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Repair &
tidy paths, patios
& decking. |
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Dig in
compost & Fertiliser. |
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Weed borders.
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Link: Composting |
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Sow
under cold frames: beetroot, broad beans, Brussels sprouts, early
carrots, lettuce, radish, spring onions, spinach turnips, parsnips,
early peas and salad leaves. |
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Sow
indoors: cauliflowers, celery, leeks, onions, summer cabbage and
early tomatoes for the greenhouse. |
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Plant out
autumn sown onions.
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Last
chance to order seed
potatoes this month. |
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Hoe frequently
for weed control
& soil aeration.
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Clean &
weed asparagus
bed.
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Add manure or
fertiliser in final soil preparation.
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Links: Vegetables
- Potatoes
- Mushrooms - Vegetable
Seeds |
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Finish all
pruning
& planting.
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Feed & mulch young trees & cane fruits. |
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Plant strawberry
runners.
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Use fleece for frost protection on early blooms on fruit trees. |
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Links: Fruit
- Apples
- Strawberries |
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Plant
container grown rockery, herbaceous plants, trees & shrubs.
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Begin sowing hardy annuals.
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Plant summer
flowering bulbs like Gladiolus
& Montbretia (Crocosmia).
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Order your
seeds online |
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Use beer
traps,
slug
wool
or sharp grit around plants for slug
control. If you prefer
you could use organic
slug pellets. |
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Trim
winter heathers once they have finished flowering.
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Spray roses
for black spot.
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Prune
roses finally towards
the end of the month.
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Prune
winter jasmine as soon as flowers fade.
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Links:
Bedding
Plants & Annuals - Plants
- Flowers
that attract wildlife - Alpines |
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Hanging
Baskets - Roses
- Climbing
Plants - Fuchsias |
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Prune deciduous shrubs that flower on this years wood
e.g. buddleia and
caryopteris.
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Prune ivies.
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Standard
& Climbing roses
can be planted out.
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Plant
clematis
late in the month. |
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Links:
Conifers
- Japanese
Maples - Trees
- Magnolias
- Rhododendrons
- Plants |
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Palm
Trees - Hedging
- Topiary |
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Rake off moss
& weeds. Spike if possible & apply a
lawn
fertiliser. |
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Start cutting
on the mowers highest setting.
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Lawn seed can
be sown at the end of the month. |
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New
turf
can be laid.
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Keep
off when wet.
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Links:
Lawns
- Lawn
Mowers |
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Most
seeds
can be sown now in unheated
greenhouses. |
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Potted plants
can be potted on
if they need it.
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Start
feeding your container
& pot plants.
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Take cuttings
of coleus
& fuchsia.
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Links:
Greenhouses
- Tomatoes
- Cucumbers |
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Feed &
water more regularly but don't over do it.
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Links:
House
Plants - Orchids |
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Links:
Water
Gardening - Water
Features - Aquatic
Plants |
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Look
out for... |
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Buff-tipped bumblebees |
| Description: Bumblebees are about 20mm long. The large bumblebees seen in the spring are queens (fertile females), which have emerged from hibernation and are beginning to establish their nests. |
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Where to find them: Feeding on nectar and gathering pollen on early spring flowers.
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Interesting fact: Bumblebees and other bees are of vital importance in gardens as they help pollinate fruit blossom and other flowers. Without them there would be no fruit to eat. For more information on bumblebees, see
www.bumblebeeconservationtrust.co.uk. |
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Links:
Wildlife
- Birds - Frogs,
Toads & Newts - Hedgehogs |
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Flowers
that attract wildlife |
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Links:
Shows &
Events Calendar - Chelsea
Flower Show - Hampton
Court Flower Show |
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Tatton
Park Flower Show |
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