October 2014 Newsletter

After one of the best summers I can remember since we opened almost 10 years ago, we are now most definitely aware that it’s autumn. I’ve really noticed the leaf colour change in the last week or so, with some stunning trees on my cycle in to work …. rich burnt orange on a Prunus, reds and golds creeping into the line of Liquidambars, and the extraordinary bi-colour lime and yellow of the Gingko. It certainly makes the journey more interesting!

We were so lucky that the amazing weather continued throughout September, and we were especially grateful that it was so on 20 September for the Love West Dulwich event and for our soiree that evening at the garden centre. I’m sure that all of you who came will agree that it was a truly exceptional event, with a completely brilliant jazz band, delicious wine courtesy of Matt’s (from Oddbins) expertise, and an outstanding barbeque produced by Robby and Alex. Thanks to all who came and all who put such hard work into making it the success it was.

If you haven’t been into the centre recently, do come and see the display of rich autumn hues that are in stock. The front tables sing with colour. With the vibrant reds and oranges of the Heuchera, the dazzling Cornus and Euonymus alatus , the glorious Pyracantha, heathers and much more, the tables are ablaze as the lower sun hits them, bringing leaf and berry colour alive.

We’ve also got some lovely winter and spring flowering shrubs - dwarf Rhododendrons, colourful azaleas, and beautifully scented Daphne and Sarcococca – Christmas Box – to plant now, in a spot where you will see and smell them in the winter months.

Even if you don’t have room to plant a perennial or shrub, you will definitely find space for some Wallflowers, which are now in stock as bare-rooted plants at £3.95 for a pack of 10. In colours from warm cream, through pink to vibrant orange and deep scarlet, these are the most fantastically easy flowers to just pop into the ground and forget about until they burst into gloriously scented flower in early spring. There is only a short window of opportunity in which we can sell them, so come and grab some soon. There’s a sheet near the till explaining how to plant them.

Cyclamen and winter bedding are now available, along with Spring bulbs. Why not create a ‘bulb lasagne’ as explained by Sally in her section below? Remember that there is a bulb that can be planted almost anywhere … under trees, in your lawn, in flower beds, pots, window boxes – even indoors! Sadly, there are some lines that have already sold out with the suppliers so to avoid disappointment, get yours soon.

If you don’t have a garden at all, then ring the changes in your pots or window boxes using any of the plants mentioned above, or why not try using grasses for a change?

There is still time to take advantage of what warmth and light there is available, and get into your garden to finish (or start?!) the autumn clear up, and see whether you can squeeze one of the wonderful plants mentioned above into a space somewhere! Check out the display table near the till for useful items with which to tidy and clear, prune and tie in. With the recent wind and rain reminding us of what might be ahead, it’s sensible to prepare your garden now for all that mother nature may throw your way over the coming months.

Oh, and talking of preparing for the winter months, please don’t forget to keep your bird feeders topped up. Birds will soon start to really rely on you for extra calories, so putting fat balls or suet cakes out for them will be a great kindness!

To help contend with the wetter weather, we’ve had a new delivery of Hug Rugs in, the exceptional door mats we sourced last year. They suck up mud and water in a flash, are machine washable, and 100% UK manufactured in a small factory in Yorkshire.

Also new in is a small range quirky handmade felt items, from a newly sourced company called Felt So Good, ranging from brooches costing just £2.95 to gorgeous bags at £13.95. (there are also some wonderful Christmas items in the range, but you’ll have to wait until next month to see them!)

The winter scents are now available in the True Grace candle range, which I know many of you look forward to each autumn ….. cinnamon and clove, pine forest and stem ginger, to name but a few.

Hmm …. what else can I tell you about?

Oh yes! Olive firewood is back in stock, so you can light your fire or wood burner again on the cooler evenings and enjoy the extended warmth and glorious aroma these logs produce. We now also stock bags of kindling, as well as bags of ‘local’ (ie from the UK) hardwood and kiln dried ethically sourced hardwood too.

