Those few weeks after Christmas are of such importance to the gardeners of the country; once the cold and wet weather starts to wear off. We look out of windows and patio doors more on sunny days – it is one of the joys at breakfast time to look out over the flower borders. The trees are now beginning to bud and day by day more baby green leaves are showing through. The may and crab apple trees are coming out with their various blossoms. We are now able to look out and see clouds of dark pink, deep red and a dozen shades of white blossom on branches at every level. Another fabulous bloom in the early spring are magnolia trees. Many thousands of hellebore of various shapes, sizes, and colours also dazzle in the borders. Professional gardeners generally cut off the bigger leaves in the autumn as this allows for the flowers to stand almost upright. It makes these blooms really shine as there are very few other show perennials available.
After the worst of the winter has passed, the spring bulbs start breaking through. Some gardening comentators suggest that tulips don’t replicate in following years but my own garden doesn’t bear that out. There are hundreds of strong colours and fabulous blooms . In fact, this year there are great drifts of 5 different types. The hyacinths have also doubled in size and number – they are a gorgeous pale pink, with the most spectacular perfume. I cut the stalks to preserve the blooms as they are so robust and rain tends to bring them down. I cut them and put them in a vase. Every year the blooms stand for a few days in huge drifts just as they start bending down to the soil in any resumption of bad weather. A vase of home grown hyacinths looks stunning and smells even more gorgeous.
If there is continued wet weather, it is possible to spread some weed and feed products on the lawn. These help to get rid of the moss and weed problem. It goes down the root system and completely kills the weed and moss; these then turn black and die off, they must be raked off. These remants can’t be put in the garden compost bin so they should really be burned. The fresh grass that follows on will be lush and verdant. These products help the weeds stay away and the stronger new growth can fight further infestations.
Regular watering of the borders with plants of every shape and size will keep them growing and help them to remain lush. A regular garden feeding programme will be truly beneficial.
