Garden Checklist ...

Good Morning!
I hope you have all had a lovely Easter weekend, typically we have torrential rain today so it doesn't look like I'l be able to do anything in the garden!
However if the weather is fine where you are here's a few things that you can be getting on with today and over the rest of the week ...

1. Transplanting  -If you have plants in the wrong place or they've simply grown too big for the space that they are in now is a good time to dig them up and relocate them. Avoid doing this however if the ground is frozen or water logged. If your wanting to move a plant but don't have anywhere for it to go then pop it in a pot until you have found the right place.
Below you can see that I have taken out the Hardy Fuchsia which was in the middle to the right and moved the Salvia to the centre as it has put on some good growth since I first planted it. I finished the spot off by under-planting with some Snowdrops and the Fuchsia has been relocated elsewhere in the garden!

2. Sowings - Now is a good time to get on with some more seed sowing! For example yesterday I sowed some Cosmos 'Xanthos' and 'Double Click Snow Puff' along with some French Marigolds in 'Vanilla Cream' and 'Spanish Brocade'. 

There's also still time for you to sow Greenhouse crops such as Peppers, Cucumbers and Tomatoes.

Cosmos 'Xanthos'

3. Strawberries- If you are growing Strawberries outside you can encourage early fruits by covering the rows with Cloches. Alternatively you can grow them undercover in a Greenhouse which will also encourage early fruits! This year I am growing 'Mara des Bois' which is a perpetual strawberry so hopefully I shall have more strawberries for longer throughout the year!

4. Potatoes - If you are growing Potatoes this year then the Easter weekend is traditionally the time to get them planted. If you are limited on space but want to grow this crop then large bags with drainage holes and containers can also be used. Ensure when planting that each seed potato has healthy shoots and give the soil a water after planting.

5. Dahlia Tubers - Dahlia Tubers can also be started off now. Plant them in pots of multi purpose compost and place in a cold frame or Greenhouse. Once you spot them green shoots emerging from the soil give them a water.

6. Basket Plants - Garden Centres will be getting in plug plants of Basket plants now, if they haven't already! If your only wanting a couple for your Summer Bedding this year then it's a great way of getting just a couple for a cheap price. Of course it's still too cold for them to go outside so it's best to keep them in a Greenhouse right now. Pot them up into 9cm pots of multi - purpose compost as soon as you get them home. Once they have filled these pots you can plant your baskets / containers up and keep them undercover until it's time to go outside.

One of our nearby Garden Centres has them on offer for 6 for £5 so of course I had to pick up a few!

Thanks for stopping by, don't forget you can find all the previous Checklists on the page tab above.

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

Plant of the Month ... Pulmonaria!

Good Morning!

I started this series last month and today I am back with the next instalment.

The PLANT OF THE MONTH for March is ... PULMONARIA!

Pulmonaria (or Lungwort) is an attractive early flowering Hardy Perennial which provides eye catching colour at this time of year and will continue well into Spring. Perfect for woodland areas, flower borders and beds the clump forming perennial also provides ground cover throughout the year.
The variety I have and I am sharing photo's of below is called 'Silver Bouquet' but there are also other variations in strictly blue, pink and even white.
This plant is ideal for a first time gardener as you can pretty much leave it to itself for most of the year!

CULTIVATION 

Pulmonaria are ideally planted in either a North, East or West facing sheltered position and are happy on moist well drained soils that are chalky, clay or loam in part shade. The ultimate height and spread of this plant in approx 2-5 years is 0.5-0.5 metres.
Any tattered leaves should be removed after flowering and you can divide the plant every 3 - 5 years at this time or later in Autumn.



PROBLEMS
Pulmonaria can be prone to 'Powdery Mildew' during dry weather conditions. You can find more info on this particular problem at the top of the blog under the
'Problem Area - Plant Diseases' tab.
If your Pulmonaria is affected by this cut the plant down to ground level, feed and water,
the plant will produce new foliage later in the year.

HAPPY GROWING!
XXX

Garden Checklist ...

Good Morning!
Here's a few things that you can be getting on with in the garden over the coming week ...

1. Spring Bulbs  -If you had any leftover bulbs from last Autumn that you potted up into small pots then now is the time to find a spot for them. You could simply put them together into a decorative pot as a focal point or use them to plug any gaps in your borders!

2. Herbs - Fresh herbs are important in the garden if you like to cook or simply love the scent. Right now Garden centres have small pots of herbs at an extremely low price so now is the time to get stocked up! I recently purchased some Apple & Chocolate Mint, Hot & Spicy Oregano, Marjoram and my favourite of them all ... Lemon Thyme. 

Pot them up into pots the next size up and finish with a layer of grit.