The garden is naturally a colourful place... green grass, brown earth, painted fences and sheds, but it is the foliage and plants that provide the added zing. Gardening for colour is all about creative planning and judicious planting. Spring is an important season because we need something to reassure us that Summer is not far away especially in these strange times. In Winter it is wise to invest in a couple of Winter/Spring flowering  shrubs near the front door, kitchen window, or to be seen from your favourite armchair .
 
There is no need to stick to rigid colour combination rules, experimenting is part of the fun of producing your kind of colour scheme. Some like having a glorious mass of different colours, and in nature they never seem to clash, but knowing how to use colour throughout the different seasons can make a big difference to the final scene. Whether your patch is to be bright and cheery, or a haven of peace and tranquillity, will influence your choices. The hot colours...red, orange, yellow...are exciting, stimulating and demand attention: the cool colours...green, blue, purple, and white… restful calming, and recede into the background. When choosing plants and planning a colourful border, remember to select plants that flower at the same time in order to achieve your scene. As well as colour and flowering season, think about height and contrasts in shape. Tall upright plants like foxgloves, irises and day-lilies mix well with wide flower heads such as sedum and yarrow and spherical heads like alliums and dahlias. The colour value of plants used, i.e. how bright, pale or dark the foliage and flowers are likely to be, bearing in mind that this changes with the season. A small area of light colour in a sea of much darker planting creates a powerful image. Repetition of colour is an old trick to avoid a riot of shades. e.g. if you love red have more than one area if it ...think of block planting of the same  colour plant. Pale colours reflect light and brighten up a shady corner. Bright colours can look vibrant and wonderful in the sun while pastel colours will look pale and insignificant  Cool and pale colours give a sense of depth : bright colours appear closer. Planted at the end of a border,  pale colours make it look longer, while bright colours shorten it. These ideas can apply to colour in the garden all year round, using conifers, trees, bulbs, shrubs, annuals and perennials, and can make an artist out of a gardener.

March - the first month of spring and the garden is coming alive! March is all about the colour of spring bulbs - Crocus, Daffodils, scented Narcissus, Snakes Head Fritillary and the delicate Erythronium.  

Now is the time to think ahead. If you have a conservatory, greenhouse, cold frame or even a windowsill start sowing seeds so you can have sturdy plants to put into the garden late spring. Aster, cosmos, celosia, dahlia, petunia and salvia can be started now for summer and autumn border colour.  

Now the slower winter months have passed, you can even sow outside if the soil is warm enough but you will need to protect new growth from a heavy frost or snow with fleece or a cloche. Sow hardy annual seeds straight into a sunny border or pots outside. Clarkia, sunflowers, stocks, poppies and cornflowers  are all hardy annuals also try some  wildflower seed mixtures into raked soil in a sunny position - great for bees and butterflies and add beautiful colour too. Chance some sweet peas seeds directly into a bed outdoors later in the month but don’t forget to provide support when seedlings emerge and start to climb. 

Last chance for bare root roses, fruit trees and currant bushes - don’t leave it much later in the month as they need time to establish. As soon as the frosts have gone get some onion, garlic and shallot sets planted with some carrots between the garlic it will stop carrot fly! Overwintered broad beans and peas start making really good headway and establishing themselves for an early crop and plant more peas directly now. 

Spring usually arrives by mid-March and the frequent sunny days provide the opportunity for an increasing range of gardening tasks. It's time to get busy preparing seed beds, sowing seed, cutting back winter shrubs, planting summer bulbs and generally tidying up around the garden. Towards the end of March give lawns a good feed on a warm day after there has been a spell of rain and the soil is moist, but the grass dry. This will provide growth to withstand any later drought. 

Gardens are special peaceful spaces with restorative qualities that can work wonders when we are stressed or under pressure. They make us feel better – that's a fact – and the real magic is that anyone, anywhere can enjoy their healing power! 
​
Alan Caswell 

What an extraordinary year 2020 has been in so many ways!!  Wonderful sunshine helped us through the lockdown whether we had a garden or not.  For those of us lucky enough to have a garden it has been fun experimenting with whatever we could get to grow.

