Gardening Hints and Tips - November Tender Plants Tender plants won’t appreciate being kept out in the cold – so move them somewhere protected from frost and cold winds. We have an excellent selection of cold frames and heaters to give protection and beat off the worst of the winter weather. Plants that are hardier, but still sensitive to winter cold, will appreciate a thick mulch of bark and even covering with fleece and bubble wrap during the coldest weather. Fruit Create your own fruit garden – now’s an excellent time to plant fruit trees and bushes, and we have a superb range available. To ensure bumper crops, plant with plenty of organic matter and slow-release fertiliser. Make sure you train bushes where necessary, and use stakes and ties for fruit trees. Composting Don’t throw away your spent bedding plants, kitchen waste and other plant material – turn them into valuable compost for improving your soil and mulching your beds. And fallen tree leaves can be turned into leafmould – the perfect soil improver and mulch, especially for rhododendrons, azaleas and other woodland plants. Making good compost and leafmould is easy with our wide range of compost bins, compost and leafmould accelerators, leaf rakes and collectors. Cyclamen and azaleas Brighten up your home this winter with our superb quality colourful azaleas and cyclamen. They’re easy to look after – just put them somewhere cool and in good, indirect light. Keep the compost moist,and feed regularly for best results. Evergreen shrubs If your garden is looking a bit dull and lacks structure, brighten it up with evergreen shrubs. We have a fabulous range to choose from – many of which also have other attractions – such as flowers and berries – to provide colour all year round. Get newly-planted evergreen shrubs off to the best possible start by planting with compost and slow release fertiliser.
Lift dahlias, cannas, begonias Once the first frost has blackened the foliage of dahlias, it’s time to carefully lift the tubers for overwintering in a cool but frost-free place. Remove any loose soil and hang them upside down for a few days to drain any water in the stems. Then remove all dried soil, label and store them in just damp compost. The tubers of cannas and large flowered begonias will also need lifting. Canna tubers are also stored in just damp compost, but begonias should be stored dry in nets. Containers for winter and spring You can’t beat planted containers for brightening up gardens and patios throughout the autumn, winter and spring months – and they also make perfect presents. We have plenty of exciting ready planted containers for you to just pick up and take away, or you can plant one yourself. Plants of the month Ensure your garden remains colourful throughout winter with our plants of the month. There’s plenty to choose from including: winter-flowering heathers, winter jasmine, Viburnum bodnantense, Viburnum farreri, Viburnum tinus and mahonias. And don’t forget plants grown for their berries, colourful stems and the huge range of evergreens available. Pest watch Although most pests and diseases are less active in autumn and winter, be vigilant for problems, and deal with them as soon as they’re seen. Houseplants and plants overwintered in greenhouses and frames are especially susceptible to pests, but can be quickly helped with a pesticide spray. Maintaining a high humidity around most foliage houseplants – especially those in centrally-heated houses – will help keep them strong and healthy and help reduce red spider mite attacks. The reverse is true in greenhouses and frames where high humidity can lead to problems with grey mould and other diseases, so reduce watering and provide good ventilation where necessary.
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