Anyone else just experienced a FALSE Spring? Yep here in London Uk we just had 2 days of exceptionally warm, freakish weather before the storms and then chilly temperatures laughed in our faces again. Soooooo disappointing it refused to stay, but it sure did make my green thumbs twitch!
And I know we weren't the only ones. Since those few days of tantalizing sun tickled our brows the enquiries have been off the chats for our Landscaping services. People suddenly remembered they have a garden and need to get it sorted NOW, before the Summer comes and goes. Summers don't last long here in the UK so we gotta make the most of every other sunny weekend as and when we can.
In order to get ahead, and appease the twitching thumbs, there are 5 garden jobs you do right now to get a good head start on your lawn, shrubs and garden design before all those weeds and straggly loose ends start bolting in front of your very eyes?
Hi, I'm Alison, partner in grime to the other Half of 'Project Green Thumb', the East London Landscapers. We've been transforming drab Urban gardens to gorgeous outdoor delights for over 10 years and have enough experience and dirt under our green thumbs to share far and wide. WE want EVERYONE to have the courage and enthusiasm to get out in the garden so that's why we're spilling the beans on or our very best tips and tricks in creating and maintaining your own garden of delights.
Read on, follow along and above all, dig in because gardening is cheaper than therapy, and with any luck you get tomatoes!
Here's a list of 5 helpful tips to get your garden green on in the month of March
1. Feed, Feed, Feed!
Anyone with box hedges or privet would do well to give their plants a sprinkling of food at this time of year. Many of our clients, ourselves included, were hit by the box hedge caterpillar last Summer so our normally emerald spheres and topiary took a bit of a beating and may not be quite as green and glorious as they once were. Show them some love and feed them some goodness. We recommend Buxus Feed as we find it always gives a nice little boost. Your hedges will thank you for it too.
All herbaceous borders could do with a generous top up of well rotted compost right now and roses are especially hungry for some black gold. ( meaning manure. WARNING: Make sure you only buy well matured and rotted manure as the fresh stuff is pretty lethal. Not least on the nasal passages but it's far too strong for plants and will literally burn the roots so don't think you can pop down to the local yard and pick up a few fresh piles of muck.
2. Weed, weed, weed!
When warm weather makes an appearance so do the weeds.
Don't fret though. At this time of year most weeds are very easy to pull up or hoe straight out of the ground so start pulling them up now and you will be able to keep well on top of things. What ever you do, don't let the weeds flower because before you know it they've gone to seed and voila, another 500 have emerged. Unless of course you have guineapigs (or enjoy chowing down on dandelion leaves yourself) in which case, keep on growing. They are actually pretty good for you.
If you have any really tough weeds the best thing to do is just pour boiling water from the kettle on them. Problem solved. I'll share more next time on eco friendly, natural recipes to making your own weed killer but for now this should do.
3. Sowing the Seeds of LOVE ( Pretty sure that's a line form a song)
Yes indeed. Now it the time to plant up sweet peas, yummy podding peas, broad beans and more. Check out the list here.
4. Get the Lush lawn look
Its officially. Whether its cultivating an established lawn or laying a brand new one the Green Grass calendar starts NOW. March is the perfect time to give your grass its first cut and feed or get your measuring stick out and jotting down the dimensions for your new dream lawn. Ordering in new turf now will ensure a well established, luscious lawn for those warmer months ahead and with any luck there will be enough light rain to water your newly laid turf the natural way rather than you having to spend a few hours a day giving it a soaking while the roots take hold.
Need a helping hand with all the tips and tricks for a luscious lawn?
Then you need our Ultimate lawn care guide.
See blog post here >>>https://www.projectgreenthumb.co.uk/post/the-urban-lawn-revival-guide
Need some help ordering and laying your new lawn? Check out our services page and book a luscious lawn service: https://www.projectgreenthumb.co.uk/services
5. Plan Up.
If you are anything like me you have been dreaming about all the wonderful things you will do with your garden this year while sitting indoors flicking through gardening magazines or obsessing over Pinterest but the time has come to bring those dreams to life NOW.
Because, if you don't start the ball rolling in Spring the next thing you know it will already be Summer, then Autumn and hey, that sun lounger you promised yourself, nestled in between the lavender and the peonies or the new raised garden bed you swore you would plant all your organic home grown veggies in will just have to wait until 2025.
Get our mini garden design workbbook to help you get laser clear on your garden goals for 2024
Do you have Pinterest account? If not you should. Its a brilliant way to collect and store all your dreams and inspirations.
You can take a look at my one here and follow along if you like:
Well, that should be more than enough to get your green thumbs twitching.
Happy Gardening and if there is anything we can help you with just drop us a line.
Peas and Love,
Alison, aka Mrs. Green Thumb
