April 2006

April brings the spring sunshine that reflects in the yellow of the daffodils and forsythia. Many other blossoms are at their best to gladden the heart in the unsettled weather.

Well, we are actually going to rejoice if the weather gets unsettled and rains. As growers, we are aware of the water shortage that is happening and also the need to water plants.

This has been a curious start to the year, having been outside during early March watering the evergreen plants in cold conditions. Standing out there in 1°C temperatures watering plants is not much fun, but the cold, drying winds kept on blowing! So, the question to ask is what can we do about trying to refrain from using water in the garden?

Using bark mulch on exposed soil around plants has two main benefits. The mulch will help any rain that occurs to soak through and reach the roots and will then prevent water loss by evaporation. Fine or coarse mulch should be applied at around 7cms depth. The need to control weeds to reduce the competition for water from plants can be achieved by regular hoeing or by using mulch, again another useful benefit of bark. With the lack of rain, don't be tempted to cut your grass too short on the first cut. Trim the grass gradually and always leave a good cover of 2.5cm (1 inch) high.

Re-think your border design by adding drought-tolerant plants to areas that you know are always dry. Suitable plants are evergreen Cistus (rock rose) that have beautiful white or pink flowers in summer. Smaller foliage Hebes like H pinguifolia 'Pagei' and H. rakaiensis and Halimiocistus win.

'Merrist Wood Cream' will provide low growing evergreen cover. The usual favourites of lavender and rosemary will survive in dry conditions and will provide the garden with an aromatic foliage plant. For instant cover, put some of these plants into pots for the patio area. Make sure that you use a loam-based compost, which contains water crystals to help retain moisture; the John Innes Pots and Planters compost is ideal.

Plant climbers to transform a small garden boundary into a plant heaven or use them to hide an ugly site. When planting, add plenty of organic matter to help improve the soil moisture. Some places next to buildings can be dry places so monitor carefully and apply recycled water if needed (a good way to use up the bath water would be in the garden!).Make sure that you have as many water buts as possible to help with the watering. You can find good offers on water buts through your local council.

Other key tasks are feeding and mulching the roses after you have finished pruning them. Cut away any old dead growth from last year's herbaceous plants to make room for the new growth that is emerging. It would be a good time to apply a routine feed to the whole garden. Growmore is ideal with equal parts of N7:P7:K7 to act as a balanced fertilizer; apply as per the rates on the bag and just before it rains to help break down the pellets.

Deadhead daffodils when they finish flowering to conserve the strength of the bulbs. If they have become overcrowded, mark the clumps now and split them later in the summer or when the foliage has died down.

Plants for April are Primus avium 'Plena' with double white blooms, Ceanothus species provide a mass of blue flowers and in the herbaceous border, Pulsatilla and Doronicum give the border a colourful start. Happy gardening!!

Contacts
The regular "In the Garden" features for Monkey Magazine are written and researched by Cat Wilkins. If you have a comment, or would like to make a suggestion for possible future topics, please feel free to email her by clicking on this link: Cat Wilkins