Gardening Guru By Peter Wayman of Palmers Bethlehem

It has certainly warmed up in the last few weeks and although we should all take time out to smell the roses and enjoy our gardens, we can't sit for long in the sun, as maintenance of the late summer garden is high on the to-do list this month.

There is also preparation of the winter gardens to begin.

With plenty to harvest from your kitchen garden, it's time to freeze and preserve all the fruits of your labour, ready for the cooler months.

Watering, weeding, mulching and feeding are the most productive garden jobs to accomplish at this time.

In the kitchen garden, keep planting last summer crops of lettuce and herbs. It's too late now to plant tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers and peppers, unless in a very sheltered garden or greenhouse.

Water regularly and deeply during February to keep your garden healthy and vibrant if dry conditions continue. It is much better to water really well to soak well down into the soil every second or third night than it is to water lightly every night.

Installing timers, soil moisture gauges and soaker hoses will conserve water and take the hassle out of watering your garden.

Applying mulch around the base of your plants can conserve up to 70 per cent moisture in the soil and also suppresses weed growth.

If you like to grow your own plants from seed, it is time to start the winter veggies off; cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, beetroot, winter lettuce, Brussels sprouts, spinach, carrots and leeks or, for the flower garden; viola, primula, polyanthus, calendula, cineraria, poppies, lobelia, alyssum and snapdragons.
Preparation can begin in the flower garden for planting spring flowing bulbs; Anemone, Ranunculus and Freesias bulbs are now available at Palmers and a continued planting of other spring flower bulbs up to autumn – such as daffodils, tulips and a huge range of others – will give great results in the spring

After all the work, make sure you take the time to enjoy your treasured garden.