Tie this
Stone fruit trees (plums, peaches, apricots etc) shouldn’t be pruned until summer, when the sap is flowing, to minimise the risk of silver leaf disease, but by then it’ll be hard to know where to cut, because the tree’s outline will be obscured by leaves. Here’s a tip from my father-in-law: have a look now, decide what branches you want to trim, and mark them with bright twine. Then, when the time comes later in the year, just look for the ties and prune away.
Try this
If you’ve found an old sack of spring bulbs in a shed clearout, don’t chuck them – provided they’re firm and healthy, daffs, tulips, grape hyacinths and the like will still flower this year, albeit a week or two later. If the ground’s frozen, pop them in containers instead.
Plant this
Nepetas are wonderful bee magnets, but can be prone to sprawl. But not N. ‘Pink Candy’, a compact cultivar with lavender-pink blooms that keep coming from June to September. Height and spread: 60cm x 30cm. Buy a one-litre potted plant for £9.99 or two for £14.99 (prices include free p&p). To order, call 0330 333 6856, quoting ref GU475, or go to our Readers’ Offers page. Dispatched within four to six weeks.
