Spring is here, the days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer.
For those of you who have been hibernating inside during the winter it’s time to wake from your gardening slumber and get stuck in.
Dead head, prune and transplant
Spring is a glorious time for flowers some of my favorites include Camellias and Rhododendrons. Remove all of the flowers from these plants when they are finished, this is what is referred to as ‘deadheading’ and encourages the promotion of new growth and the development of next year’s flowers. It also makes your plants look better. Throw all the dead flowers on your compost heap as they will break down beautifully.
The end of flowering is also a great time to do any pruning (especially of evergreen plants) as new spring growth will rejuvenate your plants very quickly.
Also any transplanting of evergreen shrubs should be done at this time. Make sure plants are well watered before and after transplanting. Try to retain as much of the root ball as possible and give your plants a prune at the same time. Pruning reduces the amount of leaves and water loss through leaf area and gives your plant the best possible shot at surviving relocation.
Be sure to enjoy your flowers, by picking them and bringing them inside or to share with friends.
Re-pot and top dress
Re-potting into larger pots gives your plants roots area to grow and keeps them happy and healthy. An indicator for a plant that requires re-potting is when the roots are growing out of the pots drainage holes, when the plant dries out too quickly or if your plant is looking a little worse for wear. When re-potting plants it pays to use premium potting mix, these are well worth the extra money paid as they drain freely and are full of fertilizer to feed your plants.
If your plants do not require re-potting they will benefit from top dressing. This is the process of removing all the top potting mix down to the roots of the plant and replacing with fresh (premium) potting mix. This creates better drainage and a hit of fertiliser at the same time.
Sow herb seeds or replace herbs
It’s time to plant all those herbs that are annual or biennial or replace those that are old and no longer harvesting. Sow your seeds direct into the garden or into seed trays for transplanting later, or you can purchase some new plants or seedlings from the nursery. Herbs to replace include Parsley, Coriander, Chervil, Sage and Chives.
It’s also a great time to plant strawberries in the garden and sow tomato seeds in the hot house.
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