---

 It seems as if April is trumpet blowing month, as we were named as the Number One “best garden centre in London and the South” by a panel of judges in The Independent on Saturday. We were up against the likes of Wisley Plant Centre, Clifton Nurseries and Great Dixter, and are understandably absolutely delighted to have achieved such an accolade. We “may be small, but the plants are well chosen” and “the staff extremely helpful” according to the panel of judges. We had no idea we were being looked at and didn’t even know the article had come out until a customer told us on the day it was published! If you’d like to read the full thing, please do so here: http://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/house-garden/the-50-best-garden-centres-7544530.html OK - self back-patting over, let’s get onto gardening matters ….

We’ve had a splendid spring so far, haven’t we? And, boy, don’t we deserve it! The only disadvantage with the burst of extraordinary warm March weather is that it has caught many of us out, and if we don’t act quickly we’ll be playing catch up for the rest of the season. Plus, of course, the unseasonal heat has brought many plants on quickly, and the fear is that it might turn cold again which could cause damage to tender young shoots.

So, get gardening now to ensure you can make the most of your outside space this summer.

At this time of year the garden centre is full to overflowing. Here are a few highlights:

• Young vegetable plants are in stock at £2.50 a strip (45p cheaper than last year!). The range will increase over time, but tomatoes, beans, broccoli, peas, cabbage, pak choi, spinach and lots more are already available.
• Horticultural fleece is available to pop over them and protect them if there’s any chance of frost.
• Summer bedding plants are also in. Petunias, geraniums, bellis, million bells .... the list is almost endless. Plant up your window boxes now for a whole summer of colour. Adding swellgel and slow release fertiliser to your planters will reduce the maintenance they require, so all you’ll need to do is water and occasionally dead head flowers that have gone over.
• Our “Hairy Pot” range has been extended this year to include herbaceous perennials as well as herbs. Remember, the huge advantage with these is that you plant the whole pot in the ground or container, so the roots don’t get any disturbance (and, of course, there’s no plastic in sight). The herbs are grown in Hampshire by a grower who’s concern for the environment spills over into everything he does.
• We have a lovely stock of fruit trees in, but they are selling fast, so hurry if you want one. They have all been grown on dwarf or semi-dwarf root stock so won’t grow too big.
• The deciduous trees and shrubs are all bursting into life now, and it’s not too late to get a flowering cherry. Our clever tree growers keep them in semi-shade behind a hedge, so that their blossom starts a bit later than those you’ll see in gardens and parks. If you’ve looked in envy at your neighbour’s lovely blossom tree and wished you had one, now’s your chance.
• We have Camellias with plenty of bud still, so you’ll be able to enjoy their gorgeous flowers in the weeks to come.
• The shrubs are showing lots of fresh growth, with plenty showing bud and flower already, such as the lovely Ceanothus and spectacular Berberis. We have a good range of Pittosporum in too, with some huge “Tom Thumb” (rather making a mockery of the name!)
• You clearly approve of the range of David Austin roses we stock as they are selling very fast indeed, along with a range from another rose supplier, which includes some pretty quarter standards, as well as climbers and shrubs.
• The range of herbaceous perennials available continues to increase, and both of our suppliers (small, independent and in the UK) have extended their range this year. There are some fabulous Peonies that seem to be growing by the inch as we watch, Hostas that are poking through the ground, and at least 8 varieties of Euphorbia.
• With the drought forecast, we have a range of plants specifically marked as “drought tolerant”. These include many silvery leaved plants such as Convolvulus, Festuca glauca, Artemesia, Phlomis and Cistus.

Drought and hosepipe ban

On the subject of the drought, we are doing all we can to stock aids to help you deal with both the drought and the hosepipe ban. At the garden centre we are exempt from the ban, as our livelihood depends on us being able to water our stock, but you will be banned from using your hosepipes from 5^th April. However, there are exemptions and the text below has been copied directly from the Thames Water website:

The following will be exempted from the restriction:

drip or trickle irrigation watering systems, fitted with a pressure reducing valve and a timer, that are not handheld, that place water drip by drip directly onto the soil surface or beneath the soil surface, without any surface run off or dispersion of water through the air using a jet or mist.

We have in stock a range of “leaky hoses” (the “drip or trickle irrigation watering system” mentioned above). Whilst these items are expensive, they are a long term investment. They will connect to your existing hosepipe system, and if you don’t have a timer, you can pick one up from us too.

Rootgrow is a product endorsed by the RHS which combats the effects of the drought as it helps new plants get established quickly. This mycorrhizal fungi was featured on Gardeners’ World a couple of weeks ago. If put into the planting hole so that the new plant’s roots are in direct contact with it, the plant will establish stronger, healthier roots more quickly, and will thus be able to cope better with drought conditions. I experimented with it last year when planting two lines of Box hedging, just a metre apart. I used Rootgrow on one and not on the other. The plants that had Rootgrow at their base are clearly healthier and fuller, and I’m now rather regretting having done it as the other line looks weedy in comparison! You’ll find a basket of this marvellous product at the till

Swell gel is sold in little sachets and should be added to the compost used in pots, window boxes and hanging baskets. Much like the granules used in modern day nappies, these tiny granules absorb water until they are 20 times their original size, and then release that water back into the surrounding compost if it dries out. A very useful product which gives you a couple of extra days leeway - water your pots and planters before going away for a long weekend, safe in the knowledge that your planters will still be alive when you get back.