There are lots of other new items in the shop, including a topped up range of indoor pots and planters, new hand washes and creams, tea light holders and storm lanterns, and with lots more to come over the next few weeks … all in preparation for ‘The Big C’. (And for those of you who have been asking …. Fear not, as yes, we certainly WILL be doing our annual November pre-ordering of Christmas trees! But you will have to wait for next month’s newsletter to get the full lowdown on that.)

Sally has her usual wonderful ‘Garden Tasks’ for you below.

Hope to see you soon!

Karen

Garden jobs for October

My tree of the moment is Liquidamber. There are quite a few around Dulwich and they look radiant as they take on their range of autumn leaf colour, ranging from the darkest purple to the brightest red, golden yellows and golds. I love the smells and sights of the season. October is a busy month in the garden, so here are some jobs and ideas to keep you occupied.

My top two jobs for October

Tidy up fallen fallen leaves regularly, to discourage overwintering pests and disease, to protect the lawn, and to keep terraces and balconies clean and tidy.
Plant spring bulbs: a little time spent now will provide weeks of colour and enjoyment next year.

Garden review

Autumn is a good time to think about what is and isn't working in your outside space, before the memory of the past season fades. Conditions in a garden change over time, with shrubs and trees casting more shade as they grow to maturity, and taking up more nutrients and water from the ground.

Move plants which aren't doing well or aren't growing as you expected them to.
Summer flowering perennials can be lifted and divided. Discard congested stems from the centre and replant the outer divisions.

Planting

Many trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials are better planted in the autumn, because the soil is still warm and there’s time for lots of activity below ground, with roots active enough to establish before the winter. Deciduous trees and shrubs, and flowering perennials will all perform better in their first summer if planted now.
If you are planting in new ground, or recently cleared ground, dig in some good compost or horse manure. Most people reading this live in London and most of us have clay soil. A clay soil is nutritious and will support many plants, but you need to improve the drainage so that plants don’t sit in wet soil in the winter, and bake in dried out soil in the summer. Breaking down clay with good organic compost and digging in some grit helps drainage enormously.

Autumn and winter colour

Plant containers with winter pansies, violas, cyclamen or heathers; evergreen perennials such as Heuchera and evergreen ferns do well in containers too. Small evergreen shrubs will give height and structure, and can be planted out in the garden when they outgrow the container.
Have a look at plants in the garden with worthy seed heads for winter structure and interest such as Sedums, Echinacea, and various Eryngium as they all have lovely profiles. As well as looking good, many seed heads are a food source for birds.

Spring colour

Karen has mentioned wallflowers and bulbs – they really are worth a bit of effort in the next month or two, to give wonderful displays in the spring.
Plant bare root wallflowers as soon as possible after buying them. They may look at bit floppy, but will soon pick up.
When planting any bulbs, think about the drainage, and if necessary add a handful of grit in the planting hole. If bulbs sit in wet soil, they will rot. As a general rule of thumb, plant the bulbs at two to three times their own depth.
Tulips can be planted towards the end of this month – they are more prone to disease than other bulbs hence planting them later.
Bulbs in borders should be in groups of six or more for a good display. In containers, plant them closer for more impact, but don’t let them touch the sides of the pot.
Planting layers of bulbs is known as a bulb lasagne! The idea is that you plant 2 or 3 different types of bulbs in a container at different depths. The largest and later flowering bulbs, such as tulips or alliums, go at the bottom, the smallest and earliest flowering, such as crocus, at the top. The emergent shoots of the lower layer bulbs will bend around anything above them and find their way to the top. Why not experiment with tulips, dwarf narcissi and grape hyacinths. Or simply two different tulips, flowering early and late.
If you can’t work out where to plant snowdrops, they can be planted in pots, with a 50:50 compost and sharp sand or grit mix, and put out in the winter months when you see a gap.
Indoors – bowls of Hyacinth and indoor Narcissi are easy to do and will fill rooms with scent later in the winter. A general rule of thumb is to plant them 4-6 weeks before you want the flowers.

