March issue - Magazine - Page 49
Glenside
News
GlensideNews@mail.com
ACTIVITIES
APRIL GARDENING DIARY
So come on, let us start the conversation about the
weather! As I sit here in early March, chained to the
keyboard, I gaze outside to see an overcast sky, a chilly
wind is blowing from the east and a snowstorm is
forecast to bury most of England next week. What
happened to the sun? Even the daffodils are shivering!
We have had so much rain that Rutland Water, one
of the largest manmade bodies of water in Europe, is
about to consume all of Rutland! It will then truly earn
its name as Rutland Water.
However, I can say, as an eternal optimist, I believe
that by the time you read this nonsense the sun will have
come out to show its cheery face and warm up all of
your cockles!
April also brings us Saint George's Day on the 23rd
and as last year I hope you have prepared the glorious
flag of St George for display, in preparation for the day's
celebrations.
April will bring forth magnificent cherry blossom
displays all over the county, so do look out for these
beautiful trees wherever you travel. Wait. Did I hear you
say “What else can I do in April?” The wonderful
Ospreys will have returned to us so don't miss the
opportunity to see the remarkable Osprey 'Maya' and her
partner on the webcam at the Lyndon Visitor Centre at
Rutland Water.
Now, if you were feeling particularly energetic you
could run around Rutland Water, you could even cycle
around Rutland Water, you could walk around Rutland
Water. Or, if you are sensible, you could just DRIVE
around Rutland Water like the rest of us.
Moving on to actual work. April kicks off the really
busy garden season so please accept my apologies for
the long list of jobs to do.
Illustration © Oksanaok | Dreamstime.com
JOBS FOR THE MONTH
Whilst it is warming up, be aware of late frost in the
evening and early morning and protect your delicate
plants accordingly.
Slugs are out and about so go on slug patrol and deal
with them in your preferred way.
Dead-head daffodils when the blooms have faded, but
leave the leaves and stalks for up to six weeks after
flowering to allow next year's goodness to return to the
bulb, and to deter a second blooming.
Water newly planted shrubs and trees well.
Deal with border weeds now before they establish - they
will also pull out more easily.
Any spring bulbs that have completed their flowering
season may now be lifted and separated and then
replanted. Feed spring bulbs with a liquid feed when they
have finished flowering.
Top-dress containers and planters with fresh compost.
Don't forget to also feed your containers.
Cut back ivy on walls and fences.
Plant fruit trees, fruit canes and fruit bushes. Prepare
strawberry beds.
Prune autumn-fruiting raspberry canes hard to 6in (15cm)
from the ground. Prune flowering currants, jasmine,
forsythia after flowering.
Finish pruning roses then feed them.
Repair lawn edges and you can now treat moss on lawns,
patios and drives. Mature lawns will also thank you for a
spring feed. Spike existing lawns to aid drainage and let
them breathe.
Try scarifying the lawn this year to let it breathe. There
will be a lot of rubbish raked up but dispose of it all. Do
not mix it into your garden compost.
Sow new lawns or lay turf. Damp lawns will benefit from
a generous layer of course or sharp sand and brush it in
well.
Apply a spring fertiliser high in nitrogen to shrubs and
small trees; this will encourage strong healthy roots.
Plant your hanging baskets but do not put them out until
the end of May. It could still be too cold for the delicate
little chaps.
Watch for, and deal with, greenfly, black fly, etc.
Finish planting early potatoes, plant strawberries, sow
lettuce, spinach, beetroot, broad beans, peas, turnips,
radishes.
Spray fruit trees with a fungicide or your preferred
treatment method.
It is really still too early to put in bedding plants but, if
you do, please protect them if a frost is forecast.
Mulch any borders with well-rotted leaf manure. Feed
roses.
Clear ponds of dead and dying material, and clear the
surface of the pond wherever possible.
Do remember to leave all the gunge (technical term) on
the pond side for a day or two before
disposal. This allows all those minute
little creepy crawly chaps that are
so important to your pond's health to
crawl back to their newly cleaned home!
If you do all of the jobs above you
deserve a nice cup of tea
in the SUN!
Happy Gardening
David Penny
Page 49
