KNOW YOUR GARDEN

By Emma Reece, Head Gardener at Bates Green Garden

We have had some incredibly wet weather recently which has proved challenging for us gardeners. I doubt very much that you have been able to get on with any of the tasks I suggested last month apart from planting bulbs in containers.

The beds and borders are far too wet to stand on unless one uses boards to work from which can be a challenge in itself. If you do resort to that, then I would advise you to grit the boards as they can be precarious otherwise when wet and muddy.

The frequent temptation is to hibernate with a cup of tea or a glass of something, perhaps with seed or tool catalogues but I would urge you bundle yourselves up at least once a day and go into your garden just to achieve even one thing. You will feel all the better for it and many winter garden disasters can be averted.

Wait until any torrential rain has stopped, pull on your hat and then treat yourself to a walk and a really good look. There is something new to be seen every day, only this morning I arrived at work in the pouring rain to find this gem peeking out at me from underneath the Abelia. Iris unguicularis, the Algerian Iris, usually flowers in late winter. Here at Bates Green Garden, they are planted at the base of a wall and flower almost continuously from now until March or even April. The deep violet flowers are strongly scented and last well in a vase if cut at the bud stage.

While you are out and about, check any protective coverings that you have in place be it fleece, frames or plastic. The wind can easily get underneath causing rips or flaps that the cold weather will investigate for sure. Retie or secure firmly. The same goes for trellis and fencing panels.

Bates Green Garden, an RHS Partner Garden, is open every Wednesday until 25th October 2023. For details please go to the website www.batesgreengarden.co.uk and follow the garden on Instagram @batesgreengarden

If the rain seems as though it will never end, and you are fortunate enough to own a greenhouse then go and give it a really good sort out. Remove all the clutter that has accumulated over the summer and grab your broom to start sweeping. You may already have the space full of overwintering plants in which case you might wish to consider bubble wrapping your green house to prevent it from freezing. I have carried this out in various glasshouses over the years and, although we are all trying to use less plastic, you can reuse the original wrap for many years so long as you label each section and put it away carefully at the end of the winter. Clips can be purchased from any hardware store or garden centre for attachment purposes. Check all the window seals and inspect the panes for cracks or loose glass. On dry days, open up the greenhouse in daylight hours to allow air to circulate thus preventing the grey mould Botrytis from getting a hold on your cherished plants. If the greenhouse is empty for the winter, then you can get on and scrub it out with hot soapy water and environmentally friendly washing up liquid. Get into all the nooks and crannies so that once you start your seed sowing regime the house will be sparkling with no lurking pests or diseases. Do the outside too, the rain will have softened the grime which will be easy to remove. The cleaner the glass, the more light your plants will receive, which will contribute positively to their health and vigour. How about finally sorting out your shed? Harriet and our new student, Emma Tee got to work on our Potting Shed last week and we are immensely pleased with the results. Everything is in its rightful place and is easy to find. This perfect state usually lasts until the middle of Spring when all our good intentions fly out of the window, as we rush around with seed trays and watering cans. There is important pruning to be carried out in December. Certain shrubs must be pruned before the end of the year as otherwise they will ‘bleed’. This condition manifests itself as sap either leaking out from a pruning cut or sometimes flowing copiously. Sap falls down the stems of plants in autumn and early winter as they become dormant. It rises again in the Spring, but in certain plants, this can happen in mid to late winter. So, if you are the proud owner of any birch trees, grape vines or a walnut tree then you would be well advised to prune them now. Pruning is a delightfully uplifting task, and you will feel a warm glow afterwards.

If you are celebrating Christmas, then I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families a very merry time. If you are not so inclined, then I wish you a cosy, peaceful and relaxing mid-winter season.

And winter sunshine for us all!