FIT TO BURST
HERE COMES THE COLOUR AS WE FINALLY STEP OUT OF THE GLOOM DIARMUID GAVIN
Gardening Expert
AS we head into March, the garden is beginning to produce some little flashes of colour.
It’s wonderful to see the brilliant splash of yellow from groups of daffodils as well as purple and yellow crocuses.
Anemone blanda is just starting, with its pretty daisy-like blue flowers and the pulmonarias are peeping out as well.
Next month will bring a surge in growth and blossoms emerging but in the meantime, we can use hardy spring bedding to inject colour and warmth into our plots.
Whether you’re planting containers, brightening up window boxes or want to fill in bare patches, bedding is a great way to add some immediate vibrancy.
Primroses are synonymous with spring and I love to see them covering grassy banks where they naturalise en masse.
As well as the native primrose and cowslips in their pastel yellow hues, there are many hybrid varieties that have been bred in vibrant colours.
The Belarina series are a collection of primroses with fully double flowers which make them highly decorative.
For example, Primula ‘Nectarine’ has gorgeous rosettes of yellow and orange flowers with a of pink, ‘Valentine Red’ has rich crimson ruffles and ‘Beaujolais’ is an alluring deep purple.
Primroses like to be a little damp and enjoy a bit of shade, where they won’t dry out.
Erysimum, or wallflowers, are another good bedding option for this time of year and thrive in nutrient-poor soil. Their popularity stems from their prolific, colourful and fragrant blossoms.
As they are biennials, you sow seeds in spring for planting out in final positions in autumn but you can also buy them ready to go now.
It’s also worth investing in some perennial varieties such as ‘Bowles’s Mauve’ and ‘Apricot Delight’ as these will flower right through the summer and autumn in milder areas. They are shortlived perennials but can be reproduced easily from cuttings and will delight the bees and butterflies.
The humble forget-me-not (Myosotis) can pack a punch planted en masse in the borders, creating frothy clouds of blue flowers.
It self-seeds freely so works well for naturalistic planting schemes and a ribbon of blue flowers in spring can link together an otherwise disjointed border.
It also works well spilling on to pathways or in containers alonghint side tulips. They like moist welldrained soil and work well in sun or shade.
For something different, try ‘Mon Amie Pink’ which has light pink flowers or ‘Mon Amie White’ for a fresh, crisp look.
Last, but not least, is that seemingly all-year-round bloomer, the bright and cheerful pansy. Grow from seed or buy a tray of these for an instant lift on a grey day. The Frizzle Sizzle series is an especially flamboyant variety with layers of frilly blooms in rich and dazzling shades.
Keep fed, watered and deadheaded and the flowers will keep coming for months. garden for making your own compost – it’s a handy way to manage garden waste such as leaves and lawn clippings.