Time to Spring Clean Your Garden

It is a good time to start to springclean your garden and to start your can begin by checking the condition of your gardening tools, giving your existing ones a good clean, and writing a list of essentials that need replacing. Don't let your existing equipment become pitted by rust before doing anything about it. Blades need to be wiped clean with an oily rag, then sharpened. Also, you must be aware that viral and bacterial diseases are easily transmitted from plant to plant by contaminated sap on secateurs, knives and saw blades. Parrafin Oil will remove most sap stains.

If you have tools with wooden handles, maintain them by oiling the wood with a little Linseed Oil every few weeks, try to keep a soaked rag handy so that you can rub down regularly. Give knives and sacateurs a rub down with oil three times annually.

Some people feel a sense of waiting when they look out their windows at this time of year onto their lifeless garden. However, I always feel excited at the prospect of what is about to grow, the thrill of watching out for bulbs erupting, the pruning, searching through endless catalogues and the general tidying keeps me busy.

At this time of year I begin to plan out my borders, pots and containers with gusto. I order in any seeds that I need and I draw up my plans for this year's garden. Every plant, every pot and every container gives me extreme pleasure when they finally flower, the more the better.

The key to a good garden is that every plant should earn a place within it. This ensures that your garden has a point of interest all year around and create interest with colors, textures and scents. I love perennials and for a new gardner these should be planted at the front of a shrub border. Dig in some compost before planting and water in well...here I go again ...planting in my mind and it's only February. The anticipation alone can bring great pleasure no matter how experienced or inexperience you are.

WHAT TO DO THIS MONTH:

- Take root-cuttings from Primula Denticulata, Phlox Paniculata, Oriental Poppies and other plants

- Protect Cauliflower Curds from cold and frost by bending the outer leaves over the plant

- Germinate seeds such as Begonias and Pelargoniums in your greenhouse on on your window sill

- Cut down newly planted Raspberries, Blackberries and Hybrids to 25-30cm

- Prepare Celery trenches by digging in plenty of compost

- Make a Polythene Tent to prevent rainfall on wall-trained Peaches

- Bring potted bulbs into the home to flower

- Improve drainage in heavy soils by mixing in gravel or sharp grit

- Organize well-rotted manure or compost to mulch borders and dig into the soil well