Herts &amp; Beds


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://herts.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/garden-gead54cdcc_1280.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-69449" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/garden-gead54cdcc_1280.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/garden-gead54cdcc_1280-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/garden-gead54cdcc_1280-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/garden-gead54cdcc_1280-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Spring has well and truly sprung, so don&#8217;t delay any longer. Gloves on, trowel out, it&#8217;s time to put those green fingers to work. Not sure where to start? We can help! Here&#8217;s what you need to be doing through March and April to get the best from your patch over the coming months, according to the experts &#8211; summer entertaining and BBQ season (Pimm&#8217;s please!), here we come&#8230;</p>



<div class="wp-block-ca-gutenberg-ol-block notice-box notice-1"><p>Perennials (like peonies, Japanese anemones, Heuchera, Daylilies and Aster) benefit from division every two to three years to maintain health and vigour. If you want to increase the number of plants you have by dividing them, the task can be done more regularly. </p><span class="counter">1</span></div>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://herts.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/pexels-karolina-grabowska-4751970.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-69451" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/pexels-karolina-grabowska-4751970.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/pexels-karolina-grabowska-4751970-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/pexels-karolina-grabowska-4751970-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/pexels-karolina-grabowska-4751970-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<div class="wp-block-ca-gutenberg-ol-block notice-box notice-2"><p>Prune roses. Cuts should be no more than 5mm above a bud and should slope downwards away from it so that water does not collect on the bud. Cut to an outward-facing bud to encourage an open-centred shape. With spreading roses however you can prune some stems to inward-facing buds to encourage more upright growth. Note that rambling roses should be pruned immediately after flowering (not now) as they flower on the previous season&#8217;s growth. </p><span class="counter">2</span></div>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://herts.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/rasa-kasparaviciene-8JCLpX_9R00-unsplash.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-69452" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/rasa-kasparaviciene-8JCLpX_9R00-unsplash.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/rasa-kasparaviciene-8JCLpX_9R00-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/rasa-kasparaviciene-8JCLpX_9R00-unsplash-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/rasa-kasparaviciene-8JCLpX_9R00-unsplash-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<div class="wp-block-ca-gutenberg-ol-block notice-box notice-3"><p>Now&#8217;s the time to start planting your summer flowering bulbs.  Aim to plant in groups of at least six, as the more bulbs that are grouped together, the better the display. Typically, 25 to 50 bulbs are needed to make an impressive show. </p><span class="counter">3</span></div>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://herts.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/erda-estremera-ESY3yWsC1wk-unsplash.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-69456" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/erda-estremera-ESY3yWsC1wk-unsplash.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/erda-estremera-ESY3yWsC1wk-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/erda-estremera-ESY3yWsC1wk-unsplash-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/erda-estremera-ESY3yWsC1wk-unsplash-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<div class="wp-block-ca-gutenberg-ol-block notice-box notice-4"><p>Any garden tubs or containers that house shrubs or perennials will benefit from a fresh application of soil on the top and removal of any liverwort or moss. Its also the best time to apply a slow-release fertiliser to ensure they have all the nutrients they need for the coming season. </p><span class="counter">4</span></div>



<div class="wp-block-ca-gutenberg-ol-block notice-box notice-5"><p>Traditionally the best time to prune deciduous shrubs is late winter until March, before the leaves begin to appear. However, to allow the maximum time to enjoy colourful stems, shrubby Cornus and willows are now typically pruned from late March to mid-April, just as the new growth is developing. </p><span class="counter">5</span></div>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://herts.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/cornus-alba-sibirica-g499aa4590_1280.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-69453" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/cornus-alba-sibirica-g499aa4590_1280.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/cornus-alba-sibirica-g499aa4590_1280-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/cornus-alba-sibirica-g499aa4590_1280-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/cornus-alba-sibirica-g499aa4590_1280-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Enjoy colourful stems for longer</figcaption></figure>



<div class="wp-block-ca-gutenberg-ol-block notice-box notice-6"><p>Whether vegetables or ornamentals, as the weather warms the soil it’s a great time for sowing hardy seeds. Broad beans, chard, salad leaves and peas can all be sown outside now, as well as annual flowers such as poppies and sweet peas. Make sure the soil is free from weeds and large clumpy bits of mud. Pre-water the soil before sowing and once done, add some slug pellets to protect the seedlings &#8211; look for ones which are safe around kids and pets if you have them. </p><span class="counter">6</span></div>



<div class="wp-block-ca-gutenberg-ol-block notice-box notice-7"><p>Any areas of lawn that have suffered over the wet winter months can now be repaired. Whether using turf or seed, it is always best to remove the damaged area by cutting out with a half moon iron and spade. Apply some fresh top soil to fill to the required level and then either lay the new turf or sow seed. Once seed has been sown, cover with a thin layer of top soil and water. Keep new turf well watered until established. </p><span class="counter">7</span></div>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="662" src="https://herts.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/benjamin-ilchmann-YlFwu8_9ZKo-unsplash.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-69454" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/benjamin-ilchmann-YlFwu8_9ZKo-unsplash.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/benjamin-ilchmann-YlFwu8_9ZKo-unsplash-300x199.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/benjamin-ilchmann-YlFwu8_9ZKo-unsplash-720x477.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/benjamin-ilchmann-YlFwu8_9ZKo-unsplash-793x525.jpg 793w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>A lawn fit for lazing on</figcaption></figure>



<div class="wp-block-ca-gutenberg-ol-block notice-box notice-8"><p>You will start to see many herbaceous plants emerging now from their winter dormancy. Taller plants such as Delphinium, Lupins and Hollyhocks will need support and now is the time to put these in place, allowing the plants to grow through your support systems. Other perennials like Peony which have heavy blooms will also require some support too. </p><span class="counter">8</span></div>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://herts.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/peony-g8b4e3d6c0_1280.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-69455" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/peony-g8b4e3d6c0_1280.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/peony-g8b4e3d6c0_1280-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/peony-g8b4e3d6c0_1280-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/peony-g8b4e3d6c0_1280-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Give some support</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">More about the expert:</h2>



<p><a href="https://herts.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/carpenters-nursery-sandridge-stalbans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Carpenter's Nursery (opens in a new tab)">Carpenter&#8217;s Nursery</a> is an independent family-run nursery and farm shop in Sandridge, St Albans with nearly 100 years&#8217; experience. </p>


Gloves on: 8 garden jobs to do now!

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