As winter settles in, I find that there’s still plenty to keep me busy in the flower patch. It’s easy to think that gardening is a spring and summer job, but winter gardening has its own charm. This time of year offers the perfect opportunity to prepare my garden for the upcoming season, and I really enjoy taking a slower, more mindful approach to it and tackling some of the jobs that I haven't got round to all year!
Here is a little of what I have been up to over the past month.
1. Mulching Dahlias
One of my favorite winter jobs is mulching. I love how a thick layer of mulch helps protect my plants from the cold. It insulates the soil, keeping plant roots safe from freezing temperatures, and helps conserve moisture through the dry winter months. Plus, mulching prevents weeds from taking root, which means less work for me in the spring.
This is particularly important as I have decided not to lift my dahlias this year. It is such a big job and I have found in previous years that it is challenging to store dahlias well. Therefore, to keep my tubers from freezing or rotting, I have covered them with a cozy blanket of straw and covered this with tarpaulin to stop it blowing away. This worked for me last year, so I am hoping that it will be enough to keep the dahlias safe for next year.
2. Growing next year's annuals
I tend to sow a crop of hardy annuals in Autumn, to get a head start on next year's blooms. Now, the hard bit is keeping them alive and thriving throughout Winter. I have an unheated greenhouse, which helps to keep them protected, and I keep a close eye on the weather; I am always ready to run out with horticultural fleece if a hard frost seems imminent.
I have planted some of my hardy annuals out already (sweet peas, nigella, California poppies) so that they can get their roots growing well over winter. I find that being in the ground tends to lead to stronger plants long-term. These should be fine outside but I have a few kept back in the greenhouse in case we have absolutely awful weather over the next few months.
3. Pruning
Many plants do well with a prune now to keep them in good shape for the winter. This is particularly true for roses, which can experience "root rock" if they are left to wave around in the strong winds. I have also pruned some other plants which put on lots of long growth this year. It is important, however, not to prune right down to the ground, as this can leave the crowns of plants rather exposed to frost.
When pruning, it is tempting to throw the waste matter onto the compost heap or the bonfire. However, I recommend using the "chop and drop" method; this means leaving the dead stems on the ground as habitat for all sorts of useful critters.