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TRIED AND TESTED...
KEEP WARM AND COSY!
SEASONAL TIPS
Smartedge®
Apples to Pears
Gardeners Cottage are proud to be official stockists for this high-quality range of garden gifts.
February 2012:
February has seen the first real snow of the winter here in the southern half of the country.
By now your spring flowering bulbs should be starting to show through the grass or in pots. Water them in dry times but otherwise they will be fine and getting ready to burst into flower at their alloted time.
If you didnt get the greenhouse ready in January, for the onslaught of the seeding and potting frenzy in late February and March, do it as soon as possible. Some seeds such as pelargoniums and craspedia need to be sown as soon as possible as they require a long season; tomatoes can be sown now for an early start, especially if you are going to grow them inside through the summer.
Roses - As the leaves fall off pick them up and if you have black spot and/or mildew put the leaves in the bin as the fungus disease can overwinter in the soil. Tie in the long growth of ramblers and climbers to keep them tidy and so that you don't walk into them along pathways or on the lawn. Roses on walls can be pruned and trained on warm days. See our Churn of garden twine to tie them in.
We have some really good leather gloves in the shop and also some that have gauntlets making them ideal for pruning roses, blackberries, gooseberries and other thorny plants with our a pair of our Folding Secateurs available with wood handles, or in pink, or original grey/green pruners.
Frost and Snow - When there is a frost, or snow has fallen, it’s s good idea to keep off the lawns and borders as it can damage the grass and the plants in the border. If we get heavy falls of snow then if you can knock the snow off hedges and topiary.
Apples and Pears - February is a good time to winter prune apples and pears and you can still prune gooseberries and currants although it is getting a bit late so do it as soon as possible.
Lawns - The grass has stopped growing now but if you haven’t managed to mow in the last few weeks it will be worth a go whenever the conditions are right – but keep the height of cut fairly high. Although February is not usually the best time to install a lawn edge like Smartedge® But it’s a great time to buy to make sure you have it for when the conditions are right, (and who knows with our current weather). Smartedge helps maintain the definition between beds and lawns, and grass and paths & drives etc. I have used Smartedge® professionally and have found it to be a very good edge for lawns next to borders and paths. It is made from polypropylene and so will last for many years (at least 20), is flexible enough to form very tight curves and yet is strong enough to take a garden tractor after about a season.
Vegetables – The veg beds need to be dug over and prepared for next season. The winter frosts will help to break down the soil clumps in your dug borders – this is especially good for heavy clay soils. Incorporate as much organic compost as you can – but not in the beds to be used for root crops: scorzonera, salsify, Jerusalem artichokes, parsnips, carrots etc.; and remember not to do it in very cold weather as you dont want to turn the cold into the ground - the soil above would act like a mulch and hold the cold in the ground. If you are not worried about what your borders look like then you can cover the dug/manured borders with black plastic or old carpet to keep the soil warm and stop any weeds from growing. Either push the edges into the soil with your spade, or secure the edges with bricks, lengths of wood or clumps of soil from another bed.
Wildlife - All gardeners enjoy wildlife as it is all part of the 'outside' and can go hand in hand with gardening. Encourage the birds into your garden with a Feeder. Birds eat insects that harm your plants, eat slugs and snails, leather-jackets and chafers that ruin the lawn. During winter think about the birds – if you do put out a feeder then remember to keep it topped up as the birds will rely on your supply once they have found it.
Holiday - when going on holiday it's always a worry when getting the houseplants, baskets etc watered. Ask a neighbour, or use Water Slices or Water Spikes to water your plants where it’s needed - at the roots.
With Spring just around the corner now don’t forget to look at my Garden Tools, Garden Gifts, Garden Games and Cultivation Aids pages for great ideas; and the Solar powered items for the Garden. Our new Leisure section is now online for hammocks and Play Areas and other activities to enjoy outside, and will be added to regularly
We have a great range of garden related gifts and tools that I have selected as being of great quality and do what they say 'on the tin'.
