Feature /// Gardening
SPRING JOB LIST We asked local gardening experts for their top tips for the season ahead “Trickling water will mask sounds such as traffic and chatter, so it’s worth bearing in mind when looking at what to bring into your garden this spring.” Teresa Kennedy “Prune roses to a forward facing bud and wisterias to two or three buds. Cut back buddleia, dog wood, willow, ornamental grasses and summer flowering clematis to a pair of buds just above ground level. Prune any ornamental garden trees to ensure they remain healthy, safe and in good shape.” Tom Sexton “Apply a layer of bark chippings or mulch to your garden borders to help suppress weeds and improve soil moisture retention.” Tom Sexton “Plant your summer flowering bulbs, pansies, and lift up and divide overgrown clumps of perennials.” Tom Sexton “Scarify your lawn to allow the soil to absorb more oxygen and accelerate growth, and turn your compost heap to give it an influx of oxygen that will speed up the decomposition process.” Tom Sexton “Give your fence a new lease of life with a fresh coat of paint while you can still get to it!” Tom Sexton “The grass is ready to grow, so get it fertilised, and once dry, use a stiff brush to remove worm-casts. For a green lawn, remove the moss by scarifying and aerating the grass. Finally, clear the weeds out of the beds and borders and plant your summer bulbs.” Shane Scott
“An easy and inexpensive way to invigorate your garden is to look at your hard landscaping. “We build patios, paths, driveways, raised beds, decking using different types of gravel, granite and wood chippings, top soil and turf to refresh the different areas.” Ben Freeman “Spring jobs such as weeding, preparing ground for sowing by digging in organic matter, raking moss from lawns before a spring feed, pruning certain shrubs and trees, tidying borders after the winter – all these tasks involve stretching, twisting, bending, squatting and lifting. Try to vary tasks every 20 minutes or so and end your workout with a hot bath or shower to rest any aching muscles. Annie Burns, Welland Vale
ALL THE GEAR… The Cub Cadet Z1 is a zero turn, 54” cut, high quality machine with a fuel injected Kohler engine and hydrostatic transmission. It comes with a one-year professional or five-year domestic warranty. It also has 15 cutting heights. Price: £7,999
Diamond Mowers 01858 463932 / 07854 140530 David Norman says: “You don’t want your mower to break down at the wrong time, so make sure you keep your equipment primed and ready for action. Garden machinery specialists service and repair many different makes of lawnmowers and garden machinery and are able to source parts at very short notice. Or even better, buy a brand new one!”
D G Norman Agricultural Engineers 01536 770966. www.dgnorman.co.uk
GP Lawnmowers 01780 749084 www.gplawnmowers.co.uk
“Start to plant up the vegatable garden – put broad bean seeds into the ground in 15cm wide rows with the seeds placed at 4cm intervals. Plant early potato sets in rows at 30cm spacing, also onion and shallots at 15cm. Feed shrubs with a suitable fertilizer such as blood fish and bone to give them a good start to the season.” Angela Holland, Kibworth Garden Centre OUR EXPERTS Ben Freeman Landscaping 07703 337128/01780 238376 www.benfreemanuk.co.uk
Tom Sexton, Sexton Garden Maintenance 0116 3197034, www.sextonmaintenance.com
Shane Scott Diamond Gardening Services 01858 466858/07913 131219 Angela Holland Kibworth Garden Centre 0116 279 2754 www.kibworthgardencentre.co.uk Annie Burns Welland Vale 01572 822729 www.wellandvalegardeninspirations.co.uk
GET SOME INSPIRATION AT TOLETHORPE Throughout summer the Stamford Shakespeare Company will be presenting three classic plays at the Rutland Open Air Theatre in the grounds of Tolethorpe Hall. More than 34,000 people enjoyed the gardens last year. Tolethorpe Hall – 01780 754381 (box office 01780 756133). Plays run from June 12 to September 1. http://stamfordshakespeare.co.uk
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