March is the month when the gardening season starts. The days become longer, the ground is warming up and the weeds start to grow. March can also be a windy month and one can usually rely on the odd sharp frost that can catch out the unprepared gardener. However, the sun sometimes shines, spring bulbs start to appear in force and you can almost see your garden start to change daily.
You know when April has arrived with the cherry trees and fruit trees bursting into flower. Be careful though because mild sunny weather can make you think summer is already here. Believe me, it isn’t and frosts can catch you out affecting newly opened leaves and buds in exposed places along with fruit blossom which can spell disaster for your future crops. Even though garden centres have tender bedding plants in stock do not be tempted to start planting out. These plants need keeping under glass until next month when hopefully you can be sure of better weather.
Frost in the ground for months with air temperatures never rising above freezing. So lessons to be learnt or do we live in hope that it will not happen again. Have you put that extra insulation around the outside taps?
Enjoy the winter months – spring will follow.
There are signs of Summer everywhere yet many Spring flowering bulbs, especially the tulips, are still at their best. Trees display their mature leaves and shrubs like rhododendrons gain full flower. With well-established container grown shrubs now available year round you can buy a rhododendron in flower and have it installed in a tub on the patio the same afternoon.
Weather watching is important at any time but this month it is crucial to keep tabs on the new battalion of garden pests that start appearing as the weather warms up.
Alan Wilson has, this month contributed some January and February tips for your garden.
Doug Shears and Prunella Mower volunteered their services to Wharfedale Gardeners for March, April and May hints and tips