GardenScene | Fenscene
Put The Garden To Bed GET SET FOR COOLER MONTHS… I
f Press reports are to be believed and somehow these rumours circulate every
year, we are in for another cold winter, writes Garden Solutions and Design.
As our unique British obsession with the weather continues, the fun of predicting months ahead means we can always be prepared, even for the “Beast from the East” part two! Even without the prospect of another record-breaking winter, we still need to prepare for the frosts that come our way each year regardless. It is the time when we think of the garden as being almost dormant, we’re putting it in order, ready for a winter hibernation and all will awake in the spring. Days shorten, temperatures
drop and to a certain extent, things can be left alone, especially to the benefi t of wildlife who may depend upon your garden as a food source
TOP TIPS:
■ Put bubble wrap around outside containers
■ Lift containers off the ground if possible
■ Collect up dead leaves from the lawn to make leaf mould
■ Plant tulip bulbs and hyacinths
■ Protect tender plants
■ Plant and move bare- root trees
■ Plant fruit trees
Above: Fallen leaves should be cleared and added to the compost.
Below: Set up bird feeders and keep them continually full with food to tempt the visitors.
and in turn they will help to keep your garden pest-free over the winter months. To encourage birds to visit your garden, if you haven’t done so before, put up bird feeders. It may take a while to encourage them, and they will visit if food is continually available. In addition, the birds may help themselves to plants with seeds or berries, so do not be tempted to remove everything to the compost heap, leave some for feathered visitors. The mantra for putting the
garden to bed for a few months is repair and protect. Look at tools; sharpen, repair and clean. Outdoor furniture can be sanded down, re-varnished if necessary and then tidied away and stored either under a waterproof cover or in a dry shed or garage.
If you have a pond – now is a good time to clear out debris and falling leaves. Any leaves
left in the water will rot and in doing so produce toxins that are harmful to aquatic life. In addition, slimy, rotting leaves will block the fi lters on pumps. Save yourself a lot of time
and energy by placing a fi ne mesh netting across the pond to catch the leaves before they hit the water. It doesn’t need to be a perfect job, just secure with bricks or heavy stones around the edges. Before you complete this task, however, take the time to remove dead plants and move the hardy plants to deeper water if possible (at least 18 inches deep) to prevent the plants from freezing completely. You may need to remove pond plants completely. If so, keep in a frost-free area in bags or pots. Do not allow these to dry out and keep well-watered until spring, when they can be transplanted back into the pond.
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