Spring is finally here!

Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love!

Sitting Bull

I’m rubbish at gardening, the god of green fingers seems to have passed me by, I somehow manage to kill anything green I stick in the soil in by back garden. I don’t intentionally set out to kill, but that is the result – every time!

My dad bought me a big green thing in a pot (don’t ask me for names) last summer, which he chose with great care and attention. I was given strict instructions to water it little and often. Which I did. It is now nearly dead.

I have a fairly large garden, by London standards. The previous owners had two growing and restless sprogs, subsequently my back garden is essentially a lawn for kicking a ball around, and a patio for the adults to enjoy what little sunshine we ever get!

But gardening, for me, is like housework. It’s a chore and I hate it!

I have to confess to a guilty pleasure, I do actually enjoy watching gardening programs on the TV, I’ll watch anything with the likes of Monty Don or Alan Titchmarsh, which is how an article in a magazine by one of Alan’s sidekicks, Katy Rushworth caught my eye. In the article Katy highlights several really good, and easy tips to bring your garden back to a level where you might not feel quite so embarrassed when you invite friends around for a barbeque.

Plant out summer bedding with hardy annuals, (I looked them up, plants that come up in the spring then die off over the winter but, as if my magic they pop up again in the same spot the next year!!)

Apparently, Spring is the perfect time to dust off your spade, get planting and give your garden some love, who knew!?!

Katy suggests, when you start, try to plant and stick to a colour theme throughout your containers and baskets. Maybe a mix of hot colours and the odd chilli plant thrown in to your window box might spice things up. If you fancy something a little more ‘cottage garden’ in style then stick with pastel shades and add some herbs to the mix. Half-hardy annuals such as Cosmos, Zinnia, Cleome and Nicotiana, (don’t ask – go look them up or talk to your tame garden centre operative!), can all be sown straight into the ground at this time of year and are fantastic colour fillers.

Pressure wash, or hose down and scrub

A great and easy way to get your garden looking its best is to get the pressure washer out, (you know, the big yellow thing in the shed), and give that patio, path or deck some TLC. Just removing any dirt and moss from your seating area will instantly make your garden appear smarter. They are also great for cleaning down garden furniture, often they look brand new again.

Lawn care

Don’t forget to look after your lawn. One of the top gardening mistakes we make is letting the lawn become unruly and overgrown. Make sure you remove any bare patches by getting rid of any dead grass and moss from the area. Then sprinkle some topsoil, followed by some lawn seed. A final fine dressing of topsoil will keep any wildlife from eating the seed, as well as ensure that the seed comes into contact with the soil. Lightly water to prevent any of the seed from being disturbed.

Stake and support plants

Any plants that you know need support to look their best will benefit if you get those supports in now. Even if they are weeks from flowering and still have lots of growth to put on, getting those garden canes in and tying things up, is much easier to do when you don’t have to navigate excess foliage and other plants in flower. As the plant continues to grow, it will also naturally disguise the canes or framework you have put in place and leave you with beautiful looking flowers – hurrah!!

Prune spring flowering shrubs

Any shrubs which have flowered this spring can be pruned once they are getting too big and unruly. Remove any dead or damaged growth first, then any growth which is weak or crossing over one another, causing stems to rub together in a tangled mass. Always cut the branch on an angle and to a new outward facing bud to increase air circulation, (did not know that!). Shrubs can tolerate being cut back hard now, so removing half of the plant may seem a bit brutal and look a little drastic, but it will recover over the summer months and reward you with lots of fresh new growth.

Dress it up

Cushions, throws and outdoor rugs are the finishing touches that really make your garden feel like an extension of your house. Tie the colours in with colours you have in the home as well as colours you have used in the garden to create a unified and cohesive design. You don’t need green fingers for this, and it’s amazing how much more welcoming a garden becomes when it has a seat with a lovely cushion and a throw on it. Also, don’t forget to invest in a decent BBQ – this is essential to have, especially if you are planning to entertain friends and dine alfresco.

So, there you go – thanks to Katy for her pearls of wisdom and for giving me the inspiration to have one more go at losing the title of plant murderer!

New Head and Skin today!!

Head, Eyes & Teeth – Catwa Head, Rigged Eyes and teeth - Catya v3.2

Hair – MINA Hair - Sanne

Skin – Amara Beauty - Anita - PACK A

Body, Hands & Feet – Maitreya Mesh Body - Lara V4.0

AO – [Body Language Sweet Lovely Cute] BENTO AO Kisetsu

Physics – Temptation – Maitreya Physics II 2018 Bento Realism Fatpack +

Shape – Elle et Lui SL Style, Sacha Shape for Catwa Bento Head Catya – Maitreya, (Adjusted)

Tattoo – [CAROL G] Nomadic Owl - Black

Bindi – .:ellabella:. Kerli V2 dark-nose

Bracelets and Rings – Real Evil Industries **RE** Carina Bracelets & Rings - Maitreya Bento

Overall – Candy Doll _CD_ Hedy XVII Overall Loose - Maitreya Lara @ C88 this month