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Twelfth edition - April 2002
Spring is
sprung, and doesn`t it just make you feel so good? I do love this island of
ours with it`s diversity of seasons. I know many people emigrate to other
countries for a warmer climate, and at times I do envy them, but I do love
our different seasons, and appreciate what each one has to offer. Even
winter has it`s very own charm..
Although this
winter seemed shorter and milder than those of previous years, we do seem to
have had our fair share of wind and rain that has reeked havoc with some
gardens. But plants and shrubs are very resilient and with a little pruning
and tidying up they will soon look as good as new and be putting on new
growth.
Most probably
by now you will have trays of seedlings dotted around the house or
greenhouse. It is very important to prick them out as soon as possible to
avoid them getting too leggy and overcrowded in their first seed tray.
I am very lazy when it comes to doing this chore if the weather is a bit on
the chilly side, but on a warm sunny day it is a pleasurable task.. Don`t be
caught out by night frosts at this time of year as they can wipe out all
your hard work in a matter of minutes. If you have tender plants in the
greenhouse make sure there is heat at night, or failing that, cover plants
with horticultural fleece or even old newspapers, anything to keep the frost
off..
A late
inclusion for this month:
International flower artist arranges £1,842 for charity
This month, as well as jobs for the month, I will be telling you a bit about
lawn care, and another very important subject,
safety in the garden.
Jobs for the month - April
House plants
Increase watering and feed plants more frequently. You can
still repot plants that have become root bound. Choose a warm, sunny day to
stand larger specimens outside and give them a wash with the hose pipe on
`fine spray`and let them dry before bringing them back inside. This is a job
that can also be done in the summer on a rainy day.
Lawns
April and May are good months for sowing or laying new lawns
and I have covered this, and lawn care in general, a little more extensively
on a separate page. Give established lawns their first feed of
the year.
Shrub borders and roses
 Plant
out dahlia tubers and sow hardy annuals where they are to flower. This is
the time of year when I sow much of the seed I have previously collected
from flowers such as miniature sunflowers and cornflowers. The flower
borders will appreciate a mulching this month, which will help conserve
moisture and stop weeds from growing. If you are using grass cuttings as a
mulch, take care not to use the first three mowings after applying lawn feed
as per the manufacturer`s instructions.
Paths, walls and fencing
There is still time to do any necessary repairs before plant
growth really gets going. Use a weedkiller such as Pathclear to kill grass
and weeds on concrete areas for a whole season. Examine the supports for
climbing plants and replace if necessary. Pressure clean paths or other
ground areas that have become slippery with moss and algae. (Read
instructions carefully on weedkiller packets if you have pets)
Greenhouse
Increase the amount of water given to plants but keep some
gentle heat on in the greenhouse during the nights as frosts will still
quickly kill your new seedlings, or you can cover them with horticultural
fleece.. I sometimes plant up hanging baskets this month with smaller plants
but make sure to keep them frost free and watered, then by the end of May
they can go outside looking really established..
Vegetables
The soil should be warmer and dryer now, so you can continue
to sow your favourite crops. Take care not to sow the seed too thickly, poor
a little of the seed into your hand and scatter it thinly along the drill
you have drawn. It is great to grow your own vegetables and fruit, then you
know it is free of pesticides.
 Fruit
This is the month when the fruit grower finds there is
plenty of crop spraying to do to ensure a healthy crop and prevent
pests and disease. Keep a close watch on developing fruits and treat
accordingly. Take care still with late frosts and cover small trees and
bushes with horticultural fleece. Refer to the appropriate section of your
gardening book for fruit pest and disease control.
Trees and shrubs
Trees and shrubs will appreciate a good mulching this month
to conserve water, stop weeds growing and add goodness to the soil. Look for
any signs of disease or pests and spray accordingly. If there has been any
late wind damage, tidy the branches so there are no ragged edges that will
let the damp and disease penetrate. If you need to remove any branches of
trees, there is a preparation you can buy that seals the newly sawn wood.
Water gardens
 If
you are `spring cleaning` your pond, be sure to put your fish in a large
container where they can swim around quite happily until being returned to
their pond, making sure that cats cannot get to them. Once you have cleaned
out and re-filled the pond, allow the water to stand for a day or two to
avoid any temperature changes before returning the fish. If you are
re-lining a concrete pond take care to use the correct sealant afterwards,
and give it ample time to dry. Be ruthless and thin out aquatic
plants. They will soon grow and fill the pond
Wildlife
In April the birds are still breeding and so are most of the
mammals that use our gardens. Parent birds are so busy feeding their young
this month that they need concentrated body-building foods themselves such
as the suet fat balls that we see in the shops especially for the birds.
Some web sites of interest to gardeners:
For the expert:-
www.alantitchmarsh.co.uk
Alan Titchmarsh MBE, TV gardener, writer, broadcaster and thoroughly nice
person. Just a few choice words to describe the peoples` favourite TV
gardener. See his website....
For ideas:-
 Thompson
and Morgan:
a growing resource for gardeners worldwide. The site includes the
international online seed catalogues, the young plants catalogue (UK only),
the wholesale seeds catalogue, together with the award winning Germination
Times and a host of other useful information.
For inspiration:-
www.carryongardening.co.uk
 Gardening
is an important part of many people's lives. You don't have to give up
gardening because of accident or illness, the onset of disability or the
problems associated with growing older. The information on their website is
designed to provide you with the information to Carry on Gardening.
Carry on Gardening was initiated by the horticultural charity
Thrive
and is funded by the National Lottery
Charities Board. It brings together information on easy ways of
gardening gathered over 23 years by Thrive and research carried out since
the early 1970s by Mary Marlborough Centre, Oxford, on tools and equipment
for disabled and older people.
For vision:-
www.edenproject.com
The living theatre of plants and people
The Eden Project is a gateway into the world of plants and people. A
meeting place for all to discover how we depend on plants and how we can
help to manage and conserve them for our mutual survival
For indulgence:-
The founder of
www.maple-landscapes.com is my eldest son.. give him a call if you live
in the Leicester area of the UK and have need of his services..
And some reading material:-
"The Yellow Book" contains information
of all Gardens of England and Wales open for charity, and can be bought
priced £5 from National Gardens Scheme
www.ngs.org.uk
National Trust Gardens Handbook is
£6.99 and the new edition is out in May Telephone 01394 389 950 or
see their website
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
RHS Garden Finder is £12.99 from
Dorling Kindersley www.dk.com
Have a look at previous
editions of Gardener`s Diary
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