GINA PARKINSON welcomes a relatively hardy shrub which comes into its own in the spring.

APRIL is one of the busiest times of the year, with plenty of seed sowing and preparation to be done during the increasing daylight hours. In our house the deadline of indoor DIY jobs has passed and it is time to get outside and begin the garden season.

Hydrangeas can be pruned this month by cutting off any old flower-heads left on the plants for winter interest. We had hardly any hydrangea flowers from any variety last summer. They were badly affected by the long winter with the flower buds damaged by a series of late frosts and replacement ones only just forming at the end of the summer.

This year they are looking much healthier and the established ones about to be joined by a clutch of new varieties bought last month. I’ll report back later in the summer on their progress.

One plant that is doing exceptionally well this spring is Pieris, a relatively hardy shrub with attractive foliage and spring flowers. Like the hydrangeas ours was affected by late frosts last spring and hardly flowered at all.

This year it has revelled in the mild weather and is covered in numerous sprays of slightly fragrant white flowers that hang from the stems against a back drop of dark green leaves.

Growing in front of taller wall shrubs clothed in the bud covered stems of Clematis montana, it makes a very attractive display of spring and early summer plants.

As this Pieris was here when we arrived I don’t know the variety, but the white flowers and vivid red young foliage suggests it could be Pieris formosa var. forestii Wakehurst, which is a popular specimen.

Once established it can grow three metres or so tall, but its neat habit means it can be carefully trimmed to keep it within bounds without affecting the attractive new growth or spring flowers.

Pieris ‘Flaming Silver’ develops white edged leaves from the immature red foliage and is shorter and less prone to frost damage.

The Pieris family is easy to grow but needs acid soil, preferably on well-drained loam or sand. A sunny or partially shaded site is preferred in a sheltered south or west facing spot.

Early-morning sun may damage dew covered flowers, so it is a good idea to avid planting in an exposed east facing area that catches the first light. Pruning isn’t usually necessary apart from taking out unwanted stems in winter and clipping of the dead flowers in May.


In the veg garden

April is the month for planting the seed potatoes that have been chitting in the house for the past few weeks.

We have several trays about the place waiting to go outside, their buds have formed nicely with some already having the beginnings of spidery roots making their way over the spud.

Planting potatoes is easy but time consuming, so allow half a day or more depending on the number that have to be put out.

They need to be planted 40cm or so apart in deep trenches lined if possible with a thick layer of garden compost. This is especially good if the soil is well drained and prone to drying out in summer.

Each trench needs to be a couple of metres apart to allow enough earth for banking up as the potatoes grow. By the time they are harvested the bed will be a series of leafy topped mounds with deep trenches on either side.

Because of our dry soil I plant the potatoes deep which has worked well over the past couple of years. Even during the hot weather last year they only needed watering a couple of times. In moisture retentive soil the usual recommendation is a planting depth of around 25cm. Choose a dry day if possible when the soil has begun to warm up after the winter cold.


Weekend catch-up

SNIP or break off dead flowers from daffodils as they begin to fade. This will stop the plant using energy to produce seed and instead allow it to conserve its energy for next year’s display. Leave the foliage to die back. It will feed the bulb over the next few weeks inside of which the new flower will already be developing.


Gardening TV and Radio

Sunday

7.30am, BBC2, Gardeners’ World. Hydrangeas are in the spotlight.

8am, BBC2, The Beechgrove Garden. The effect of recent heavy rains on gardens is under discussion.

8am, BBC Radio Humberside, The Great Outdoors. With Blair Jacobs and Doug Stewart.

9am, BBC Radio York, Anna Wallace. Anna Wallace sits in for Julia Lewis in this weekly trip around the gardens and countryside of North Yorkshire.

9am, BBC Radio Leeds, Tim Crowther and Joe Maiden.

2pm, BBC R4, Gardeners’ Question Time. Eric Robson and his team of experts visit the Edible Garden Show at Alexandra Palace.

Thursday

9pm, BBC4, Everyday Eden: A Potted History of the Suburban Garden.

Friday

8.30pm, BBC2, Gardeners’ World. Monty Don offers advice on dealing with a poor, dry border and Carol Klein visits Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens in Dorset to meet camellia expert Jennifer Trehane.