As spring has sprung and during these different times, we are finding ourselves spending a lot more time at home and in the garden.

 

April is a time where there are lots of things to be getting on with in the garden and I will share a few ideas for you to be getting on with.

 

Vegetable planting .

 

Got any veg? If not, get some seeds ordered and get out there! Create a small area in your garden to get planting or if you are limited on space, you can grow a lot of veg in pots.

 

Aprils the time to start sowing or starting off some veg in the green house or cold frame.

Potatoes can be put in the ground now, ready for a nice crop later this year. Dig out a 10cm deep trench in your garden and put them in rows at least 75cm apart. Put each tuber in around 40cm apart and cover with soil. If you don’t have a bed to plant them in, get any deep bag and put them in some soil and cover.

 

Also think about sowing lettuce, cucumbers, and courgettes (I would start these off in pots under cover but that’s a personal choice as there might be a few frosts still to come).

 

Lawn Care

 

Get your lawn back to life now with some good old lawn DIY. Get a rake out and get the moss or thatch up to help your grass recover after a wet and wild winter! Grass treatments can be used to speed things up.

Any patches in the lawn can be repaired and grass seed put down. Clear away any weeds, rake the ground so it is fairly level and sow the seeds.

 

Look at edging the sides of your lawn to get that defined edge back, using a half moon tool. Don’t have one? Don’t worry, use a spade instead. Defining where the lawn ends and the flower beds start really neatens up the garden.

 

 

Pruning

 

Cut back any spent flowers from winter. Things like winter flowering heathers need the spent flower heads pruned off to allow for new growth and prevent them getting to woody in the future.

Winter jasmine is another which needs pruning now after the last flowers to keep it in shape. Ferns which have dead leaves on it can be cut back to tidy the area and help with new growth.

 

 

These are just a few ideas to get you going in April in your garden.

 

As always, if you have any questions, give me a ring, email or message via facebook (chris.latter.712) and I would be happy to answer any questions you may have!

 

Speak soon

 

Chris

Just because you have a small garden, doesn’t mean you can’t use it to its maximum potential. A lot of people look at the small space and give up trying anything but by being a bit crafty, you can turn a small area outside in to a stunning garden!

Here are some ideas and tricks to have a think about to make the most out of the space in your garden!

  Plan

First thing is to plan! What do you want in your garden? A seating area? A path? Somewhere to grow vegetables or plants?

Get it all down on paper and prioritise what you want. You may not be able to have it all but you can identify what you can have and where it will go. Also factor in where the sun goes in the day as this will be important when growing!

 

Tricks to make it seem bigger

  Believe it or not, you can make the smallest garden seem bigger with a few little tricks!

Use Mirrors – Mirrors put on walls can give the impression that the garden goes on a lot further than it actually does. These can be incorporated within plants on the walls and make the area seem a lot bigger.

 

Put in a path from your door to the end of the garden. This immediately divides the garden in to areas. The idea here is instead of looking at one big area, you have different areas to then look at. The path can then lead to a focal point, such as a seating area, which also allows you to look further than you might otherwise look in the garden. The seating area can then be used to relax in your little oasis you have created.

 

 

Plants

Planting is also key here. Don’t be afraid to use big pots in a small garden. Lots of small plants can look untidy and the use of larger containers can be great to grow things in. Grow not only plants, but think of veg you would like to grown. Grown runner beans up some bean poles in a pot or courgettes. The list is endless. Really stuck for space to grow? Get a window box and grow herbs or plants from the window.

 Use your outside walls to attach plant pots and growing pockets to grow colourful plants from. Incorporate climbing plants, such as honeysuckle or climbing roses to provide year round colour. This is vertical gardening at its best (which I will talk about at a later date!).

 Work out where the sun gets to in your garden and put in plants which are happy growing in shade in places which are shaded by walls or surrounding buildings. Hardy geraniums , ferns and hostas are but a few plants which will immediately add colour to a shady garden.

 These are just a few ideas you can use to make the most of a small space in your garden. The possibilities are endless! Don’t be put off by having a small space in your garden.

 

Take the time to turn your small space in to that Oasis you’ve always wanted.

 

 

If you have any questions, feel free to get in contact with me by email, phone or facebook. Im always happy to share ideas with you!

 

Speak soon

 

Chris

 

 

 

 

 

I'm often asked about what plants can be grown in winter to give some colour in a dull garden. 

Believe it or not, there are a wide variety of plants that you can find to give you that burst of colour to brighten up even the dullest of corners and here are a few:

Cyclamen (see above picture!) These come in all sorts and can be bought as perennials (come back year after year) or annuals (don't come back once they die!) These come in all sorts of colours and are hardy even on the coldest of days (they look great in the snow!). Plant them in containers or around beds to give a burst of colour.

Dogwood - Has some great coloured stems in the winter. The leaves die off leaving red or orange stems. A great addition to any boarder.

Pansies - Find these down the garden centre to add a burst of colour. Great in pots.

Heather - Winter flowering heather is a superb low growing plant which will add colour to any boarder. Easy to grow and keep.

Winter Jasmine (shrub) - Green throughout the year and flowers in the winter. Grows quite a bit so requires pruning to keep in shape but provides some green and great flowers during the winter season.

These are just a few plants you can use in winter to brighten up your garden. There are so many you can choose from!
For more information or any questions you have, feel free to email me or contact me via facebook, twitter or linkden.

Carry on Gardening!

Chris