InTouch Magazine Articles Archive

Issue 16, March 2008

Gardening This Month

By Patricia Jordan. Author of "The Cyprus Garden" and "The Potted Garden"

You can feel spring in the air and as the days lengthen and the temperatures rise, you can actually see the plants growing in the garden. It can be a very windy month hence the old saying ‘March Winds and April Showers etc ‘and strong Coptic winds can be expected around the middle of the month.

Before they devastate your garden have a wander round and tie in any loose stems of jasmines or climbing roses and ensure that trellises and pergolas are firmly in the ground.
In the flower beds all those lovely bulbs you chose carefully and planted in the autumn will be giving you such pleasure. I love hyacinths and although they flower for only a short while, their perfume is quite wonderful. At one time there were only blue and white flowers but sometimes you can find pink. Nowadays they are available in soft creams as well. New bulbs make heavy heads of flowers that can easily be knocked over in the wind. Snails can also devour the thick juicy stems. If that happens cut them and bring them indoors to enjoy them there. Leave the foliage on the plant for 5 or 6 weeks to let the bulb make the new flower for next season and then remove it and put it in the compost heap. Cut off the dying flower heads of narcissus as well and leave them until the leaves go brown and pull off easily.

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