As I write this article the Autumn foliage has reached its peak. When the days grow shorter and the temperature drops, trees prepare for winter by withdrawing nutrients from their leaves, leaving us with a spectacular display of autumn colour. However, by the time this article is published the trees will be bare and we will have been kept busy clearing leaves from our lawns and paths. Walking around Biddenham has been a great joy and has been especially enhanced by the wonderful holly berries which seem to be better than ever this year …
My pond restoration is complete – returned to how it was when my son made it for us in 1988. It was such an exciting project and the team worked really hard. On the bank are two well established acers. Acer palmatum dissectum atropurpureum which is magenta in colour and an orange acer (well orange at this time of the year and in the spring lime green) – an unknown variety. Both have looked outstanding now that I can see them more clearly. The overgrown foliage from the edge of the pond has been cleared which has given me the opportunity to plant camassia, fritillaria and miniature narcissus. I have also planted sambucus, skimmia, pesicaria and imperata ”Red Baron” Blood grass. The candelabra primula have been ordered for the boggy areas. None of the snowdrops, cowslips and celandines on the bank have been disturbed so by January/February there will be plenty of winter interest. I look forward to late spring when I will be able to sit near the pond with a cup of tea or a glass of wine and listen to the sound of the water fall. Something I used to do in the evening when I returned from work – many moons ago.
As we begin to settle into the winter season most of us will tend to spend less time in the garden but one of the tasks we can undertake at this time of the year is planting bare root i.e unpotted roses. The main rose growers tend to send them out for delivery at this time of the year. There is a greater choice of varieties with bare root roses, they are usually cheaper and tend to establish better than those in pots. Once they arrive get them into water straight away and if you are delayed in their planting heel them in – dig a hole or trench in which to place the rose and cover the roots with soul – just to keep the roots moist until you are able to plant properly. I also shake a dusting of mycorrhizal fungi powder over the roots when I plant them as this increases the absorptive area of the plant and acts as an extension of its root system. When planting the root stock should be below the surface of the soil, firm in gently and water well. It is also recommended to prune hard after planting.
I have been extending my cutting pots by planting more narcissus. Avalanche, Bridal Crown and Cheerfulness are all double narcissus – I put the pots at the back of the garden behind my plant house and then I pick the flowers for the house during the spring as I can’t bring myself to pick the narcissus from elsewhere in the garden. There are not very many crops that can be planted now – except broad beans. There is just about time to get them in the ground. They will germinate and grow a little and then have a rest period until later in the spring. Aquadulce is the variety that does best in cold weather. Hard wood cuttings can be taken at this time of the year for example buddleia. Take a length of twig, several cuttings can be made from this by cutting just below each leaf joint. They can be put into a pot of gritty compost or just put straight out into the ground. Monty Don had a useful tip to ensure that they were planted the right way up – if you cut the bottom of the cutting straight across and the top of the cutting on the slant then it is easy to see which way up it should go. It is a good idea – as with all cuttings – to take off most of the leaves as this helps to reduce transpiration.
It has been so wet recently and not good for walking on lawns or flower beds – better to stay in doors and enjoy leafing through the plant and seed catalogues that will be popping through our letter boxes. Wishing you all a very happy Christmas and New Year. When the festive season is over I will be writing my next article ready for the February edition of The Loop – and marvelling at my snowdrops – I hope. There is always something to look forward to when you are a gardener …
Linda Truscott
Beautiful Acer palmatum!