GARDENING
Preparing for a With Garden Designer, Sally Cunis
The drama of late autumn is displayed in a glorious burst of colour before winter descends.
Fabulous russets, yellows and purples flare up over gardens and countryside before autumn winds strip trees and bushes bare. Hedges, shrubs and trees alike are swathed in luscious berries, hips and haws in varying shades of reds and oranges brightening up the duller days, offering a feast for hungry birds such as Fieldfares and Redwings.
The blackbirds have been keeping a careful watch on my holly berries which have been slowly turning from green through orange to glossy red. Hopefully the birds will leave enough berried branches for Christmas decorations and wreath making this year!
As the end of the year
approaches there is still much to do in the garden. Tender plants
such as Bay trees, Phormiums and Pelargoniums should be brought inside for the winter and pots on the terrace insulated with hessian and propped up on feet if possible to stop them cracking in the frost. A generous mulch of leaf mould around the base will help to protect slightly tender plants in the border such as Fuchsias and Penstemons and also bulbs of Nerine and Agapanthus.
Remember to turn off and insulate outside taps against frost damage; if you have a pond, lift out the pump, or insulate it, placing a ball on top of the water in an attempt to stop the water from freezing over in the winter. Clean any debris out of the pond at the same time as rotting leaves can give off poisonous gases which are toxic to fish. Keep
Leaves of Cotinus coggygria and Rose “canary bird”
wintry slumber Cotoneaster horizontalis Fuchsia
putting out fresh water and food for wild birds. Winter winds may damage trees and climbers; it is worth checking tree stakes and securing the new whippy growth of climbers to existing frames or supports. Provided soil conditions allow, bare root-stock, both ornamental and fruiting varieties, is available from November and can be planted out until March whilst plant material is dormant.
Variegated holly Parthenocissus henryana
In the kitchen garden, continue digging over beds if the weather permits so that the soil will break down before spring arrives. If necessary, cover newly dug beds to protect them from heavy rainfall. With Christmas just around the
corner, it is worth planning ahead if you intend to give homemade gifts. Pots of bulbs, bowls of Hyacinths and hardy Cyclamen are always welcome but a wreath or a pretty table decoration complete with candles is another option.
Wildrose hips Homemade wreath 80
aroundtownmagazine.co.uk
It is surprising how much material can be foraged on a winter walk. Cover mossed rings with Holly and
Japanese Acer
other evergreen foliage to create a verdant base and decorate with woodland finds. Look out for larch cones on slender stems, acorns, teasels and fir cones, all of which can be wired onto a wreath either spraying gold or leaving in their natural state; finally tuck in dried grasses and feathers for a rustic effect. Table decorations are best made up in Oasis or in an old jam jar or vase which can be kept moist throughout the festive season; keep designs low so candles can sit above the plant material and also so that it is possible to talk to family and friends across the display rather than being obscured by it! We will be enjoying autumn in Japan this year, revelling in sights of beautiful coloured Acers, cloud trees and moss gardens. Perhaps the gardeners in my family will be receiving Japanese gardening tools for Christmas. My uncle is keen to have a Japanese hand saw! Happy Christmas and a great Gardening New Year!
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