December
Viburnum bodnantense dawn.
Winter seems to be approaching faster than ever this year – perhaps we should stop waiting for summer to arrive! There’s a lot of colour around with a bumper crop of red and orange berries on holly bushes, Skimmias and Ruscus Aculeatus, and when the sun shines on the early morning frost there’s definitely magic – and Christmas – in the air.
However, gardens are full of dead leaves and plants that need pruning. How about giving yourself an early Christmas present – a Gardeneer tidy-up? The Gardeneer teams can clear away leaves and debris, prune and cut back plants and generally prepare your garden for next year. And if your fencing needs to be replaced, now is the best time to ask Gardeneer to do it for you.
If the weather is suitable for going outside, there are a number of jobs to do in the garden:
• Collect fallen leaves and store them in plastic bags. Leaves break down to form leaf mould, an excellent soil supplement.
• Collect remaining organic matter and add to the compost heap.
• Put out bird seed and fat balls to feed birds through the winter and if the weather is freezing, ensure they have water to drink.
• Cover compost bins to keep the rain out and heat in.
• Set up water butts to collect rain water from shed and greenhouse roofs.
• Existing beds can be dug over without disturbing the roots of herbaceious plants. Last year’s compost can be used as mulch around shrubs and the crowns of hardy plants to protect them from winter frosts.
• New borders can be dug and compost or manure added in preparation for spring. If the soil is heavy with clay, grit can also be added to improve drainage.
• Wrap insulation around outside taps and cut off the water supply.
• Order summer flowering bulbs such as lilies and gladiolii.
• Make sure your containers of spring-flowering plants do not dry out in winter winds.
• Prune the apple trees as soon as the leaves have fallen and take out any dead, broken or diseased branches.
Plants to look for in December
Winter Jasmine, Witch Hazel, Wintersweet, Viburnum Farreri, Holly and Poinsettia.
Happy Christmas and a Healthy New Year from all the Gardeneer Team!
