They say that preparation is key, and that is certainly the case when it comes to gardening. Whilst it might still be cold and miserable outside, now is the perfect time to pick up on some gardening jobs to prepare for Summer.
In the past month there have been 26K searches for ‘summer garden’ and with searches continuing to rise it seems Brits are already thinking ahead. Craig Wilson, Co-founder, director & in-house gardening expert at Gardeners Dream has set out five important jobs you should do now, to prepare for a prolific summer garden.
Enrich your soil
“Healthy soil is the foundation of any well-established garden, without a good soil base, plants, flowers and food crops will struggle to grow. To enrich your soil, you’ll want to add some organic matter, be it either manure, homemade or bagged compost.”
“Start by digging the existing soil to loosen it, breaking up any large lumps before adding a 5cm layer of your organic matter on top. You can then for the soil, incorporate the manure or compost into the existing soil. Once you have done this, gently firm the soil down before raking to remove any stones or weeds.”
“Doing this now will give your soil time to mature and harbour all the good bacteria needed to support prolific growth come Summer time.”
Begin succession planting
“As we move towards the start of March, now is a good time to start planning your succession planting. This is the process of staggering what you plant to have continuous blooms or harvests throughout the summer. Planting this way will mean there is never a dull moment in your garden. Whether it be a consistent harvest of fruit and vegetables or continuous blooms in varying colours, this method provides peace of mind that your garden will continue to flourish all summer long.”
Start conserving water
“Whilst the weather remains pretty wet, it is the perfect time to start conserving water. Whilst it isn’t guaranteed, the UK has been known to have some hot and dry spells throughout the summer months, so being prepared for this is only ever a good thing. To save yourself massive water bills come summertime, I’d recommend purchasing a water butt, a small investment now, that could save you far more if we get lucky enough to have a hot summer!”
Start growing summer-blooming flowers indoors
“There are many flowers and vegetables that only bloom and establish in the summer, however, if you start indoors, you can give yourself a head start. If you have access to a summerhouse, ideally heated, then start sowing your summer blooming flowers and veg now. By doing this they will be ready to plant outdoors as soon as the temperatures pick up, as opposed to only just being sown!”
Get on top of pruning
“Late winter is an ideal time to prune. Not only does it make things look a bit tidier, but it also encourages new growth, culminating in better blooms some Summer. You’ll want to look at pruning plants such as wisteria, roses, hydrangeas, clematis and fruit trees. To do this, cut back last year’s growth by about two-thirds, making sure to remove any damaged, weakened or diseased branches.”