What to do in your garden in March

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Spring into action this March with our What to do guide.

Where do you begin? March is a busy time in the garden, the weather is getting warmer, things are starting to grow and all those jobs you put off through the cold damp winter months need to be tackled. Follow our guide to March and your garden will be well set up for the coming season.

Now is also a good time to decide whether you need to plan any larger garden landscape projects.  If so, get in touch with us sooner rather than later to ensure we can fit you in before the summer months when you want to be out in the garden enjoying the fruits of your labour.

When the weather is good make the most of it and get on with the following tasks:

General

  1. Frosts can still be a danger in March so keep vulnerable plants protected at night if frost is forecast.
  2. Spring clean! That means weed and dig over your borders incorporating as much compost / organic matter as you can.
  3. Remove moss and weeds from paths and driveways.
  4. Treat garden furniture, sheds, fences and trellis with wood preservative.

Vegetables

  1. Plant asparagus crowns, Jerusalem artichokes, garlic, onion sets, shallots and strawberry plants.
  2. Plant out your early potatoes at the end of the month. If you haven’t already done so already, start chitting your seed potatoes.
  3. Prepare the ground for French and runner beans and courgette plants, dig a trench and add a generous layer of well-rotted manure or compost.
  4. When the weather turns warmer – broad beans, early peas, carrots, lettuces, spinach, salad leaves, leeks and chard can all go in now (check the instructions on the seed packets).

Birds

  1. Keep on feeding the birds – they will have become used to you feeding them regularly.
  2. At Garden Style we stock a great range of bird houses and feeding stations as well as bird food. These also make a nice Mother’s Day gift.

Lawns

  1. Give your lawn a first cut with the blades on the highest setting.
  2. Reseed bare patches and neaten the edges with a half moon cutter or spade.
  3. Apply moss kill such as Evergreen when the weather is mild and preferably dry.
  4. Try not to walk on it too much of it is still very damp.

Trees, Shrubs and Climbers

  1. Feed woody plants such as roses, trees, climbers, hedges and shrubs with general purpose fertiliser.
  2. Prune roses and spray them with fungicide to prevent black spot and mildew.
  3. Prune hydrangeas
  4. Plant and move evergreen shrubs, conifers and trees – remember to water them well if the weather is dry until they are firmly rooted in.
  5. Prune fruit trees before they comes into growth,  including apples, pears, gooseberry and currants.

Herbaceous Border

  1. As soon as the flowers fade Snowdrops can be lifted and divided – you should do this every few years.
  2. Apply slug killer around hostas, even if they aren’t showing yet.
  3. Plant pot-grown bulbs – they will look great when combined with primroses, pansies and violas and keep the spring colours going longer.
  4. Plant gladioli, lilies and dahlias from mid March. If you plant them at fortnightly intervals you’ll get  a succession of blooms throughout the summer. They like a well drained, sunny position.
  5. Before you begin planting you should always plan your borders  and plant in groups.This gives you maximum colour effect. Think about plant heights as well – taller at the back, smaller towards the front
  6. We have a large selection of young herbaceous plants available in our garden centre – pop in and take a look.

Greenhouse

  1. Plant strawberry runners in hanging baskets
  2. Buy seedlings and bedding plants and start them off in the green house until the last frost has gone.
  3. Sow dwarf French beans in a large pot – this will give an early crop in June
  4. Sow sweet peas so they will be ready to plant outside in April / May

Need more advice? Talk to a member of our experienced garden team on your next visit to Rhinegold.

 

What to do in your garden in February

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Ok so it’s still a bit wintery out there with snow, frost and cold weather, but Spring is just around the corner.

Daffodils are pushing up and snowdrops can be seen in the hedgerows.

Here’s our quick rundown of the things you can be doing this month to get yourself and your garden ready for the coming year:

  1. Prepare vegetable seed beds, and sow some vegetables under cover
  2. Chit potato tubers
  3. Protect blossom on apricots, nectarines and peaches
  4. Net fruit and vegetable crops to keep the birds off
  5. Prune winter-flowering shrubs that have finished flowering
  6. Divide bulbs such as snowdrops, and plant those that need planting ‘in the green’
  7. Prune Wisteria
  8. Prune hardy evergreen hedges and renovate overgrown deciduous hedges
  9. Prune conservatory climbers
  10. Cut back deciduous grasses left uncut over the winter

What to do in your garden in January

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It’s the start of a brand new year and a great time for planning and preparing your garden. You might even get nature to give a helping hand this month by digging plots roughly and allowing frost to break down larger lumps of soil. If you’re looking for other handy tips for January here’s our suggestions.

