Paul GarganWhen planning a garden or making changes, take into account the winter garden writes Paul Gargan
December in the garden takes on the stillness of a frosty morning. There is an air of quietness, a calm response to the activity of summer. The gift that winter gives to you in the garden is it lets you see the bare bones of it. Look carefully and critically at the structure. How can you tweak and improve it, or does it need it?
Winter lets you see your garden without the distraction of floral display. The textures and hues of tree bark become important, so remember this when planning the planting of trees. Choose carefully to make the most of all four seasons.
It’s now the evergreens’ turn to shine. They come into their own in winter. Their summer dullness transforms and they reveal themselves, lush greenness against browns. Not all of them are green. They come in hues of gold, silver, copper, blue and many variegations, bi- and tri-colours.
When planning a garden or making changes, take into account the winter garden. It’s most often seen from inside through windows or from paths or patios. Plant trees or shrubs with winter interest where they can be seen without having to traverse sodden ground.
Winter pruning of apple and pear trees is done to keep them to a neat size and to provide a good supply of young wood. Remove any diseased, damaged or dead wood. Cut anything growing in to the centre, to keep a wine glass-shaped tree with an open centre.
Good balance
Shorten most of last year’s shoots to half or one third their length. If this is repeated each winter, it will keep a good balance of old and new wood.
Complete stage two pruning of wisteria. Stage one is done during the summer, when after flowering the plant produces very long tendril-like shoots. These are reduced by two thirds. The process may have to be repeated several times.
Part two is when the leaves have drooped and you see the new growth on the pruned stems. They are lighter in colour than the older wood. Spur prune these back to two or three healthy buds. Always make the cut immediately above the outermost bud and sloping away from it. Tie all stems to wires or supports as wisterias are not self-clinging.
Make sure to lift any pots that are outside off the ground. Do this by using special pot feet or simply by putting pebbles or off cuts of timber under them. This lets air circulate around them and lets out water from the drainage holes, thereby preventing freezing.
Keep feeding garden birds and always have a supply of fresh water available for them.
If you have a gardening question email info@irishcatholic.ie or write to Green Fingers, The Irish Catholic, St Mary’s, Bloomfield Ave, Donnybrook, Dublin 4.