Make the Most of Hectic May Days in the Garden

---

Seasonal advice from Fulham Palace Garden Centre

This can be a hectic time in the garden, as the grass is growing quickly. Once the danger of frost has past you can plant out tender summer flowering plants.

Borders

Under plant your rose bushes with ground covering plants such as hardy geraniums or annual bedding plants for year round colour.

Fill spaces around your shrubs with perennial groundcover or bedding plants to give extra colour and smother weeds.

Continue to plant summer flowering bulbs.

Prune spring-flowering shrubs to prevent them from becoming overgrown.

Finish sowing hardy annuals: the later they are sown, the later they will flower.

Remove weeds regularly to prevent them seeding.

Continue to remove the faded flowers of bulbs.

Spray roses only if necessary to control pests and diseases.

Ensure newly planted plants are kept watered in dry spells.

Bedding Plants

Start to harden off bedding plants by putting them out for the day and back in for the night.

As soon as the danger of frost is past you can begin planting out your summer bedding plants.

Bedding plants will grow in most soils, but if your soil is heavy and wet, improve its drainage by digging in grit and well-rotted manure, compost or bark.

Plant in large drifts or groups to create impressive splashes of colour.

It might seem drastic but remove any flowers before planting and your plants will grow away much quicker.

Containers

Now’s a good time to plant up your containers with tender summer flowering plants.

Always use good quality compost and add water retaining granules.

When planting a hanging basket rest it on a bucket or large pot to stop it rolling around.

Make sure there are plenty of large drainage holes in the bottom of your container and cover these with at least 3cm (11/2”) of broken pots, gravel or broken up polystyrene trays.

Choose a container that suits your plants, both in terms of size and colour.

Use a combination of upright, trailing and bulky plants to create a full effect or for a dramatic look.

You can save compost when planting bedding and trailing plants in deep containers such as chimney pots by putting an upturned pot or broken polystyrene trays in the bottom.

After planting, place the container in a sheltered position for a few days where they will not get damaged by late frosts before moving it to its final spot.

Lawns

Continue to re-seed or re-turf bald or new patches of lawn.

Spread lawn fertiliser or combined weed and feed to produce a healthy lawn if not already done.

Mow lawns once a week if needed.

Fruit

Mulch around Strawberries to prevent the fruit being spoiled, using straw or black polythene.

Destroy any leaves of peach and nectarine which show signs of leaf curl.

Water newly planted fruit trees and bushes in dry spells.

Harvest early rhubarb.

The Vegetable Garden

Plant out brassicas (cauliflower/cabbage/calabrese) if they have been grown in a greenhouse. Remember to use a collar to keep cabbage root fly away.

Most vegetable crops can be sown but delay if the soil is cold and wet.

Plant out main crop potatoes.

Earth up early crop potatoes.

Thin out over crowded vegetable seedlings regularly.

Weed between any vegetable crops that are growing.

Harvest any Asparagus spears that are showing.

Plant out tomatoes once the danger of frost has passed.

The Greenhouse

Tie in the lengthening growths of Vines.

Continue to plant tomatoes, aubergines and peppers in unheated greenhouses.

Ventilate well and damp down on sunny days as long as seeds are not being raised.

Watch for pests and treat immediately using either a chemical spray or a biological control.

Ponds

Feed fish if they are near the surface.

Plant up new aquatic baskets with water lilies and oxygenating plants.

Re-install your pump and filters and keep them running regularly.

General Tasks

Use slug and snail control to protect the new shoots of plants.

If not already done, clean paths and patio areas so that they look good and are not slippery.

Watch out for late frosts and keep fleece handy.

 

Fulham Palace Garden Centre is in Bishops Avenue, off Fulham Palace Road and is open monday to Saturday from 9.30am till 5pm and 10am till 4pm on Sunday.

The garden centre is supported by the Fairbridge Garden Society who help to raise the profile of the garden centre and create a sense of loyalty. Members organise a variety of trips and events throughout the year as well as raising money for The Prince's Trust Fairbridge programme.

All profits go the The Prince's Trust.

Contact the centre on 0207 736 2640 or email fpgc@princes-trust.org.uk.

March 14, 2014