Gardening Notes for December and January

This is the ideal time of year to plant bare root hedging, trees or shrubs. These are plants lifted from the ground, roots wrapped in hessian: they should be planted as soon as possible so that they do not dry out. Generally, bare root plants are cheaper to buy, more sustainable and establish faster than potted plants. As the plants are dormant, the roots can settle and establish in the soil during colder months, ready to grow strongly in spring.  Also, bare root plants are more environmentally friendly, with fewer resources used in production and transport.

This year water has been a major concern. During the summer drought, I worried that some plants would not survive.  Many did not flower, or only a little, and even vigorous plants, like forsythia, remained stunted. We know about water butts and collecting rain water, mulching to protect the soil and adding orgaanic matter to improve water retention. We should use less paving or permeable paving to reduce run-off, and more plants instead, and not water lawns in a drought. Using a watering can in the morning or evening, not a sprinkler during the day, reduces evaporation. How else can we reduce the use of tap water? The RHS, working with Cranfield University and Innovate UK, has created a website,  https://www.rhs.org.uk/science/mains2rains, to help us reduce our reliance on mains water and use water more effectively and efficiently. I try to take greater care with plants I choose, thinking “Right plant, right place, right purpose”, as well as letting more drought-resistant plants spread in the grass, (not a lawn!)

Meanwhile there are garden tasks: I need to finish planting bulbs and raking up fallen leaves to make leaf mould. It is time to brave the weather and prune overgrown shrubs, such as our golden philadelphus, while dormant. Tender plants need protecting. I am filling up bird feeders and keeping some of the pond free of ice.

Wishing everybody green festivities,

Josephine

This article is reproduced from October’s issue of the Godmanchester parish church’s magazine with the kind permission of the author, Josephine Becker.