April Maintenance

What to do in your garden in April

·         Keep weeds under control

·         Protect fruit blossom from late frosts

·         Tie in climbing and rambling roses horizontally to restrict sap flow which causes more side-shoots to grow, which in turn produces more flowers

·         Sow hardy annuals and herb seeds

·         Start to feed citrus plants

·         Increase the water given to houseplants

·         Feed hungry shrubs and roses

·         Sow new lawns or repair bare patches

·         Prune fig trees

·         Divide bamboos and water lilies

·         Sweet peas can be sown outside

·         Plant summer flowering bulbs in well-drained soil to prevent the bulbs from rotting

·         Divide clumps of herbaceous perennials

·         Prune tender plants such as penstemons and lavender, cutting just above the fresh, new shoots.

·         Apply a general purpose fertiliser to borders.

·         Deadhead spring bedding plants to continue the flowering period for longer

·         Mulch rose and shrub beds to ensure they retain moisture during dry spells and suppress weeds

·         Remove any reverted green shoots on variegated evergreens

·         Mow the lawn when necessary

·         Sow a wildflower meadow to increase biodiversity and colour in the garden

·         Trim winter-flowering heathers to prevent them from become leggy

 

(Advice taken from www.rhs.org.uk and www.thompson-morgan.com)

A touch of Spring

If you take a stroll around the Headingley campus in the next few days then make sure you look at the borders of Cavendish and Priestley for the daffodils and tulips that have opened up wonderfully.
The tulips are new this year and are a variety called Rembrandt. They have a creamy yellow petal with a dash of pink on the outside and a deep orange on the inside. We planted these in most of the borders of the buildings but these are the first to emerge.

 

 

 

If you have a look further along at Priestley you will see two hellebores, one in either border. One I have already showed you on a previous post in January and this one below, Helleborus x hybridus, that has really come into its own now.

 

 

Also at Priestley there is a small Skimmia japonica that is just starting to flower. So over the next couple of weeks it should really start to open up and produce some lovely tiny flowers.

 

 

 

Then if you happen to pass by Leighton then make sure you cast your eye over to the border as there is a wonderful shrub flowering vibrantly called Ribes sanguineum, or white currant. We have a few of these dotted about campus but mainly in the wooded area between Priestley, Macaulay and the tennis courts.

 

 

 



So make sure you get out there for a walk around campus to spot these wonderful displays of spring colour.


(Photographs taken by myself on 30th and 31st March)