Garden Time in Brittany

Despite the weather it is time to get the tools out and get stuck into the garden which is just about to spring into life. Snow, wind, rain and hail have all attempted to kill off the plants, trees and hedgerows, but amazingly the majority seem to have survived the ravages of a Brittany winter.

Bonfires are the order of the day but how many of you realise that the communes have fairly strict rules on when and where you can have a bonfire. It depends on the area you live in and you should ask the local Marie for details of the restrictions that apply in your commune. In general terms, bonfires are not allowed between the beginning of June and the end of September. It is also normal for communes to ban bonfires at weekends and before 0800am and after 0800pm weekdays.

A little known fact is there are also restrictions on the use of motorised garden power equipment on public holidays, Saturday afternoons and Sundays. Once again I would advise you check with the local Marie for details of restrictions in your area.

It is the weekend and you now know you cannot use the mower nor have a bonfire! But do not despair as there is plenty to do at this time of year. If you live in Brittany you will have ‘Hortensias’ or hydrangeas as we Brits call them, requiring urgent attention. There are several schools of thought on when you should prune and thin them out to encourage new growth. I must admit I have watched the locals and copied their approach. Take of the dead heads at the end of the year or as they dry up and then leave them until March. If you think we are through the frost period then start pruning the shoots, taking out dead wood and leaving those that are less than about three years old. Carefully extract the dead leaves from the heart of the plant to prevent the centre rotting. Leave between 8 to 12 good shoots per plant. If you prune too hard you will cause late blooming of the plant, practice over several years will give you a good understanding of the right level to apply.

Sprinkle some shrub fertiliser around the base and lightly dig in.

Hopefully you have sorted out you hedges in the autumn of 2008 but you can do some early trimming in late March before the birds start nesting. The Cypress Leylandi have taken quite a hit from the frosts and cold temperatures this winter but given a chance they will recover.

I have pruned most of my shrubs this week, having delayed until; hopefully the worst of the frosts are over. Despite the bad weather the shrubs have survived well and new shoots and early blooms are clearly visible. Once again a good sprinkling of fertilizer around the roots will give them a boost.

Having delayed the lawn mowing as long as I could the ride-on had its first outing this week after a quick oil check and undercarriage clean up. The lawn has suffered from the wet winter and is full of moss requiring urgent attention. If like us you have a field for a lawn then the proprietary moss killing treatments in garden centres can cost a fortune. I would advise a trip to the local farm suppliers and buy the cheaper farmer bulk quantity, or better still have chat with your local farmer who will only be too pleased to sell you some.

If you live in a rural location you will have to accept that your garden will obtain free crops and weeds from the adjoining countryside. Early March is a good time to watch out for the early growth of Wheat, Barley, Rape and even sweet corn in your borders and dig it out before it spreads or worse, starts to drop seeds.

In Brittany the long damp winters do result in the growth of moss on stone work, trees and shrubs. The removal of the moss and lichen is best carried out in March and April to ensure no long term damage. Stonework and patios are best cleaned using a high pressure washer which if you do not have one can be hired from a local merchant. Small trees and shrubs are best treated by brushing off the moss with a stiff hand brush and then painting the effected area with a moss/lichen preventative treatment from the garden centre.

Whilst the soil is nice and soft turn over the borders and get the weeds out of the vegetable plot ready for some mulch and fertilizer.

If like me you have acquired a workshop full of motorised power tools, now is the time to make sure they are all ready for action by cleaning oiling and if necessary getting repaired. Make sure you have got the strimmer cable or rubber cutting strips and the hedge trimmer has been sharpened ready for action.

OK, so you are ready for the spring so check the MP3 is loaded with your favourite music and you have a bottle of the favourite vintage hidden in the garden shed. Life is good here in Brittany.