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gardening tips

Wellie’s Gardening Tips – April 2021

April 2, 2021 By Wellie Leave a Comment

Lawns – now is the time to start looking after your lawn.

Every gardener knows, trimmed edges can make all the difference! Apply a spring lawn feed now. Any bumps and hollows on lawns can be repaired by peeling back the turf and either adding or removing soil. Sowing new lawns, or reseeding patches, can be started this month, depending on the weather.

lawn mower, Image by Counselling via Pixabay. A large lawn mower is seen cutting grass. [Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips – April 2021

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Wellie’s Gardening Tips – March 2021

March 1, 2021 By Wellie Leave a Comment

It is time to get busy preparing seed beds, sowing seeds, cutting back winter shrubs and generally tidying up around the garden. Hoe and mulch weeds to keep them under control. Pruning of wisterias will need to be completed this month.

spring wisteria by Shell Ghostcage via Pixabay

Summer flowering clematis, late flowering shrubs (eg Buddleia and Perovskia) and winter flowering shrubs can be pruned now. Apply a general purpose fertiliser and mulch to beds and borders. [Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips – March 2021

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Wellie’s Gardening Tips – February 2021

February 1, 2021 By Wellie Leave a Comment

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.

Rose image by Konevi via Pixabay
Rose image by Konevi via Pixabay

Winter flowering jasmine can be pruned after it has finished flowering. Take out any dead or damaged wood, then tie in any stems needed to extend the framework, then shorten side shoots to 5cm from main framework. Topdress beds and borders with a balanced fertiliser. [Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips – February 2021

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Wellie’s Gardening Tips – January 2021

January 2, 2021 By Wellie Leave a Comment

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.

Red apples on a tree in the garden - image by kaboompics.
Red apples on a tree in the garden – image by kaboompics.

[Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips – January 2021

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Wellie’s Gardening Tips for December 2020 + Vegetable Sowing Chart for the Year

December 1, 2020 By Wellie Leave a Comment

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.

Leaves should be composted. Raking leaves image by Susy Morris via Flickr.
Raking leaves image by Susy Morris via Flickr.

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.

To keep your indoor hyacinths blooming longer, make sure they are kept in a cool, bright place. If they are kept too warm the leaves will elongate and the flowers will fade quickly.

hyacinth
Hyacinth

Put bark chips around your hellebores to protect emerging blooms from rain splashes. Cut off any leaves with black spots on them to try and prevent the fungal disease spreading. [Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips for December 2020 + Vegetable Sowing Chart for the Year

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Wellie’s Gardening Tips for November 2020

November 2, 2020 By Wellie Leave a Comment

Keep raking up leaves from lawns and paths, and off the beds if they are laying thickly, if not they can be left for the worms to break them up and incorporate them into the soil.

leaves and autumn

Tie-in long whippy shoots of climbers and wall shrubs. Prune roses to prevent wind-rock and this is also the time to prune most deciduous trees, but a lot of deciduous ornamental grasses can be left until the spring. [Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips for November 2020

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Wellie’s Gardening Tips for October 2020

October 3, 2020 By Wellie Leave a Comment

Bulbs glorious bulbs. Now is the time to buy and plant bulbs for spring displays. Life might not be back to normal but at least we can add some colour and enjoyment to our gardens. Why not think about adding some pots of winter colour, such as heathers, pansies, violas and cyclamen.

Pansy image by manfredrichter by Pixabay [Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips for October 2020

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Wellie’s Gardening Tips for September 2020

September 2, 2020 By Wellie Leave a Comment

Overgrown clumps of herbaceous perennials can be divided now. This will invigorate them and improve flowering and overall shape. Lift the clump and split the outer area of the clump, discarding the centre which will be the oldest part of the clump.

Don’t worry if you are not able to do this now, some can wait until next Spring, just make a note of which ones need attention.

Continue to deadhead plants to prolong the display. Why not treat yourself to some Spring bulbs that you can scatter around the garden or put into pots to give some brightness at the beginning of next year.

