Planting tips category < back
24th Apr:
It seems strange that in the middle of this incessant rain I am sat here writing a blog about what we can and can’t do with hoses over the next few months! On April 4th having taken a huge gamble, we finished laying 480m² of turf in one garden. Since then I don’t think it has stopped raining which is great for that lawn and the reservoirs but frustrating for all our other jobs.
I have been asked many times over the last couple of weeks what the general public are allowed to do in the garden so hopefully below are a few helpful guidelines.
- No hoses are allowed to water lawns or plants. However you can fill watering cans and water any lawns or plants. It will just take a lot longer.
- No cleaning of any walls, or windows, patios, paths, garden furniture or any other outdoor artificial surface using a hose.
- You are not allowed to fill or maintaining a domestic pond using a hosepipe (unless it has fish and their welfare is at stake – lucky fish!).
- You are not allowed to fill or maintaining an ornamental fountain.
- However you are allowed to use a hosepipe for cleaning purposes if health and safety is going to be an issue.
Ways to make the most of the situation.
- Plant any new trees, shrubs and plants in well-rotted, water-retaining compost and cover with a heavy layer of mulch (up to 4 inches) to retain moisture.
- While you are at it cover the rest of the beds in a thick layer of mulch.
- Deliver water directly to the base of plants through tree-root watering pipes or trickle/drip irrigation equipment.
- Install a trickle/drip irrigation system.
- Wherever possible, use timer devices to water early in the morning or late in the evening when evaporation is minimal.
- Don’t worry about lawns turning brown. This shows the grass has stopped growing, but most lawns will recover completely when the rain returns
- Install water butts to collect rainwater off greenhouse, shed, garage and house roofs
If anyone is unsure about anything or has any questions please feel free to give us a call and we will try to help in any way we can (legally!!).
Gardening and bulb Tips for November
15th Nov:
This time last year winter had well and truly arrived, this year nature is giving us a greater opportunity to complete those outstanding gardening task.
Traditionally November is a busy time in the garden especially with regards to planting (bare-rooted and/or root balled hedging, trees and shrubs.
• Remove fallen leaf from lawn areas and use to make leaf mould, an excellent compost for planted border. Simply dampen collected leaves and store in a black plastic bag. Pierce bag and set aside for 6 months
• Check and remove (rake/scarify) any moss and thatch from lawn areas
• If temperatures remain mild, grass will continue to grow, wait for dry conditions before giving the lawn a trim
• Apply autumn/winter lawn feed (high in phosphates and potash) to encourage good root development
• November is a good month to take a critical look at the garden, correct any mistakes, determine and plan changes for spring and try something new
• With a mild Autumn so far there is still time to plant your spring flowering bulbs. Here at some suggestions for some last minute bulb planting:
o Tulip Montreux, Tulip Fantasy, Leucojum aestivum, Nerine bowdenii and Fritallaria meleagris.
• Daffodils don’t have to be boring, here are some stunning and unusual suggestions:
o Narcissi Ambergate, Narcissi Audubon, Narcissi Rip Van Winkle, Narcissi Polar Ice & Narcissi Cum Laude.
Ways to use your harvest
28th Jun:
6 pink or yellow grapefruit
300ml vodka
Small bunch basil
200g caster sugar
Using a vegetable peeler remove the zest from 3 of the grapefruit and put the zest in a jar. Pour over the vodka and leave to infuse for at least 24 hours.
Cut all the grapefruit in half and juice – if making ahead of time, freeze the juice until it’s needed.
Pick the leaves from the basil and add the stalks to a small saucepan with the sugar and 200ml of water. Gently heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved, then cool, strain and chill until needed.
Put half the basil leaves in a jug, pour over the vodka, 300ml of basil stock syrup and the pink grapefruit juice and stir.
Fill 6 glasses with ice, the remaining basil and a little pink grapefruit zest (use the stuff from the vodka), and fill with cocktail mix.
Bean salad – you will be asked for this recipe if you serve it to friends, it’s how we got it!
There is so much in this recipe that you might or could have grown in your garden, if you’re missing anything this year make a note for your planting plan for next year.
200g trimmed French beans
1 small red onion, chopped
1 tablespoon capers
1 tablespoon tarragon leaves, chopped
3 tablespoons chopped chervil
¼ cup garden cress
Vinaigrette
1 small garlic clove, crushed
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
¼ cup olive oil
Salt and pepper
To make the vinaigrette, put the mustard, garlic and vinegar in a mixing bowl or food processor and slowly add the olive oil until you get a thick dressing, season to taste.
