It’s ready, steady, grow for summer

Spring is here and while the last remaining daffodils stand proud and you begin to work outdoors, it’s time to plan ahead for summer.

The first task is removing and composting any dead annual plants that remained over winter.

These will not return and any self-seeders will already have done their job.

If you didn’t prune back your perennials last fall, they’re probably looking pretty ugly as spring sets in.

And while it may seem too wet and cold to be even imagining the hot, hazy days of summer, it’s time to start sowing tender annuals under glass so they’ll be ready for planting outdoors in May and June.

One thing to remember when growing from seed is to use seed compost for best results. After their initial watering, cover with polythene or a piece of glass to retain moisture until the seedlings emerge, then remove to avoid excess humidity which encourages fungal diseases such as damping off.

Early spring is the time to take action against weeds with some pro-active weeding. Damp soil makes it much easier t to pull young weed s seedlings. Don’t try to compost weeds. They’ll come back to haunt you.

Some shrubby plants with woody stems including artemisia, buddleia, caryopteris and lavender need to be cut back each spring, because they only bloom on new branches.

These are pruned i in the spring, to limit winter damage and to encourage the plant to start sending out those n new flowering branches.

It’s best to wait until d danger of fhda hard frost is past. So this spring it’s time to get organised for the year ahead in your garden and make sure it is blooming beautiful by the time summer arrives in your garden.