I’m beginning to get excited.
The hard work of planting the daffodils in the autumn is paying off and back ache I got from moving shrubs and small trees seems to have been worth it. Spring bulbs are trumpeting, and buds are swelling.
It is hard not to be caught up in the optimism of spring: there are still plenty of grey and cool days in store but if you look and listen carefully, the buzz of birdlife and the busyness of nesters are evident. And frankly, given world events, that optimism goes a long way right now: it is all good energy and inspiration for designing gardens in Hampshire.
I was recently reading about a 17th Century monk, Brother Lawrence who made a practice of thankfulness whenever he undertook any task, however menial. When gardening or working in the kitchen he repeatedly turned his mind to all his blessings: he made work a time to think of those in need and to prepare himself for love and service to others. That is someone I could learn from.
Tasks this month include:
• Prune and thin winter jasmine (the yellow one) so it doesn’t become too leggy in the coming year. Buddleja can soon be cut back to the desired height: they can really get away so don’t be afraid to take them right down to the ground if needs be.
• Cut back Cornus (dogwood) shrubs to about 75 mm from the ground, unless it is a slow growing variety such as Midwinter fire. For these, cut every few years or just half the stem.
• Salix (willow) grown for colourful stems can now be cut back hard too.
• Clumps of perennials that have become choked or oversized can be divided: use two forks back-to-back, pulling the handles together to pull the plant apart.
• Add fertiliser or well-rotted compost to hungry plants such as roses and clematis as well as containers that have been depleted over the years, of nutrients.
• Prune shrub roses by about one third and thin and cut back climbing roses by about the same. Thin out where climbing roses have become very dense and cut back where they are straggly.
• Keep a close eye on borders where you know weeds will be a problem: try to stay on top of them (I know, I know, easier said than done), by regular hoeing. It knocks them back and makes even the worst perennial weeds more manageable.
• Slugs will begin to make its presence felt. Beer traps, a copper band on pots and grit on the soil will all help to deter them. Failing that, build a pond to encourage frogs!
• When turning compost, be wary of damaging any overwintered wildlife.
• Bundles of hollow stems placed in quiet corners of the garden, will encourage the laying of eggs by insects, including bees.
• Any sort of nesting material left outside, such as wool or hair, is likely to be snapped up by industrious garden birds making their nests for the coming season.
The time of scarcity in winter is receding and the times of abundance approach. I had better watch myself or I will start painting a Maypole or something. Don’t mention the Morris Dancers.