Spring Into Summer
This month brings some sunny days to tempt gardeners back outside and we have all been looking forward to spring
March is the month for sowing seeds and getting the garden ready for the summer months ahead.
It’s also the perfect time for a mini makeover project and creating a sunny wildflower border is something that even the most novice gardener can take on. Wildflowers are easy to grow and a sunny border will attract pollinators and birds. The smallest area can look attractive and benefit wildlife, so don’t overlook that tiny patch of lawn that is never used, or pots on the patio that could do with a new look.
Keep in mind that wildflowers do not like too rich a compost – they prefer poor soil with few nutrients. Make sure you read the seed packet to find out how much seed to sow for the size of your plot and, as wildflower seeds can be on the small side, mix them with a bit of sand as it makes distributing them easier. Once scattered water gently and keep the soil damp until the seeds have germinated.
In the mix of wildflower seeds you select, think about including some poppy seeds. The California poppy is widely grown by wildlife gardeners for its ability to provide pollen for bees and hoverflies. It’s also perfect for including in a vegetable garden as a companion plant – especially for vulnerable varieties such as broad beans – because hoverflies love eating aphids. The bright orange flowers complement the rich variety of greens found in leafy crops and salad vegetables, but California poppies also come in pink, white and yellow.
In addition to stocking your garden with wildlife friendly plants, other top jobs for gardeners this month include:
• Pruning bush and climbing roses – remember to cut out dead or diseased stems and spindly or crossing stems, keep cuts to 5mm above a bud sloping downwards and cut to an outward-facing bud.
• Planting shallots, onion sets and early potatoes. Onions are such a versatile vegetable – they feature in so many recipes and growing your own means you’ll always have them to hand.
• Planting summer-flowering bulbs. Bulbs make a fine display planted in containers or borders, especially daffodils, snowdrops and tulips in spring. They are one of the easiest and most rewarding garden plants to grow.
