Garden Checklist & Merry Christmas!

Good Morning!
Even though it's the Festive season there are still little things you can be doing in the garden.
Oh and I know this post is a day late ... let's blame it on the festivities lol

1. Planting - The ground is still warm due to the unseasonal weather so you still have chance to plant or relocate any shrubs, roses, trees and hedges. This is also a good chance to check any plants that are currently needing support if you are experiencing windy weather too!

2. Winter Pruning - If your looking for a few jobs to do this side of Christmas then giving your Acers, Birches and Vines a prune is a good thing to do! Pruning will allow you to to create shape and get rid of any dead bits.

3. Summer Flowering Bulbs  - I know that Summer is the last thing on everyone's minds with Christmas in just a few days, but why not start deciding which Summer flowering bulbs
(such as Dahlia's and Gladioli) that you'd like next year whilst the widest choice is available. 

Also if you haven't done so already, order next years seeds!
The sowing season will soon be upon us!

Dahlia 'Cafe Au Lait' from my garden in 2014

4. Lawns - Keep off your lawns in frost and wet weather as walking over the grass can damage the grass and result in unsightly patches.

5. Greenhouse - With the extremely mild weather, Botrytis (Grey Mould) can be more of a problem undercover in GH's that have insulation as ventilation isn't as good as when your GH isn't insulated. Make sure you check your plants daily, I have been finding newly affected plant material each time I take a look and remove any of the diseased material straight away. When watering make sure you do it sparingly and try not to catch any of the plants foliage to limit infection.

6. Climbing Plants - Plants such as Ivy, Virginia Creeper and other climbers that are growing on houses can have a little trim if they are approaching windows and guttering. Also check that Climbers elsewhere in the garden are tied into their supports.

7. Autumn / Winter Bedding - Check over any bedding that you have for signs that it is past it's best. Most of my Viola's were looking tired and had caught Black Spot this week so it was time to transfer them to the compost bin! Replace any tired plants with fresh bedding or winter flowering shrubs ... a perfect excuse for a trip to the garden centre! 

As mentioned in my last checklist Primroses can be instantly cheered up by removing fading / discoloured leaves and dead - heading. 

8. Clean Up - Finally if you don't have any of these jobs above to do, keep up with clearing any fallen leaves on lawns and ponds to reduce the spread of disease and give any dirty pots and trays a good clean, it's not the most exciting job but when it comes to sowing seeds and potting on next year good plant hygiene is a must for successful growing!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!
For as long as you keep reading I shall be back with the Checklist & Problem Area posts next year along with some more snaps of my Garden, Plants and other Gardening topics next year ... 

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

Garden Checklist ...

Good Morning!
Along with the few things I mentioned over the past couple of weeks, there are a couple of other bits and bobs you can be getting on with in the garden too.

1. Primroses - If like me, you have Primroses in your garden you may have noticed that in the past week or so the leaves are looking a little worse for wear. Give your Primroses a tidy up by removing any yellowing / damaged leaves along with faded flower heads. You can also divide Primroses if they are becoming congested. This job will only take half an hour or so and the finished look is much more appealing to look at!
The same can also be done to Hellebores if any of the leaves are showing signs of Black spot.

2. Winter Bedding - If you have any pots of Winter Bedding and the temperatures are set to get really cold, move the pots to a sheltered position until the temperatures improve.
We've had lows down to 1c at the start of last week and highs of 11c last weekend!
You can also use Cloches to protect any Winter Veg that you may be growing.

3. Asparagus  - If you are growing Asparagus in your garden now is the time to cut down the plants, the same can be done for the tops of Jerusalem Artichokes.

4. Greenhouse - Over in the Greenhouse along with the usual checking over of plants for signs of pests & diseases, you can bring pots of bulbs under cover to force them to produce early blooms, resulting in some Winter colour for your GH or inside your home. 

5. Houseplants - Finally if you have any Houseplants on your windowsills and temperatures are set to get low over night, move them out of the window in the evening to help keep them at a more suitable temperature.

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

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

Garden Checklist ...

Good Morning!
Here are a few things you can be getting on with over the next week in your garden.

1. Apple Trees - If you are growing Apple Trees and they need a bit of a tidy up, winter is the ideal time to give them a prune. You can also prune any Autumn fruiting Raspberries to soil level now too.

