Seasonal Plant Care
Hardy perennials reward a steady calendar. At Test Valley Nursery we group tasks by season so cottage-garden beds stay full without panic planting.
Early spring is for lifting and dividing congested clumps while crowns are still dormant. Cut back last year’s stems, refresh mulch, and label divisions before warm nights push soft growth. Summer focus shifts to deadheading, staking tall delphiniums, and keeping newly planted stock watered through dry spells under fleece if needed.
Autumn is our busiest bench season: bare-root peonies, hellebores, and geranium divisions go out once nights cool. Winter is for planning — sketch beds, note gaps, and order stock you want ready when the polytunnel opens again. These rhythms keep gardens looking tended year-round, whether you are refreshing a single border or replanting after a clearance project.