6 minute read
Gardening
Late winter gardening
As winter draws to a close, this year it is more vital than ever to steal a march on the year and get ahead in the garden. I’m not talking about the usual jobs of weeding, soil prep and sending the mower for servicing – although these are always worthwhile. This year, a combination of stock shortages and delays due to Covid, along with increased demand (almost 3 million people discovered gardening in lockdown) mean it’s a very good idea to get your skates on with advance planning and ordering, with everything from seeds and plants to materials for garden projects. So, have a think about what you’d like to do this year. Adding features is a great way to make your garden more useable and attractive, such as a paved seating area, surrounded by raised beds to create a more intimate feel: make wide tops to the beds and they can double as informal seating and somewhere to park a glass or plate. In a sunny spot, add a beamed pergola or arbour, planted with wisteria or a grape vine to cast leafy, dappled shade and recreate that feeling of the Med. A pond or water feature brings a whole new dimension to the garden and can be made to almost any size to match the site and your garden style. A simple submersible pump creates the soothing splash of moving water, which not only focuses attention on the feature but also helps mask intrusive background noise. Water is wonderful to attract wildlife of all kinds too.
Advertisement
A covered area for growing is a real asset, so if you’ve been debating whether to get a greenhouse, now’s the time to treat yourself – especially as some manufacturers are already quoting lead times of months rather than weeks. Greenhouses come in many shapes, sizes and designs, from space-saving little lean-to models (a bit like a large cupboard) to walk-in houses from 6 x 4 ft upwards, in metal or wood. Do go as large as your site and budget permits as once the growing bug bites, a small one will soon be outgrown; also add into your budget accessories like staging (benches) and automatic roof vents.
With indoor socialising likely to remain out of bounds for some time, making the garden more decorative and personalised is a big trend. If your budget permits, a piece of garden art from one of the many talented artists in this part of the world will give many years of pleasure. For a cheap and cheerful garden facelift, use coloured wood stain to transform wooden furniture and features, and recycle all kinds of throwaway items into plant containers. One cause for optimism in 2021 is that increased awareness in sustainability is becoming a way of life, not just a trend.
ALL ASPECTS OF LANDSCAPING AND PROPERTY MAINTENANCE
• Decking & Fencing • Dry Stone Walling • Patios & Pathways • Timber Structures • Groundworks • Sheds • Turf Laying • House Painting • Hedge Trimming • Garden Clearance
FULLY INSURED - LOCAL REFERENCES AVAILABLE
Hartland, Milton Combe, Yelverton, Devon PL20 6HP T: 01822 852792 M: 07765 674627
Easy ways to grow your own veg
Vegetable growing soared in popularity during lockdown no. 1, and with more months of restrictions, it’s a great way to do something positive. There’s the delight of sowing seed and watching a crop grow to maturity; the incomparable taste of produce picked and eaten in minutes; the knowledge that what you eat is packed with nutrients with no harmful chemicals; food metres rather than miles… the list of positives goes on. Many gardeners are keen to expand their veg growing this year and by far the easiest way is to grow on a no-dig bed system which involves far less work, is easy on the back and good for the environment too, as the soil structure is undisturbed, and carbon remains locked in the soil. The principle of no-dig is that beds are a maximum of 1.2m (4ft) wide and worked from a path either side rather than being trodden on and compacted, plus the organic matter (garden compost or well-rotted manure, ideally) is spread in a layer on top to be taken down by worms and soil organisms. Beds can be made at ground level, but if you want to ease wear and tear on backs and knees, or want to convert grass into veg beds, the simplest and most labour-saving way is to go up. Use a wooden frame – from 15cm high and upwards depending on your budget – and cover the grass with flattened brown cardboard boxes (there are lots of them around with all the current internet shopping). The grass underneath is killed by the cardboard which then rots down and adds more structure to the soil. Then simply fill the bed with soil mixed with organic matter, and get sowing and planting. Garden centres and nurseries remain open at the time of writing so there should be plenty of seeds and ready-grown plants to choose from.
Sue Fisher
GARDEN DESIGNER & HORTICULTURAL SPECIALIST
Inspirational ideas to transform your garden Advisory visits • Planting plans Complete designs
tel: 01822 841895 • email: suefisher@talktalk.net www.suefishergardens.co.uk
ENDSLEIGH GARDENS NURSERY
Milton Abbot Tavistock
Tel: 01822 870235
www.endsleighgardens.co.uk
Open 8am-5pm Monday-Saturday, 10am-4pm Sunday
VISIT SAFELY...
...AND CHOOSE
Spring Flowering Bulbs, our Pot grown 3yr old Fruit Trees and Autumn/Winter Flowering Bedding plants. ...ORDER
Bareroot Hedging plants, So Fruit bushes and Rhubarb Crowns. ...RING
Us or come along for any advice, we are here to help you garden. OPEN EVERY DAY! Well worth a visit !
Gardening jobs for the season
Order bare rooted plants as soon as possible as they can only be supplied whilst dormant, during the winter months. Trees, shrubs, roses, hedging plants and fruit are cheaper and often bigger and better than container grown plants, and more sustainably produced too without plastic pots. Boost bulb displays for next year by feeding with a general fertilizer. Remove dead flower heads and do allow the leaves to die back naturally as this is how the bulb builds up energy for next year.
Grow a patch of flowers for cutting and never again feel guilty about raiding the borders to fill a vase. Annuals like sweet peas and cosmos can be sown now and dahlia tubers potted up and started into growth under cover; perennials like Michaelmas daisy can be divided to make more plants for free.
Many veg and flower seeds can be sown now, in a propagator if you have one, or on a well-lit windowsill if not. Reuse old plant pots but wash first in hot water to avoid pest and disease problems. Food containers like yoghurt and margarine pots, or mushroom punnets are great for growing seeds, so long as holes are made for drainage. Sue continues to be available for garden advisory visits and design work, operating according to Covid-19 social distancing
Spring is on its way
