I have been enjoying my time in the garden recently preparing for the NGS open day in June, planting perennials and splitting last years plants for sale on open day.

Bought some seed potatoes a month ago and forgot all about them until recently so found and old sack and planted them, then I thought why not get some grow bags and grow lettuce and rocket and radish –  nothing like own grown organic veg –  give it a try

The Lawn is my priority this week scarifying to lift out the dead grass, moss and weeds then , aerate the lawn with a garden  fork and   fill  any bare patches with grass seed and water well for the perfect lawn.

Another important job now is to place some garden canes around the herbaceous border.  It’s easier to do this now while the plants are small. You can  trim any hedges as well  now, this will encourage branches to grow thick. Watch out for the dreaded vine weevil it –   emerges from the soil and lays its eggs in your container plants the resulting grubs eat the roots causing your plants to suddenly droop and die. The weevils do no harm other than leave square notches in your leaves .

Hostas need protection from slugs and snails  – protect plants with course grit, traps, pellets, or coffee grounds. It works for me – no slugs have touched my hostas as yet.

Don’t be tempted to plant the annuals out. The risk of frost is still there. I still buy them, pot them on then plant out middle May when they are then well established. Hanging baskets can be planted up. I bought mine this week and have hung them in the garage. I find it far better to buy them ready planted and I find them cheaper in the long run. .

Give your container plants, shrubs, Hostas etc a feed by mixing 3 table spoons Epsom salts &1 teaspoon miracle grow in a gallon water it greens the leaves feeds and discourages pests. I use on the banana plants and the results are amazing.

I purchased by mail order 2 Echium pininana,  a half hardy perennial 2 years old which can grow to 14ft.  Second year plants produce thousands of flowers on a tall spire. Should be interesting and in flower on open day 14th 15th June.

Norman.