• After the flowers have faded on the shrubs in the garden its to trim them back.  This will promote new growth.
• If you have feeding stations its time to fill them up and feed the wild birds and their babies.  They love to eat friut, oats, bird seed.

• Roses - Its time to tend to your roses with a good feed, which is applied now, and again in autumn.
• Watering - The weather has changed for the better here in Devon, so don’t forget to water and feed your containers, baskets and troughs of plants and shrubs, as they can dry out really quickly when the weather is warm and humid.  Remember, the best times to water your plants and shrubs is either early morning or late afternoon, when the sun is at its lowsest.  Watering at these times prevents the water heating up with the rays of the sun and burning the leaves.
• Flowering shrubs - Which are spring flowering should be cut back once the flowers have dropped or faded.
• Climbers - Early flowering clematis (montana) and Jasmin should be pruned back once the flowers have dropped.
• Hanging baskets - Its time to get the hanging baskets out and planted up with your favourite plants such as; trailing petunias, lobelia, trailing geraniums, marigolds, busy lizzies and loads of other plants to choose from at your local garden centre.  Look out for the offers!
• Alpines - Are getting more popular each year, rightly so, as they look amazing when planted in a rockery or planted as ground coverage, the choice seems to be increasing every year, whichs makes choosing very difficult as they were all showing spectactular colours in their displays.
• Long stemmed flowers - Some long stemmed flowers such as; lillies and poppies might need  supporting with banboo canes and a little string. 
• Weeding - Here in the South West we have had quite a lot of rain in the past couple of weeks.  Which is good for the plants, but also means the weeds are growing back all too quickly again. However this does mean that the soil is just right to pull them up as it is damp and easy to hoe over, excellent for weeding!

• Amaryllis- If like mine yours are starting to look a little bedraggled now, then its time to cut off the heads but leave the stalk in tact.  The stalk will die away naturally, this process ensures that all the nutrients start going back into bulb, which encourages healthy and strong growth for next year.   This is a good time to start feeding the plant, as new leaves that start to appear in spring and the plant will continue growing throughout the year.  Experts have previously suggested that you should let the plant die off in summer but this is not necessary just move the plant in a cold part your home around Autumn and early Winter, then move it back again in its original place (in the warm) to flower.  Good luck!
• Daffodils and Tulips, Bulbs in general - Once the heads have finished flowering its time to pinch them off, this stops the plants loosing vital energy and nutrients to producing seeds, instead all the energy and nutrients with go directly into the bulbs, ensuring you have healthy and vibrant flowers next year.  A number experts and people suggest tying back the leaves or even cutting them down once flowering is over, in my opinion I would leave the leaves until they have died back completely, letting as much of the nutrients as possible go back into the bulbs and I know from experience that its so tempting to clear them away once they have flowered. 
• Ferns- Its time to cut back the old brown dried foliage of the plants, this allows the young fonds to open freely.
• Ericaceous plants - (Camellias, Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Heathers or any other acid loving plants) - Its time to give these plants a good feed.   The feed must be for Ericaceous plants or the plants will suffer and may even die as a result of using a all purpose feed.  This special feed should be available to be purchase at your local garden centre if in any doubt ask for their assistance, they are usually only too happy to help.  Camellias - its also time start tidying those shrubs by cutting back any flowers which have died or not looking their best.  Next month will be time to for them to be pruned when the flowering season is over.  
• Climbers - These should be cut back this month, especially if they are overhanging into your neighbours garden or starting to cover the guttering/fencing or if they have just out grown their original purpose.
• Dead leaves - Should have been cleared away by now, but if some reason you haven’t been able to clear them up now is the time, if left on the soil this may lead to pests and diseases to developing in and around your plants.
• Weeding- Its that time of year again!  if you haven’t already started.  Weeding around plants/trees/shrubs/bulbs and generally tidy up is needed now, pathways can become very hazardous and become slippy as moss grows between cracks/spaces.  The little pests (weeds) seem to get everywhere including the brickwork.  I must admit though this is one of my favorite jobs in the garden, instead of using weed killer I love to dig them out myself, as  I rather like seeing the instant result that is achieved with hand weeding, everything looks so much alive and the colour of the freshly turned soil sets off the colour of the bulbs and other flowering shrubs to a “tee”.   
• Forsythia - when the flowers have faded or died back its time to cut the shrub back around about 1/3.  The mature branches should be cut back every couple of years just to keep its shape.  Never over prune this shrub.
• Acer - Although prunning is not necesary, it is a good idea to cut out any dead wood this time of year.
• Poppy - If your poppies are growing now and its time to think about staking them.  This prevents them from falling over and breaking.
• Azalea - These acid loving plants and will benefit from a good feed this time of year.   
• Roses - Need a good feed too.
• Clematis - Montana will need light pruning once flowering is over.
• Lawns - Will need lightly raking before mowering, this will remove some of the moss and debris on the ground.  If this a first cut or your lawn has been left for a number of weeks then and is quite long then the mower height setting on the wheels needs to be at its highest, so that the wheels are well off the ground.  The first cut should just take off the tip of the grass.  Then lower the height setting on the wheels again and go over the grass, then lower the height setting untill you are satisfied the lawn has been cut to its lowest.  This stage needs a bit of a judgement called on your behalf, because if your lawn has a few bumps and dips, then you probably will not want to take the height down to its lowest, as the blade will slice through the bumps, catching the surrounding areas around the dips, this will damage the lawn structure and leave unsightly circles on the lawn and if soil is visable this may encourage weeds and deseases to set in.  Your lawn will need feeding in spring or early summer the lack of feeding will result in your grass being thin and sparse. The first signs of drought your lawn will need watering well before the grass turns brown.  Every three years or so your lawn will need aerating, this is achieved by making several small holes periodically around the lawn with a large garden fork.  This proceedure will improve the drainage and stimulate new growth.  However the procedure will need to take place once a year if moss is present or if the ground is compacted.  In Autumn your grass will need a top dressing of peat/sand/loam.  For lawn which on clay/heavy soil you will need 1 part peat/2 part loam/ 4 part sand.  For lawns which are on loamy you will need 1 part peat/4 parts loam /2 parts sand and for lawns which are on a sandy soil you will need 2parts peat/ 4 parts loam and 1 part sand.

