Seventy ninth edition -  November 2007 

It is time to tidy the garden in preparation for the long winter months, unless you are one of those gardeners who prefers to leave it until the Spring as advocated by the gardening experts. Well there are benefits, for even though it has died back and has blackened foliage, vegetation will create a micro-climate and stop the worst of the frosts from penetrating. Wild life too will be afforded a degree of protection from the cold. I suppose it is the natural way of doing things, but personally I don't like to see dead vegetation overwintering in my garden, even if it does look nice with a sprinkling of frost. I prefer to see neat borders, even in the winter. That doesn't mean to say I chop everything that needs pruning to the ground in the Autumn. I am selective, leaving dogwoods and hardy fuschias in particular until the Spring to be pruned. Frost tender plants such as the giant Gunnera can be covered with it's own dead leaves for protection. So, Autumn or Spring, it's a question of choice... 

There are still many jobs that need to be done before beginning a spell of "armchair gardening."

Lawns

• You can still give the lawn it's Autumn feed until about the middle of November, unless it is frosty of course. I find that the wheeled spreader gets very clogged up when the grass is damp, and it's easier to broadcast the granules by hand in marked out sections.. Remember the subsequent three grass cuttings cannot be used on the compost heap.. 

Maintenance 

• It is a good time of year for checking out and repairing garden furniture and perhaps giving it a lick of paint, varnish or oil.

• Commission those landscaping jobs that you may have been thinking about, such as new paths, raised flower beds, or even a pond.

• Tidy up the greenhouse and shed; if you are anything like me you will have been using them as a dumping ground for all those empty flower pots during the spring and summer.

• Get the gardening tools cleaned and oiled where necessary. Gardening at this time of year has a special "feel good" factor about it, as we expend a last spurt of energy before several months of lazing around the house getting very little exercise, and over eating...

• Check the padlock on your shed, because burglars like to do their Christmas shopping about now, and garden sheds are considered fair game.

Safety

• One job I will never neglect is the sweeping up of leaves, because once left to gather in piles, they will form a slippery mass which will be so dangerous for unsuspecting older bones. We don't bounce like we did when we were younger and can easily break an ankle, or worse a hip..

• If your paths and driveway are slippery due to ice and frost, sprinkle some rock salt down, which will protect you and your visitors.

• Do some troubleshooting with a quick check on the trees, boundary walls and fences, roof tiles etc., just to ensure they will all endure possible strong winds.

• Don't forget to turn the water supply to your hosepipe off.

Winter colour

• Now the bedding plants are finished, instead of leaving bare borders, re-plant with wallflowers, Cyclamen, Sweet William, polyanthus and pansies, for winter and spring colour. There are some great hanging baskets in the shops, all ready planted up with winter flowering plants which will cheer up the front or back of your house.. Good value for money too!

Seasonal creativity

• If you have a graphics programme on your computer, you might consider making Christmas cards from favourite digital photos, and don't forget to start setting aside dried flowers, grasses and twigs ready for making your own Christmas decorations. They will spray beautifully and keep for ages if previously dried...  

A few good ideas for lasting Christmas presents for your garden-loving relatives or friends:

• A years subscription to a gardening magazine 

• A gardening book from www.amazon.co.uk 

• Secateurs or other garden hand tools 

• Bird feeders and Seed

• Gardening gloves

• Gift voucher for a garden centre

• Terracotta pots

• Decorative house name or number: www.englandsigns.co.uk 

• Garden ornaments

Check out Maggi Stamp's Garden News

Happy gardening till next month....
 

Volunteering with the National Trust

Volunteers are active in all parts of the National Trust, from the new central office in Swindon to the summits of Snowdonia and Divis Mountain near Belfast.

View their latest opportunities, or find out more about the kind of roles and different places you can volunteer:

Still with the National Trust, some of the most visited National Trust properties are now holding regular farmers' and food markets.  Click here for details  and dates.

RHS gardens

Their four flagship gardens not only provide year-round interest and offer a wide range of courses, talks and demonstrations, they also demonstrate the best gardening practices, new techniques and exciting new plants to try in your garden.

• Visit Wisley in Surrey
• Visit Rosemoor in Devon
• Visit Hyde Hall in Essex
• Visit Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire

Or go to their website for a diary of all other events at:-    http://www.rhs.org.uk/WhatsOn/index.asp

Thompson & Morgan 

Visit  www.thompson-morgan.com where full information is available on their product varieties and orders can be taken on-line.  Have a look to see what is new and any special seasonal offers

Some places to visit...

www.edenproject.com 

The living theatre of plants and people
The Eden Project is a gateway into the world of plants and people. A meeting place for all to discover how we depend on plants and how we can help to manage and conserve them for our mutual survival.

Kew Gardens two locations:-

http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/

The National Botanic Gardens of Scotland comprise:

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Scotland's Premier Garden

Benmore Botanic Garden, Argyll
Argyll's Magnificent Mountainside Garden

Dawyck Botanic Garden, Borders
Wonderful Woodland Garden

Logan Botanic Garden, Galloway
Scotland's Most Exotic Garden

The National Botanic Garden of Wales

www.gardenofwales.org.uk

The star attraction here is the 91 metre long domed glasshouse, that houses landscapes normally found in the Mediterranean. This would be a super place to visit on a chilly day...

Some websites of interest to gardeners:-

www.carryongardening.co.uk

Gardening is an important part of many people's lives. You don't have to give up gardening because of accident or illness, the onset of disability or the problems associated with growing older. The information on their website is designed to provide you with the information to Carry on Gardening.

Carry on Gardening was initiated by the horticultural charity Thrive and is funded by the National Lottery Charities Board.  It brings together information on easy ways of gardening gathered over 23 years by Thrive and research carried out since the early 1970s by Mary Marlborough Centre, Oxford, on tools and equipment for disabled and older people. 

The founder of www.maple-landscapes.com is my eldest son.. give him a call if you live in the Leicester area of the UK and have need of his services.. 

Useful reading:-

"The Yellow Book" contains information of all Gardens of England and Wales open for charity, and can be bought priced £5 from National Gardens Scheme  www.ngs.org.uk

National Trust Gardens Handbook is £6.99 and the new edition is out in May  Telephone 01394 389 950 or see their website www.nationaltrust.org.uk

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