Most of us are looking forward to a long Easter weekend. Fingers crossed that the weather will allow some pleasurable gardening activity. I am sure that you will already have your own list of jobs to do this weekend, but if not, then here are a few ideas courtesy of the RHS.
- It might be too late, but protecting tender fruit blossom from frost damage is vital the ensure that the fruit tree is able to, produce a crop this year. This is particularly important for apples, pears, cherries etc.
- Soft fruit bushes: use fleece to cover and protect the flowers and developing crop on nights when frost is forecast
- Strawberries: protect with cloches or a double layer of fleece, removing or opening both in the day to allow pollinators access
- Small fruit trees: cover with fleece overnight to provide frost protection and remove during the day, but this is generally impractical with larger trees
- Fruit grown on walls and fences (cordon, espalier or fan-trained): cover with two or three layers of horticultural fleece, hessian or shade netting. This should be rolled up during the day. Use canes to keep the material off the blossoms. Remove the covers as soon as the danger is over
- Keep grass around trees mown short in flowering season, as long grass prevents heat being radiated from the soil
- Apply mulches after flowering – bare soil radiates useful amounts of heat, protecting the blossom
- Prune roses, especially ramblers and climbers.
- Climbers are routinely pruned in winter, after the flowers have faded, between December and February. Long whippy shoots can be shortened or tied in during autumn, to prevent strong winds from damaging them.
- Renovation can be carried out at any time between late autumn and late winter. It is easier to see what you are doing when the rose is not in leaf, plus there is a better response from the rose, which should grow back vigorously the following spring.
- Easter is perhaps getting a bit late, but better late than never.
- Keep weeds under control.
- Repair bare patches on your lawn.
- Feed hungry shrubs and roses.
- Sow hardy annuals and wildflower seeds outdoors.
- Carry out any essential greenhouse renovation such as replacing cracked or broken panes and watch existing glass to maximise efficiency. Check any automatic roof ventilators to ensure that they will open when the hot days arrive.
These are just a few ideas for you to do this Easter.
We hope that you have a very good Easter and whatever, you do, enjoy your garden.
Ronnie AuldChairman – Cumbria in Bloom
