PREPARE FOR SPRING CROSS FARM NURSERY

March and April are the months where, if you put in a few hours in the garden, you’ll reap the rewards all year. Vale Life caught up with owner Charlotte for some tips.

Once you sense the worst of the frost is done, prune your rose bushes and climbers – this will encourage new growth. Not sure how? Pop in and ask the experts at Cross Farm Nursery. If growing veg is your thing, shallots can go in as well as early potatoes.

If you love summer flowers, then get your bulbs in the garden and top dress your tubs and containers with fresh compost. Those bulbs will soon get hungry. There are several types of compost available here and the team can give you the best advice. They will also have an excellent selection of bulbs so follow on Facebook to keep abreast of what’s new in stock.

Pick off any seedheads on daffodils and other spring bulbs but leave the foliage to die back naturally. That way they’ll grow strong next year.

If it’s a dry day, you can mow the lawn, but not too short. This is also a good time to hoe and mulch any early weeds that have popped up. Invest an hour in early spring and it’ll save you a day in summer. You can also lift and divide perennials if it’s a nice day - two for one!

Slugs will be active soon enough and it’s good to put some deterrents down. New shoots will need a little protection.

Have a general tidy up, you’ll feel better for it. Mental health and wellbeing is important and getting out in the spring sun is very good for the soul. Pop into Cross Farm Nursery, have a mooch around – everything you need to make you spring and summer garden glorious is to hand and Charlotte, Dave and Mark are super helpful and here to advise.

The gardener’s garden centre

You’ll find just about everything you need at Cross Farm.

n Bark (and decorative bark) n Bulbs n Christmas trees (and wreaths) n Climbers and vines n Composts (peat free too!) n Feed selection n Garden ornaments n Hanging baskets n Hedging n Local honey (and eggs) n Ornamental/statement plants n Plant and lawn care n Pots, tubs and window boxes n Rock and stone n Seed (flowers and vegetables) n Shrubs and roses n Succulents, Alpine and bedding n Tools n Trees (especially fruit trees) n Young and starter plants

Cross Farm Nursery

Pentre Meyrick

Cowbridge CF71 7RN 07523 459949

Cross Farm Nursery

OPEN ALL YEAR ROUND

With Christmas and the overindulgence of the season becoming a distant memory, inevitably our thoughts turn to “New Year, New You”. But we can make good choices even if we are dining out. A Mediterranean diet is widely accepted to be one of the best. Perhaps that’s why Keyif in Penarth remains popular all year ‘round.