Blanch the beans in boiling salted water for 4 minutes. Refresh and drain.
Mix the beans with the vinaigrette and the rest of the ingredients, apart from the garden cress.
Pile the beans on a serving plate and garnish with cress.
When serving warm, mix the vinaigrette with the warm beans and the rest of the ingredients just before serving.
This pretty punch is a German summer favourite and just the thing if you’re entertaining a crowd on a hot summer evening. Serves about 16.
1kg strawberries, hulled and halved
80g caster sugar
1 lemon, unwaxed if possible
1 bottle crisp white wine, chilled
1 bottle sparkling wine, chilled
Lemon balm or lemon verbena, to garnish
Put the strawberries in a bowl and sprinkle on the sugar. If you don’t have an unwaxed lemon, wash the lemon well in warm water. Peel off thin strips of the zest with a sharp knife or vegetable peeler. Finely chop one peeled lemon zest strip and add the lemon juice and chopped zest to the strawberry bowl. Refrigerate for a couple of hours.
Pour off the strawberry juice into a bowl and put to one side. Tip the strawberries into a large jug, pour over enough of the wine to cover and refrigerate again for another two hours.
Shortly before serving, add the strawberry juice, the remaining wine and the sparkling wine. Serve either in a punch bowl decorated with the remaining strips of lemon, or pour into glasses and serve with lemon zest strips and sprigs of lemon balm or verbena.
If you don’t want to use your herbs and vegetables now do remember that you can dry and/or freeze them at home.
Gareths plants for June
23rd May:
Roses – Now is their peak-time, as June sees all Roses in their absolute element. Options and scope for selection are huge – shrub Roses, old and modern, hybrid tea, floribunda, groundcover, climbing, rambling, species – it can be quite confusing at times to find the ‘right Rose, for the right space’. Generally speaking, they prefer as much sun as possible – there are some exceptions though, such a R. ‘New Dawn’ – an amazing climber. R. ‘Iceberg’ is the all-time modern favourite, and for good reason, as this will flower well into December if happy, and is relatively easy to please. However, my favourite is R. ‘Margaret Merril’ which is unique in the fact that it is a cross between a hybrid tea and a floribunda, and so means that it has highly-scented, large flowers, in abundance – a total winner! Pink buds fade to faint blush and the white flowers that are both huge and sweetly-scented. Black spot and aphids can be a nuisance with all Roses – and sprays combined with fertiliser can prevent both of these, if used correctly. Spray with a combi-spray before blackspot/aphids appear – ‘Roseclear’ is a popular and effective commercial brand. Repeat every 6 weeks. Also, remember, a stressed plant is a vulnerable plant. This may sound silly – but if there is adequate light and sun, rich but free draining soil, and regular watering during dry spells, then a Rose will gain vigour and most importantly – resilience. Much like us – kept healthy and happy, our immune systems are at their best!
Lavender – Now we see why this plant is one of the most well-known and best loved plants throughout history. Tough, independent, undemanding – when happy, Lavender is the kind of plant that thrives on neglect and lack-of-attention. It’s demands are few, but very specific, and often neglected at the expense of its performance – soil, must be free draining, gritty, sandy, relatively low in terms of nutrient content. It hates ‘wet feet’ for long periods, and so free-draining sorry is essential if it is to get through our wet and cold Winters. If needs be, dig in large amounts of horticultural grit and sand into your soil – it’s well worth the effort. Full sun is a must, and water should be modest and reserved. Clip back all the current year’s growth by two thirds at the end of the season, to retain shape and promote bushiness. Spray with a systemic insecticide once or twice in late Spring and early Summer to prevent beetle attack (not a widespread problem, but if a beetle attack happens, it really does ‘happen’, leaving widespread ugly foliage from their roaming, munching habits). L. angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ is your tradition ‘English Lavender’ – nice and big, dark blue, hardy as they come. If space is an issue, then go for L. ang. ‘Munstead’ which has violet flowers, and reaches half the height of Hidcote at only 40cm. White Lavender is always up and down in terms of fashion trends dictated – largely – by Chelsea. But, it does have its place, and I often use it for that splash of cool, clean white that works so well against its silvery foliage. Lavandula stoechas is the French, or ‘bunny rabbit’ Lavender – very pretty and fun flowers with ribbons of petals at the top, this species is a wonderful choice but is slightly more tender than our English varieties.
