The good folks at The Stewart Company sent us one of their windowsill propagators to try out. So yesterday I braved the elements and set it up.. We shall plot the course. and hope our herbs grow ..

The Gardening Calendar

MARCH

This is a time to tidy up after the winter. Clearing dead leaves, weeding borders and pruning roses, ready for the summer ahead.

When pruning shrub roses cut the stem just above an outward facing bud to encourage new healthy growth.

If you have any evergreen shrubs that need moving or for that matter planning take the opportunity now to do just that, this is the ideal time.

You can start to mow the lawn again but make sure the blades for the mower are set to high to avoid doing any damage.

If the last of the frosts have been you can now start to plant some of your vegetables:

Check fence panels for damage, repair if necessary. Treat fences with a coat of paint or stain to protect.

Root crops like potatoes, radishes, parsnips and onions can be planted at anytime

APRIL

Frosts can still happen at this time of the year, so don’t get caught out. If you are encouraging new growth, protect with horticultural fleece.

If you have a greenhouse you can plant up your hanging baskets and keep them protected until there is no more risk of a frost.

April is a great time to plant any summer flowering bulbs eg gladiolas, lilies, dahlias.

Divide up perennials eg delphiniums, iris, chrysanthemums, daylilies, daisies.

Plant fruit trees and berry plants – remembering they do best in full sun so pick your spot well.

By using a garden fork you can aerate the lawn to allow the water to penetrate deeper and therefore reduce the need for watering it, during the dryer months.

Taking the time to treat your lawn at this point in the year will help encourage a thick and healthy looking lawn. You can use a lawn fertilizer to improve the colour and appearance. If you use a spring law fertilizer this has a moss killer also included. Another alternative is to get the experts in to treat it.

Vegetables to be planting now are: carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, spinach, beets. Later on in April you can also plant beans and corn.

With your herb garden you can plant rosemary, mint and tarragon. If you want to grow some herbs from seed, plant chives and parsley.

MAY

Pansies, dianthus, snapdragons, geraniums, petunias and fuchsias should all be ready to plant by the middle of May.

Remember by planting gladiolas bulbs every two weeks up until the first of July will provide you with flowers until the first frost appears.

Start to prepare the ground for summer bedding plants by removing the spring bedding plants.

Make sure any plants that need some extra help are given the support by tying canes or by using plant supports to stop them collapsing.

During May let the leaves from flowering bulbs die back naturally ready for the following year.

Also remove any gone over seed heads from azaleas and rhododendrons ready for next year’s growth.

Remove or break off any wilting daffodil or tulip heads but continue to care for the plants until the foliage has died back naturally. Once they have finished blooming you can divide and move the daffodils but keep treating them as growing plants. Remember to water thoroughly after moving.

Keep an eye out for black spot on your roses or for that matter any other pests and diseases and treat immediately.

Give your patio a face lift using a pressure washer and wire brush or alternatively by purchasing a mould remover specifically for patios from the nursery.

Paths can be cleared either by pulling weeds or by using an organic weed killer.

Remember to keep an eye out for any pests that might start to appear and deal with them as soon as possible.

If your lawn has bare spots, by slightly loosening the surface of the soil and sowing evening a good quality lawn seed over the area will bode well.

To allow your lawn to grow fuller and help choke out any weeds, set your mower blades for a higher cut during the spring months.

On the vegetable patch – wait until mid to late May and then you can plant tomatoes, squash, cucumber, pumpkins and peppers.

JUNE

During June remember to water either early morning or late evening so that your garden will benefit most without the water evaporating too quickly.

June is a great time to plant – hydrangeas, spireas, rhododendrons. Also geranriums, petunias, marigolds to name but a few.

Again either get the experts in to treat your lawn or alternatively purchase some summer food rich in nitrogen to give it a colour boast.

By dead heading your roses will keep the blooms growing.

Tomatoes will be ready to be placed outside now.

Remember to take the time now to really enjoy your garden and to appreciate the colours and smell of summer.

June is a great month for planting apple, pear, and all other fruit trees.

Plant strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries.

Stake up your tomato plants and keep an eye out for any disease problems.