Gardening

Gardening for late winter

Trees play a starring role in any garden as well as the wider landscape, creating height, style, and structure as well as being wonderful for wildlife, providing song posts, nest sites, and often food for birds and other creatures. Sadly, many of our native trees are under threat from a whole range of issues such as climate change, disease, and extreme weather, so redressing the balance by planting new ones is hugely worthwhile and a wonderful way to start the new gardening year. Planting a tree with family, or friends, shares the pleasure and make memories for the future, too. Choosing the right tree for your plot is all-important. While even the smallest gardens have room for at least one, it must be an appropriate size, which is where a bit of research and reading the small print on labels pays absolute dividends. Then consider how much return your tree will give in terms of ornamental value: the smaller the space, the harder a tree should ‘work’ and look good for as long as possible. Ignore the threeweek-wonders, as I call them, which give a wonderful burst of bloom but then nothing for the rest of the year. Many trees give at least two seasons of interest, like crab apples (Malus), cotoneasters and mountain ash (Sorbus) that have spring blossom followed by autumn fruit; birches and others with ornamental bark that look glorious all year round; or decorative foliage such as maples (Acer) which give colour from spring to autumn. Shape is all too easy to overlook, but is an important consideration where space is limited as while the majority of trees form a rounded head of branches, others have a slender, columnar or vase shape which is perfect to fi t into a small space, or a weeping head of branches that makes a delightful natural play-house for children. Plant your tree into well-prepared soil, ideally adding a mycorrhizal fungi product which ‘supercharges’ the root system. When planting, ensure the top of the rootball is at soil level (incorrect planting depth is the biggest cause of death amongst new

“While even the smallest gardens have room for at least one tree, it must be an appropriate size, which is where a bit of research and reading the small print on labels pays absolute dividends.. ”

Crab apple trees give two seasons of interest

Acers are favoured for their colourful foliage trees), and secure with a tree tie to a single short stake hammered to a single short stake hammered into the ground at a 45-degree angle. Firm the soil all around the roots with the heel of your boot; water in thoroughly; and keep your tree watered during dry spells for the fi rst couple of growing seasons. 

Seasonal gardening jobs and tips Sow seeds of tender plants that need a long growing season such as tomatoes, chillis, and antirrhinums, indoors on a warm, well-lit windowsill. Germinate seed of hardy plants like sweet peas and many herbaceous perennials indoors, then move outside to a greenhouse or cold frame. New potatoes are a gourmet treat and are easy to grow in large pots or potato bags as well as in the ground. Buy tubers now and start by ‘chitting’ or sprouting, standing end-on in egg boxes in a cool, frost-free, well-lit spot. Plant when the sprouts are 1-2cm long. Cut back the dead growth of deciduous ornamental grasses and herbaceous perennials before new shoots emerge. Rather than burning or taking to the tip, either shred to make an excellent mulch, or form a ‘dead hedge’ by stacking and compacting prunings, held in place with several short stakes, which makes an excellent wildlife habitat. Prune winter jasmine as soon as it’s fi nished blooming. Clematis that fl ower later in summer can be cut hard back now, but don’t touch spring-fl owering ones or you’ll take off this season’s fl owering growth. Trim hedges now so as not to disturb nesting birds later. Prune deciduous hedges anytime, but only do evergreens during mild spells.

Prune winter jasmine Prune winter jasmine as soon as it’s as soon as it’s fi nished blooming

Trim hedges now so as not to disturb nesting birds later

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Planet-friendly gardening:

Planting a tree is just one of the suggested actions of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Planet-Friendly Gardening Campaign. Launched in autumn 2021 by Britain’s biggest garden charity as part of its Sustainability Strategy, the campaign aims to achieve net positive campaign aims to achieve net positive outcomes both for nature and people – outcomes both for nature and people – rather like a modern-day ‘Dig for Victory’. With more rather like a modern-day ‘Dig for Victory’. With more than 30 million people now gardening in than 30 million people now gardening in the UK, even small actions, when taken the UK, even small actions, when taken collectively, can make a huge diff erence. collectively, can make a huge diff erence. These include going peat-free; These include going peat-free; ditching plastic; watering with collected rainwater rather than mains water; planting for wildlife; composting food and garden waste; and going chemical-free. nand going chemical-free.

For more information, go to For more information, go to www.rhs.org.uk/sustainability www.rhs.org.uk/sustainability

GARDEN DESIGNER & HORTICULTURAL SPECIALIST Inspirational ideas to transform your garden

Sue continues to be available for garden advisory visits and design work, operating according to Covid-19 social distancing guidelines. Gift vouchers available for garden advisory visits. Contact Sue for more details. Sue Fisher 01822 841895 | suefi sher@talktalk.net | www.suefi shergardens.co.uk