Gardening

Edition Twenty - November 2007

Now is a good time to tidy the garden in preparation for the long winter months, unless you are one of those gardeners who prefers to leave it until the Spring as advocated by the gardening experts. Well there are benefits, for even though it has died back and has blackened foliage, vegetation will create a micro-climate and stop the worst of the frosts from penetrating. Wild life too will be afforded a degree of protection from the cold. I suppose it is the natural way of doing things, but personally I don't like to see dead vegetation overwintering in my garden, even if it does look nice with a sprinkling of frost. I prefer to see neat borders, even in the winter. That doesn't mean to say I chop everything that needs pruning to the ground in the Autumn. I am selective, leaving dogwoods and hardy fuschias in particular until the Spring to be pruned. Frost tender plants such as the giant Gunnera can be covered with it's own dead leaves for protection. So, Autumn or Spring, it's a question of choice... 

There are still many jobs that need to be done before beginning a spell of armchair gardening

Lawns

• You can still give the lawn it's Autumn feed until about the middle of November, unless it is frosty of course. I find that the wheeled spreader gets very clogged up when the grass is damp, and it's easier to broadcast the granules by hand in marked out sections.. Remember the subsequent three grass cuttings cannot be used on the compost heap.. 

Maintenance 

• It is a good time of year for checking out and repairing garden furniture and perhaps giving it a lick of paint, varnish or oil.

• Commission those landscaping jobs that you may have been thinking about, such as new paths, raised flower beds, or even a pond.

• Tidy up the greenhouse and shed; if you are anything like me you will have been using them as a dumping ground for all those empty flower pots during the spring and summer.

• Get the gardening tools cleaned and oiled where necessary. Gardening at this time of year has a special "feel good" factor about it, as we expend a last spurt of energy before several months of lazing around the house getting very little exercise, and over eating...

• Check the padlock on your shed, because burglars like to do their Christmas shopping about now, and garden sheds are considered fair game.

Safety

• One job I will never neglect is the sweeping up of leaves, because once left to gather in piles, they will form a slippery mass which will be so dangerous for unsuspecting older bones. We don't bounce like we did when we were younger and can easily break an ankle, or worse a hip..

• If your paths and driveway are slippery due to ice and frost, sprinkle some rock salt down, which will protect you and your visitors.

• Do some troubleshooting with a quick check on the trees, boundary walls and fences, roof tiles etc., just to ensure they will all endure possible strong winds.

• Don't forget to turn the water supply to your hosepipe off.

Winter colour

• Now the bedding plants are finished, instead of leaving bare borders, re-plant with wallflowers, Cyclamen, Sweet William, polyanthus and pansies, for winter and spring colour. There are some great hanging baskets in the shops, all ready planted up with winter flowering plants which will cheer up the front or back of your house.. Good value for money too!

Seasonal creativity

• If you have a graphics programme on your computer, you might consider making Christmas cards from favourite digital photos, and don't forget to start setting aside dried flowers, grasses and twigs ready for making your own Christmas decorations. They will spray beautifully and keep for ages if previously dried...  

A few good ideas for lasting Christmas presents for your garden-loving relatives or friends:

• A years subscription to a gardening magazine 

• A gardening book from www.amazon.co.uk 

• Secateurs or other garden hand tools 

• Bird feeders and Seed

• Gardening gloves

• Gift voucher for a garden centre

• Terracotta pots

• Decorative house name or number: www.englandsigns.co.uk 

• Garden ornaments

RHS Flower Shows 2007

Tickets for RHS members

Privilege rate tickets are available for RHS members to all RHS shows, but tickets must be booked in advance. Click on the individual show links below for further information.
RHS members are not charged a booking fee for tickets purchased except for advanced tickets to the Malvern shows. To find out how to become an RHS member click here