Gardening Calendar
Gardening Calendar
JANUARY
January is when climbers, shrubs and trees are leafless and in their dormant period and one of the best gardening months for pruning any garden subjects that could cause problems during winter storms and high winds. Wisteria is a good example of a climber that can be pruned now. After flowering the previous season and given a summer pruning it produces long wispy new growths that need to be controlled by cutting back. Either summer or winter pruning and whichever plant or shrub you are pruning the first step is to remove any dead or damaged branches.
JANUARY
January is when climbers, shrubs and trees are leafless and in their dormant period and one of the best gardening months for pruning any garden subjects that could cause problems during winter storms and high winds. Wisteria is a good example of a climber that can be pruned now. After flowering the previous season and given a summer pruning it produces long wispy new growths that need to be controlled by cutting back. Either summer or winter pruning and whichever plant or shrub you are pruning the first step is to remove any dead or damaged branches.
JANUARY
January is when climbers, shrubs and trees are leafless and in their dormant period and one of the best gardening months for pruning any garden subjects that could cause problems during winter storms and high winds. Wisteria is a good example of a climber that can be pruned now. After flowering the previous season and given a summer pruning it produces long wispy new growths that need to be controlled by cutting back. Either summer or winter pruning and whichever plant or shrub you are pruning the first step is to remove any dead or damaged branches.
APRIL
April is the height of spring and there is a lot to be getting on with in the garden. But be aware of changeable weather and check weather forecasts. Cold nights, frosts and general low temperatures are all possibilities, which can adversely affect young, new growth, bedding and young vegetable plants. And, of course, there’s always the chance of April showers – or even torrential downpours!
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Continue to sow seeds of all your favourite annual bedding plants for a summer of wonderful colour.
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If you don’t have much success with seeds, buy plug plants and seedlings for growing on.
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Continue to take stem cuttings of half-hardy perennials and patio plants, such as fuchsias and pelargoniums.
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Mulch the soil around trees and shrubs with a 5-7.5cm (2-3in) thick mulch.
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This is still a great time to plant new shrubs and herbaceous perennials.
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Buy summer-flowering bulbs, such as begonias, dahlias, gladioli and lilies.
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Deadhead spring-flowering bulbs when the flowers fade and give them a liquid feed.
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Tie in the shoots of climbers as they grow, spreading them out evenly over their support.
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Sow hardy annual seeds outside for an inexpensive way to produce lots of flowers.
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Feed all your garden plants with a suitable plant food – especially if you didn't do it last month.
Vegetable Garden:
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Make regular, successional sowings of fast-maturing vegetables..
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Pot up tomato, chilli, cucumber and aubergine plants sown last month.
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Lawn care:
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Start feeding lawns with a granular lawn food.
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Mow lawns regularly – probably at least once a week – as and when the grass is growing.
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Trim lawn edges after every mowing to keep them looking crisp and tidy.
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Treat weeds and moss growing in the lawn with a product suitable for lawns.
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Repair damaged and bare areas with fresh grass seed.
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Overseeding the lawn with new grass seed will help thicken it up and produce a darker green colour.
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