Hardy annuals such as pot marigolds, clarkia, cornflowers, agrostemma, echium, love-in-a-mist and annual chrysanthemums can be sown outdoors now where you want them to flower. Indoors you can sow annual climbers such as asarina, eccremocarpus, cobaea, ipomoea, tropaeolum and rhodochiton. There's now a wide range of herbaceous perennials that will flower in their first year, so start sowing now!
May is a good month to get those hedges back into shape. You can even rejuvenate overgrown evergreen shrubs - but not conifers - by cutting them back hard. When cutting, make sure that the hedge is wider at the base than it is at the top to prevent it becoming bare at the bottom.
What perfect weather we've had in April, here's hoping it keeps up for the summer! Fine sunny days send your garden into overdrive and late spring weather is perfect for many pests and diseases to get a stronghold in the garden. Carry out regular health checks on all your plants, but especially roses, bedding plants and herbaceous perennials.
Brighten up your garden now with so many plants to choose from. Watch it come to life with bergenias, camellias, chaenomeles, flowering currants, heathers, hellebores and primulas.
This month give all your outdoor plants the best start by making sure you feed them now. Sprinkle some fertiliser around the root area and work it into the top inch of the soil. If the soil is dry, water in the feed to prevent it burning the roots.
Grass should be growing strongly now, so make sure you mow regularly. While you’re mowing take note of any bare patches, moss invasion and weeds and deal with any problems you see.
Plants that are looking good now, if you want some instant colour in your garden, include camellias, clematis armandii, azaleas and forsythia. If you have a greenhouse there is plenty to keep you busy here, for example start canna, begonia and dahlia tubers into growth now for earlier blooms.
March is the perfect month for rejuvenating your houseplants. Start by re-potting those plants that needs bigger pots and treat all your houseplants to a good feed. Houseplants will need regular feeding over the next few months but if you can’t remember to do this, then consider using a controlled-release fertiliser, which is a great way to simply feed and forget.
Spring is here and the growing season is well underway. In Ireland, many consider March to be the start of the gardening calendar so now is the time to get out there and start afresh, or create a new area in your existing garden.
Fast growing plants like clematis, ivy, Virginia creeper and roses are perfect for planting this month. If your soil is too wet or sticky, wait until conditions improve before planting however.
Small weeds are best dealt with by hoeing them off. Beds and borders can be kept weed free by applying a 2 - 3 inch thick layer of mulch. Weed suppressing planting membranes ensure the perfect start to new beds and borders.
February is a tough month for a gardener, you could be fooled by a mild or even a warm day but severe weather may be still lurking around the corner. However, the good news is that the growth season has begun and those subtle signs of spring may be found if you look closely enough.
Keep your houseplants in tip-top condition and they'll continue to give you a colourful display for ages. All plants will need watering as and when needed - but make sure you don’t overdo it.
Add a splash of colour to your garden this spring with potted bulbs, these will now be bursting with flower buds and all ready to plant now.
This is a harsh winter and we have seen some heavy snowfalls. As beautiful as it looks it can cause havoc in the garden.
