ACTIONPLAN
NIGEL COLBORN’S ESSENTIAL JOBS FOR YOUR GARDEN THIS WEEK
THERE’S still time to pot up containers, beds or any gaps in borders with young growth all ready for next year’s display.
Choose wallflowers, forget-me-nots, primroses, polyanthus and other f avourites to enjoy plenty of colour from March.
If you want winter i nterest as well as a spring show, choose pansies or violas.
The small- flowered varieties are the most resilient, blooming al most constantly, even through the coldest months.
I f your garden is sheltered, i nclude a few large pansies as wel l as they are gorgeous f or t heir colours and fragrant.
R e me mbe r that plants which flower in t he spring will not spread out and grow much during winter. Arrange them close together for maximum effect and consider i ncluding bulbs as companions.
All types of spring plants blend beautifully wi t h tulips, narcissus and most little bulbs.
GATHER YOUR GREENS
MAIN crop Brussels sprouts, winter cabbages, Savoys and other brassicas will mature soon. Pick cabbages with less-than-perfect hearts first as they may not last as long as those that are firmer, but they will make for good eating. Gather Brussels sprouts as they plump up — they do not need a frost to taste good. Keep your brassicas clean. Cut off any blown sprouts, dead cabbage leaves and loose curds on cauliflowers to prevent disease.
CURB CLIMBERS
MOST wall and climbing plants will have spurted over summer and could be creeping under eaves, into gutters and even under roofing tiles. This is a good time to prune them back to prevent damage and leave room for growth next season. While you’re up there, clear dead leaves from guttering.