WHAT TO DO IN EARLY MARCH

• Now is the best time to plant trees and shrubs.
• Give your lawn a light trim and apply a PH adjuster to bring up the level of lime in the soil.
• In two weeks time, your lawn will then be ready for moss treatment.
• Apply Hero to paths and patios now, no scrubbing is needed.
• In next week’s article I will concentrate on getting your lawn back into shape.

I don’t know about you but I have been eagerly awaiting spring.  Last week’s snow may have put a damper on things but the rising temperatures of the last few days will leave even the most casual observer in no doubt that spring is here.  February the first maybe considered officially spring but I think nature has opted for the first of March.  The buds on the trees and the birds in the air are busy and after our winter recess gardeners find themselves looking at their watches after work and quickening their step with the realization that they will get a couple of hours done before dark.  The next couple of weeks are crucial, all bare rooted planting must be completed and any plants that need to be moved or divided should be attended to soon.  Fruit trees and roses should be pruned immediately.  Evergreen hedges or large shrubs that weren’t pruned in the autumn are best pruned now before birds start nesting.  When it comes to pruning shrubs in the garden the following rule of thumb will give you an indication, as with everything there are exceptions and if you are not sure, check in your gardening books or you can always bring me out a sample to the garden centre and I will be only too happy to advise you – Now here’s the rule of thumb.  Any shrub that flowers before the longest day of the year (21st June) should be pruned immediately after flowering, thereby giving those plants time from June to October to make flower buds for the following season.  Any plants that flower after the longest day should be pruned in early March thereby giving them ample time to produce flower buds.  Don’t over prune as to do so will result in an abundance of soft new growth at the expense of flower.  A little bit of pruning every year will give you best results but if a plant has outgrown its space by all means prune now, it will be more beneficial in the long run.  Most importantly all plants will reward you if you give them a feed now.  Use a good quality multipurpose fertilizer, the one I use is called PRO 8, it's brilliant and it comes in big bags that are more economical.  So get going spring won’t wait.