2. Tools - With the gloomy weather not everyone wants to go outside, if that sounds like you then now is a good time to clean and sharpen any gardening tools.

3. Perennials  - If you don't like the look of dead flower stems over winter cut down any faded stems now and clear away. Whilst doing this keep an eye out for any pests hiding under fallen leaves.

4. Botrytis - Just like I suggested last week, keep checking for any signs of grey mould and act straight away. Remember to water sparingly too which will help prevent this spreading.

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

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

Garden Checklist ...

Good Morning!
Here are a few things you can be getting on with over the next week in your garden.

1. Frozen Water - If you have any ponds then keep an eye out for them freezing over in these lower temperatures, if left frozen they can cause problems for any fish or plants under water and also wildlife looking for water If your pond does freeze over then gently break the ice as soon as you notice it, you can also float items such as a tennis ball or polystyrene on top which helps prevent the whole surface freezing and can easily be removed if it does to provide an area of open water.
TIP - Keep an eye on Birdbaths too for freezing over.

2. Leaves - Keep collecting leaves for Leaf Mould, even if you think you already have enough, you never do and it's not available to buy on the market.

3. Bare-root  - Aswell as transplanting and planting shrubs etc that I suggested last week now is also the time to start thinking about planting anything bare root. Plants such as Tree's and Roses are becoming available to buy bare root this season and they are often a cheaper option to buy instead of being containerised throughout the rest of the year.

TIP - When planting bare-root make sure you soak the roots in a bucket of tepid water for 24hours as plants may have been dug up hours, days or weeks before you have bought them. Dig a planting hole of a suitable depth and double the width of the plant. Make sure the plant isn't buried any lower than it's original planting depth, you can usually tell what this is as there will be a variation in colour on the main part of the plant.

4. Botrytis - Grey Mould can soon occur daily on areas of plants that were fine the day before, especially on plants under cover. Daily removing of affected areas is important to keep your plants healthy. With the lower temperatures you may not want to open your Greenhouse's but just an hour or 2 of fresh air a day can be extremely beneficial in reducing the risk of this disease spreading, and of course the plants will welcome the fresh air!

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

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

Garden Checklist ...

Good Morning!
Here are a few things you can be getting on with over the next week in your garden.

1. Stray Seedlings - If you have spotted any rogue seedlings growing in places that aren't ideal, such as a drive way, you can dig them up and put into a more suitable place or pots until you can find somewhere.
For example I saw that there are some Verbascum seedlings growing on my drive that need relocating.

2. Plant Support  - If you have some supports outside that you are wanting to keep in place over winter it's a good idea to check that they are secure and in good condition before they get damaged by bad weather. We've had some windy days here this last week and these can cause havoc if anything isn't in place properly.

3. Transplant / Plant - I had some Geums growing in Teracotta pots that can't stay outside over winter as they aren't frost proof. This gave me the chance to re-jig my borders and take out some plants that I wasn't overly happy with and replaced them with the Geums.
The soil is still warm enough at the moment for you to do this yourself. 

• Always make sure that you tease the roots out if they have become root bound and that you have given the plant a good water so that the root ball isn't dry before planting.
• Firm in plants once they are in the ground, you can use your boots to ensure this is done properly.
• Make sure you give the plant a really good water when you have finished, even if it's raining! I always give each plant a full watering can of water when I plant them into the ground.

4. Planning - If you've sorted through your seed packets as I suggested recently then you'll probably also be starting to think ahead to next year. Have a think about what you want to grow and start stocking up on the seeds you will need. 

I've started to write a list of the Salad Crops that I want to grow and added them to my wish list!

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

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

Garden Checklist ...

Good Morning!
I'm back today with another Checklist, I have decided to now post these on a Monday and the Problem Area posts on a Friday, just incase you thought I'd forgotten about the Checklist yesterday!
Here are a few things you can be getting on with over the next week.

1. Dead Heading - Keep dead heading Winter Bedding such as Viola's, Pansies and Primroses to prolong flowering and to prevent plants setting seed.

2. Tulips  - Tulips need to be planted by the end of this month so if you have any bulbs waiting to be planted, now is the time to do it!

3. Dahlia's- You can choose to lift Dahlia's now or wait until they have been blackened by frost first. You can lift and store the tubers for next year by cutting down the stems to about 2-4inches then carefully digging the tubers up without damaging them. Wipe off excess soil and lower the stems to 1-2 inches then leave the tubers to dry out upside down, for a few days to rid of excess liquid in a frost free location our of direct sunlight. Over winter they can be stored in a ventilated basket or box in moistened sand in a cool, dry frost free place. 

