Aroundtown Magazine January/February 2024 edition

HOME & GARDEN
Winter
in the garden
With Sally Cunis
After the excitement of the festive season, the
New Year can seem a little bleak but a walk
around the garden or across the fields and
through the woods is uplifting and life affirming.
The weather may be cold, frosty,
snowy and wet but under the leaf
litter life is stirring, animals are
hibernating, bugs are sheltering in
crevices, bulbs are gradually striving
for the light through frozen ground
whilst patches of rainbow-coloured
Cornus (dogwood), peeling tree
bark and variegated evergreens light
up the gloom.
Drifts of sweet, heady scent
from the flowers of Hamamelis,
Viburnum, Sarcococca, Daphne and
the evergreen Clematis Armandii
fill the garden and attract the few
beneficial insects which are not still
in hibernation.
The exquisite flowers of
Hellebores spring up on upright
stems from the centre of last year’s
Galanthus nivalis (snowdrop)
Viburnum tinus Eve Price
Galanthus plena
(double snowdrop)
Anenome blanda
Helleborus Niger
leaves; cut last year’s leaves back
now to show off the flowers to their
best advantage, to help minimise
mouldy spots and to remove
cover for mice who might eat
emerging buds.
Snowdrops suddenly flood
the garden with a white blanket
and spread like a ribbon along
my snowdrop walk, little nodding
heads on improbably delicate green
stems. Galanthophiles (snowdrop
collectors) love the different varieties
but the simple Galanthus nivalis and
the pretty double form, Galanthus
plena are beautiful, easy to grow,
reliable and can be split and moved
“in the green”; they are my favourites
and those of my late mother.
Inspiration either to plant a
new or improve an existing winter
garden is best found by visiting any
number of beautiful gardens open
to the public. Many advertise winter
walks in the local press or monthly
gardening magazines.
A classic planting combination is
masses of red Cornus alba “Sibirica”
or glowing Cornus “Midwinter Fire”
backed by the pure white stems of
Betula Jacmontii “Snow Queen”
underplanted with banks of the
fleshy leaved Bergenia cordifolia
“Winterglut” which tinge reddishbronze
in frosty weather. Hellebores
and spring bulbs add extra
interest and pops of colour to the
winter scene.
Of the small bulbs, Scilla, Iris
reticulata, Narcissi tête à tête and
Anenome blanda are amongst my
favourites. Squirrels also love bulbs
so deeply mulch areas of bulb
planting or, if possible, cover the soil
with a protective layer of chicken
wire. For bulbs in pots follow my
late mother’s example and use
an upturned hanging basket for
protection. Our resident squirrels
have already run off with some
lovely fat bulbs from the pots by the
back door!
Berries in abundance continue
to add colour to the garden and
provide food for hungry birds and
other wildlife. Try to leave seed
heads such as teasels for as long
as possible for the finches. Clean
bird feeders regularly and top up
with fat balls, peanuts and bird seed.
Remember to de-ice ponds and bird
Sarcococca confusa
Viburnum bodnantense
baths on a regular basis; floating
a large ball on the pond may stop
ice forming, aerating the pond and
allowing life to continue to flourish in
the water beneath.
Now is a good time to prune out
dead, damaged or diseased wood
from fruit trees. Do the same with
any bush roses that are over one
metre in height to avoid wind rock
and, if any newly planted roses have
lifted, heel in firmly. Check and tie in
any loose climbers which might be
damaged by strong winds.
Indoors, move house plants and
tender plants brought in from the
garden last autumn near to natural
light sources and reduce watering.
If they need to stand on a windowsill,
beware of drawing curtains across
plants at night and effectively putting
them in a cold spot. Sweet peas
can be sown in long trainer pots or
cardboard tubes, a taste of summer
to come.
With best wishes for a great
gardening New Year.
70 aroundtownmagazine.co.uk