At last we have longer, warmer days after what was a pretty harsh winter but this is the
month the weather swings into Spring one moment and springs back to Winter the next.
Make the best of any good weather by carrying out the following tasks in your garden.

Your Lawn
Service Lawn mowers to ensure that the blades are sharp. If it is dry and mild give the
grass it’s first trim with the blades set high. Aerating lawn at this time, when the ground
is still damp, would help in reducing soil compaction, controlling thatch development and
allowing water, air and nutrients direct access to the root system. Feed lawns with an
organic slow release fertiliser to kick start the season.

Beds and Borders
Clear the remains of last year from the beds and borders before new growth on the
perennials make this difficult. Compost anything that hasn’t been taken to the earth by
the worms and check to see if anything is in need of splitting. Fast growing perennials will
need splitting every 3-4 years. Bare-rooted shrubs/trees can be safely planted right up
until the end of the month giving root matter a chance to establish prior to growth. Make
sure the bases of the plants are kept free of competition as weeds and grass will rob the
root area of nutrients and water. Get on top of the weeds, hoe vegetable plots and fork
borders, removing new seedlings prior to mulching.

Time for Pruning
Hard-prune summer-flowering shrubs such as buddleia, Caryopteris, hardy Fuchsia,
Lavatera, Leycesteria and Perovskia. As soon as you are aware of the sap rising, hard-
prune to the ground Willow and Cornus to produce new colourful stems for next winter.
Summer flowering Clematis shots can be pruned about 1ft from the ground. If you didn’t
prune roses last month, do it now. Always feed with a replenishing handful of slow
release fertiliser and a collar of compost or manure.