insideKENT Magazine Issue 24 - March 2014 | Page 134

OUTDOORLIVING
here comes spring! cont.

How to deal with pests, diseases
& other problems
• Place mice controls near stored vegetables.
• Protect early seed sowings from slugs.
• Protect brassicas from pigeons.
• Look out for grey mould and brassica downy mildew on
brassicas.
• Control aphids and other pests on fruit but don’t spray
when in blossom.
• Get on top of weed control if not done in late winter and
continue through to summer.

Top 10 jobs this month
1. Plant shallots, onion sets and early potatoes.
2. Protect new spring shoots from slugs.
3. Plant summer-flowering bulbs.
4. Lift and divide overgrown clumps of perennials.
5. Top dress containers with fresh compost.
6. Mow the lawn on dry days (if needed).
7. Cut back Cornus (dogwood) and Salix (willow) grown for colourful winter stems.
8. Weeds come back in to growth - deal with them before they get out of hand.
9. Start feeding fish and using the pond fountain; remove pond heaters.
10. Open the greenhouse or conservatory doors and vents on warm days.

For more information and
month-by-month gardening tips, visit
www.rhs.org.uk/gardening/calendar

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