FINAL HAIRCUT FOR HEDGES
Evergreen hedges and formal, clipped shrubs may have a late snip.
That can restore their neat shapes till development begins subsequent yr. Evergreens, useful for Christmas decorations, could also be higher left till subsequent month.
Hedges which have grown too extensive or excessive might be re-shaped now. You might be as brutal as you want with powerful hedging equivalent to hawthorn, slicing sides and prime arduous again.
With much less rugged vegetation — beech, sure hollies, pyracantha — it’s wiser to chop in two phases. Reduce one aspect solely this yr. Full the duty subsequent autumn, taking the highest and the second aspect. Low hedges of lavender, Santolina and Christmas field, are higher trimmed in late summer time. However you may give them a light-weight, remaining trim now if obligatory.
Snipping again hedges and shrubs now will restore their neat shapes for 2023. You might be as brutal as you want with powerful hedging equivalent to hawthorn
Younger or newly planted hedges are greatest left untouched till subsequent yr. They want time to develop bigger root techniques and may solely be trimmed when in vigorous development.
In addition to nourishing berries, hedges carry different necessary meals provides for birds. Spiders and small bugs multiply within the dense development, offering nourishment for sparrows, tits, goldcrests and different small birds.
Pyracanthas are sensible for berry-loving birds. They’ve borne big crops of crimson, yellow or orange berries this yr — so go away these to your feathered mates and trim the hedge later.
FINISHING PLANTING ANY SPRING BULBS
Now’s your final likelihood to plant your spring bulbs equivalent to tulips, daffodils and different bigger varieties
It’s not too late for planting spring bulbs. If in case you have tulips, daffodils and different giant bulbs, plant these as quickly as you’ll be able to. And most smaller bulbs ought to nonetheless be viable. In backyard centres, you might discover bulbs ‘diminished to clear’. These might be good bargains. However make sure that they’re nonetheless agency, plump and sound. If, when digging, you by chance unearth bulbs with roots and even growing shoots, these might be fastidiously re-planted and may flower subsequent spring.
FEWER DEAD LEAVES AIDS POND LIFE
Take away lifeless leaves out of your ponds as decaying leaves in an autumn pond can scale back oxygen ranges
Water lilies might be turning dormant by now. Lots of the leaves may have yellowed and begun to decay. Take away as a lot of these as you’ll be able to attain, pulling away as a lot of the lengthy stems, too. With different pondweed, take away a few of the greenery however not an excessive amount of. Decaying leaves in an autumn pond can scale back oxygen ranges. That’s provided throughout daylight by submerged, dwelling greenery. This helps to maintain your pond water contemporary and wholesome. And pondlife eliminated with vegetation must be returned, to maintain the pure steadiness.
PLANT OF THE WEEK: PAPERWHITE NARCISSUS Narcissus papyraceus
Native to the Mediterranean area, Narcissus papyraceus are at their greatest between October and December
Europe’s least hardy wild narcissus flowers in autumn or early winter. Native to the Mediterranean area, they’re at their greatest between October and December. If grown in a bowl, in a heat room, dry bulbs can flower three weeks after planting. Lengthy stems carry clusters of white, small-cupped narcissus flowers. They’re perfumed, filling a room with intense perfume. This species gained’t thrive outdoors within the UK. However as pot vegetation, they’re the quickest to flower. I develop mine in a bowl half-filled with gravel. Add water till the extent is just under the bases of the bulbs. Their roots will quickly discover it.
QUESTION
Q We reside in a chilly area of Britain and want to develop holly for its berries. We had been advised it is probably not absolutely hardy the place we reside. Which selection is the hardiest?
Mrs. L. Johnson, Northumberland.
A Widespread holly, Ilex aquifolium is fairly hardy, surviving temperatures right down to minus 18c. For berries, you’ll want a feminine tree: there should even be a male holly inside bee vary. If in case you have sufficient house, plant a male tree in addition to your berry bearer. Be cautious with named varieties. Ilex ‘Silver Queen’ is male and doesn’t bear berries. Ilex ‘Golden King’ is feminine and does. When you purchase from a backyard or plant centre, play secure and decide one at the moment bearing berries.
