Remember to feed when you prune

Plant tip: Plants that require hard pruning also need generous feeding. Apply slow release fertiliser to hedges, clematis, and hydrangeas.

The Hampstead Gardner Maintenance

Now is the time to Jet spray paths and patios or scrub with soapy water to clear off algae and winter slime and disinfect.

The Hampstead Gardner: 8 Benefits of Mulching

The Hampstead Gardner: Tips for Mulching

8 Benefits of Mulching

1. Temperatures Less Extreme: Keeps soil warm in winter and cool in summer.

2. Retains Water: Less watering means more water saved and healthier plants

3. Prevents Erosion: Level landscape and improved soil quality.

4. Natural Nutrients Decompose: Environmentally friendly way of enriching the soil.

5. Easier Maintenance: Even and lightweight surface.

6. Reduces Weed Growth: Less mainenence (lower on-going gardening costs) & better looking

7. Protects plants: Shields roots from harsh weather.

8. Tidy Landscape: Improves the look of your garden.

Garden Maintenance: Winter Heather

Trim back winter heather now to keep them dense. Remove flowers but not old wood because it doesn't grow again.

Garden Maintenance: Cornus & Salix Pruning

Prune willows grown for their ornamental stems now. Cornus and Salix produce the best colour on 1-year-old stems. Prune Cornus, Rubus and Salix hard, about 1-2 buds of last growth to leave a stub framework for next year's growth.

Primrose Hill Trees

The trees are starting to bloom on Primrose Hill. Welcome Spring!

Plant Maintenance tip: Ferns

If you like bold fern fronds, put a handful of bonemeal around the crowns now and put garden compost on top

Garden Maintenance: Fushias

Shorten back & remove dead/wispy shoots from fushias. If stem is dead, cut down to regrow. Feed generously.

Fruit and Veg: Growing Tip

Broadbeans sown in winter don't tend to get black fly. The ones in Regents Park allotment are flowering now

Scarecrows in Regent's Park

The scarecrows wear waistcoats in Regent's Park. That's one way to scare the birds off! 

Container Gardening Maintenance Tip

Life in a container can be tough. Give your potted Camellias, Conifers, Box and Bay a good dressing of fertiliser.