Pauls jobs for the month Flower Garden
n Prune bush roses back by about half to stop them being damaged by winds n Prune Japanese Maples or Acers now if needed, as they will bleed sap if pruning is done any later. n If you have a wisteria you will know that it can grow like crazy. If you want to encourage better flowering next year give the side shoots a good back to around 3 cm. n Prune climbing roses now; cutting away diseased or damaged growth and tying in any new shoots to their support. Prune older flowered side shoots back by two thirds of their length. n Keep cutting back dead foliage and keep an eye out for weeds if it is mild.
Vegetable and Fruit Garden n Now’s the time to prune fruit trees. Always use a sharp pair of secateurs, loppers and a pruning saw Start by removing crossing, rubbing, weak, dead, diseased, damaged and dying branches. Keep the centre of the tree open by removing larger branches with a sharp pruning saw. n Remove yellowing leaves from your winter brassicas as they are no use to the plant and may harbour pests and diseases.
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n Dig over empty borders and pile manure on top - let the worms and frosts break up the clods of soil. n Soft fruit such as currants, gooseberries, raspberries, blackberries and tayberries can be planted at this time as they are dormant. n Harvest any remaining leeks, parsnips, winter cabbage, sprouts and remaining root crops before the ground becomes frozen.
General Maintenance n Remember to feed the birds. You might want to ivest in some new bird feeders. Remember unless you clean old bird feeders they harbour disease n Clean patios & paths of moss and algae. There are 3 main ways of tidying up a patio. Either by use of a herbicide, a power washer or by use of a wire brush. Perhaps the best if you are thinking of the environment is the latter method. With a bit of elbow grease, the moss growing between your patio bricks can be removed with a wire brush fairly easily as it doesn’t have a root system. n Up for a bit of exercise then Spike lawns with a garden fork to improve drainage and aeration.
This months poem... “A full moon shines over the morning frost; the lanes are full of latefallen leaves; walking across the mulch is almost as tricky as treading over ice. In town the carol-singers are in crowding the shopping-mall, while a group of muffled musicians play by the outside market. This year but two robins on the early Christmas cards; the squirrel still runs along the fence skirting our newly-erected shed.”
- Gerald England, Mid-December
One-off jobs or regular maintenance on a weekly or monthly basis hedge trimming | grass cutting | general weeding & tidying up
Doing the jobs you don’t have time for... Call me for a quote on
01284 723625 or 07952 938010 Email: burygardener@talktalk.net
DECEMBER 2016 | 63