Storms Ciara, Dennis and Jorge, will the rain ever end? February was the wettest on record and the gardens are at saturation point but thankfully compared to some I feel we have got of lightly and spring just had to be on the way.
Gardening in this weather is a challenge, I’ll admit that I’ll avoid gardening in the rain where possible. The moment, the sun comes out, you put on the multiple warm layers needed and by the time you’ve done that we are back to hail, high winds and rain. Luckily with the gravel path next to the flowerbed it has meant I can start clearing away the old stems and continue leaf clearing without going on the lawn. Plants are bursting into life and it is time to clear away the old stems that have been protecting new growth. We aren’t out the woods yet. For some plants the old stems will protect the fresh new growth from frost damage so are best left on for example with hydrangea’s, but on some of the hardier plants such as nepeta, phlox and asters now is the time to start tidying up. It is so satisfying to clear the dead wood and see the gardening springing into life.
The iris reticulata ‘Harmony’ and Narcissus ‘Tete a Tete’s’ I planted in the autumn have given a wonderful burst of colour on the patio on these grey days. It is the first time having the iris in the garden and I shall be aiming to plant them out in the borders and repeating the process again next autumn.
Following on from the Tete a Tete’s the daffodils are coming out further down the garden, they do a great job of pulling your eyes down to the far end. The bees have been enjoying the spring bulbs and whilst the sun shone briefly today it was lovely to see them enjoying the pulmonaria around the garden.
Whilst the ground isn’t frozen it is the ideal time to lay a mulch to help suppress weeds, feed the soil and help retain moisture for those drier months. A mulch of multi purpose compost (ideally peat free) or manure is perfect and incredibly satisfying even if the muscles do ache the next day.
Raring to go I have at last managed to sow some seeds. Starting off with my nicotiana Little Lime and nicotiana sylvestris, they have been sown and are on the window sill, the dahlia Arthur Hambley have been potted up and put in my cold frame to give them a head start on the season and I’ve started buying my 9cm herbaceous perennials from Longacres to grown on ready for planting. It is amazing what difference it makes having the right tools for the job, I’m loving my compost scoop I got at Christmas.
For those with greenhouses a cost effective way to increase plant stock is to buy 7cm basket plants in Longacres. These plants need to be protected but can be a great way to fill all those pots and planters later on in the year.
Last year I introduced euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii into the garden. They have a wonderful scent and a vibrant yellow /green flower that is flowering this month. Alongside the erysimum ‘Bowles Mauve’ this is a great combination, so I have purchased some more to build on the idea of repetition throughout the garden and along with the cuttings of the Bowles Mauve I did last year I’m hoping my plans will work. In a break in the showers I managed to get out and get them planted, it felt so good to be planting again rather than leaf clearing and cutting back. Whilst at Longacres I also spotted some potted of Gladioli Byzantinus, and some peony ‘Kansas’. I’ve miss timed purchasing the peony Kansas the last couple of years and as we lived in Kansas for a couple of years this was a must have in the garden. I’m just so glad they aren’t red! I’m loving the new plants I’ve purchased so far this year. I just wish it would stop raining so I can get out and get them planted, it has to stop soon doesn’t it?
