The corona situation is dreadful, but there’s a crumb of comfort. We have every excuse to be in the garden.
We’ve been told to avoid crowded venues. Those of us above a certain age must self-isolate, too.
So as the weather warms up, our gardens need to become our joy and refuge.
Relaxing in a park or taking a country walk is almost as good.
But in your own premises, you can dirty your hands and work for an even more beautiful growing season.
Nigel Colborn said gardening is a brilliant way to banish anxiety and develop a sense of wellbeing
Gardening is a brilliant way to banish anxiety and develop a sense of wellbeing. What’s more, the timing couldn’t be better.
The vernal equinox took place at 3.49am yesterday, so spring is officially here -the busiest and most hopeful season of the gardening year.
If you haven’t done much outside yet, there’s no shame in that. But take an appraising look before you start.
Then, finish any overdue tasks such as winter pruning or cutting back dead growth.
Make sure patio containers are sound. Turn out old potting compost and prepare large pots, half tubs or other containers for the new season.
DIVIDE TO CONQUER
As the days lengthen and grow warmer, tasks will multiply but your garden will look better. Clump-forming perennials should be divided now, if necessary.
Lift mature plants of catmint, Michaelmas daisies, golden rod, perennial phlox and other clump formers.
Split those up and replant the youngest, healthiest divisions from the outsides of the clumps.
Buddlejas, hypericums and silver-blue caryopteris bloom from July. Prune those now, if you haven’t already done so.
The British gardening expert to cut back old stems in order to stimulate new shoots which carry next summer’s flowers
Cutting back the old stems will stimulate new shoots which carry next summer’s flowers.
Don’t prune spring shrubs such as mock orange, weigela or lilac. If you do, you’ll remove this year’s flowers.
While the secateurs are in your hand, check on the rest of any trees or shrubs. Deal with any unpruned roses. Remove any dead or damaged branches, or any growing at odd angles.
Many of us with greenhouses have already sown seeds, rooted cuttings and have young plants growing in small pots. Those will need protection until May.
If you have hardy annual seeds, you can sow those outside now. But if the soil is not yet dry and crumbly at the surface, give it a little more time before sowing.
KEEP POSTED
Garden centres will offer vast ranges of young stock over the coming weeks. But if you’re self-isolating, you can still buy anything you want.
Seedsmen and plant suppliers rely on mail or online orders for much of their output.
You can browse catalogues for what you need and order by phone, mail or online.
Nonhardy varieties will arrive later when it’s safer to plant them outside. Hardy shrubs and perenni als will come sooner.
Suppliers include Parker’s (jparkers.co.uk), Dobies (dobies.co.uk) and Crocus (crocus.co.uk).
For more unusual plants, go to specialist suppliers. I love agapanthus -the blue, late summer Nile Lilies.
Common varieties are widely available, but specialists Hoylands (somethingforthe garden.co.uk) lists 40 varieties.
After all that planning and planting, make time to sit outside and admire your work. That is therapy money can’t buy.