Gosh! The storm we’ve just had has certainly reminded me that even though we’ve been enjoying amazingly mild weather, and glorious autumn colours, the rigours of winter are snapping at our heels, and before we know it will be upon us. Of course here at the garden centre, we always try to be at least one step ahead, and have had our order in place for this year’s Christmas trees for ages!

Christmas Trees

Our stock of Nordman (non dropping) trees will start arriving at the end of the month from our usual source. The trees are cut from sustainable stock in Denmark, and shipped to us by a small family run business. As those of you who have been buying our trees over the years know, you just cannot beat our trees for quality.

This year we are again offering our unique Christmas tree service, which includes 10% off the price of all pre-ordered trees:

Pre-order and pay for your Christmas tree by 30^th November, either over the phone or in person (stipulating exactly what you want in terms of height and shape), and we’ll reserve your tree as soon as the delivery arrives, knock 10% off the price, and deliver it in our local area, free of charge. Add to this the fact that the base of the tree will be whittled to fit into a stand, and we’re sure you’ll agree that our customer service is second to none.

You can, of course, come by and check that you’re happy with the tree we’ve picked out for you prior to delivery (and change it if necessary, while stocks last). Alternatively, we can reserve your tree ready for you to collect at your convenience, if you prefer.

We believe this personalised service will not only save you time and hassle but will ensure that you receive the size and shape tree that you want.

The price of the trees remains the same as the last three years:

3’ (90cm) £28

4’ (1.2m) £38

5’ (1.5m) £48

6’ (1.8m) £58

7’ (2.1m) £78

8’ (2.4m) £98

9’ (2.7m) £118

10’ (3m) £138

Don’t delay – book yours today!

We will also be selling 2 sizes of sturdy metal stands – 4” @ £19.95 and 5”(for trees over 9’tall) @ £24.95 which you can also order in advance to be delivered or collected with your tree.

Please be aware that, due to escalating costs, there will be a delivery charge of £10 if you buy your tree in December.

As an extra ‘thank you’, we will give you double points on your reward card for all purchases made during November and December, including your Christmas tree. Think of it as our Christmas present to you!

So, what else is happening at the garden centre this month?

Autumn plants

There are many plants and shrubs that look good through winter … Cornus (Dogwood) with their vibrant stems; Pyracantha and Ilex (Holly) laden with berries; cheery little Cyclamen, and Skimmia Kew Green, Vibernum tinus and Camellia sasanqua already promising colour and form in the months to come.

Spring flowering bulbs and plants

It’s now the ideal time to plant tulips and alliums, and as it’s been such a mild autumn, you can still get away with planting narcissi, snowdrops, and fritillaria.

For a little while longer we will continue selling bare-rooted Wallflowers in a variety of colours, which change each week. For £3.95 you get a minimum of 10 plants, ready to pop straight into the ground, where they will take root ready to burst into fragrant and colourful flower early next year. Truly ‘a lot of bang for your buck’!

50% sale of plants

On a table on the upper site, we have plants on sale. Canny gardeners will know that buying herbaceous perennials now (even though they have gone past their best) rather than in the spring, means they’ll be stronger and larger next year. They may not look like much at the moment, but you’ll be smugly smiling next year if you plant them now.

Gifts and home

We have been stocking up on more items in preparation for Christmas. Along with what have become the almost ubiquitous votive True Grace candles in scents such as Fig, Cinnamon & Clove, Parlour and the new Christmas, we now have their range of candles in a tin and also room diffusers. Completely divine.

Many of you have already tried the range of hand creams we have on the counter (we use the testers ourselves on a daily basis!) which help to ward off the dreaded winter cracked finger tips. There is also an amazing award-winning luxury range of hand soaps and creams called Blend Collective, which is made from between 99 and 100% natural products. Come and take a little sample pot to try.

At a recent trade show, Emily and I met a wonderful ceramicist, Sue Ure, who lives and works in France. We will soon be receiving the small selection we chose from her beautiful range of hand-made pieces, including mugs and expresso cups, bowls and vases. They are truly exquisite and any piece would make a unique and delightful gift.

Wildlife

I’m not talking about Basil or Mittens (who’ve already started to put on their winter coats and ‘padding’!) but about the birds. Please don’t forget to keep them fed. Adding fat balls and suet blocks to your feeding regime now will help them, as they need the extra calories as the weather turns colder. We’ve just got in a delivery of wooden bird feeders and nesting boxes, made by hand in the UK, and painted in soft muted tones to blend into your garden beautifully.

Christmas ‘Bling’

Last but not least, we have some really gorgeous items to grace your tree and home this Christmas. We have again sourced glass baubles in a range of colours and sizes from the fabulous Nkuku, and have also found a new supplier of tree decorations, which have a rustic handmade look, but at a sensible price. With wooden stars, twinkling tea light holders,candle sticks and much more besides, we can certainly help bring some Christmas sparkle to your home. There are even packs for you to make your own decorations…. with or without your children.

We have also sourced some simple white LED Christmas tree lights, as so many of you have asked for them in previous years.

Hope to see you soon, and don’t forget that every penny you spend this month and next will earn you double points!

With warm wishes

Karen

PS

Did you know that we can supply you with Southwark brown garden refuse sacks? Very handy for that Autumn garden clear up! Just come and grab some from the shop.

