Gardening Tips for December Things will be quietening down in the garden
now, but there are still jobs to be done.
Leaves seem to have been later falling this year, and haven’t the colours been good. Keep raking the leaves up on the lawn but on borders, provided they aren’t suffering from fungal infections, they can be left to act as a mulch. Acers, birches and vines should be pruned, if necessary, before Christmas otherwise they will ‘bleed’. Apples and pears can also be winter pruned now. Check greenhouse heaters and if you don’t have one, keep fl eece or newspaper handy to cover vulnerable plants.
Clear weeds on any empty ground and dig vegetable plots over winter. If you can get some well rotted manure it should be spread over the ground to provide goodness for next year. Make sure you have mulched tender perennials and shrubs before we get more frosts or snow and if we do get heavy snow try to shake it off branches or they may break under the weight.
Hellebores will soon be coming into fl ower, so remove leaves so that you will be able to see the fl owers. If you are lucky enough to have access to holly with loads of berries, cut some in early December and keep it in buckets of water before the birds eat all the berries. However make sure you keep feeders full and put out suet balls, etc, along with water to keep our feathered friends happy. Cut back watering on house plants now as they won’t be growing during winter months.
If you are looking for Christmas presents, why not make up tubs or bowls with evergreens and pansies. You could also give a family present of a bird feeding station and food so that everyone can
watch the birds all year. Membership of the RHS means that they will receive a monthly magazine plus free entry to the main RHS gardens as well as many smaller partnership gardens. Perhaps for families, National Trust membership would be a good idea;
and there are loads of books and tools available to suit gardeners old and new.
If you receive house plants as presents, check on growing requirements.
Phalaenopsis orchids are very popular. They don’t want to be in bright sun and should be watered sparingly and any surplus poured away. Poinsettias, which are very popular at this time of year, are best not bought from outside stalls as they don’t like cold and may drop leaves when brought indoors. Cyclamen prefer to be cooler, a bathroom is ideal. Both these should not be left standing in water.
Sadly, our regular gardening columnist from Broadstone in Bloom, Denise Hill, is currently rather unwell and this article is a repeat of her column in December 2018. We wish her a speedy recovery and look forward to receiving new gardening wisdom from her in the new year.
W.D. WOODBURNER INSTALLATIONS AND CHIMNEY SWEEPING
Reliable, friendly and professional service for all your woodburner and multi-fuel installations
Call Wes on:
01202 699533 or 07825 429084
www.wd-woodburnerinstallations.co.uk
26
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72
