The seasonal cleaning mission starts long before spring has sprung at
Borde Hill Garden and it’s all hands on deck.
What we get up to this month is very much in the hands of the weather,
but can range from dispersing worm casts from lawns in drier conditions, to turf
repairs if it’s suitably mild. If it’s still chilly, (which is fairly likely),
it’s important we make sure all the greenhouse heaters are in working order
too. The glass must also be checked, to make sure as much light as possible is
being let in on these shorter days.
If conditions do turn out to be frosty, we must be extra vigilant not to
walk on icy grass, as this can cause burn or scorch marks. Whereas if we’re not
frozen or waterlogged, ground conditions will be suitable for established
deciduous trees and shrubs to be moved.
Elsewhere, regardless of the conditions we’ll be inspecting stored
dahlia and begonia tubers for signs of fungal rot, and taking hardwood cuttings
of Cornus and Salix.
We’ll also remove old and diseased hellebore leaves and continue with all
the regular tidying and weeding of beds that happens year-round.
Beyond that any vacant plots will be dug, while in terms of planting
we’ll be putting in bare root deciduous hedging plants and bare root roses.
Like we said, no resting on our laurels around here.
What to look out for in the garden this month
Hamamelis
Lonicera x purpusii ‘Winter Beauty’
Sarcococca spp
Chimonanthus praecox
Mahonia
Prunus x subhirtella ‘Autumnalis’
Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’
Cornus mas
Iris unguicularis var. angustifolia
