insideKENT Magazine Issue 97 - April 2020 | Page 129

HOME+GARDEN
YOUR GARDEN THIS MONTH:
APRIL
As Spring is finally upon us it is time to prepare for warmer months whilst still
protecting delicate blossoms from late cold spells.
TOP THREE THINGS TO DO THIS MONTH
Protect Fruit Blossom from Late Frosts
Most potential fruit damage can be avoided by choosing a site where spring frosts
are least likely, but this is seldom an option for gardeners:
Fruit grown on walls and fences (cordon,
espalier or fan-trained): cover with two
or three layers of horticultural fleece,
hessian or shade netting. This should
be rolled up during the day. Use canes
to keep the material off the blossoms.
Remove the covers as soon as the
danger is over.
• Planting fruit in a sunny, sheltered position such as a south-facing wall –
this is especially appropriate for early flowering crops such as apricots, peaches
and nectarines
• Avoid frost pockets
• If this is not possible consider protecting them with the following methods: Keep grass around trees mown
short in flowering season, as long
grass prevents heat being radiated
from the soil.
Soft fruit bushes: use fleece to cover and protect the flowers and developing crop
on nights when frost is forecast. Apply mulches after flowering – bare soil
radiates useful amounts of heat,
protecting the blossom.
Strawberries: protect with cloches or a double layer of fleece, removing or opening
both in the day to allow pollinators access.
Small fruit trees: cover with fleece overnight to provide frost protection and remove
during the day, but this is generally impractical with larger trees.
Sow New Lawns
or Repair Bare Patches
Lawns are best repaired in spring or
autumn, when the weather is damp
and cool, as the lawn is most likely to
recover well in these conditions.
Using turf
Cut out the damaged area of turf in
a square, using a half moon edging
iron to cut the square and a spade to
lift it.
Lightly fork over the soil in the base
of the removed square.
Cut out an identical-sized square of
healthy turf from another area of the
garden where it will not be missed, or
use new turf if you have it.
Place the healthy turf over the
damaged patch and brush a sandy
lawn top-dressing into the crevices
between the turves.
Compress the turf edges with the back
of a rake.
Water in with a watering can fitted
with a fine rose.
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