Gardening Notes for October & November

How is your garden doing? If it is like ours, there may be plants that have not recovered. Many native geraniums have not yet developed new shoots. If they do, I may lift and divide them to encourage new growth. Some shrubs and woody perennials are struggling, exhausted by the hot and dry weather. Are they dead or just sulking? This is where the scratch test helps: scratch plant stems (using a knife is ok) to see if they are green inside, showing good health, or brown, showing dead plant matter. Prune the dead matter back to green growth. Experts advise not to rush to rip plants out.

Last year I moved tender plants to shelter, including a salvia elegans ‘Golden Delicious”, but did not water regularly. In Spring, its leaves and stems were brown. I cut it down to the compost and left the pot in the shade, loath to ditch it. It was watered by the rain. Weeks later, two tiny yellow-green leaves appeared. The plant recovered fully and I will make sure I overwinter it where I won’t forget it!

I am still collecting seed from plants and taking cuttings to increase stock. The grass also needs some care, scarifying and aerating, before sowing seed. I am looking forward to bulb planting, aiming for a colourful Spring display, but will wait until late October when the soil is cooler, to plant tulips, to avoid fungal disease. The recommended bulb planting depth is two to three times the bulb’s depth.

The roses need pruning before windy weather rocks the roots. Mulching in autumn, as plants are dying back, to a depth of at least 5cm to 7.5cm of biodegradable mulch helps rain to penetrate the soil in winter, prevents weeds from growing and protects the roots of plants in winter. Remove weeds and spread mulch on moist soil, when it is not frozen. As the mulch decomposes, it feeds plants and microorganisms in the soil. Low-growing plants should not be smothered and the stems of woody plants should be kept clear. I have the bags of mulch ready and just need to start spreading it, now that it has rained. The garden looks much better after mulching.

Wildlife needs our support in the winter months. We can still feed birds small amounts of mealworms, fatballs or suet in October, then a full range of bird foods, including seeds and peanuts until April. They also need water and shelter, which dense hedges, ivy and shrubs can provide. Now to complete some jobs in this mild September weather.

Josephine Becker

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