Top dressing borders

With the thought of warmer soil temperatures and longer day lengths more and more plants are stirring for winter dormancy and slowly emerging from the soil. Cut back, if you have not done so all dead foliage from last year and fork borders over to remove perennial weeds. Whilst the ground in not frozen its also a good time to divide herbaceous perennials. Replant or take the excess to pot in the greenhouse later. To give the now tidy border a boost and kick start for the coming growing season add a good fertiliser, there are many now available from traditional products such as bonemeal, or fish, blood and bone along with slow release pellets which are cleaner to use. Either way lightly digging the fertiliser into the soil will help it break down quicker. This makes a noticeable difference on established borders. ;