The garden is fading fast, practice recycling with your garden waste. Chop up any faded bedding plants, annuals and old crops and add to the compost bin.  If you do not have a compost bin then perhaps think of having a small bin in a corner and I would recommend one with a tray and an access door at the base. Collect fallen leaves and place in bin bags and leave to decompose into leaf mould remembering to make some holes in the bottom of the bags or add them to your compost.

Now is a great time to put up new restraining wires and repair fences when they are free of foliage. It’s not too late to plant a new rose at the base of the fence remembering to plant it angled towards the fence with plenty of good compost.  David Austin Roses have a wonderful web site with all the information you could possibly want and a fantastic array of roses for all possible sites.

Protect your outdoor garden furniture with waterproof covers if you cannot take it in over winter.  Also, insulate outdoor taps and pipes, wrap venerable pots with bubble wrap or hessian and protect any tender plants.

Give your birdfeeders a good clean by dismantling them and washing thoroughly in warm soapy water with a touch of bleach. Dirty birdfeeders can cause some nasty problems to the birds you are trying to help. The other wildlife in the garden would love a bug house in a corner of your garden again the internet can help with your design.

Snuggle up and enjoy the end of autumn,
The Tidy Gardener

I am sure we have all said at some time, "nothing will grow there!"
Nothing presents a greater problem to plants and therefore to gardeners than dry shade.
All green plants need sunlight and water to survive, without  which they are unlikely to thrive. We must not despair because the adaptability of certain plants and the diversification of the plant kingdom during their evolution is amazing.
Look at the site, find out what is causing the shade. Is it walls or trees? Are they deciduous or conifers? Once you have identified the problem and its severity, you are able to deal with it. All you need do is select the right plants making the growing conditions as favourable as possible.
If the shade is caused by deciduous trees, go for early flowering plants which mature before the leaf canopy develops. Most woodland species are like that including winter Hellebores, late spring bulbs and perennials. Woodland species tolerate dry shade as long as they have been watered well during flowering time. Hellebores and Bergenias provide permanent greenness with seasonal highlights of colour. So do some ferns including the hart's tongue and the soft shield fern. These are both drought tolerant and evergreen.
There are plenty of dark-leaved evergreens which love dry shade, such as butcher's broom, On their own, they would be very dull but highlighted with a selection of pale flowers, bulbs or contrasted with variegated foliage they will be perfect.
Plants tolerate dry shade in two ways. Growth either speeds up or slows down. Woodland species like bluebells, primroses and oxlips grow rapidly in spring, flowering  and setting seed before the woodland canopy has thickened. Others like Hellebores, Brunnera and Solomon's seal , erupt into growth early and then after flowering quietly, their seed slowly ripens in summer. Some plants like ivy, laurels and evergreen ferns have foliage which is soft when young but becomes thick and leathery with age. This reduces water loss.
Space is running out, so a bedtime reading of dry shade in a gardening book will help further with the 'impossible site'. 
Hazel Wyatt

This is the month when summer suddenly seems to give way to autumn. Colours in the garden become more muted as seeds and fruit ripen and leaves take on the first hints of red and brown. As nights start to become colder, birds and other wildlife can be seen preparing for the winter to come. Weather is the key to gardening in September, as it will determine how much work you need to do.

Although this is a time when gardeners traditionally start to clear up, if you want to encourage wildlife, you could adopt a more natural approach. Leaving seed heads, especially on plants such as teasels, thistles and sunflowers and allowing vegetation to die back naturally, provides food and shelter for birds. One lockdown surprise is seeing sunflowers in peoples gardens and, however big or small, they always deserve a smile. I know we have enjoyed growing them and thanks to our neighbour for the unexpected gift!

The end of the month is good for planting herbaceous perennials such as echinacea or eryngiums. The soil is still warm to encourage good root growth and there is usually enough rain to ensure plants don't dry out. Although container grown plants can be planted at any time, autumn gives them plenty of time to establish before winter.

It is also an important month for bulbs, corms and tubers. It is time to attend to bulbs which have just flowered, plant spring flowering bulbs outdoors, those that are to flower indoors during the winter and containers will still need attention to keep them in good condition.

Deadhead plants in hanging baskets, tubs and other containers often to keep them flowering and check regularly to see if they need watering. Feeding is still really important, reduce to once a fortnight by the end of the month because growth is slowing down. It's still not too late to take cuttings. Who doesn’t like plants for free and older plants may need replacing.

