Spring in the garden at Hidcote

The garden team are continuing to clear the borders ready for summer bedding. Hedge cutting will be finished by the end of March. We avoid cutting hedges between end of March and the beginning of August due to nesting birds. All the roses and clematis have been pruned and shrubs are being fed fish blood and bone. All the statues and brick paths are covered up for the winter to avoid damage from inclement weather. These will all be uncovered again for the spring.

Spring flowers and early bulbs look beautiful at this time of year. The Long Borders are the first area to start showing growth in early spring. Although soon the spring bedding with tulips will start to emerge and the garden will fill with colour once again. Highlights of spring are the cherry and magnolia blossom. The Cornus Mas in the Pine Circle and the Daphne provide a fantastic scent to accompany your walk around the garden.

Coppicing for hazel has taken place over the winter. The garden team travelled to Crickley Wood, another National Trust owned site in Gloucestershire to collect hazel to act as supports for herbaceous perennials in the borders. In the Kitchen Garden early vegetables are being planted out and hoeing is taking place to keep away early season weeds. The sowing of seeds for pots and annual displays is going on behind the scenes in the Glass House.

Our much loved tennis court has been cleaned so is no longer slippy to play on. The broken net and posts have been removed and we are waiting for a spell of dry weather for the surface to be repainted. The posts and the net will be replaced at the same time as the new surface being painted.