gardening

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

Clear paths of moss and lichen so that they are not a slip hazard (elf ‘n’ safety!). Check that there isn’t any fuel left in your garden machinery before storing over winter, as stale fuel is often the reason why a mower will not start at the beginning of the following season.

Keep raking up those leaves from the lawn and borders. [Read more…] about Gardening Tips for December by Wellie

Rake up leaves on the lawn. Tie-in long whippy shoots of climbers and wall shrubs. Prune roses to prevent wind-rock. Now is the time to prune most deciduous trees, a lot of deciduous ornamental grasses can be left until the spring. [Read more…] about Gardening Tips for November by Wellie

Start planting bulbs for spring display now. As a quick rule for depth of planting, bulbs should be planted 3 times the height of the bulb.

Prune late flowering shrubs and finish trimming evergreen hedges by mid September to make sure they are in shape for winter. Divide herbaceous perennials if they have outgrown their space or are looking tired. Doing this will improve their flowering and shape and invigorate them. [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. Continue to 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. [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 from Wellie