5 gardening jobs for March

Mar 20, 2023 | 0 comments

Don’t be fooled into thinking Spring is here yet.  Its cold out there still!  Here’s my top 5 jobs to do this month:

  1. Plant hardy shrubs and perennials out in the garden unless its soggy or frozen.  But hold off sowing seeds or plug plants out until its warmed up a bit.
  2. You can finally prune Hydrangeas! Well done for waiting!There are different types of Hydrangea. Traditional Hydrangeas flower on old growth so can be deadheaded back to the next pair of buds and thinned out leaving only the strong stems. Hydrangea Annabelle and the new paniculata flowerheads that generally have huge white flowerheads need to be cut right back to the ground as they flower on new growth.  You can see this done here.

Let me know how you get on, and if you have any questions email me renee@thegirlwhogardens.co.uk. 

Or book a Garden Hoedown for an hour of one to one garden therapy and you’ll come away with a personalised action plan to get the most out of your garden!

 

 

 

 

5 gardening jobs for February

5 gardening jobs for February

Feb 17, 2023 | 0 comments

February seems to be full of pruning jobs.  Its the month to get prepped before lots of green growth so is a good chance if the weather is dry and frost free to prune back to encourage growth this year and also to move plants that are in the wrong place.  Its also the quietest time of the year so is a great opportunity to see the ‘bare bones’ of your garden and reflect on what looks good, what works and what might need changing.  Here’s my top 5 jobs to do this month:

  1. Prune back late flowering woody shrubs such as Buddleia, Elder, Caryopteris and Fucshia to the ground to keep their size in check and to encourage new stems that will flower this year.  Autumn Raspberries also come into this category.  Now is the time to cut all stems down to 10-20cm from the ground.
  2. Cut back deciduous grasses now too.  With shears trim leaves and seedheads  back to 20cm so they resemble mounds.  Now is also the time to split or move them.
  3. Its still quite early to be sowing annual seeds but you can start chitting potatoes for early planting.  This just means encouraging them to start sprouting.  Place them in a light place and when the sprouts are 3cm long they are ready for planting.  More advice HERE.
  4. Its the last chance to cut hedges before the birds start nesting.
  5. If you can look at your garden from an upstairs window.  At this time of year you’ll be able to see the framework or layout of your garden clearly.  If you’re confident you can draw a plan from here, noting where paths, beds, patios and key plants are located.  This will help if you have a hunch that something isn’t working or if you want to make changes to beds and borders.  If you’re stuck book a Hoedown with me so I can help!

Let me know how you get on, and if you have any questions email me renee@thegirlwhogardens.co.uk. 

Or book a Garden Hoedown for an hour of one to one garden therapy and you’ll come away with a personalised action plan to get the most out of your garden!

 

 

 

 

5 garden jobs for January

Jan 13, 2023 | 0 comments

January may be the first month of the year but it doesn’t feel like the first month of the gardening year .. for me that will be in Spring when the green shoots begin to appear.  January feels like a quiet time for me so here are some quiet jobs to do this month:

  1. Roll your sleeves up  … cleaning pots and greenhouses now will get you ready for the Spring sowings so get ahead of the game and spend some time in your shed/greenhouse or just outside washing pots and throwing anything away that is broken.
  2. Cut back dead leaves and flowerstems from perennials when they look scruffy.
  3. Remove leaves from Hellebores to show the flowers off better.
  4. Apple and Pear trees can be pruned now as can Gooseberries and Currant bushes.
  5. For a lovely job on a wet and windy day plan your seed sowing..  Seeds shoudl be kept in a bark, dry place.  The Quality Street tin you got for Christmas is perfect!  Keep it indoors rather than outside.  Feb-March is the time to start sowing seeds so now is the time to choose and order them.  This can all be done from the comfort of your armchair.  I love Chiltern Seeds and Higgledy Garden for good UK seeds with loads of choice.

Enjoy this quiet cosy time!

Let me know how you get on, and if you have any questions email me renee@thegirlwhogardens.co.uk. 

Or book a Garden Hoedown for an hour of one to one garden therapy and you’ll come away with a personalised action plan to get the most out of your garden!

 

 

 

 

5 garden jobs in December

5 garden jobs in December

Dec 7, 2022 | 0 comments

Here are your list of Garden To-Dos for December :

  1. Outdoor Pots : A cold spell is due this month so protect your potted plants by raising them up off the ground to protect from ground frost.  Bring them close to your house or walls in groups to give them some shelter from the elements and to create a micro climate of pots next to a warn wall.  Anything really tender might need wrapping in breathable fleece or by being moved into a greenhouse or shed.
  2. Leaf clearing : Leaves should be cleared from lawns and from around smaller leafed plants like alpines .. they need some room to breathe and more importantly for air to ventilate their own stems and leaves.  Create leaf piles in the backs of beds or in untidy corners for insects to over winter in.
  3. Planting : Continue planting trees and shrubs throughout the winter avoiding really water logged or frozen soil.  This is the time to plant bare root plants such as Roses, which are really good value for money.  Cold winds and frost can loosen the soil around recently planted trees and shrubs .. so keep an eye on anything you’ve planted and firm down the soil if required.
  4. Pruning and Tying in : Most deciduous trees and shrubs, including Roses can be pruned over the Winter and its easier to see what you’re doing when there are no leaves on.  Make sure any climbers are tied in securely to their supports to avoid any damage over the Winter.
  5. Harvest : Its time to lift any parsnips and root crops you have left in the ground.  After the first frost is the foilk lore for parsnips so their starch turns to sugar and makes them nice and sweet!  Even better roasted in the oven and drizzled in honey for the last 15 minutes!