Repair and preserve
At this time of year when many garden plants have died back for the winter, fencing is often more accessible so why not repair existing fencing or erect new? To preserve the life of your fencing use a quality treatment such as Ronseal Fence Life Preservative.

As you won’t be using your lawnmower at the moment, now is also a good time to give it an annual service ready for spring.

Protect
We’ve often mentioned protecting plants from frost at this time of year but please pay special attention to plants in pots. If the pot freezes (which may happen if we have a prolonged spell of freezing temperatures) it can crush the roots and kill the plant. This may not be apparent until spring when the plant wakes up, requires water and can’t take it up because the roots are dead. Protect your pot plants by protecting with fleece.

Preparing for the year ahead
Do you have any new year resolutions for your garden? Perhaps you plan to create or extend a vegetable patch? Try a new planting scheme or invest in some new hard landscaping or garden furniture. Whatever your plans, your time can be used wisely now to gather gardening information for the seasons ahead. If you need inspiration pop along to Rhinegold Garden Centre and have a chat with a member of our team.

Looking good now
When there isn’t a blanket of snow covering our plots, some plants can look really at their best this month namely: Sarcococca, Hamamelis and Gaultheria

Here is our top tips list for things to do in January…

GENERAL

  • Ensure wild birds have food and water.
  • Buy new compost for seed sowing. Allow to come to room temperature before using.
  • Sow seeds directly into seed tray inserts to save time.
  • Sow herbs indoors according to instructions on the packet.

TREES AND SHRUBS

  • Prune apple and pear trees.

FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

  • Plant new fruit bushes when ground is not frozen.
  • Prune soft fruit removing old stems.
  • Spray fruit trees with Growing Success Winter Wash.
  • Chit early seed potatoes by placing somewhere light and frost-free to sprout.
  • Sew broad beans in pots but protect from frost.
  • Apply manure to vegetable plots.

LAWNS AND PATHS

  • Keep off the lawn when frosty.
  • Apply weed killer to paths.

GREENHOUSE

  • Thoroughly disinfect the greenhouse Jeyes Fluid Multi-Purpose Disinfectant before use.

FLOWERS

  • Prune Wisteria side shoots to encourage flowering.
  • Sow sweet peas in pots of John Innes Seed and Cutting Compost for early cutting in June.

What to do in your garden in January

/in , , /by

The start of a brand new year is a great time for planning and preparing your garden. You might even get nature to give a helping hand this month by digging plots roughly and allowing frost to break down larger lumps of soil. If you’re looking for other handy tips for January here’s our suggestions.

Repair and preserve
At this time of year when many garden plants have died back for the winter, fencing is often more accessible so why not repair existing fencing or erect new? To preserve the life of your fencing use a quality treatment such as Ronseal Fence Life Preservative.

As you won’t be using your lawnmower at the moment, now is also a good time to give it an annual service ready for spring.

Protect
We’ve often mentioned protecting plants from frost at this time of year but please pay special attention to plants in pots. If the pot freezes (which may happen if we have a prolonged spell of freezing temperatures) it can crush the roots and kill the plant. This may not be apparent until spring when the plant wakes up, requires water and can’t take it up because the roots are dead. Protect your pot plants by protecting with fleece.

Preparing for the year ahead
Do you have any new year resolutions for your garden? Perhaps you plan to create or extend a vegetable patch? Try a new planting scheme or invest in some new hard landscaping or garden furniture. Whatever your plans, your time can be used wisely now to gather gardening information for the seasons ahead. If you need inspiration pop along to Rhinegold Garden Centre and have a chat with a member of our team.

Looking good now
When there isn’t a blanket of snow covering our plots, some plants can look really at their best this month namely: Sarcococca, Hamamelis and Gaultheria

Here is our top tips list for things to do in January…

GENERAL

  • Ensure wild birds have food and water.
  • Buy new compost for seed sowing. Allow to come to room temperature before using.
  • Sow seeds directly into seed tray inserts to save time.
  • Sow herbs indoors according to instructions on the packet.

TREES AND SHRUBS

  • Prune apple and pear trees.

FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

  • Plant new fruit bushes when ground is not frozen.
  • Prune soft fruit removing old stems.
  • Spray fruit trees with Growing Success Winter Wash.
  • Chit early seed potatoes by placing somewhere light and frost-free to sprout.
  • Sew broad beans in pots but protect from frost.
  • Apply manure to vegetable plots.

LAWNS AND PATHS

  • Keep off the lawn when frosty.
  • Apply weed killer to paths.

GREENHOUSE

  • Thoroughly disinfect the greenhouse Jeyes Fluid Multi-Purpose Disinfectant before use.

