Garden Checklist ...

Good Morning!
As promised at the start of the week I am back today with my Checklist!
Here's some bits and bobs you can be getting on with in your garden ...

1. Roses - Now is a good time to take cuttings of your favourite Roses!
First off you need to make sure that you select a fresh healthy stem from this years growth to use as your cutting material. Make your cutting approx 25cm long, cutting with your secateurs above a bud at the top (removing the shoot tip) and just below a bud at the bottom. You can insert 3 or 4 cuttings into the same pot filled with gritty compost, leaving in a shady spot for about a year until the cuttings have rooted.

2. Leaf Mould - Leaf mould is fantastic for mulching plants, Hellebores love it, and it's also great to include when making your own Compost mixes. However it's not that easy to come by and the best way of getting some is by making it yourself! All you need to do is to collect fallen leaves and place them into a tied black bin bag, with some holes pierced through by a garden fork. Store somewhere out of view, e.g. behind a shed or Greenhouse and in about a year all of the leaves will have rotted down. If you want to collect pine needles it's a good idea to keep them in a separate bag as these will adjust the acidity level. Making them great for plants that need Ericacious conditions!

3. Winter Baskets - Yes it's time to start planning your Winter Baskets! You will have noticed that Summer baskets are starting to look a little tired now so it's time to make your mind up about what to put in them next! I always like to plant up a variety of Bedding and small Shrubs to provide varied interest. This year I am thinking of using some small Conifers, Broze Carex, Skimmia, large Cyclamen, Primroses and Violas ... to name just a few!

Winter baskets can also be used as "Evergreen Baskets" where they provide interest all year, only needing a tidy up every so often and the compost replacing each year to two, depending on what you use. I have some myself containing Ivy, Box and Primroses, with some Dwarf Daffs thrown in to. However I am tempted to replace the box with small conifers sometime soon.
This is what they looked like in February this year when I planted them up.

4. Under Cover - Now that the temperate is dropping it's time to bring tender plants under cover, such as citrus and potted Agapanthus. Check the plants over for any signs of pests before bringing in. If storing in an un-heated greenhouse it's always a good idea to insulate it with bubblewrap to help keep heat in. Before you do this however it's wise to give the GH a good clean to help get rid of any pests that want to over winter in there too!

Thanks for stopping by, don't forget you can find all the previous Checklists on the page tab above.

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX