Tips for growing of azaleas and rhododendrons in our area will be discussed in the Saugatuck-Douglas Historical Society program at the Old School House History Center, 130 Center St., Douglas, 7 p.m. April 10.

Presenter John Migas, founder of Woodlands Nursery in Saugatuck Township and key figure in establishing the floral plantings along The Old School House Back-In-Time Pathway will show and discuss varieties that grow well here. He also will talk about propagation of these plants by taking cuttings and raising them in the home.  After the indoor presentation, Migas will guide a tour through the Back-In-Time garden and answer questions.  His SDHS program is sponsored by Michigan Azalea Society.

Migas, originally a carpenter by trade, bought a home here in 1985 and met neighbor Charlie Mann, a renowned landscape architect, prompting the start of Woodlands Nursery and a new career carrying on Mann’s work. His nursery primarily supplies professional landscapers and retail nurseries.

Admission is free, the public is invited and refreshments will be served.

For general information about the Historical Society and its activities, visit sdhistoricalsociety.org.

Easter gardening tips

– last updated Thu 28 Mar 2013

• UK
• Gardening
• Easter

Gardening experts are warning we need to brave the chilly weather over Easter if we don’t want to get caught out when spring finally arrives.

The Royal Horticultural Society says spring may be running at up to 20 days behind but gardeners who get disheartened by the cold weather and neglect their gardens now do so at their peril.

“There is no guarantee that spring, when it arrives, won’t be warm and sunny and gardeners who don’t get ahead on their plots now could find themselves struggling to catch up when spring finally arrives.”

– Guy Barter, RHS chief horticultural advisor

Click here for the latest Anglia Weather forecast.

Easter is traditionally a time when the nation heads out to garden centres on masse, shopping for plants and seeds and heading outside over the long weekend to start getting their garden into shape ready for a colourful and fruitful summer. Although Easter is early this year and spring late, the RHS has put together some advice on what you can do to get your garden ready, despite the weather, to ensure you have a summer of colour.

• Use windowsills as mini-greenhouses to sow seeds in pots in preparation for spring
• Be prepared for an onslaught of slugs
• The cold has held back budding roses so there is still time to finish your pruning
• Spike, feed and moss–kill ailing lawns, so that, if need arises, you can over-seed (sprinkle extra grass seed onto turf) to fill in thin spots once the warm weather comes
• Buy and plant hardy trees, shrubs, climbers and perennials – they will still be nicely dormant and as they are cold hardy
• Dead-head any spent bulbs so all their effort goes into producing bulbs for next year rather than seeds
• Mulch plants with bark chips or other well-rotted organic matter to feed them, suppress weeds and conserve moisture in summer
• Use very cold days to stay in and re-pot house plants now that light levels are creeping up
• Winkle out dandelions, docks and other deep-rooted weeds – their grip is less tenacious at this early season

The RHS added:

Remember, if it’s a very wet day you should avoid walking on your soil as you will compact it, reducing drainage and doing more harm than good. Instead lay a plank or, better, a sheet of exterior grade plywood on your soil and work from that to spread out your weight.

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