North Hampshire Lifestyle Mar - Apr 2024

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Marching into Spring NOTES FROM THE GARDEN This is such a positive time in the garden, bulbs like green spears piercing the borders and the verges brightened by daffodils and lots to be done to prepare for the peak growing season too. If you have a greenhouse then, having done the spring clean it is time to sew sweet peas – what could be more delightful than a bowl of frilly sweet peas giving off that unique summery fragrance, and the variety and colours on offer are a feast for the eyes – and nose. It may be tempting to tidy the garden and indeed we should – but beware of being too tidy! Birds and insects love places to rootle around in, hide and nest in and find food so a little untidiness - just a corner will do- is a help to them. Perhaps some old wood, a pile of prunings, cardboard pieces and leaf piles will certainly offer this and if you have nettles, as long as they are out of the way, caterpillars will be very grateful too. For children who are keen to get involved, then building a bug hotel is a great opportunity to introduce them to the fun to be had outdoors so the whole family can share and enjoy your green space. It is time to plant shallots, onion sets and early potatoes, those overgrown perennials can be divided – and shared with friends – and don’t forget to top up containers with some lovely fresh compost. ‘SPRING IS WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE WHISTLING, EVEN WITH A SHOE FULL OF SLUSH’ DOUG LARSON April is the time to get your gloves on and prune rambling roses and tie in any loose stems, and a general hoe of borders to prevent the spread of weeds is a great plan – no doubt your garden robin will enjoy the results of that particular exercise too! No matter how big or small your green space is there is lots to enjoy and plan for – and after all that energy expenditure you can reward yourself with a cup of coffee and a good gardening magazine or book to plan future horticultural exploits. For more advice, visit Matt Bigg’s website: www.matthewbiggs.com Exceptional, bespoke kitchen design & manufacture 9D Farnham Trading Estate, Farnham GU9 9NN | 01252 750445 | www.lucasgrant.co.uk | hello@lucasgrant.co.uk 26 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
DAHLIA Lots of people get put off planting dahlias, but they are easier to grow than you might think. Dahlias love rich, well-drained soil in full sun. They’ll still give you lovely blooms without a lot of soil preparation, but enriching the soil by digging in a mulch when planting will give you even better results. Like most bulbs and tubers, they don’t like poorly drained soil, so dig in plenty of compost or topsoil to raise the level of your garden beds slightly if you have heavy soil. Dahlia ‘Totally Tangerine’ Dahlia ‘Café au Lait’ For best results, start your dahlia tubers in temporary pots in a greenhouse in March or April to grow on to transplant outside later in the season – this will give them a head start. Alternatively, you can plant the tubers directly outside in May. Dahlias are half hardy, which means that should be kept frost free over winter and during spring. Dahlia ‘Daisy Duke’ C U T T I N G Seek true enjoyment from your garden by planting flowers perfect for cutting - we went to the experts at Farmer Gracy for advice! Garden Ranunculus ‘White’ PEONY You can plant peonies in autumn or spring, but always in the same season that they are sent to you so that they are fresh when planted. In the first year they remain fairly compact but over time these plants can fill a space up to 1.2m. Peonies are happiest in a border in sun or partial shade, choose a suitable spot and dig over the soil before planting to ensure it is loose and soft for planting. You can also grow peonies in large patio containers in a soil-based compost. Ranunculus ‘Elegance® Malva’ RANUNCULUS Ranunculus are grown from corms which look like claws. Thriving in a sunny spot, the lovely big blooms these plants produce will appreciate a warm, sheltered spot away from strong winds to keep them in top condition. Ranunuculus are half hardy, for best results it’s a good idea to start them off in pots and then transplant out into their final positions from mid spring. They’re particularly well suited to growing in patio containers, but also do very well at the front of a mixed flower border with rich, free-draining soil. Plant them directly into a sunny, sheltered border or patio container between April-June. If planting earlier, start them off in pots or cell trays in an unheated greenhouse to transplant out later in spring. Paeonia ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ See more varieties, care advice and get inspiration at farmergracy.co.uk www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 27
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North Hampshire Lifestyle Mar - Apr 2024

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