A haircut for the apple tree

Winter prep to ensure a bountiful crumble season...

Spring is in the air!

I felt it last week when I was out for a walk in the local woods - it was still cold, and not especially sunny, but there was something about the calm, bright afternoon and the way the birds were singing that gave me the sense that the season is changing.

I’m noticing more and more snowdrops popping up, a few winter aconites amongst the trees and hedgerows, and there are even a few buds fattening on the little narcissus shoots in my back garden. It won’t be long until the earliest daffodils show up, glowing yellow in the still murky mornings, but promising more colour to come…

Winter aconites in the woods

I’ve not ventured much into the garden in recent weeks but it’s not suffered in my absence. There are a few jobs I need to do though, before spring properly sets in. Some shrubs need pruning, there are still a couple of pots to clear, and the raised beds need some serious attention - both to the soil and the structure.

However, last weekend I had only one job in …