GARDENING in February, the Willowfield Way !

Well, after a long wet winter we can’t wait for the weather to dry up a bit so we can get out into the garden and get some work done. I can’t remember when we had more than a day without rain and two days in a row ? nah !, impossible…memory not that good ! But, it will happen again soon, so be prepared.

1. The LAWN is just one soggy sponge at the moment and the moss has really enjoyed the wet mild winter to grow and smother the grass and will need tackling over the next couple of months before summer arrives. The grass has continued to grow sporadically over the winter in places and the lawn looks very uneven and patchy in colour too. Whenever the ground has dried up a bit try and get the grass cut, not too low but just low enough to level out the uneven growth. Wait about a week for the grass to recover somewhat and then scatter some Lawn Feed with Moss and Weeedkiller mix. This will help sort out some of these over wintered problems. The moss will get burned off and the grass will be able to start taking back loss ground again. If your moss has got very thick over the winter you might have to give it a hard raking to loosen up the moss so it can be collected by the mower at the next mowing.
2. The SHRUB beds need to be weeded or sprayed and Prune back summer flowering shrubs so that fresh growth can take place from a strong framework. Prune spring flowering shrubs once they have finished flowering. Now is a good time to plant new shrubs into your garden or to move any existing shrubs that you might feel are getting overcrowded.
3. TREES can be pruned back now to keep a check on growth to stop them getting too big and it is also a good time to plant up new trees. Make sure that these freshly planted trees are well staked and secure to prevent rocking in the wind.
4. HEDGES can be planted up until the middle of March from bare rooted planting material. These are rooted cuttings or seed grown trees that have been grown in nursery beds in a field and dug up during the winter rather than being grown in containers. These bare rooted plants need to be planted before growth starts in late April. Container grown hedging however can be planted year round but the bare rooted material works out more economical. Whitethorn is the best for hedging in a field situation, Griselinia, Beech and Laurel are the most popular for boundary hedging, with Fuchsia and Olearia useful for flowering hedgerows and Boxus or even Lavender for small hedging within the garden itself. So plenty to choose from and Now is the time to do it !
5. SPRING BULBS are popping up all around now and if you missed out on planting up bulbs last autumn you can now use ones that have been grown in pots to add to your flower beds or pots and window boxes beside the house.
6. SPRING flowers like Heathers, Primrose, Bellis, Viola, Pansies and Wallflowers can all be used to add colour to your garden and planted arrangements.
7. SUMMER flowering bulbs and corms like Begonia, Gladioli, Lillies etc can be planted now in pots for eventual planting outside when the frosts have finished.
8. FRUIT bushes, plants and trees can all be planted now to give fruit this summer. Gooseberry, Autumn Raspberry, Blue Berry and Currants will all give some degree of fruit the same year of planting as will strawberries. The tree fruit, Apples, Pears, Cherry and Plum may give a few fruits the first year but will gradually produce more each season after the tree has become established which might take a couple of years , so don’t be too impatient. Established Apple trees should be pruned by the end of March, removing damaged branches, thinning out the centre of the tree and pruning back shoot tips to keep the trees from getting too tall.
9. In the VEGE garden there is plenty to do. SEED POTATOES can be prepared or ‘chitted’ ready for planting in March and early sowings of vegetables can be made under protection in a glasshouse, polytunnel or on a bright windowsill in the house. There is a wide range of vegetables and salad crops that can be started from seed and this year at Willowfield we have a selection of varieties of seed crops specially selected for growing in our climate. If you have a polythene tunnel for growing vegetables in there is a wide range of seeds you can start sowing now but still have to take precautions against a severe frost while Onion sets and garlic can be planted outside from now on regardless of the weather. If you have not already done so you should prepare the ground in the vege garden by digging in well-rotted manure so that when the main planting season comes in late spring the ground will be ready for easy planting. Pelleted poultry manure would be an alternative fertilizer that could be applied at planting time but the manure will also help with the structure of the soil.
10. Remember to keep on feeding the birds ! even though spring is arriving there is still a shortage of high energy food for the birds and they would really enjoy some easy pickings from your bird feeder or table.

For further advice and gardening tips call out to Willowfield Garden Centre and see our increasing range of products, see you there..
Simon and Margaret.
087 2953990

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