The Village Voice Dec 18 Jan 19

In the Garden
with Alan Edmondson of
Bowercot Garden Design
December/January
Gardening Tips
• On fine days, complete the winter pruning of fruit and ornamental trees and bushes.
• Roses can still be planted so long as the soil is not too wet or frosty.
• Check stakes and ties on newly planted trees; wind rock can cause a lot of damage.
• Continue to plant deciduous hedges if the soil is workable.
• You can still plant lily bulbs if you see some on offer, but check that they are in good
condition before you buy.
• Do not over water in the greenhouse and do not water late in the day.
• Pot up plants of primroses, polyanthus and border auriculas and bring into the cold
greenhouse for early flowering.
• If you have not sown any broad beans then do so now.
• Check stored fruit and remove any that has rotted.
• Work in organic manure, where required, in the vegetable plot. Do not lime at the
same time.
• Remove algae and moss growth from stonework and paving on a dry day.
• Do not plant conifers and evergreen shrubs in cold frosty weather.
• Clean paeony crowns of dead stems and foliage and cover with an inch of peat or
sawdust. This helps to prevent infection of the blooms.
• Send for some seed catalogues and order something different.
Alan Edmondson of Bowercot Garden
Design, Lymington, is a regular
contributor to BBC Radio Solent’s ‘The
Kitchen Garden’ formerly ‘The Good Life’.
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