Last weekend, the Madoo Conservancy in Sagaponack hosted their ‘Much Ado About Madoo’ benefit, celebrating over 20 historic years in horticulture. Madoo director, Alejandro Saralegui [pictured above with garden gurus, Charlotte Moss and Frances Schultz] shares, “What makes Madoo so magical is its poetic and romantic nature. Much Ado About Madoo is our signature summer event; it’s our way of saying thank you to our devoted members, and a great inducement for new people to join the Madoo Conservancy.” Alejandro is one of KDHamptons favorite green thumb friends on the East End, so we asked him to share EIGHT GREAT GARDEN TIPS with our readers, below.

1. Have fun! Paint something in a bold Madoo color. In the sunken terrace we just painted the 19th century French garden settees, pots and fences in Railings, a chic grey from Farrow & Ball. But the Madoo color on the armrest, trim and finials are paintied in Exotic Red by Benjamin Moore.

2. Order your spring blooming bulbs now before the good ones disappear. We order from Brent & Becky’s, Old House Gardens and Van Burgundian. My current favorite tulip is a soft orange one called Dordogne but everyone in Europe seems to be swooning over Belle Epoque

3. Endless boxwood may be over due to boxwood blight which is being imported here from Southerly states and Volutella blight which turns chunks of your boxwood a and orange-y bronze color. To save your boxwood, cut out the diseased sections and throw away. Also be sure all shears and clippers used on your property are thoroughly cleaned before use to prevent the spread of disease.

4. Clip your hydrangea blooms and make arrangements with them in the house. That’s all the pruning classic blue mop-head hydrangeas need.

4. If you’re not happy with the location of your peonies wait till fall to transplant. And don’t forget, plant them very shallowly.

5. A late spring or summer blooming clematis can brighten up a boring old shrub or one that only flowers early in the spring.

6. Roses benefit from fertilizer. Try organic Rose-Tone at the beginning of the season as they are breaking bud and again after the first flush of blooms. Deadhead them regularly until September after which you should let them be so they know to go to sleep for the winter.

7. If your lawn is giving you troubles go to Edwina von Gal’s site perfectearthproject.org and learn how simple it is to go organic and have a naturally healthier lawn.

8. Do us all a favor and ask your mow, blow and go gardeners to skip the blowers. We’re here for the peace and quiet of country life let’s all work to bring back the quiet….

• BE SURE TO VISIT THE MADOO CONSERVANCY! IT IS ONE OF THE GREAT JEWELS OF THE HAMPTONS. www.madoo.org FOR MORE INFO.