Day: 4 March 2019

This blog looks at an aspect of gardening which is relevant all-year round, and that’swildlife. Here we provide a few handy (and often overlooked) tips on how to maintain a healthy environment for wildlife to thrive in.

1. Grow A Variety of Plants

Shrubs, climbers, evergreen and deciduous plants will all increase the range of visiting wildlife. The key elements of a wildlife friendly garden are rich food sources, shelter, and a safe habitat so a good mix of plants and shrubs will go a long way towards helping improve these factors. Continue reading Seven Steps of Wildlife Gardening

It’s March, and your garden will be starting to show signs of life. Snowdrops, Crocus, or your Sedums will be shooting. It’s time to start thinking about jobs for the coming season and what projects need starting to get your garden growing. If you’re thinking about your veg plot, what to do with your lawn or your next step in the greenhouse here’s a few tips and pointers to jobs that will get you started.

Vegetable growers will be getting busy this month and weather permitting you could sow: Broad Beans, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbages, Carrots, Cauliflowers, Leeks, Lettuces, Onions, Parsnips, Peas, Radishes, Spinach, and Turnips outdoors. This does depend on the variety and weather, so choose suitable varieties and use cloches or keep them indoors for a few weeks.

Other things to plant are Rhubarb and Onion/Shallot Sets; just make sure the soil is prepared well before planting. If you have a cold frame, I like to sow herbs to use in planters and window boxes for cooking and storage throughout the year.

Pests such as slugs and birds will start to think about your veg soon too so look to net areas where you will grow Brassicas and get your slug pellets and traps at the ready.  

Are you thinking of planting fruit this year? If so, now is the time to do it. For people with existing fruit, it is a good time to mulch with well rotted manure or garden . Also mulch and prune raspberry canes.

General maintenance such as firming in any newly planted trees and bushes and tying back any branches on trained trees needs to be done now.

Lawn Turf is now available and laying a new lawn or just patching an existing lawn should not be a problem as long as the weather permits. Mowing will not be necessary for a few weeks yet, so spend your time scarifying and spiking your lawn. This will improve drainage and the overall quality later in the season.

If you want to make more of your snowdrops, dig them up and divide them. You can also divide perennials in your borders to help them thrive and increase your planting numbers. This is also a perfect time to buy and plant perennials to create stunning flower shows throughout the season.

You can start to prune roses and give them a feed. Scatter the rose feed on the surface then work it into the soil. Also, you can start to feed the perennials in your borders now. 

In the greenhouse you can pinch out the tips of Fuchsias as they start to grow, and sow any half hardy and tender annuals in heated areas. If you have Dahlia tubers, get them going with some heat and Begonia tubers might need potting up.

If you grow veg in the greenhouse, you can sow: Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Melons, Aubergines, Peppers, Celery and Celeriac now. If you have cuttings in the greenhouse pot up any that have rooted. Lastly, remember to water and ventilate carefully as the weather changes and your plants needs change. 

Once again a few things for you all to be getting on with, we hope this is helpful and gets you started. For any more information or help on anything don't hesitate to get in touch via our contact page.

On Saturday 30th March & Sunday 31st March throughout Lymefield there will be a Photography, Art and Card Sale alongside a Pop-up Potrait Studio.

Organised by Manchester Heary and Soul Photography this will be a great way to enjoy your Mothering Sunday weekend. A wide range of photography and art will be on sale with in our Glass House, including: landscapes, wildlife, nature, street art and architecture and much more.

The Pop-Up Potrait Studio will be offering the opportunity to have family, pet and Mother's day portraits – no bookings are taken

This unique Mother's Day event will be open between 10am and 4pm!

Gifts for Mother's Day available online or in store. Click here for ideas!