Rise and Shine, It's Nearly April

Woodlands Garden in bloom with hellebores, daffodils, viburnum, magnolia and more.

More daylight hours in April will be appreciated, particularly when the list of jobs to do is lengthy. The key is to prioritise jobs and not panic. If you enjoy growing vegetables and cut flowers now is the time to ensure you have started to sow most of your favourites in a warm, sheltered spot with plenty of sunlight. You can even start to direct sow salad leaves, spinach, peas, beetroot, carrots and chard now. Chitted potatoes should be in the ground along with onions, garlic and shallots. By now all perennials and grasses should be cut back and any borders weeded, mulched and edged ready for them to burst forth. Shrub and climbing roses would benefit from a good feed having been pruned already and starting to show some new growth.

If that all proves too much, just focus on what brings you the most joy and leave the growing to the Society. There will be plenty of seedlings and divisions at the DHHS Plant Stall at the village fete in May. And if your sowings have been abundant why not share the excess with others by bringing them along for others to enjoy?

April Events

Virtual Spring Show – Hopefully daffodils, tulips and other spring flowering bulbs will now start to appear in abundance just in time for our Virtual Spring Show! Photos of your wonderful blossoms are due Friday 4 April by 5pm. For details on what and how to enter click here. Photos and entry forms should be submitted to showsdhhs@gmail.com. RHS Judge Nicky Cornell has kindly agreed to judge our entries once again – an event she looks forward to each year.

View from inside Parham's walled garden

Late April, members of the Society will visit Parham House & Gardens for guided tours of this historic estate in neighbouring West Sussex. Parham has a lovely display of tulips and we will look forward to admiring the planting in their traditional English walled garden.  The Society organises visits to many historic and private gardens each year which are often not open to the public. Why not join the Society and enjoy a rare look at some of these beautiful gardens. Membership is only £10 per person annually.

Drought Tolerant Border at No Name Nursery. Photo: Steve Edney

April Talk - After a wet and cold winter it might be hard to contemplate the need for drought tolerant plants but as our climate changes and water becomes more of a precious commodity everyone should consider alternatives to the typical English cottage garden. Join us on Tuesday 29 April for an invaluable discussion with Steve Edney from No Name Nursery on how to garden in dry conditions and still have the romance of a cottage garden. Steve Edney is a highly respected private gardener known for his restoration of The Salutation Garden. He and partner Louise will be bringing along a selection of plants for sale as well. Cash or card payments accepted.

Free for DHHS members and £5 for guests at the door. The talk starts at 7pm at the Winn Hall in Dunsfold. Look forward to seeing you there but please RSVP to chairdhhs@gmail.com for catering purposes. We will be serving tea, coffee and cake (donations in cash for refreshments please).