April 2014 Newsletter

We’ve had a splendid spring so far, haven’t we? It’s been gorgeous to watch it bursting all around us so early in the year, and to be able to bask in the exceptional temperatures we’ve been having. Sally and I sat and had our lunch in the sun today... I’m not ashamed to say that we absolute love our jobs when it’s like this! The burst of extraordinary warmth has caught many of us out, and some customers have said they already feel as if they’re playing catch up. So, get gardening now to ensure you don’t miss out on the planting opportunity this warm weather offer, thus enabling you to make the most of your outside space this summer, however large or small.

In this, our tenth year, we’ve made a few small but significant changes around the place. You’ll notice that we have more houseplants than usual (mostly housed in the Vintage and Tool Shed). This is in response to the demand we have become aware of – especially from some of our newer, flat dwelling, customers. Robby has taken on responsibility for them, and will soon be the in-house expert on the subject. Come and have a chat with him if you want to find just the right plant for that gloomy corner, or bright window sill.

Again, responding to the fact that we have more customers with smaller gardens or only balconies, we have created an area just outside the Vintage and Tool Shed as an example of what can be done with the smallest of spaces. There are plenty of plants, shrubs, trees (including fruit trees), herbs and vegetables that will happily live in containers (as long as you remember to water and feed them, of course!), and with the newest baby in the Kadai firepit range, you could even barbeque on your balcony. And I just love the folding balcony table recently sourced! Sally is a balcony gardener herself, so if you need advice on container gardening she is certain to have lots of fresh ideas to help you.

With the range of plants growing by the week, there are just too many to mention here, but I want to highlight a few …

For those of you clammering to get tomato plants, guess what? Yup – they’re in! I don’t think we’ve ever had them in stock quite this early before, but as long as you keep a weather eye out in case of a sharp drop in temperature, and fleece them if that happens, it’s fine to plant them out now.
The first Hairy Pot herbs are available. These fabulous UK grown plants, in environmentally friendly, bio degradable pots, are a firm favourite with many of you already, so we know you’ll be thrilled to hear they’re in stock.
We continue to extend our range of smaller herbs, in 9cm pots, priced at just £1.95.

During April we have a special offer on these little beauties to help you get started with your herb patch ….. buy 4, get 5^th FREE .

Young vegetable plants are in stock at £2.50 a strip. The range will increase over time, but there are already plenty available, including mange tout, pak choi, brussel sprouts, cabbage, and beans - broad, French and runner.
Summer bedding plants are also in. Petunias, geraniums, bellis and bacopa .... the list is almost endless. Plant up your window boxes now for a whole summer of colour. Adding swellgel and slow release fertiliser to your planters and hanging baskets will reduce the maintenance they require, so all you’ll need to do is water and dead head flowers that have gone past their best.
We have a lovely stock of fruit trees in, including lots of espaliered ones – ideal if you are pushed for space, as they will grow against a fence or wall. Many have been grown on dwarf or semi-dwarf root stock so won’t grow too big. As I mentioned earlier, some will even happily live in containers.
The deciduous trees and shrubs are all bursting into life now, and it’s not too late to get a flowering cherry to brighten your garden at this magical time of year.
The shrubs are showing lots of fresh growth, with plenty showing bud and flower already, such as the lovely Ceanothus and spectacular Berberis.
You clearly approve of the range of David Austin roses we stock as they are selling very fast indeed. We will regularly be getting supplies in from now until the end of May.

The above is just a taste of the wealth of glorious plants we have in stock, so please take the time to come and have a browse around, have a chat, and give Basil or Mittens a stroke! (They adore this warmer weather, by the way.)

In the shop, we have sourced both the useful and the totally frivolous - but gorgeous ...

Rootgrow is a product endorsed by the RHS which combats the effects of the drought as it helps new plants get established quickly. We’ve been singing its virtues for a few years now. If put into the planting hole so that the new plant’s roots are in direct contact with it, the plant will establish stronger, healthier roots more quickly, thus becoming a strong healthy plant. You’ll find packets of this marvellous product at the till.

Let’s not forget the beneficial wildlife in our gardens – birds, bees and ladybirds. Do all you can to encourage them into your patch by planting things that attract them (either from seed or as plants), and ensure you have bird boxes, feeders, insect houses and water available for them to use.

The swirling spirals of Rusty Iron plant supports that I sourced last year were a real hit, and are back in stock again this season. Put supports in situ now for your plants to grow up or through.

I discovered Sara Page at a trade show earlier in the year, and instantly fell in love with her pretty mugs, trays and coasters, so simply had to get some into the shop. Inspired by nature, with a contemporary twist, they are really delightful. Come and check them out and let me know what you think.

Coming in soon is a delightful range of flat packed woodland animals, flowers and leaves, which you and your children can construct to decorate your Easter table.

The summer scents of True Grace candles are back in …. Grapefruit, English Rose, Rosemary and Eucalyptus, to name but a few.

I’m sure this will have given you lots of food for thought, and I very much hope we’ll see you at the garden centre in the days and weeks to come.

Easter weekend: We’re open every day over Easter: Friday, Saturday and Monday it’s from 9.30 – 5.30, and on Sunday from 10am – 4pm. Bring the kids along for an Easter Egg Hunt over the weekend … but no gorging please!

Happy gardening!

Karen

Garden jobs for April 2014

April is the month we expect showers, but surely we’ve already had them?

I love this time of year, with buds swelling, gorgeous spring bulbs everywhere, and the promise of a good gardening season to come.

2 key jobs for the month

1. Sow lots of seeds – you can sow many things directly into the garden or into containers during April.

2. Plant lots of plants – this is a great time of year to plant a new border, fill your patio pots, prepare your hanging baskets, and fill the herb and vegetable garden.

