January - February 2014 Newsletter

What a very different winter we’ve had so far compared to last year. I just read back over my newsletter from January/February 2013 and we had been under a blanket of snow for what felt like forever! As I write, I’m able to look out at my back garden and can already see lots of new growth … spring bulbs well out of the ground, and green buds on many of the shrubs. My Daphne Odora is covered in bud and flower, and smells gorgeous, and there are STILL flowers on my climbing roses.

It’s impossible to predict if the mild weather will continue and we’ll have an early spring, or if there is an arctic blast just round the corner. It’s very difficult to know what to prepare for, so my advice is ‘be prepared for anything’! Have some horticultural fleece handy to cover tender plants if we do get a very cold snap; put a layer of mulch down to help protect the young shoots that have started to break through the earth; prune your deciduous shrubs and trees now, in case the sap starts to rise sooner rather than later; and generally keep a close eye on weather conditions.

With all the rain we’ve had, you might find that some of the spring bulbs you planted in the autumn will have rotted in the ground, unless you remembered to put a layer of grit or sharp sand under them. But, fear not! You CAN still have that amazing display, by coming in and getting pots of bulbs already growing. We have a lovely range in of Crocus, Narcissi, Muscari, Snowdrop, Bluebell, Hyacinth, Scilla and many more, with Tulips and larger Daffodils coming soon.

One disadvantage of not having had a prolonged cold period is that we may have an early invasion of garden pests, including slugs, snails and aphids. It is well worth taking remedial action early to minimise the amount of chemicals needed later. I’ve found that using pellets early in the season, thus destroying the first emerging slugs, really cuts down on the need to repeat doing so as the season continues. Check your supplies, and stock up as necessary now on the items you may need.

It is always worth encouraging beneficial wildlife into your garden (birds, ladybirds, frogs) and ensuring you have places for them to make their homes – apart from being a pleasure to watch, they will gobble up lots of the wildlife you don’t want. They need feeding, and also need a source of water, if you want them to keep coming back to your garden. Birds will start looking for a place to nest soon, so clean out any existing nesting boxes you have up, or put one up if you don’t have any already!

Having covered the disadvantages of a mild winter, let’s look at the positives – namely the fact that you can get out and plant early on in the year. We’re restocking the garden centre after the quiet start to the year, and have a good selection of plants and shrubs in already, including growing bulbs (mentioned above). The first big delivery from Italy will be arriving in mid-February (weather permitting), as will our first delivery of fruit trees and soft fruit. David Austin roses, camellias, and much more will all make an appearance at the centre shortly.

To help you get the growing season off to a good start, we are offering a special deal on well-rotted …..

Horse manure BUY 3, GET 4th FREE

I mention this every year, so feel a bit like a broken record, but well-rotted horse manure is the best way to enhance your soil’s fertility and structure. Dug in it helps break down clay, and put on top of beds as a mulch it acts as a weed suppressant and slowly releases nutrients into the soil beneath it. Magic! This offer is available while stocks last, so make sure you grab yours soon.

I’ll hand over to Sally now, who has some tips about things you can be getting on with in the garden, but the last thing I want to say is we have a display in the shop of items for sale at half their original price, so please pop in and have a look.

Warm regards

Karen

PS: In January we are only open Fri, Sat & Sun from 10.00 - 4.00. In February we are open 7 days a week, but only from 10.00 - 4.00 each day.

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)

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

Garden jobs for January - February 2014

These early weeks in the year appear quiet in the garden, but there are some jobs to be done, and lots to look out for as bulbs emerge from the ground, and winter interest shrubs burst into fragrant flower.

My top 2 jobs for now

1. Planning - think about what to grow from seed this year, be they flowers, herbs or vegetables. Think back to your garden through the seasons last year: what areas need improving, is there something of interest all year round, is there enough structure in the garden now, in the winter months? Take time to look through books and magazines for inspiration.

2. Protection - protect container grown shrubs from cold temperatures, check tree ties and stakes against wind, and ponds against ice. Raise containers off the ground to prevent waterlogging, but remember to water pots which are in the shelter of a wall or under cover.

General maintenance jobs

Hoe annual weeds as they emerge. It’s much easier to get rid of them before they have a chance to establish. Perennial weeds should be dug out or treated with a systemic weed killer as soon as they have new leaf.
Remove dead leaves from herbaceous perennial clumps to avoid them rotting into the crown of the plant.
Clear out the shed or storage cupboard, checking over tools and equipment to make sure they are all clean and in working order, and getting rid of any chemicals and fertilisers which have been lying around for a long time. These materials should be taken to your local authority waste site for safe disposal.
If snow is forecast, tie up cordylines, conifers and other plants which may be damaged by the weight of snow.
Deadhead winter bedding plants such as cyclamen and pansies, and remove any diseased leaves and remember to water them: lack of watering can cause mildew.

Pruning

Finish pruning deciduous trees if needed to keep them in shape. Be prepared to seal the wood with an appropriate sealant.
Give Wisteria its winter prune by cutting back the current seasons growth to within two or three buds of the older wood.
Finish pruning apple and pear trees, gooseberries, red and blackcurrants.
Prune autumn fruiting raspberries, cutting each cane right down to the ground.
Cut back Group 3 clematis – the late flowering ones which flower on the current year’s growth e.g. Etoile Violette, Jackmanii, Gravetye Beauty – to the lowest pair of strong buds, at about knee height, 30cm above the ground.
Prune summer flowering deciduous shrubs such as Buddleja, Caryopteris, hardy fuchsias, santolina and others. These can generally be pruned very hard, almost to the ground leaving a few buds or shoots on each stem. If you want to increase the size of the shrubs, leave a few stems on and prune these lightly.
Prune roses to encourage healthy new flowering stems.
When you have finished pruning, give the plant a feed with an organic fertiliser and mulch with good organic compost or manure.

Planting

Continue planting deciduous trees and shrubs, provided the ground isn't frozen or waterlogged.
Plant spring bulbs in any gaps in the border for some instant colour.
Introduce evergreen shrubs if your winter garden is lacking structure, and bright coloured winter stems. As I mentioned at the end of last year, a beautifully scented winter flowering shrub is essential in all gardens!

Seed sowing

Sweet Pea seeds can be sown indoors in a propagator on a sunny windowsill, and planted out later on.
If the weather improves and the soil gets warm, you can start to sow broad beans, peas, cabbage, beetroot and spinach under cloches.

Lawns

Try not to walk on lawns when they are frosted or wet because it will damage the grass.
Frosts will improve the structure of previously dug soil, but take care not to walk on or work the soil when it is waterlogged. You will do more damage than good.

Pests and diseases

As Karen has said, keep an eye out for the first signs of herbaceous growth and protect the new leaves from slug attack! An early application of slug pellets will reduce the population later in the year.

Wildlife

Keep the birdfeeders topped up with a variety of food to encourage a wide range of birds to your garden. Keep a supply of fresh water for them too.

One of my favourite Christmas gifts was a little book '50 Ways to Kill a Slug'! If you're lucky, I'll share some of them with you in the coming months. I’ll share some more sensible advice too!

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)

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