The start of a new season...
The greenhouse is the first area of the garden to move in spring. The extra heat trapped by the glass kicks off early growth. It makes it possible to lots of tender plants, including fruit, such as peaches and grapes, that are very difficult to grow outdoors. A greenhouse is ideal for raising new plants of all kinds from seeds, some of which can be sown now. It is also ideal for starting off vegetable plants that can be planted out later to give early crops.
To succeed with vegetables: start small and as your experience grows, the planting area can be increased in size. The same is true of fruit trees and bushes — plant a few and increase the numbers over time. There is nothing worse that a lot of unwanted produce. Prepare for vegetables by digging the planting area now, burying any soft weeds and removing perennial weeds such as docks, nettles and dandelions. Early crops of carrots, white turnips, radish, lettuce and cabbage and cauliflower can be started under low polythene tunnels. Fruit trees and bushes can be planted now and established ones should have all weeds removed.
Trees and shrubs need little care and effort, apart from occasional weed control that can be done now. Trees and shrubs have many benefits — shelter, privacy and the creation of a fine setting for the house. These benefits are in addition to their beauty, colour, size, foliage and flower. The deciduous kinds can be planted these days, evergreen kinds in a few weeks and both will get off to a good start in spring.
The spring bulbs, notably snowdrops, will be making their appearance soon. The range of flower plants is very wide, but it is important to choose the kinds that suit your garden — not just in terms of flowers, colours or size, but in terms of maintenance and future effort. This is a good time to assess whether some kinds should be removed and others introduced. Flowers can be planted now and existing ones lifted, divided and re-planted or moved to new ground.
A reasonable lawn is not so difficult to achieve — regular mowing, some feeding in spring and summer, perhaps some moss control now and weed control in May if the weeds have become too dominant. If possible, give the lawn a run with the mower this month to tidy the lawn and remove the coat of grass that has grown on it over winter.
Laying plastic sheeting is a technique used to prevent weeds in flower and shrub borders and to warm the soil for vegetable crops. Plastic sheeting is effective at keeping down weeds but it breaks down unless it's covered, with gravel for instance, to keep the UV rays off. After a few years, plastic tends to hold fallen leaves and water and weeds grow in the gravel, and it also tends to create wet and dry spots underneath as rainwater runs off. Porous ground cover membranes are more effective and longer lasting, but neither cover is a permanent solution. The covers do not affect soil nutrients or cause deficiencies, except perhaps a water deficit in the case of plastic sheeting. Though not significantly bad for the environment, plastic is a scarce petrochemical resource.
