Gardening

Complete pruning of climbing and bush roses before new growth becomes too strong. Once winter flowering heathers have finished, trim them back with shears to the base of flower stalks.

Cut back ornamental grasses and other perennials left for winter interest. Prune shrubs hard such as Cornus and Salix grown for winter coloured stems. [Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips for February

Midwinter can be a tough time for wildlife in the garden. Make sure there is a continuous supply of food and fresh water for them. Prune redcurrants and gooseberries, if there is no risk of frosts.

Rhubarb can be forced by covering crowns with a bucket, box or forcing jar. Winter prune wisteria by reducing last year’s growth to spurs of two or three buds. Remove any leaves on winter pansies and violas with downy mildew and black spot. [Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips for January

Keep raking up those leaves from the lawn and borders. If it’s a mild winter, continue to cut the lawn if it’s growing, but raise the height of the mower blades.

From now until the end of March is the time to plant any bare rooted trees, shrubs and roses. Check stored fruit, throw out any that are rotten. Reduce watering on houseplants. [Read more…] about Gardening Tips for December 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.

Bare rooted roses can be planted now. Prune bush roses to prevent wind-rock and clear up any fallen rose leaves, especially if they suffered from black spot and rust, to reduce the chance of infection next year.
[Read more…] about Gardening Tips for November by Wellie

This is a lovely month with the trees starting to change colour, but the temperatures are dropping and the nights are drawing in, so get as many jobs done in the garden before it gets too cold.

Wallflowers can be planted now, providing foliage ground cover all winter, and fragrance and colour next spring. [Read more…] about Gardening Tips for October by Wellie

Make the most of the warmth in the air and soil, before the temperatures drop at the beginning of Autumn.

Start planting bulbs for spring display now. Tulips are better left until November, but daffodils need to be planted now. As a quick rule for depth of planting, bulbs should be planted 3 times the height of the bulb. [Read more…] about Gardening Tips for September 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. Summer prune wisteria. [Read more…] about Gardening Tips for August by Wellie

Dead head roses and bedding plants regularly to prolong flowering. Keep containers watered and fed to ensure continued good performance.

Cut back hardy geraniums to ground level after they have had their first flush of flowers to encourage new foliage and more flowers later in the year. Divide congested clumps of bearded iris after flowering. Check clematis for signs of clematis wilt. [Read more…] about Gardening Tips for July by Wellie

Everything in the garden is in full swing now. Dead head spent flowers so that the plants don’t use all their energy into making seedheads, rather they can produce more blooms instead.

Carry on cutting the lawns regularly, mow in different directions to prevent wear patterns and to encourage upright growth. [Read more…] about Gardening Tips for June by Wellie

Summer is approaching but don’t be tempted to put out summer bedding until the risk of frosts are over, and make sure they have been hardened off before planting out.

Dahlia plants can be planted out at the end of the month. [Read more…] about Gardening Tips for May by Wellie

Hydrangea flower heads left for winter protection can be cut off now. Shorten any thin or older shoots of mop head and lace cap hydrangeas to their lowest bud.

Prune Chaenomeles (ornamental quince) and Forsythia after they have finished flowering. Check roses for black spot, remove any infected leaves and treat with a fungicide. [Read more…] about Gardening Tips for April by Wellie

Lift and divide overgrown clumps of herbaceous perennials that were not split in the Autumn.

Overcrowded clumps of snowdrops and winter aconites can be lifted and divided after they have finished flowering.

Shrubs can be moved now and should re-establish quickly.

Now is an ideal time to feed plants with a balanced fertiliser such as fish, blood and bone or Growmore. [Read more…] about Gardening Tips for March from Wellie

Sweet peas are wonderfully cheery flowers to have.

They are beautiful as cut flowers with a heavenly scent. You can sow them in March but you’ll have better plants, with longer flowering stems, if you sow them now. [Read more…] about Gardening Tips for February from Wellie

This is a great time to plan what you would like to do in the garden for the rest of the year, take a note book and walk around the garden.

Look at seed catalogues for ideas of what to sow.

Midwinter can be a tough time for wildlife in the garden. Make sure there is a continuous supply of food and fresh water. [Read more…] about Gardening Tips for January from Wellie