In the Garden – February

Online and phone scams seem more plentiful than ever. It is very easy to be taken in by a credible phone call or email. Please report scams by phoning the Action Fraud line 0300 123 2040 (8am-8pm) or on their website www.actionfraud.police.uk. They offer an enhanced service for vulnerable victims.

There is a telephone scam asking for bank details to validate ID for a vaccination appointment. It is a SCAM! Please NEVER give out your bank details on the phone.

Cllr. Jackie Porter, www.jackieporter.co.uk 07973 696 085,

Jackie.porter@hants.gov.uk, twitter @JackieLibDem,

How lovely it was shortly after Christmas to see the first signs of snowdrop and daffodil poking up through the grass with the braver primroses in flower. In these dark days of lockdown the slightest sign of new life is encouraging.

We seem to have our own resident fieldfare, who has taken up station in the old crabapple tree opposite our kitchen window. He sees off all the other fieldfares and blackbirds who are brave enough to venture onto his patch and sits up in the branches when not filling himself up with fallen apples, he must be pretty fat! It certainly entertains us at breakfast time when sitting eating our porridge.

Most of us are fortunate to have a garden in which to put out food and water for birds, nest boxes too and it gives us an interest when stuck at home in lockdown to watch visitors to the bird table. Some birds use nest boxes for shelter in cold weather, as well as claiming it for the nesting season. Blue and great tits are already pairing up for the breeding season so put out any nest boxes you took down in the autumn. Those of you who are handy with a saw and hammer might try making some out of old bits of wood you might have.

I have sent off for several packets of seeds as we have several family birthdays in March so I thought it a good idea to send packets of seeds to children and grandchildren to sow. I personally will be sowing flower and vegetable seeds in the greenhouse and hope to have something to bring to our annual plant sale at the end of May, restrictions permitting.

Garden tasks: Ή Cut back last year’s overwintering pelargoniums and re-pot them using soil-based compost. Ή Pinch out sweet pea seedlings that were sown in autumn under glass. Ή Start feeding roses with rose food and apply a mulch. Ή Cool season grasses such as stipa, festuca etc will start producing new growth early in the year. To maintain their looks and lengthen their lives, give them a thorough grooming and trim, by combing through the clumps, teasing out the previous season’s beige remains and divide or repot if necessary. ΉWarm season grasses such as panicum, pennisetum and phalaris should not be cut or divided until late spring before they start new growth from their base. Ή Hoe out new weeds that emerge in vegetable and flower beds and pull up any self sown ivy plants before they start spreading.

CK