kate burtonwood -- Lover of Green Things, rhs and botanically trained horticulturist, happy gardener
Watch out for Pests and Weeds – Slugs and snails are coming out in force, as are aphids and sawfly larvae. Check your plants regularly and take action when you see pests. A sudden rush of growth in the warm weather has also meant it […]
Wet weather work – It’s been a wet month, so line up any inside jobs you have, like greenhouse work, cleaning tools, preparing seeds, trays and pots, and anything you can think of that will save you some time next month. Sowing – Seeds […]
So now it’s wet. Very wet. And before it was cold. Very cold. It’s really left me pondering about how the garden will go in the coming months and what I should focus on now. My diaries from recent Aprils are full of sun […]
Weather watch – Keep an eye on rising temperatures. After the cold in February everything is a little unpredictable – but you will want to start to think about cutting back more tender herbaceous plants in advance of spring growth and hardening off plants which […]
This month I’ve signed up to start studying again. I’m going to do my RHS Level 3 Certificate in Garden Planning, Construction and Planting. I’ve been an unusually long time deciding to take on the course and there are quite a few reasons […]
A really gratifying task at this time of year is working with snowdrops. Snowdrops (Galanthus) are a beautiful winter-flowering plant. My excitement bubbles up on seeing them because they feel also like the first heralds of an approaching spring. Other gardeners have commented […]
Start sowing: You can start off vegetables and flowers indoors. If you don’t have a greenhouse or a propagator, a warm windowsill will do. Start weeding: Even at this time of year unwanted plants are sprouting. Common weeds like hairy bittercress and celandine are […]
Winter pruning: Now’s the time to prune wisteria, some fruit trees and climbing roses. Additionally, if you haven’t been out properly since the winter snow, you may find damaged trees and shrubs you need to tidy up. Plan ahead: Choose and order your […]
If looking out at your garden in winter is making you unhappy, it may be time to take stock of your seasonal selection. Gardens, especially more traditional English gardens, can be synonymous with flowers. But it is worth paying as much attention to structure […]
Just before I left on my holiday to India, a former colleague from Oxford Botanic Garden pointed out that Kerala is an area of great horticultural interest for its “forest gardens”. These are sustainable gardens around a residential house, from which the owners either […]