November 2010 in your garden
Oliver Nolan
Some winter jobs that can be carried out around the garden
Flower Garden
- overcrowded perennials can be lifted over the winter and divided up into several new plants, these include hosta's and herbaceous geraniums
- its still not too late to sow sweet pea seeds for a great show next summer
- any tender plants such as cana's can be taken inside for the winter
Lawn Care
- continue to remove fallen leaves from the grass
Fruit & Veg Garden
- clean out the veg plot, removing any remains of finished crops, putting them on the compost heap
- plant new fruit trees and bushes
Shrubs & Hedges
- its still a good time to relocate shrubs that are in the wrong place
- bare-root trees and shrubs can be planted at this time
October 2010 in your Garden
Oliver Nolan
Some tasks that can bee carried out around the garden over the next couple of weeks
Flower Garden
- take tender perennials such as pelargoniums (geraniums) indoors to protect from frosts until next year
- any remaining pots with summer bedding that have finished can be re-potted up with autumn / winter bedding such as pansy, polyanthus and cyclamen
- sow sweet peas now for bigger stronger plants next year
Rose Garden
- reduce the height of any remaining rose bushes to prevent damage from wind
- remove any fallen leaves from around rose bushes to prevent the spread of diseases
- prune back rambling roses
Lawn Care
- continue to remove fallen leaves from the lawn
- increase the mowing height of the lawn mower for the last few cuts
Shrubs & Hedges
- its a good time to relocate plants that are in the wrong position, plants are still growing but will not have the same amount of risk from lack of water which will increase their chances of survival
- clear out fallen leaves that may be covering small shrubs
- fallen leaves make great leaf mold, fill black bags and leave in a corner for the winter
Fruit & Veg Garden
- harvest any remaining apples, these can be stored for use over the winter, make sure they are dry and undamaged, then wrap loosely in newspaper and place in a box in a cool dry place. The remaining apples can be used up first
- lift and store root veg such as carrots
September 2010 in your garden
Oliver Nolan
Some tasks that can bee carried out around the garden over the next couple of weeks
Shrubs, Hedges & Roses
- continue dead heading roses to encourage more flowers
- any overgrown hedges can be trimmed back
- remove any unwanted suckers from rose bushes
Fruit & Veg Garden
- young rooted strawberry plant runners can be severed from the main plant and potted up
- cloves of garlic can be sown
- check apple crop to see if they are ripening and that insects are not eating your crop before you get to them
Lawn Care
- fork over the lawn to improve the drainage for the winter
- any bare patches of lawn from heavy summer use can be re-sown
- towards the end of September the cutting height can be raised a little to preserve the lawn
- remove any fallen leaves off the lawn
Flower Garden
- time to get your bulbs from your local garden center
- continue dead heading & feeding summer bedding but removing any plants that are finished
August 2010 in your garden
Oliver Nolan
Some tasks that can be carried out around the garden over the next few weeks:
Shrubs, Hedges & Roses
- keep dead-heading roses to encourage new flowers to continue growing
- most vigorous growing shrubs and climbers can be given a summer prune
- water any plants during this dry period that are showing signs of stress
- take clematis cuttings
- prune back rambling roses after flowering
- keep an eye out in the garden centers for winter and spring flower bulbs
Fruit & Veg Garden
- prune old raspberry canes and tie in new ones
- pin down young strawberry runners to pot up in a few weeks when they have become well rooted
- summer prune trained fruit trees after harvesting, such as indoor peaches
- harvest herbs such as oregano, these can be dried and used over the winter months
- as the onions are starting to get brown, they can be harvested and left to dry
Pots & Baskets
- continue dead heading
- try not to let pots dry out
- continue to feed plants to prolong the flowering period