Blue pillow Image by Manfred Richter from Pixabay
Blue pillow Image by Manfred Richter from Pixabay

[Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips for September 2020

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Wellie’s Gardening Tips for August 2020

August 2, 2020 By Wellie 1 Comment

This is a perfect time to be thinking about taking cuttings of some short lived or tender plants that might not over-winter such as some penstemons and salvias.

sage pixabay image

Select a vigorous shoot, preferably a shoot that hasn’t flowered, otherwise make sure all buds have been taken off, cut a 5cm length as near to a leaf joint as possible, strip off the lowest leaves and insert into compost. Keep in a cool, moist environment out of full sunlight. [Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips for August 2020

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Wellie’s Gardening Tips for July 2020

July 5, 2020 By Wellie Leave a Comment

Divide congested clumps of bearded iris after flowering. Dead head bedding plants, roses and herbaceous plants to encourage more flowers.

kaboompics_Iris flowers blooming in Madrid Botanic Garden

Trim evergreen hedges, including conifers. Feed dahlias and cannas every two weeks with a high potassium fertilizer, such as tomato feed. Prune early-summer flowering shrubs, such as Philadelphus, once they have finished flowering. [Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips for July 2020

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Wellie’s Gardening Tips for June 2020

June 6, 2020 By Wellie Leave a Comment

So, after all those weeks that we have had in lock down, and the sunshine and showers our gardens have received we should all be starting to notice a difference when we look outside.

Hopefully, as businesses start to reopen, garden centres will as well, and any gaps in the garden can then be instantly filled, adding more colour to the garden.

kaboompics_Iris flowers blooming in Madrid Botanic Garden
[Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips for June 2020

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Wellie’s Gardening Tips for May 2020

May 3, 2020 By Wellie Leave a Comment

It is a bit strange writing this column while we are all stuck at home keeping social distance, and none of us can predict if things will change before May. I have noticed that more people are taking an interest in their gardens so perhaps some of this information will be helpful.

Coronavirus image by Karolina Grabowska

Summer bedding can be planted out in the garden and pots once the risk of frost has passed. Dahlia plants can be planted out at the end of the month. Any herbaceous plants that will flop over or be damaged by high winds need to be staked. Keep up with the weeding, either by hand or hoeing them. Evergreen hedges can be cut from this month, but check for nesting birds before getting the hedgecutter out. [Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips for May 2020

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Wellie’s Gardening Tips for April 2020

April 4, 2020 By Wellie 1 Comment

Check roses for black spot, remove and destroy any infected leave and treat with a fungicide. Cotinus and Sambucus grown for their foliage effect can be cut back now.

Roses image by Karolina Grabowska
[Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips for April 2020

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Wellie’s Gardening Tips for March 2020

March 4, 2020 By Wellie Leave a Comment

This month can be quite a busy month, but a lot will depend on the weather and the risk of frosts.

Rose photo Karolina GrabowskaPerennials that are congested and overcrowded can be lifted and split this month. Overwintered dahlias can be kick started by potting them in free draining compost, when they start to produce new shoots, the first of these can be cut and potted to multiply your stock. [Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips for March 2020

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Wellie’s Gardening Tips for February 2020

February 8, 2020 By Wellie Leave a Comment

Protect the blossom on peaches and nectarines. Prune autumn fruiting raspberries, cutting all stems down to ground level. Sow broad beans directly in the garden, or in pots. Chit potatoes, prepare vegetable beds for later sowings. Start sowing early vegetable seeds under cover (eg broad beans, pea, spinach, cabbages). Mulch around the base of fruit trees.

peaches image by tppancs via pixabay.
[Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips for February 2020

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Wellie’s Gardening Tips for January 2020

January 5, 2020 By Wellie Leave a Comment

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.

garden JesusLeal image Pixabay

Midwinter is a tough time for wildlife in the garden. Make sure there is a continuous supply of food and fresh water. Knock snow off branches, especially conifers, if they are bending under the weight.

hedgehog-child-Alexas_Fotos Pixabay

[Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips for January 2020

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2019 December Gardening Tips by Wellie

December 5, 2019 By Wellie 1 Comment

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.

winter-sogard-image-via-pixabay

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 2019 December Gardening Tips by Wellie

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2019 November Gardening Tips by Wellie

November 10, 2019 By Wellie Leave a Comment

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.

Ivy photo by Alexas_Fotos via Pixabay
Ivy photo by Alexas_Fotos via Pixabay

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 2019 November Gardening Tips by Wellie

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2019 October Gardening Tips by Wellie

October 6, 2019 By Wellie Leave a Comment

This month the days are closing in, and it can be distinctly chilly, but there is also beauty all around as the leaves start their autumn change, so now is the time to:

Cut back herbaceous perennials that have died down. Split and divide older clumps of overgrown perennials. [Read more…] about 2019 October Gardening Tips by Wellie

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2019 September Gardening Tips by Wellie

September 6, 2019 By Wellie Leave a Comment

Now that strawberries have finished fruiting, it’s time to propagate new plants. [Read more…] about 2019 September Gardening Tips by Wellie

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