The clocks have now gone back, and evenings are getting shorter, but for the keen gardener there is still plenty to do, thus a gardener’s work is never done.
The clocks have now gone back, and evenings are getting shorter, but for the keen gardener there is still plenty to do, thus a gardener’s work is never done.
Very soon now if not already leaves are falling from the trees and gardeners will be entering the planting season proper. The dormant period extends from now to the end of March, and probable the best time to plant trees and shrubs, not forgetting the typically English lavender plants getting them in before Christmas is perfect, as the roots will have time to settle in before spring.
After the leaves have fallen it is time to start pruning fruit trees, but bear in mind that stone fruit should not be pruned in the winter simply because the sap is being drawn back into the trees. Do not be over enthusiastic with the autumn clear up as there are a wealth of plants that come into their own in the winter. Some perennial plants are not only of interest aesthetically but also provide cover and habitat for over-wintering insects.
Some gardeners leave as much as they can to rot back into the ground and then remove only what is really needed for the compost heap, remember autumn leaves can be left in the beds, but only where plants are robust enough to cope with a natural mulch, but should be removed from small perennials to keep them form rotting in the winter.
Leaf mound is a valuable commodity and a superb addition to compost or mulch, and some gardeners bag up the leaves into bin liners and leave to rot for a year, it is best to puncture the bags, as the bacteria that break down the leaves needs air to do their job.
There is an overabundance of bagged up products available in garden centres, but some gardeners use composted bark, mushroom compost, leaf mould and well rotted manure to improve the soil.
Tulips are quite happy to be planted through to the end of November but other garden bulbs should be in the ground before it loses the heat of the summer months, and some plants of course will need winter protection.
A true gardener will want to do the best in his garden that will ensure that next season he or she will have a wonderful show of favourite flowers, not forgetting to take care of perennial vegetable plants so they keep providing succulent vegetables for the table.
A spokesman for Blooming Direct a horticultural business based on the Island of Jersey said, “keen gardeners are always looking for something different, and a visit to our website offers gardeners to click on our ‘Plant Finder’ tool, this will allow you to search for garden plants by type, colour or season, the plant finder will also help you identify plants suited to varying sun levels, soil types, our site is phenomenal, the gardening enthusiast can find anything, we have winter plug plants ideal as hanging basket plants, more importantly all orders to the UK is FREE”.
A gardeners work is never done it is a year round occupation, and a much loved hobby.
For further information visit: www.bloomingdirect.com or you can visit their Facebook page to discover more offers.