Salvia x superba ‘Mainacht’ – the most loved and used of the Salvias. The family is huge, and includes white, black-purple, pink, and the whole range of purple, flowering varieties. Most tend to respond well to being cut back immediately after flowering, to produce a second bloom of smaller, but still impressive, flowers. Be swift and confident – as soon as they have definitely passed their best – even if there are still a few flowers left – cut all flowers back to the next set of unopened buds below the flowers. Or, if feeling a little impatient and reckless – go in there with the sheers… it WILL come back! Much like Lavender, these plants thrive in the same conditions. Salvias are best used in bold displays of at least 3 – be confident, and plant a large clump or sweeping line of them. A wonderful plants for bees and butterflies too.
Cornus kousa – a spectacular and unusual specimen tree, especially useful where space is limited. Its 4-petaled, slightly odd – but deeply striking – flowers are profusely displayed to bold effect over June. the c. kousa species has quite a range, with Cornus kousa ‘China Girl’ being the established favourite for greeny off-white flowers, but ‘Satomi has boldly deep pink flowers. Most varieties are also known well-loved to their spectacular Autumn displays of leaves going through the changes from green through hues of orange and purple-red, before shedding just before Winter’s onset. A wonderful choice of small specimen tree for something that is just ‘that bit different’ and that will engage the eye and draw comments from all who view this splendid specimen during its peak-months. All Cornus thrive in full sun, with fertile but free-draining soil, and are generally very undemanding in terms of pruning, or pest and disease problems.
Hydrangea petiolaris – such a spectacular climber with incredible displays of large white sprays of white, which can be so bold and magnificent when seen at this time of year. Best planted and trained against wall, where – after a short period of training and supporting, it will happily self-cling and take care of itself from thereon. Initially it is slow-growing, so do not be surprised or disappointed if ‘not much happens’ for the first couple of years after planting – this plant is an investment, and is best grown with a view to the long-term future of its site. It can be contained quite easily, and will happily bounce back and respond well to hard-pruning and tough training, but can just as easily scale up a 10m wall, to unleash its full potential. Loves the sun, but will also be happy in partial shade. Like all Hydrangeas, it appreciates rich, fertile soil, and does require a bit of water. However, once established, these climbers take care of themselves – if it thrives, then there is nothing you need do except stand back and admire its beauty and splendour, and occasionally get up that ladder to hack back at will.
Growing your own salad and herbs
17th May:
Now is a perfect time to think about growing your own herbs and salads.
There are so many different ways to plant your herbs and vegetables from pots, window boxes, canvas growing bags to substantial vegetable beds, one new and stylish way is a living wall styled planter, this can be installed inside and outside. For more information please do contact us.
Tender vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers and chilli will be fine now to plant outside; we have hopefully seen the last of the frost. If you still have your plants under cover remove the covers during the day but cover new, tender plants up at night in case they get crushed by the rain (if we have any).
Now is the time to sow Beetroot, Cabbage, Carrots, Lettuce and Peas or any other vegetables you want to see on your table during the summer.
To ensure you have salad all summer long we suggest you sow salad vegetables and radish every four weeks; this should give you a healthy continuous crop all summer long.
To make sure you get the most out of your herbs remove flowers, this intensifies the flavour of the leaves.
You can also grow plants that will help you enjoy summer drinking as well as eating.
Try growing a Borage plant, the flowers are edible and taste of cucumber which can be added to your salad or alternatively freeze the flowers in ice cubes and use them in your Pimms or Gin as a substitute for cucumber. They are tough plants and grow well and though a little old fashioned they are underrated.
If you enjoy a fresh mint tea after a meal out, why not grown you own mint for dinking at home, also try lemon balm as an alternative, both make delicious fresh teas.
If you would like any further ideas or help on creating your edible garden please contact us.
Gardening jobs for May
18th Apr:
Spring is officially and deeply present – at last! – and, perhaps even better, Summer is tangible and just around the corner. Everything is shooting into rapid growth, and blooming, or promising bursting displays of flowering glory. Relish and enjoy your garden and plants at this time of the year, and take delight in what you have – but also take note of spaces, and possibly failures, that can still be rectified in time for Summer. Evenings are warm and light, mornings are bright and cheerful, and the best is still yet to come!
