Homes & Gardens
Gardening Tips March
This is a busy time in the garden. The weather is becoming spring - like and the evenings are brighter. All the jobs you put off since Christmas need to be tackled. Deciduous shrubs and trees are bursting into growth along with the weeds and the lawn. It’s time for the ladies to get out the lawn mower ! As soon as possible start cutting the grass. If it has not been cut since last autumn it will be long and tufted and hard work. Choose a dry day, cut it to three inches and remove the cuttings. The same day, or soon after, cut it again to half its height. Don’t put it out of your mind,
it will be easier to cut
when short in about 10 days. Keep an eye on your favourite hostas which will be starting into growth. Slugs and snails love them, removing the shoots before the leaves can open. Use beer ( but don’t waste it ) or citrus skins on a daily basis to trap enemy number 1. This is the best time to move snowdrops. Once the flowers have faded dig up the plants. Take care not to damage the bulb or the foliage. Tease out the clumps and transplant straight away at the same depth. Water to settle the soil around the roots. St.Patrick’s Day or the Ides of March, two days won’t make any difference but now is the time to prune your rose bushes. Cut out the old branches as close to ground level as possible. Remove thin shoots. Cut the younger growths back to 6-8 inches above an outward pointing bud. Remove the prunings There is good news and, naturally, there is bad news. Easter is at the end of this month. British Summer Time starts so there is an extra hour of daylight in the evening, and the children are off school for Easter holidays. You can decide which is the good news! Money Saving Tip: Dissolve washing soda crystals in hot water and brush over paths and patios to remove green algae. It is cheaper than chemicals off the garden centre shelf.
Check List.
Weed and mulch borders. Clip heathers and lavender. Divide pond marginal plants. Sow half-hardy annuals such as french marigold, petunia and nicotiana. Carry out the first grass cut of the season. Prune the rest of the summer flowering shrubs such as spirea and japonica. Begin slug control using upturned beer or citrus shells.
This is the time for splashes of colour, such as celandines, daffodils and primulas, which attract the first insects emerging from their winter sleep for a pollen feast. Wild daffodils are smaller and less showy but perfect partners for a wildlife haven. The patches of warmer weather are the start of great activity in the garden. You will find that many plants and animals are beginning their breeding cycles. On the wildlife front, frogs are busy in ponds and toads will start to lay eggs a little later. Mammals are waking up from hibernation and badger and fox cubs are developing in their earths underground. As the birds are starting to build their nests, the untidy parts of the garden will provide all sorts of grass stems, bark pieces, dead leaves and moss. So why not brush the dog outside to provide some hair for the lining of nests. The blackbird in your garden may be the first to build.
Men are like a fine wine. They all start out like grapes, and it's our job to stamp on them and keep them in the dark until they mature into something you'd want to have dinner with. Female Author Unknown
NURSERY END
GARDEN CENTRE
Tel: 01254 389611
www.nurseryend.co.uk
Vegetables - Seed Pot - Spring Bedding
Harrington Street, Clayton Le Moors, BB5 4DF.
My Wife the Gardener
She dug the plot on Monday – the soil was rich and fine, She forgot to thaw out dinner – so we went out to dine… She planted roses Tuesday – she says they are a must, They really are quite lovely but she quite forgot to dust. On Wednesday it was daisies – they opened up with sun,
All whites and pinks and yellows – but the laundry wasn’t done The poppies came on Thursday - a bright and cherry red,
I guess she really was engrossed – she never made the bed… It was violets on Friday – in colours she adores,
It never bothered her at all – all crumbs upon the floors… I hired a maid on Saturday – my week is now complete,
My wife can garden all she wants – the house will still be neat! It’s nearly lunchtime Sunday – and I cannot find the maid, Oh no! I don’t believe it! She’s out there WITH THE SPADE!
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