Spring Shrubs
With so many plants bursting into bloom as each day goes by, it’s easy to see why this is the favourite time of year for so many gardeners. Whilst just two or three weeks ago saw the first of the daffodils leaping into life much has moved on in that time and there’s now many more plants to enjoy in the garden.
Even the least horticulturally minded folk will have wowed at the blossom of the forsythia which has finally bust into life. They’re perhaps not the most subtle of shrubs, their towering stems of golden yellow blooms don’t exactly fade into the background, but they’re great for announcing that spring is here, which has been very welcome this year!
Flowering currents (ribes) are another common sight at this time of year and a reminder that the spring bunny isn’t far away. Reliable and easy to grow, flowering currants are widely grown and in many gardens you’ll find them planted right alongside the forsythia. This combination might be just a little too much for some people’s liking who will keep them apart, but never the less value them for their unrivalled impact.
If you’re looking for a large shrub which is a little more restrained, keep an eye out for corylopsis. Again, these are very hardy and easy to grow but nowadays not grown in huge numbers. Their pale yellow flowers hang down from the naked branches like tiny little lanterns, which smother the whole shrub making it delightful company for the camellias, which are still going strong.
The variety of daffodils and narcissus in bloom now is vast, including some of the delightful miniatures. You may notice how gardeners have used them as under-planting to deciduous shrubs, creating a double whammy effect, which makes such an enormous difference. At the Old Vicarage in East Ruston, Norfolk they’re used to great effect under the glowing stems of cornus “mid-winter fire”.
Take note:
Remember to buy some bulbs for under-planting this autumn!
Now’s the time to prune dogwoods (unless you’re leaving them until after any bulbs have flowered) to maximise the colour of the stems for next winter. Don’t be scared, take the stems back to just above ground level and they’ll soon replace themselves. Soon, you’ll need to prune the spring flowering shrubs just after they’ve finished blooming, removing flowered wood, which the plant will renew in time for another fantastic show next year.
With your shrubs leaping into action, it’s also time to think about giving them some attention to sustain them for the growing season. Feeding with a balanced fertiliser will support all the growth they’ll be making for new roots, foliage and flowers and using a product containing trace elements, keeps all your plants needs taken care of. Vitax Q4 is ideal for this purpose, which should be applied again in June or you could use a slow release fertiliser which feeds for six months with just one application.