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June Gardening Tips by Wellie

June 1, 2022 By Wellie Leave a Comment

20th June is the longest day this year bringing extra sunlight hours (and perhaps warmer weather).

Gardens will be full of flowers and the veg gardens producing lots to harvest, but the weeds will be having a merry time as well and need to be kept in check.

June is a glorious month. Image by Jill Mayes
June is a glorious month. Image by Jill Mayes

[Read more…] about June Gardening Tips by Wellie

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May Gardening Tips by Wellie

May 6, 2022 By Wellie Leave a Comment

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.


Dahlia plants can be planted out at the end of the month. Stake any herbaceous plants that will flop over or be damaged by high winds. Evergreen hedges can be cut from this month, but check for nesting birds before getting the shears or hedgecutter out. [Read more…] about May Gardening Tips by Wellie

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April Gardening Tips by Wellie

April 9, 2022 By Wellie Leave a Comment

Hydrangea flowerheads left for winter protection can be cut off now. Remove old flowerheads of mophead and lace cap hydrangeas to just above a pair of buds, cut out any thin, weak stems around the base of the plant and remove one or two of the largest, oldest stems as low down as possible to the base to promote new shoots. Hydrangea serrata and quercifolia are lightly pruned, just removing old flower heads.

Image by Kavowo from Pixabay
Image by Kavowo from Pixabay

Hydrangea paniculate and aboresens, which flower on this year’s growth can be pruned back harder without losing this year’s flowers.
[Read more…] about April Gardening Tips by Wellie

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March Gardening Tips by Wellie

March 3, 2022 By Wellie Leave a Comment

bloom image by Pexels via Pixabay

Dead head daffodils as they fade, but allow the foliage to die down naturally.

Plant in the garden any forced bulbs that you had growing indoors such as hyacinths and daffodils so that they can add more colour to your garden next year. Feed borders with a general purpose fertiliser, but feed acid loving shrubs such as azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias with an ericaceous fertiliser.

bloom image by Pexels via Pixabay [Read more…] about March Gardening Tips by Wellie

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February Gardening Tips by Wellie

February 3, 2022 By Wellie Leave a Comment

Bulbous and tuberous plants kept in containers over winter can get damp and rot. Pots of dahlias, agapanthus and lilies should be stacked on their sides, one on top of the other, in a cold greenhouse to stop moisture getting into the roots. When the weather improves in February or March, stand them the right way up, water well and start them growing again.

Dahlias image by emkanicepic via Pixabay
Dahlias image by emkanicepic via Pixabay

Cut back herbaceous perennials and deciduous grasses left for winter interest before new growth commences. Prune shrubs hard such as Cornus and Salix grown for winter coloured stems. Winter flowering jasmine can be pruned after it has finished flowering. Prune Wisteria and Campsis by cutting back side shoots to 2 or 3 buds. Prune late summer flowering shrubs such as Buddleja, Lavatera and Fuchsia hard. [Read more…] about February Gardening Tips by Wellie

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January Gardening Tips by Wellie

January 6, 2022 By Wellie 2 Comments

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. Apple and pear trees can still be pruned now, if there is no risk of frosts, by taking out any diseased, crossing or dead branches. Aim to end up with an open tree that allows light and air into it.

Photo by Oldiefan via Pixabay
Photo by Oldiefan via Pixabay

Prune outdoor grapevines by mid January, rising sap ‘bleeds’ from pruning cuts later in spring. Buy and start chitting early potatoes. Chitting will help to bring on a slightly earlierand heavier crop. [Read more…] about January Gardening Tips by Wellie

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Wellie’s Gardening Tips – December 2021

December 1, 2021 By Wellie Leave a Comment

Clematis pruning guide

Group 1 – Spring
No pruning needed except to control the size or shape of these clematis.
If necessary, lightly prune, back to a pair of healthy buds, immediately after flowering

Tip: Early flowering clematis can become overgrown as they age. A hard pruning can rejuvenate the plant but the next seasons flowers will be lost. In early spring, cut stems back to a pair of healthy buds several inches above the ground to encourage new growth

Image by Sonja Kalee from Pixabay
Image by Sonja Kalee from Pixabay

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

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Wellie’s Gardening Tips – November 2021

November 3, 2021 By Wellie Leave a Comment

I thought this month, instead of talking about what needs doing in the garden I would talk about petrol and using it in garden machinery.

On the 1st September unleaded fuel was changed from E5 (5 % ethanol) to E10 (10% ethanol). The reason for the change is to help tackle climate change and to reduce CO2 emissions.

CO2 Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
CO2 Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
[Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips – November 2021

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Wellie’s Gardening Tips – October 2021

October 3, 2021 By Wellie Leave a Comment

Sweet peas can be sown now indoors for an early flowering next year.

Prune tall shrubs that will be hard pruned in the Spring, eg Lavatera and Buddleja, by half now to reduce wind rock. Cut down herbaceous
perennials that have finished flowering and are looking untidy.

Sweet peas image by Nowaja via Pixabay
Sweet peas image by Nowaja via Pixabay

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

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Wellie’s Gardening Tips – September 2021

September 3, 2021 By Wellie Leave a Comment

Make the most of the warmth in the air and soil, before the temperatures drop at the beginning of Autumn. Some Broad beans and pea varieties (such as Aquadulce Claudia and Pea ‘Douce Prvence’) can be sown now for an earlier crop next year, along with spring cabbages and spinach (which might need to be covered from frosts).

Spinach image by Thilo Becker via Pixabay.
Spinach image by Thilo Becker via Pixabay.

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

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Wellie’s Gardening Tips – August 2021

August 6, 2021 By Wellie Leave a Comment

Now is the time to summer prune your wisteria, which will have put on lots of wispy tendrils. Unless they are pruned twice a year, it will grow very large and soon outgrow its allotted space. Cut the wispy growth back to five or six buds from the main stem.

spring wisteria by Shell Ghostcage via Pixabay

Once your lavender bushes have finished flowering they can be given a good hair cut to get them back into shape. This can be done by reducing the section of green growth that exists between the wood and the bottom of the flower stem. French lavender needs to be treated slightly differently, they just need to be dead headed throughout the summer. [Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips – August 2021

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Wellie’s Gardening Tips – July 2021

July 1, 2021 By Wellie 3 Comments

Dead head plants regularly to keep them looking good and make their flower display last longer.

Don’t forget to keep watering newly planted plants, because until they have established a good root system their roots will be shallow rooted and small.

watering flowers via Pixabay
[Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips – July 2021

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Wellie’s Gardening Tips – June 2021

June 3, 2021 By Wellie Leave a Comment

Cut lawns once a week, apply a lawn weed, feed and moss killer if not applied last month. Check that herbaceous perennials that need staking have some support otherwise they can flop over and the stems can then be damaged trying to bring them upright again.
lawn mower, Image by Counselling via Pixabay. A large lawn mower is seen cutting grass.
[Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips – June 2021

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Wellie’s Gardening Tips – May 2021

May 1, 2021 By Wellie Leave a Comment

When I wrote this column last year I talked about how we were all at home, keeping social distances and struggling to get any seeds to sow, compost or plants for our gardens. A year on, we have a little more freedom, and garden centres have been open, but even they are struggling to source stock due to covid and Brexit.

Early spring garden - image by kaboompics
Early spring garden – image by kaboompics
[Read more…] about Wellie’s Gardening Tips – May 2021

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Wellie’s Gardening Tips – April 2021

April 2, 2021 By Wellie 1 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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