Spring – It Has Never Been More Welcome! Gardeners always welcome spring – and never


more so than this year after a winter dominated by deluging rain, flooding and misery.


Beds, borders, tubs and pots are bright with spring-flowering bulbs and canny gardeners will have selected carefully to ensure colourful displays right the way through to the end of May.


As bulbs die off they can look very untidy; however, it is important not to remove the foliage until it has fully dried – but deadhead because this ensures the bulb doesn’t waste energy producing seeds and instead ‘stores’ the resources to help produce quality flowers the following spring. Don’t delay splitting up snowdrop clumps that require attention, and replant in their new position immediately.


Now is the time to stock up with summer-flowering bulbs. Most are as trouble-free as their spring-flowering counterparts – and very few are hyper- fussy about location. Even so, rather than rushing into the garden centre and picking up packets randomly, it is worth researching and planning ahead of the visit. Most bulbs look very good planted in clumps or swathes, but they are also very useful for filling in gaps in beds and borders – and many are wonderful


in tubs and pots too (select highly scented bulbs to plant in tubs surrounding sitting-out areas).


On the basis that the Met Office has


warned that our weather is expected to become more and more unstable – lurching from one extreme weather event to another – it’s worth remembering that the condition of the soil is fundamental to its ability to cope with too much and too little rain. Incorporating organic matter – plenty of it – will make a huge difference. This might be the time to consider adding another compost bin (or two) to maximise effect, and don’t forget to compost kitchen peelings and other suitable waste. It is unwise to compost


Visiting other people’s gardens is fun, inspirational and informative.


The chances are that most


gardeners know about the ‘little yellow book’ produced by the National Gardens Scheme (www.ngs.org.uk), which lists all the gardens in Kent that open their gates to the public on specified dates in aid of selected charities.


The variety of the gardens is


extraordinary – some very large, others tiny – and they all open at times of the year when they are at their very best. Entrance fees are very small: rarely more than £4 or £5, sometimes less, and many serve delicious home-made afternoon teas. The ‘little yellow book’ can be picked up free of charge from garden centres and other retailers.


One to visit at any time of the year Great Comp Gardens 38 Mid Kent Living


free of charge is Hadlow College’s 10- acre Broadview Gardens, which includes 100m-long mixed borders and a series of ‘rooms’ dedicated to specialist designs including Italianate, grasses, Oriental, sub-tropical – and many others. Designed and constructed over a number of years, as the gardens are used as a teaching resource, the majority of trees, shrubs and plants are named – something


cooked foods as these tend to attract vermin.


You should ensure you check trellis and other supports for damage that occurred as a result of the strong winds we experienced earlier in the year. It is so much better to complete this job before the growth of climbers and ramblers accelerates, so making a simple task very difficult.


Editorial by Pat Crawford, Hadlow College


that is very helpful to visiting gardeners.


Another ‘freebie’ on offer is the Medway Horticulture Fair at Cozenton Park (Bloors Lane, Rainham, ME8 7EG), which this year combines with a Hadlow College Open Day on May 10-11, 10.00am-5.00pm. Entrance is free. Nearly 30 stalls include bedding plants, ready-planted hanging baskets and other containers, garden ornaments, jewellery, greetings cards, burger van, ice cream van and lots more. Hadlow tutors will be giving demonstrations both days and there will be an opportunity to obtain advice and discuss the range of full-time, part-time and sessional courses offered by the college.


Enjoy the leisure visits.


Broadview Gardens


FREE GARDEN VISITS


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