Plant trees, shrubs and fruit trees now so that their roots will be ready to grow when the ground begins to warm up, and provide them with a slow release fertiliser. Although hardy through most of the winter, top fruit and soft fruit blossoms will need protecting from late frost.
Cover them during the night with horticultural fleece, using canes to keep the material from touching the blossoms and make sure to remove during the day, so as not to hinder pollinators. Take care of your fruit plants now and you’ll reap the benefits of jam making ingredients through the summer – prices start at £1.99 for strawberries, though to £7 for a bush.
Now that they have finished flowering, shrubs such as Camellia and Forsythia can be lifted and moved provided the soil is not frozen or waterlogged. Divide clump-forming perennials, such as Hostas and Primulas and remove any dead foliage, ready for new growth. Winter flowering heathers can also be cut back to a compact shape – however, if your heather is looking woody and leggy, replacing it would be a better option as they will struggle to look their best again (they generally have a lifespan of about 10 years).
Tie in new stems on climbers and climbing roses horizontally – this will allow for more like to reach the plant so multiple new flowering shoots to grow. Check for old and woody canes that produced little last year and cut them off.
Don’t forget housekeeping such as cleaning your greenhouses and growing frames ready for the growing season. If you’re limited in the garden, the Gardman Perma-tunnel with PVC cover is compact with no extra space required.
– Stew, Planteria & Nursery, Plantsplus Garden Centre