Get Set for Winter

Many trees and plants shed their leaves in winter. This makes the evergreens stand out even more. Conifers, bush ivy and bamboos provide an attractive green oasis in your garden. If you find that your garden has too little greenery in the winter? Then plant evergreens now for year round interest.

The summer months are over, and so the patio containers and pots ideally should be moved indoors if space permits. If you want to make a change this year, then try this:

• You can fill the boxes with fresh soil and hardy plants to provide some colour on your balcony or in the garden.
• You should insulate the box with bubble-wrap in order to prevent the plants from freezing.
• Remember to keep the drainage holes clear so that the water can escape.
• Visit our garden centre to choose from the wide range of plants to fill your containers and pots: from winter-flowering heather to Skimmia and ivy.

Tidy up around the garden

• Rake up leaves from the lawn and bag them or stack them to make leafmould.
• Raise containers onto pot feet to prevent waterlogging.
• Prune roses on exposed sites to prevent wind rock.
• Prune Acers, vines and any other plants that 'bleed' badly in spring.
• Net all brassicas to protect against damage from pigeons.
• Place cloches over any tender plants or herbs that like dry feet over winter such as Greek oregano and basil.
• Check tree ties to make sure they are not too tight and check tree guards are in place against rabbits.
• Reduce borderline-hardy plants such as Perovskia and Penstemon by a third. Complete their pruning in spring.

Beeches are best planted and replanted when the leaves have gone golden yellow. That is when the chance of good development is greatest. It is crucial for that development that a particular soil fungus is attached to the roots. So make sure that you buy beeches when they are still (entrenched) in the soil. That offers the greatest likelihood that the roots are in good condition and that fungus is present.

Roses which are supplied with bare roots are planted both in early spring and in November. You will also find the new stock of container grown Roses coming into the Garden Centre from October.

• There are some herbaceous perennials which are not tough enough to survive our winters outdoors because they originate from milder climate zones.
• We need to protect tender plants against too much cold damp, soil which remains wet for too long and temperatures which are too low.
• Here are some examples: cultivars from the Chrysanthemum Maximum Group, Helianthus, Acanthus, Lavatera, Lithodora, Gunnera and Agapanthus. This list is not complete and it is best to refer to the plant label for information.
• A layer of straw helps, or covering with garden fleece and then removing it again when the temperatures climb a little.
• Good drainage is also important. Many plants can rot in soil which is cold and wet for an extended period, even though they might tolerate lower air temperatures for a short while. Glass or acrylic sheets are sometimes placed over sensitive rockery plants.

• If the pond freezes over and remains frozen for some time, gas which is released from the muddy bottom can collect under the ice. At the same time the oxygen-rich air in the water is gradually used up. This can create an unhealthy situation for the plants and animals which spend the winter just above the bottom of the pond.
• You can easily avoid this by placing an ice preventer in the pond to ensure a good gas exchange with the outdoor air.

Many standard roses have two budding (graft) points: one just above the roots which is protected from frost by a covering layer of soil, and one at the top where the (flower-bearing) branches attach. Ideally a pull black plastic bag (with holes) over the crown and tie around the trunk.