It’s not all about the relaxation and an easy-life though (unless you employ us to take care of your garden – in which case it most definitely is!)…
1) Weeds are on the rampage, and must be kept at bay before they shed their cursed seed and run wild throughout the Summer. Glyphosate based herbicides are highly effective, and very efficient, and aren’t too damaging for the soil if used correctly. Good old-fashioned hoeing and hand-weeding are still to be put into practise though, and mulching is an excellent way to suppress the weeds from their advance, as well as conserving moisture in the soil. Speaking of which…
2) Watering is important at this time of year, despite occasional showers. If you haven’t done so already – then get those irrigation systems up and running again, or install them. Or, better yet – let us take care of that for you! An efficient and effective irrigation system works wonders, and require very little in the way of maintenance or care, if installed and managed professionally.
3) Planting, planting, planting – get more plants into those gaps and spaces while there is still time, before the hot and dry Summer months. Perennials are excellent ‘gap fillers’, and insightful selection can ensure guaranteed results over the Summer and Autumn.
4) Clip those hedges! Or, again, let us do this for you! Most hedges are cut in late Summer, but fast-growing or ornamental hedges that are meant to keep their shape should be cut now – especially Box.
5) Pestering pests must be gotten on top of. Spray all Roses, Clematis, and anything else that is susceptible – even the super tough Box can be plagued with whitefly in the Summer if left unchecked. Organic pesticides are widely available, and quite often they are just as effective as the non-organic choice. Slug pellets are important at this time of year, with all that soft, tasty, leafy growth that is available to them.
6) Bedding plants for Summer displays should be planted now to get the absolute maximum pleasure from them. Plant up window boxes or pots, and be bold – there is so much on offer at this time of year. Geraniums, Pansies and Petunias are all good – please don’t get me wrong – but how about Bacopa, Diascia, Dahliettas, Thunbergia (Black-eyed Susan), Lantana, Heliotrope, Felicia…
7) Lawns, mow them, water them, feed them, weed them – or simply enjoy them, and let us do the hard work! Feeding and weeding programs applied now will reap dividends for the Summer, as well as the occasional thorough soaking to promote healthy and strong growth, and root development.
8) Painting – if it’s dry and warm, then now is the time to apply a fresh coat of paint to that tired-look wall, or stain the decking, or seal the paving, or oil the furniture, or pain the shed etc… Have a look – there are bound to be some areas of your garden that could be brought back to life simply with a new coat of paint or varnish, do it before it’s an eyesore in the Summer when you’re out there every day.
9) Feeding – it’s not too late to apply slow release fertilisers, if you haven’t already done so. This can also be done by mulching with well-rotted manure, which will also act as a weed barrier and retainer of soil moisture. Combine both mulching and feeding for the very best results and remember – what you invest now, will pay you back bountifully come the Summer.
10) Finally, enjoy your garden! Get out there, whether at weekends with your children, or partners, or on your own with a good book and glass of plonk, but just don’t leave it for the weekend – get out in the evening after work, or after a long day. Gardens are to be enjoyed and relished, they are there for you to relax and unwind in, so do so, as often and as much as you can. City gardens are havens of peace and beauty that recharge your batteries from the draining effects of whatever else is going on around you. For us, it’s work; but for you, it’s pleasure!
Gareth’s plants for May
18th Apr:
Deciduous shrub – Syringa vulgaris ‘Katherine Havermeyer’. This is a double-flowered variety of the common Lilac that has clusters of pink buds that develop into lavender blue, with such a sweet and deep fragrance. Most Lilacs can and will grow into large shrubs or small trees if left unchecked. However they respond very well to hard (almost savage) pruning, but do this immediately after flowering if you wish this plant to flower the following year. They prefer full sun, and fertile, free draining soil, but will tolerate partial shade, and poor soil. An excellent plant to tolerant polluted sites too. If space is an issue, then go for S. meyeri ‘Palibin’ (my personal favourite), which is very slow growing, and smaller in terms of leaf and fower size, reaching 1.5m maximum height and spread. This plant is extra special as it often repeats its display of flowers in Autumn – which is an exceptional bonus!
