gardens INDEX
gods with high and low pressures crashing into each other causing wind, rain, and if you’re lucky, a little sunshine (but don’t get your hopes up). But for
O Steve Edney
nce again the British Isles is a battleground for the weather
us mere mortals trying to hold a garden together the wind will leave many plants – like my poor sunfl owers – collapsing around our ears. In the gardens in Sandwich
we hold our nerve and tie up as many plant stems with good seed heads as possible. We are primarily a fl ower garden full of hardy perennials, bi-annuals and annuals. We do have a very strong tree and shrub framework, but I have an almost insatiable desire to see colour for as long as possible. This inevitably leaves you a little thin on the ground in the winter compared to the riot of summer’s fl owering plants, many of which were annuals. In autumn, we are trying to neaten the borders to preserve
as many of the late-fl owering plants as possible, and to help hold winter interest through seed heads and plant structures. I cringe at gardeners who
insist on cutting everything to the ground the second it looks scruffy and who clear every scrap from the fl oor. We are trying to encourage wildlife in our garden year-round. I lose count of how many times I hear people saying “No wildlife visits our garden”. Well I’m not surprised – if it is too preened most of the wildlife thinks this ‘landscape’ is as barren as a desert. At times this means
we harbour a few nasties like slugs, snails and pest insects, but without those
overwintering in the crowns of our plants and the fallen debris in the border, you’ll never see a frog hunting or a bird rooting about looking for a meal. Gardens, just like life, are
about balance, so don’t be too clean in the garden; let nature back in a little, enjoy the season for what it is and look closer because there’s more to see than just fl owers.
Visiting
The Secret Gardens at The Salutation, Knightrider Street, Sandwich, Kent are open from 10am to 4pm, seven days a week. See
www.the-secretgardens.
co.uk for details
Things to do
• Plant bulbs: Put in the early-flowering ones first (like daffodils) and finish with tulips as they don’t mind being planted late (I have planted them in January with no problems
flowering). Remember to plant fritillaries on their sides to prevent bulb rot during the winter. • Start bringing in or protecting frost-tender plants and if you haven’t
taken cuttings from them (in case you lose the parent plant), take them now from non-flowering stems. If you don’t have a heated greenhouse, keep the cuttings as house plants.
• Keep looking for seed on late flowering plants. • Lift and divide early flowering perennials (leave late summer flowering plants until the spring, and grasses until the spring).
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