MARCH MADNESS!!

Hello - a mostly dry - if chilly - week, here at the nursery - has helped us push on with some of those jobs that have been waiting for a long time.

MARCH MADNESS - Most people who know me think I am mad all of the year - but it is not me that I am talking about!! This madness is the great pressure to get all those outstanding jobs completed before a new gardening season really starts. Customers are pouring in - and our stock is flying out - so if you are planning a major planting session this spring - don't leave it too late - otherwise you will not get the plants you want!!!

I have almost finished pruning the orchard - the trees have been there about 7 years now - and are really starting to look the part. The shapes of many of them are now set - and it is incredible to see the difference between the different rootstocks - and the bushes and half-standards.

There seems to be a huge amount of flower bud potential on them all this year - which should hopefully lead to a decent crop.

FRUIT TREES continue to be extremely popular - as does the SOFT FRUIT - we are now sold out of all currants - but still have decent stock of GOOSEBERRIES and RASPBERRIES. However, the stock situation is changing all the time - so by next week they may all be gone!!

We have a delivery of FERTILISER this week - and we now have a range of products available for you to feed your garden plants this spring. After such a wet winter - many of our plants are jolly hungry!! The cold and wet has leached many of the essential nutrients out of the soil - and they need to be replaced to ensure strong new growth.
We have got both organic and artificial feeds available - which applied now will get into the soil over the next few weeks.
While not wanting to push one product over the others - the ORGANIC types such as Chicken Pelleted Manure do tend to offer a SLOW-RELEASE of nutrients - over a 6-8 week period - while the artificial types tend to be more immediate.

It is a great time to clear beds and borders of the last of the debris from the winter - as well as pruning shrubs,roses and fruit trees - so why not do what I do - and clear the area - prune - and then feed - job done!!

It's a busy old time - but effort put in now, will lead to a wonderful summer display - so get out there!!

UNTIL THE NEXT TIME,
RICHARD