I decided not to store my Dahlia's this year and added them to the Compost bin.

4. Variegated Shrubs - Keep checking that your variegated shrubs do not have plain coloured shoots coming through, cut them out once if you find any to keep the correct foliage.

5. Soil - Dig over vacant areas soils and rid them of any unwanted weeds and moss.

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

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

Garden Checklist ...

Good Morning!
I hope you all remembered to set your clock back an hour last night! The nights are drawing in and time in the garden is now going to be reduced, but there are still a few things you can be getting on with!

1. Ponds - Remove any dead or dying foliage on pond plants this coming week. If it is left it will rot down into the pond leading to high nitrogen levels, which can encourage blanketweed and algea next Spring. Cut back all falling stems but make sure you do not cut below the water line.
You will also need to remove any annual surface cover plants along with any fallen leaves and keep checking that the water level is at the correct height for your plants over the Winter months.

2. Planting - There's still time to get any evergreen shrubs, hedges and Spring Bedding planted into the ground.

3. Weed Seedlings- Keep on top of any weed seedlings that you spot in your garden, it's best to catch them when they're small as they are much easier to remove then.

4. Display - If you haven't done so already, make a start on your Winter Pot displays! Some bright pops of colour are most welcome in the coming months.

5. Auriculas - If like me you are growing Auriculas you will have noticed over the past few weeks that the leaves are looking a little tatty. Remove any dead or yellow leaves from the plants, make sure you remove the whole leaf from it's base. If a part is left, it can lead to problems with disease.

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

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

Garden Checklist ...

Good Morning!
Here's a few things you can be doing in your garden over the coming days.

1. Lawns - Autumn is the time to give your lawn a little bit of maintenance! One of the things you can do after mowing is give it a good rake through to remove any moss that has built up, trust me there will be soon! This will improve the health of the lawn. You can also aerate it with a fork and remove any weeds you see growing through.

2. Planting - Autumn is a good time to get plants in the ground before winter. The ground is still warm over the next couple of weeks so if you have any evergreens, hedging or shrubs sitting around waiting to be planted, now is the time to do it.

On the flip side of this now is the time to dig up and move any tender perennials that need protection of winter before the frosts come! We've already had a couple of light frosts this week.
You can also lift and divide any congested Perennials and re-plant in various areas of the garden!

3. Healthy Plants - To keep your plants healthy keep checking them over for anything that can prevent them happening. For example as you can see below there are some faded flower stems that need pulling out and a sneaky snail that has climbed into one of the flowers!

Alstroemeria - Inca Ice 'Koice'

4. Harvest - Plants such as Chilli's are still ripening and ready to harvest, snip them all off once they are ready and store in a freezer if you won't be using them right away.

5. Over Wintering - If like me you are over wintering various plants, I like to reduce them in size around about now, such as with my Pelargoniums. In my personal experience I find by reducing the amount of foliage it helps prevent the chances of grey mould, which in a bubble-wrapped greenhouse can occur quickly. It also reduces the amount of water the plant needs to take in and the energy it uses. You can also re - pot into smaller pots if you are tight on space.

6. Roses - Keep collecting fallen rose leaves from around the plants base, especially if they are affected with blackspot. If they are left the spores can lay in the ground and raise the chances of the plant getting blackspot next year. 

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

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

Garden Checklist ...

Good Morning!
Here's a few things you can be doing in your garden over the coming days.

1. Leaves - Leaves are starting to fall so it's a good time to start raking them up and using them to create your own Leaf Mould.

2. Tender Plants - With the lower temperature's it's a good time to walk around your garden and look out your tender plants that won't survive the winter outside, it's time to bring them under cover.

3. Winter Pots & Baskets - If you haven't already it's time to get cracking with your Winter Pots & Baskets. I've decided to cut down on the baskets this year but I have made up a couple of pots with a mix of Heuchera's, Grasses, Euonymous and Viola's.

 If you are planning on planting bedding out in your borders too then now is also a good time to do that.

Viola - Amber Kiss

4. Equipment - If you have glazed or non - frost proof pots outside these will also need to be brought under cover or protected with bubblewrap. In cooler temperatures these pots can crack and break. You will also need to put any hosepipes back into storage and wrap the taps with insulation. It's best to get on with these jobs before any casualties occur!

