the shears.
Take cuttings
Take cuttings from fuchssias,geraniums and other tender plants.
June
Lift Spring Bulbs
Move your spring bulbs to make room for bedding plants.Place the bulbs
in a temporary plot and let them die back naturally.After flowering,spring
bulbs carry on growing for up to 8 weeks.
Stake & support tall plants
Any Tall growing plants such as Delphinium, Lupin, Poppies and Climbers
need a frame work or canes and string around then to help prevent them
been damaged by winds.
After Flowering you can prune the following: Forsythia, Pieris, Weigela,
Berberis, Philadelphus.
Sweet Peas
Add a mulch to the base of your sweet peas.Remove the tendrils and pinch
out side shoots.
Fuchsias
Feed each week to encourage flowers and healthy growth.
Keep weeding
Keep weeding by hoeing or hand weeding with a trowel.
July
Collect herbs
Collect herbs now from the garden to dry for winter. Tie then together
in bunches and hang them upside down in a coll and airy place. Note:
don't hang them in direct sunlight.
Trim hedges
Trim your privet hedge on a regular basis. Don't let it get to long and
out of control.Frequently trimming your hedge will create a good dense
growth.
Camellias
It's very important at this time of year to water and feed your camellias
if you wish for them to produce a good show of flowers next year.
Delphiniums
Remove fading flower heads from Delphiniums to encourage a second flush
of flowers.
Chrysanthemus
Feed your chrysanthemus this month with a fertiliser that is rich in
potash.Sprinkle the fertiliser around the plants then hoe in.Finally
if the ground is dry make sure you water the area well.
August
Herbs Trimming - Take cuttings
When lavender has finished flowering they can be cut back.This will encourage
the lavender to bush out with new growth. If you don't do this then
your plant could end up looking woody and bare next year. Take cuttings
this month of shrubby herbs and tender perennials, lavender, sage,
rosemary, curry plant, hyssop and rue.
Prune AppleTree's
All long side shoots growing directly from the main branches can be cut
back to about 6 inches. Any shorter shoots can be cut back to about 1
inch.
Laurel Hedges
Prune laurel hedges using Secatuers.Avoid using a hedge trimmer or shears
as this leaves the laurel's foliage looking shabby.
Prune Wisteria
Shorten all long shoots,which are growing out from the main branches
by cutting back to five or six leaves.Unwanted growth on wisteria can
be removed to keep the climber under control.
September
Start tidying up for winter
September is a good time to start tidying up for winter. Debris such
as plants that have died back can be picked up and disposed of. It's
also a great month for collecting seeds. Condition your soil by digging
it over and adding manure at the same time.
Hydrangeas
Cut back flowers of Hydrangeas by cutting back to a healthy pair of leaves.
Herbs
Plant thyme and rue, also sow the seeds of angelica and lovage in the
garden.
Potted Azaleas
Your potted Azaleas will need to be brought indoors sometime this month
ready for the winter.
Take cuttings
Take cuttings this month from: lavender, penstemons, heather, fuchsias,
hydrangeas, rose, clematis, buddleia, alpines, ceanothus and bedding
geraniums. To take cuttings pull with heels, remove the lower leaves
and then place in compostoff side shoots.
October
Time to tidy up
Leaves on the lawn need to be cleared so brush or rake them off and put
on a compost heap if you have one. If not place the leaves in a black
bin bag, put a few holes in the bag, tie it up and leave it alone till
spring when it can be used as food for your borders. Tidy Borders:
Parts of plants that have died back in the borders can be removed,
also any debris such as twigs & stones. Water butts & ponds
may need cleaning out too.
What To Plant
This month you can get planting the following plants: Foxgloves / Hardy
Heathers / Wallflowers / Forget-me-nots / Sweet William and Polyanthus.
Plant spring bedding plants such as aubrietia, alyssum &winter pansies
It's also a good time to plant shrubs & trees.
Dead-head
Dead-head faded flowers &un-healthy looking buds. Tall growing roses
can be cut back to reduce wind-rock. Leave the main pruning until next
March.
Lenten Rose (Hellebours)
Prune out the big old shoots &leaves to make room for new growth.
November
Clear borders of Leaves
Fallen leaves within plants provide a great hiding place for slugs and
snails.So if you don't want your plants eaten by these critters remove
them leaves from plant borders.
Bring In Tender Plants
Tender plants such as Fuchsia,argyranthemums and geraniums need to be
brought into the greenhouse before they are damaged by frost.
Windy weather maybe on it's way
so get staking
Check that climbers, tall plants & young trees are secure to fixings
such as trellising, stakes and canes. If found loose re-tighten. Also
check that structures within the garden such as arches, pergolas and
fencing are in good condition. If any are found to be weak either repair
or replace.
Roses
Collect and dispose of all fallen rose leaves, especially those that
are diseased and infected with a fungus such as Black spot.DO NOT place
rose leaves on compost heap. Bin them or burn them! Prune tall roses
by one third to avoid wind rock damage.
December
Protect plants and pots from frost by placing inside or wrapping in
horticultural fleece.
Continue to tidy the borders removing dead foliage and debris and cutting
back overgrown plants.
After heavy winter rain,top up mulches around the base of your trees.
Don't add fertiliser or plant food ad this time of year as it could promote
early growth that would be affected by frost and freezing winds.
We can help you not only with these tasks but also with all other gardening
jobs you may have to undertake.
Please contact us for more details.
Other months
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