The Secret Garden

28/02/2018

Whilst the beast from the East makes its presence felt -why not use the time to do some armchair gardenning :-)
From your armchair

Sort your seeds by sowing date, month by month.

If you haven't already, plan your vegetable plot for this year to ensure good crop rotation and prevent pests and diseases building up in the soil.

Order your seeds and plug plants online now. Having a garden plan drawn up will help you decide the quantities you need.

Consider using containers and hanging baskets filled with bedding plants to add colour to your patio.

Order your onion sets and asparagus crowns now ready for planting in the spring.

Order flower bulbs for summer colour such asLily of the Valleyand Gladioli in preparation for spring planting.

If you fancy growing potatoes but are struggling for space in your vegetable plot this year, try using potato grow bags.

Order your fruit trees now for planting in early spring. If space is limited in your garden try growing dwarf fruit trees, or edging vegetable plots with stepover apple and pear trees.

28/02/2018

In the fruit garden

Cut autumn-fruiting raspberry canes to the ground to stimulate new canes, which will fruit in the autumn. Cut the tips of summer-fruiting raspberry canes that have grown beyond the top of their supports; cut just above a bud.Continue to plant raspberry canes for the coming summer.

Prune apple trees and pear trees whilst they're still dormant. Leave plum trees, cherry trees and apricots until the summer as pruning these fruit trees now will make them susceptible to Silver Leaf disease.

Prune blackcurrant bushes, gooseberries and redcurrants to maintain a productive framework. Currant bushes can also still be planted between now and the spring.

Protect the blossoms of apricots, peaches and nectarines. These stone fruit trees can also be planted now.

Mulch fruit trees with well rotted manure or garden compost taking care not to mound mulch up around the trunk.


In the greenhouse

Don't be tempted to sow too many seeds this early in the season - they may become leggy due to low light levels. Later sowings will catch up and grow just as fast.

For better seed germination, invest in an electric propagator to help your early sowings along.

Soak sweet pea seeds in tepid water overnight before planting them, to speed up germination.


Looking after your lawn

With spring on the way it's worth preparing your lawn for the season ahead. Try installing lawn edging which creates a neat and tidy appearance and makes maintenance easier.

Other jobs about the garden

Trim deciduous hedges before the birds start nesting.

Vines such as Ivy, Virginia Creeper and Boston Ivy can be cut back now to keep windows, gutters and roof tiles clear.

Shred or chop woody prunings for the compost bin
If you're adding woody prunings to compost bins, shred or chop them first as they are slow to decompose.

Wash empty pots by scrubbing them with hot water and a mild detergent. Rinse them well afterwards.

The weather is still cold this month so hang fat balls and keep bird feeders topped up to attract birds, who will in turn eat pests in your garden.

Install water butts now ready for the summer. Rainwater is particularly useful for watering acid-loving, ericaceous plants (tap water is often slightly alkaline).

If you don't already know what type of soil you have, invest in a soil testing kit to help you choose the right plants for your garden.

If all you can see from your windows are unattractive sheds, composting areas and bins this winter, think about using evergreen climbers such as Clematis armandii to screen the area, or just to add winter interest. Bamboo plants also make a fantastic screen.

28/02/2018

In the vegetable garden

Start chitting early potatoes - stand them on end in a module tray or egg box and place them in a bright, cool, frost-free place.

Force rhubarb plants for an early crop. Plant new rhubarb crowns now.

Mulch perennial vegetables such as Asparagus and Artichokes with well rotted manure or garden compost.

Start sowing vegetable seeds such as leeks, onions and celeriac under cover now.

If you garden on heavy clay soil but want to make an early start in the garden, build raised beds before the growing season gets under way. The soil will warm up faster and raised beds drain quickly too.

Prepare vegetable seed beds by removing all weeds and forking in plenty of compost. Cover prepared soil with sheets of black plastic to keep it drier and warmer in preparation for spring planting.

28/02/2018

This cold weather is certainly putting jobs that would normally be done inFebruary, back a bit. In the flower garden we would normally be doing the following jobs in preparation for spring, but don't feel rushed, be guided by the weather, not what books tell you.
As soon as the cold snap ends:

Prune your Wisteria, cutting back summer side-shoots to 2 or 3 buds.

Prune summer-flowering Clematis before active growth begins - find out how before attempting this.

Cut back shrubs such as Cornus and Salix cultivars (grown for their colourful winter stems) down to their bases.

Cut back the old foliage from ornamental grasses before growth begins - clip them to within a few centimetres of the ground.

Prune overwintered fuchsias back to one or two buds on each shoot.

Prune Winter Flowering Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) after flowering to encourage new growth for next year's blooms. Cut back the previous years growth to 5cm from the old wood.

Trim winter-flowering heathers as the flowers disappear, to prevent the plants becoming leggy.

Remove any faded flowers from your winter pansies to stop them setting seed. This will encourage a flush of new flowers when the weather warms up.

Lift and divide snowdrops still 'in the green' if you want to move them or create more plants.

