Paul GarganThe new year brings with it fresh optimism for the new growing season. The first signs of spring are showing. Snowdrops are bursting out of the frozen ground and buds are swelling on trees and shrubs, just waiting for their time to come.
The buds have to wait, but you don’t. Get out in the garden, make a start, even if it’s a small one, to lessen your workload in the coming months.
It may be cold outside but, by the miracle of nature, many weeds continue to grow, which is why they are so successful – they are survivors. Hand weeding and hoeing is important to get on top of them now, before you get too busy. A thick layer of mulch will prevent weed seeds from germinating. Don’t forget to remove any weeds lurking in containers.
Now is a good time for pruning trees and shrubs if needed, but with shrubs only those that flower on the new season’s growth. As a rule of thumb, these flower after the end of June. If in doubt don’t prune, wait and see when the shrub flowers.
If pruning is necessary on established large shrubs and trees, it is often because they have outgrown the space allocated to them. Often the temptation is to cut off the top. This is wrong, as all it does is spoil the shape of the tree and it usually grows back quickly to replace the removed top. The solution is to crown lift the tree. This frees up the area under the tree. Crown lifting is removing the branches from the first two metres or so – head-height from the tree.
Regardless of the size of the branch to be cut, the process is the same. Make a cut on the underside of the limb approx. 30cm from the trunk, then finish the cut from above. This is done to avoid the falling branch from tearing the trunk. Trace the remaining branch back to the bark ridge. Make a cut under the ridge then finish with a cut from above.
Do not cut behind the ridge, as this is where the hormones that will make the tree repair and heal the cut are located.
A common complaint for gardeners is that they have too much grass to mow. An easy solution and one that brings many other benefits, is to plant a woodland. Remember, it is said that as little as three trees makes a woodland. Trees can be planted as ‘whips’ or bare root transplants, they don’t need to be pot grown. This cuts down on expense.
Plant in random spacings, between 1m and 2m, if planting whips. This will give good coverage and can be thinned out whenever necessary. Just spray the grass with a total weed killer.
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.