'Spring' into action

The RHS is calling on Britain’s gardeners to ‘spring’ into action as the warm weather brings a short, intense burst of spring flowering bringing the biggest and most beautiful spectacle of colour seen in years.

Weeks of cooler conditions earlier this spring meant plants remained in bud longer this year, so burst into flower over a shorter space of time once temperatures began to rise. That means the spring blossom display this year has been particularly intense – but also short-lived as the arrival of summer shortens the show.

Many shrubs have flowered late this year, including magnolias, camellias and rhododendrons. Daffodils, too, have lasted much longer into the season than usual. That means a positive explosion of colour as everything flowers at once.

“I would urge people to get outside into their gardens or visit green spaces as spring could be over in the blink of an eye and you really don’t want to miss it,” says RHS Chief Horticulturalist Guy Barter. “Flowering cherries are at their best, and with the rain holding off look sensational.”

Luckily, he says there’s likely to be little impact from this year’s unusual spring on later seasons.

“Plants do little growing until April, and peak growth does not occur until June, so there is no need to be downhearted as in all likelihood there will be little difference in summer flowering.”

Guy is urging gardeners to get outside into their gardens and start sowing seeds, planting and getting ready for summer displays, catching up on all those jobs which were impossible to get started during the chilly days of March when we would normally be doing them. We couldn’t agree more - our garden centre here in Pickering is bursting with plants, seeds and plug plants ready for you to fill your garden with instant colour and life. Your summer starts here!