Winter is upon us but there are still jobs that can be done before the hard frosts arrive.
Then there is the garden inside your home. Christmas isn’t Christmas without a poinsettia but they are fussy. Keep them in a warm room (16-24C) away from draughts and don’t overwater.
Indoor azaleas and cyclamen need an almost unheated area like a hallway or conservatory with regular watering so the compost does not dry out.
Christmas cacti need a similar environment but can be dry on the surface of the compost before re-watering.
If you have forced hyacinths or daffodils remember to turn them regularly as they will lean towards the light. Treat forced bulbs as annuals and dispose of them when they are over.
Now is a wonderful time to enjoy walking in the countryside when there is not so much to do in the garden. Many of the open gardens like Westonbirt, Tyntesfield and Stourhead are a treat at this time of year and a great way to blow away the winter blues.
A very Happy Christmas to you all,
The Tidy Gardener
- Harvest any vegetables and put them in store or make soups and put them in the freezer.
- Turn off the water supply to outdoor taps and after opening the tap insulate with a cover or some bubble wrap.
- Also protect tender plants and pots from the weather.
- Prune apple and pear trees, if not sure how to do this the RHS website is excellent. Acers, birch and vines are best pruned before Christmas as the sap starts rising early to swell the new buds ready for spring.
- This is a great time to plant or transplant deciduous trees and shrubs to add some new structure to your garden for 2020.
Then there is the garden inside your home. Christmas isn’t Christmas without a poinsettia but they are fussy. Keep them in a warm room (16-24C) away from draughts and don’t overwater.
Indoor azaleas and cyclamen need an almost unheated area like a hallway or conservatory with regular watering so the compost does not dry out.
Christmas cacti need a similar environment but can be dry on the surface of the compost before re-watering.
If you have forced hyacinths or daffodils remember to turn them regularly as they will lean towards the light. Treat forced bulbs as annuals and dispose of them when they are over.
Now is a wonderful time to enjoy walking in the countryside when there is not so much to do in the garden. Many of the open gardens like Westonbirt, Tyntesfield and Stourhead are a treat at this time of year and a great way to blow away the winter blues.
A very Happy Christmas to you all,
The Tidy Gardener
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