Another nice crisp winter week, there was heaps more done in my garden this week, I bit the bullet and had numerous climbers cut off at ground level! They were the wonga wonga vines which have created wonderful cover on the tall wire shelter fencing we have around our circular garden, butater 20 years the trees and shrubs have grown up and the climbers are not needed now. They were really mature thick trunk like vines which have wanted to grow over anything in their path. Now it will take a while to pull them off but with cutting them off at ground level they are dieing and shrinking which will make it easier to pull them down.

With all the leaves cut from the hellebore's and new flowers popping up right now they are so pretty. I notice the Daphne's and which-hazel are about to flower and a lot of buds and flowers appearing on primroses and polyanthus so winter is not so dull here on the coast.

The garden centres are busy this month with lots of new stock coming in, like roses, deciduous trees and shrubs, bulbs, dahlias, gladioli and peonies so lots of planting to do once you have your garden cleared of all the old autumn leaves.
If you are thinking of new tree planting, don't hesitate choose while the selection is good and get them in right now to get the most new root growth going before the dry summer days to come.
I am finding the ground perfect for planting, lots of moisture and not frozen like some years in the past at this time of the year, there is still heat in the sun which makes perfect planting conditions.
Because there is warmth through the days I have kept sowing seeds which I am keeping under glass and I expect good germination.

While composting around established rhododendrons I have found at least six runner plants which had layered themselves down and made nice roots into the ground. I cut the runner from the mother plant and dug around the new root ball, removed the new small bush's and planted them around the garden. This layered rooting only happens if the ground is moist enough. Have a look around the ground area of your established shrubs and see what you can find they will transplant well right now.

This is the only time to transplant peonie roses but be very careful not to damage the new shoots forming now, peat added in the planting hole is beneficial to assist new root growth.

keep the rose pruning going, the wood is hard enough now and new buds are swelling so rose fertiliser or old stable manure will be great for roses right now.

Prune grape vines now while the nights are at their coldest. Prune back side laterals and all surplus growth, (leaders and laterals not required on established vines.

Turn your compost now and add moisture if the pile is dry, when it is saturated cover with straw, old carpet or plastic to maintain heat.

The vegetable garden is still growing, plant broad beans and if you have a very warm spot with all day sun put in some early potatoes, cover them at night if they pop through quickly.

Cheers, Linda.