Everything is starting to grow now: buds swelling, blossom opening, leaves unfurling. You might need some fleece to protect your early flowers on frosty nights. Try to take it off again before it gets wet as heavy wet fleece can do more damage than not having it.
Magnolias at Glendoick with Ken Cox
Glendoick's Rhododendrons and Azaleas in flower now.
Dwarf rhododendrons. Glendoick’s are the world’s leading specialists in dwarf rhododendrons and have bred over 30 different hybrids, all with bird names: Ptarmigan, Curlew, Crane, Razorbill and many more. You’ll find a full range at Glendoick with flowers starting to show in early April.
Roses full range in now. Climbers, bush roses, Shrub. Austin roses will be in by mid April. Patio Roses will be in later on, at the end of May.
Glendoick's camellias and magnolias are grown on site and are the best selections for Scotland. They are coming into flower now and you can see them on our woodland gardens open daily (£5) which are 1/2 mile from the garden centre. Buy tickets at the garden centre and drive up.
This is the month the best range of herb plants is available, from mid April onwards. Plant out the hardy ones: thyme, mint etc.
It is too early to plant out the more tender herbs such as basil. These are best grown indoors until June.
You’ll find our full range of vegetable plants coming in soon. Beans hate cold and cold winds so protect them with fleece on cold nights and with beans, pot a few up and keep them indoors as an insurance in case the weather turns cold.
In Scotland we reckon April and August-September are the best months to sow grass seed: April gives plenty of time to get the roots established before the drier/warmer summer days start. Prepare the ground well: areas with poor drainage or poor soil will need some new compost: and try to get the sowing area flat. Mowing bumps is a challenge! You may need to net to keep the birds off.
Feed and Weed: this is the time of year to feed your lawn. If there is a lot of moss or weeds, use Evergreen Complete which combines feed, weedkiller and mosskiller.
Peas and beans, spinach, sweetcorn, (supersweet), beetroot, turnips & swede,
Sow annuals for planting out in May.
You can plant them from mid April onwards, but until the last sign of frost has passed you would be best to keep them indoors. If you don’t have somewhere suitable, hold off planting until May. Line your basket well and add a fertilizer-rich compost. Use trailing plants for the sides of your basket. Water well and keep them fed so they flower all summer. You can plant with slow release fertiliser which feeds all summer long.
