Its nearly April and here are a few jobs to keep us busy:

• 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!