5. Pests - If you have any plants that your are over - wintering in the Greenhouse keep checking them for any signs of pests. These can easily get in on the days you have the door open for ventilation or could have been carried in on any of the plants you have moved in from outside. No matter how thoroughly you think you've checked them something always seems to sneak in!

6. Sweet Peas - If you are planning on Autumn sowing some Sweet Pea's, then now is the time to get cracking!

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

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

Garden Checklist ...

Good Morning!
Am I the only one who is starting to feel the chill of Autumn all of a sudden this week?
This morning we were greeted by mist, a chilly breeze and illuminated cobwebs all over the garden. I don't mind though, it is one of my favourite times of the year.
Back to today's post and here's a few things you can be doing in your garden over the coming days.

1. Greenhouse - This week's chill has kick started me into getting the Greenhouse ready for the changes in temperature. We've had lows of 6c on a few nights so I've been putting up some insulation in the Greenhouse this weekend. The best way to do this is by Bubblewrap, simply fix to the the inside of the Greenhouse and it will help keep the temperatures inside a few degrees higher than outside over the colder months. I also have an electric heater that is set to come on if it drops below 5c which if you are wanting to over winter tender plants, is something that you need.

2. Winter Bedding - The Viola's I received a few weeks ago have been potted on into larger 9cm pots from trays this week. Another thing you can do to help your bedding plants produce stronger growth is to pinch off any of the first flush of flower heads. It may seem harsh but it will help focus the plants energy on stronger roots and a larger bushier plant. 

3. Onions & Garlic - If you are planning on growing either of these, now is the time to plant your Autumn sets. When planting make sure you plant the onion sets with the top part peeking through the top of the soil and the Garlic about an inch below the surface. Make sure that when you plant both of these the pointy end is at the top. 

TIP - If you want to plant these but currently have no space, you can plant the bulbs in module trays, leave over winter, then plant them out in the Spring.

4. Cuttings - If like me you took some Cuttings a few months ago which were potted on once they'd rooted, they should be ready for their final pots before Winter. 

For example this Pelargonium cutting was potted on into a small pot about 2 months ago and when I checked it this week the roots had pushed through to the bottom. I have now potted it into a small Terracotta pot for the winter in a mix of John Innes no.2 and Grit.

5. Potted Plants - On the subject of 'Potting On' now is also a good time to freshen up those plants that live permanently in pots. I like to refresh their compost every 2 or so years and maybe pot them on into a pot which is the next size up. For plants that are already in the largest pot possible you can root prune them.

For plants that live in pots I use John Innes no.3 with a small amount of slow release fertiliser mixed in. Don't forget to add some crocs in the bottom to help aid drainage. I like to cover the top with a layer of Grit to reduce weeds / moss growing on the top and to help keep moisture in during the warmer months.

Abutilon - Megapotamicum

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

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

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

Garden Checklist ...

Good Morning!
I know it's been absolutely AGESSSSS since I last posted and I certainly didn't plan it to be. What with work, course work and rubbish weather I haven't really had the chance to get much done in the Garden recently apart from the occasional dead-heading over the past few weeks.
However I'm back today with my Checklist and a few other photo's for you!

1. Feeding - What with the low temperatures this Summer my Tomatoes haven't really got going until recently. There's still a few weeks left for them to ripen so don't despair too much! Carry on feeding them once a week and remove excess foliage to allow plenty of light at the fruits. If the weather turns and we have yet more cooler days keep an eye on your watering and make sure you don't give them too much.
You can also give your Chilli's a feed to help give them a bit of a boost too.

2. Pests & Foliage -Keep an eye out for Pests and Foliage problems. For example just yesterday I spotted Viburnum Beetle all over my Viburnum Tinus, the little blighters!

In a GH you may come across Aphids which can be dealt with simply by squashing them.

Make sure you remove any yellow / brown or mouldy leaves on plants as this can help spread grey mould. Don't forget to keep an eye out for Caterpillars too which can be found hiding between leaves!

3. Winter Bedding - If like me you ordered some Winter Bedding and planted it up in trays a few weeks ago they will soon be ready for potting on. All you need to do is pot them on into bigger trays to all the plant to grow and develop a good root structure before eventually being planted out.