Evergreen shrub – Rhododendron. Absolute stunners, and breath-taking plants! If you’re cynical or not a fan of the ol’ Rhodo, then I challenge you to get down to Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park and come back a converted fan and believer! A huge range of colours and forms. All require moist, fertile, acidic soil – they simply will not thrive in poor or alkaline soils. Some people misunderstand this concept though – most London soil IS slightly acidic, with 6.5 being the norm – this is fine. Indulge the plants with generous mulches of ericaceous compost or manure (which is naturally acidic), and if the leaves ever yellow then feed with sequestered iron, or apply a slow-release ericaceous fertiliser. Most Rhododendrons will reach 3m or so, but there are many excellent dwarf varieties to choose from too. Azaleas are members of the Rhododendron genus, and are great for generous displays of smaller families – and deciduous Azaleas have amazing scented flowers. They prefer light shade, but will tolerate full sun only if their roots are kept moist. Azaleas will tolerate more shade than Rhododendrons.
Ornamental tree – Cercis siliquastrum. The Judas tree puts on one of those most stunning, and quite unusual flowering displays of all ornamental trees. The flowers most often come on wood that is one year old, but often also on very old wood – so you will often see a tree with flowers spurting from its trunk, and the base of its branches, creating a flowering display that starts from the very depths of the canopy, right out to the tips. These trees prefer deep and fertile soil, that is also well-drained, and prefer full sun, but will tolerate partial shade. Their foliage is almost as stunning as the flowers, which is heart shaped, and almost purple, turning boldy yellow in the Autumn before they drop.
Herbaceous – Dicentra spectabilis. This herbaceous plants has many affection names such as ‘bleeding heart’, ‘lady’s locket’ and even ‘lady-in-the-bath’! A wonderful performer for semi shade in rich, fertile soil, but can tolerate full sun if kept moist. Flower displays last well into the Summer, with a range of boldest and brightest pink, and white varieties, and also a yellow one if you go for the climbing species D. scanens. The pendant, heart-shaped flowers are borne along the length of their stems and, as the legendary Monty Don puts it, they look like ‘tender origami’ . D. spectabilis f. alba is pure white and stunning – a very classic and elegant choice for the contemporary garden. D. spectabilis ‘Stuart Boothman’ has deep pink flowers with blue/grey leaves, and will spread into a mat of groundcover very quickly. All Dicentras have very ornate, delicate leave that make it look like a member of the Fern family, with the added-bonus of flowers!
Bulb – Allium hollandicum ‘Purple Sensation’. This variety of Allium is still one of the most widely used and popular, but there is huge range within the family from tiny, stumpy plants, to ones that will reach head-height, with flowers the size of a football, in a range of purples and white. The plants like full sun, and fertile, free draining soil, and will tolerate some drought. Plant masses of bulbs in Autumn for impressive displays in the subsequent years. Potted bulbs can be bought, but are far more expensive than bulbs. Enjoy these plants long after they have flowered, by leaving their decorative seedheads as a lasting display through the Summer months – or make some room in the garden and bring them indoors to dry, and then treasure them for years!
Climber – Wisteria. An absolute classic that has never fallen in popularity or fashion since it was first cultivated. Stunning, pendant racemes of scented flowers, sometimes more than 30cm long. These plants are tough, vigorous, and easy to care for – provided you follow the rules! They need full sun, but will tolerate partial shade, fertile soil that is moist but also well-drained. If you have an established plant that flowers every year then you are incredibly lucky – if you have just purchased one then be warned: Wisterias can take up to 7 years to flower, even under the best conditions, after planting. Correct pruning is essential to encourage flower development. In mid/late Summer cut back all shoots to a third of their current growth. From late Autumn to the end of Winter, cut these shoots back to 2 or 3 buds. Note – the later you leave this, strictly speaking, is best. However, I regularly spur prune Wisterias in September that perform fabulously the following year. For a generous show, cut to 3 buds; for a spectacular show of less but much more impressively-sized flowers, then cut back to single buds.
Gareth’s Plants for March
18th Feb:
It’s not all hard-work and grim weather! Look out for the following plants, which we offer at very competitive prices, and can source any variety or number.
Viburnum – this is their time. Gorgeous, opulent flowers – both bare-stemmed and on evergreens. V.tinus is the good old favourite – for good reason. But look out for V. bodnatense and V. opulum, as well as many other species. Most are shade tolerant, unfussy about soil conditions, and are forgiving about neglect – just leave them alone, and enjoy. When they get too big, prune them back hard, and they will come back stronger and more glorious than before! A must-have!