I haven’t mentioned about sowing fruit/vegetable/flowers seeds or taking cuttings, as unfortunately I am cu rrently without any space of my own to grow them.  However I recently decided to put my name forward to the local council, to be considered for an allotment in my area.  I heard back some weeks ago from them and they told me I am 28th on the list, so I’m really excited.  It might be quite a while but well worth the wait, I will be able to keep you updated on my process of keeping an allotment.  Can’t wait!

I hope you all had a lovely Easter, Martyn and I decided to go to The Eden Project on Good Friday, it was delightful.  The rain forest dome with its huge spectacular display of unsual plants and trees is my particularly favourite attraction.  The temperature was very hot and humid but well worth a slow walk around as this gives us a little insight into what a real rain forest must be like. 

The Mediterranean dome I found to be a little cooler, quite refreshing after the rain forest dome.   The second dome had the most enchanting character just like the country Spain with its oranges, lemons and grapefruit trees and its wonderful smell of spice and herbs, a very uplifting atmosphere.  I suggest exploring the rain forest dome first then venture in to the Mediterranean dome. 

Martyn and I visited The Eden Project last Autumn and we took part in the bulb mania project, in which the staff were conducting a huge scale display of tulips and we were asked if we would plant a number of bulbs in a pot and in return we would receive a paper bag of daffodil bulbs free. Well this Easter we were pleasantly surprised when we arrived to see all the tulip bulbs bursting with colour and dotted everywhere about the place and an even bigger display within the Mediterranean dome. 

If you are planning to visit The Eden Project for the first time, my advice would be to wear and take with you the following items:

layers of clothes.
water proof jacket on  cold/windy/rainy days.
sun cream, sun hat/cap and plenty of water on warm sunny days.
camera
ruck sack
and not forgetting a good pair of walking shoes/boots which are comfortable.  

The membership card is well worth doing as I am able to visit the project as many times as I want within that year, bargain!  I’m intending to see the different seasons to experience the changing colour of the landscape.  Also I will be able to see any special events that might be on through the year.

why not take a look at my gallery and see the photos of the Eden project.

