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Getting read for Spring – preparing borders

Any herbaceous perennials that were not cut back in the autumn can have their dead top growth cut back now using secateurs; this material then be composted. Plants that need supporting, such as climbers, lax roses and tall lax shrubs like Weigela, should have their supports in place by late spring. Collect up the prunings for shredding, then composting. Climbers should have their ties checked, loosen any that are tight and cutting into the stems, tie in any free stems using raffia or garden string in a figure of eight. If climbers and shrubs look dead, wait until May before removing them as they may shoot up later from the base of the plant.

Bulbs need little care while they are flowering, but remove the dead heads promptly from daffodils and tulips, as this will encourage the stems and leaves to build up food reserves for next year’s bulbs.

This is the time to remove any insulating material such as bark chips or straw that was protecting borderline hardy plants – don’t take it away entirely though, just move it away from the crown of the plant.

Whether your border needs feeding depends on the soil, what sort of plants you are growing and what sort of mulch – if any - you apply. In general, if you have a sandy, chalky or other free-draining soil it is worth feeding by applying a general balanced fertiliser. Powder or granules are applied dry to the soil surface and lightly forked in for slow release over the growing season. In addition, large blossom plants such as roses, clematis and delphiniums may benefit from a rose fertiliser. Water in dry fertiliser if rain is not forecast.

Border photograph by merfam, used under a creative commons attribution licence

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