More rain this week keeping us out of gardens and off soggy lawns, I have noticed a lot of spring blossom, ( mostly pretty prunus autumnalis which flowers four times a year) and jonquils blooming around the town and we have only just come into this mild winter, I guess tree's and bulbs feel it is already spring.
Because rain has kept me out of the garden this week, time has allowed me to really look at deciduous trees and shrubs now they are bare, inspection is a must to spot any sprouting of new growth beneath the graft on a grafted tree. All large deciduous trees such as flowering cherries, magnolia, silver birch, ashes, oaks any large well grown specimen tree bought today will have been grafted onto strong growing root stock different to the top growth. From time to time the root stock will push growth out and up and because it is strong growing it will always overtake the wanted specimen. This root stock growth must be cut out before it becomes established. I have seen a few mature flowering cherry trees left to grow this way and the result is not good, a display of beautiful pink blossom on one side and insipid root stock white blossom on the other side spoils the originally chosen tree.
Thinning out of branches on trees can be done now, if branches are crossing over each other or if there are too many in the centre don't just shorten a branch back because it will regrow from that point, take it right out, cut on a slant leaving a short collar against the trunk.Prunus and crab apple trees are bad for producing over crowding branches which tend to rub together encouraging disease if not removed, But wait until spring before pruning flowering cherry trees because winter is when they can become infected with silver leaf, which will eventually kill even a large tree. Always make sure your pruning equipment is cleaned from one tree to the next, methylated spirits is good for doing this.
Leucodendrons are taking center stage now here on the coast, they are wonderful for picking once fully hardened and will last for months picked and put in a vase, just the thing when there is not lot else to pick. Leucodendrons are easy to grow in the conditions they prefer, being full sun, good draining acid soil and staked and protected from strong winds until established. They will grow on dry banks and rough area's as long as they do not have to compete with grass and weeds. Leucodendrons resent any type of fertiliser, will not cope with hard frosts and once established will die if shifted. There are leucodendrons which grow very large, low spreaders which look great spilling over walls, low bushy types, they all add wonderful colour to a dull winter garden.
Vegetables and Fruit
Keep planting out seedling veg plants, board beans and garlic here on the coast.
Winter is also the time for planting rhubarb and asparagus crowns so prepare the ground with rich composted now, get them planted and established and in no time you will be making rhubarb crumble and asparagus rolls.
Black current bushes should have as much of the old dark shoot removed now, leaving only the light coloured smooth vigorous young growth.
Red currents don't fruit on new wood so older wood should be kept for 3 years just cut out the odd old branch yearly to encourage a few new replacements.
Give all current bushes a good two hand fulls of bone meal or blood and bone in spring to ensure a good crop of fruit.
The continuing saga of Scruff our pup who at last has had his first doggy school lesson, he went in as a mighty ball of energy and after only 20 mins he was sitting and much quieter. It's all about the treats he receives, and the right way of giving those treats once he has done what is needed of him. I will need to remember not to apply this method to my busy Grandchildren! I don't think it would go down well with the Mum's and Dad's!!
Cheers, Linda
Because rain has kept me out of the garden this week, time has allowed me to really look at deciduous trees and shrubs now they are bare, inspection is a must to spot any sprouting of new growth beneath the graft on a grafted tree. All large deciduous trees such as flowering cherries, magnolia, silver birch, ashes, oaks any large well grown specimen tree bought today will have been grafted onto strong growing root stock different to the top growth. From time to time the root stock will push growth out and up and because it is strong growing it will always overtake the wanted specimen. This root stock growth must be cut out before it becomes established. I have seen a few mature flowering cherry trees left to grow this way and the result is not good, a display of beautiful pink blossom on one side and insipid root stock white blossom on the other side spoils the originally chosen tree.
Thinning out of branches on trees can be done now, if branches are crossing over each other or if there are too many in the centre don't just shorten a branch back because it will regrow from that point, take it right out, cut on a slant leaving a short collar against the trunk.Prunus and crab apple trees are bad for producing over crowding branches which tend to rub together encouraging disease if not removed, But wait until spring before pruning flowering cherry trees because winter is when they can become infected with silver leaf, which will eventually kill even a large tree. Always make sure your pruning equipment is cleaned from one tree to the next, methylated spirits is good for doing this.
With the help of an arborist I have been tidying up established trees, Rowan, hoheria, silver birch, ash and oak. Tree's that really need attention each year are standard kilmarnock willows, these small ornamental willows are a ground cover willow species grafted onto a willow standard becoming a Man made, upright small weeping tree that in this form nature had no plan for. Growing along the ground as it should the dead undergrowth would rot and break down. In the upright form each seasons growth dies and builds up under new growth. The dead branches are small and brittle and easily removed by working under the new growth canopy and cutting away the past growth. If the old growth has built up over a few years a small chain saw will do the trick. Attending to this annually is best, unwanted build will make the tree top heavy, two of mine fell over in overly wet ground but have now been pulled back upright and given permanent stakes for support. Robinia mop tops need the same annual cut back, they have also been grafted onto a standard but these trees put out fresh new growth each spring so all past growth needs to be cut right back to retain the round growth habit.
Leucodendrons are taking center stage now here on the coast, they are wonderful for picking once fully hardened and will last for months picked and put in a vase, just the thing when there is not lot else to pick. Leucodendrons are easy to grow in the conditions they prefer, being full sun, good draining acid soil and staked and protected from strong winds until established. They will grow on dry banks and rough area's as long as they do not have to compete with grass and weeds. Leucodendrons resent any type of fertiliser, will not cope with hard frosts and once established will die if shifted. There are leucodendrons which grow very large, low spreaders which look great spilling over walls, low bushy types, they all add wonderful colour to a dull winter garden.
Vegetables and Fruit
Keep planting out seedling veg plants, board beans and garlic here on the coast.
Winter is also the time for planting rhubarb and asparagus crowns so prepare the ground with rich composted now, get them planted and established and in no time you will be making rhubarb crumble and asparagus rolls.
Black current bushes should have as much of the old dark shoot removed now, leaving only the light coloured smooth vigorous young growth.
Red currents don't fruit on new wood so older wood should be kept for 3 years just cut out the odd old branch yearly to encourage a few new replacements.
Give all current bushes a good two hand fulls of bone meal or blood and bone in spring to ensure a good crop of fruit.
The continuing saga of Scruff our pup who at last has had his first doggy school lesson, he went in as a mighty ball of energy and after only 20 mins he was sitting and much quieter. It's all about the treats he receives, and the right way of giving those treats once he has done what is needed of him. I will need to remember not to apply this method to my busy Grandchildren! I don't think it would go down well with the Mum's and Dad's!!
Cheers, Linda
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