Growing from seed

April is normally the month to begin seed sowing outside, but only once the temperatures have begun to rise. Carrots, peas, broad beans, lettuce and spinach can all be sown directly into prepared drills. Always read the instructions on the seed packet. Towards the end of the month, larger seeds such as sweet corn, courgettes, squash and pumpkins, and runner beans can be sown directly outside.
Sow leaf crops at two week intervals to have a steady supply of cut and come again salad. Try lettuce, rocket, coriander, chard, beetroot, spinach, and any other favourites. Rows of seeds can be a centimetre apart, in a seed bed or in a grow bag or container.
Direct sow sweet peas. The resulting plants will flower later than any sown earlier under glass or over wintered.
It’s worth warming the soil before sowing or planting, with cloches, sheets of plastic or old carpet. Seeds will germinate more easily in a warm soil
With tender vegetables, the smaller the seed, the earlier it needs to be sown, so start off aubergines, chilli peppers and tomatoes in April, in seed trays in a greenhouse or on a windowsill.
All tender vegetable seedlings should be hardened off before planting out, and not put outside until the risk of frost has passed.

Planting

Spring is an ideal time to plant evergreen shrubs and hedges, and to plant herbaceous perennials, shrubs, trees, and climbers. For a reminder of best practice when planting, look at our Planting Instructions on our website.

Summer bedding plants can be planted in containers, baskets or in the ground, but be sure to protect them from late frosts.
On balconies and terraces, pot up a selection of herbs to keep you supplied in the kitchen over the coming months.
Why not plant some fruit bushes or trees – there are quite a few which can be grown in containers too. It’s best to pinch out flowers and small developing fruit in the first year, so that the plant’s energy goes into building a strong root system. If growing blueberries, use ericaceous compost.

General maintenance around the garden

Feed roses and other shrubs with proprietary or general fertiliser and cover with a mulch of horse manure or good compost.
Tidy up beds and borders. As a minimum, get rid of weeds which take moisture and nutrients needed by your plants. Dig out perennial weeds, and hoe away young annual weeds before they have a chance to get going.
As I mentioned last month, this is still a good time to apply a good layer of organic mulch such as horse manure or organic compost. This will help to retain moisture around plants, and the nutrients will gradually be pulled down to the roots. And/or use a straw or bark chipping mulch which will help to deter slugs and snails.
Tie in climbing and rambling roses and other climbers with ties or wire that won’t damage the growing stems. With climbers, tie the long stems as horizontally as possible, which will encourage the plant to produce more flowers.
Place plant supports over and around tall perennials before they need them.
Deadhead daffodils when the flowers have gone over. By doing this, the plant's energy goes into the bulb to form next year’s flower, rather than into producing seeds. Give the leaves a dousing of liquid fertilizer, to help further.
Cut back the leaves of Pulmonaria, especially if they are in a sunny or dry position where the leaves may get scorched or be susceptible to mildew. A fresh set of leaves will grow, with stronger markings.
Large clumps of Agapanthus can be divided in spring. If container grown plants failed to flower last year, they may benefit from repotting in John Innes 2 or 3. Give them a feed and water regularly.
The weather is warm as I write, so start your watering regime with pots and containers and be sure to water recently planted areas.

Pruning

Prune late flowering deciduous shrubs such as Hydrangeas and Buddleja if you haven’t done so already – prune hard back to a leaf shoot or stem.
Prune early flowering Forsythia and Chaenomeles once they have finished flowering.
Prune young stone fruit trees such as plums and cherries as leaf buds open.
Feed soft fruit bushes and strawberries with a general fertilizer to encourage bumper crops.

Lawns

If you haven’t had a chance to prepare the lawn yet, now is the time to do it. Spike compacted areas with an aerator, or a garden fork and apply a fertiliser or top dressing.
Apply mosskiller if necessary and rake the dead moss out 2 weeks later.
Mow the lawn with the blades set high for the first few cuts.
Sow lawn seed on bare patches, and water during dry spells.
We have sheets entitled ‘Lawn Maintenance’ by the till. Do grab one when you’re next in.

Garden pests and diseases

One of the main things we need to be aware of after our mild, wet winter is slugs and snails, and early aphid attack. I've been using parsley from my balcony all winter, but was horrified to find it absolutely infested with greenfly one evening last week. The whole pot has now been emptied and scrubbed, and I'm starting again!
So, watch out for early insect attacks. Tackling problems early should make them easier to control. Early infestation of aphids can be squashed by hand if you aren’t too squeamish. Watch out too for Lily beetle, vine weevils and other infestations, remove and dispose of any you see, and treat with an appropriate insecticide.
If using an insecticide, use it wisely to avoid killing beneficial insects. Don’t use sprays if there is even a whisper of a breeze, because the insecticide will be carried. And ideally spray early morning or late evening when fewer flying insects are around.
Look out for blackspot on rose leaves and pick off affected leaves – early removal and control may eliminate the need for fungicide treatment.
I promised to share slug and snail treatments with you from my quirky Christmas gift book: Slugs dislike some strong smelling plants, so try planting a selection of mint, chives, garlic, geraniums, foxgloves and fennel around the edge of your garden.

Wildlife

People are often worried about feeding the birds as they begin to have young, but as long as you use feeders, it’s fine, and fair, to keep up the feeding routine. Water is really important for birds and other wildlife in the garden, so keep the bird bath or a plant saucer topped up daily.
Think about planting to encourage bees and butterflies into your garden to help with pollination.
Encouraging frogs and toads into your garden will help keep the slug and snail population down, so think about a water feature, however small, as it will help.

Finally

Enjoy the spring season and get your garden ready for the summer to come! See you next month.

Sally