Spring has arrived at Titsey Place, bringing warmth despite the recent cool temperatures! Once again, we’ve had a rather dry spring that seems to have kicked in earlier than usual, with Wisteria and other blooms popping up all over the place a little earlier than expected.

One of my gardening friends reported receiving just 1.5mm of rain in April, and honestly, we’ve likely seen the same. It’s a double-edged sword: while the dry spell means we can get plenty of outdoor work done, the trade-off is endless watering later on. Hoses are now snaking across the garden, which is far from ideal!

This marks my sixth Spring here at Titsey Place, and this year brought a surprise: the latest frost I’ve experienced since moving in, hitting on April 29th. Sadly, the frost crept halfway up the Walled Garden, damaging potatoes and hydrangeas and wiping out several salvias completely. However, some plants managed to dodge the bullet entirely.

Two of the photos below show plants in the lowest part of the Walled Garden that completely escaped the damage. I’ve also included a shot featuring small blue alliums with Solomon’s Seal in the background.

Speaking of Solomon’s Seal, it’s a fascinating plant. We have two clumps in the south border of the Walled Garden, yet every year, only one gets attacked by the Solomon’s Seal Sawfly. The infestation hits that specific clump hard, while the other one, just 40 meters along, remains untouched. It’s quite striking—and a little odd—but that’s gardening for you!

What have we been up to this winter and early spring?

Like everyone else, we’ve battled a surge of moss in the lawns due to the rather damp winter. We’ve been busy scarifying to remove the overzealous moss, followed by reseeding and feeding. Turfing has been necessary in places too, with even more watering required! It’s all part of the fun as we chase that ever-elusive perfect lawn!

If your lawn is struggling, I highly recommend trying liquid seaweed. It’s not a fertilizer, but rather a tonic—a little pep talk for your grass. It’s affordable, a little goes a long way, and I’ve found it incredibly useful for lawns, whether tired, sad or frazzled, but also many other garden situations too.

Another winter project was building a new permanent fruit cage. The old wooden one was looking a bit tired and ropey, but Paul did a sterling job constructing a sturdy new metal version. It should last for years. If you’re wandering through the wall garden, be sure to stop by and take a look. We grow both Summer & Autumn Rasps in there to keep them safe from our feathered friends!

We look forward to seeing you later in the season. Please do stop by and say hello!