The gardening year
The gardening year broadly follows the traditional four seasons - each season requiring its own activity.
Spring
This is the time when bulbs begin to emerge from the ground. The days are lighter and cheered by daffodils, crocuses and snowdrops. Generally it’s a time for planting seeds, both flowers and vegetables, and if you have a greenhouse, you can get a head start and begin work some weeks in advance.
Around Easter, garden centres start selling bedding plants such as petunias, begonias, geraniums, impatiens and surfinias. These are wonderfully colourful plants that flower throughout the summer, usually lasting until September. Please remember, however, that you should only begin planting outside when you are sure there is no risk of frost, as this can quickly destroy all your good work. Similarly, plants that require vigorous pruning, like rose bushes, should only receive your attention when the weather turns fine.
Summer
A season in which you can mostly relax and enjoy the colours of your garden. Light a barbecue on those warm summer evenings and open a bottle of wine. Don’t forget that there are some jobs that that you can’t avoid doing, however.
Weeding
Go round the garden two or three times a week and pull out any encroaching weeds.
Lawn
This will have to be cut at least once a week and fed regularly to keep it looking like Wembley turf.
Watering
If there is little rain, then you will have to water bedding plants at least once a day. But take care to conserve water and observe any hose pipe bans which the local authority might enforce.
Tips
Invest in a couple of environmentally friendly water tubs to collect rain from your roof. Also, put water retention pellets in the soil with plants. These will help retain moisture and lessen the need for watering.
Why not consider laying gravel instead of having a lawn? This means you can throw the lawn mower away but also will give you a lot more flexibility in garden layout. Flowers and small shrubs can be planted in decorative containers, which you can then move to different positions throughout the year to change the look of your garden.
Autumn
As the days grow shorter and cooler, many flowers begin to fade and die. If they are annual bedding plants, then pull them out and dispose of the roots and dead leaves. Remember to take them to your local recycling tip or put them in the appropriate bin if the council have provided you with one. Perennial plants will grow again the following year and can be trimmed down and left. There will be less frequent weeding and grass cutting to contend with at this time of the year, but hopefully the barbecue can still be put to good use. It’s also time to enjoy the vegetables that you planted in spring - potatoes, carrots, onions, runner beans and peas are all delicious, especially when home grown.
Winter
Earth should be dug over to allow the forthcoming frosts to break it down and kill off stray weed roots. Clean up all the rotting, fallen leaves and cut down the last of the dead flower foliage.
However, you can still maintain your garden’s colour by planting winter flowering plants; pansies are probably the most popular of these.
Plant seeds bulbs ready for the spring into small pots for the greenhouse. Keep delicate plants protected from frost by wrapping them in special material sold in garden centres. Move any pots nearer to a sheltered wall which will keep them frost free.
Finally
If you are unsure of what to do, don’t be afraid to ask a neighbour who seems to know what he’s doing. It’s a great way to socialise and most people are only too happy to give you the benefit of their experience.
Local garden centres keep a stock of virtually everything you are likely to need in your garden. They also usually have a resident “expert” who will guide you through the different choices of plant for each season. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things yourself, and above all…enjoy yourself!
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