Spring in the garden
April
Plant evergreen trees and shrubs. Prune less hardy shrubs like hydrangea.Complete bare root plantings. Prune early flowering shrubs like forsythia after flowering.
Lift and divide polyanthus after flowering. Cultivate spring flowering alpines for the rock garden.Top dress camellias.Cut back tender perennials. Divide asters. Sow hardy annuals in situ. Mulch beds to help eliminate weeds and conserve moisture.
May
Maintain a weeding program. Plant perennials. For maximum effect take note of gaps to be filled with bulbs for next year. Control algae on ponds. Plant up pots for summer colour and fill hanging baskets.
Stake tall-growing perennials. Sow hardy biennials. Plant out half hardy annuals. Complete summer bedding. Trim ornamental hedging.
Keep pests and diseases under control. Spray against greenfly and rose blackspot. Renew slug pellets.
June
Regularly dead-head to prolong flowering period. Continue to cut and edge lawns. Check stakes of tall-growing perennials. Add colour to patio or terrace with miniature or patio roses in pots. Introduce additional climbers into the garden. Sow herbaceaous perennials for next year.
Take softwood cuttings of shrubs. Check roses for pests ad diseases, spray if necessary. Prune late-flowering shrubs.