This is the month to sit back and really enjoy what you have grown or, indeed, other peoples hard work! Its been the best year ever for our Bramley apple tree and this is the month when they will be at their best. I hope we’ll have enough to share.

Forage for the last of the blackberries and get crumbling. Stay safe and enjoy nature it helps us in so many ways!

Alan Caswell

I would like to refer you all to Alan Caswell’s gardening feature in July, as his advice on watering and dead heading still applies in August. 

Wherever there is a drainpipe taking the rainwater off your property, whether it’s your house, greenhouse or garden shed there is an opportunity to save rainwater for using on your plants both in the garden and in the house.  Water butts do not need to be expensive or ugly and will save on your tap water which never gets cheaper. 

There are many different colours, shapes and sizes.   We recently found one with a planter on the top which is fun to plant up each season.  Fitting is not difficult and here is a small tip. Make sure the butt tap is high enough to get your watering can under it by mounting the butt on blocks if necessary.  A mistake we made when we first fitted one years’ ago not to be made again!!

Now is the time to collect seeds in your garden or from friends. Choose a dry day and collect from plants such as sweet peas, love-in-a-mist and aquilegias.  Most seeds will store for a year or two but make sure they are thoroughly dry before putting them in paper envelopes.  Remember to write on the envelope what the seeds are and the date collected.  Seeds are best kept in the fridge or in an airtight container in an outside shed.

Keep on top of the deadheading and keep up feeding especially any plant that is not in the ground.  Use a tomato feed regularly.  If you have camellias or rhododendrons now is when they are forming their buds so keep them well watered.  

Lavender needs a trim after flowering to maintain a compact shape but avoid cutting into the old wood.  Take some cuttings and have a go at propagating some new plants not only of the lavender but any woody herb or softwood cuttings e.g. penstemons.  There are some very helpful video instructions that you can watch on line.

Lastly, late August into early September is a good time to seed bald patches in the lawn or lay new turf.

We have been so incredibly lucky with the wonderful weather during lockdown and personally it has been a joy to have time to spend time in my own garden with any plants that I could get hold of some of which I have never grown before it’s been so exciting.  I do hope you have savoured  the time to enjoy nature over the last few months.

Stay safe and love your space.
The Tidy Gardener  

July is often one of the hottest months of the year. Keep plants looking good by regularly dead-heading, and you'll enjoy a longer display of blooms. Make sure you keep new plants well-watered, using grey water where possible, and hoe off weeds, which thrive in the sunshine. It is amazing how well weeds grow!

Autumn-flowering bulbs, such as autumn crocuses and Amaryllis can be planted now. Disbud and dead-head dahlias if growing for large blooms. Don’t be afraid to prune back shrubs such as Weigela and remove rose and tree suckers.

Ensure newly planted trees and shrubs do not dry out. They often need much more water than you imagine.

If you have a lawn, keep mowing regularly, except during drought. In hot weather, set the mower at a slightly higher level than normal for early summer as this can help the lawn from drying out and resist wear. Don’t worry unduly about brown patches on the lawn. They will recover quickly when the autumn rains arrive. 

If you need a green lawn use a sprinkler once a week. Handy tip: place an open jam-jar on the lawn and leave the sprinkler running for 13mm (0.5in) of water to collect in the bottom of the jar. This is the best amount to avoid wasting water, while still wetting the roots sufficiently. Please water responsibly! Water is for everyone.

Everyone can garden and it’s for all the family. You don’t have to have a garden to get pleasure out of growing. For first timers, gardening with your kids is a perfect opportunity for you all to learn together. For little ones, choose things that grow quickly such as radish, cut and come again leaves and herbs. How about growing your own pasta sauce? A pot with chives, oregano, basil and parsley with the addition of a small cherry tomato will provide you with all the essential ingredients for a tomato sauce and look good. Get inventive, use what space and things you have e.g. old watering cans, welly boots even the kitchen sink! The world will thank you.

Lastly it is a great time to sit out and enjoy your garden with, sadly, no Frenchay Flower Show this year. In this uncertain world we should take as much joy as possible out of what we grow. Please remember that gardening has a positive impact on mental as well as physical health!

Alan Caswell

After the winter, March is when gardening starts in earnest and one can only feel enthused to work outside as the days get longer and warmer.

