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In your garden: a seasonal guide

What’s happening now . . . . .

Misty and mellow days herald the onset of winter, with the festive month beckoning. Although the garden is slowly and surely entering its sleepy winter slumber, there are plenty of jobs to get on with in the garden. Whilst we enjoy the season’s delights of beautiful autumn colours, berries and fruits, we will be viewing more of the garden from the warmth of indoors as the days darken.

At this time of year evergreens are invaluable to give the garden structure. Box, yew and holly are the hedging stalwarts along with shrubs such as cotoneasters, mahonias and dogwoods to give winter colour. It is a great time to beat the spring rush and plant bareroot trees and hedging plants now, they are also kinder on the pocket.

December is the time to concentrate on your homes front entrance, to create the perfect festive welcome. Simple conifers, hollies and bedding plants in reds and whites, along with berries will give great impact grouped near the door. Christmas decorations can look wonderful positioned in foliage along with lights at the door accompanied by a wonderful wreath.

Winter is the only time for a keen gardener to take a short break, so put your feet up and sit back. Pour over seed catalogues beside the fire and consider new plans for your garden. Best wishes for a happy gardening; New Year.

tasks to be getting on with during early and mid winter . . . .

November

1. Plant tulip bulbs in a sunny spot with well drained soil.

2. Continue to make leaf mould with collected autumn leaves.

3. Prune roses and wisteria.

4. Protect fruit trees from moth damage using greasebands.

5. Ensure plants and pots are protected from frost.

6. Give food and fresh water supply to garden birds through winter.

December

1. Take care to brush snow from shrubs and trees to prevent breakages.

2. Prune fruit trees during winter whilst dormant,

3. Plant deciduous trees, shrubs and hedging or transplant to new spot.

4. Enjoy bulbs indoors such as hippeastrum, narcissi and hyacinths.

5. Keep paths clear, repair tools and garden structures.

6. Order and buy seeds for next years garden.

Nicola Baily Gibson; designs gardens for today’s living, with nature in mind.

01252 845 880 or 07940 801019

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In your garden:

Bee on Sedum

a seasonal guide

What’s happening now . . . . .

The holidays are over and everyone is back at work or school. Hopefully you will have enjoyed your garden over the summer months. The days are slowly growing shorter and in the morning dew will silhouette spider webs perfectly in the chill air. The colours of the season will be starting their glorious rich show, with autumn foliage competing against bright fruits and berries.

Now is the perfect time to make changes, if parts of your garden could work better and to devise solutions. Below is a problem typically raised by my clients as a garden designer.

‘We wish we could entertain more outside’

I generally ask the following. Is your terrace in the right position to maximise the sunshine? Do you enjoy a nice view from this spot? Is it large enough to accommodate the numbers of people and garden furniture, if you like to entertain? Is it close to your kitchen for convenience? Will you need an umbrella or shade? Do you like the material that your terrace is constructed of?

Generally one or more of the above factors is missing, which would make it difficult to enjoy. No one wants to trek to the opposite end of the garden with trays of food and drinks if they don’t have too. Often if it is a family garden, play areas are best positioned nearby so it is easy to keep a watchful eye on young children without having to compromise on your comfort. Size is vital, as garden furniture is often larger than interior furniture. Access to doors should always be kept clear and the table and chairs placed to the side and are given ample room to pull them out and walk around. Don’t compromise on poor materials, as you will be looking at them a lot. This space should be where you most love to be, relaxing and enjoying the outdoors with family and friends, so it is important to get it right.

tasks to be getting on with during early and mid autumn . . . .

September

1. Start to plant new trees, shrubs, perennials and climbers.

2. New lawns can be sown or turfed. Existing lawns could be aerated & scarified.

3. Evergreens shrubs can be moved and congested perennials divided.

4. Some debris can be cleared but leave enough for winter structure, birds and insects.

5. Bring tender plants into cover or take cuttings.

6. Ponds would benefit from netting to avoid autumn leaves.

October

1. Plant out spring bulbs early in the month.

2. Continue to collect fallen leaves and store to make leafmould.

3. Last chance to plant out spring bedding into borders or containers.

4. Harvest apples and pears. Also attach grease bands to fruit trees to deter pests.

5. Harden or ‘cure’ pumpkins and squashes in the sun before storing.

6. Conifer hedges can be given a final trim before the onset of winter.

Nicola Baily Gibson; designs gardens for today’s living, with nature in mind.

01252 845 880 or 07940 801019

July August 2011

What’s happening now . . . . .

Summer is with us at last. This is the time of year when the garden becomes another room where you may enjoy the sunshine and long evenings. Plenty of time can be whiled away entertaining al fresco or playing games with the family. Simply reading a book outdoors while listening to the birds and insects, is pure bliss.

Roses will be bountiful at the end of the month filling the air with their gorgeous scent along with climbers such as jasmine and honeysuckle. The garden is overflowing with colour with many plants producing numerous blooms.

The vegetable patch should also be productive now and harvesting can begin in earnest. Nothing beats eating strawberries straight from the plant or creating your own salad. Remember to keep sowing new seed as soon as the previous have germinated, to ensure continuous cropping.

Most importantly this is the time to enjoy your garden and appreciate the wildlife sharing it with you. There are many wonderful gardens to visit both locally and further a field. Summer is the perfect time to visit and be inspired by gardens grand or tiny in scale. They all offer something different and it’s a great way to pick up ideas to transfer back to your garden at home. Nothing beats seeing a beautiful garden on a sunny day and if it’s opened under the National Garden Scheme, no doubt tea and cake will compliment the experience.

National Trust properties and Royal Horticultural Society gardens are also good places to visit with many having nurseries to showcase tempting plants to purchase. Enjoy!

tasks to be getting on with during early and mid summer. . . . . .

June

1. Keep on top of weeds and deadhead regularly to maintain flowering.

2. Water wisely in the morning and evening especially young plants and containers.

3. Look out for pests particularly on roses and fruit.

4. Plant out seedlings and rooted cuttings.

5. Stake any plants in need of support using pea sticks or hazel.

6. Continue to cut lawns and give any tired areas a liquid feed.

July

1. Continue to deadhead regularly to help maintain flowering.

2. Keep new and young plants watered well.

3. Trim conifer hedges and summer prune wisteria.