Paul Gargan
Early bulbs push through frozen ground to brighten the dark days of February. There are the harbingers of approaching spring.Ground conditions in February are usually very wet. If your lawn is not too soggy, give it a cut with the mower blades set high. Do this on a day when the grass is fairly dry. If not, the best thing you can do is keep off the grass.
Lift and divide clumps of snowdrops, after they have finished flowering but when the leaves are still green. Replant immediately in small clumps before they get a chance to dry out.
Lift and divide herbaceous perennials every three or four years. This will mean that you have a continuous supply of young healthy plants to replant with plenty left over to create new beds or give away. Dig around them with a spade and lift. Divide them, depending on size into two or three pieces using two forks back to back. If this is not possible, just use a spade to slice them.
Replant them in ground that has been dug over with lots of homemade garden compost added. The top of the plant should be at ground level when the soil around it has been gently heeled in. Water it even though the ground is wet.
Prune most but not all types of clematis now – the easiest way to know which type you have and how to prune it is, when you buy it, keep the label or record the information on it. If it’s too late for this, the general rule of thumb is, if it has flowers shaped like bells, flared cups or wide open saucers less than 4cm across it’s a species of clematis and no pruning is necessary now. Just tidy it up after it has flowered.
Early flowering clematis require little or no pruning now. Immediately after flowering, reduce surplus growth and cut out any weak stems or dead wood.
Those that flower before midsummer should for the most part be lightly pruned. This is reducing lengthy spurs back, removing old flower heads and with tangled stems either untangle or cut out, leaving one stem. Late flowering ones need more drastic treatment. Reduce all stems to a strong pair of buds 25cm above ground level.
When planting clematis, remember to plant deep, approx. 10cm below ground level and cover with soil. Place flat stones on top to shade roots. This is to prevent the rootball from drying out.
To encourage birds into your garden, erect nest boxes. Put them on the north facing sides of trees, walls or fences. They must be high up or the birds won’t use them. A box with a small hole in front is most suitable for blue tits. The young of these birds are fed on insects, which means you don’t need to use insecticides in your garden.
If you have a gardening question email info@irishcatholic.ie or write to Green Fingers, The Irish Catholic, St Mary’s, Bloomfield Ave, Donnybrook, Dublin 4.