FLOWERS

  • Prune Wisteria side shoots to encourage flowering.
  • Sow sweet peas in pots of John Innes Seed and Cutting Compost for early cutting in June.

Need more advice?Talk to a member of our experienced garden team on your next visit to Rhinegold or post a question on our Facebook page

What to do in your garden in December

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It’s December now and despite some mild spells, it’s getting much colder. After our unseasonably mild autumn we seem to have been sent straight into the weather you would expect to see this time of year: frost, rain, strong winds and even the odd bit of snow. Sunshine hours are now much reduced and it can be bitter with a risk of snow. You don’t want to be working outside if you can help it, but thankfully there’s not a lot to do in December in your garden.

Make sure any winter protection you have isn’t disturbed by the wind and rain, and if you have a greenhouse, check that the heater is working. One thing you can do in December is prune any apple or pear trees you have, do this now to get a better harvest next year.

Here are a few things you can be getting between Christmas shopping and looking outside at the horrible weather!

  • Make sure any winter protection structures you have are securely.
  • Make sure that any greenhouse heaters are in working order
  • Protect ponds and outside water pipes to protect them from freezing
  • Prune apples and pears trees
  • Harvest any remaining root crops as well as leeks, parsnips, winter cabbage and sprouts
  • plant and transplanted deciduous trees and shrubs
  • Take hardwood cuttings
  • Reduce watering of houseplants

Need more advice? Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

What to do in your garden in December

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jan-gs

As Christmas preparations take over, gardening often has to take a back seat in December, but if you can steal a moment or two in the madness of the month here is our best advice on how to spend your time wisely.

Looking good now
Be the envy of friends and family this Christmas with a garden that looks as good in December as any other time of the year. Plants looking their best this month are Galanthus – Snowdrop, Cylcamen Coum, Mahonia, Holly – Ilex varieties, Erica – Heathers and Cornus – Dogwood.

Protect, Protect, Protect
This time last year the UK was hit by a blanket of snow and sub-zero temperatures, so it is vital now to protect frost sensitive plants from damage. If you wish to protect plants such as palms in situ place straw around the base and wrap in fleece. Alternatively bring in sensitive plants in pots.

Prepare for spring
Before the hard frosts set in dig over empty beds and work in nutrients to prepare your soil for new planting. As you sit back and take a sip of your favourite Christmas tipple why not grab a pen and paper and start planning your garden for the year ahead? If you need inspiration pop along to Garden Style Garden Centre and have a chat with a member of our team.

Need more advice?
Talk to a member of our experienced garden team on your next visit to Garden Style.

DECEMBER GARDENING TIPS
Here are our top tips list of things to do in December…

GENERAL

  • Avoid walking on soil if wet.
  • Look out for attractive winter plants such as hamamelis (witch hazel), viburnums and sarcococca (Christmas box.)
  • Feed the birds with a range of seeds to attract different species.
  • Choose your Christmas tree early for the best selection.

FLOWERS

  • Protect hellebores from slugs.

TREES AND SHRUBS

  • If the weather is fine, plant out trees and shrubs.
  • Now is an ideal time to move trees and shrubs into new positions.
  • Prune deciduous trees and shrubs but leave evergreens until spring.
  • Protect newly planted evergreen shrubs with fleece to prevent frost damage.

FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

  • Protect winter vegetables from pigeons by covering with netting.
  • Winter wash fruit trees to clean up any over-wintering insects and pests.
  • Prune gooseberries, red currants and white currants.
  • Cover rhubarb with compost or manure.
  • Check stored fruit and vegetables, removing any that are diseased.

LAWNS AND HEDGES

  • Keep off the lawn if the weather is wet.
  • Remove leaves off the lawn.
  • Apply winter seed if you haven’t already done so.

BULBS

  • Spring-flowering bulbs can still be planted.
  • Protect crocus bulbs from mice by covering with netting.
  • Continue to ventilate if the weather is fine to keep down disease via air movement.
  • Sow onion seeds and sweet peas.

Need more advice? Post a question on our Facebook page or pop into the garden centre and talk to a member of our experienced garden team.

What to do in your garden in November

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As autumn progresses and we head towards winter now os the time to clean up and prepare your garden fro the harsh winter months to come. There’s plenty to do so make the most of the daylight and prepare the garden for next year: prune, sweep, mulch and plant tulips, the last of the spring bulbs.