General maintenance

As I mentioned last month, it’s a good time to maintain and repair lawns. Reduce the mowing frequency as growth rate slows; if necessary, apply a moss killer; scarify to remove thatch and dead moss; aerate to improve drainage; topdress to improve the quality, brushing it into the aerated holes. Mix some grass seed with the topdressing mix on worn areas (we have an ‘Autumn Maintenance’ sheet you can pick up near the till for reference).
Lift and divide herbaceous perennials and replant the strongest portions. Later flowering perennials which are still looking good should be left until the spring.
Cut back and compost summer bedding and annuals once they finish flowering.
If you have plants with attractive seed heads, leave them in situ to enjoy their winter silhouettes, or cut them to dry for winter arrangements – keep some, such as Hydrangea and Alliums, to be used for Christmas decorations.
Prune late summer-flowering shrubs once their show is over. Lavender can be pruned to keep it neat and tidy – cut within the green stems.
Prune climbing roses and tie in the stems of these and other climbers to prevent wind damage.
Clean and tidy around the garden, fixing, mending and storing away.
Check fences and trellis and repair as necessary.
Clear away any remaining debris from vegetable gardens and containers.
Drain and put away irrigation hoses and equipment to avoid freezing.
Clean paths, decking and patio areas.
As the leaves begin to fall, keep up with clearing them. Leaves sitting on the lawn deprive the grass of light. Leave some on beds and borders to rot down.
Dispose of any diseased leaves in the bin; the rest can be composted, but remember that leaves can take longer to break down than other things you put on the compost heap.
Alternatively, you can try leaf mould. If you don’t have a separate area to compost leaves in this way, a few bin liners will do the job. Make sure you moisten the leaves sporadically, and in two years’ time you’ll have rich dark compost.
Cover ponds with net to prevent leaves falling in, but leave access for wildlife.

Fruit

Pick any fruit left on apple, pear and other fruit trees.
Remove fallen fruit from around trees and shrubs before it rots.
If you are storing fruit, choose only ‘perfect’ fruit, with no sign of damage or disease. Pack dry fruits in a single layer in crates, not touching, and with good air circulation.
Put grease bands around the trunks of fruit trees to deter winter moth damage.

Preparing for cold temperatures

Will we have rain or snow, warmth or cold this winter? Without knowing, it’s worth being prepared.

A good layer of compost or horse manure around established trees and shrubs, including fruit trees, roses and wisteria will be of benefit, and will help to produce stronger growth and more flowers in the spring.
Mulch around more tender plants to keep their roots warmer. Bark or other materials can be used to help trap the summer warmth in the soil.
Check your stock of fleece to protect delicate plants and bubble wrap to protect pots.
Make space in greenhouses and conservatories to bring tender potted plants inside.
Stand pots on feet or bricks to prevent water logging.

Pests and disease

Generally clean and tidy up around the garden – a clean garden is a healthier garden.
Make sure you remove weeds which can act as a host for pests and diseases over winter.
Squirrels are a number one enemy in south east London gardens! Unfortunately it's a case of living with them but making their lives as difficult as possible. At this time of year they dig up and eat corms and bulbs, especially crocus and tulip, and perform amazing feats to get at bird food. You can deter them from newly buried bulbs with a wire mesh and use a bird feeder with a robust outer wire cage. Some people say that squirrels don’t like chilli, so you could try sprinkling some in key areas.

Wildlife

Clean out nesting boxes for birds, and put up some new ones.
When tidying and cleaning in the garden, leave somewhere for wildlife such as hedgehogs and toads to hibernate as we head into winter.
Feed the birds!! They will keep coming to your garden if you keep the feeders topped up, and leave some water out for them too. They begin to need more calories as the temperature drops and fat balls and suet blocks fit the bill.

October always seems to inspire a long list of jobs from me, but a hard day’s work in the garden, rewarded by tea and cake (or something stronger!) back in the warm, is hard to beat.

Sally