Paul GarganIt’s not long till December, which in the garden is never a busy month – rather, it is a time to reflect and plan. Reflect on the successes of the last year and plan for the coming year.
If something in your garden is not working, now is the time to change it. This is even more important if you have a small garden. In smaller gardens everything must earn its keep as space is limited.
If deciduous trees or shrubs are in the wrong place, now is the time to move them, providing the soil is workable. When moving them, dig out as large a football as you can safely manage, being careful to keep as much soil as possible attached. When staking the replanted specimen, put the stake in at an angle to avoid going through the football.
Check recently planted trees to make sure the tree ties are holding the tree securely. The reason for tree ties is to prevent the trees from rocking too much in the wind as this stops the tree from rooting properly. Ties and stakes should be removed after three years.
It’s still early for pruning roses, but if your shrub roses are tall, reduce the height to prevent wind damage. Remove any damaged or diseased wood. Rake up and bin fallen rose leaves to prevent overwintering of pests and diseases. Fungal diseases such as blackspot are spread by spores which overwinter in decaying material.
If possible turn off the water supply to standpipes and outdoor taps. Then drain them by turning on the tap. If this is not possible, lag them by wrapping them with bubble wrap as frost protection. Roll up the hose pipe and store indoors for the winter.
Pots and tubs
Raise up planted pots and tubs using pot feet or flat stones – even small pieces of timber will do. This is to let the air circulate all around the pot and help prevent freezing. When you are doing this, check around the rims of all pots, plants and tubs for snails. They overwinter in dry, sheltered places like this or in gaps in dry stone walls. Dispose of them as you like.
Keep raking up fallen leaves from your paths, patio and lawn. Mix them into the compost heap, but if you have large amounts it is better to make a leafmould. Do this by filling black bin bags with very wet leaves, watering them if necessary. Prod the bags with a garden fork to make air holes and store somewhere out of the way for a year, or two if you have mostly oak or horse chestnut leaves as their high levels of tannin mean they break down slowly.
Stay off the lawn as much as possible or completely so if you have a wet lawn. By walking on a sodden lawn in winter you compress the soil, which removes its tiny air pockets thereby starving the grass roots of oxygen in the coming year.
If conditions allow, mow the lawn once a month over winter with the blades set high. This keeps it tidy and will prevent it from becoming too long as grass will grow with the conditions allow.
Feed garden birds and make sure they have a supply of clean water available, especially when other sources have frozen over.
If birds see your garden as a source of food they will become very valuable pest controllers in the coming months.