The delights of spring will be popping out of the ground and unless it gets very cold, slugs will be on the march after anything new and juicy to munch so it’s a good idea to protect new growth being careful to use animal friendly deterrents.

Pots and tubs may need watering to keep moist (not wet) even at this time of year and may benefit from a top dressing of John Innes compost removing some of the old compost.  A topping of grit will deter slugs. Keep winter pansies deadheaded regularly and they will carry on well into the spring.

Look at your perennials and if the clumps have become too large, lost their shape or are flowering poorly lift and divide them to give them a new lease of life.  Ask your friends and neighbours if they would like a clump.  Most of the plants in my garden have come from friends and family.  When you have made a bit more room now is the time to plant summer flowering bulbs making sure they have good drainage.

Erect a wigwam and in mid March, plant sweet peas or plant plugs once they have been hardened off. Give all beds a weed and apply a mulch to control future weeds, this job saves hours of work when done early in the season. Cut back the old leaves of hellebores to prevent leaf spot and expose the wonderful new flowers. Alpines are apt to rotting around the neck but this can be prevented by a top dressing of grit or gravel. Prune bush and climbing roses. 

Finally feed borders with a general-purpose fertilizer at the rate advised to give your garden a spring boost for their new growth.

Enjoy your outdoor space,
The Tidy Gardener

Gardening is not an exact science, even experienced gardeners make mistakes. Novice gardeners should not be intimidated by rules. Follow a few tips and you will soon be enjoying a new hobby.
 

• Choose the right plants for your soil. Is it light and sandy or heavy and clay?
  Many plants thrive better in one type than the other. If you are not sure take a look what is growing in your neighbour’s garden.
  

 

• Give plants enough space. If you place young plants too close together not all will survive. Crowded plants are also more susceptible to disease. Read plant labels for advice on how much room they need.

 

• Be gentle with new plants. If you remove new plants from pots by pulling their stems you are likely to break or bruise them .Gently squeeze the pot sides, turn it upside down, using your other hand to catch it as it slides out.
  

 

• Plan ahead with your design. Start by looking around the garden and see the bigger picture. Put your ideas down on paper. Place your young plants and bulbs on the soil surface first. Stand back and move them around until you are happy with the arrangement. Then plant them.
  

 

• Soak the roots. Thoroughly soak the roots of a new plant before you put it in the soil. The hole should be larger than the root ball. This is necessary because the roots need to spread out to get the best chance of tapping water and the soil’s nutrients.

 

• Water plants in. Keep them watered until established, especially in a dry spell. Once established, water carefully. Plants are meant to live outside and draw moisture from the earth without the need for daily watering. Tubs and hanging baskets need daily watering. As a rough guide, poke your fingers about 2 inches into the soil around the plant. If it is very dry, add some water.
  

 

• Label, label, label
  It is easy for first time gardeners and the more experienced. to forget what is planted and where. Make your own labels or use those supplied.
  

 

• Be brutal with weeds. Weeds are the gardener’s worst enemy. Weed regularly, making sure you remove all roots. If there are seeds on the weeds do not put on compost or you will reseed your gardens with more weeds when using the compost.
  

 

• Have fun. Allow yourself to experiment with new things. If you have planted something in the wrong place and it is unhappy, you can move it at a later date. Most plants and shrubs, even young trees can be uprooted and replanted with care.
  

The most important tip is enjoy!                  
                                                                                                                                       
Hazel  Wyatt

Please keep putting food and water for the birds especially if there is frost or snow. The shortest day is behind us and we can still do jobs out in the garden to prepare for spring.
 
Clean pots ready for new planting and the greenhouse if you have one, I have always found Jeyes Fluid very good. Empty and clean out water butts if possible and repair any leaking piping or taps.
 
If not done already then apple and pear trees can still be pruned and if lucky enough to have rhubarb it can start to be forced now under an old chimney pot or a forcing pot from a garden centre. Although expensive, they are a lifetime investment and can be most attractive.
 
On a cold wet day there is nothing more uplifting than looking at plant and seed catalogues and planning what to include in your garden later in the year. Buy seeds early so you are not disappointed. On fine days look around the garden and enjoy signs of new life emerging from the soil.  
 
When the festive season is over and if you have a real tree please recycle by chipping it for use on the garden or take to the recycling centre.

Happy New Year, keep warm and don’t forget to look after your inside plants.
The Tidy Gardener