General

  • If you haven’t done so already get your bird feeders set up and buy a good supply of wild bird food to feed your birds over winter
  • Bubblewrap or fleece round individual vulnerable plants to protect from frost damage
  • Use autumn leaves to cover bare soil and protect it from winter rains and frosts.
  • Don’t stop weeding! Weeding done now will save time in the spring
  • Plant spring bulbs as soon as possible
  • Plant trees and shrubs to give them time to settle in before spring
  • If you do need to clear beds in the garden, mulch once the soil is moist again and certainly before frosts
  • Add old crops and bedding to the compost heap
  • Spike lawns then brush grit into the holes

Vegetables

  • Plant garlic from now until late November, but the sooner the better.
  • Sow broad beans – Broad beans are traditionally sown in autumn (late October to early December) for an early summer crop.
  • Sow hardy peas – Round seeded, hardy varieties of pea can be sown now for a June crop.
  • Check your leeks for pests

Fruit

  • Continue harvesting and storing sound fruit and check apples and pears in store and remove any that are rotting
  • Check tree ties, stakes and rabbit guards on fruit trees
  • This is a good time to lift and re-plant soft fruit bushes
  • Begin planting fruit trees, bushes and canes as soon after leaf fall as possible
  • Buy fruit trees and bushes now
  • Prune vines as soon as possible after leaf fall.
  • DON’T cut down autumn fruiting raspberry canes now. Leave them till February.
  • Winter prune apples and pears between now and next March

Need more advice? Post a question on our Facebook page or pop into the garden centre and talk to a member of our experienced garden team.

What to do in your garden in November

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October continued as a mild month with just the occasional reminder that winter is fast approaching. However, as we enter November, the clocks have gone back, the nights are drawing in. It’s a good time to take stock, get those autumn jobs done and start planning for next year. Here is our rundown of things to keep you busy in your garden through out November.

General jobs to do this month

  • Clear up leaves from lawns, ponds and beds – use them to make leaf mould which will add structure and organic matter to your soil
  • Make sure that any containers and pots are raised onto pot feet to prevent water-logging as the weather gets wetter and colder.
  • Plant tulip and hyacinth bulbs for a spring display next year – this is really your last chance to do this
  • Prune roses to prevent wind-rock
  • Plant out winter bedding
  • Put insulation around outdoor containers and pots to prevent them from being damaged by frost – bubblewrap works well
  • Put grease bands around the trunks of fruit trees to prevent winter moth damage
  • This is an ideal time to put out bird food to encourage winter birds into the garden and help them through the coming months
  • Plant shrubs, roses and hedging plants sold with bare roots
  • Move deciduous trees and shrubs once they have lost their leaves
  • Take hardwood cuttings from shrubs and roses
  • Clear the moss or weeds from any areas of grass and give the grass one last feed before winter sets in, this will help it to stay alive
  • Introduce mulch or wood chippings – Laying mulch or wood chippings between plants and shrubs before winter can help to protect the soil as well as keeping in vital nutrients.

Need more advice? Post a question on our Facebook page or pop into the garden centre and talk to a member of our experienced garden team.

What to do in your garden in October

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September gave us lovely warm sunny days but now that we’re into October we’ve definitely seen a change. It feels colder, wetter and the leaves on the trees are changing to their lovely autumn colours. It’s a busy time in our gardens right now from harvesting summer crops to pruning back seasonal growth and planting for the year ahead. Here’s our suggestion for your gardening to do list this October:

General

  • Regularly clear up fallen leaves from your lawn but fallen leaves on borders can be left to rot down
  • Cut back perennials
  • Move any tender plants in to the greenhouse or bring indoors
  • Plant our spring cabbages
  • Harvest the last of the apples, pears and any other fruits still on the plants
  • Prune climbing roses
  • Order seeds and start planning for next year
  • Mow lawns for the last time this year
  • Last chance to trim hedges
  • Lay turf and plant grass seeds
  • Keep on weeding and have a gentle tidy up in your borders

Soil
Start digging in compost, manure and as much organic matter as you can lay your hands on to replace the goodness in it.

Birds
Start putting out food and fresh water for birds – it will help them to build up their reserves for winter.

Lawns

  • Keep off your lawns if they are sodden
  • Continue to cut if growing once every 2 weeks and with blades on a high setting
  • New lawns – Last chance to plant grass seeds and the best time to lay turf

Flowers

  • Protect half-hardy plants with fleece or bring into a frost-free greenhouse
  • Plant daffodil bulbs, tulip bulbs and Allium bulbs for a glorious spring display
  • Plant bare-root ornamental trees and shrubs
  • Plant spring bedding such as wallflowers, Bellis, Primulas and winter pansies for a fantastic spring display
  • Autumn is the ideal time to plant Clematis plants

Need more advice? Post a question on our Facebook page or pop into the garden centre and talk to a member of our experienced garden team.