Helleborus – sheer beauty and elegance during these dull and dire months. It cheers the heart to see these wondrous plants put on such a show at this time of year. Again, they are tolerant of shade – they like it in fact, and will tolerate all soils, although they do prefer rich soils. Many types to choose from, but the more spectacular hybrids are worth going for, although they cost slightly more as they are all carefully hand-pollinated to ensure they come ‘true’. If you want to save money though, or buy a generous amount while saving the pennies, go for H. niger or H. foetidus – absolute stunners!
Daphne – a scent to rival Gardenias, Jasmine, and all the other ‘greats’. Such a smell at such a time of year is precious, and should be indulged and cherished. These plants are shade tolerant, but they need rich soil – a great choice to have in pots. Put them outside your front door at this time of year to greet you with their heavenly scent each time you pass them. When their flowers are over, move the pots to a quiet corner of the garden, and pull them back out next year.
Jasmine – not just for Summer! Winter-flowering Jasmine is one of the great joys at this time of year a bold display of cheery yellow blooms, festooned all over. These plants are tough, and will grow in any soil, though they do prefer a sunny site. They flower on one-year-old wood, so prune early in the year, after flowering, to encourage the maximum display the following year. A wonderful plant that will spread and grow endlessly, if allowed. But, at the same time, easy to maintain and contain.
Clematis – every month you will find Clematis in flower! C. cirrhosa is a true marvel. Evergreen, tough, strong, fast growing and heavy-flowering. Only comes in white, cream or freckled-flowers, with nodding bells that last for months. A wonderful species of Clematis, this plant will take care of itself, and cover a large area within a few years if desired. It needs something to grab hold of, such as trellis or wire, but is self-clinging – so no need to tie in! It prefers a sunny site, and good soil. In Summer it gets tired, so it is great when combined with Summer-flowering climbers that it can grow alongside with, such as Roses, or Summer-flowering Clematis.
Gareth’s tips for March
14th Feb:
Jobs for the month of March
1. Prune! Prune, prune, prune… Roses, Wisteria, fruit trees, climbers, all deciduous shrubs. Nice and hard – the secret is to ‘treat them mean, keep them keen.’ Do not be hesitant or nervous, just give them a hard cutting back. If in doubt – then please get in touch with us, and we can carry out such work, or offer a professional consultancy and advice service, for pruning, and all horticultural matters. Leave the evergreens alone, unless necessary – definitely avoid Box at all costs; blight is rife when cut at this time of year.
2. Lawns – get those forks in! Spike where growth is poor, and drainage is an issue. Fill in holes with lawn sand. Also get your mower serviced now ready for the spring, and check any other tools that might need sharpening or mending.
3. Think about mulching – March is the optimal time. Applying a generous layer of organic mulch onto the soil in March, will benefit your garden for the entire year.
4. Now is the time to give your garden a good spring clean. Get everything cleared up now – all leaves and debris etc…
5. Plant any summer flowering bulbs before it is too late. March is really the last opportunity to get them in the ground.
6. Start protecting any new spring shoots from slugs by putting down any slug pellets etc now.
7. If you are thinking of transplanting any trees or shrubs do it now while they are still dormant and therefore less likely to go into shock.
8. Fertilise and trees and shrubs preferably with a slow release fertiliser.
9. Weeding your garden well now will save a lot of time later on in the year.
10. Fix any fencing or other structures before they become covered in plants again as it will make your life a lot easier and the job quicker.
January Gardening Jobs
11th Jan:
Happy New Year from all at Harrington Porter Landscapes. I hope you all had a wonderful time over Christmas and New Year and are raring to go for the upcoming year.
We are now counting down the days until Spring arrives and if you haven’t already started now is the time to start getting your garden ready for the rest of the year.
At this time of year it is good to think about any moving of plants as they will be dormant so less chance of sending them into shock.
If it does snow again (hopefully not!) try and remember to brush the snow of the plants as much as possible. If you haven’t already try and protect as many of your less hardy plants as you can by wrapping them up in garden fleece or if possible move them somewhere such as indoors or in a sheltered position.
Also if you are thinking about having any work done in the garden now is a good time because with all your plants and shrubs pruned back and in hibernation, this will allow more room to get access to those hard to reach places.
Now is the time to start ordering your summer flowering bulbs and finally clear any debris form the garden.
Finally now is a good time to mulch your beds (about 2 inches deep) as this will not only add nutrients to the soil but also insulate the soil during the remainder of the winter months.
If we can be of any further help here at Harrington Porter please don’t hesitate to get in contact even if it is only for a chat to offer guidance.
Happy New Year
Harrington Porter Landscapes
