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There's a hint of excitement in the air. Early spring has got underway, growth in the garden is gathering pace and the arrival of spring blossom is sure to put a smile on our faces.
SPRING INTO ACTION
Maybe the sun has shone and March has come in either like a lamb or like a lion - so much uncertainty when it comes to British weather! Nevertheless, we remain openly optimistic about the warmth of late spring and early summer and when it arrives, you want to be ready for a life outdoors.
There's no time for resting on your laurels when it comes to garden maintenance; if the anticipation of enjoying a garden that has burst into life on a sunny day excites you, or if you crave all-year-round colour and interest in your garden, then you had better start to make things happen.
This is nothing new to Stylegardens Garden Village in Wenvoe as they have been patiently planning and preparing for their customers. You can be sure of some great new products such as their own range of garden furniture and fabulous Nova oak dining furniture, as well as a changing stock of seasonal food goodies in their Farm Shop. This time of year is perfect too for local community schools to visit the Village for talks and demos about plants, their habitat and to enjoy the wildlife area.
The key watchwords for this time of year are planning, preparation, planting and patience, so without further ado, the Team at StyleGardens have come up with some of their top tips and helpful hints on what you need to do and when.
March
If you haven't already, then this is the month for.
■ Planting hardy perennials, plants and shrubs to allow the roots to establish before summer.
■ Giving a thought to butterflies and bees by choosing plants they love.
■ Weeding flower borders.
■ Inspecting plants and foliage for winter damage and disease.
■ Giving your lawn its first cut, applying a feed and inspecting it for moss and weeds.
■ Jet-washing patios and paths.
■ Pruning and raking.
■ Cleaning and replacing garden tools, patio furniture and barbecues.
■ Planting early potatoes and perennial herbs; sowing vegetable seeds indoors and out.
■ Re-potting existing container plants and shrubs.
■ Unbelievably - starting to plant for autumn colour!
April
Now is the time for.
■ Mulching to keep weeds at bay.
■ Feeding roses and flowering shrubs.
■ More pruning and weeding.
■ Sowing vegetable crops such as lettuce, rocket and carrots.
■ Planting Clematis and training it to ramble over unsightly fences.
■ Planning for late summer colour which can often be a lacklustre period in the garden.
■ Planting out bedding plants such as Pansies and Primulas.
■ Checking seedlings; taking cuttings.
May
Things are really hotting up for.
■ Planting hanging baskets.
■ Moving plants outside the greenhouse.
■ Sowing pots of delicate herbs such as basil for the windowsill.
■ Buying bedding plants such as petunias.
■ Planning to plant tender vegetable crops such as runner beans and courgettes.
■ Bank holiday barbecues - have you got enough gas and a barbecue-set fit for the job?
■ Relaxing in the garden - are your loungers and garden furniture ready for action?
Instant gardening
StyleGardens take on the hard work for you. For instant colour and dramatic displays just choose a pot, set a budget and they will do the rest for you. What you'll have is a colourful container full of seasonal plants that you can take away after relaxing with a snack in the Coffee Shop while it's being done. Prices start from £15 including a pot.
If you fancy a show of large specimen plants in containers, don't let the size put you off, as they offer a planting and delivery service.
For general gardening advice, or to find out specifically what should be planted when, just ask one of the friendly team at the Village - they'll be happy to help. And don't forget, you'll need a good pair of secateurs, gardening gloves, tools and compost.
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