Let me know how you get on, and if you have any questions email me renee@thegirlwhogardens.co.uk. 

Or book a Garden Hoedown for an hour of one to one garden therapy and you’ll come away with a personalised action plan to get the most out of your garden!

 

How I can help you get on top of your Garden in 2023

Nov 18, 2022 | 0 comments

A Garden Hoedown is what I called my Garden Consultation Service, purely because ‘Garden Consultation’ sounds so boring!  Someone once called it Garden Therapy as they were feeling so stressed and overwhelmed by their garden and not enjoying it all!  Others have found it really helpful at different times:

– perhaps you’ve recently moved in and are overwhelmed by the garden you’ve inherited

– you’re about to put your house on the market and want it to make a good impression

– you’ve just built an extension and can now see your garden more

– or perhaps you’ve spent the last 18 months using it more and you have a niggly feeling it could be working better for all the family!

The Covid Lockdowns have made us look at our outdoor spaces in a different way.  Being in our gardens has made us re-think and re-prioritise all sorts of things as our gardens have given different meanings for all members of the family.  You might have gained a puppy, or be working from home more.  You might want to entertain outside more often and for a longer part of the year, or you might want to continue to the quiet and solace your garden brought you.

A Hoedown might be for you if you don’t need a full garden design but want input from a professional garden designer, gardener and prolific garden user!  Here’s how it works:

Here’s what Claire had to say following our Hoedown: 

“I spent a lovely hour in my back garden with Renée having a Hoedown.  She is so enthusiastic and knowledgeable.  I feel very inspired now and, most importantly, confident that I can change my garden to suit my family.  Renée listened to what I hoped to achieve and asked all the right questions.  I can’t wait to get started and thanks to Renée’s follow-up email with links and reminders of what we talked about it didn’t matter that I forgot most of the plant names we talked about! Thank you”

 

Garden Hoedown
  • In your garden for an hour!  I bring my secateurs, a blank pad of paper, pens and my trowel
  • I send you a Summary report afterwards  – including any sketch ideas and links to inspiration, suppliers, contractors, or plants
  • COST: £150 within a 5-mile radius of Redhill paid upfront to secure the meeting (I’m more than happy to travel further afield but will need to factor in travel time and costs)

Email me to get the ball rolling!

Garden Hoedown
  • You send me photos, video and some key information before our meeting
  • 1-hour virtual meeting held at an agreed time from your home over Zoom
  • I send you a Summary report afterwards  – including any sketch ideas and links to suppliers, contractors, or plants
  • COST: £150 paid upfront to secure the meeting

Email me to get the ball rolling!

Voucher

You can also buy a Hoedown Voucher for a loved one who is not enjoying their garden.  So if you know someone who you think could do with some Garden Therapy.

Buy your Voucher here and I will be in touch for the wording and contact details.

What would you want us to spend our hour discussing?  Let me know in the comments below!

Renée

Book a Hoedown HERE!

5 garden jobs in November

5 garden jobs in November

Nov 9, 2022 | 0 comments

Here are your list of Garden To-Dos for November :

  1. Lavender : Cut back the flower stems of Lavender and trim each stem down by half to stop them getting leggy. Cut back into a section that still has green leaves though as bare woody sections won’t grow again.
  2. Roses : Prune long stems of Roses by a third so they don’t get damaged in any high winds over the Winter.Remove the fallen leaves of Roses if they had black spot this year to reduce the risk of infection again next year.  Don;t put these leaves in a compost bin that you will use.
  3. Lawns : Aerate your lawn by pricking it with a garden fork all over.  This helps with compaction but also allows space for oxygen to get into the soil.
  4. General Tidy Up : Don;t tidy up too much!  Seed heads create beautiful silhouettes during the Winter but are also a food source for wildlife.Remove leaves from lawns but create leaf piles in the backs of beds or in untidy corners for insects to over winter in.  Raking leaves is a great workout!
  5. Compost : if you’re emptying pots of summer bedding … spread the compost from the pots on your beds as a mulch.  Now’s the time to also empty your compost bins. Anything at the bottom that’s broken down into a nice brown, crumbly consistency can be spread on your flower and vegetable beds to add its nutrients into your soil.  No need to dig it in .. the Winter frosts will break it down for you.