Dicksons Garden Centre - Gardening Tips - Nursery Centre, Northern Ireland

WINTER

December

With the approach of winter the garden takes on an air of quietness. There is an absence of urgency and a more leisurely pace can be taken. Leading up to a well deserved Christmas break.

Tasks to complete this month are as follows;

Flowers

If not frosty plant new rose bushes
Cut back the herbaceous border and mulch thickly with composted bark
Put slug pellets around treasured plants, especially Alpines and Bulbs in mild weather
Protect delicate evergreens from cold winds by using Horticultural Fleece Fruit
Still time to plant new fruit bushes if the soil is not frozen
Still time to use tar oil wash
Make sure Apples and Pears are pruned by the end of the month
Raspberry Canes are available for planting now

Vegetables

Buy seeds now to ensure full availability
Net winter vegetables to keep pigeons away

Lawns

Avoid walking on lawns in frosty weather
If puddles stay on the lawn spike with a garden fork to aid drainage and prevent disease
Consider having lawn mowers and strimmers serviced

Greenhouse

Clear greenhouse gutters of Autumn leaves
Wash greenhouse glass inside and outside to allow as much light in as possible
Line the inside of the greenhouse with bubblewrap to keep plants warmer
Do not water plants too much, water when compost is dry
Check plants regularly for pests and disease i.e., moulds and fungus
Ventilate on warm days

General Tasks

Sweep up leaves to make compost
Take pumps out of ponds and fountains (drain fountains to prevent splitting)
Move patio pots to house wall to give support and protection
Cut some stems of viburnum x bodnantense to brighten and perfume the house
Ensure outside taps are insulated or drained

Plants which are at their best in December

Ilex aquifolium and varieties (Hollies)
Mahonia
Pernettya varieties
Prunus autumnalis 'Rosea'
Iris foetidissima
Erica darleyensis
Indoor Cyclamen
Poinsettias
Non Hardy Azaleas

Top

January

The shortest and coldest days of the year, but even now some plants are growing and flowering as if it were high summer. It is an ideal time to catch up on reading and other jobs that the busy months do not give time to do

Flowers

Check and firm in all newly planted shrubs and trees
Check Dahlia tubers, Gladioli and Begonia corms that are being stored and remove any that are rotting
Spot water containers, pots, tubs and window boxes
Remove snow from evergreen trees and shrubs

Fruit

Spray with 'Mortegg' Winter Wash in milder spells
Plant new fruit bushes when the ground is not too wet or frozen
Check and loosen tree ties, replace any that are broken
Check stakes on fruit trees for being loose or broken

Vegetables

Dig over vacant plots and leave rough for frost to break down
Check stored vegetable and throw out any that are rotting
Towards the end of the month consider putting up plastic cloches to warm the soil and give early salad crops

Lawns