Jack Frost

Cold and frosty weather has been present over much of the UK and today, many plants were covered in frozen flakes which looked quite stunning.  Here, the leaves of Anthemis tinctoria 'E. C. Buxton' add to the winter scene...

and sedums along with ornamental grasses, also have an appeal when tinged with frost.

It never ceases to amaze me how many people are so focussed on removing dried flower heads from their hydrangeas, probably not realising these heads have an important part to play in protecting the plant during the cold winter months.  In addition to this vital role, they also look quite stunning when their flower heads are covered with frost.

The time to remove these heads will soon come but for now enjoy their display.

Trussed, stuffed and ready for winter.

Well, another year is coming to an end although the gardeners' calendar is well underway. The weather has still been relatively mild with only the occasional frosty start (on the south coast anyway). However, some tender plants that are to be kept outside had their winter-warmers put on during the week as I'm sure a cold spell will eventually show its face.



Two Dicksonia antartica thoroughly wrapped up. Firstly, straw was stuffed into the crowns, then the trunks wrapped in fleece, followed by the fronds (pulled together with twine) encased in a hessian bag. All they need now are some facial additions to add to the winter fun.  A red nose wouldn't go a miss!

Aster la vista baby

It's been a productive day albeit a bit chilly. Last year a client brought some asters from a previous home to use in a new border we had been developing. I wasn't sure of the variety of aster so a little cautious as to their durability, size and what precise colour.

As we headed into autumn the asters took over the main display and provided a colourful display but I could already see that they were too prominent. Notes were taken and today these same plants were dug-up, divided and replanted in slightly different positions.

From the first 3 plants, I was able to get quite a few new plants. All that's needed now is to get the remaining spare plants potted up in readiness for a charity event next year.  Further divisions from the rest of the asters made sure I had in excess of 40 new plants.  Not bad for a day's work!

Dahlias

The weather has certainly taken a dip on the cooler side. On Wednesday I was busy digging up some dahlias and storing them ready for their winter rest. I turned them upside down to allow the moisture to drain from the stems and next week I will place them in a storage tray and keep in a dark frost free room until early next Spring. Remember to label and if you have various kinds keep them all in sections. Also, keep checking to make sure the tubers aren't rotting. If you're storing in potting compost, keep this on the dry-side and only moisten the medium when necessary. Increased moisture will be needed when you want to encourage their growth early next spring.