I will catch up with you after the long weekend.  Hopefully I will be visiting a few gardens in and around Devon and Cornwall.   I will tell you how I got on next week and post some more pictures in my gallery.

At the weekend my fiance (Martyn) and I decided to head off to the Tavistock plant fair, which was held in the pannier market within the town centre.  It was lovely, plenty of plants of all colours, shapes, sizes and the people selling the plants were only too happy to answer quesitions and queries regarding the them.  I have only  passed through Tavistock by car on the way to the moors about once maybe twice, so when I walked through the town and saw its huge river that flows through the town I was thrilled.  We didn’t have the time to walk alongside it, but another days adventure awaits us.  I will let you know the plants I decided to buy and why next time……….

Well in fact I decided to purchase just a few plants of interest:

Fritillaria Meleagris - most of the large plants were  pricey so I purchased a small one.  I thought this species was really unusual with its petals that have a distictive chequered pattern that resembles a snakes head.  I have never grown this plant before, so I thought I would give it a go.  Apparently theses plants are fairly trouble free and ideal for a front border, rockery or just planted in the grass and mulch every couple of years. 

Lonicera Japonica  “Hall’s prolific” (Honeysuckle) - I chose this variety of climber for its evergreen foliage and the flowers, as they look so delicate and are soft white in colour.  I have placed the climber beside my patio door, I thought I would try and train it around the door or train around my fence.  These are really easy to propagate.

Libertia Formosa “Terry Jones” - I brought this perennial as, its foliage is evergreen and will create interest over winter and in late spring the plant produces stalks, then in mid-summer the white flowers appear.  I will let you know how it grows as my garden is partly shaded, and this plant requires full sun so I might have difficult growing it.

Primula “Gold-Lace” (Primrose)- My fiance Martyn and I decided we liked the colour of these plants for their unusual colour combination, so we purchased one of them.  I must admit I’m not a big fan of primroses other than the pale yellow ones that are seen occasionally in the hedgerows in the countryside, I think they look lovely in their natural environment.  However the many varieties that are available in the garden centers are really good for ground coverage.  Also they tend to be  inexpensive to purchase and once they are established you can easily increase your crop by dividing them and replanting them.  They are also now available in many bright and wonderful colours just in time for Easter time.

There were so many different types of plants all shapes and sizes, I like plants to be dramatic, architectural to look at (eye cathing).  I tend to go for different shades of green shrubs with the odd splash of colour here and there.  Well I really enjoyed myself at the Tavistock plant fair.  I will post any other plant fairs we decide to visit throughout the year.

How to avoid your tomatoes splitting - Tomatoes tend to be split if the water supply is erratic, especially if there is too little followed by too much.  Gardens Monthly suggest that you should water your tomatoes evenly at least every other day in hot weather, and watch them grow. 

Slugs and snails - This must the most common problem for gardeners, here are some suggestions that you could give a try:

• Spreading bran around your probelm area for example hostas (I call hostas slug bait, as slugs seem to think its caviar) the slugs are attracted to bran and eat it and then bloat up not very nice but quite a affective and inexpensive for a small area. 
• There’s the tried and tested way, using a beer trap which are effective if they are cleaned out regularly or they have a tendency to smell really badly. 
• Recently a friend of mine, who has been a gardener for many years now, suggests that laying a small amount of course sand around areas which are particular affected.  He added that the slugs hate moving over course sand as it dries out their mucus which they use to move over the grown.   

If I find or here any more ways to tackle these little pests I will let you know or if you have any tried and tested ways   to get rid of them please let me know.

more soon………………..

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Some of my house plants were looking a bit tatty and tired, so I decided to cut out any foliage that was dead or damaged, now my plants are able to put their energy into producing more foliage and/or flowers and the existing foliage gets a little boost too.  If you are really interested in house plants I would really recommend this book ; The House Plant Expert (Expert Books) to your collection.  I wouldn’t be without mine, it’s a quick and easy way to access information on a wide range of plants that are suitable for every room in the house, especially useful when buying or receiving plants for Easter/Birthdays/Christmas/ or even as moving in presents.