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'chilly finger'd spring'

© Graham Leatherbarrow

Spring has arrived and with it a host of jobs piling up demanding our attention. In my own plot things have been moving on apace since Easter, when we had some very warm early summer weather. Since then, the weather has taken a downturn, not unexpected at this time of year and yes, we have had more snow too. The snow was luckily on the light side, but more damaging have been the quite penetrating frosts.

Pieris have suffered quite a bit, being 'burned' just as I was admiring the new flame red shoots, they do recover quickly, however, and more are now showing. Even the fresh green tips of the many ivy varieties within the garden have been scorched, turning black at the ends, but they recover just as quickly.

One important job this month is the staking of my Delphiniums. They usually poke through the soil during March and steadily make rapid growth and now are perilously swaying about in the wind. The best support for them is a triangle of canes, these are placed around the perimeter of the shoots, around which is then tied some green string. This gives just enough support to stop them snapping off but not too much to choke them. This arrangement allows them movement when winds are high, but keeps them fairly upright and steady. As growth increases, it is then a simple task just to add another loop of string to match the increasing height. Another enemy of Delphiniums is of course slugs and snails.

I have to admit to admiring the wonderful colours and patterns of many of the snail shells but don't like the damage these little creatures can do, especially to succulent plants like Delphiniums. One could of course apply slug pellets and many do. Organic control methods are perhaps better these days and many are just as affective. Some advocate sharp grit around the plants themselves, I use Aluminium sulphate, which does not harm wildlife. It also has the advantage of destroying the eggs of these pests as well. The only disadvantage to this substance is its durability. Wet weather usually destroys its effectiveness, you will then need to re-apply, but this is easily done and well worth it to preserve such stately border perennials as Delphiniums.

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