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.

Bulb planting

A couple of dry days has enabled me to get some more tulips planted before the weather, once again, turns wet. November is the ideal time for tulip planting but the month can go by at an alarming rate so get your bulbs in as soon as you have the time.

















My trusty trowel, designed to the specifications of Christopher Lloyd at Great Dixter by Sneeboer, is the ideal tool for the job. A nice long handle and narrow blade punctures the soil effortlessly. Great for planting in tight spaces and pretty nifty when a spot of weeding is needed too.

Pricey but posh!

Over the last few weeks I've been doing a little bit of design work for a client. A 100ft border where the planting needed to obscure the neighbours' greenhouses, sheds and provide the clients with immediate privacy by their patio area. It's fair to say that gardens take time to mature and I very much buy into that viewpoint but on this occasion the need for mature specimens was necessary.

I had already sourced some plants online but with the costs involved I felt a trip to the nursery was essential. So, at the beginning of the week the sun was shining and I had a lovely journey across the south downs to a fabulous nursery called Architectural Plants, where numerous plants, trees and shrubs were all lined out and awaiting inspection. A pandoras box!

After nearly 3 hours I had 3 choices but one stuck out from the rest  - Prunus caroliniana; just in from Italy. Evergreen with deep ovate leaves, fragrant flowers in late spring followed by berries in the Autumn. It's hardy and will surely clip nicely.

To top the day off, I was offered a lovely coffee and that too was dead posh. Thanks Cindy!

Time for a health check

It's surprising what a few years can do to a garden.  When I first started this client's garden it was one muddled mess and to be fair, very poorly maintained and no thought whatsoever regarding successional planting. This was a picture during the first year. The roses and leaucanthemums had just finished flowering and that was it for the rest of the year. I should also add, there was nothing prior to the rose display either.

As each year passed I was slowly but surely getting more colour introduced and a greater succession of interest; tulips were one of the first introductions that bridged the gap.

Even in mid-October, the border is still providing a colourful display. Ornamental grasses playing a huge part for autumnal interest, lasting well into the winter months. The tall, bleached erect stems of Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster' is a really fab plant and one I would use more often if the conditions allowed.