Money
saving tip: Tender perennials will succumb
to winter frost if the crown is unprotected.
To keep them safe until spring cover them
with bark mulch.
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2.
Time
saving tip: Give the wisteria its winter
prune now, cutting this year’s growths back
to 2-3 buds from the older wood. This will
save time next summer.
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3.
This
is one of the worst months for working outside
and it really is necessary to pick a decent
day for digging and planting. Wet ground
turns to mud when cultivated.
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4.
Providing
the soil isn’t sticky this is the ideal
time to plant and transplant deciduous shrubs
and trees. Plant them at the same depth
as before and firm the soil after planting.
If new plants arrive and the soil is wet,
keep them in a sheltered area until they
can be planted. Bare rooted plants should
be heeled into damp sand or peat to prevent
their roots from drying out.
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5.
Cut
bush roses down to half way to prevent them
blowing in the wind and damaging the roots.
The final pruning can be carried out in
March.
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6.
Tree
stakes which are no longer needed can be
removed. The hole left by the stake goes
down through the root area. Fill it with
a mixture of good compost with added general
purpose fertilizer. It will be right where
it will do most good.
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7.
Vines
need to be pruned during winter dormancy
and should be completed before mid January.
When cut later in the season the rising
sap will pour out of the cuts weakening
the vine.
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8.
Autumn
flowering heathers will have finished their
show. Pruning consists of clipping over
the tops to remove the dead flower heads.
A surface mulch of compost or peat will
encourage the plants to reroot into the
compost.
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9.
Check
bulbs, corms and tubers in storage. Remove
any which are damaged or rotting. Take a
look at the forced rhubarb, hopefully there
will be signs of new growth.
