Issue 15 - November 2002
Issue 15 - November 2002
IT’S ALL SIZZLE, FIZZLE AND DRIZZLE!
THE BONFIRE month sees a great deal of change in your garden. It seems to be putting itself to sleep, but there is so much growth that often goes unnoticed.
Bulbs, of course, are a prime example and many trees and shrubs are well organised and busy getting next year’s buds in place. These are more noticeable later in the month as the firey escapade of riotous colour fizzles away.
At ground level, there’s still stunning colour available provided by Cyclamen and the firework displays of Chrsyanthemums.
In the house, colour is readily available as many garden centres and florists now stock a wide variety of winter pot plants. As I always like to think: in the summer, the garden is your outdoor living room, so why not bring a little of your outdoor garden into your indoor living room to brighten up the duller days at this time of year, which is so often full of early dark nights and drizzle.
On milder days, it is a joy to walk around the garden with the smell of bonfires and the view of watery sunshine.
(Paul Tovey)
Why not turn over an old leaf?
MANY people when they are out in their gardens in November, often remove leaves from borders, whereas they should be putting leaves on them. There is no bother of these blowing around because they can be weighted down with compost - the best source can come from your old summer containers. Sprinkle over some bonemeal and lightly hoe over the surface periodically throughout the winter and let the very happy worms do the rest for you. The worms will drag the leaves down into the soil and microbes, already present there, will help decompose them - meanwhile, the worms will aerate underneath where you hoe. This technique can be used alongside a compost bin, which will provide you with a rich dark mulch to apply in spring that every gardener dreams of. Do, however, keep the lawn free of leaves (a plastic rake is ideal)- it can lead to the inevitable problems of fungal diseases and wormcasts.
This may just a-peel to you
THIS is the perfect month for planting fruit trees in your garden or in tubs for the patio.
A trip to the garden centre or a browse through a garden magazine would both give you a vast array of different types and varieties to choose from.
They are often available as bare rooted or root wrapped specimens.
Why not try growing some of the dwarf varieties of apples and pears suitable for patio container growing -these will surprisingly give you your first crop next year.
Gooseberries and blackcurrants can also be planted now in an open sunny position in your garden. Try it now!
A heap of ways to make your compost bedder!
OLD bedding plants, late lawn clippings, autumn leaves and kitchen waste can all be mixed together to create a superb quality compost. The secret is to mix fairly equal parts of each source regularly with the addition of garotta (compost maker), which is available from most garden shops and contains natural microbes which will speed up the composting process. It is a good idea to turn the mixture frequently with a pitch fork (to make the job a lot easier ) which would also quicken the results. If the mixture seems dry, add a watering can full of water. On the other hand, if it seems very wet, the compost could rot detrimentally and a bucket or two of dry, woody material should be added - such as added as shredded shrub prunings.
Bulbs to bring new light to your garden
!
NOW is the perfect time for planting bulbs to get that all important riotous spring colour. What you plant at this time of year will determine how your garden looks in the next three to seven months. So I have compiled a list of both the popular and the more unusual bulbs which have the potential to make your garden sparkle.....
Narcissus: ‘Peaches and Cream’ - This unusual daffodil variety displays soft peachy orange trumpets against a creamy yellow background. (March-April).
Narcissus: ‘Tete-a-Tete’ - This is a dwarf daffodil, which reaches 6ins high. Its trumpets and petals are a very pleasing rich gold. The perfect Midas touch! (March).
Tulip: ‘Black Knight’ - A neat velvety purple single flowered variety that is a fine contrast to paler flowering bulbs. (Will light up your garden between April and May).
Allium: ‘Gigantica’ - This flowering onion will make you smile not cry - it produces huge starry pink globes up to 8ins across on tall 6ft high stems (Late May-June).
Allium: ‘Caerulea’ - Another flowering onion which is much smaller in habit producing soft blue globes 2-3ins across on 2ft high stems. (Again late May - June).
Iris: ‘Renticulata’ - This bulb is ideal for rockeries as the rich blue blooms are produced on plants only 2-3ins high. These will melt the February ice.
Crocus - There are many varieties of crocus available - the species ones are very pleasing, particularly in humbug shades of white and purple (February - March).
Frittilaria: ‘Snakes Head’ - This delicate woodland flower produces blotchy pink, purple and white flowers just like a snake’s head. (Slither away in April!). SSsssss
Chrys-tmas come early
CHRYSANTHEMUMS will add masses of blooms to a border which is maybe looking past its best. There are many colours and shades available to add to your displays this year - and they are guaranteed to outlast the fireworks! They’re amazingly frost tolerant and will also be suitable for patio containers - they will warm you up as you step out into the garden.
Make sure it’s not well out of border
NOVEMBER is the time to revamp your cottage garden borders - many of these herbaceous perennials would benefit from being lifted and divided and perhaps moved to a more appropriate position according to their height, spread and cultural needs. For instance, Hollyhocks do well against a sunny wall, whereas Heucheras are best positioned at the front of a semi-shaded border. Hostas need protection from slugs, but rather than using pellets (potentially harmful to wildlife) simply plant them very close together and add fine grit around the bases of these plants. The massive leaves of Gunneras, which can reach as much as 5ft across (in shade), are now dying down and these would appreciate a mulch of garden compost and straw to protect their crowns during winter. Lupins and Delphiniums can be cut back - but protect next year’s young shoots from slugs. In terms of dividing these perennials, the best methods to use are either prising them apart with two garden forks placed back to back or by splitting crowns with a spade - only plant the young outer parts of these clumps, be sure to add plenty of bonemeal and water in well.
Surf and Turf?
THIS issue of Bloomin’ Great and previous editions are available on-line, at: www.angelfire.com/tv2/bloomingreat. If you want to put your ideas for future features forward, or if you want to put your point of view across, you can e-mail: bloomingreat@postmaster.co.uk
That’s Mah’ choice
THE PLANT of the month for November defies ‘normal’ autumn colour, in that this spiny leaved shrub produces fragrant yellow sprays of bloom right up to the new year.
Mahonia ‘Charity’ is easy to grow in sun or shade and is undemanding.
Cold November rain
NOVEMBER will begin mild and changeable - but with less of a chance of the recent stormy weather and things should settle down by mid-month. There will be some sunny days counteracted by night frosts. There’s always a chance of a brief snowfall around the 20th, followed by a milder (but rather damp scenario) for the remainder of the month.
Dec the halls
IN DECEMBER’S Bloomin’ Great we discover the beauty of evergreens which stand out in that month. We will also investigate deciduous shrubs and trees with colourful stems and bark.
Indoors, we look at the many flowering pot plants available as Christmas gifts for family and friends.
See you next month!
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