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Tenth edition - February 2002
This has to be one of the best times of the year for those of us who
like gardening, with the anticipation of Spring and Summer to come.. Each day now gets a
little longer and hopefully warmer, and we have it all to look forward to, even if the
expectation does outweigh the reality...
 The
garden centres and DIY stores are full of the new season`s seeds for those of you who
haven`t already ordered them from catalogues. I usually order some seeds from the
catalogues and leave the rest until January and February when I can have a trip out to the
garden centre. I went to B & Q for some paint and was amazed at their new selection of
flower and vegetable seeds. There are some innovative lines such as childrens starter kits
containing large seeds in bright attention-grabbing packaging, and a yellow garden kit
comprising three different coloured yellow ceramic pots with three types of miniature
daffodils to plant in the compost that`s provided.. and I particularly liked the "sow
direct" range of annual seeds that comes in round cartons that you just sprinkle in
the garden following the directions. There are four colour ranges : Sunrise Mix comprising
reds, oranges and yellows, Pot Pourri Mix, comprising pinks and purples, Spring Green Mix
comprising whites and greens and finally Moody Blues Mix comprising blue seeds. All priced
at £2.98 and excellent for people with a small patch that needs some summer colour, or
for encouraging children to start gardening, or for an Easter or birthday present
... I also noticed a herb garden kit comprising seeds of Basil, Chives, Mint
and Parsley, complete with pots, compost and drip tray. Ideal for people living in flats
to grow their own herbs on the kitchen windowsill.. Oh it`s all changed since my
day!
Seed sowing tips:
Very often people will sow seeds in semi-frozen compost straight from
the cold garden shed, but this will only spoil them and even rot them off. So make sure
the compost is nice and warm by bringing it into the house to warm it through the day
before sowing.
Discard last years compost onto borders, or for outside tubs, and buy
new.
Thoroughly clean all seed trays, labels and plant pots with a garden
disinfectant
Resist the temptation to sow seeds too early, as there`s just not
enough daylight at this time of year for some seeds. Follow the instructions on seed
packets..
 Well
we`ve had some harsh and enduring frosts during the last few weeks, which have blackened a
lot of plants and shrubs in the garden, but don`t hasten to chop them down as they will
more than likely regenerate. The recent strong winds blew all the leaves from nearby
gardens into our garden, so I need to have another clearing up session. The trouble is we
had a break-in and our garden vac was stolen from our garden shed. However the police have
kindly issued us with an alarm which shrieks like a banshee. I don`t think we`ll be
troubled again. Garden sheds are fair game for burglers to break into and they can usually
gather quite a haul of equipment which will change hands pretty quickly in the local pubs.
Like mobile phone theft, it is a modern type of crime, so don`t wait like us to be
burgled, get a mobile shed alarm. Ask your local DIY store if they sell them.
Jobs for the month - February
House plants
 Ensure
that any house plants on window sills are not too cold or in a draught. At the same time
ensure that they have adequate humidity, as central heating can dry some plants out too
much. Don`t start feeding them until March. Take out any dead leaves, and wipe glossy
leaved plants with a damp cloth to freshen them up.
Lawns
February is a good month to find out what sort of soil conditions exist
below grass level. If the lawn is waterlogged pierce the surface with a fork to a depth of
about six inches, and then wiggle the fork backwards and forwards a couple of times. For
larger lawns do a section at a time as it is hard work, or use a special tool for the job
which can be hired from a tool hire centre. Follow this operation by sprinkling coarse
gritty sand over the surface which will soak in very quickly.
Shrub borders and roses
 Turn
over the borders with a fork to freshen them up and let air in - as the earth will have
become compacted over winter - taking out any weeds at the same time. Cut out any dead or
twiggy wood from rose bushes and shrubs. Prune any shrubs and early summer and later
flowering clematis hybrids and ornamental grape vines and wisteria according to
instructions in your gardening book.
Paths, walls and fencing
Do any necessary repairs before plant growth starts. 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.
Greenhouse
 Sow
summer bedding plants and tomatoes. Plants that you have stored over winter such as
pelargoniums, (geraniums) fuchsias and tuberous begonias can now be started into growth.
Keep some gentle heat on in the greenhouse during the nights as frosts will still quickly
kill your new seedlings. I usually start seeds off in the house and transfer them to the
conservatory until May when it is safe to put them in my unheated greenhouse. They will
tend to get leggy and lean towards the light, so will need turning every so often..
Vegetables
Seeds can be sown this month for Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower,
leeks and lettuce to name a few. If the weather is OK you can sow broad beans in the open.
You don`t need a vegetable garden or allotment to enjoy home grown vegetables as they can
be grown in amongst the flowers. In fact it helps to keep the aphids and carrot fly away
if you plant vegetables amongst flowers such as marigolds, and I think it looks really
nice to see vegetables and salad stuff dotted around the borders. Later on you could put a
small wigwam of runner beans in.
Fruit
Before growth starts, do any late pruning of young plum trees according to
your book, give them some fertiliser and protect blossom from frost with horticultural
fleece.
Trees and shrubs
If the ground is not frozen you can plant ornamental trees and
shrubs. If there are any dead or diseased branches or twigs on new or existing
trees, cut them out. Give a top dressing with a fertilizer and mulch. Check that the
supports and ties for young trees are secure but not too tight, and won`t rub against the
trunk. (The trees in my garden seem to have healed themselves thankfully after I neglected
to do this job last year. It is amazing how quickly young tree trunks thicken and grow
into their ties.
Water gardens
 Continue
to make sure that any pond ice has holes in to enable the fish to get oxygen. If the
weather is suitable for you to do a pond `spring clean` then take care not to disturb any
mating frogs or toads. If they haven`t yet paired off you can put them in a bucket
and cover them until it`s time to put them back in the pond. The same goes for the fish.
We put ours in a plastic plastering bath where they swim around quite happily until being
returned to their pond. If you are re-lining a concrete pond take care to use the correct
sealant afterwards, and give it ample time to dry. It`s probably a little early in
the year for buying aquatic plants.
Wildlife
Continue feeding the birds with peanuts and bread, not forgetting to put
out fresh water for them. Animals that have been asleep through the winter will start to
wake up and make their first hunting trips. These include hedgehogs who are good friends
of the gardener with their foraging for slugs and beetles. Grey squirrels who have had a
very brief hibernation period will now start to go out and about. Birds will start their
mating songs and nest building. It`s a splendid time of year for wildlife - a new and busy
beginning !
Some
web sites of interest to gardeners:
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:-
Have
a look at previous editions of
Gardener`s Diary
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