IT might feel premature to start thinking about your garden right now, but it’s not.
Spring is (technically) just under three weeks away and your rose bush is crying out to be pruned.
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Being on top of your gardening tasks before the seasons officially change is the best way to ensure longevity and vibrancy to your plants.
That includes everything from rose bushes to your homegrown veggies.
According to the Royal Horticultural Society, there’s three main tasks you should do outside ahead of the first official day of spring, March 20.
Job One
The first task you should undertake next month is pruning your roses.
This will improve their health and lifespan before they bloom in spring.
“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,” the experts at RHS instructed.
“Cut to an outward-facing bud to encourage an open-centred shape. With roses of spreading habit, prune some stems to inward-facing buds to encourage more upright growth
“Cuts must be clean, so keep your secateurs sharp.
“For larger stems, use loppers or a pruning saw.
“Cut out dead and diseased stems and spindly and crossing stems, and aim for well-spaced stems that allow free air flow.”
Job Two
The second thing to be done in your garden in March for a beautiful spring is plant shallots, onion sets and early potatoes.
“Plant sets 2cm deep in drills or gently push them into loose soil, so the tip is just showing at the surface,” the experts said.
“Space them 5 to 10cm apart, in rows 25 to 30cm apart.
“Firm the soil around them and water well. Birds will often peck newly planted sets out of the ground, so cover with fleece until they’ve rooted in.”
Job Three
The third and final task you should undertake next month is plant any summer-flowering bulbs.
Among these are dahlias, lilies, eucomis, crocosmia and begonia.
“Bulbs make a fine display planted in containers or borders, especially daffodils, snowdrops and tulips in spring,” the RHS experts added.
“They are one of the easiest and most rewarding garden plants to grow.”
