Gardening for spring with Sue Fisher
Early spring is a great time to revitalise garden borders that have become lacklustre, overcrowded, or somehow never quite satisfactory. New plants can be settled in before the growing season really kicks off; mature shrubs may be rejuvenated by hard pruning; herbaceous perennials and ornamental grasses can be divided to turn single plants or small groups into large, eye-catching drifts. It’s easy to overlook how plants grow and change over time and a once-attractive border will have plants that have grown at different speeds to become unbalanced.
Start by looking at the largest plants – usually shrubs, sometimes conifers. Even quite mature plants, particularly evergreens, can be moved to a new site if done with care. It very much depends on the type and the root system, but if a plant is in the wrong place, it’s worth a go. Do check for nesting birds first, though, and delay until autumn if you have any residents. Get the new planting hole prepared first; dig round the plant and slip a piece of tarp underneath to keep as much soil round the roots as possible. The other option is to hard prune: the usual method of rejuvenating a mature plant is to thin out about a third of the oldest stems near the ground, letting light and air through the congested centre and encouraging new growth. However, there are some shrubs such as camellias and laurels that can be taken back almost to the ground, even when mature, and they will regrow really well. Late-summer flowering shrubs such as butterfly bush (Buddleja) can also be hard pruned in total too.
Introducing just a few new plants to a border can make an astonishing transformation. Think about contrasting shape, foliage, and stem colour as these will impact all year. Flowers are delightful, of course, and choosing blooms for a succession of colour through every season will pay dividends. Choose pollinator-friendly plants wherever possible: bees, butterflies and other insects need every bit of help we can give. Go to www.rhs.org.uk for its extensive downloadable list of Plants for Pollinators. Fortunately, garden centres and nurseries have mostly remained open during lockdown (check opening times first though), providing a good opportunity to buy any new plants you need and continuing to support local businesses wherever possible.
Seed sowing
Growing summer flowers and veggies from seed is one of the delights of the season, and the magic of planting tiny little seeds and seeing them develop into glorious plants is something that I never tire of. Here’s my top ‘dos and don’ts with seeds.
DO
Have a go. The simplest ones to start with are hardy annual flowers and veg.
Make a wish list from a catalogue or website browsing. Then total up the quantity and cost, look at your available space, and probably cut it drastically!
Use a good seed compost, which is finer texture and lower in nutrients than multipurpose compost.
Label with plant name and sowing date.
DON’T
Get in a rut with what you grow. Plant breeders are constantly introducing new varieties with features such as improved garden performance, disease resistance, ability to withstand weather, and new colour breaks.
Sow a whole packet in one go unless there’s very few seeds. Keep some in reserve in case the first sowing fails and seeds often keep for years. Sowing thinly gives healthier seedlings too.
Pot on everything if lots of seedlings germinate. No point in potting 20 tomatoes if you only need six.
Gardening jobs for the season
Plant lily bulbs in tubs or in the ground, into soil or compost with organic matter and good drainage. Not all are scented, so if perfume is your priority, plant regal lily (Lilium regale) and sumptuous Oriental hybrids.
Big clumps of crocus and snowdrops can be transplanted now by lifting the clump, separating into several clusters of bulbs, and replanting.
Keep on top of weed seedlings. A regular whizz round with a hoe to slice off young weeds – on a dry day - saves hours of backbreaking work later.
Avoid weedkiller and instead kill weeds the slow and easy way, by covering the ground with light-excluding brown cardboard or landscaping fabric.
Plant seed potatoes, onion sets, shallot, and garlic varieties that are suitable for spring planting.
Add or expand the water in your garden to benefit wildlife. A pond is fantastic and can be made to any size. Even just a bird bath will be a big attraction: do clean and refresh the water regularly and remember to clean bird feeders too.
Sue Fisher
(Sue continues to be available for garden advisory visits and design work, operating according to Covid-19 social distancing guidelines. Contact Sue on 01822 841895 or email at suefisher@talktalk.net. Website: suefishergardens.co.uk )