FLOWERS FROM SEED

Have you ever though of growing summer flowers from seed? There are thousands of fabulous varieties to choose from and most are really easy to grow. Garden centres have new seed stock in so there is no excuse not to give it a try! There are so many plants that will germinate easily in a tray on the windowsill for summer colour in the garden.

• Alyssum with their tufted growing habit,



• Begonias do really well in the beds and in baskets.



• Geraniums are always a real treat and



• Marigolds are so easy to grow and reward you with fantastic summer colours.

Don’t just stop at the flowers either.

Try your hand at vegetables. Even if you don’t have a vegetable plot, you can incorporate edible plants into the beds and borders.

Salads are easy to grow and can be planted anywhere. They can also be planted early in seed trays.

Trees, of course, take a bit longer to grow though and if you are looking plant some new additions into the garden now is a great time to start planting as the soil is warming up. Placing the trees in the ground now will also give them time for roots to establish before the leaves come out. But what is the best way to plant the tree? Jacqueline from Willowhill nursery takes the mystery out of the procedure.

PLANTING TREES

Jacqueline Doherty from Willowhill Nursery is with us again this week with ideas for us to get the best out of our new trees. Jacqueline knows a thing or two about trees as well, the garden centre is currently stocking over 50 types of deciduous trees, fruit trees and confers. “Planting is all important when putting a new tree into your garden,” Jacqueline explains, “Especially in our climate, the roots have to be firmly in the ground,” she stressed. “Small bare rooted whips can just be planted straight into the soil and their roots will develop in no time so there is no need for staking. Most of us will buy larger trees though, and then some form of securing is probably necessary” she added.

Jacqueline’s tips for good tree planting

To give the tree a good start, dig a hole twice the size of the rootball or container.

Place the tree roots into the centre of the hole, keeping the tree at the same depth it was in the container. Backfill the hole with good compost and include a suitable organic fertilizer, such as chicken pellets.

Ensure the rootball is well watered before it is planted into the ground.

If the tree is especially large you might need a crossover stake for extra support” she concluded.

Jacqueline realises that a more comprehensive run down of tree planting might be necessary so if you would like more information she will be pleased to give you advice.

Jacqueline Doherty from Willowhill Nursery is happy to answer your tree planting questions.


CHECK MACHINERY

Most of the garden tools and machinery will have spent the winter crammed into a shed or garage. Now that the growing season has begun, give them the once over. Mowers can be a bit of a challenge to get going after the winter break. If you have left the old petrol in the tank, the engine may not want to start and no amount of pulling on the cord will get it going. Replace the petrol and check the spark plug is in good condition and everything else is tightened up. Check the plugs and belts, and replace those if they are worn. Brian Timmins from Inishowen Garden Equipment in Shandrum thinks that preventative maintenance is the key to a happy gardening season. “Get the mower services at the beginning of the growing season to give you a head start with the grass cutting” he advises “There is nothing more frustrating for a gardener who wants to cut the grass to realise the mower isn’t working!”

Photo: Brian Timmins knows that preventative maintenance is the key to a stress free year in the garden

HAND TOOLS
Some hand tools do very badly over the damp winters. I had a rake with a plastic coated metal handle one year and when I tried to use it, I realised the handle had totally rotted. It was just the plastic coating that held it together and the whole thing crumbled into fragments in front of me. Get all of the tools out and give them a check, replacing any broken or dangerous tools with new ones. Lubricate ones with moving parts, like shears, with some old oil to get them moving again.