Prepare for spring garden budburst

As we shake off the shackles of winter, there is much to look forward to in the garden. The dormant season is reaching an end and February can herald warmer days – as well as the ever-present risk of frosts.

As you venture back into the garden, there are plenty of tasks to contemplate before plants suddenly “take off”:

• If you plan to grow potatoes, now is the time to buy them ready for chitting before planting later in March. They need to be kept frost-free, as do dahlias and other summer-flowering bulbs which are available now.
• Prepare your compost for early season tasks. Most are now peat-free, and all will be by sometime in 2024; the date is still to be confirmed by the government. These are a lot better than a few years ago, but adding a mix of topsoil and some of your own composted material will usually help to give them better texture and water retention properties.
• Have a good tidy-up around borders, paths, sheds and greenhouses. Clean, sharpen or replace tools where necessary. If you have a lawn mower, it is often cheaper and quicker to have it serviced now rather than wait for the busy spring period.
• Prune late-flowering shrubs. Many will have been hit by the cold spell in December, but the subsequent wet weather has at least helped evergreen plants to bounce back from possible dehydration from their roots being frozen.
• Towards the end of the month, sprinkle some fish, blood and bone or chicken pellet fertiliser around plants and newly-planted trees to give them a healthy start to the growing year.

Even just a few minutes in the garden each day helps to keep it under control, and the fresh air and being close to nature is a wonderful boost.

David Hogg

Buckland Nurseries