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December Gardening
A cold misty day with temperatures in the 20's, so we spent the day in the cuttings greenhouse again and managed to finish all the Fuchsia cuttings ready for next year. One of the polytunnels was thoroughly cleaned and disinfected and the heating system and misting system was serviced. Its now ready for the Fuchsia cuttings, once they have rooted in a few weeks time, to grow them on in a controlled environment. If you want to grow Fuchsias from cuttings you only need a covered propagator kept in a warm light place. Just keep the compost moist and mist spray the leaves so they don't wilt. They are one of the easiest plants to take cuttings from and they root so easily. The next jobs, clean and disinfect the remaining greenhouses, polytunnels and cold frames. That will take us through to the weekend, but weather permitting we will be out in the garden as there is still such a lot to do.
Well another dry, cloud free, sunny day and a barmy 49 deg. F in the South East. Great gardening weather, but we where stuck inside our cuttings greenhouse taking Fuchsia cuttings. We mangaed to take over 300 cuttings, just a small proportion of what we need for next next spring and summer. They are now in covered propagators with gentle bottom heat. The perfect way to root Fuchsia cuttings. Fuchsia are so easy to grow from cuttings and if you are new to propagating garden plants then Fuchsia is a good plant to start with. The weather is due to change for worst, frost and snow, sometime early this coming week so until then any fine days will see us in the garden as there is still lots to do.
Today has been a good gardening day. Here in the South East of England it has been dry, mostly cloud free with plenty of sunshine and a barmy 53 deg.F. So we have got a lot done today and its been real enjoyable! We have removed several old decaying shrubs from the woodland garden, turned over the ground to a spade depth, added loads of well rotted home made compost and planted seven silver birch (Betula pendula). The area was covered with a four inch layer of bark mulch which will keep out the most severe of frosts. Mulching also helps to retain moisture, reduce weeds and is a paradise for many insects, frogs and newts. The wildlife pond is till frozen, but the edges have started to thaw, and we managed to remove most of the reeds that were overgrowing and encrouching into the surrounding stream. A hundred or so Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus) seeds where sown, for early flowering next spring, and left in one of our cool greenhouses. We also managed to take some root cuttings of Acanthus and placed them in a cold frame until April or May next year when they should be big enough to plant out. They will not flower for a year or two, but they are handsome foliage plants and its worth waiting for their attractive flowers. ***** Tomorrow we hope to be out in the garden again, there is still such a lot to do, one pressing and most important job is to take Fuchsia cuttings ready for next year. So lets hope the weather is kind.
Well today we have had temperatures above freezing and the sun has popped its head above the clouds for a couple of seconds. Seeing that sunshine, even for a coulpe os seconds, really does cheers you up. But, we still we can’t get out in the garden. The snow and frost may be melting but the ground is still rock solid under the surface. Its not a good idea to walk on your garden or grass if it is still frozen, you will damage the structure of your soil and ruin the surface of your grass. The forecast in the UK this weekend is not quite such freezing temperatures, cloudy, but dry. Well cloudy and dry is ok, so we just be able to get out there and do some real proper 'gardening'. But failing that at least it shoud be warm enough to work in your greenhouse or potting shed. Ideal weather to do those jobs mentioned above. And you can spend the time clearing and cleaning you greenhouse and potting shed ready for the busy times ahead, all those seeds that you will be sowing. All those cuttings you will be potting on and all those new cuttings you will be taking. Some seeds can be sown now, especially vegetables, so get on and sow them now. Don’t forget to get your seeds ordered if you haven’t already done so. Spring wont be long, its just around the corner, and the start of a brand new gardening season. Whoopeee!!
Most of the UK has been covered in 2 to 3 feet of snow and gripped in sub-zero temperatures for the past week or more now making it impossible to do any work in the garden. While the weather is like this its best not to even walk on your garden as it will damage the soil structure. Here in the South the snow has finally disappeared but the temperatures are still well below zero. The ground is to hard to dig, and who wants to be out in these sub-zero temperatures anyway? Not us that’s for sure. And unless you have a heated greenhouse or potting shed then you are left sitting inside with the central heating turned up keeping yourself warm. All you can do is gaze out of your window onto a frosty garden dreaming of long hot summer days, trees in full leaf and swaying in a gentle warm breeze and beds full of glorious blooming and scented flowers. But just because its cold out there and you cant get outside this is not the time to give up on your gardening. Now is the time to plan ahead for spring, summer and even autumn. If you haven’t got your seed and plant catalogues yet send off for them now. You need to start ordering your seeds and plants for the coming season straight away. Plan your beds and borders, what plants do you want to grow in them? Annuals, biennials, perennials? What are you going to plant in your patio tubs and pots, window boxes and hanging baskets. Get those seeds and plants on order or you’re going to be too late. But if you’re like us you will have collected hundreds, or more like thousands, of seeds from your last seasons flowers. And taken loads of cuttings from plants and over-wintered them in a frost free environment. You will have stored your bulbs you lifted after they had flowered and their leaves shrivelled back and stored them somewhere frost free and dry. But you know, propagating your own plants really does save you money, and not just a few pennies, it can save you an awful lot. Just think how much plants cost now. Even a packet of seeds is no longer cheap. If you didn’t have to buy your plants and seeds how much could you save? So, propagating your own plants and flowers saves you money! Now’s the time to think about starting to sow those seeds you collected last year. Are pots, seed trays, flats, clean and ready for use? Have you got enough of them? If not you need to do something about it, and fast. So that’s a good excuse to visit your local garden centre or shop online. Make sure you’ve got enough seed and cutting compost and bring it into somewhere warm ready for when you start sowing those seeds. You don’t want to sow them in cold compost. Get everything ready for when the weather turns more favourable and you can start gardening in earnest. Don’t waste a moment. Service that lawnmower, if its electric check the lead to make sure there’s no breakages or cuts and the plug is ok. Check that the blade or blades are undamaged and sharp. Sharpen or replace if necessary. Make sure the blade fixings and all other nuts and bolts and screws are tight and secure. Give it a clean if needed and a quick oil up, following the manufactures handbook. If its petrol, change the oil, replace the spark plug and air filter. Check that the throttle cable and drive cable, if it is fitted with one, are ok. Check that the blade or blades are undamaged and sharp. Sharpen or replace if necessary. Make sure the blade fixings and all other nuts and bolts and screws are tight and secure. Again give it a clean if its needed and oil moving parts. Make sure you follow the manufactures handbook when carrying out any servicing. Any major repairs needed should be done by a qualified fitter.
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