'Garden Column - April 2009'

 

 

Start a weekly weeding program.

 

 

A majority of gardeners now have their gardens neat and tidy.

Unfortunately we as gardeners can become complacent and with all the other jobs going on at the moment we can easily forget the most important job and that is to keep your plants and your crops weed free.

Why not do a little and often to ease the load?

Also keep scraping and ruttling the soil over to deter weed seed from germinating.

If you have a particular weed that keeps returning no matter what you do then why not spray with a translocated/systemic weed killer like Glyphosate to kill it off right down to roots just be careful that none drifts onto prize plants that you want to keep.

 

Figs need feeding.

 

Figs need feeding this month with a high potash feed.

Use a granular or liquid form preferably feeds that you would use for either roses like Bayer Toprose or for tomatoes like Levington Tomorite.

Before feeding remove any winter damage from the plant. If they are badly damaged follow them right down to the point of origin and remove them.

Cut back some older shoots down to one or two buds from their origin. This will help stimulate some healthy young shoots and help the plant to rejuvenate itself.

If you have fan trained your plant tie in the new stems and space them well.

 

Protect young foliage.

 

With the British weather being it’s usual – unpredictable.

You may need to protect the young foliage and flower buds of various shrubs, trees, herbaceous plants, annuals and vegetables.

These will need the protection from some horticultural fleece. Cover them in the evening if the weather forecast gives threats of ground frost or if the sky is clear and the temperature is cool.

In the morning once the frost has thawed – remove the fleece and hang up to dry – then place back in position when needed.

 

Start to harden off summer bedding plants.

 

Half-hardy annuals which are going to be used in your summer bedding schemes need to be placed outside on mild days to acclimatise them to outdoor conditions though remember to fetch them back into the greenhouse in the evening or if the weather turns cold throughout the day.

 

Dig out patches of coarse grass.

 

Whilst working around the garden you may come across areas of coarse grass in your lawn areas. These can make the lawn look uneven and can cause problems with mowing.

These patches are weed grasses and will need to be removed as they can be susceptible to drought and disease.

If left in amongst your turf they can cause various problems later on in your lawns life.

These patches should be dug out, filled in with some sieved lawn soil. Add a general purpose fertiliser like Vitax Q4 or Growmore and then replaced the coarse grass with either some fresh turf or some grass seed.

 

Fuchsias – time to pot on.

 

If you’re into Fuchsias then will need regular potting on until you are ready to transplant them out into the garden at the end of next month.

If left pot-bound your plants will flower early and then deteriorate before you get them into their positions for the summer.

When the roots have established pot the plants into the next sized pot usually about 2-3cm up from what they are already in.

If you pot into a too large container the plant will produce too much foliage at the expense of your flowers.

Also keep pinching out the tips to encourage thick, bushy growth. By doing this it will delay your flowers but it will encourage more blooms later.

Do this by allowing the growth to get 15cm in length and then pinch back to just above a pair of leaves leaving 10cm worth of growth. Keep pinching back until the end of May.

Just in time to plant them out for blooming for the summer months.

Don’t throw this growth away as it can be used for cuttings to increase your stocks.

 

Get rid of those troublesome lawn weeds once and for all!

 

Now is the time to combat those troublesome lawn weeds.

Clover, Speedwell, Buttercups etc. can often be the bane of every lawns man up and down the country.

These can be easily dealt with by using a lawn weed killer – use Vitax Lawn Clear or Scotts Verdone Extra to knock these invaders on the head.

Another way is to remove them manually with a specialised tool like a weed-key. This tool is inserted into the turf then turned and then lift. The troublesome weed is removed with its root.

Of course this can also be easily done with an old kitchen knife.

Once the weed is removed have some top soil handy to fill the hole.

 

Feed Shrubs.

 

Shrubs this month will benefit from a top dress of fertiliser.

This will give them a much needed boost after the riggers off the bad weather we had earlier this month.

Apply a handful of fertiliser for each plant. Scatter the plant food around the base of your plants and then lightly hoe in.

There are various feeds available on the market but it can be useful and easier to find which can be used for all types of shrubs. An ideal feed is Vitax Pelleted Conifer & Shrub fertiliser. This can be used for any type of shrub or conifer as is also ideal for ericaceous plants like Azalea’s & Rhododendrons.

Once applied remember to check that the soil - if it is dry then give each plant a welcomed drink. Then apply a mulch of bark or cocoa shell which will help reduce moisture loss from the soil in the months ahead.