Wellie

Prevent leaf scorch of container grown Japanese maples by keeping them well watered and in a sheltered spot out of strong sunshine and winds.

Divide congested clumps of bearded iris after flowering. Dead head bedding plants, roses and herbaceous plants to encourage more flowers. Trim evergreen hedges, including conifers. [Read more…] about 2019 July Gardening Tips by Wellie

Pinch out tips of new growth on figs at the end of month, when the shoots have 5 leaves. Stop cutting asparagus now and topdress with a general purpose fertilizer.

Thin fruit on young or heavily bearing fruit trees, after the June drop, to improve size and quality. Regularly pinch out side shoots of cordon tomatoes.
[Read more…] about 2019 June Gardening Tips by Wellie

Plant out summer bedding once the risk of frost has passed. Keep an eye on the weather forecast, and protect with horticultural fleece if necessary. [Read more…] about 2019 May Gardening Tips by Wellie

Feed rose bushes and check them for black spot. Remove infected leaves and treat plant with a fungicide. The tips of Marguerites, Pelargoniums and Fuchsias can be pinched out now to encourage bushy growth. [Read more…] about 2019 April Gardening Tips by Wellie

Dead head spring bulbs. Prune hydrangeas by cutting back old flowerheads to first pair of strong buds, and cut up to a third of oldest stems back to their base.

Cornus and Salix grown for winter colour can be cut back hard now. Apply general purpose fertiliser and mulch to beds and borders. Start putting supports in place for herbaceous perennials. [Read more…] about 2019 March Gardening Tips by Wellie

Complete pruning of climbing and bush roses before new growth becomes too strong. Cut back ornamental grasses and other perennials left for winter interest. [Read more…] about 2019 February Gardening Tips by Wellie

The start of a new year, the beginning of exciting times in the garden.

Time to plan what you want to do to your garden over the coming year.

Look at seed catalogues and order which seeds you would like to sow. Wash pots and seed trays so they are clean and ready for using in the coming year. Cut back deciduous grasses to allow new shoots to emerge freely. [Read more…] about 2019 January Gardening Tips by Wellie

Now is the perfect time to prune fruit trees to maintain an open, balanced structure and encourage quality fruit production. However plums, cherries and other stone fruits should not be pruned until the summer as winter pruning will make them susceptible to silver leaf fungus.

Prune acers, birches and vines before Christmas to avoid bleeding. [Read more…] about December Gardening Tips by Wellie

Jobs to do as winter approaches and the garden quietens.

Rake up leaves on the lawn. Tie-in long whippy shoots of climbers and wall shrubs. Prune roses to prevent wind-rock. [Read more…] about November Gardening Tips by Wellie

Wallflowers can be planted now, providing foliage ground cover all winter, and fragrance and colour next spring. Continue planting spring flowering bulbs.

Cut back herbaceous perennials that have died down. Split and divide older clumps of overgrown perennials. Prune climbing and rambling roses now and tie in stems to prevent damage in high winds. [Read more…] about October Gardening Tips by Wellie

Plant spring bulbs by the end of the month. As a quick rule for depth of planting, bulbs should be planted 3 times the height of the bulb. But leave planting tulips until November. [Read more…] about September Gardening Tips by Wellie

Summer is in full swing, and to keep your garden looking lovely there are a few things to do this month.

Dead head regularly to maintain flowering, cut back perennials that have collapsed. Continue to summer prune wisteria. Rambling roses can be pruned after flowering. Cut back lavender shrubs after they have flowered by removing flower stalks and about 2.5cm of the current year’s growth. [Read more…] about August Gardening Tips by Wellie

Prune early-summer flowering shrubs, such as Philadelphus, once they have finished flowering. Cut back flowered growth to a strong lower shoot and thin out up to a fifth of old, woody stems. [Read more…] about July Gardening Tips by Wellie

Now is the time to divide beared irises, replant sections that have two or more fans on them. Keep watering plants, especially newly planted ones, young vegetables, containers and hanging baskets.

Protect plants from slugs and snails. [Read more…] about June Gardening Tips by Wellie

Hoe weeds as they appear. Dead head spring flowering bulbs as they finish flowering. If daffodils have flowered poorly, lift and divide bulbs, replanting the larger bulbs. [Read more…] about May Gardening Tips by Wellie

Feed rose bushes and check them for black spot. Remove infected leaves and treat plant with a fungicide. The tips of Marguerites, Pelargoniums and Fuchsias can be pinched out now to encourage bushy growth. [Read more…] about April Gardening Tips by Wellie

Dead head daffodils as they fade, but allow the foliage to die down naturally. Feed borders with a general purpose fertiliser. It is best to get supports into borders early, so that plants can grow up through them. [Read more…] about March Gardening Tips by Wellie

Prune late summer flowering shrubs that flower on current year’s growth such as Buddleia, Lavatera, Hydrangea and deciduous Ceanothus. Group Three clematis can be cut down to 30cm from ground level. Once winter flowering heathers have finished, they can be trimmed with shears. [Read more…] about February Gardening Tips by Wellie

If the weather is cold and wet, why not sit inside with a cup of tea and a slice of Christmas cake and plan what you would like to do in the garden for the rest of the year. Look at seed catalogues for ideas of what to sow. [Read more…] about January Gardening Tips by Wellie