If you need to move deciduous trees or shrubs, now is the time to do it provided the soil is not frozen or waterlogged.

Plant Lilies and Allium bulbs.

Plant bare root roses in a sunny position for spectacular summer colour.

Plant fragrant winter flowering shrubs to add interest to borders. Try Daphne, Viburnum x bodnantense, Witch Hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia) and Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox).

Hardwood cuttings taken last year may need planting or potting on now.

Pot on rooted cuttings of tender perennial plants taken last summer.

Look out for Hellebore leaf spot (rounded brown spots on the leaves) and remove any leaves that are affected.

28/02/2018

28/05/2016

It may seem a bit early but it's worth thinking about which spring flowers you would like to have next year. Sow perennial seeds such as Aquilegia, Bellis, Canterbury Bells, Delphiniums and Lupins indoors for flowering next year.
• For flowers that bridge the gap between spring and summer try growing Forget-me-nots, Foxgloves, Sweet William and Wallflowers in seed trays now for flowering next year.
• Sow winter-flowering pansies in seed trays now, so that they will be ready for your winter containers.
• Sow perennial Scabiosa now in pots or trays for years of attractive flowers which are loved by bees and butterflies.

Direct sow outdoors

• It's not too late to direct sow Calendula, Candytuft, Clarkia (Godetia), Larkspur and Limnanthes for a show of flowers later this summer.
• Nasturtiums are easy to grow in containers or from direct sowings, and quick to flower - use them in beds, containers, baskets and the vegetable plot!
• Scatter Nigella seeds in your borders now for some striking blue late-summer flowers.
• Grow the tallest Sunflower from direct sowings - great fun for the kids!

28/05/2016

Last year the wind finally got the better of my greenhouse and I am busy clearing a spot for a new one, however for those of you whose greenhouses survived the winter - don't forget to water the floor of the greenhouse in this hot weather. This helps prevent plants within suffering from heat stress. Damping down early in the morning allows the moistyre to gradually evaporate through the day. This keeps temperature lower and more constant, while increasing humidity. Avoid wetting the leaves of plants, as this encourages fungal disease.

28/05/2016

Well it would appear that summer has well and truly arrived - well for this week at least and it is good to see the bees out and about amongst the flowers, but it is not only bees that rely on the plants in our garden.
Flowering from next moth onwards, purple loosestrife, lythrum salicaria, provides valuable nectar for long tongued insects such as elephant hawk moths and red tailed bumblebees. Suited to wet and boggy conditions in the garden, this striking wildflower sends up multiple tall stems from a single root stock. Each bears many bright pink flowers and long green leaves which grow up the stems in opposite pairs.

12/04/2016

The runner beens that I potted a week ago are starting to show and should soon be ready to plant out, once the risk of frost is over. I always think that runner bean seeds are great to plant with kids, as they can almost see them growing. These will be planted in simple wigwams, in the veg garden, but if you dont have a veg garden, they also make a very pleasing addition to a flower border.

12/04/2016

Today I have been planting out out red cabbage plants - although we do not have a big problem with slugs in the garden, I would want to protect them from any that happen to pass. I do not like using slug pellets, in a garden so full of birds, that can regularly be seen picking over the freshly turned soil, slug pellets are too risky - because not only will they kill your slugs - but also your birdlife. Better to use crushed egg shell -

Slug and Snail Prone Plants

For plants prone to damage by slugs and snails, such as tomatoes and marigolds, eggshells are a good line of defense. A layer of roughly crushed eggshells encircling plants is a deadly barrier to these hungry pests, as their soft bodies are eviscerated by the jagged edges. Best of all, using eggshells to deal with slugs and snails is a natural alternative to chemical products.

Tomatoes, Peppers and Eggplants

Blossom end rot is a serious problem when growing tomatoes, peppers and eggplants and can decimate entire crops. Often caused by a lack of calcium, this condition results in dark, rotted sores on vegetables. A layer of crushed eggshells, placed in the planting hole for these vegetables, is a simple means of combating the disease. As they decompose, the eggshells naturally enrich the soil, providing a slow, steady source of calcium, preventing blossom end rot from occurring.

11/04/2016

I am taking orders for hanging baskets again this year - these will be £30 each and available from mid May. Please contact me in the next week if anyone would like any - in order for me to source and order plants. Delivered locally in the Fort William area.

11/04/2016

The arrival of drier weather provides an opportunity to deep clean outdoor surfaces left discoloured by winter weather. Algae on paving slabs and paths can be removed by scrubbing. This reduces the risk of slipping while working outside. Soapy water and elbow grease should be enough to remove most algae, scrubbing the whole area methodically, making sure where possible to avoid splashing plants and leaves with the soapy solution. Once you have finished, rinse away, using plenty of clean water. If this does not do the trick there are plenty of over the counter algae removers, just be careful to read the instructions carefully, especially if you have pets. Alternatively, if it is a large area to clean, look at a power washer, you can hire these quite cheaply by the day - but make sure you have easy access to water outside.