I’m sure this will have given you lots of food for thought, and I very much hope we’ll see you at the garden centre in the days and weeks to come.

We’re open every day over Easter, though on Good Friday and Easter Monday our hours will only be from 10am – 4pm.

Happy gardening!

Karen

PS Good news for those of you who have been waiting for Heyland and Whittle room diffusers to be back in stock …. we now have plenty in all of the lovely scents we’ve had before, plus a new one, “Lemongrass”.

   

April Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday: 9:30am – 5:30pm Sundays: 10am – 4pm

Tel:020 8670 7788 www.alleynpark.co.uk

Garden jobs for April

The days are lengthening and the garden tempts us outside more and more. It’s so exciting to see blossom everywhere and leaf buds beginning to burst.

Water

With the current lack of rain and hosepipe ban, we are forced to think more carefully about water use in the garden. Watering cans, buckets and washing up bowls will all find their way into our gardens. Watering by hand in this way is no bad thing – it is much easier to judge how much water you are giving plants. Remember that watering well once a week is preferable to a small amount more frequently. Well established plants do not need watering in the same way as recent plantings, but give them a good soaking if they show signs of wilting as the temperatures rise as we move through spring and into summer.

Growing from seed

I talked about growing from seed last month – carry on! You can start sowing hardy annuals, herbs and vegetables outside, but always check the packet to see when to plant them in our British climate, and whether they need any special treatment.

Planting

Fill up those spaces in the garden!

• When planting anything, the key to success is preparation and aftercare. A common mistake is to simply dig a hole big enough for the pot, drop the plant in, and expect it to do great things. It won’t!
• If you are planting a new area of border, dig in some good organic compost, and if it’s particularly heavy clay, try to incorporate some grit to help with drainage. Give plants a good long drink before planting. When you are ready to plant, dig a hole twice the size of the pot depth and width, add some compost to the soil, put some Rootgrow in the bottom of the hole, or directly on the roots, and water in well. Continue to water, and feed through the season.
• Many plants are drought tolerant – they tend to have smaller leaves and be sun loving. There are many tough, sun loving plants, but note that even these plants need to be supported for the first season while they get their roots down.
• Plant new herbs now and look forward to bumper crops later in the summer.
• Young vegetables plants can be potted on and gradually hardened off but protect them from late frosts.
• When planting in containers, use water retaining crystals and slow release fertiliser.

Fruit

• Feed soft fruit bushes and strawberries with a general fertilizer to encourage bumper crops.
• Fruit bushes and trees can still be planted, but pinch out flowers and small developing fruit in the first year, so that the plant’s energy goes into building a strong root system.

General maintenance around the garden

• Mulch - improve water retention by mulching generously around plants with good compost. This will help to retain moisture around plants, and the nutrients will gradually be pulled down to the roots.
• Weeds compete with your precious plants which you want to enjoy, so get rid of them. Weeds take moisture and nutrients which the plants need, and the weeds are often more efficient at getting what they want than the plants. Dig out perennial weeds, and hoe away young annual weeds before they have a chance to get going. A weed control fabric can be used to suppress weeds, with a 5-10cm depth of bark chippings used as mulch on top.
• Tie in climbing and rambling roses and other climbers with ties or wire that won’t damage the growing stems
• Place plant supports over and around tall perennials before they need them.

Pruning

• Prune late flowering deciduous shrubs such as Hydrangeas and Buddleja if you haven’t done so already – prune hard back to a leaf shoot or stem

Lawns

• We’ve had very little rain, so give the lawn a fighting chance by keeping the mower blades higher that you might normally have them at this time of year.
• Feed the lawn with an appropriate fertiliser. This should be watered in, so look out for the weather forecast, and apply before rain is due, or water in by hand.

Garden pests and diseases

• Be on the lookout for insect attack! Tackling problems early makes it easier to control.
• Early infestation of aphids can be squashed by hand if you aren’t too squeamish. Watch out too for Lily beetle, vine weevils and other infestations, remove and dispose of any you see, and treat with an appropriate insecticide.
• Look out for blackspot on rose leaves and pick them off – early removal and control may eliminate the need for fungicide treatment.

Wildlife

People are often worried about feeding the birds as they begin to have young, but as long as you use feeders, it’s fine, and fair, to keep up the feeding routine. Water is really important for birds and other wildlife in the garden, so keep the bird bath or a plant saucer topped up daily.

Finally

I’m lucky to see all of the new season plant stock arriving at the garden centre, and look forward to helping you choose the best things to plant in your patch.

Sally

April Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday: 9:30am – 5:30pm Sundays: 10am – 4pm

Tel:020 8670 7788 www.alleynpark.co.uk