By Press Release
With winter not far away, many of our gardens will look to be somewhat dormant for a while.
This gives us all a chance to look back at the previous year and then plan ahead to the next one.
With our unpredictable climate, it is difficult to know what to do year on year, and no two years are ever the same. I would say that it’s better to hedge your bets. Grow a broad selection of plants knowing that some will thrive and some may struggle. This is especially true in the vegetable garden.
Although the garden maybe having a little nap, it doesn’t mean that we should!
You might have an area that needs a redesign, a new raised bed or a new pergola to grow a climbing rose over. This is the perfect time to be putting your DIY skills to the test.
The onset of winter can be quite depressing for many of us, and I have suffered from ‘Seasonal Affective Disorder’ (SAD) in the past. My way of coping with it is to give myself projects to do throughout the winter.
Building new infrastructure in the garden is one of those projects. I have already been busy erecting a new polytunnel to grow more blooms for Chelsea next year and new raised beds for my exhibition sweet peas. Getting out in the fresh air, especially when the sun is shining, just gives us that boost of vitamin D that we all need through the coming weeks and months.
We still haven’t had any significant frost; however, we have had plenty of rain. If your ground is on the heavy side like mine, then you should be lifting your dahlia tubers, drying them off ready to store through the winter. I will begin lifting mine next week.
Tulips should be planted this month but protected from badgers and squirrels. How about planting up your hanging baskets and containers with some winter bedding, such as pansies, violas, primroses, polyanthus, cineraria and cyclamen to brighten up the garden?
See you all next month for more gardening top tips!