Island Life Magazine Ltd February / March 2016 | Page 61

GARDENING

Spring is coming!
T

he signs of approaching spring
are in abundance and strangely,
have been for a while. With the
unusually mild Island winter behind us,
buds are already swelling and the leaves
unfurling.
Everything seems to be starting a little
earlier this year, which is where it shows
that no matter how much you plan,
you have to be flexible and go with the
moment. The milder weather (chillies still
growing in January!) has coaxed many
plants and shrubs into a (possibly false)
sense of security that it’s safe to get back
to business and grow. Unfortunately, the
pests and diseases get the same signal
and without a harsh winter with low
temperatures over a prolonged period
there may be more about than usual this
year, so be prepared.
Recently, our main focus has been on
pruning for the year ahead and preparing
the plants for the extra growth they
will be putting on by applying a good

feed. The orchards, many summer, late
summer and winter flowering shrubs
are all being pruned. Our lime trees have
been re-pollarded and although hedge
cutting stops at the end of February to
allow for the start of the bird nesting
season, we have still been filling any
gaps by planting indigenous hedging
species such as hawthorn, hazel and
blackthorn. Along with these, the grasses
and perennials that were all kept for their
winter interest and to benefit wildlife are
all pretty much spent now, so have also
been pruned down to make way for this
year’s emerging new growth.
We have also been making preparations
for the produce growing season ahead
too. Potatoes are chitting (the process
of encouraging tubers to sprout before
planting), the onion sets and shallots
are ready to go in and some seeds are
already being sown with heat and under
glass. The plastic sheeting on the plot
which has been suppressing the weeds

Matt Noyce is head
gardener at Quarr
Abbey, and is
responsible for the
200 acres of gardens,
pastureland,
vegetable plots and
private woodland on
the estate.

over the winter has been lifted so we
could add a generous helping of muck
and rotavate.
In the borders, edging the lawn makes
a tidy improvement and plants, such as
daffodils, can be deadheaded, but the
foliage left to finish naturally. All things
considered, a busy preparation period in
the gardens here at Quarr.

Pictures by Matt Noyce
www.visitilife.com

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