Gardener's Diary            December

Fifty sixth edition - December 2005   

Writing this column in the last week of November, we have just experienced a week of very heavy night frosts with beautiful sunny days and now await the predicted cold blast from the north..

* Don`t forget to turn off the water supply to your hosepipe..

Despite the frosts I have very many plants still in flower, but always take the precaution of taking cuttings of any tender perennials I don`t want to lose.. These cuttings are taken in August/September and over-wintered in the unheated conservatory. If you have any tender plants outside, protect them from the worst of the weather by covering them first with straw and finally with some bubble-wrap.

This is a good time of year for planning next year`s summer bedding scheme, but perhaps you are one of the many who have decided not to bother! It does seem a lot of work to sow seeds, nurture them for two or three months and then plant them out, which in itself can be a hefty task, especially in a large garden..

We are generally becoming healthier and wealthier in recent years, and retirement sees many of us taking frequent holidays and even starting up new businesses, so we may well be reluctant to make ourselves slaves to labour intensive gardens?

My own garden is huge, but has been planted with an assortment of shrubs, trees and perennials that mostly care for themselves. I no longer raise a multitude of bedding plants and consequently have more time to myself..

Some tips for a colourful yet easy care garden

• Grow evergreen shrubs for all year colour

• Grow dogwoods for winter bark colour

• Search out shrubs for their winter berries

• As an alternative to bedding plants grow perennials such as delphiniums, lupins, phlox and penstemons, all of which will be relatively self-sufficient.

• If you do prefer bedding plants, consider buying pots of germinated seedlings, ready to prick out. So much easier!

• Consider sowing packets of annual seeds which come in colour co-ordinated packets and look after themselves. I love these and find they are available from most supermarkets these days..

• Don`t be a slave to those hanging baskets. I`ve stopped doing them and now have time to admire my neighbours` colourful efforts instead!

Christmas gifts for someone special who lives far away are difficult to find, but if they are keen gardeners a Christmas flowering plant sent directly to them from Thompson & Morgan`s online Christmas catalogue will be greatly appreciated..

Avian flu facts.

With all the media hype about Avian Flu, I thought I`d put a link to the Defra website for up to date information and facts about this disease.. http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/
diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/index.htm

Going for a walk?

People have been campaigning for more open access to the countryside for well over 100 years. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act (CROW) has been introduced in direct response to this, to create new recreational opportunities for all.

The CROW Act creates a new right of access to some of the finest countryside in England. From 31 October 2005 members of the public are able to walk across large areas of land across the whole of England.

See here:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/cl/accessopen/index.htm 

Take the opportunity to spend some time at Christmas with the National Trust ..  Wonderful scenery and superb places to visit, any time of the year.. Some of the most visited National Trust properties are now holding regular farmers' and food markets. Click here for details

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

Royal Botanic Gardens
Kew
Richmond
Surrey
TW9 3AB

Royal Botanic Gardens
Wakehurst Place
Ardingly
Nr Haywards Heath
West Sussex
RH17 6TN