4. Plan Ahead - You may not want to hear it but now is a good time to take note of what did and what didn't perform well this year. This will help you decide what to have in your garden next year. For example I really liked the Cosmos that I grew this year and although I have decided to cut back on the amount of Annuals next year, if there is only one that I grow it will be this one!

'Cosmos - Double Click Snow Puff'

My 'Agapanthus - Queen Mum' will also be sticking around as after sharing no flowers last year it made up for that with not one but three giant blooms this time around, they haven't stopped flowering for weeks! I have the plant in a pot next to the back door and is at a perfect height to greet me at eye level every time I go past.

5. Cyclamen - If you have been looking after last years Cyclamen then now is the time to start giving them a water after their Summer break.

TIP - With Cyclamen it's always a good idea to water them from below instead of the top as this can cause the corn to rot if it's left wet.

6. Bulbs - Now is the time to start thinking about buying and planting next years Spring bulbs!

As you know I bought 60 - 'Narcissa Thalia' which all need planting in the borders. I'm hoping to do this soon when I give the borders a good mulch!

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

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

Weekly Garden Checklist ...

Good Morning!
It's time for my Weekly Garden Checklist ...

1. Dead Heading - I know I may sound like a broken record but don't forget to keep up with the dead heading. Not just the with the Bedding plants either, Perennials such as Astrantia's and Phygelius as you can see below need it to. It will also encourage more flowering.

2. Roses -Keep an eye on Roses for signs of any Pests & Diseases, remove any affected leaves with Blackspot and if needed, spray the Roses with Rose Clear every 6 weeks. When spraying make sure you do it either early in the morning or late at night to limit the chances of it affecting any Bee's.

 Also don't forget to pick up any fallen leaves as that can help spread disease.

3. Lavender - Another plant to dead head is Lavender, as you can see here my French Lavender has finished flowering so it needs cutting back. When doing so make sure you cut back into growth where fresh growth is still visable, if you cut back into the woody growth there's no guarantee that it will grow back again.

4. Damp Down - If you are finding that your Greenhouse is reaching high temperatures during the day, damp it down by spraying the floor with a hose pipe. This will increase the humidity and help prevent pests such as red spider mite which thrive in those conditions.

5. Stake - Stake and help provide supports for plants such as Dahlia's and Lilies that can get a battering in the wind & rain, what looks good one minute can look like a bomb has hit it within a few minutes!

Finally I thought I'd leave you with a photograph that proves that a Reindeer isn't just for Christmas ...

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

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX

Weekly Garden Checklist ...

Good Morning!
It's time for my Weekly Garden Checklist ...

1.Seeds - There's still just a bit of time to get those Hardy Annuals and Biennials sown for next year. Here you can see I've sown some of the 'Apricot' Foxglove seeds along with some Black Pansies for Spring Bedding. There's also still time to sow some veggies!

2. Winter Bedding - Along with seed sowing now is the time to start thinking of Winter Bedding! I know we're only in July but if your buying online it's a good idea to get it sorted early before all the best ones are sold out! Here you can see I've decided to get some White Primroses and some vibrant 'Amber Kiss' Viola's as a contrast and last but not least some 'Thalia' Narcissus bulbs.

3. Hedges - Now is a good time to keep hedges looking presentable and to give them a light trim to tidy them up.

4. Quick Plants - If you go to a Garden Centre and decide to treat yourself why not try this quick and easy way of giving yourself even more! If the plant is well established in a decent size pot, tease the plant apart into sections and pot on into individual pots. In an instant you've doubled what you bought! You can see that I have done this with the 'Trifolium' I bought recently.

I also couldn't resist buying myself this Oxalis at the same time ....

... or this Hosta.

5. Dead Heading- Keep up with deadheading, not only does it help promote more flowers but it keeps the plant looking tidy and reduces the risk of grey mould.

You can also remove the old leaves from Water Lilies that are past their best.

5. Cuttings- Continue taking cuttings of the plants you would like spares of incase anything happens over winter, or if you simply want more! Plants such as Pelargoniums, Dianthus, Surfinia's and Penstemons are good to take now along with soft wood cuttings from shrubs. 

Don't forget to check any cuttings taken a few week's ago for signs of root growth and if needed, potting them on. 

As you can see below I managed to create extra plants from my Sempervivums and Echeveria's as I suggested last week.

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

HAPPY GROWING!

XXX