So, whilst people were stuck in snow drifts in the north of England and Scotland. People having to endure several days without electricity; I have been pollinating my peach and nectarine blossom during a spell of glorious weather. (Mind you it chucked it down last night) This is also the reason why this month’s edition may or may not be late, I got carried away in the garden, sowing salad leaves, radish and planting some plug plant carrots. Having said that and it goes without saying that despite recent warm weather during the day time, there is still the risk of frosts and tender, early-flowering plants should be protected by covering using hessian or fleece. Do not use polythene, it can make matters worse!

One of the problems with the colder winter is that daffodils and other spring flowering bulbs are flowering much later and that the season will concertina some what in that the later varieties will flower more or less when they are due to clashing with the delayed earlier ones. Another way of looking at it is that you may get a better display. When they do start dying back they will need dead heading, but leave the stems and leaves to channel energy into the bulbs for flowers for next season. If you notice that you have not had many flowers this year but lots of leaves it is time to either lift and replant at a wider spacing (the bulbs have probably divided and become too small to bear a flower) or take the opportunity to buy some different varieties.

If this was a letter there would be a P.S. now in that you should have a go at dead heading the pansies too, it will keep them flowering. Now that you are in the mood for getting rid of stuff now is the time to prune your shrubs to keep them in hand and to stimulate new growth.

You need to start getting ready for planting out summer bedding in May by working compost into borders and between the shrubs. If you want to you could always think about planting gladioli and dahlias and if that seems too strenuous, have a cup of tea.

You also need to start feeding your garden with a general fertiliser, but not one containing too much nitrogen, especially on your lawns or you will be spending the summer behind a lawn mower. A high nitrogen feed will make them look greener and this is the standard advice for lawn treatment at the end of April.
Having got you thinking about feeding things remember plants in pots, planters etc do need plenty of fertiliser and water, especially during warm weather and now that it is starting to warm up………

It is time to plant perennials and after the risk of frost has passed, annuals.

When choosing plants for your garden you can also do your bit for the environment. Butterflies and other insects feed on their nectar and pollen so choose wisely. The following plants are recognised as being particular attractive:

alyssum, aster, aubrieta, bedding dahlias, buddleia, candytuft, catmint, common fleabane, daisy, field scabious, forget-me-not, french marigold, honesty, ivy, knapweed, laurel, lobelia, lavender, lilac, marigolds, marjoram, michaelmas daisy, mint, phlox, polyanthus, primrose, privet, red valerian, stocks, sweet rocket, sweet william, verbena, wallflower and zinnia.
And a suggested mix from our selection would include the verbena mixed, lobelia, lavender and of course buddleia, the butterfly bush.