Many of our readers will remember the wise words of George Marsh who wrote a gardening article each month in The Journal for many years. At this busy time of year for gardening, we thought we would reproduce some of his hints and tips.

The gardens are moving into May. Conditions will be such that everything in the garden will be growing fast. The soil is gradually warming up and the days are longer and warmer so there is no excuse for the reluctant gardener, especially if there is a lawn needing regular mowing.

Possibly one of the easiest jobs is to deadhead all the bulbs that have finished flowering. Pinch off with the thumb and finger just the dead flower so preventing the plant producing its seed so that for the next six weeks the plant’s energy will go down to feed next year’s bulb. If desired, when the leaves go brown, you can dig up the bulb to store it safely ready to plant in the autumn, perhaps in a different place. If your bulbs have been growing in the same spot undisturbed for several years you will have possibly found fewer flowers. This is almost certainly due to overcrowding and it would pay to dig up the whole clump, separate and replant in a different place. Should you find a discoloured and soft bulb, this is diseased and should be placed in the bin; never discard them in the compost heap.

In planting summer bedding keep a watchful eye open for slugs, snails and even pigeons and of course keep an ear open for frost warnings on the TV or radio that even in late May can suddenly appear. Plants like sweet peas, carnations and gladioli will cope with unexpected frosts but plants like dahlias need nursing a little longer as they are easily damaged by a sudden frost. Should they be planted out in the open it will pay for them to be protected from the frost.

For the vegetable gardener everything now needs planting or sowing. Early potatoes ought to be just through and the main crop should now be in. Dwarf, French and other beans need sowing in May, also beetroot – a very easy crop to grow and best sown in threes 4 to 6 inches apart. Main crop carrots should be sown in April/May.