The Garden Edit - time for a refresh

Hopefully, by the time you read this article it will feel a bit like spring; the days are lengthening and getting warmer and new shoots are beginning to poke out from the earth. I love how gardens evolve over time and how the ideas we made for particular areas adapt too. This is the perfect time of year to sort out garden borders, move plants to new positions and plan what to grow this year. Refreshing an existing border can breathe life into outside spaces without necessarily having to cost a lot of money, which is always a plus.

Firstly, I do advise you, if we have had a lot of rain is to wait for good weather, not because I’m being a fair-weather gardener, but walking on waterlogged earth will only compact it and lead to more problems down the line! But when it is dry enough, step outside and start with a ‘spring clean’. Removing any dead plants, weeds and debris will give you a clean slate and you will be able to see what space you have to play with. Then, assess the current state of the border and note which plants are thriving, struggling or have become overgrown. Understanding what has worked or not in a certain location will give you a much better idea of similar plants that might also do well, which will help with future planning. While you are doing this you can also check the soil quality and see if there are any drainage issues or problems with pest and disease. Remember to remove and burn any infected material such as old rose leaves with black spot to stop the spores from spreading.

A quick and effective way to smarten up a border is to redefine the edges with an edging spade which will give a crisp and neat line to work within.

Lots of plants, such as low growing Geranium, Alchemilla mollis and Cat Mint (Nepeta) are particularly good for the front of new borders, but after a few years they will outgrow their allocated space and need to be split into new plants. Cut off any dead foliage from last year and then dig up the whole plant. Then, using a sharp-edged spade, divide the crown of the plants into three or four sections (or even more if it is larger). As long as there are some roots and shoots coming from one piece a new plant will grow!! (I still get such a buzz from this, even after all these years of gardening! - it is like going shopping without even having to leave your home and lots of new plants can be produced for free).

Now for the fun bit: arrange the newly divided plants where you would like them, either by re-designing the border, filling gaps elsewhere in the garden or sharing with your other green-fingered friends. The money saved on some of these more dependable plants can be put towards other lovely plants that are on your wish list.

Water-in newly positioned plants and for a finishing touch add a layer of compost as a mulch around the plants. This will suppress weeds, conserve moisture over the coming months and add some beneficial nutrients to the soil without disturbing the soil texture too much.