Has spring arrived? The answer is... it depends

3rd March 2010, by Dan Walford

The meteorological answer works out the seasons on 3 month segments, so spring is the months of March, April and May. The astronomical answer looks at day length to pin point the spring equinox.

Regardless of calendar dates and astronomical data, gardeners know the signs that indicate when the first days of spring have truly arrived. The dormant buds on trees swell and the warmer soil temperatures encourage bulbs to force their way up to explode into colour.

If the flurry of seed catalogues coming through my letter box wasn’t enough, a visit to my local Garden Centre confirmed that spring must be here. It was alive with customers buying fruit bushes, seed potatoes, composts and a variety of different garden care products.

According to the Met Office, spring has advanced considerably over the last 15 to 20 years because of the warming UK climate.

This year saw the coldest winter since 1981 and we’ve received reports that tree blossom and spring flowers have been delayed by around 2 or 3 weeks in many gardens. In my garden last year the daffodils were already in bloom but this year they’re still in the green ‘gooseneck’ stage.

Maybe we’ve got used to spring arriving too early over the last 20 years and this year is more like it should be? Why not let us know what you think and leave a comment on this blog, we’re keen to know what’s happening in gardens across the country. So let us know if your daffs are flowering late, you’ve already heard the cuckoo or maybe you’ve already given your lawn its first trim.

7 comments | Filed under: Miscellaneous | Freshness: 11 days ago

Pruning the Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii)

24th February 2010, by Dan Walford

Buddleia davidii is one of the most widely grown shrubs in UK gardens. Its common name, the Butterfly Bush, refers to the insects that it attracts in profusion right through summer to autumn.

Left unpruned it will quickly develop into a large shrub (3m/10ft) and can take over a smaller garden. One of the reasons I prune mine regularly is to avoid the shrub becoming straggly. Left to grow naturally it’ll produce lots of fragrant purple flowers but these will be smaller than if pruned back hard annually.

This type of Buddleia flowers on shoots that are produced in the current year so pruning in February or March will not stop them producing flowers the following Summer.

Examples of other plants that flower on the current year’s growth, and can be pruned in a similar way, are Passiflora, Fuchsia and Ceanothus.

Using a sharp pair of secateurs cut back all lasts year’s growth to 2 or 3 healthy shoots from their base. It’s important to avoid cutting back into older wood as new shoots may not regrow. I know this sort of pruning may seem a bit severe but Buddleia grow like the clappers and you’ll quickly see lots of new growth as we start spring.

After hard pruning any plant it’s well worth giving it some TLC with a good layer of mulch and a slow release feed. My plants always get a 5cm layer of Levington Farmyard Manure and a sprinkle of Miracle-Gro Slow Release Plant Food.

2 comments | Filed under: Flower Gardening | Freshness: 18 days ago

First and Second Early Spuds

18th February 2010, by Dan Walford

This week I bought my early seed potatoes from the huge variety that’s now available at most garden retailers.

I’ve chosen to start off with Charlotte (great as a salad potato, but can also be boiled and roasted) and Estima (an excellent mash and jacket spud). Make sure you pick a variety that suits your taste.

I’ve placed mine in egg boxes (but a wooden tray would be fine) ensuring each tuber has the rose-end pointing up. You might even be able to see the potato eyes starting to grow. Place them in a light and frost-free room so they develop sturdy green shoots. They will be ready for planting outside at the end of March, or beginning of April, for harvesting from the end of June.

To get the biggest crops it’s important to ‘chit’ your seed before planting.

I grow mine in the veg plot at the bottom of the garden, but if you have limited garden space then a Miracle-Gro Potato & Vegetable Gro-sac maybe the answer. Carefully push your seed potato (with the shoots facing upwards) into the loosened compost to a depth of approximately 25cm (10in). Take care not to damage the shoots as you plant the seeds and ensure the potatoes are evenly spaced and not touching each other. Each gro-sac is suitable for 5 seed potatoes so you can expect to grow quite a nice crop from each one.

No comments | Filed under: Fruit/Vegetables | Freshness: 24 days ago

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