Follow @gardenerscottag
February has seen the first real snow of the winter here in the southern half of the country.
By now your spring flowering bulbs should be starting to show through the grass or in pots. Water them in dry times but otherwise they will be fine and getting ready to burst into flower at their alloted time.
If you didnt get the greenhouse ready in January, for the onslaught of the seeding and potting frenzy in late February and March, do it as soon as possible. Some seeds such as pelargoniums and craspedia need to be sown as soon as possible as they require a long season; tomatoes can be sown now for an early start, especially if you are going to grow them inside through the summer.
Roses - As the leaves fall off pick them up and if you have black spot and/or mildew put the leaves in the bin as the fungus disease can overwinter in the soil. Tie in the long growth of ramblers and climbers to keep them tidy and so that you don't walk into them along pathways or on the lawn. Roses on walls can be pruned and trained on warm days. See our Churn of garden twine to tie them in.
We have some really good leather gloves in the shop and also some that have gauntlets making them ideal for pruning roses, blackberries, gooseberries and other thorny plants with our a pair of our Folding Secateurs available with wood handles, or in pink, or original grey/green pruners.
Frost and Snow - When there is a frost, or snow has fallen, it’s s good idea to keep off the lawns and borders as it can damage the grass and the plants in the border. If we get heavy falls of snow then if you can knock the snow off hedges and topiary.
Apples and Pears - February is a good time to winter prune apples and pears and you can still prune gooseberries and currants although it is getting a bit late so do it as soon as possible.
Lawns - The grass has stopped growing now but if you haven’t managed to mow in the last few weeks it will be worth a go whenever the conditions are right – but keep the height of cut fairly high. Although February is not usually the best time to install a lawn edge like Smartedge® But it’s a great time to buy to make sure you have it for when the conditions are right, (and who knows with our current weather). Smartedge helps maintain the definition between beds and lawns, and grass and paths & drives etc. I have used Smartedge® professionally and have found it to be a very good edge for lawns next to borders and paths. It is made from polypropylene and so will last for many years (at least 20), is flexible enough to form very tight curves and yet is strong enough to take a garden tractor after about a season.
Vegetables – The veg beds need to be dug over and prepared for next season. The winter frosts will help to break down the soil clumps in your dug borders – this is especially good for heavy clay soils. Incorporate as much organic compost as you can – but not in the beds to be used for root crops: scorzonera, salsify, Jerusalem artichokes, parsnips, carrots etc.; and remember not to do it in very cold weather as you dont want to turn the cold into the ground - the soil above would act like a mulch and hold the cold in the ground. If you are not worried about what your borders look like then you can cover the dug/manured borders with black plastic or old carpet to keep the soil warm and stop any weeds from growing. Either push the edges into the soil with your spade, or secure the edges with bricks, lengths of wood or clumps of soil from another bed.
Wildlife - All gardeners enjoy wildlife as it is all part of the 'outside' and can go hand in hand with gardening. Encourage the birds into your garden with a Feeder. Birds eat insects that harm your plants, eat slugs and snails, leather-jackets and chafers that ruin the lawn. During winter think about the birds – if you do put out a feeder then remember to keep it topped up as the birds will rely on your supply once they have found it.
Holiday - when going on holiday it's always a worry when getting the houseplants, baskets etc watered. Ask a neighbour, or use Water Slices or Water Spikes to water your plants where it’s needed - at the roots.
With Spring just around the corner now don’t forget to look at my Garden Tools, Garden Gifts, Garden Games and Cultivation Aids pages for great ideas; and the Solar powered items for the Garden. Our new Leisure section is now online for hammocks and Play Areas and other activities to enjoy outside, and will be added to regularly
We have a great range of garden related gifts and tools that I have selected as being of great quality and do what they say 'on the tin'.
Follow @gardenerscottag
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