By Isle of Wight Observer
I think it’s fair to say that no two years are the same, and that is certainly true where Mother Nature and the great British weather are concerned.
What a difference to last year, but what is a recurring theme in recent years is the absence of a frost until well into late October, even into November. This, of course, is having an effect on our gardens and the plants within them. Some of our plants are putting on new, young growth when they should really be shutting down for the winter.
My dahlias, for example, have been producing further flushes of new blooms, at a time when I would normally be thinking about lifting them. Other plants, such as spring bulbs, have already started to show some leaves above the ground. Some of you, including myself, have seen apple blossom just recently.
My concern, as with last year, is that we will go from exceptionally mild conditions to extremely cold ones in a very short space of time, not allowing the plants, or ourselves, time to prepare for winter. My advice, therefore, is to start preparing now so that it’s not all such a mad rush in a few weeks’ time.
Now is the time to get your hedges cut if you haven’t already done so. Cut the grass when the weather allows, as any opportunities will be few and far between now. Roses will benefit from a gentle prune – nothing too drastic, as the main pruning is done in March. Perennials can be tidied up; however, some look lovely in the winter, especially when covered with frost. Continue to plant spring bulbs – tulips should be planted during November.
Clear and tidy up the vegetable garden, so this will give pests and diseases fewer places to lay dormant. If you are lucky enough to have a greenhouse or a polytunnel, then a rainy day is perfect to get inside and have a good clean up ready for the coming season.
At the end of the month, you can always sow your first batch of sweet pea seeds. More from me in November!