A bit dramatic perhaps, but we’ve reached the traditional winter months with their shorter days and darker nights, when temperatures have usually dropped and the wind and wet makes being out in the garden a less than pleasurable experience. For some, bleak indeed.
However, for hardier souls, less trepidatious about a few degrees here or there or a bit of wind, there remain a few jobs to keep the garden at its best.
With many trees and shrubs in winter dormancy, you can give them a prune now. Wisteria is an important one, following up the summer prune (where you cut back those whips to six or seven buds). Now is the time to cut back further to one or two buds – I usually do two, so there’s a spare if one fails. These summer and winter prunes will help wisteria flower well next year.
You can also winter prune apple and pear trees to improve their shape with some judicious cuts (there’s something about being able to chuck a hat – or possibly a pigeon? – through the branches). Otherwise just look for diseased branches or crossed ones which might rub together, damaging bark and letting disease in.
I want to replant everything in one of my larger borders ahead of the new season, so will hope for weather that’s good enough to be digging everything out and putting it into better position. There are some large peonies that aren’t flowering well, which is probably because a few years of mulching has buried the eyes too deeply. Digging them up, perhaps splitting a few, before replanting them more shallowly will help them put on a better show. I also need to move some eupatorium to the back of the border as they reach nearly 8ft tall by the end of summer and are preventing a climbing red rose from seeing the sun.
Provided the ground isn’t absolutely sodden, I’ll be in the apiary; giving it a good weed, turning the compost bins and doing some cutting back while the bees are clustered and much less active. I’ll check they’ve got feed (fondant and pollen patties) in case winter is mild and they need the energy boost after some short cleansing trips out of the hive.
I started forcing some prepared hyacinth bulbs back in October so they should be ready to bring indoors this month, and should come into flower for Christmas, filling the house with their heady scent.
For ‘inside times’ – and yes, there will be plenty of those for me too – there will be fireside trawling through catalogues to see if there is a new plant I absolutely must have. I’ve been inspired by our October speaker from Benton End Flower Farm, so will be looking at seed catalogues for some annual flowers to grow next year, while January is usually pre-orders for dahlia tubers. There’s always room for another dahlia or two surely.
I generally enjoy these months after struggling through October and November when the days get shorter, wetter and windier. Although the days are even shorter of course (and darker) Christmas brings not just sparkle, but also the shortest day and increasing light as the days move towards spring and the chance to be planting and growing again.
While I confess I’m not the first person you’d turn to for the latest wellbeing fad, I am a huge believer in the benefits of gardening. Increasing our exposure to natural light – even on overcast days – can lift the mood. An early riser, I’m glad that morning light is especially helpful for resetting the body clock. I’ve found having two Scottish terriers who insist on an early walk is great for easing into the day.
The gentle physical activity of pruning, tidying and mulching increases circulation and body temperature and gets the blood pumping to combat lethargy. The mild activity also releases endorphins, our body’s natural mood enhancers. Just being outside in nature or tending to natural things (even indoor plants if you really can’t bear to be out) lowers the stress hormone cortisol.
So if you struggle in these winter months, what about getting a feeder to watch the variety of grateful birds that visit your garden or taking a walk in a local arboretum (like the 200-acre one at Markshall) or a winter garden (Hyde Hall, Cambridge University Botanic Garden or Anglesey Abbey are some good ones in the region).
Have a happy Christmas gardeners and see you in the new year.
Dedham Horticultural Society 