In the garden: It’s Tree Week - so time to get planting

Spring is most definitely in the air as magnolias burst forth into flower, dormant deciduous buds are starting to swell as the sap starts to rise, and the dreams of the growing season ahead begin to come closer to reality.

March is starting well, with the soil drying out after the biblical deluges throughout February. We are getting some much-needed dry weather as we prepare for growth in the garden and attend to the last minute tasks that need be done before it all kicks off.

It can be a very variable month as we move from winter into spring, so we need to stay cautious and not take temperatures for granted just yet.

Seasonal pruning is top of the to-do list, with any trees and shrubs needing attention from the secateurs or loppers before buds swell and burst getting pruned.

As nesting season is upon us, and birds get busy building nests this month, the window for any remaining pruning is closing fast.

Planting is also on the list - the window for tree planting only has a few weeks remaining to get trees into the ground.

Tomorrow marks the start of Tree Week, with the official launch taking place in the Botanical Gardens, Dublin. There are lots of tree planting events happening throughout the country in communities, schools and public spaces to mark the occasion.

This is an annual event organised by The Tree Council in conjunction with Coillte and thousands of trees are distributed nationwide through the county councils for planting at community events.

With the destruction that occurred during Storm Éowyn particularly this winter, which took down more than 5,000 hectares of commercial forestry plus many more tree specimens, planting more trees was never more important.

It is also meaningful to consider what is being planted and where: is the tree suitable for the soil, is the size appropriate for the location and what is the longevity of the tree... these are just some of the considerations?

Tree Week runs until March 16. 

Herbaceous perennials are starting to appear at ground level, and any that have not been cut back yet could be now before the new growth starts to gain momentum.

The ‘chop and drop’ technique means many fewer trips to the compost heap, using the stems instead to create a mulch on the surface of the beds.

When the stems are chopped up, it looks quite neat, and this can be done by hand rather than using a secateurs when the stems are dry and brittle, which is much faster.

The addition of some chicken manure pellets after chopping will help to balance the carbon and nitrogen ratio and prevent the presence of too much carbon in the soil, robbing valuable nitrogen which will be needed to fuel plant growth.

Also, a thin layer of bark mulch can be added to give a finishing touch if desired.

It is beneficial to remove any perennial weeds like dock roots, nettles and dandelions as they will push up through and persist among the perennial planting.

It is a good idea to dig up and divide larger clumps of herbaceous perennials that may not have been divided for a few years, as this will benefit flowering and the overall health of the plants. Herbaceous perennials can get overcrowded and congested, which will result in poorer flowering.

Now is a good time to create new plants or move divisions to other parts of the garden. Replanting a few parts of the more vigorous growth on the outer edges of the clump and applying some garden compost will ensure they will re-establish quickly this spring.

Frosty nights are keeping grass growth at bay for now, but it will not be long until the hum of the lawnmower will be heard.

Maybe this is the year to consider setting aside some of the lawn area to grow it long, observing what wildflowers are present, and perhaps sprinkling a few seeds of ox eye daisy or some other easily grown wildflower like knapweed or foxglove to encourage the development of a meadow.

Now is the time to plan changes and to begin to implement them, and if some changes involve less work and more enjoyment of nature in the garden, then all the better.

We are moving toward seed planting season in earnest. Protected environments provide the protection needed while the nights are still cold, and when a heated bench is available, seed sowing can begin earlier.

Getting seed started early can result in earlier cropping, provided space is available to harden off and get plants growing in a protected environment should the weather take a turn for the worse.

It’s time to tidy out the seed box and decide what fresh seed is needed, what new varieties might be grown this year, and perhaps what seed saved from our own gardens can be used this growing year.

Plant of the Week

Narcissus cyclamineus, or the cyclamen flowered daffodil, are so named as they have flowers similar to cyclamen, with trumpet-shaped flower sharply angled towards the stem and petals prominently drawn backwards like they are being swept back in the wind.

Plant in October and November in full sun or partial shade in free draining soil for an early display in February and March of spring colour.

Great for naturalising in grass and borders where they will reappear and increase year on year.