PPS

 Remember that our opening hours in November are reduced to 10am to 4pm

Opening Hours

Monday to Saturday: 9:30am – 5:30pm
Sundays and Bank Holidays: 10am – 4pm

Except

Jan: 10am – 4pm (Fri, Sat and Sun only)
Feb, Aug, Nov: 10am – 4pm (every day)

Contact Us

Web: www.alleynpark.co.uk
Email: info@alleynpark.co.uk
Phone: 020 8670 7788

Rear of 77 Park Hall Road
(Entrance opposite Café Rouge)
West Dulwich, London SE21 8ES

I've cleared my pots of the faded summer planting and am still deliberating what to put in. I've got a huge pot which hosted my sweet peas brilliantly, and I'd love to fill it with a mixture of bulbs, but that would potentially mean delaying the sweet peas later than I would like in the spring... oh well, I'll just have to get another pot for the bulbs.

My top 2 jobs for the month

1. Clean and store away all tools, pots, bags of compost, hoses and irrigation equipment which you won't be using during the winter months.

2. Keep on top of the leaf clearing, especially from lawns and pathways.

I gave you a long list of jobs last month in our October newsletter, and with the temperatures as warm as they have been, many of them can/should be carried out in November.

Planting

• Continue planting bulbs in beds and containers, November being the ideal month for tulip planting. Some bulbs cope particularly well in shadier areas - bluebells, grape hyacinths, snowdrops, daffodils - and remember that bulbs can be planted under deciduous trees and shrubs where they will flower before the canopy develops next year.
• With the good October temperatures we’ve had, the ground is still great for planting. The benefits of autumn planting are the warm soil, and cool nights which leads to good root growth and fewer losses. This applies to herbaceous perennials, shrubs and trees - why not plant a deciduous tree with beautiful autumn colour and look forward to the display next year. It's also a good time to move plants around if you've made mistakes.
• I've seen so many window boxes and containers still full of summer bedding, but it really is time to get rid of it before it becomes really untidy and desiccated. Pansies, violas and cyclamen will provide fresh colour and can be combined with small evergreen shrubs such as box, Euonymous, Choisya or a beautifully scented Sarcococca. Or try an evergreen fern, Hellebore or one of the beautifully coloured Heuchera.
• Pot up indoor narcissi and hyacinths, amaryllis too, ready for Christmas.
• Sow sweet peas ready for next year. Many people report much better results from autumn sown plants, kept in a cold frame over winter.

Plant maintenance

• Leave ornamental grasses in place over the winter to support overwintering beneficial insects.
• The storm we’ve just had will have tested your tree stakes. Make sure they are secure before more high winds hit us.
• Tie in climbers, and if this isn't possible, cut whippy growth back.
• Mulch beds and borders, with a thick layer of compost, bark or other mulching material to insulate plants and roots from cold temperatures. This is especially important for borderline-hardy plants,
• Raise pots and containers onto pot feet or bricks to aid drainage and prevent them becoming waterlogged.
• Be ready for frost with fleece to protect vulnerable plants.
• Remember that the roots of plants in containers are more susceptible to frost than plants in the ground, and therefore need protection. Move them to a more sheltered spot, or wrap bubble wrap or hessian around the pot.
• Acers, birches, walnuts and laburnum are better pruned now, after leaf fall, than after mid-winter, when the sap is rising and they may ‘bleed’.

Vegetables

• Finish planting garlic, shallots and onion sets.
• Start winter pruning apples and pears at the end of the month
• Lift parsnips, but leave them in the ground to get frosted as they taste much better.

Pests and disease

• This month is your last chance to spray perennial weeds with systemic weed killers before growth slows down.
• Keep the battle up against squirrels - make their lives as difficult as possible in order to protect your newly planted bulbs. You can cover pots with chicken wire, sprinkle chilli powder around… there’s no simple answer, but it’s worth a try.

Wildlife

• Clean out bird boxes as soon as possible: old nesting material can harbour parasites, birds look for warm winter roost spots, and indeed, for somewhere to raise a family next year. If they are familiar with a box by spring, they are more likely to move in.
• Keep bird feeders full, and a water supply too. Install a birdbath if you can - it's lovely to watch a blackbird having a splash around.
• When tidying and cleaning in the garden, don’t be too meticulous, make sure you leave somewhere for wildlife such as hedgehogs and toads to hibernate. If you're planning a bonfire, check your pile for any wildlife before you light it.

Finally, enjoy the autumn sights and smells. Many London trees have hung onto their leaves up until now and still promise warm colours to come. My winter boots will be out of storage before the month is over, I'm sure, but I look forward to the change in every season and hope you do too.

See you next month

Sally

Opening Hours

Monday to Saturday: 9:30am – 5:30pm
Sundays and Bank Holidays: 10am – 4pm

Except

Jan: 10am – 4pm (Fri, Sat and Sun only)
Feb, Aug, Nov: 10am – 4pm (every day)

Contact Us

Web: www.alleynpark.co.uk
Email: info@alleynpark.co.uk
Phone: 020 8670 7788

Rear of 77 Park Hall Road
(Entrance opposite Café Rouge)
West Dulwich, London SE21 8ES