Feb/March 2007

February brings a fresh start in the garden as the New Year springs into action. If you feel the need to burn off the calories then get out into the garden and start the winter pruning. It is a good time to prune plants as they are at their most dormant during this period. The weather before Christmas had been unseasonably warm and the plants had been delayed going into their dormancy.

Prune your trees, fruit trees and hardy shrubs but be careful not to prune them if a frost is imminent as this will cause die back to the stems.

Pruning can help create a nice framework for young trees and will also encourage good leaf colour on shrubs such as; Sambucus (below left), Cotinus, and Catalpa. Put the cuttings into the garden waste council bin for recycling.

Fruit and ornamental trees should be pruned to encourage a nice open centre. The ‘wine glass’ shaped framework will help to encourage light and air onto the new growth and help to prevent pest and disease. Keep planting trees, shrubs and especially bare rooted roses as it is good for them to start their root establishment before the soil conditions get dry in the summer.

Stake newly planted trees to prevent the base from rocking which will cause water to enter and rot out the bottom of the trunk. Staking will help protect the tree from the high winds which we have been experiencing. Keep a keen eye on the trees as it is possible for the wind to snap them off at the base.

Start clearing up the herbaceous border by cutting down any dead top growth and raking off the leaves. It is the ideal time to take basal cuttings from dormant herbaceous perennials and divide crowded clumps which will produce extra plants to use elsewhere in the garden. Start the first sowing of bedding and vegetable seeds and revive stored dahlias in covered areas.

Don’t forget about your lawn, even though you are not cutting it at the moment look out for areas that may be waterlogged. Mark these areas with a stick and as soon as they dry out, enough to not cause any damage when walked upon, spike them with an aerator or garden fork and brush in a dressing of sharp sand and compost mix (never use builder’s sand).

Out in the vegetable garden dig in manure into your vegetable patch and start to cover some areas with plastic to warm up the soil. Cut back autumn-fruiting raspberry canes to the ground, force rhubarb for early pickings and finish planting out other soft fruit. Use cloches to start off early vegetables and plant shallot bulbs later this month.

As I write this article, the witch hazels (Hamamelis) are in full bloom of yellows, oranges and reds, accompanied by their sweet fragrance.

The corkscrew hazel (Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’, left ) is at its best with twisted branches and catkins hanging down from the spirals.

The winter sweet, (Chimonanthus praecox), produce their fragrant blooms while the Lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis, below ) show off their delicate nodding flowers.

Get out into the garden and enjoy the frost sparkling on the bare stems! Happy gardening!!

Contacts
The regular "In the Garden" features for Oxygen Magazine are written and researched by Cat Wilkins.

If you have a comment, or would like to make a suggestion for possible future topics, please feel free to email her by clicking on this link: Cat Wilkins