April is here and it’s looking to be an exciting month!
Bare root season is coming to an end but not just yet, with our cold storage we are able to prolong the bare root planting period so get them in whilst you can! For more information on cold storage please see here. Our bargain bundles have made a comeback so get them before they are gone!
Evergreens
In cooler areas, and earlier in the month, you can still move and plant evergreen trees and shrubs provided the soil is not waterlogged. They are best moved or planted once actively growing and when there is less risk of cold weather.
Deciduous
In colder areas, you can also still plant container-grown deciduous hedging plants, shrubs, trees and climbers. Stakes and rabbit guards should be put in place at the time of planting to prevent damage to the rootball and bark.
Remember that watering and establishment may be problematic for large plants as the weather gets warmer and dryer, and you may be better delaying planting them until October.
Info taken from RHS
Top Jobs This April:
Fill beds, pots and hanging baskets with colour
Deadhead daffodils to encourage growth
Lay turf to create a new lawn
Fill bird feeders
General tidying ready for BBQ’s!
I gave the lawns their first cut on Monday just gone, and already can see that it won’t be long before the next one. When should I do that, do you think?
Hi Gillian, we would suggest leaving it 2-3 weeks and mowing again. However we are due to have some warmer weather in the next couple of weeks so it may grow quicker! 🙂
Good morning, Gillian and Hedges Direct,
I don’t cut my lawn, apart from putting a couple of paths through – to access the pond, washing line.
It is a good way to make habitat for hedgehogs,insects or anything that needs a home.
Also, I feel it’s better to work with Mother Nature , rather than fighting her all the time.
I cut the long grass at the end of the summer, making sure i don’t disturb anything that lives in the grass.
I love the long grass, to look at. I’m sure ‘bowling green’ lawns are lovely but we have to help the environment as much as we can.
If you can, Gillian, embrace the ‘less is more’ mantra, regarding lawn mowing.
Take care,
Judith
a lucky person who has a small garden,
I planted a native hedge 2 – 3 weeks ago (bare root) and watered it well. I watered well again some days ago. Where I live, Gravesend, Kent, has had no rain and usually gets very little rain anyway. So I ask how frequently should I water well under these circumstances?
I have just bought 60cm griselinia from you. I want it to grow to 6 feet.
When and by how much should I give it its first prune.
Hi Paul,
Griselinia littoralis is a great low maintenance evergreen hedge plant but differs in pruning times dependent on the age of the hedge.
For newly planted hedges planted in the winter months, some preliminary pruning can take place in spring after planting and then again in spring for the following couple of years. Once more mature, Griselinia hedging can be pruned on an annual maintenance basis in the summer to keep it to the desired shape.
Pruning is relatively easy and mostly consists of removing any dead, damaged or diseased shoots and general trimming to shape. As Griselinia is a less ‘formal’ hedge, it doesn’t require extensive pruning. Garden shears will generally be adequate for the task unless the hedge is of a size that makes trimming by hand impractical, at which point a hedge trimmer would be the sensible option when trimming to shape.
It may also be beneficial to the plant to mulch or feed after pruning. This can help the plant to recover and thrive. A general purpose fertiliser will be adequate.
Don’t forget however, that you must check the hedge for any potential nest sites prior to commencing any trimming, especially with electric trimmers.
Hope this helps!
Hedges Direct
Hi Ken,
Any new plant needs to be watered well to establish, but especially if you don’t get much rain or they are likely to fail. Our official advice on bare roots is to water at least twice a week and only in the evening to avoid sun scorch. But, we’ve had a particularly dry spell and warm weather so we’d suggest to up that to at least 3 times a week or even every other day at the moment but then drop it down if we have rain. We also advise to use at least 5L of water per metre of hedging when watering.
I hope this helps,
Ellen – Hedges Direct